Exercise as a mediator of psychological and nutritional effects of testosterone therapy in HIV+ men

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether exercise mediates the psychological and nutritional effects of testosterone therapy in men with symptomatic HIV illness, low serum testosterone, and clinical symptoms of hypogonadism. METHODS: A 12-wk open trial of biweekly intramuscular testosterone injections was conducted, with 54 men completing the trial and exercise assessments. Most (71%) men were diagnosed with AIDS; 41% had a CD4 < 50. One-third of the men were diagnosed with major depression, and nearly half had some evidence of wasting. Twenty-nine men (54%) engaged in exercise (predominantly resistance training) during the trial. Exercisers did not differ from nonexercisers on any measure of psychological well being or nutritional status at baseline. RESULTS: After 12 wk of testosterone treatment, those who exercised showed significant improvement in mood (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression; HAM-D) and overall distress (Brief Symptom Inventory; BSI) (P < 0.000 for both), as well as a significant increase in body cell mass (P < 0.01) and lean body mass (mean increase of 2.6 kg; P < 0.000) as measured by bioelectric impedance analysis. In contrast, nonexercisers showed improvement on the HAM-D (P < 0.000), but not the BSI or measures of nutritional status. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that exercise may be an important adjunct to testosterone therapy in the treatment of psychological distress and wasting symptoms in men with symptomatic HIV illness.     

Marfan syndrome with coronary artery lesions in a North American Indian

From a preliminary evaluation, many of the disadvantages of the conventional arch bars appear to be overcome with this new technique. Of particular importance is that no anesthetic is required during placement of the arch bars except when needed for aligning displaced segments or open reductions. The laboratory work can be delegated to a technician, and operating time rarely exceeds an hour. Further evaluation is being done.     

Development of eating problems in adolescent girls: A longitudinal study.

Examined the emergence of eating problems in adolescent girls as a function of pubertal growth, body image, personality development, and family relationships. 193 White females and their mothers were seen in middle-school years (M age?=?13.93 years) and 2 years later. Results showed that girls who early in adolescence felt most negatively about their bodies were more likely to develop eating problems (on EAT-26) 2 years later. Concurrently, Time 1 eating problems were associated with body fat, grade, negative body image, and psychopathology, but not family relationships. At Time 2, adolescent body image and internalizing dimensions of psychopathology predicted problem-eating scores, as did maternal body image and depression. Findings are discussed in terms of adolescent patterns of adaptation, developmental psychopathology, and the study's relevance for understanding clinical eating disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of the modality principle to support learning with virtual reality: An eye-tracking and electrodermal activity study

Background

Virtual reality (VR) is considered a promising approach to support learning. An instructional design is essential to optimize cognitive processes. Studies show that VR has unique instructional and pedagogical requirements.

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of the modality principle, which was previously validated in 2D classic multimedia, for learning with VR. The modality principle states that multimedia information presented as spoken narration is superior to on-screen text.

Methods

A prospective experimental study with two compared conditions of instruction: VR-based learning guided by on-screen text (n = 34) versus spoken narration (n = 28). Students' cognitive learning experiences were captured by eye-tracking and electrodermal activity (EDA). In addition, students' knowledge was evaluated using a pre–post knowledge test.

Results and Conclusions

Overall, there was no significant difference in knowledge retention between the participants who learned with on-screen text compared to spoken narration. However, results from the eye-tracking analysis showed that students who learned with the on-screen text devoted longer visual attention toward important learning activity areas of interest, suggesting a better ability to discern between relevant and irrelevant information. Conversely, students who learned with the spoken narration expressed significantly more EDA peak responses, proposing a higher cognitive load.

Implications

This study outlines that while learning with VR was effective, the modality principle might not apply to learning with VR. Moreover, the analysis of the learning process suggests even an inverse effect, favouring the provision of instructional scaffolds as on-screen text. Future research should evaluate this effect on long-term knowledge retention.     

On the Degradation of Retained Austenite in Transformation Induced Plasticity Steel

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - A transformation-induced plasticity steel was thermomechanically processed and then transformed to bainite at an isothermal transformation temperature...     

Solid-state dewetting of thin iron films on sapphire substrates controlled by grain boundary diffusion

The initial stages of solid-state dewetting of 25 nm-thick Fe films on basal plane-oriented sapphire substrates were found to occur via nucleation and growth of through-thickness craters within the film. The rims along these voids were not elevated, in contrast to commonly observed void growth mechanisms. Instead, the material that was consumed during the crater expansion was absorbed by several isolated grains in its vicinity but not adjacent to it. These grains transformed into faceted hillocks that protruded above the original film surface at later stages. A thin film dewetting model is proposed, in which the self-diffusion of Fe atoms along the grain boundaries transports the mass from the expanding cavities to the hillocks and determines the kinetics of this dilation. The grain boundary self-diffusion coefficients of Fe that were estimated based on the experimentally determined crater expansion rates and the proposed model agreed well with the literature.     

Constitutive Modeling of the Tensile Behavior of Al-TWIP Steel

High Mn steels demonstrate an exceptional combination of high strength and large ductility as a result of their high strain-hardening rate during deformation. The microstructure evolution and strain-hardening behavior of Fe18Mn0.6C1.5Al TWIP steel in uniaxial tension were examined. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of all the relevant deformation mechanisms—slip, twinning, and dynamic strain aging. Constitutive modeling was carried out based on the Kubin–Estrin model, in which the densities of mobile and forest dislocations are coupled to account for the interaction between the two dislocation populations during straining. These coupled dislocation densities were used to simulate the contribution of dynamic strain aging to the flow stress. The model was modified to include the effect of twinning. To ascertain the validity of the model, the microstructural evolution was characterized in detail by means of transmission electron microscopy and electron back-scatter diffraction.     

The effect of the new traffic law on drinking and driving in São Paulo,Brazil

Objective

To present data on drinking and driving in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and the effects of the new traffic law (Law 11,705) introduced in 2008.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed using a questionnaire and passive breath test data to study the prevalence of drinking and driving and the association of drinking and driving with background characteristics and drinking patterns on two separate occasions. The data were gathered from 2007 to 2009 through roadside surveys conducted on busy public roads. Four thousand two-hundred thirty-four (4234) drivers were approached, before and after prohibition, from the south, north, east, and west regions of the city of São Paulo, located in southeastern Brazil, including cars, motorcycles, and utility vehicles. A total of 3854 (91%) consented to participate in the survey and answered the questionnaire. Out of this group, 3229 (84%) agreed to take the passive breathalyzer test.

Results

Logistic regression analyses controlling for gender and age was used to predict a positive breath test (above 0.2 g/l) and the impact of the new law. These analyses indicated that, after the passage of the new traffic law, there was a 45% decrease in driver behavior with positive breathalyzer results. Having a pattern of alcohol consumption of at least once a week and the habit of drinking and driving are risks for a positive breathalyzer.

Conclusions

Despite the decline in the frequency of motorists driving under the influence of alcohol, traffic-related injuries and deaths, after the new law, other measures for a public policy related to alcohol should be considered based on scientific evidence, consistency of action, clear goals, community support, and greater reliability in the laws.