Early growth characteristics and the risk of reduced lung function and asthma : a meta-analysis of 25,000 children

Peer reviewed

Regulatory factors controlling muscle mass : competition between innate immune function and anabolic signals in regulation of atrogin-1 in Atlantic salmon

The research was supported by an industrial PhD studentship between University of Aberdeen and by BioMar Ltd., for Z. Heidari.

Early growth characteristics and the risk of reduced lung function and asthma : a meta-analysis of 25,000 children

Peer reviewed

A bidirectional relationship between executive function and health behavior : evidence, implications, and future directions

This work was supported by a grant from the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ES/L010437/1).

Regulatory factors controlling muscle mass : competition between innate immune function and anabolic signals in regulation of atrogin-1 in Atlantic salmon

The research was supported by an industrial PhD studentship between University of Aberdeen and by BioMar Ltd., for Z. Heidari.

Effects of pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation on PFM function and morphology in older women

Aims The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a pelvic floor muscle (PFM) rehabilitation program on incontinence symptoms, PFM function, and morphology in older women with SUI. Methods Women 60 years old and older with at least weekly episodes of SUI were recruited. Participants were evaluated before and after a 12-week group PFM rehabilitation intervention. The evaluations included 3-day bladder diaries, symptom, and quality of life questionnaires, PFM function testing with dynamometry (force) and electromyography (activation) during seven tasks: rest, PFM maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), straining, rapid-repeated PFM contractions, a 60 sec sustained PFM contraction, a single cough and three repeated coughs, and sagittal MRI recorded at rest, during PFM MVCs and during straining to assess PFM morphology. Results Seventeen women (68.9 ± 5.5 years) participated. Following the intervention the frequency of urine leakage decreased and disease-specific quality of life improved significantly. PFM function improved significantly: the participants were able to perform more rapid-repeated PFM contractions; they activated their PFMs sooner when coughing and they were better able to maintain a PFM contraction between repeated coughs. Pelvic organ support improved significantly: the anorectal angle was decreased and the urethrovescial junction was higher at rest, during contraction and while straining. Conclusions This study indicated that improvements in urine leakage were produced along with improvements in PFM co-ordination (demonstrated by the increased number of rapid PFM contractions and the earlier PFM activation when coughing), motor-control, pelvic organ support.

A first principles analysis of the effect of hydrogen concentration in hydrogenated amorphous silicon on the formation of strained Si-Si bonds and the optical and mobility gaps

In this paper, we use a model of hydrogenated amorphous silicon generated from molecular dynamics with density functional theory calculations to examine how the atomic geometry and the optical and mobility gaps are influenced by mild hydrogen oversaturation. The optical and mobility gaps show a volcano curve as the hydrogen content varies from undersaturation to mild oversaturation, with largest gaps obtained at the saturation hydrogen concentration. At the same time, mid-gap states associated with dangling bonds and strained Si-Si bonds disappear at saturation but reappear at mild oversaturation, which is consistent with the evolution of optical gap. The distribution of Si-Si bond distances provides the key to the change in electronic properties. In the undersaturation regime, the new electronic states in the gap arise from the presence of dangling bonds and strained Si-Si bonds, which are longer than the equilibrium Si-Si distance. Increasing hydrogen concentration up to saturation reduces the strained bonds and removes dangling bonds. In the case of mild oversaturation, the mid-gap states arise exclusively from an increase in the density of strained Si-Si bonds. Analysis of our structure shows that the extra hydrogen atoms form a bridge between neighbouring silicon atoms, thus increasing the Si-Si distance and increasing disorder in the sample.

Formal function and phrase structure in contemporary music : Pierre Boulez’s late solo works and Sean Clarke’s "Lucretia Overture" and "4 Impromptus"

Cette thèse présente une théorie de la fonction formelle et de la structure des phrases dans la musique contemporaine, théorie qui peut être utilisée aussi bien comme outil analytique que pour créer de nouvelles œuvres. Deux concepts théoriques actuels aident à clarifier la structure des phrases : les projections temporelles de Christopher Hasty et la théorie des fonctions formelles de William Caplin, qui inclut le concept de l’organisation formelle soudée versus lâche (tight-knit vs. loose). Les projections temporelles sont perceptibles grâce à l’accent mis sur les paramètres secondaires, comme le style du jeu, l’articulation et le timbre. Des sections avec une organisation formelle soudée ont des projections temporelles claires, qui sont créées par la juxtaposition des motifs distincts, généralement sous la forme d'une idée de base en deux parties. Ces projections organisent la musique en phrases de présentation, en phrases de continuité et finalement, à des moments formels charnières, en phrases cadentielles. Les sections pourvues d’une organisation plus lâche tendent à présenter des projections et mouvements harmoniques moins clairs et moins d’uniformité motivique. La structure des phrases de trois pièces tardives pour instrument soliste de Pierre Boulez est analysée : Anthèmes I pour violon (1991-1992) et deux pièces pour piano, Incises (2001) et une page d’éphéméride (2005). Les idées proposées dans le présent document font suite à une analyse de ces œuvres et ont eu une forte influence sur mes propres compositions, en particulier Lucretia Overture pour orchestre et 4 Impromptus pour flûte, saxophone soprano et piano, qui sont également analysés en détail. Plusieurs techniques de composition supplémentaires peuvent être discernés dans ces deux œuvres, y compris l'utilisation de séquence mélodiques pour contrôler le rythme harmonique; des passages composés de plusieurs couches musicales chacun avec un structure de phrase distinct; et le relâchement de l'organisation formelle de matériels récurrents. Enfin, la composition de plusieurs autres travaux antérieurs a donné lieu à des techniques utilisées dans ces deux œuvres et ils sont brièvement abordés dans la section finale.

Effects of pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation on PFM function and morphology in older women

Aims The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a pelvic floor muscle (PFM) rehabilitation program on incontinence symptoms, PFM function, and morphology in older women with SUI. Methods Women 60 years old and older with at least weekly episodes of SUI were recruited. Participants were evaluated before and after a 12-week group PFM rehabilitation intervention. The evaluations included 3-day bladder diaries, symptom, and quality of life questionnaires, PFM function testing with dynamometry (force) and electromyography (activation) during seven tasks: rest, PFM maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), straining, rapid-repeated PFM contractions, a 60 sec sustained PFM contraction, a single cough and three repeated coughs, and sagittal MRI recorded at rest, during PFM MVCs and during straining to assess PFM morphology. Results Seventeen women (68.9 ± 5.5 years) participated. Following the intervention the frequency of urine leakage decreased and disease-specific quality of life improved significantly. PFM function improved significantly: the participants were able to perform more rapid-repeated PFM contractions; they activated their PFMs sooner when coughing and they were better able to maintain a PFM contraction between repeated coughs. Pelvic organ support improved significantly: the anorectal angle was decreased and the urethrovescial junction was higher at rest, during contraction and while straining. Conclusions This study indicated that improvements in urine leakage were produced along with improvements in PFM co-ordination (demonstrated by the increased number of rapid PFM contractions and the earlier PFM activation when coughing), motor-control, pelvic organ support.

The relationship between changes in cardiovascular function and changes in VO2peak following SIT

Background: It is well known that sprint interval training (SIT), induces significant increases in peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) at the group level. However, there have been only a few studies that have addressed the variability of VO2peak response following SIT, and precise mechanism(s) that may explain individual magnitude of response are unknown. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this thesis was to: 1) examine the inter-individual variability of the VO2peak response following SIT, 2) to inspect the relationship between changes in both central and peripheral measures and changes in VO2peak, and 3) to assess if peripheral or central adaptations play a role in whether an individual is a high or low responder with respect to VO2peak. Subjects: Twenty-two young, recreationally active males (age: 20.4 1.7 years; weight: 78.4 10.2 kg; VO2peak: 3.7 0.62 L/min) Methods: VO2peak (L/min), peak cardiac output (Qpeak [L/min]), and peak deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHbpeak [mM]) were measured before and after 16 sessions of SIT (Tabata Protocol) over four weeks. Peak a-vO2diff was calculated using a derivation of the Fick equation. Results: Due to a systematic error, HHbpeak could not be used to differentiate between individual responses. There was a large range of VO2peak response from pre to post testing (-4.75 to 32.18% change) and there was a significant difference between the Low Response Group (LRG) (n=8) and the High Response Group (HRG) (n=8) [f(1, 14)= 64.27, p<0.001]. Furthermore, there was no correlation between delta () VO2peak and Qpeak (r=-0.18, p=0.46) for all participants, nor was there an interaction effect between the Low and High Response Groups [f(1,11)=0.572, p=0.47]. Lastly, there was a significant correlation between VO2peak and peak a-vO2diff [r=0.692, p<0.001], and a significant interaction effect with peak a-vO2diff [f(1, 14)= 13.27, p<0.004] when comparing the HRG to the LRG. Conclusions: There was inter-individual variability of VO2peak response following 4 weeks of SIT, but central adaptations did not influence this variation. This suggests that peripheral adaptations may be responsible for VO2peak adaptation.

The Effect of Water Consumption on Schoolchildren's Fine Motor Skills, Cognitive Function and Mood

Previous research has suggested that dehydration may have a negative effect on some aspects of mood, cognitive performance and motor skills (Benton, 2011). Furthermore, a large proportion of children arrive at school in a dehydrated state (Baron, Courbebaisse, Lepicard, & Friedlander, 2015). The present work investigated whether supplementing children with water may, as a consequence of reducing dehydration, improve their cognitive performance and motor skills. In studies 1, 2, 3 and 5, it was found that tasks that predominantly tested motor skills, were improved in children who had a drink, compared to those who did not. Furthermore, study 3 showed that this effect was moderated by hydration status. One theoretical explanation for the poorer performance of dehydrated children is that they may lack the neurological resources to sustain their effort and thus performance does not improve over time. In support of this, these studies showed that, when re-hydrated, performance on these tasks improves to the level of non-dehydrated children. Study 2 showed that the number of errors increased in a StopSignal task in children that had high self-rated levels of thirst, compared to low levels: and hydration status did not moderate this effect. A possible explanation for the increased number of errors in children with high self-rated thirst is that the thirst sensation diverts attention away from the task, causing task performance to deteriorate. In study 4, it was observed that there was a large variation in intra-individual and inter-individual hydration scores throughout the day, which was not related to volume drank or levels of thirst. Further studies should use imaging techniques to study brain activity during dehydration and rehydration, and during periods of high thirst, to help to further elucidate the mechanism underlying the negative effect of dehydration on motor performance, and the effect of self-rated thirst on attention.

(Un)covering ground: dance, space and mobility

Ballet and modern dance teachers often exhort students to ‘travel across the floor’ and ‘cover ground’. These instructions invoke metaphors of travel and mobility that capture an array of common assumptions about dance, space and movement. This essay examines the spatial and mobility discourses that these instructions simultaneously build upon and produce while exploring the seductiveness of technique’s promise of mastering space through the moving body. Threading auto-ethnography with critical theory and moving across different disciplinary fields and writing styles, I explore the ways in which these instructions leak outside the perimeter of the dance studio to feed into the narrative of a dancer’s extended physical, geographical and social mobility. Analysing the mobility and travel discourses of my dance training vis-à-vis poststructuralist theorizations of the subaltern power of the nomad and theories of space and place, I argue that this narrative becomes complicit in the construction of an idealized notion of artistic nomadism, which, in turn, aligns with current neoliberal logics organised around the production of mobile subjects.

Ovarian suppression using luteinizing hormonereleasing hormone agonists during chemotherapy to preserve ovarian function and fertility of breast cancer patients: A meta-analysis of randomized studies

Background: The role of temporary ovarian suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRHa) in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian failure (POF) is still controversial. Our meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) investigates whether the use of LHRHa during chemotherapy in premenopausal breast cancer patients reduces treatment-related POF rate, increases pregnancy rate, and impacts disease-free survival (DFS). Methods: A literature search using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, and the proceedings of major conferences, was conducted up to 30 April 2015. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for POF (i.e. POF by study definition, and POF defined as amenorrhea 1 year after chemotherapy completion) and for patients with pregnancy, as well hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI for DFS, were calculated for each trial. Pooled analysis was carried out using the fixed- and random-effects models. Results: A total of 12 RCTs were eligible including 1231 breast cancer patients. The use of LHRHa was associated with a significant reduced risk of POF (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.23-0.57; P < 0.001), yet with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 47.1%, Pheterogeneity = 0.026). In eight studies reporting amenorrhea rates 1 year after chemotherapy completion, the addition of LHRHa reduced the risk of POF (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41-0.73, P < 0.001) without heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.936). In five studies reporting pregnancies, more patients treated with LHRHa achieved pregnancy (33 versus 19 women; OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.02-3.28, P = 0.041; I2 = 0.0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.629). In three studies reporting DFS, no difference was observed (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.49-2.04, P = 0.939; I2 = 68.0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.044). Conclusion: Temporary ovarian suppression with LHRHa in young breast cancer patients is associated with a reduced risk of chemotherapy-induced POF and seems to increase the pregnancy rate, without an apparent negative consequence on prognosis.

Chase-Lloyd House at 250: significance of function and integrity of form

(M. Historic Preservation) -- University of Maryland-College Park, 2015 Faculty Advisor: Dr. Constance Werner Ramirez. Program Director: Dr. Donald W. Linebaugh

Postoperative Bowel Function and Related Factors in Enhanced Recovery Protocol with Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy

Patients’ bowel dysfunction is a major factor that weakens the results of surgical care as it can cause pain and weaken patients’ rehabilitation. Bowel dysfunction is a common postoperative problem, yet most incidents remain undocumented. The nursing profession has a significant role in enhancing the bowel function postoperatively. However, studies of postoperative bowel function after hepatectomy are scarce and somewhat incongruous. Enhanced recovery protocols are innovative models of care aiming for better outcomes of surgical care. Enhanced recovery protocols can improve gastrointestinal function after surgery, yet patients are also known to be satisfied with their care. The aim was to investigate if postoperative bowel function day varies between patients in terms of age, gender, ASA score, type of surgery, histology, patients’ experienced pain and experienced satisfaction three days after discharge and three months after operation in patients undergoing hepatectomy. The goal was to produce information for basis of scientific research, to give nurses in clinical setting more tools to work with hepatectomy patients undergoing enhanced recovery protocol and to produce information to nurse managers to use in process management of patients undergoing enhanced recovery protocol. The design of this study is descriptive. Data was collected retrospectively from hepatectomy patients (n = 134) undergoing enhanced recovery protocol within the first year of enhanced recovery protocol implementation. The data was based on registers and analyzed statistically. Mean age of patients was 62 years and mean day of discharge was 4. Main (n = 72) histology of the patients was colorectal liver metastases. Mean bowel function day was 3. Most of the patients were very satisfied or satisfied with the care three days after discharge (99%) and three months (90%) after operation. Most of the patients (72%) experienced moderate pain three days after discharge, but three months after operation 47% of the patients did not experience pain and 48% experienced moderate pain. There were no statistically significant differences in bowel function between different age groups, genders, ASA score groups or histologies. Neither were there statistically significant differences in postoperative bowel function in terms of experienced satisfaction or pain. There were statistically significant differences in postoperative bowel function between different types of surgery (p < 0.01). Nurses should take into consideration hepatectomy patients’ type of surgery and pay special attention in supporting major open hepatectomy patients’ postoperative bowel function. Nurses should educate patients undergoing major open hepatectomy about prolonged postoperative bowel function.