Measurement Of Changes In Activity Research Articles

A feasibility study of behavioural activation for depressive symptoms in adults with intellectual disabilities.

Important work has been carried out adapting cognitive behavioural therapy for people with intellectual disabilities. However, there is a lack of alternative psychological therapies available for people with intellectual disabilities and emotional difficulties. Behavioural activation for depression is less reliant on verbal communication and focuses on increasing purposeful activity and reducing avoidance. This feasibility study involved the development and piloting of an adapted manual of behavioural activation for people with intellectual disabilities. The intervention consisted of 10-12 sessions and a key adaptation was that the therapist worked with the clients alongside a significant other in their life, either a paid carer or family member. Baseline, post-intervention (3 months after entering the study) and 6-month quantitative follow-up data were obtained. Primary outcome data were gathered, concerning depressive symptoms, participants' levels of activity and general well-being. Twenty-three adults with intellectual disabilities with symptoms of depression were recruited from specialist health services. In terms of acceptability, the behavioural activation intervention was well received and only two individuals dropped out, with a further two lost to follow-up. The main measures of depression appeared to be sensitive to change. Pre- to post-intervention data showed a significant reduction in self-report of depressive symptoms with a strong effect size (r = 0.78), that was maintained at follow-up (r = 0.86). Positive change was also obtained for informant reports of depressive symptoms from pre- to post-intervention, with a strong effect size (r = 0.7). Once again, this positive change was maintained at follow-up (r = 0.72). The study suggested that behavioural activation may be a feasible and worthwhile approach to tackling depression in people with intellectual disabilities. However, a randomised controlled trial would be required to establish its effectiveness, with more sensitive measurement of change in activity.

Acute combined exposure to heavy metals (Zn, Cd) blocks memory formation in a freshwater snail

The effect of heavy metals on species survival is well documented; however, sublethal effects on behaviour and physiology are receiving growing attention. Measurements of changes in activity and respiration are more sensitive to pollutants, and therefore a better early indicator of potentially harmful ecological impacts. We assessed the effect of acute exposure (48 h) to two heavy metals at concentrations below those allowable in municipal drinking water (Zn: 1,100 μg/l; Cd: 3 μg/l) on locomotion and respiration using the freshwater snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. In addition we used a novel assessment method, testing the ability of the snail to form memory in the presence of heavy metals in both intact snails, and also snails that had the osphradial nerve severed which connects a chemosensory organ, the osphradium, to the central nervous system. Aerial respiration and locomotion remained unchanged by acute exposure to heavy metals. There was also no effect on memory formation of these metals when administered alone. However, when snails were exposed to these metals in combination memory formation was blocked. Severing the osphradial nerve prevented the memory blocking effect of Zn and Cd, indicating that the snails are sensing these metals in their environment via the osphradium and responding to them as a stressor. Therefore, assessing the ability of this species to form memory is a more sensitive measure of heavy metal pollution than measures of activity, and indicates that the snails' ability to demonstrate behavioural plasticity may be compromised by the presence of these pollutants.

An optimized microtiterplate assay to detect acetylcholinesterase activity in individual Chironomus riparius Meigen

AbstractA sensitive microtiter plate assay to detect acetylcholinesterase activity in fourth‐instar Chironomus riparius (Meigen) larvae was developed and optimized to allow the measurement of pesticide inhibition in individuals. Optimal conditions, including enzyme concentration, pH, and substrate concentration, allow the sensitive measurement of changes in activity following exposure to the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos. Significant reductions in activity were observed at pesticide doses of 0.05, 0.1, 1.0, and 5 mg/L following a 48‐h exposure.

顎口腔系の状態と全身状態との関連に関する研究 実験的こう合干渉が姿勢，特に重心動揺および抗重力筋に及ぼす影響

The purpose of this study is to reveal the relation between stomatognathic system and the systemic condition. In the present study, experimental occlusal interference was given to the first molar on main mastication side of 6 healthy subjects and the influence on the upright posture was evaluated through simultaneous measurements of changes in activity of antigravity muscles via electromyography, other than the measurement of loci of the gravity fluctuation for stabilograph before and after the interference was provided. The following results were obtained, 1. Loci of gravity fluctuation 1) All parameters tended increase 24 hours after the interference was provided. 2) The decreasing trend was noted 24 hours after the interference was removed. 3) At one week after the interference was removed all analysis items tended to restore to the normal range. 2. Activity of antigravity muscles In some of the subjects, the muscular activity showed the same trend as the changes of analysis items of gravity fluctuation. 3. The above results suggest that the evaluation of the loci of the gravity fluctuation may be helpful to assess the therapeutic effect of malocclusion.

Impedance Measurement of Changes in Activity of Lactic Cheese Starter Culture After Storage at 4°C

Impedance, titratable acidity, and change in pH were used to measure activity of lactic cheese starter culture held up to 7 d at 4°C. The impedance microbiology, as quantified by the impedance detection time method, provided an activity estimate within 37 to 53min, and the results were similar to the activity measurements using titratable acidity (3.5h) and change in pH (2.5h). The impedance detection time, titratable acidity, and pH activity tests showed that the culture activity decreased most rapidly between 2 and 5 d. The slope of the impedance curve, 15min after the impedance detection time, decreased as storage time increased with the sharpest decrease occurring during the first 3 d of storage.

Enzyme Activity Changes during Cyclic AMP-induced Stalk Cell Differentiation in p4, a Variant of Dictyostelium discoideum

The P4 variant of Dictyostelium discoideum is characterized by the production of fruiting structures in which the overall proportion of stalk to spore material is increased, relative to the wild type. The altered morphology of the mutant is due to increased sensitivity to cyclic AMP which promotes stalk cell differentiation. In the presence of 10-4 M-cyclic AMP the entire population of P4 amoebae forms clumps of stalk cells on the surface of the dialysis membrane support. Measurement of changes in activity of a range of developmentally-regulated enzymes during the development of P4 in the presence and absence of cyclic AMP has allowed us to identify three classes of enzyme: (i) Those, such as beta-glucosidase II, trehalose-6-phosphate synthetase and uridine diphosphogalactose-4-epimerase, which are required for the production of spores. (ii) Enzymes, primarily but perhaps not exclusively, required during stalk cell formation. Typical of these are N-acetylglucosaminidase and alkaline phosphatase. (iii) General enzymes, such as threonine dehydrase, alpha-mannosidase and uridine diphosphoglucose pyrophyosphorylase, which are present inboth pre-stalk and pre-spore cells and appear to be necessary for the development of both cell types.