On the heritability of inspection time and its covariance with IQ: A twin study

Using the classical twin design, this study investigates the influence of genetic factors on the large phenotypic variance in inspection time (IT), and whether the well established IT-IQ association can be explained by a common genetic factor. Three hundred ninety pairs of twins (184 monozygotic, MZ; 206 dizygotic, DZ) with a mean age of 16 years participated, and 49 pairs returned approximately 3 months, later for retesting. As in many IT studies, the pi figure stimulus was used and IT was estimated from the cumulative normal ogive. IT ranged from 39.4 to 774.1 ms (159 +/- 110.1 ms) with faster ITs (by an average of 26.9 ms) found in the retest session from which a reliability of .69 was estimated. Full-scale IQ (FIQ) was assessed by the Multidimensional Aptitude Battery (MAB) and ranged from 79 to 145 (111 +/- 13). The phenotypic association between IT and FIQ was confirmed (- .35) and bivariate results showed that a common genetic factor accounted for 36% of the variance in IT and 32% of the variance in FIQ. The maximum likelihood estimate of the genetic correlation was - .63. When performance and verbal IQ (PIQ & VIQ) were analysed with IT, a stronger phenotypic and genetic relationship was found between PIQ and IT than with VIQ. A large part of the IT variance (64%) was accounted for by a unique environmental factor. Further genetic factors were needed to explain the remaining variance in IQ with a small component of unique environmental variance present. The separability of a shared genetic factor influencing IT and IQ from the total genetic variance in IQ suggests that IT affects a specific subcomponent of intelligence rather than a generalised efficiency. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated edge-detection technique for measurement of brachial artery reactivity: A comparison of concordance with manual measurements

Concerns have been raised about the reproducibility of brachial artery reactivity (BAR), because subjective decisions regarding the location of interfaces may influence the measurement of very small changes in lumen diameter. We studied 120 consecutive patients with BAR to address if an automated technique could be applied, and if experience influenced reproducibility between two observers, one experienced and one inexperienced. Digital cineloops were measured automatically, using software that measures the leading edge of the endothelium and tracks this in sequential frames and also manually, where a set of three point-to-point measurements were averaged. There was a high correlation between automated and manual techniques for both observers, although less variability was present with expert readers. The limits of agreement overall for interobserver concordance were 0.13 +/-0.65 mm for the manual and 0.03 +/-0.74 mm for the automated measurement. For intraobserver concordance, the limits of agreement were -0.07 +/-0.38 mm for observer 1 and -0.16 +/-0.55 mm for observer 2. We concluded that BAR measurements were highly concordant between observers, although more concordant using the automated method, and that experience does affect concordance. Care must be taken to ensure that the same segments are measured between observers and serially.

Manual asymmetries in the preparation and control of goal-directed movements

The primary purpose of this experiment was to determine if left hand reaction time advantages in manual aiming result from a right hemisphere attentional advantage or an early right hemisphere role in movement preparation. Right-handed participants were required to either make rapid goal-directed movements to small targets or simply lift their hand upon target illumination. The amount of advance information about the target for a particular trial was manipulated by precuing a subset of potential targets prior to the reaction time interval. When participants were required to make aiming movements to targets in left space, the left hand enjoyed a reaction advantage that was not present for aiming in right space: or simple finger lifts. This advantage was independent of the amount or type of advance information provided by the precue. This finding supports the movement planning hypothesis. With respect to movement execution, participants completed their aiming movements more quickly when aiming with their right hand, particularly in right space. This right hand advantage in right space was due to the time required to decelerate the movement and to make feedback-based adjustments late in the movement trajectory. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

Rhythmic variations in pain, stiffness, and manual dexterity in hand osteoarthritis

Objective: To explore circadian variation in pain, stiffness, and manual dexterity inpatients with hand osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Twenty one patients with hand OA, as defined by ACR criteria (17 women, four men, mean age 62.2 years, range 52-74 years) self rated pain and stiffness on separate 10 cm horizontal visual analogue scales and performed bead intubation coordinometry (BIC) six times each day (on waking up, at bedtime, and every four hours in between) for 10 consecutive days. Each series (using data with the trend removed if there was a significant trend) was analysed for circadian rhythmicity by a cosine. vector technique (single cosinor). With individual data expressed as the percentage of the mean, group rhythm characteristics at period 24 hours were summarised for each variable by population mean cosinor analysis. Results: Individual analyses identified significant circadian rhythms at pless than or equal to0.05 for pain (n=15/21), stiffness (n=16/20), and dexterity (n=18/21), and a significant circadian rhythm on a group basis was identified for pain (p=0.013), stiffness (p

A pilot study of the manual force levels required to produce manipulation induced hypoalgesia

Objective. A pilot investigation of the influence of different force levels on a treatment technique's hypoalgesic effect. Design. Randomised single blind repeated measures. Background. Optimisation of such biomechanical treatment variables as the point of force application, direction of force application and the level of applied manual force is classically regarded as the basis of best practice manipulative therapy. Manipulative therapy is frequently used to alleviate pain, a treatment effect that is often studied directly in the neurophysiological, paradigm and seldom in biomechanical research. The relationship between the level of force applied by a technique (e.g. biomechanics) and its hypoalgesic effect was the focus of this study. Method. The experiment involved the application of a lateral glide mobilisation with movement treatment technique to the symptomatic elbow of six subjects with lateral epicondylalgia. Four different levels of force, which were measured with a flexible pressure-sensing mat, were randomly applied while the subject performed a pain free grip strength test. Results. Standardised manual force data varied from 0.76 to 4.54 N/cm, lower-upper limits 95 Cl, respectively. Pain free grip strength expressed as a percentage change from pre-treatment values was significantly greater with manual forces beyond 1.9 N/cm (P = 0.014). Conclusions. This study, albeit a pilot, provides preliminary evidence that in terms of the hypoalgesic effect of a mobilisation with movement treatment technique, there may be an optimal level of applied manual force.

Lateralization of speech production using verbal/manual dual tasks: meta-analysis of sex differences and practice effects

The present paper reviews the findings of 30 years of verbal/manual dual task studies, the method most commonly used to assess lateralization of speech production in non-clinical samples. Meta-analysis of 64 results revealed that both the type of manual task used and the nature of practice that is given influence the size of the laterality effect. A meta-analysis of 36 results examining the effect size of sex differences in estimate,, of lateralization of speech production indicated that males appear to show, slightly larger laterality effects than females. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of manual hyperinflation on hemodynamics, gas exchange, and respiratory mechanics in ventilated patients

The authors investigated the effect of manual hyperinflation (MHI) with set parameters applied to patients on mechanical ventilation on hemodynamics, respiratory mechanics, and gas exchange. Sixteen critically ill patients post-septic shock, with acute lung injury, were studied. Heart rate, arterial pressure, and mean pulmonary artery pressure were recorded every minute. pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, cardiac output, arterial blood gases, and dynamic compliance (C-dyn) were recorded pre- and post-MHI. From this, systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), cardiac index, oxygen delivery, and partial pressure of oxygen:fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2:FiO(2)) ratio were calculated. There were significant increases in SVRI (P < 0.05) post-MHI and diastolic arterial pressure (P < 0.01)during MHI. C-dyn increased post-MHI (P < 0.01) and was sustained at 20 minutes post-MHI (P < 0.01). Subjects with an intrapulmonary cause of lung disease had a significant decrease (P = 0.02) in PaO2:FiO(2), and those with extrapulmonary causes of lung disease had a significant increase (P < 0.001) in PaO2:FiO(2) post-MHI. In critically ill patients, MHI resulted in an improvement in lung mechanics and an improvement in gas exchange in patients with lung disease due to extrapulmonary events and did not result in impairment of the cardiovascular system.

Hemodynamic and ventilatory effects of manual respiratory physiotherapy techniques of chest clapping, vibration, and shaking in an animal model

Chest clapping, vibration, and shaking were studied in 10 physiotherapists who applied these techniques on an anesthetized animal model. Hemodynamic variables (such as heart rate, blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and right atrial pressure) were measured during the application of these techniques to verify claims of adverse events. In addition, expired tidal volume and peak expiratory flow rate were measured to ascertain effects of these techniques. Physiotherapists in this study applied chest clapping at a rate of 6.2 +/- 0.9 Hz, vibration at 10.5 +/- 2.3 Hz, and shaking at 6.2 +/- 2.3 Hz. With the use of these rates, esophageal pressure swings of 8.8 +/- 5.0, 0.7 +/- 0.3, and 1.4 +/- 0.7 mmHg resulted from clapping, vibration, and shaking respectively. Variability in rates and forces generated by these techniques was 80% of variance in shaking force (P = 0.003). Application of these techniques by physiotherapists was found to have no significant effects on hemodynamic and most ventilatory variables in this study. From this study, we conclude that chest clapping, vibration, and shaking 1) can be consistently performed by physiotherapists; 2) are significantly related to physiotherapists' characteristics, particularly clinical experience; and 3) caused no significant hemodynamic effects.

Manual do Reposit??rio institucional da ENAP

O Manual do Reposit??rio Institucional da ENAP foi elaborado com o objetivo de auxiliar a compreens??o e utiliza????o dessa ferramenta, visando ?? capacita????o de pontos focais que far??o a submiss??o de ativos digitais, a valida????o dos documentos depositados, e dos revisores de metadados, que ir??o de fato publicar os itens no reposit??rio, orientando quanto ??s regras para o preenchimento do conjunto de metadados, e aos passos necess??rios para o fluxo de submiss??o.

Manual de procedimentos e rotinas de c??lculos judiciais

O projeto refere-se ?? elabora????o de um manual que aborda, de forma pontual e objetiva, a legisla????o relativa aos procedimentos a serem observados nos processos sob responsabilidade da Advocacia Geral da Uni??o ??? AGU, em tramita????o na Justi??a Federal e Justi??a do Trabalho. O manual re??ne no????es sobre a legisla????o do processo, cria normas e rotinas para a an??lise, confer??ncia, elabora????o de c??lculos e per??cias judiciais, fornece f??rmulas, tabelas e ??ndices aplicados nos c??lculos. A ado????o do manual trouxe resultados qualitativos e quantitativos na medida em que a padroniza????o dos procedimentos se traduziu na melhoria da produtividade e transpar??ncia dos c??lculos, aumentando o grau de confiabilidade e seguran??a para os representantes judiciais que promovem a defesa da Uni??o