Mean Percentage Of Time Research Articles

Computer-assisted analysis of fetal behavioural states.

A computerized system which simultaneously acquires and quantifies several ultrasonically detected fetal activities, including gross body movements, breathing movements, and eye movements, was developed in order to obtain additional quantitative data on fetal behaviour. Movements were automatically related to fetal heart rate allowing computation of their mean incidence, duration, lag time and percentage time spent moving during different heart rate patterns. The incidence of various behavioural states was also calculated. The study of 15 healthy fetuses near term revealed the existence of statistically significant differences in these parameters between low and high variability patterns of fetal heart rate suggesting a quantitative modulation of fetal movements by behavioural states.

Globus sensation is not due to gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Oesophageal manometry and prolonged ambulatory pH monitoring were performed in 47 patients with the globus sensation, 48 control subjects and 28 patients with documented oesophagitis. Globus patients also underwent video-recorded barium examination and rigid endoscopy. Manometry was normal in 38 of the globus group (94%). The mean percentage time below pH 4 was 4.16 in controls, 5.11 in globus patients (NS) and 18.54 in oesophagitis patients (P less than 0.0005). Oesophageal acid exposure did not correlate with sex, smoking or heartburn and correlated with age only in oesophagitis patients (P less than 0.001). Biopsy showed mild laryngitis in 2 globus patients and distal oesophagitis in 6 (13%). Abnormal oesophageal acid exposure and distal oesophageal dysmotility are not aetiological factors in the majority of patients with globus pharyngis.

The effect of sea breezes on atmospheric stability as observed with acoustic sounder

Acoustic sounder data obtained for a period of three years have been analysed to estimate the monthly mean percentage time of occurrences of sea breezes, thermal plumes, and nocturnal radiative inversion layers. The intrusion of marine air has been found to suppress daytime convection and also to inhibit the development of nocturnal inversions.

ASHP special interest group professional practice survey—1984

Personal characteristics and professional practice patterns of enrollees in ASHP special interest groups (SIGs) were surveyed in early 1984. The mail questionnaire consisting of 23 items was sent to the entire universe of 3595 SIG enrollees, 514 of whom belonged to more than one SIG. The response rate was 64.7%. About two thirds of the respondents were between 25 and 39 years old; 73% were men. Nearly 36% had earned more than one academic degree, and 30% had completed an ASHP-accredited pharmacy residency. Most respondents spent a majority of their work time in a community nonprofit hospital (46%) or a university teaching hospital (22%). The following percentage of respondents spent some time in the functions indicated; the mean percentage of time those respondents spent in a function is given in parentheses: administration, 76% (52%); education, 69% (16%); drug distribution and control, 60% (17%); patient-oriented services, 47% (17%); drug information, 54% (12%); research, 28% (17%); pharmaceutical marketing/sales, 6% (25%); other, 12% (29%). The following percentage of respondents spent half or more of their practice time in the functions indicated: administration, 48%; drug distribution and control, 26%; education, 5%; and patient-oriented activities, 4%. By and large only a small percentage of SIG enrollees spent a majority of their practice time providing patient-specific services. This suggests that for most SIGs enrollment corresponds to an interest in a special practice area, not a heavy practice commitment to that area.

The Role of Prolonged Esophageal pH Monitoring in the Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux

To reassess 24-hour esophageal monitoring and determine if shorter time periods might retain its diagnostic benefits, we studied 16 gastroesophageal reflux (GER) patients and eight controls. Esophageal pH monitoring was performed for 24 hours, with patients in an upright position during the day and supine when retiring. During the 24-hour pH monitoring period, the mean percentage time that pH was less than 4.0 in GER patients, 13.2% +/- 2.9% (SEM), was significantly higher than in normal subjects, 0.7% +/- 0.2% (SEM). Analysis of individual data indicated clear separation of GER patients from normal subjects when in the upright posture, but 25% of GER patients were within the range of the normal subjects when supine (overnight). Three-hour time periods after meals were analyzed. Postprandial pH monitoring, when compared with 24-hour pH monitoring, can identify GER with a 77% sensitivity and a 96% specificity. A 12-hour period (four hours after the dinner meal and eight hours supine) can identify GER with a 94% sensitivity and a 100% specificity. We conclude that (1) 24-hour pH monitoring of the esophagus may have a continuing role in research aspects of GER, (2) 12-hour pH monitoring is a highly accurate test that could be adapted to patients' work schedules or to outpatient telemetry, and (3) postprandial pH testing is a practical, less expensive, and accurate method of diagnosing GER that could be utilized by any gastroenterology diagnostic unit.

ACCOUNTING COURSES AND PROFESSIONAL FUNCTIONS

: In Australia, people performing accounting functions may have undertaken a course at a university, CAE, or technical college. This study is addressed to the rationale for this multiplicity of courses by seeking to determine whether there are different outcomes, such as professional functioning and salary, among graduates from these different courses. A specially devised questionnaire was developed to determine the degree of professionalism in late 1979 of accounting graduates from some Sydney and Melbourne universities, CAEs (UG1 bachelor degree and UG2 diploma courses), and technical colleges from the following years: 1970, 1974, 1976 and 1978. Limitations such as sample size prevent definitive answers. It was found that degree of professionalism and salary were related to attendance pattern, years of accounting experience before course completed, and years of accounting experience after course completed, but that the relationships with accounting course studied are low. Data counceming the mean percentage time spent on professional, technician, and other functions are provided.

Electroencephalographic quantification by time domain analysis in normal 7–15-year-old children

Automatic EEG analysis was performed on 239 apparently healthy school age children. The children were classed in 3 age groups: (1) average age of 7; (2) average age of 11; (3) average age of 15. A time analysis method, comparable to classical visual analysis, permitted quantification of the records. The mean amplitude, frequency and percentage time for alpha and theta rhythms were determined for each subject for fronto-central and centro-occipital derivations bilaterally. Records were performed during periods of rest with eyes open and eyes closed. During hyperventilation, records were taken with eyes closed. The normal ranges of parameters were determined by calculating their means and standard deviations, for each age group under each recording condition. Delta and beta rhythm values were not calculated, because of their rarity in this apparently normal sample. The precision obtained by automatic analysis could not have been obtained by means of classical visual analysis. The present findings suggest that the statistical analysis of well-defined groups of normal and pathological children could be of significant value.

Nocturnal sleep in squirrel monkeys

The nocturnal sleep records of three squirrel monkeys over 12 h sessions were examined for 7 consecutive nights. The sleep records were described in terms of the percentage of time in each of the stages of Awake. Stages 1.2.3 4 and REM. The mean percent time spent in sleep was 82.4″ ″ of the recording period. The average amount of ″ ″ REM sleep was 22.9″, with a total NREM of 58.8″ ″. The presence of 3 4 (slow wave) sleep was largely restricted to the first half of the nightly session with REM sleep the dominant stage in the second half of the night. Comparison of the sleep of the squirrel monkey with other primates higher on the phytogenetic scale indicated the squirrel monkey would serve as an excellent representative for the study of primate sleep wakefulness.

The effects of varying the extent of the vagotomy on the myoelectrical and motor activity of the stomach.

The effects of varying the extent of vagotomy on the myoelectrical and motor activity of the stomach have been successfully studied in 21 patients undergoing either truncal, selective, or highly selective vagotomy for the treatment of chronic duodenal ulceration. The mean percentage time that regular antral myoelectrical activity was recorded preoperatively was 95.8% +/- 1.0 and this was decreased following highly selective vagotomy (74.0% +/- 6.6), selective vagotomy (37.8% +/- 12.4), and truncal vagotomy (30.2% +/- 10.4). The mean amplitude of the pacesetter potential was less following truncal (0.86 mV +/- 0.05), selective (1.32 mV +/- 0.09), and highly selective vagotomy (1.67 +/- 0.09) than in preoperative studies (2.21 mV +/- 0.12). Following truncal and selective vagotomies the triphasic waveform of the pacesetter potential changed to a sinusoidal shape. No significant change in the mean preoperative frequency of the myoelectrical activity (3.03 cpm +/- 0.08) occurred after vagotomy. Thus the changes in the electrical activity of the stomach are related to the extent of the vagal denervation. Intravenous administration of insulin did not alter these patterns except after highly selective vagotomy when the amplitude of the electrical waves, the incidence of action potentials, and percentage motor activity were increased.