Preferred Position Research Articles

Development of Hardness Test Device for Determination of Comfort Parameters in Pillows and Experimental Study of Hardness Measurement

People spend a third of their lives asleep. A good night's sleep is a key to waking up pain-free, while providing an excellent opportunity to rest. Pillows are indispensable objects for a comfortable sleep. Sleeping position and personal preferences influence on the type of pillow a person need. However, there is no mutual language for the perception of comfort. This study focuses on the experimental study of the hardness measurement process to establish an objective method for evaluating pillow hardness and to examine the relationship between sensory evaluation and compression properties of pillows. In order to determine the comfort and pillow hardness parameters, studies on various fields and products were examined. A machine that measures and defines the compression amount of the pillow and the height data obtained by applying a certain force to the entire surface of the pillow has been designed. Pillows with different properties and weights were tested and the height values after applying the force were processed within the data obtained from the machine. By determining the limit and mean values, the pillows were categorized as soft, medium-soft, medium, medium-hard and hard. As a consequence of this study, through the developed hardness measurement method, product classifications were made and the user's feeling on pillow hardness was observed.

The Effects Of Different Body Positions On Pulmonary Functions In Adolescent Football Players

The present study aims to examine the effects of different body positions on pulmonary functions in adolescent football players. Twenty-three healthy male football players who did not have any diseases and who did not smoke participated in the study voluntarily. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were determined by using a spirometer. Measurements were performed in sitting, standing and supine positions to determine the effect of body positions on pulmonary functions. One-way analysis of variance in repeated measurements was used to compare the mean differences in respiratory function variables in three different body positions, and Bonferroni correction test was used to determine in which position the difference existed. All statistics were performed in SPSS 26.0 package program. As a result of the applications, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEFmax and MVV parameters measured while sitting and standing were found to be statistically significantly higher than the supine position (p0.05). Highest mean values were reached in FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEFmax, SVC parameters while sitting, in IC capacity in supine position and in MVV capacity in standing position. As a result, it was found that different body positions affect pulmonary function parameters significantly. It is thought that the preferred position should be taken into account when interpreting the PFT measurement results.

Atribuciones hacia la timidez y la soledad en niños y niñas de diferentes contextos sociales argentinos

Children’s attributions towards withdrawn behaviors are usually determined by the particular social milieu in which they develop and tend to influence their behaviors and reactions. The aim of this work was to compare the attributions towards two subtypes of social withdrawal (shyness and unsociability) referred by children from three different contexts in Mendoza, Argentina: urban, urban-marginalized and rural. Participants were 221 kindergarten children from these contexts (urban: n = 82, M months = 62.33; urban-marginalized: n = 72, M months = 60.47; rural: n = 67, M months = 63.07). Children were individually interviewed with a series of graphic vignettes with hypothetical characters displaying shy and unsociable behaviors, and for comparison purposes were also assessed aggressive and socially competent behaviors. After each vignette, children were asked a series of questions designed to assess their attributions toward each behavior in six dimensions: intentionality, social motivation, affiliative preference, social status, negative impact and sympathy. The results of this study showed that young children in the three contexts were able to distinguish social withdrawal from other types of behaviors (i.e., aggressiveness and sociability). Overall, withdrawn behaviors received more positive attributions (greater affiliative preference, better social position and less negative impact) than aggressive behaviors, although they were also perceived negatively in relation to more socially competent behaviors (the latter were attributed greater affiliative preference and best position within the peer group). Furthermore, it was observed that children from the three contexts made clearly distinctions among the different forms of social withdrawal in terms of intentionality and social motivation. Specifically, they reported that compared with unsociable characters, shy ones are more socially motivated and less intentional in their behavior, evocating greater feelings of compassion. However, some peculiarities can be appreciated in each context. The results indicated that children in the urban group reported greater feelings of sympathy for the shy character in relation to the unsociable, which was not evidenced in the other groups. In addition, children from the rural sample showed a greater preference for interact with the hypothetical shy peer than with the unsociable character and this inclination was also greater when compared with the urban sample. Taken together, these results may suggest that different socialization norms and expectations would evoke different meanings and implications to the socially withdrawn manifestations. It might be possible that in urban contexts children's socialization expectations highlight extraversion and self-affirming behaviors which generate more empathetic reactions in front of passive or fearful manifestations as shyness. On the other hand, rural children may prefer peers who display shy behaviors possibly because it is in line with expectations of social cohesion and modesty that are value in this milieu. Nevertheless, no differences were found between shy and unsociable behaviors in any of the contexts in terms of social position and negative impact that they anticipated for the peer group. These results could provide some support for the idea that social withdrawal tends to be globally perceived as benign at an early age, and especially in the rural context, where it is a frequent and valued behavior. Although it is not possible with the limited variables included in this study to know which are the specific contextual aspects that affect some attributions and through what mechanisms they do so, these findings are an important starting point to continue deepening the socialization processes in urban, urban-marginalized and rural young children. This study is also one of the first to evaluate the knowledge and attributions of Argentinean children from different social context toward social withdrawal and provides new evidence on the differences in the cultural meaning and implications of withdrawn behaviors in early childhood. https://doi.org/10.16888/interd.2023.40.1.26

A Role and Reference Grammar Account of Adjuncts in the Airbus Corpus: A Quantitative-Based Study

This paper presents the results of a quantitative study of adjuncts in the Airbus corpus carried out within the theoretical framework of Role and Reference Grammar (RRG). We describe the positional behaviour of these peripheral constituents in the Layered Structure of the Clause and postulate scales of positional and peripheral preferences, based on frequency distribution, in the Airbus controlled natural language (CNL). The results obtained were compared with a previous study on adjunct preferences and positions in Natural English to check for changes in these scales due to the nature of the texts written in this CNL. We also aim to contribute to the development of the RRG analysis of adverbials by offering a detailed semantic typology and a description of the syntax of these peripheral constituents grounded in empirical and quantitatively based data that will serve as a basis for the parsing of adverbials in the computational processing of CNLs.

How religion affects sleep health: exploring the perspectives of religious Muslims and Jews in Israel.

Few empirical studies have explored the links between sleep and religion and no research has examined how religious individuals view these links. This article contributes to the literature by drawing on in-depth interviews with 31 midlife Israeli Muslims and Jews who describe themselves as religious or very religious. Findings indicate that respondents shared the view that sleep is important for health and wellbeing, as well as for religious practice and the proper worship of God. Their accounts clarified that religious observance entails a set of social rules and prescriptions as well as beliefs that may affect sleep behaviour and sleep outcomes. Traditional prayer times affected sleep duration for observant Muslims and Jews because respondents woke up early for prayer but could not always retire early enough so as to obtain a sufficient amount of sleep. Religion also dictated a preferred sleep position, to which participants became accustomed and found to be helpful. Respondents maintained that their deep faith in God and the practice of praying helped reduce stress, which contributed to sleep quality. However, among Muslims, missing prayers could arouse feelings of guilt and unease, thus affecting sleep quality. The article concludes that religion affects the sleep of both Muslims and Jews, but these effects vary by how individuals practice their religion and by how religiosity intersects with other social categories, such as gender. Future studies could enrich understanding of the social determinants of sleep by designing research inspired by lay persons' insights into the association between religion and sleep.

Orientational Preferences of GPI-Anchored Ly6/uPAR Proteins.

Ly6/uPAR proteins regulate many essential functions in the nervous and immune systems and epithelium. Most of these proteins contain single β-structural LU domains with three protruding loops and are glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored to a membrane. The GPI-anchor role is currently poorly studied. Here, we investigated the positional and orientational preferences of six GPI-anchored proteins in the receptor-unbound state by molecular dynamics simulations. Regardless of the linker length between the LU domain and GPI-anchor, the proteins interacted with the membrane by polypeptide parts and N-/O-glycans. Lynx1, Lynx2, Lypd6B, and Ly6H contacted the membrane by the loop regions responsible for interactions with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, while Lypd6 and CD59 demonstrated unique orientations with accessible receptor-binding sites. Thus, GPI-anchoring does not guarantee an optimal 'pre-orientation' of the LU domain for the receptor interaction.

Patient's Perspective of Awake Proning: A Cross-Sectional Interview-Based Survey From COVID-19-Recovered Patients.

Cross-sectional study. Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. COVID-19-recovered patients. None. Knowledge was assessed by five questions with a dichotomous response (yes/no). An yes response was awarded 1 score. Since there were five questions, five would be the highest score. Patients' perceptions of the therapy were assessed by four questions, each scored on a Likert scale of 5 (5 = strongly agree, 4 = agree, 3 = neither agree nor disagree, 2 = disagree, and 1 = strongly disagree). As it had four questions, the maximum score achieved could therefore be 20. Proning practices were assessed using seven questions: four were used to calculate practice scores, whereas three were open-ended regarding the patient's experience. Each question carries a different score, and the maximum score was 8. The study included 98 patients. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (sd, 12.2 yr). Majority of the patients were males (70.4%). 69.1% of males and 76.6% of females fell in the poor knowledge group. The poor knowledge cohort had an educational level of 48% in high school, 45.5% in graduates, and 6% in postgraduates. Compared with 56.5% of males, 73% of females preferred prone positioning. Sixty percent of those with a high school education viewed prone positioning favorably, whereas 46% of those with graduate and postgraduate did. Seventy-nine percent of males and 63% of females scored positively on the practice questionnaire. Eighty percent of graduates and postgraduates preferred proning practices to 67% of participants with high school education levels. Our study population had a little understanding of awake proning, found it unpleasant, and practiced for a shorter period than advised. Despite the overall negative attitude toward the position, our patients highly recommend this position to future patients.

Therapeutic Strategies and Challenges in the Management of Craniospinal Tumors in Pregnancy: A Ten-Year Retrospective Tertiary-Center Study, Systematic Review, and Proposal of Treatment Algorithms

This study aims to review therapeutic strategies in the management of craniospinal tumors in pregnant patients and the factors that may influence the management along with their influence on maternal and fetal outcomes. A retrospective single-center cohort study was performed at a tertiary neurosurgical referral center. Pregnant patients referred to the neuro-oncology multidisciplinary meeting (MDM) with craniospinal tumor were included. Ten-year patient data were collected from hospital records and neuro-oncology MDM outcomes. A systematic review was performed of the available literature as per PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-five patients were identified, with a mean age of 31 years. Of these patients, 88% (n= 22) had cranial lesions and 12% (n= 3) had spinal lesions. Most of the patients had World Health Organization grade I/II tumors. Of the patients, 44% underwent surgery when pregnant, whereas in 40%, this was deferred until after the due date. Of patients, 16% did not require surgical intervention and were followed up with serial imaging in the MDM. The left lateral/park bench position was the preferred position for the spinal and posterior fossa lesions. Systematic review and retrospective data led to proposal of treatment algorithms addressing the therapeutic strategy for management of craniospinal tumors during pregnancy. Factors that may influence maternal and fetal outcomes during management of these tumors were identified, including aggressiveness of the tumor and stage of pregnancy. Craniospinal tumors presenting in pregnancy are challenging. The surgical management needs to be tailored individually and as part of a multidisciplinary team approach. Factors influencing maternal and fetal outcomes are to be considered during management and patient counseling.

Novel Solution to Back Flashovers on High Voltage Transmission Lines: The Embedded Ground Conductor

It is well known that for high voltage transmission lines in the range of 245 kV–525 kV, particularly in regions of high ground resistivity, lightning back flashover problems could be a major concern. Line arresters have been used successfully to address the problem. Underbuilt ground wires have been proposed as a viable alternative. The present paper shows that the full potential of additional ground wires could be achieved by optimizing their position on the tower. Such optimization often results in a preferred position at the level, or higher than the attachment height of the lower phase conductors; therefore the designation Embedded Ground Conductor. An essential requirement is that such positioning does not infringe in any way on the dielectric integrity of the electrical clearances and, under the influence of induced charge, does not become a source of positive streamers that may lead to additional radio or audible noise. It is found that a streamer- inhibited conductor, when properly placed, fully satisfies the above requirements. It is determined that for 245 kV, 345 kV and 420 kV lines, a streamer-inhibited embedded conductor could improve the back flashover rate by a factor of 10 or more

There's No Place Like Home(land) in American and Soviet Fantasy Cinema of 1939: The Wizard of Oz and Vasilisa the Beautiful

There's No Place Like Home(land) in American and Soviet Fantasy Cinema of 1939: <i>The Wizard of Oz</i> and <i>Vasilisa the Beautiful</i>

NaCl-induced hot-corrosion behavior of TiAlN single-layer and TiAlN/Ti multilayer coatings at 500 °C

The microstructure and corrosion behavior of the TiAlN and the TiAlN/Ti coatings were studied under the synergistic effects of salt spray and high temperature at 500 °C. The results showed that the salt spray test accelerated the hot corrosion process of the coatings. The columnar grain boundaries of TiAlN coatings provide a preferred position for internal corrosion, where the corrosion product was mainly composed of TiO 2 . The TiAlN/Ti multilayer interface and Ti interlayer have double effects on the hot corrosion resistance of the coating. The Ti metal layer restrained the corrosion zone propagation to TiAlN layer and also aggravated the local corrosion inside the coating. The corrosion mechanisms of TiAlN and TiAlN/Ti coatings were discussed in detail. • The hot corrosion behaviors of TiAlN single-layer and TiAlN/Ti multilayer coatings were investigated. • During the hot corrosion process, the Ti and Al elements were consumed greatly, and no complete and protective oxide layer was formed. • The columnar grain boundaries of TiAlN coating provide favorable position for internal corrosion. • Ti metal layer was preferentially corroded in TiAlN/Ti coating. It provides a reference for the development of new nitride coatings.

Crystal structure of scapolite from Samurski Dol, Chepelare region, Central Rhodopes, Bulgaria

Samples of scapolite from the marble quarry from the Samurski Dol locality, situated nearby Chepelare, Central Rhodopes, Bulgaria have been subjected to chemical analyses and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The obtained values for the meionite component (Me) range between 70 and 75. The crystal structure of the studied sample has been solved in both I4/m and P42/n space groups, traditionally assigned to scapolite members. The paper provides new insight on the choice of correct space group for description of scapolites crystal structures, with a view of the preferred positions by silicon and aluminum ions and their framework ordering.

Functional Trait Analysis and the Multi-metric Integrity Model, Based on Stream Fish Indicators, and Their Relations to Chemical Water Quality

Functional trait and biological integrity approaches in stream ecology enable the determination and prediction of aquatic community responses to a variety of environmental stressors, such as chemical pollution, habitat disturbance, and biological invasion. Here, we used multi-trait based functional groups (FGs) to predict the functional responses of fish assemblages to the physicochemical and ecological health gradients in a temperate stream. The multi-metric biological integrity model (mIBI model) was used to evaluate stream ecological health. The FGs were derived from the distance matrix of trophic, tolerance, and physical habitat traits among fish species. The leading water quality indicators (conductivity [EC], total suspended solids [TSS], and chlorophyll-a [CHL-a]) varied conspicuously with the stream gradient and anthropogenic pollution. The multi-metric water-pollution index (mWPI) showed differences in chemical health from upstream to downstream. Monsoon precipitation may have affected the variations in fish species and associated changes linked to irregular chemical health. The fish FGs varied more by space (longitudinal) than by season (premonsoon and postmonsoon). Functional metrics, which reflected trophic and tolerance traits, as well as vertical position preference, were strongly correlated with water quality degradation downstream. Changes were evident in FG (II, III, and IV) combinations from the upstream to downstream reaches. Furthermore, the structure of the fish assemblages from FG-II and FG-III was significantly correlated with chemical (R2 = 0.43 and 0.35, p < 0.001) and ecological health (R2 = 0.69 and 0.66, p < 0.001), as well as the metrics of mWPI. In conclusion, the results indicate significant variations in both trait-based FGs and biological integrity among stream-fish communities, influenced by chemical water quality gradients. The causes included longitudinal zones and intensifying degradation of water quality downstream. Therefore, multi-trait based FGs can facilitate ecological health assessment and develop the mIBI model based on fish assemblages by reflecting the prevailing chemical health status of streams and rivers.

Dysphagia Management in Children: Implementation and Perspectives of Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES).

Dysphagia is any impairment of swallowing that compromises the safety, efficiency, or adequacy of nutritional or liquid intake. It is common in children, especially in some clinical populations, and may result in failure to thrive and respiratory problems due to pulmonary aspiration. Swallowing disorders have a severe impact on children's health, growth, and development, and on the quality of life of the child and family. Clinical evaluation cannot validly predict aspiration, which is mostly silent. A team management approach is advocated, including instrumental swallowing assessments. FEES has been proven to be safe and valid and is increasingly used in children of all ages. It allows the identification of structural abnormalities, assessment of the child's diet with real-life food and liquids while the child holds the optimal or preferred position, examination during breastfeeding, and assessment of fatigue and treatment strategies. FEES is carried out following a protocol that comprises three parts: the evaluation of the anatomical and physiological parameters of swallowing, testing of food and liquids of a range of different consistencies, and evaluation of treatment methods. Pediatric FEES involves adaptations for infants, and special considerations about readiness for nutritive trials and the infant's ability to sustain a coordinated feeding pattern. Varying consistencies and volumes of food or liquids are tried. Care of the dysphagic child involves team work. FEES, as a part of the assessment and management of dysphagia, enables the evaluation of the safety, efficiency, and adequacy of oral food and liquid intake. Future perspectives include standardized training in clinical FEES protocols to ensure clinical competency of the pediatric FESS team members and the development and validation of standardized examination and interpretation protocols for pediatric FEES.

Adjusting Intraocular Lens Power for Placement in the Ciliary Sulcus

Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed procedure within the National Health Service (1). In most cases, the intended post-operative visual outcome is emmetropia, which is significantly influenced by the intraocular lens (IOL) power calculated and selected by the surgeon (2). The capsular bag is the preferred position for IOL implantation due to its stability and proximity to the position of the native lens (3). The most common intraoperative complication of cataract surgery is posterior capsular (PC) rupture (1). This is one instance in which placement of the IOL in the ciliary sulcus, rather than the capsular bag, may be necessary, in addition to other situations such as cases of zonular laxity (3). The Royal College of Ophthalmologists state in their cataract guidance that back-up lenses should be available in theatre in case non-capsular bag fixation is required (4).

Factors Predicting Outcomes of Supine Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Large Single-Centre Experience.

Objective: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the treatment of choice for large renal calculi. The prone position has been considered the preferred position to obtain renal access. However, the supine position has recently gained popularity, which confers several potential advantages. The current study analyses the prognostic factors for successful supine PCNL procedures in a larger tertiary centre. Subjects: Prospective data were collected from all patients undergoing PCNL in the Galdako modified Valdivia position at our institution between February-2007 and September-2020. Surgical outcomes variables collected included: the rate of Endoscopic-combined intra-renal surgery (ECIRS), operative times, surgical effectiveness (no residuals <2 mm stone fragments) and complications. Results: A total of 592 patients underwent PCNL with a median age of 56 years (IQR: 42−67). The median stone size was 17 mm (IQR: 13−23). Of those, 79% of patients had an effective procedure. Stone size (p < 0.001), location (p < 0.001) and Guys-Stone Score (GSS) (p < 0.001) were associated with effectiveness. A Percutaneous nephrostomy tube was sited at the completion of the procedure in 97.3% of patients and a simultaneous double-J stent in 45.3%. Stent insertion was associated with larger stones (p < 0.001), the performance of ECIRS (p < 0.001) and higher GSS (p < 0.001). The overall complication rate was 21.7%. The main type of complication was an infection in 26.2 of the cases followed by the need for repeated nephrostogram in 12.7%. Conclusions: We demonstrate that PCNL in a high-volume centre is safe and efficacious in the Galdalko modified Valdivia position. Patients with smaller stones in the renal pelvis and a low GSS have the highest chance of a successful procedure.

Co2+, Fe2+, and Ni2+: Modifiers for Photocatalytic Deposition of Highly Active Pt on Graphene-Based Supports

This study focuses on photocatalytic syntheses, in which transition metal ions (Co2+, Fe2+, or Ni2+), as the hole scavengers and surface modifiers of partially reduced graphene oxide, PRGO, were utilized to photoreduce Pt4+. A pulsed UV reactor was used to illuminate the precursors. The electrostatic interaction between the metal ions (Co2+, Fe2+, or Ni2+) and the oxygen functional groups on PRGO was the main parameter, proposed to be the reason controlling Pt4+ reduction and Pt structure and activity. The alternative assumption in managing the oxidation states of Pt was the variation in the oxidation rates of hole scavengers. Pt electrocatalysts’ structural and electrochemical characteristics revealed that utilizing the cobalt-based hole scavenger caused a dominant growth phase of Pt particles at preferred positions on PRGO, with metallic states and improved electrocatalytic activities (ECSA value of 191 m2·g–1 for Co2+ vs 141 m2·g–1 and 127 m2·g–1 for Fe2+ and Ni2+, respectively). Density functional theory (DFT) calculation, on the other hand, suggested that the greater affinity of cobalt and iron ions to oxygen groups could detach more “O” from the graphene plane. Based on the DFT results, less “O” groups in the vicinity of Pt particles gave an amorphous morphology to Pt and facilitated the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR).

Matching amino acids membrane preference profile to improve activity of antimicrobial peptides

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are cationic antibiotics that can kill multidrug-resistant bacteria via membrane insertion. However, their weak activity limits their clinical use. Ironically, the cationic charge of AMPs is essential for membrane binding, but it obstructs membrane insertion. In this study, we postulate that this problem can be overcome by locating cationic amino acids at the energetically preferred membrane surface. All amino acids have an energetically preferred or less preferred membrane position profile, and this profile is strongly related to membrane insertion. However, most AMPs do not follow this profile. One exception is protegrin-1, a powerful but neglected AMP. In the present study, we found that a potent AMP, WCopW5, strongly resembles protegrin-1 and that the match between its sequence and the preferred position profile closely correlates with its antimicrobial activity. One of its derivatives, WCopW43, has antimicrobial activity comparable to that of the most effective AMPs in clinical use.

Fizyolojik doğum savunucuları: Türk ebelik öğrencilerinin doğal doğum algıları

&#x0D; &#x0D; Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the views of students studying in the midwifery department about the perception of birth. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study. The study was carried out using an online questionnaire, which was prepared by researchers in accordance with the current literature, evaluating students' perception of childbirth. Results: 484 undergraduate midwifery students (mean age, 20.94±2.35 years) agreed to participate in the study. Approximately 90% of the students reported that they have heard the concept of natural birth. The findings showed that 61% of the students have heard the term of natural birth at the university. The percentages of students who disagree with the presence of the freedom of movement of a pregnant woman, the usefulness of music, bath and massage at birth, the effectiveness of relaxation techniques or entering to water at the body temperature at birth, supporting to other birth positions instead of supine and preference of vertical positions during active delivery, were higher in the first-year midwifery students compared to other students. Conclusion: It is recommended that create in-service training programs are created for the student midwives to access up-to-date information after graduation, to provide the integration of the theoretical information given to the students to the clinical environment, and to carry out visual and cohort studies on the subject. In line with the findings obtained from the study, additions can be made to the midwifery education curriculum.

Differences in Anxiety and Depression Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Primary School Children in The Netherlands.

This is the first Dutch study investigating symptoms of five DSM-IV-classified anxiety disorders and depression in a large sample of pre-adolescent children with and without a migration background, adjusting for socioeconomic position (SEP) and social preference. Both are potential explanatory factors for differences in mental health among migrant children. We measured anxiety and depression scores with the self-report Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) in 2063 children (aged 8-13 years, 55% girls) in the Netherlands. Surinamese/Antillean, Turkish, and Moroccan children reported significantly higher anxiety scores than Dutch children. SEP and peer rejection partly explained higher anxiety scores. Surinamese/Antillean and Turkish children reported comparable depression scores to Dutch children, but Moroccan children reported lower depression scores after adjusting for SEP and peer rejection. Girls reported higher anxiety and depression levels across all four subgroups. Although differences between children with or without a migration background were small, these may increase in later life as the prevalence of anxiety and depression increases with age.