Effect of temperature and carpel size during pre-anthesis on potential grain weight in wheat

The effect of environmental conditions immediately before anthesis on potential grain weight was investigated in wheat at the experimental field of the Faculty of Agronomy (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) during 1995 and 1996. Plants of two cultivars of wheat were grown in two environments (two contrasting sowing dates) to provide different background temperature conditions. In these environments, transparent boxes were installed covering the spikes in order to increase spike temperature for a short period (c. 6 days) immediately before anthesis, i.e. between ear emergence and anthesis. In both environments, transparent boxes increased mean temperatures by at least 3n8 mC. These increases were almost entirely due to the changes in maximum temperatures because minimum temperatures were little affected. Final grain weight was significantly reduced by higher temperature during the ear emergence–anthesis period. It is possible that this reduction could be mediated by the effect of the heat treatment on carpel weight at anthesis because a curvilinear association between final grain weight and carpel weight at anthesis was found. This curvilinear association may also indicate a threshold carpel weight for maximizing grain weight.

Prediction of rabbit meat and bone weight using measurements and sample cuts

Regression equations predicting dissectable muscle weight in rabbits from external measurements were presented. Bone weight and weight of muscle groups were also carcass predicted. Predictive capacity of external measurements, retail cuts and muscle groups on total muscle, percent muscle, total bone and muscle to bone ratio were studied separately. Measurements on dissected retail cuts should be included in ordcr to obtain good equations for prediction of percent muscle in the carcass. Equations for predicting the muscle to bone ratio using external mcasurcments and data from the dissection of one hind leg were suggested. The equations had generally high coefficients of determination. The coefficient of determination for prediction of dissectable muscle was 0.91, and for percent muscle in the carcass 0.79.

Précarité au cabinet du médecin de premier recours : perceptions de la précarité deleurs patients par 47 médecins romands

Introduction La précarité définit ce dont l'avenir, la durée ou la solidité ne sont pas assurés. Elle se développe notamment lorsque le niveau socio-économique est défavorable. Elle se définit par rapport à la communauté et peut être matérielle ou relationnelle. Le rapport entre précarité et santé peut se comprendre sous l'angle des déterminants sociaux de la santé, énoncés en 2004 par l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) : les conditions et les habitudes de vie influencent l'état de santé. Ayant un large accès à la population, les médecins de premier recours (MPR) sont des témoins privilégiés de la précarité et des inégalités sociales. La littérature définit la mission des MPR, mais il est essentiel de connaître leurs points de vue sur la question de la précarité, dans la réalité pratique. Méthode Ce travail de recherche a débuté par une revue approfondie de la littérature concernant les problématiques psychosociales en médecine. Une approche qualitative était ensuite nécessaire, sous forme d'entrevues semidirigées avec cinq différents médecins de la région lausannoise, afin de réaliser un questionnaire à soumettre à 47 autres médecins de premier recours, dans l'ensemble de la Suisse Romande, après validation par la commission cantonale vaudoise d'éthique. Résultats Cette enquête met en évidence l'existence et l'importance de la problématique de la précarité au sein du système de santé en Suisse Romande. Difficile à cerner, complexe et multifactorielle, certains ont tenté de la définir mais chacun l'apprécie différemment selon son vécu et sa sensibilité. Hormis ceux qui renoncent aux soins ou qui recourent aux urgences en dernier recours, la population qui consulte les MPR comporte entre 10 et 20% de patients précaires, proportion en augmentation ces dernières années et dépendant de la localisation. Les MPR détectent la précarité grâce à l'anamnèse psychosociale et certains marqueurs extérieurs. Leurs points de vue sont au coeur de notre question initiale. Pour eux, c'est leur rôle de détecter et prendre en charge, du moins partiellement, la précarité. Ils réfèrent ensuite souvent les patients vers d'autres structures ou corps de métiers mieux spécialisés. Ils ressentent, selon les situations, de la frustration, du surmenage, de l'impuissance mais aussi de la satisfaction personnelle dans ce type de prise en charge. La précarité complique souvent la prise en charge médicale : elle influence la survenue ou l'évolution du problème de santé, augmente le temps de consultation pour les patients précaires, induit une tendance chez les MPR à adapter le traitement ou réaliser moins d'investigations complémentaires en raison des difficultés économiques des patients et entraîne souvent des factures impayées. Les pathologies ou problèmes de santé les plus fréquemment rencontrés dans ces populations sont les troubles dépressifs, les addictions, les douleurs chroniques et le syndrome métabolique. Enfin, au delà du simple constat, les MPR expriment certains besoins pour mieux faire face à la précarité : ils souhaiteraient entre autres un carnet d'adresses utiles, un score mesurant la précarité et une formation continue à ce sujet. Conclusion La précarité est un sujet d'actualité et peut notamment influencer l'état de santé des populations, et inversement. Les MPR sont des témoins essentiels de cette problématique et la clé de sa détection, de par leur accès à une large population. Connaître leurs points de vue paraît donc essentiel si l'on souhaite imaginer des interventions visant à réduire les inégalités en matière de santé, pour une meilleure équité des soins. Entre ce qu'ils ressentent et les problèmes concrets d'organisation des consultations de patients précaires, le risque est un certain renoncement aux soins de la part des médecins, qui accentuerait celui des patients déjà existant. Finalement, la pénurie grandissante des MPR nécessite également de mieux comprendre leur mission et leurs conditions de travail, afin d'aider à redéfinir l'avenir du métier, pour continuer à exister et détecter ces situations à prendre en charge, visant à restaurer une santé solide et équilibrée, physique, mentale et sociale.

Perceptions of twelve-step mutual-help groups and their associations with motivation, treatment attendance and alcohol outcomes among chronically homeless individuals with alcohol problems.

BACKGROUND: Twelve-step mutual-help groups (TMGs) are among the most available forms of support for homeless individuals with alcohol problems. Qualitative research, however, has suggested that this population often has negative perceptions of these groups, which has been shown to be associated with low TMG attendance. It is important to understand this population's perceptions of TMGs and their association with alcohol outcomes to provide more appropriate and better tailored programming for this multiply affected population. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to (a) qualitatively examine perception of TMGs in this population and (b) quantitatively evaluate its association with motivation, treatment attendance and alcohol outcomes. METHODS: Participants (N=62) were chronically homeless individuals with alcohol problems who received single-site Housing First within a larger evaluation study. Perceptions of TMGs were captured using an open-ended item. Quantitative outcome variables were created from assessments of motivation, treatment attendance and alcohol outcomes. RESULTS: Findings indicated that perceptions of TMGs were primarily negative followed by positive and neutral perceptions, respectively. There were significant, positive associations between perceptions of TMGs and motivation and treatment attendance, whereas no association was found for alcohol outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although some individuals view TMGs positively, alternative forms of help are needed to engage the majority of chronically homeless individuals with alcohol problems.

Time patterns and perceptions of online learning success factors

Online learning provides the opportunity to work on academic tasks at any time at the same time as doing other activities, such as using in web 2.0 tools. This study identifies factors that contribute to success in online learning from the students¿ perspective and their relationship with time patterns. A survey of learning outputs was used to find relationships between students¿ satisfaction, knowledge acquisition and knowledge transfer with time for working on academic tasks. In this study, 199 students from a university in Mexico completed the survey. Findings suggest that knowledge transfer has a significant association with the number of hours online per day, hours spent on social networks and the use made of e-learning during working hours. Learner satisfaction has a strong relationship with the time in years a learner has been using the Internet and the number of hours devoted to the course per week. The findings of this research will be helpful for faculty and instructional designers for implementing learning strategies.

The transtheoretical model in weight management: Validation of the Processes of Change Questionnaire

Objective: The processes of change implied in weight management remain unclear. The present study aimed to identify these processes by validating a questionnaire designed to assess processes of change (the P-Weight) in line with the transtheoretical model. The relationship of processes of change with stages of change and other external variables is also examined. Methods: Participants were 723 people from community and clinical settings in Barcelona. Their mean age was 32.07 (SD = 14.55) years; most of them were women (75.0%), and their mean BMI was 26.47 (SD = 8.52) kg/m2. They all completed the P-Weight and the stages of change questionnaire (SWeight), both applied to weight management, as well as two subscales from the Eating Disorders Inventory-2 and Eating Attitudes Test-40 questionnaires about the concern with dieting. Results: A 34-item version of the PWeight was obtained by means of a refinement process. The principal components analysis applied to half of the sample identified four processes of change. A confirmatory factor analysis was then carried out with the other half of the sample, revealing that the model of four freely correlated first-order factors showed the best fit (GFI = 0.988, AGFI = 0.986, NFI = 0.986, and SRMR = 0.0559). Corrected item-total correlations (0.322-0.865) and Cronbach"s alpha coefficients (0.781-0.960) were adequate. The relationship between the P-Weight and the S-Weight and the concern with dieting measures from other questionnaires supported the validity of the scale. Conclusion: The study identified processes of change involved in weight management and reports the adequate psychometric properties of the P-Weight. It also reveals the relationship between processes and stages of change and other external variables.

Executive functions profile in extreme eating/weight conditions: from anorexia nervosa to obesity

Extreme weight conditions (EWC) groups along a continuum may share some biological risk factors and intermediate neurocognitive phenotypes. A core cognitive trait in EWC appears to be executive dysfunction, with a focus on decision making, response inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Differences between individuals in these areas are likely to contribute to the differences in vulnerability to EWC. The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is a common pattern of executive dysfunction in EWC while comparing anorexia nervosa patients (AN), obese subjects (OB) and healthy eating/weight controls (HC).