High Level Of Conformity Research Articles

Changes of salivary estrogen levels for detecting the fertile period

ObjectivesIs the saliva test, Geratherm ovu control, as accurate as the established urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) test for detecting ovulation and the following the fertile period? Study designThe voluntary participants were 74 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles and not using any hormonal contraceptives. The women used Geratherm ovu control, a small plastic hand-held microscope, for detecting the fertile period. A drop of saliva from sublingual was put onto the lens of the microscope. Three results were possible: non-fertile (dot pattern), transitional and fertile (ferning pattern).The participants performed the saliva test from the 5th till the 22nd day of the menstrual cycle and noted the respective result in a table. In addition to Geratherm ovu control, the EXACTO test for determining urinary LH concentration and the time of peak fertility was also performed. ResultsPositive LH shows a sharp increase beginning on the 10th cycle day with a maximum on the 17th cycle day. The curve for positive saliva and questionable positive saliva (one curve) is almost parallel with the curve for positive LH, reaching a maximum on the 16th cycle day. There is a high level of conformity for the same test results from the 5th (100%) till the 14th (84%) cycle day and from the 18th (80%) till the 22nd (96%) cycle day which corresponds to the pre- and post-ovulatory period. ConclusionThe saliva and the LH test both detect the fertile window of a menstrual cycle. Caused by the different hormones (estrogen for the saliva and LH for the LH test) leading to the respective positive test results, saliva turns positive 24h before LH. Consequently, the saliva test can be used as an ovulation test and help women maximize their chances of conceiving. There is also a high congruence between LH and saliva in the pre- and post-ovulatory period, indicating that the saliva test can also be used for contraception purposes.

Microgeometry Modelling of Magnesium Alloy Polished Surfaces by Means of Cone-Based Manifolds

In this paper a new methology for surface microgeometry modelling is presented, taking the surface of a polished magnesium alloy as an example . The proposed method essentially is based on the usage of the mathematical concept of the continuous non-differentiable manifold composed of cones. The cones’ aperture, eccentricity, height and angular orientation are model parameters, as well as the cones spread over the modelled surface. The spread of cones might be of very different nature ranging from simple deterministic patterns to purely random distribution accordingly to the theory of spatial point processes. The statistical parameters estimated in the model are: Rp, Rv, Rt, Ra, Rq, Rskew, Rkurt, the roughness distribution histogram and the bearing curve. The geometrical parameters are: surface area, surface development, surface capacity and volume. All of the computational methods have been carefully examined from the perspective of use on discrete grids. The simulated surfaces have been compared with experimental results obtained with the used AFM technique on samples of the polished AZ31 magnesium alloy. The very high level of conformity achieved between the results from the modeled surface and the experimentally obtained results gives us a promising prognosis for further use.

Time and Cell Type Dependency of Survival Responses in Co-cultured Tumor and Fibroblast Cells after Exposure to Modulated Radiation Fields.

Advanced radiotherapy techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) achieve high levels of conformity to the target volume through the sequential delivery of highly spatially and temporally modulated radiation fields, which have been shown to impact radiobiological response. This study aimed to characterize the time and cell type dependency of survival responses to modulated fields using single cell type (SCT) and mixed cell type (MCT) co-culture models of transformed fibroblast (AG0-1522b) cells, prostate (DU-145) and lung (H460) cancer cells. In SCT cultures, in-field responses showed no significant time dependency while out-of-field responses occurred early, and plateaued 6 h after irradiation in both DU-145 and H460 cells. Under modulated beam configurations MCT co-cultures showed cell-specific, differential out-of-field responses depending on the irradiated in-field and responding out-of-field cell type. The observed differential out-of-field responses may be due to the genetic background of the cells, in particular p53 status, which has been shown to mediate radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs). These data provide further insight into the radiobiological parameters that influence out-of-field responses, which have potential implications for advanced radiotherapy modalities and may provide opportunities for biophysical optimization in radiotherapy treatment planning.

Critical Learning: An Exploration of the Roles and Development of Early Career CMS Academics

Drawing on a study of 30 CMS Early Career Academics (ECAs) this paper explores how they learn to practice according to their own CMS motivations and maintain such endeavours within environments and evaluation systems which increasingly require high levels of conformity to mainstream managerialist thinking and practice. Applying a Bourdieusian lens to this issue, we focus on the tensions of co-existing between two positions (field and subfield) and explore practices which develop a habitus suited to functioning well in such conditions. The concept of tempered radicalism is used to identify practices and five new strategies which, we argue, constitute a critical habitus of CMS ECAs: recognising the bottom line, finding balance, political savviness, strategic networking and critical friendship, and critical reflexivity. The paper concludes by discussing how support systems might be necessary to ensure the development and growth of the incoming CMS community at a time when it faces increasingly uncertain working conditions and against a backdrop of a growing homogenisation of academic practice within business and management schools.

Comparison of classic and 4-phase rhinomanometry methods, is there any difference?

There are various different parameters used to measure nasal airway resistance (NAR) in rhinomanometry, which include the classic method at fixed pressure of 150Pa or 75Pa and 4-phase rhinomanometry. This study aims to determine if there is any difference between the measurements of NAR obtained by the classic and 4-phase rhinomanometry methods. In-vitro study with measurements of NAR using both methods when applied across four artificial nose models. No statistically significant differences were found between NAR values obtained from both methods. Strong, positive correlations were found between NAR measured with both methods, which were statistically significant. Bland-Altman method also showed good agreement between both methods with narrow limits of agreement. There is high level of conformity between the values of nasal airway resistance measured using both methods.

Comparison of classic and 4-phase rhinomanometry methods, is there any difference?

There are various different parameters used to measure nasal airway resistance (NAR) in rhinomanometry, which include the classic method at fixed pressure of 150Pa or 75Pa and 4-phase rhinomanometry. This study aims to determine if there is any difference between the measurements of NAR obtained by the classic and 4-phase rhinomanometry methods. In-vitro study with measurements of NAR using both methods when applied across four artificial nose models. No statistically significant differences were found between NAR values obtained from both methods. Strong, positive correlations were found between NAR measured with both methods, which were statistically significant. Bland-Altman method also showed good agreement between both methods with narrow limits of agreement. There is high level of conformity between the values of nasal airway resistance measured using both methods.

An Anatomically Validated Brachial Plexus Contouring Method for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Planning

To develop contouring guidelines for the brachial plexus (BP) using anatomically validated cadaver datasets. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) were used to obtain detailed visualizations of the BP region, with the goal of achieving maximal inclusion of the actual BP in a small contoured volume while also accommodating for anatomic variations. CT and MRI were obtained for 8 cadavers positioned for intensity modulated radiation therapy. 3-dimensional reconstructions of soft tissue (from MRI) and bone (from CT) were combined to create 8 separate enhanced CT project files. Dissection of the corresponding cadavers anatomically validated the reconstructions created. Seven enhanced CT project files were then automatically fitted, separately in different regions, to obtain a single dataset of superimposed BP regions that incorporated anatomic variations. From this dataset, improved BP contouring guidelines were developed. These guidelines were then applied to the 7 original CT project files and also to 1 additional file, left out from the superimposing procedure. The percentage of BP inclusion was compared with the published guidelines. The anatomic validation procedure showed a high level of conformity for the BP regions examined between the 3-dimensional reconstructions generated and the dissected counterparts. Accurate and detailed BP contouring guidelines were developed, which provided corresponding guidance for each level in a clinical dataset. An average margin of 4.7 mm around the anatomically validated BP contour is sufficient to accommodate for anatomic variations. Using the new guidelines, 100% inclusion of the BP was achieved, compared with a mean inclusion of 37.75% when published guidelines were applied. Improved guidelines for BP delineation were developed using combined MRI and CT imaging with validation by anatomic dissection.

Study into mechanical measuring methods of pork with good sensory evaluations and high levels of conformity

Study into mechanical measuring methods of pork with good sensory evaluations and high levels of conformity

Applicator-guided volumetric-modulated arc therapy for low-risk endometrial cancer

The aim of this study was to report the feasibility of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in the postoperative irradiation of the vaginal vault. Moreover, the VMAT technique was compared with 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and fixed-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), in terms of target coverage and organs at risk sparing. The number of monitor units and the delivery time were analyzed to score the treatment efficiency. All plans were verified in a dedicated solid water phantom using a 2D array of ionization chambers. Twelve patients with endometrial carcinoma who underwent radical hystero-adenexectomy and fixed-field IMRT treatments were retrospectively included in this analysis; for each patient, plans were compared in terms of dose-volume histograms, homogeneity index, and conformity indexes. All techniques met the prescription goal for planning target volume coverage, with VMAT showing the highest level of conformity at all dose levels. VMAT resulted in significant reduction of rectal and bladder volumes irradiated at all dose levels compared with 3D-CRT. No significant differences were found with respect to IMRT. Moreover, a significant improvement of the dose conformity was reached by VMAT technique not only at the 95% dose level (0.74 vs. 0.67 and 0.62) but also at 50% and 75% levels of dose prescription. In addition, VMAT plans showed a significant reduction of monitor units by nearly 28% with respect to IMRT, and reduced treatment time from 11 to <3 minutes for a single 6-Gy fraction. In conclusion, VMAT plans can be planned and carried out with high quality and efficiency for the irradiation of vaginal vault alone, providing similar or better sparing of organs at risk to fixed-field IMRT and resulting in the most efficient treatment option. VMAT is currently our standard approach for radiotherapy of low-risk endometrial cancer.

The contribution of family climate for road safety and social environment to the reported driving behavior of young drivers

Two studies examined the contribution of the new concept of “family climate for road safety” and several aspects of the social environment to the driving behavior of young drivers. Study 1 (n=120) investigated the effect of the seven dimensions of the family climate for road safety – Modeling, Feedback, Communication, Monitoring, Noncommitment, Messages, and Limits – as well as a general tendency to conform to authority, and peer pressure. Study 2 (n=154) examined the dimensions of family climate for road safety and perceived popularity of reckless driving among peers. The findings indicate associations both between the familial and the social aspects, and between these variables and driving styles, willingness to take risks while driving, reckless driving habits, and personal commitment to safe driving. Positive aspects of the parent–child relationship and high levels of conformity to authority were related to greater endorsement of the careful driving style, whereas family's noncommitment to safety, higher peer pressure, and lower conformity to authority were associated with greater endorsement of the reckless driving style. In addition, positive aspects of the family climate for road safety and lower perceived popularity of reckless driving among friends were associated with more personal commitment to safe driving and a lower tendency for risky driving. The discussion stresses the need to look at the complex set of antecedents of reckless driving among young drivers and addresses the practical implications of the findings for road safety.

Testing the anelastic nonhydrostatic model EULAG as a prospective dynamical core of a numerical weather prediction model Part I: Dry benchmarks

In this paper, a feasibility of anelastic approach for numerical weather prediction (NWP) is examined. The study concerns the anelastic nonhydrostatic model EULAG as a prospective candidate for the new dynamical core of a high-resolution NWP model. Such an application requires a series of benchmark tests to be performed. The study presents the results of dry idealized two-dimensional linear and non-linear tests. They include evolution of cold and warm density currents in neutrally stratified atmosphere, inertia-gravity waves in short and long channels, as well as mountain gravity waves for a set of different flow regimes. Detailed comparison of the results with the reference solutions, based mainly on the results of compressible models, indicates a high level of conformity for all of the experiments. It verifies the anelastic approach as strongly consistent with the compressible one for a broad class of atmospheric problems. It also corroborates the robustness of EULAG numerics, an essential requirement of dynamical core of NWP model.

Evaluation and Validation of the Shape Accuracy of FDM Fabricated Medical Models

In the recent years the rapid prototyping technology has become increasingly important as a manufacturing method for many medical devices. Although the advantage of such technology is evident, a precise presentation of the actual anatomical parts as well as shape accuracy and surface quality is a major indicator for choosing the best technique. In this paper, evaluation and validation of the shape accuracy of fabricated models using Fused Deposition Modelling technique is presented. The surface deviation between anatomical models (a mandible) derived from Computed Tomography and their virtual presentation was investigated. A high level of conformity with regard to the surface feature of the anatomical part was observed. Furthermore, surface deviations in the range of ±0.5 mm with an absolute mean deviation of 0.159 mm for the model were reported. The surface accuracies suggest that the reproduction of complex anatomical structures by FDM could potentially be used for surgical planning, custom-made implants and for surgical anatomy teaching.

ASOBI IN ACTION

In the past 30 years, play (asobi) has become the subject of a heated ideological debate in urban Japan, reflecting processes of cultural transformation. During these years, a late consumer culture characterized by an incessant pursuit of playlike hedonistic pleasures has reached its apotheosis within a conservative social context that maintains high levels of conformity and prioritizes production. It is against the background of these sociocultural dynamics that the cultural conceptualization and appreciation of play have been negotiated between play as a subsidiary activity complementary to work life, confined within boundaries, and play as a phenomenon of greatest personal significance, hardly constrained by time or space. These dialectics have influenced collective imaginaries, transforming play into a symbolic activity through which people can experience and reproduce cultural rhetoric about social distinctions, values and priorities.

Why Home Hemodialysis?

Why Home Hemodialysis?

To what extent does medical device maintenance pose clinical risk?

Healthcare is a risky business and patient safety is afforded a high profile. Although great lengths are taken to ensure medical devices are intrinsically safe, risks can occur when they are introduced into the clinical setting. A risk assessment tool, Medical Device Risk Assessment (MeDRa) was used to collect quantitative data relating to the contributory factors and control measures associated with using medical devices in the clinical setting. The tool utilizes the responses from healthcare professionals to a set of questions about risk as a basis for the risk assessment. The raw data was exported to SPSS for statistical analysis and mathematical modelling. Pearson's Chi-square tests for association and relative risk calculations formed the basis for the analysis. This paper reports on one aspect of the risk assessment relating to the maintenance of medical devices. There are two categories of maintenance: technical and user maintenance. The analysis showed that although there was a high level of conformity in technical maintenance, user maintenance was highlighted as a potential problem. MeDRa identifies potential risk factors that might impact on patient care.

Negotiating Cultural Identities in Conflict: A Reading of the Writings of Paek Kyŏnghae (1765–1842)

Abstract This article examines the life of Paek Kyŏnghae (1765–1842), a late Chosŏn scholar official from P’yŏngan Province, a region popularly conceived as lacking a yangban pedigree and scholarly tradition, so that its inhabitants were subject to ongoing social contempt and political discrimination. Situating Paek within this regional cultural context and also within the dynastic institutional practices of his time reveals the development of subjective expressions of regional belonging by insiders, as well as equally subjective expressions of regional stereotyping by outsiders. Tracing northern regional identities, as constructed and negotiated in reaction to outsiders’ views, and then locating such regional identities and politics in relation to the central court sheds new light on the personal ordeals that Paek was forced to undergo throughout his career. The compromises and choices that he made at every turn were driven by contradictions between Confucian ideals that honored the principle of meritocracy and dynastic practices that hinged upon long-standing aristocratic tradition. This article exposes the integrative power of dynastic ideology and systems (as well as complex institutional processes) that demanded a high level of conformity from individual participants, thus imposing lifelong agony on a gifted man because of his demeaned place of origin and less-than-desirable pedigree. In methodology, this study provides a critique of nation-centered historiography by highlighting views from the periphery.

Cross-National Gender Differences in Behavior in a Threshold Public Goods Game: Japan versus Canada

To investigate the effects of gender and national culture on economic behavior, we compare all-male and all-female groups from Japan and Canada in the context of a threshold public goods game with a strong free-riding equilibrium and many socially efficient threshold equilibria. Females and Canadians exhibit higher levels of conformity when compared with males and Japanese respectively. However, such symmetric group behavior translates into significantly tighter equilibrium convergence only for Canadian females. Canadians, particularly Canadian females, are more successful at providing the public good than Japanese. The results suggest that the prevalence of different notions of self-construal, may affect behavior.

Radiotherapy for craniopharyngioma in children: a national audit.

A survey of current radiotherapy practices in the United Kingdom for treatment of craniopharyngioma in children was undertaken in view of the need to optimize control and minimize side effects in a patient group who can expect to survive for prolonged periods after treatment. Useable replies were received from 16 practitioners. A high level of conformity was reported in some areas but practice varied considerably in others. Thus whereas 15 employed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone or with computed tomography (CT) to establish the gross tumour volume (GTV), six exclusively used pre-operative and seven exclusively used post-operative studies. Twelve added a margin of 1 cm to establish the planning target volume (PTV). Nine used CT planning. Fourteen gave radiation doses of between 50 and 55 Gy, but eight different dose/fractionation combinations were used. The most favoured regime (used by six) was 50 Gy in 30 fractions. Two centres provided written information on possible side effects of treatment. We suggest that it might prove helpful if a national treatment protocol was developed.

Assessing habitat utilization by neotropical primates: a new approach.

This study aims to ascertain habitat utilization, in relation to forest structural variation, by a multi-species group of primates in tropical lowland rainforest in Southeast Peru during dry season. A new approach to assessing habitat utilization was used. Habitat variation was described by structural and indicator variables collected in quadrats along transects through a study area within Terra Firme and Floodplain forest. Variables were grouped into 'factors' accounting for most of the variation by means of a Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Presence or absence of the primates within the quadrats, assessed by repeat transect surveys, was taken to indicate habitat preferences. Discrimination between the habitat and forest structure in areas of primate presence as opposed to absence was carried out by means of Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA). This highlighted patterns in most utilized habitat. Vertical utilization of the forest was also assessed along with presence in bamboo and general activity on encounter. Suggestions of habitat preference and utilization are made for each of the six sympatric species studied, based on significantly discriminating habitat factors, vertical stratification on encounter and relationships with bamboo. Saguinus fuscicollis and Cebus moloch appeared as habitat generalists. Cebus apella, Saimiri sciureus, and Aotus spp., exhibited varying degrees of preference for habitat factors suggesting disturbed forest, Cebus albifrons was more generalistic but with a possible association with primary, naturally disturbed forest. C. apella was encountered in Terra Firme forest significantly more than in Floodplain. For S. sciureus, C. moloch, and C. apella, upper understory was the most utilized forest layer, for C. albifrons, middle canopy and for S. sciureus and Aotus spp., lower understory. Both positive and negative relationships with bamboo were highlighted. Significant positive relationships between Aotus spp., and bamboo suggest dense bamboo stands provide important daytime resting sites for this nocturnal species. C. moloch was also shown to utilize bamboo whereas S. fuscicollis appeared to actively avoid it. High levels of conformity with past studies in terms of habitat utilization patterns described for the species studied supports the conclusion that the methods used in this study provide an effective means of assessing primate habitat utilization within complex habitat.

Identification and validation of QTLs for salt tolerance during vegetative growth in tomato by selective genotyping

The purpose of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for salt tolerance (ST) during vegetative growth (VG) in tomato by distributional extreme analysis and compare them with the QTLs previously identified for this trait. A BC1 population (N = 792) of a cross between a moderately salt-sensitive Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. breeding line (NC84173, maternal and recurrent parent) and a salt-tolerant L. pimpinellifolium (Jusl.) Mill. accession (LA722) was evaluated for ST in solution cultures containing 700 mM NaCl + 70 mM CaCl2 (electrical conductivity, EC = 64 dS/m and phiw approximately -35.2 bars). Thirty-seven BC1 plants (4.7% of the total) that exhibited the highest ST were selected (referred to as the selected population), grown to maturity in greenhouse pots and self-pollinated to produce BC1S1 progeny seeds. The 37 selected BC1S1 progeny families were evaluated for ST and their average performance was compared with that of the parental BC1 population before selection. A realized heritability of 0.50 was obtained for ST in this population. The 37 selected BC1 plants were subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis using 115 markers, and marker allele frequencies were determined. Allele frequencies for the same markers were also determined in an unselected BC1 population (N = 119) of the same cross. A trait-based marker analysis (TBA), which measures differences in marker allele frequencies between selected and unselected populations, was used to identify marker-linked QTLs. Five genomic regions were detected on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 6, and 11 bearing significant QTLs for ST. Except for the QTL on chromosome 3, all QTLs had positive alleles contributed from the salt tolerant parent LA722. Of the five QTLs, three (those on chromosomes 1, 3, and 5) were previously identified for this trait in another study, and thus were validated here. Only one of the major QTLs that was identified in our previous study was not detected here. This high level of conformity between the results of the two studies indicates the genuine nature of the identified QTLs and their potential usefulness for ST breeding using marker-assisted selection (MAS). A few BC1S1 families were identified with most or all of the QTLs and with a ST comparable to that of LA722. These families should be useful for the development of salt tolerant tomato lines via MAS.