Benefits of immediate repetition versus long study presentation on memory in amnesia.

Objective: This study aimed to resolve discrepant findings in the literature regarding the effects of massed repetition and a single long study presentation on memory in amnesia. Method: Experiment 1 assessed recognition memory in 9 amnesic patients and 18 controls following presentation of a study list that contained items shown for a single short study presentation, a single long study presentation, and three massed repetitions. In Experiment 2, the same encoding conditions were presented in a blocked rather than intermixed format to all participants from Experiment 1. Results: In Experiment 1, control participants showed benefits associated with both types of extended exposure, and massed repetition was more beneficial than long study presentation, F(2, 34) = 14.03, p F F(2, 50) = 4.80, p = .012, partial η2 = .16. Amnesic patients showed significant and equivalent benefit associated with both types of extended exposure, F(2, 16) = 5.58, p = .015, partial η2 = .41, but control participants again benefited more from massed repetition than from long study presentation, F(2, 34) = 23.74, p     

The Hybrid World of Virtual Environments

Much of the work concerned with virtual environments has addressed the development of new rendering technologies or interaction techniques. As the technology matures and becomes adopted in a wider range of applications, there is, however, a need to better understand how this technology can be accommodated in software engineering practice. A particular challenge presented by virtual environments is the complexity of the interaction that is supported, and sometimes necessary, for a particular task. Methods such as finite-state automata which are used to represent and design dialogue components for more conventional interfaces, e.g. using direct manipulation within a desktop model, do not seem to capture adequately the style of interaction that is afforded by richer input devices and graphical models. In this paper, we suggest that virtual environments are, fundamentally, what are known as hybrid systems. Building on this insight, we demonstrate how techniques developed for modelling hybrid systems can be used to represent and understand virtual interaction in a way that can be used in the specification and design phases of software development, and which have the potential to support prototyping and analysis of virtual interfaces.     

The Role of Advanced Glycation End Products and Its Soluble Receptor in Kidney Diseases

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more prone to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which may lead to an increase in the synthesis of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Because AGEs are mostly removed by healthy kidneys, AGE accumulation is a result of both increased production and decreased kidney clearance. On the other hand, AGEs may potentially hasten decreasing kidney function in CKD patients, and are independently related to all-cause mortality. They are one of the non-traditional risk factors that play a significant role in the underlying processes that lead to excessive cardiovascular disease in CKD patients. When AGEs interact with their cell-bound receptor (RAGE), cell dysfunction is initiated by activating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), increasing the production and release of inflammatory cytokines. Alterations in the AGE-RAGE system have been related to the development of several chronic kidney diseases. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) is a decoy receptor that suppresses membrane-bound RAGE activation and AGE-RAGE-related toxicity. sRAGE, and more specifically, the AGE/sRAGE ratio, may be promising tools for predicting the prognosis of kidney diseases. In the present review, we discuss the potential role of AGEs and sRAGE as biomarkers in different kidney pathologies.     

Processing practices contributing to Campylobacter contamination in Belgian chicken meat preparations

The aim of this study was to obtain insight into processing practices in the poultry sector contributing to the variability in Campylobacter contamination in Belgian chicken meat preparations. This was achieved by company profiling of eleven food business operators, in order to evaluate variation of processing management, in addition to statistical modelling of microbiological testing results for Campylobacter spp. contamination in 656 end product samples. Almost half (48%) of chicken meat preparation samples were positive for Campylobacter spp. Results revealed a statistically significant variation in Campylobacter contamination between 11 chicken meat producers across Belgium at both quantitative and qualitative detection levels. All producers provided Campylobacter-positive samples, but prevalence ranged from 9% up to 85% at single producer level. The presence or addition of skin during production of chicken meat preparations resulted in almost 2.2-fold increase in the probability of a sample being positive for Campylobacter, while chicken meat preparations made from frozen meat, or partly containing pre-frozen meat, had a significant (Odds Ratio=0.41; CI 95% 0.18:0.98) lower probability of being positive for Campylobacter. However, the quantitative results indicated that the positive freezing effect on Campylobacter count was compromised by the presence and/or adding of skin.     

Integrated community‐based growth monitoring and vegetable gardens focusing on crops rich in β‐carotene: Project evaluation in a rural community in the Eastern Cape,South Africa

BACKGROUND: Cultivation in β‐carotene vegetables was promoted in a crop‐based intervention in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The project also included nutrition education and community‐based growth monitoring, and focused on technology transfer and mobilisation of local organisations. Three years after initiation of the project, participating (n = 219) and non‐participating (n = 223) households were compared in terms of child morbidity, nutritional knowledge, dietary intake and gardening practices. RESULTS: Compared to control households, more caregivers from project households thought that yellow fruit and vegetables were good for their children (73% vs. 45%; P < 0.001), were familiar with the term ‘vitamin A’ (89% vs. 63%; P < 0.001), knew that vitamin A is a nutrient in food (83% vs. 53%; P < 0.001), and could name three food sources rich in vitamin A (56% vs. 27%; P < 0.001). Fewer 1–5‐year‐old children in the project households reportedly experienced vomiting (6% vs. 13%; P = 0.012), fever (30% vs. 42%; P = 0.008), sores on the skin (6% vs. 19%; P < 0.001), continuous runny nose (20% vs. 33%; P = 0.002), diarrhoea (2% vs. 7%; P = 0.026) and poor appetite (7% vs. 14%; P = 0.016). Children from project households consumed carrot (P = 0.008), butternut (P = 0.002), spinach (P = 0.004) and orange‐fleshed sweetpotato (P = 0.028) more frequently than children from control households. CONCLUSION: The agricultural intervention, combined with nutrition education and community‐based growth monitoring, showed a favourable effect on child morbidity, nutritional knowledge and dietary intake of β‐carotene‐rich vegetables. Agricultural interventions can therefore contribute significantly towards nutritional outcomes. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

A survey on hygienic practices and their impact on the microbiological quality and safety in the Rwandan milk and dairy chain

This study assessed the status of hygienic practices in the Rwandan milk and dairy chain. Data collection was based on interviews with the help of a survey and site visits to farms, collection centres, milk processing companies, small‐scale cheese plants, wholesale points, supermarkets and milk shops. The observed status of good practices was further linked to actual microbiological data. It was concluded that there is a major gap in compliance with hygienic practices leading to higher levels of contaminated dairy products.     

Mutations in the FAD-binding fold of alcohol oxidase from Hansenula polymorpha

Alcohol oxidase of methylotrophic yeast is an FAD-containingenzyme. When in its active form, the enzyme is an octamer andlocated in the peroxisomes. To study the importance of FAD-bindingon the activity, octamerization and intracellular localizationof the enzyme, alcohol oxidase of Hansenula polymorpha was mutatedin its presumed nucleotide-binding domain, which is formed bythe N-terminal sequence. Whereas mutations of a glutamic acidresidue (E42) reduced thestability of the octamer, it hardlyaffected enzyme activity and expression. However, replacementsof three conserved glycines (G13, G15 and G18) and a conservedglutamic acid (E39) within the fold had severe effects. The utations not only resulted in loss of enzyme activity but inreduced protein levels as well, probably due to decreased stabilityof the mutant alcohol oxidase. However, octamerization of theprotein still occurred. The existence of inactive octamericproteins provides information about the formation pathway ofthis octameric flavoprotein.     

Arterial blood pressure measurement with oscillometric instruments in newborns and infants

Non-invasive blood pressure measurements by the auscultatory method do not provide reliable, reproducible blood pressure values in many neonates because the Korottkoff sounds are often very difficult to detect. This resulted in the development of many alternative indirect methods. Devices utilizing the Doppler ultrasound technique have not found wide acceptance. Since the introduction of automated oscillometric blood pressure monitors, arterial blood pressure has been increasingly brought into discussion as an indicator of the circulatory state. This is the first study to investigate the similarity and reproducibility of the data obtained with five oscillometric devices for measurement of blood pressure in neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Since investigations on the technical performance are not practical in the clinical setting of a neonatal or pediatric ward, we used two simulators, the CuffLink (Dynatech, Nevada, USA) and a device developed by the PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt). While the latter uses oscillations originally obtained from neonates, the CuffLink uses artificial and therefore ideal signals for the blood pressure monitors. The signals used for the PTB simulator were obtained from three neonates with an average age of 2 months and a weight of 3.5 kg, 4.4 kg, and 7.8 kg. The following blood pressure monitors were studied: Hoyer/Colin, BP-1001; Datex, Cardiocap II; SpaceLabs, model no. 90426; Hewlett-Packard, NBP M1008A; Critikon, Dinamap 1846. Before the measurements were started, the cuff pressure display of each monitor was checked according to a verification procedure. Although the 4 mmHg margin of error was not exceeded, the results were corrected. RESULTS. The results of the measurements show significant differences between the blood pressure monitors from the various manufacturers, with the differences for the ideal signals of the CuffLink-Simulator being less pronounced than those for the PTB simulator. Direct comparison of results is therefore often impossible. The standard deviation, taken from 20 measurements per monitor and simulation, is below 4 mmHg for both simulators. We can therefore conclude that the reproducibility of data is satisfactory and the emerging trend is reliable. DISCUSSION. The difference between the results of the PTB simulator and the CuffLink are probably due to the method of evaluation and the identification of artifacts of each blood pressure monitor. This is also confirmed by the studies of Mieke et al. The manufacturers should provide devices that display comparative results and improve the algorithms for detection of artefacts, increasing the accuracy of their blood pressure monitors. This could be done with the help of simulators. Considering the pathophysiological characteristics of neonates and infants, the systematic differences between the five monitors have to be regarded as serious.     

Implicit memory for pictures in amnesia: Role of etiology and priming task.

This study examined the performance of patients with Korsakoff and non-Korsakoff amnesia on tests of picture priming. Both groups showed intact priming on a picture-naming task but impaired priming on a fragment-completion task when fragmented pictures were presented at study. When whole pictures were presented at study, patients with non-Korsakoff amnesia showed intact priming, but Korsakoff patients' priming remained impaired. Both groups performed equally poorly on a picture-recognition task. It is concluded that non-Korsakoff patients show intact picture priming when explicit memory does not contaminate fragment-completion performance. Korsakoff patients, in contrast, show a selective impairment in the perceptual processes that mediate picture-fragment completion priming. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Towards a Logic for Performance and Mobility

Klaim is an experimental language designed for modeling and programming distributed systems composed of mobile components where distribution awareness and dynamic system architecture configuration are key issues. StocKlaim [R. De Nicola, D. Latella, and M. Massink. Formal modeling and quantitative analysis of KLAIM-based mobile systems. In ACM Symposium on Applied Computing (SAC). ACM Press, 2005. Also available as Technical Report 2004-TR-25; CNR/ISTI, 2004] is a Markovian extension of the core subset of Klaim which includes process distribution, process mobility, asynchronous communication, and site creation. In this paper, MoSL, a temporal logic for StocKlaim is proposed which addresses and integrates the issues of distribution awareness and mobility and those concerning stochastic behaviour of systems. The satisfiability relation is formally defined over labelled Markov chains. A large fragment of the proposed logic can be translated to action-based CSL for which efficient model-checkers exist. This way, such model-checkers can be used for the verification of StocKlaim models against MoSL properties. An example application is provided in the present paper.