Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism-dementia complex of Guam: Descriptive epidemiology, secular trends, and birth cohort effects on incidence, 1950--1989

This study describes the patterns of occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and parkinsonism-dementia complex (PDC) of Guam during 1950-1989. Both ALS and PDC occur with high frequency among the indigenous Chamorro population, first recognized in the early 1950's. Reports in the early 1980's indicated that both ALS and PDC were disappearing, due to a purported reduction in exposure to harmful environmental factors as a result of the dramatic changes in lifestyle that took place after World War II. However, this study provides compelling evidence that ALS and PDC have not disappeared on Guam and that rates for both are higher during 1980-1989 than previously reported.^ The patterns of occurrence for both ALS and PDC overlap in most respects: (1) incidence and mortality are decreasing; (2) median age at onset is increasing; (3) males are at increased risk for developing disease; (4) risk is higher for those residing in the south compared to the non-south; and (5) age-specific incidence is decreasing over time except in the oldest age groups.^ Age-specific incidence of ALS and PDC, separately and together, is generally higher for cohorts born before 1920 than for those born after 1920. A significant birth cohort effect on the incidence of PDC for the 1906-1915 birth cohort was found, but not for ALS and for ALS and PDC together. Whether or not a cohort effect, period effect, or both are associated with incidence of ALS and PDC cannot be determined from the data currently available and will require additional follow-up of individuals born after 1920.^ The epidemiological data amassed over this 40-year period provide evidence that supports an environmental exposure model for disease occurrence as opposed to a simple genetic or infectious disease model. Whether neurodegenerative disease in this population occurs as a consequence of a single exposure or is explained by a multifactorial model such as a genetic predisposition with some environmental interaction is yet to be determined. However, descriptive studies such as this can provide clues concerning timing and location of potential adverse exposures but cannot determine etiology, underscoring the urgent need for analytic studies of ALS and PDC to further investigate existing etiologic hypotheses and to test new hypotheses. ^

Representation Matters: The Impact of Descriptive Women's Representation on the Political Involvement of Women

In a cross-country comparison of 33 European countries, we tested whether a high degree of female representation attenuates the assumed negative impact of gender on political involvement. Our multilevel analyses show positive interactive effects of female representation: the degree to which the representation of women in a given country's national parliament was descriptively adequate was positively related to women's ratings of the importance of politics and self-reported political interest. With respect to political participation, the findings are mixed.

The Jewish encyclopedia : a descriptive record of the history, religion, literature, and customs of the Jewish people from the earliest time to the present day ; complete in 12 volumes

Isidore Singer, projector and managing ed.

Descriptive catalogue of a collection of objects of Jewish ceremonial deposited in the US National Museum by Hadji Ephraim Benguiat

Smithsonian Institution ... By Cyrus Adler and I. M. Casanowicz

Three-dimensional study of nasopalatine canal morphology: a descriptive retrospective analysis using cone-beam computed tomography

PURPOSE For dental implant treatment planning and placement, a precise anatomic description of the nasopalatine canal (NC) is necessary. This descriptive retrospective study evaluated dimensions of the NC and buccal bone plate (BBP) and the tridimensional association of the anatomic variants of NC, using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS This study included 230 CBCTs. Sagittal slices were used for measurements of the NC and BBP and to evaluate shape and direction-course of the NC. Coronal slices were used to assess NC shape and axial slices to assess number of incisive foramina and foramina of Stenson. RESULTS Mean NC length was 12.34 ± 2.79 mm, statistically significant differences were detected between genders (p < 0.001). Mean BBP length was 20.87 ± 3.68 mm, statistically significant differences were found for the dental status (p < 0.001) and mean BBP width was 6.83 ± 1.28 mm, significant differences were detected between genders (p < 0.001). Mean nasopalatine angle was 73.33° ± 8.11°, significant differences were found in sagittal and coronal classifications. The most prevalent canal was: cylindrical sagittal shape (48.2 %); slanted-straight direction-course (57.6 %); Ya-type coronal shape (42.4 %); and one foramen incisive with two Stenson's foramina (1-2) (50.9 %). Sagittal shape was associated with sagittal direction-course (p < 0.001). Coronal shape was associated with axial classification (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The NC anatomy is highly variable. Gender is related to the NC length and BBP width, while dental status is related to BBP length. There was an association between the different sagittal classifications of the NC and between the coronal shape and axial classification.

Stair climbing - An insight and comparison between women with and without joint hypermobility: A descriptive study.

Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is a frequent entity in rheumatology with higher prevalence among women. It is associated with chronic widespread pain, joint dislocations, arthralgia, fibromyalgia and early osteoarthritis. Stair climbing is an important functional task and can induce symptoms in hypermobile persons. The aim of this study was to compare ground reaction forces (GRF) and muscle activity during stair climbing in women with and without GJH. A cross-sectional study of 67 women with normal mobility and 128 hypermobile women was performed. The hypermobile women were further divided into 56 symptomatic and 47 asymptomatic. GRFs were measured by force plates embedded in a six step staircase, as well as surface electromyography (EMG) of six leg muscles. Parameters derived from GRF and EMG were compared between groups using t-test and ANOVA. For GRF no significant differences were found. EMG showed lower activity for the quadriceps during ascent and lower activity for hamstrings and quadriceps during descent in hypermobile women. For symptomatic hypermobile women these differences were even more accentuated. The differences in EMG may point towards an altered movement pattern during stair climbing, aimed at avoiding high muscle activation. However, differences were small, since stair climbing seems to be not demanding.

Descriptive/Inferential Cognitive Processes and Evaluative Cognitive Processes: Relationships Among Each Other and with Emotional Distress

We aimed to delineate key constructs from two forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy: cognitive therapy and rational-emotive behavior therapy. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the interrelations among each other and with emotional distress. The key constructs of the underlying theories of these therapies (i.e., descriptive/inferential beliefs, evaluative beliefs) are often treated together as distorted cognitions and included as such in various scales. We used a cross-sectional design. Seventy-four undergraduate students (mean age = 24.68) completed measures of automatic thoughts and emotional distress. Three therapists trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy divided automatic thoughts into descriptive/inferential beliefs and evaluative beliefs by consensus. Correlation and mediation analyses were performed. These constructs showed medium to high associations to each other and to distress. The relationship between descriptive/inferential beliefs and distress was mediated by evaluative beliefs. Descriptive and inferential cognitions may not produce emotions without first being appraised in terms of personal relevance.

Biomechanical properties of the atlantoaxial joint with naturally-occurring instability in a toy breed dog. A comparative descriptive cadaveric study

The biomechanical properties of the atlanto-axial joint in a young Yorkshire Terrier dog with spontaneous atlantoaxial instability were compared to those of another young toy breed dog with a healthy atlantoaxial joint. The range-of-motion was increased in flexion and lateral bending in the unstable joint. In addition, lateral bending led to torsion and dorsal dislocation of the axis within the atlas. On gross examination, the dens ligaments were absent and a longitudinal tear of the tectorial membrane was observed. These findings suggest that both ventral and lateral flexion may lead to severe spinal cord compression, and that the tectorial membrane may play a protective role in some cases of atlantoaxial instability.

Descriptive epidemiology of cancer in three regions of Kazakhstan

The current study investigated data quality and estimated cancer incidence and mortality rates using data provided by Pavlodar, Semipalatinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk Regional Cancer Registries of Kazakhstan during the period of 1996–1998. Assessment of data quality was performed using standard quality indicators including internal database checks, proportion of cases verified from death certificates only, mortality:incidence ratio, data patterns, proportion of cases with unknown primary site, proportion of cases with unknown age. Crude and age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, by gender, for all cancers combined and for 28 specific cancer sites for each year of the study period. The five most frequent cancers were identified and described for every population. The results of the study provide the first simultaneous assessment of data quality and standardized incidence and mortality rates for Kazakh cancer registries. ^

For-profit business safety interventions: A systematic, descriptive review of the literature

The purpose of this research was to determine if principles from organizational theory could be used as a framework to compare and contrast safety interventions developed by for-profit industry for the time period 1986–1996. A literature search of electronic databases and manual search of journals and local university libraries' book stacks was conducted for safety interventions developed by for-profit businesses. To maintain a constant regulatory environment, the business sectors of nuclear power, aviation and non-profits were excluded. Safety intervention evaluations were screened for scientific merit. Leavitt's model from organization theory was updated to include safety climate and renamed the Updated Leavitt's Model. In all, 8000 safety citations were retrieved, 525 met the inclusion criteria, 255 met the organizational safety intervention criteria, and 50 met the scientific merit criteria. Most came from non-public health journals. These 50 were categorized by the Updated Leavitt's Model according to where within the organizational structure the intervention took place. Evidence tables were constructed for descriptive comparison. The interventions clustered in the areas of social structure, safety climate, the interaction between social structure and participants, and the interaction between technology and participants. No interventions were found in the interactions between social structure and technology, goals and technology, or participants and goals. Despite the scientific merit criteria, many still had significant study design weaknesses. Five interventions tested for statistical significance but none of the interventions commented on the power of their study. Empiric studies based on safety climate theorems had the most rigorous designs. There was an attempt in these studies to address randomization amongst subjects to avoid bias. This work highlights the utility of using the Updated Leavitt's Model, a model from organizational theory, as a framework when comparing safety interventions. This work also highlights the need for better study design of future trials of safety interventions. ^

Morphological Considerations in Lingual Appliance Design: A Descriptive Study

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Certificate in Orthodontics, Dept. of Orthodontics, University of Connecticut Health Center, 1986