Aerobic exercise equipment preferences among older adults: a preliminary investigation

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument that would measure the aerobic exercise equipment preferences of a frail older population and to see, despite a small sample size, if a many-facet Rasch analysis would provide useful information concerning the construct validity of the instrument and the equipment preferences of the sample. Sixteen ambulatory seniors (M = 82.0 yr +/- 6.6; 4 males and 12 females), who resided in a local retirement community and were involved in a structured fitness program, evaluated the following exercise equipment: Schwinn Air-Dyne, Nu-Step Recumbent Stepper; Monark bicycle ergometer; Stairmaster; and PTS Turbo Recumbent Bicycle. Participants used the equipment for 5 min. and then completed the survey via a structured interview technique. Test-retest reliability coefficients indicated the participants' responses were stable across days for each piece of exercise equipment (proportions of agreement >.83; km >.77). A many-facet (equipment, items, participants) Rasch analysis verified that 12 closed format items defined a linear construct of equipment preference (separation = 1.8; reliability =.77). The pieces of equipment were placed on the linear continuum according to their equipment preference measures (separation = 3.21; reliability =.91) derived from the participants' response patterns to the items (separation = 1.43; reliability =.67). Although the MNSQ infit and outfit statistics were acceptable for each facet, the items did not target the equipment very well. Suggested changes to the instrument include converting questions to statements to use with Likert response categories; converting negative wording to positive phrasing, and adding items related to seat comfort, foot pedal placement, and visibility of display panel. The Nu-Step and Schwinn were the most preferred pieces of equipment while the Stairmaster was the least preferred. This preliminary investigation illustrates how useful information can be obtained from a many-facet Rasch analysis to guide instrument revision and better understand exercise equipment preferences among a frail older population.     

Nanoscale glassification of gold substrates for surface plasmon resonance analysis of protein toxins with supported lipid membranes

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, a powerful tool for biosensing and protein interaction analysis, is currently confined to gold substrates and the relevant surface chemistries involving dextran and functional thiols. Drawbacks of using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) for SPR-related surface modification include limited stability, pinhole defects, bioincompatibility, and nonspecific protein adsorption. Here we report the development of stable nanometer-scale glass (silicate) layers on gold substrates for SPR analysis of protein toxins. The nanoscale silicate layers were built up with layer-by-layer deposition of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and sodium silicate, followed by calcination at high temperature. The resulting silicate films have a thickness ranging from 2 to 15 nm and demonstrate outstanding stability in flow cell conditions. The use of these surfaces as a platform to construct supported bilayer membranes (SBMs) is demonstrated, and improved performance against protein adsorption on SBM-coated surfaces is quantified by SPR measurements. SBMs can be formed reproducibly on the silicate surface via vesicle fusion and quantitatively removed using injection of 5% Triton X-100 solution, generating a fresh surface for each test. Membrane properties such as lateral diffusion of the SBMs on the silicate films are characterized with photobleaching methods. Studies of protein binding with biotin/avidin and ganglioside/cholera toxin systems show detection limits lower than 1 microg/mL (i.e., nanomolar range), and the response reproducibility is better than 7% RSD. The method reported here allows many assay techniques developed for glass surfaces to be transferred to label-free SPR analysis without the need for adaptation of protocols and time-consuming synthetic development of thiol-based materials and opens new avenues for developing novel bioanalytical technologies for protein analysis.     

Riding through red lights: the rate, characteristics and risk factors of non-compliant urban commuter cyclists

This study determined the rate and associated factors of red light infringement among urban commuter cyclists. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a covert video camera to record cyclists at 10 sites across metropolitan Melbourne, Australia from October 2008 to April 2009. In total, 4225 cyclists faced a red light and 6.9% were non-compliant. The main predictive factor for infringement was direction of travel, cyclists turning left (traffic travels on the left-side in Australia) had 28.3 times the relative odds of infringement compared to cyclists who continued straight through the intersection. Presence of other road users had a deterrent effect with the odds of infringement lower when a vehicle travelling in the same direction was present (OR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.28–0.53) or when other cyclists were present (OR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.19–0.36). Findings suggest that some cyclists do not perceive turning left against a red signal to be unsafe and the opportunity to ride through the red light during low cross traffic times influences the likelihood of infringement.     

Polyethylene crystallization nucleated by carbon nanotubes under shear

Polyethylene crystallization under shear has been studied in the presence of single-wall, few-wall, and multiwall carbon nanotubes (SWNT, FWNT, and MWNT). Polyethylene crystal d-spacings for (110) and (200) planes in polyethylene/carbon nanotubes (CNT) are smaller than in the control polyethylene without CNT and the polymer chain is oriented along the CNT axis. The single-wall carbon nanotube templated polyethylene crystals do not redissolve in boiling xylenes; instead, the chain morphology transforms to an amorphous conformation but remains oriented along the nanotube axis. SWNT crystal peaks were also observed in polyethylene/SWNT fibers.     

Bulimia: From syncope to obsession.

The syndrome now known as bulimia is entirely different from the syndrome first described in its earliest use in the literature of classical Greece. Xenophon used the term bulimia in 399 B.C. to describe fainting in the cold with disturbed appetite. This use persisted across thousands of years of vivid debates in which bulimia was repeatedly differentiated from fames canina, an eating disorder characterized by excessive eating and vomiting. The centrality of syncope in bulimia disappeared during the 18th century, and the peripheral feature of hunger became the defining symptom. In very recent times, bulimia has been adopted as a formal name for a psychogenic eating disorder. The syndrome of syncope to which the diagnostic term bulimia was originally applied is identified as "hypoglycemia." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identity and spirituality: A psychosocial exploration of the sense of spiritual self.

The authors examined the structure and content of adults' sense of spiritual identity by analyzing semistructured interviews with 13 spiritually devout men and 15 devout women, ages 22 to 72. Individuals' responses to the Role-Related Identity Interview (G. T. Sorell, M. J. Montgomery, & N. A. Busch-Rossnagel, 1997b) were content analyzed and rated on the role-related spiritual identity dimensions of role salience and flexibility. Individuals were categorized as spiritually foreclosed, achieved, or in moratorium, on the basis of their motivational, affective, self-evaluative, and behavioral investments in spiritually defined roles and their reflectiveness about and behavioral changes in role-related spiritual identity. Similarities and differences within and between spiritual identity status groups were observed, suggesting a variety of ways that spiritual identity provides a sense of continuity as well as a domain for adult developmental change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dopamine D? receptor stimulation of the nucleus accumbens or the medial preoptic area promotes the onset of maternal behavior in pregnancy-terminated rats.

There is good evidence that interference with the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system results in impaired maternal responding in postpartum female rats. However, whether activation of the mesolimbic DA system is capable of promoting maternal behavior has not been investigated. This study examined whether increasing DA activity in various brain regions of pregnancy-terminated, naive female rats would stimulate the onset of maternal behavior. Experiments 1 and 2 examined the effects of microinjection of various doses (0, 0.2, or 0.5 μg/0.5 μl/side) of a D? DA receptor agonist, SKF 38393, or a D? DA receptor agonist, quinpirole, into the nucleus accumbens (NA) on latency to show full maternal behavior, and Experiment 3 determined the effects of SKF 38393 injection into a control site. Finally, because the medial preoptic area (MPOA) is also important for maternal behavior, receives DA input, and expresses DA receptors, the authors examined whether microinjection of SKF 38393 into MPOA was capable of stimulating the onset of maternal behavior. Results indicated that microinjection of SKF 38393 into either the NA or the MPOA facilitates maternal responding in pregnancy-terminated rats. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparison of behaviors and play themes over a six-week period: Two case studies in play therapy.

As a method for counseling children, play therapy continues to demonstrate effectiveness through research and to be included in mental health training programs throughout the country. However, like other counseling interventions, capturing the essence of the therapeutic environment is complex and dependent on individual perspectives and experiences. In this article, two case studies are presented to demonstrate the use of quantitative and qualitative measures in comparing the behavioral changes as rated by caregivers on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and play themes observed by play therapists over a 6-week period. For both children in the study, behaviors and themes were related. As the children made changes in their play themes over the 6-week period, they also made changes in their behaviors at home. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)