Report Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks, Iowa Department of Transportation, 2003

Report to Margaret Thompson, Chief Clerk, about Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks.

Report Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks, Iowa Department of Transportation, 2002

Report to Margaret Thompson, Chief Clerk, about Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks.

Content-specific gender differences in emotion ratings from early to late adulthood.

The investigation of gender differences in emotion has attracted much attention given the potential ramifications on our understanding of sexual differences in disorders involving emotion dysregulation. Yet, research on content-specific gender differences across adulthood in emotional responding is lacking. The aims of the present study were twofold. First, we sought to investigate to what extent gender differences in the self-reported emotional experience are content specific. Second, we sought to determine whether gender differences are stable across the adult lifespan. We assessed valence and arousal ratings of 14 picture series, each of a different content, in 94 men and 118 women aged 20 to 81. Compared to women, men reacted more positively to erotic images, whereas women rated low-arousing pleasant family scenes and landscapes as particularly positive. Women displayed a disposition to respond with greater defensive activation (i.e., more negative valence and higher arousal), in particular to the most arousing unpleasant contents. Importantly, significant interactions between gender and age were not found for any single content. This study makes a novel contribution by showing that gender differences in the affective experiences in response to different contents persist across the adult lifespan. These findings support the "stability hypothesis" of gender differences across age.

Effect of chronic hypoglycaemia on glucose concentration and glycogen content in rat brain: A localized 13C NMR study.

While chronic hypoglycaemia has been reported to increase unidirectional glucose transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and to increase GLUT1 expression at the endothelium, the effect on steady-state brain d-glucose and brain glycogen content is currently unknown. Brain glucose and glycogen concentrations were directly measured in vivo using localized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) following 12-14 days of hypoglycaemia. Brain glucose content was significantly increased by 48%, which is consistent with an increase in the maximal glucose transport rate, Tmax, by 58% compared with the sham-treated animals. The localized 13C NMR measurements of brain glucose were directly validated by comparison with biochemically determined brain glucose content after rapid focused microwave fixation (1.4 s at 4 kW). Both in vivo MRS and biochemical measurements implied that brain glycogen content was not affected by chronic hypoglycaemia, consistent with brain glucose being a major factor controlling brain glycogen content. We conclude that the increased glucose transporter expression in chronic hypoglycaemia leads to increased brain glucose content at a given level of glycaemia. Such increased brain glucose concentrations can result in a lowered glycaemic threshold of counter-regulation observed in chronic hypoglycaemia.

Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks Report, 2004

Report to Margaret Thompson, Chief Clerk, about Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks.

The COSMIN checklist for evaluating the methodological quality of studies on measurement properties: a clarification of its content

Background: The COSMIN checklist (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments) was developed in an international Delphi study to evaluate the methodological quality of studies on measurement properties of health-related patient reported outcomes (HR-PROs). In this paper, we explain our choices for the design requirements and preferred statistical methods for which no evidence is available in the literature or on which the Delphi panel members had substantial discussion. Methods: The issues described in this paper are a reflection of the Delphi process in which 43 panel members participated. Results: The topics discussed are internal consistency (relevance for reflective and formative models, and distinction with unidimensionality), content validity (judging relevance and comprehensiveness), hypotheses testing as an aspect of construct validity (specificity of hypotheses), criterion validity (relevance for PROs), and responsiveness (concept and relation to validity, and (in) appropriate measures).Conclusions: We expect that this paper will contribute to a better understanding of the rationale behind the items, thereby enhancing the acceptance and use of the COSMIN checklist.

Biochemical, morphological and content characterization of synaptobrevin 2-expressing vesicles in astrocytes

Neuron-astrocyte reciprocal communication at synapses has emerged as a novel signalling pathway in brain function. Astrocytes sense the level of synaptic activity and, in turn, influence its efficacy through the regulated release of ''glio- transmitters'' such as glutamate, ATP or D-serine. A calcium- dependent exocytosis is proposed to drive the release of gliotransmitters but its existence is still debated. To shed light onto the mechanisms controlling the storage and the release of gliotransmitters and namely D-serine, we have developed a new method for the immunoisolation of synaptobrevin 2-positive vesicles from rat cortical astrocytes in culture. The purified organelles are clear round shape vesicles of excellent purity as judged by electron microscopy. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that isolated vesicles contain most of the major proteins already described for neuron-derived vesicles. In addition, we have analyzed the content for various amino acids of these vesicles by means of chiral capillary electro- phoresis coupled to laser-induced fluorescence detection and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Post- embedding immunogold labelling of the rat neocortex and hippocampus further revealed the expression of D-serine and glutamate in astrocyte processes contacting excitatory sy- napses. Our results provide significant support for the existence of secretory glial vesicles storing chemical substances like D- serine and glutamate and thus point to the co-release of amino acids by exocytosis in astrocytes.

Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks Report, 2005

Report to Margaret Thomson, Chief Clerk, about Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks.

Creació d'una discoteca: Amber Club

El món de l’oci nocturn és un món que molta gent disfruta però que ningú acaba de conèixer. Tothom sap per on van els trets principals, però ningú es preocupa profundament per saber realment com funciona, quins són els costos, si els beneficis són elevats, o si és difícil aconseguir que un negoci sigui viable. Aquest, doncs, ha estat el pilar sobre del qual s'ha construït el nostre treball.A través de la creació d’una discoteca i el seu anàlisi cost-benefici hem intentat esbrinar quina és la viabilitat d’un projecte d’aquestes característiques, analitzant tots els costs que s’han d’incórrer, i realitzant un supòsit a la baixa dels ingressos que s’obtindrien.Per dur a terme aquest anàlisi hem realitzat 200 enquestes repartides per les diferents universitats de la província de Barcelona. D’aquesta manera hem pogut analitzar si hi ha demanda per una nova discoteca i quines són les preferències del consumidor.Una vegada fet aquest anàlisi, hem procedit a la recerca d'un local que s'adapti a les nostres necessitats i a les mostrades pel públic enquestat. Al no voler entretenir-nos en qüestions com la decoració del local, o l’adaptació d’aquest a tota la normativa vigent, hem partit del supòsit que un local que actualment funciona estigués disponible pel lloguer, concretament Opium Mar. Hem introduït un seguit de reformes que creiem necessàries pel millor funcionament, i a continuació hem començat amb les estratègies de màrqueting i la determinació dels serveis oferts.Dos punts seran claus per tal que la discoteca funcioni correctament. Primer de tot, el fet que sigui coneguda per un gran públic, i llavors que aquest públic en qüestió estigui content amb el serveis oferts. És per això que hem destinat un gran nombre de recursos en màrqueting (pàgina web, mailing , SMS...) i ens hem centrat també amb tots els serveis que podem oferir (guarda-roba, sales VIP...). La reputació, ens han dit molts responsables, pot ser l’eina que pot fer del teu projecte una gran font d’ingressos, o el contrari, una gran pèrdua de diners.També ens hem centrat en el personal i el subministrament de begudes, calculant així quin és el nombre de treballadors necessaris per tirar endavant el projecte, i quin és l’estoc de begudes òptim que hem de tenir per cobrir tota la demanda.Finalment, hem tingut en compte els impostos que hem d'incórrer a un projecte d'aquest tipus, ja sigui impost de societats, el cost de la llicència per exercir l'activitat, IVA, etc.Una conclusió és clara després de la realització d’aquest projecte: la nostra discoteca és rendible, i per extensió qualsevol altre amb un nombre considerable d’assistència. El valor afegit que crea un projecte d’aquestes magnituds és tan gran, i la despesa mitjana de la gent en oci nocturn tan considerable, que un projecte capaç de portar un nombre de clients relativament petit en funció del local, pot presentar beneficis

Content validation of the dimensions constituting non-adherence to treatment of arterial hypertension

The objective of the study was to validate the content of the dimensions that constituted nonadherence to treatment of arterial systemic hypertension. It was a methodological study of content validation. Initially an integrative review was conducted that demonstrated four dimensions of nonadherence: person, disease/treatment, health service, and environment. Definitions of these dimensions were evaluated by 17 professionals, who were specialists in the area, including: nurses, pharmacists and physicians. The Content Validity Index was calculated for each dimension (IVCi) and the set of the dimensions (IVCt), and the binomial test was conducted. The results permitted the validation of the dimensions with an IVCt of 0.88, demonstrating reasonable systematic comprehension of the phenomena of nonadherence.

Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks Report, FY 2006

Report to Margaret Thomson, Chief Clerk, about Recycled Content Plastic Bag and Soy Inks.

Lower thigh subcutaneous and higher visceral abdominal adipose tissue content both contribute to insulin resistance.

It is well known that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with insulin resistance (IR). Considerable debate remains concerning the potential positive effect of thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue (TSAT). Our objective was to observe whether VAT and TSAT are opposite, synergistic or additive for both peripheral and hepatic IR. Fifty-two volunteers (21 male/31 female) between 30 and 75 years old were recruited from the general population. All subjects were sedentary overweight or obese (mean BMI 33.0 ± 3.4 kg/m(2)). Insulin sensitivity was determined by a 4-h hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with stable isotope tracer dilution. Total body fat and lean body mass were determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Abdominal and mid-thigh adiposity was determined by computed tomography. VAT was negatively associated with peripheral insulin sensitivity, while TSAT, in contrast, was positively associated with peripheral insulin sensitivity. Subjects with a combination of low VAT and high TSAT had the highest insulin sensitivity, subjects with a combination of high VAT and low TSAT were the most insulin resistant. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age and gender. These data confirm that visceral excess abdominal adiposity is associated with IR across a range of middle-age to older men and women, and further suggest that higher thigh subcutaneous fat is favorably associated with better insulin sensitivity. This strongly suggests that these two distinct fat distribution phenotypes should both be considered in IR as important determinants of cardiometabolic risk.

Content validation of the nursing diagnosis Nausea

This study aimed to evaluate the content validity of the nursing diagnosis of nausea in the immediate post-operative period, considering Fehring’s model. Descriptive study with 52 nurses experts who responded an instrument containing identification and validation of nausea diagnosis data. Most experts considered the domain 12 (Comfort), Class 1 (Physical Comfort) and the statement (Nausea) adequate to the diagnosis. Modifications were suggested in the current definition of this nursing diagnosis. Four defining characteristics were considered primary (reported nausea, increased salivation, aversion to food and vomiting sensation) and eight secondary (increased swallowing, sour taste in the mouth, pallor, tachycardia, diaphoresis, sensation of hot and cold, changes in blood pressure and pupil dilation). The total score for the diagnosis of nausea was 0.79. Reports of nausea, vomiting sensation, increased salivation and aversion to food are strong predictors of nursing diagnosis of nausea.

In the context of a daycare center: nursing and their representations of child care as an educational act

This study aimed to analyze the social representations in the professionals of technical staff, who work with children at USP daycare centers. Eight professionals of the nursing field underwent a semi-structured interview. The interviews were recorded and transcribed in their entirety and the content of the discourse was subjected to thematic-categorical analysis. The categories were transformed into variables and processed by the software Classification Hiérarchique Classificatoire et Cohésitive (CHIC®) and analyzed by the hierarchical similarity tree. The results indicate that actions to promote health are reported as educational and transformative, in which health care gains new meaning through contextualized conceptions in the field of child education. We conclude that professionals attribute new meanings to their practices in the health care environment of daycare centers as their representations shifts from the logic of the biomedical field to a logic of educational care. In this sense, they perceive themselves as being challenged to establish an interaction with the children in terms of their activities related to the promotion of health and in an educational act.