Related Physical Problems Research Articles

DIFFERENTIATING PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MIDTERM BREAK IN A PROLONGED ONLINE GAME PLAYING

With the development of widespread Internet access, online game playing has become a popular event. As a result, more attention is being paid to the potentially negative physical and psychological effects on prolonged computer worker or online game player. To date, related physical problems that have been identified include fatigue, physical pain, insomnia, epileptic seizures, and even sudden death. Therefore, midterm break may be necessary for an online game player. This study tries to differentiate the physiological effects of two groups, with and without a midterm break, during a prolonged online game playing. Our experimental results showed that sympathetic system is overwhelming the parasympathetic nervous system significantly in group B without break, while it remains unchanged in group A. Due to the fight or flight response of the sympathetic system, participants with midterm break wanted to play more after event. Participants without break did not feel stressed after a continuous two hours' online game playing. These interesting findings may need further investigation in the future.

Effects of obesity on functional capacity

To assess the relationships between BMI and walking speed, balance control, sit-to-stand performance (a measure of mass specific lower limb power), and endurance. Thirty-six women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) and 10 women with normal body weight (BMI between 18 kg/m(2) and 25 kg/m(2) ) were enrolled in this observational study. The obese group comprised 12 persons with a BMI ≥ 30 and <35 (obese), 14 subjects with a BMI ≥ 35 and <40 (severe obesity) and 10 people with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2) (morbid obesity). All subjects underwent a clinical examination, a gait test, an endurance test (6 minutes walking test), a mass specific lower limb power test (five times sit-to-stand) and a balance test. Obese women exhibited slower fast gait speeds (P < 0.05) with correspondingly shorter stride lengths, poorer sit-to-stand performance (P < 0.05), and endurance (P < 0.05). However, once the state of severe obesity was reached, additional weight gain (morbid obesity) does not seem to decrease these functional capacities any further. This study underlines the importance of assessing obese patients' related physical problems in an early stage of obesity in order to focus exercise regimens and promote appropriate health behaviors.

Effectiveness of Comprehensive Nursing Care Relieving Problems of Hospitalized High-Risk Pregnant Women in Bed Rest

It is well known that bed rest at home or in hospital has many physical and psychosocial effects on pregnant women. Objective: This study is type of an intervention study which has been conducted to determine bed rest related physical and psychosocial problems of hospitalized high-risk pregnant women and effectiveness of a comprehensive nursing care plan in solving to those problems. Material and Method: The sample group was selected among high-risk pregnant women who were hospitalized in perinatology wards of three hospitals in Istanbul between June 2000 and June 2001. The sample consisted of 60 high-risk pregnant women (30 Intervention group, 30 control group) who have completed 20th gestational weeks and have had partial or complete bed rest in hospital for at least 10 day and did not have a systemic disease or fetal abnormality and were willing to participate in the study. Data collection was made by Patient Assessment Form, Antepartum Symptom Checklist and Antepartum Hospital Stressors Inventory. Control group were not implemented any intervention except for routine ward care. Intervention group with complete or partial bed rest were given comprehensive nursing care in order to ensure deal with problems that arise during the bed rest. All participants filled out “Antepartum Symptom Checklist” and “Antepartum Hospital Stressors Inventory” in the end of bed rest. And body weight was followed in the beginning and end of the study. Data defining the number, percentage, mean, median and standard deviation values were used. The relative risk used in the evaluation of the risk. Analysis of the data, chi-square and Fisher\'s exact test for discrete variables, the Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables. Results: The control and Intervention groups were similar in manner of demographic and obstetric characteristics, high-risk status, type and duration of bed rest (p>0.05). It was found that Intervention group which was provided a comprehensive nursing care, education and counseling and were on partial or complete bed rest experienced less physical and psychological problems and hospital stressors (p

Reliability of ultrasonographic measurements in suspected patients of developmental dysplasia of the hip and correlation with the acetabular index

Background:Ultrasonography is accepted as a useful imaging modality in the early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Early detection and early treatment of DDH prevents hip dislocation and related physical, social, economic, and psychological problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of ultrasonographic and roentgenographic measurements measured by seven different observers.Materials and Methods:The alpha angles of 66 hips in 33 patients were measured using the Graf method by seven different observers. Acetabular index degrees on plane roentgenograms were measured in order to assess the correlation between the ultrasonographic alpha angle and the radiographic acetabular index, which both show the bony acetabular depth, retrospectively.Results:The interclass correlation coefficient, measuring the interobserver reliability, was high and statistically significant for the ultrasonographic measurements. There was a negative correlation between the alpha angle and the acetabular index.Conclusions:Ultrasonography, when applied properly, is a reliable technique between different observers, in the diagnosis and follow up of DDH. When assessed concomitantly with the roentgenographic measurements, the results are reliable and statistically meaningful.

Foucault pendulum and sub-Riemannian geometry

The well known Foucault nonsymmetrical pendulum is studied as a problem of sub-Riemannian geometry on nilpotent Lie groups. It is shown that in a rotating frame a sub-Riemannian structure can be naturally introduced. For small oscillations, three dimensional horizontal trajectories are computed and displayed in detail. The fiber bundle structure is explicitly shown. The underlying Lie structure is described together with the corresponding holonomy group, which turns out to be given by the center of the Heisenberg group. Other related physical problems that can be treated in a similar way are also mentioned.

Integration of organic thin-film transistor and polymer light-emitting diodes

We investigated the technology and the related physical problems for integrating organic thin-film transistor （OTFT） and polymer light-emitting diode （PLED）. The OTFT uses Pentacene as the active medium, Ta2O5 as dielectric layer, Ta as gate electrode and Au as source/drain electrodes. The structure of PLED device is ITO/PEDOT:PEO （polyethylene oxide）/P-PPV or MEH-PPV/Ba/Al. The PEDOT:PEO, P-PPV and MEH-PPV film layers were obtained by using screen printing technology. The transistors have a threshold voltage of -7.1 V and carrier mobility of 0.91 cm2/（V·s）. The luminance of the PLEDs with P-PPV and MEH-PPV emissive layer when were driven by OTFT could reach 124 and 22 cd/m2, and the maximal luminous efficiency are 12.4 and 1.1 cd/A, respectively.

Barriers to uptake of physical activity in community-based patients with schizophrenia

Background: Recent United Kingdom Government Policy documents have emphasized the need to improve the physical health of patients with mental illness. Although physical health could be improved by increasing physical activity levels, uptake of widely available community-based activity programmes is low in this patient population.Aims: To investigate the barriers to uptake of and adherence to physical activity in community-dwelling patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.Methods: Qualitative study on 27 community dwelling patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia from four Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) in Edinburgh. Patients were individually interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Themes and sub themes from the interviews were identified using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).Results: Four barriers to physical activity uptake were identified: limited experience of physical activity engagement, impact of the illness and effects of medication, effects of anxiety and the influences of support networks.Conclusion: These patients experience complex barriers to physical activity uptake which need to be considered in the design of physical activity interventions to target obesity and related physical health problems.

Breast radiotherapy: a single centre survey of non-medical weekly patient review

AbstractAims: Monitoring and reviewing patients during adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer is an integral component of care and was until recently a predominantly medical domain. Patients were often reviewed in busy routine breast clinics, for short consultations with a variety of medical staff and with little time to address questions or concerns. Non-medical treatment review clinics, staffed by senior nursing and senior therapy radiographers have been introduced to provide a dedicated, consistent treatment review. This survey was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the non-medical review of these patients.Materials and methods: This was a prospective survey of all patients attending for breast or chest wall radiotherapy, between 1st July 2003 and 30th June 2004. Patients were invited to complete and return a postal questionnaire related to their treatment and treatment review. Review staff collected data on demographic information, clinical history and treatment intent for these patients at first visit. At subsequent weekly review visits, data were recorded relating to patient assessment, interventions and referrals initiated. Skin reactions were graded using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scoring tool.Results: One thousand and ninety-five patient questionnaires were distributed and 865 (79%) were returned. There were high satisfaction scores with the time spent with review staff (99.7%) and the ability to discuss all aspects of treatment and concerns (99.1%). One hundred and ninety-three patients were referred to non-medical staff for additional support. Five hundred and forty-four were referred to medical staff. The majority (437) were planned referrals to their clinical oncologist to prescribe a ‘boost’ or review endocrine treatment and 107 to their general practitioner for routine visits and employment certificates. Review staff data of 1,067 patients showed 342 referrals for treatment and non-treatment related physical problems, 80 referrals for additional information and emotional support. Majority of skin reactions were grade 1 or 2a.Conclusion: The successful identification of patients’ supportive needs and high patient satisfaction with this service supports the use of this approach.

How Are Substance Use Disorders Addressed in VA Psychiatric and Primary Care Settings? Results of a National Survey

This study examined interventions for substance use disorders within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) psychiatric and primary care settings. National random samples of 83 VA psychiatry program directors and 102 primary care practitioners were surveyed by telephone. The survey assessed screening practices to detect substance use disorders, protocols for treating patients with substance use disorders, and available treatments for substance use disorders. Respondents reported extensive contact with patients with substance use problems. However, a majority reported being ill equipped to treat substance use disorders themselves; they usually referred such patients to specialty substance use disorder treatment programs. Offering fewer specialty substance use disorder services within the VA may be problematic: providers can refer patients to specialty programs only if such programs exist. Caring for veterans with substance use disorders may require increasing the capacity of and establishing new specialty programs or expanding the ability of psychiatric programs and primary care practitioners to provide such care.

Gravitational wave detectors based on matter wave interferometers (MIGO) are no better than laser interferometers (LIGO)

We show that a recent claim that matter wave interferometers have a much higher sensitivity than laser interferometers for a comparable physical setup is unfounded. We point out where the mistake in the earlier analysis is made. We also disprove the claim that only a description based on the geodesic deviation equation can produce the correct physical result. The equations for the quantum dynamics of non-relativistic massive particles in a linearly perturbed spacetime derived here are useful for treating a wider class of related physical problems. A general discussion on the use of atom interferometers for the detection of gravitational waves is also provided.

Reassessment of the Classification of the Severity in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Using SF-36 Questionnaire

To investigate whether or not the newly revised classification of the severity of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is appropriate with respect to quality of life (QOL). The association between the subscale of Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and pulmonary function or serum marker was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The association between the subscale of SF-36 and the previous or newly revised classification of the severity of IIP was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation test. Forty patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were enrolled. The mean deviation value scores for 7 items, excluding bodily pain (BP) in SF-36 were below the national reference values. % vital capacity (VC) was correlated with the 7 items excluding BP. However, neither serum LDH nor KL-6 values were correlated with any item in SF-36. According to the new or previous classification of the severity, severity was correlated with physical function, limitation of role functioning related physical problems and general health (GH); the correlation coefficient with the new one was slightly higher than the previous one. Based on these results, we established a unique draft on the classification of the severity. %VC <70% was added as an item for the newly revised classification in our draft. In our draft, there was rank correlation between the 7 items, excluding BP, in SF-36 and severity. With respect to QOL, the newly revised classification of the severity of IIP was not satisfactory, but the hypoxemia during exercise in patients with resting PaO(2) >80 Torr and reduction of VC were found to be important factors.

Raman scattering of ferroelectric lead lanthanum titanate thin films grown on fused quartz by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Highly textured lead lanthanum titanate (Pb 1− x La x )TiO 3 (PLT) thin films have been grown on fused quartz substrates by metalorganic chemical deposition (MOCVD). A series of PLT with different x between 0 and 0.32 were prepared and studied by Raman scattering. Raman spectra, measured at 300 K and 80 K, showed the features from the PLT film and quartz substrate. By using a “difference Raman” technique, more PLT modes are shown. The variations of the PLT Raman modes with the La composition and the measurement temperature are studied, and related physical phenomena and problems are discussed.

High energy universe — Satellite missions

A variety of satellite missions to observe the high energy universe are currently operating and some more with more versatility and capability are on the anvil. In this paper, after giving a brief introduction to the constituents of the high energy universe and the related plasma physical problems, general as well as specific features of the current and future x-ray and gamma-ray satellite missions are described.

Use of quadratic differentials for description of defects and textures in liquid crystals and 2 + 1 gravity

The theory of measured foliations which is discussed in Part I in connection with the train tracks and meanders is shown to be related to the theory of Jenkins-Strebel quadratic differentials by Hubbard and Masur (Acta Math. 142 (1979) 221). In this work it is demonstrated that this formalism not only provides the adequate description of defects and textures in liquid crystals but also is idealy suited for study of 2 + 1 classical gravity which was initiated in the seminal paper by Deser et al. (Ann. Phys. 152 (1984) 220). Not only their results are reproduced but, in addition, many new results are obtained. In particular, using the results of Rivin (Ann. Math. 139 (1994) 553) the restriction on the total mass of the 2 + 1 Universe is removed. It is shown, that the masses can have only discrete values and, moreover, the theoretically obtained sum rules forbid the existence of some of these values. The dynamics of 2 + 1 gravity which is associated with the dynamics of train tracks (Part I), is reinterpreted in terms of the emerging hyperbolic 3-manifolds. The paper provides a concise introduction to this topic. The discussion of some connections of the obtained results with related physical problems is also provided. These include (but not limited to): string theory, classical and quantum billiards, dynamics of fracture, statics and dynamics of dislocations and disclinations in solids, etc.

Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders in active union carpenters.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for work related musculoskeletal disorders among union carpenters. METHODS: A detailed questionnaire on musculoskeletal symptoms and work history was administered to 522...

The quality of life of prostatic cancer patients

A questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life (QOL) of forty-two outpatients with prostate cancer. Most of the patients were old, so reduced physical comfort was correlated with bodily factors other than those caused by prostate cancer. Many patients with progressive disease reported disease--and treatment--related physical problems that tended to be correlated to the extent of the disease. Many patients treated with female hormones complained of breast induration or discomfort. Patient's sexual life was impaired remarkably. Our treatment for cancer pain would be especially inadequate to cancer pain relief. We must give positive aid to cancer pain relief from now on. Most patients lost sexual interest after developing prostate cancer. Only three of the patients were able to have sexual intercourse. Some of the patients who underwent radical prostatectomy suffered from urinary incontinence after the operation. Thus, the patients' social life was remarkably affected for relative good performance status. Many patients lived only with other elderly individuals. Therefore, it is also important to manage patients in the light of their living environment.

Mathematical boundary integral equation analysis of an embedded shell under dynamic excitations

AbstractA boundary integral equation method is presented for the analysis of a thin cylindrical shell embedded in an elastic half‐space under axisymmetric excitations. By virtue of a set of ring‐load Green's functions for the shell and a group of dynamic fundamental solutions for the semi‐infinite medium, the structure–medium interaction problem of wave propagation is shown to be reducible to a set of coupled boundary integral equations. Through the analysis of an auxiliary pair of Cauchy integral equations, the singularities of the contact stress distributions arc rendered explicit. With a direct incorporation of such analytical features into the formulation, an effective computational procedure is developed which involves an interpolation of regular functions only. Typical results for the dynamic contact load distributions, displacements, and complex compliance functions are included as illustrations. In addition to furnishing quantities of direct engineering interest, this treatment is apt to be useful as a foundation for further rigorous as well as approximate developments for various related physical problems and boundary integral methods.

Random dither modulation of a ring-laser gyroscope

In this paper we discuss the possibilities to circumvent the lock-in nonlinearities in a dithered ring-laser gyroscope by random modulation. We review the Cayley matrix formulation of the theory of a dithered ring laser and show that it is particularly suitable to give both an intuitive understanding and a quantitative calculational tool for the effects of randomness on the gyroscope performance. The relationship of our problem to the related physical problems of an overdamped Josephson junction and a random atomic chain is pointed out. The Saxon–Hutner result is utilized to suggest a method to circumvent all locking and trapping phenomena in the laser gyroscope. The effects of amplitude or frequency noise are discussed, but it is found that the introduction of a randomly varying phase is most efficient in eliminating phase trapping. This can be used to provide an even distribution of the Cayley-mapping fixed points around the unit circle that provides the most even phase motion possible. The response of the gyroscope is then found to be optimally linear. All numerical calculations reported are based on the analytically solvable square-wave dither case, but, using the intuitive picture of the process provided by the Cayley transformation method, we argue that the results are qualitatively valid also in the case of a phase-modulated sinusoidal dither signal. The work is related to earlier work on ring lasers and Josephson junctions.

Planning the provision of dental treatment for handicapped persons living at home

The Department of Health and Social Security have suggested that area health authorities may wish to extend the scope of their community dental services to provide treatment for certain handicapped people. In order to assess priorities and plan the expansion of their services, the area authorities need information about the numbers of handicapped persons in the community, their dental needs, the range, nature and severity of their disabilities and related physical and social problems and their willingness to receive treatment. Some of this information is available, but there are serious gaps. During the follow-up stage of a study of 757 handicapped people in Canterbury, the opportunity was taken to include a question asking whether the handicapped person wanted to go to the dentist and would like the local authority to arrange transport. Fourteen people (1·8 %) would have liked arrangements to be made and 8 (1·1 %) already made their own special transport arrangements. Thirteen of the 14 people wanting transport and 6 of the 8 who already had it were registered as handicapped people with the local social services department and 11 of the total of 22 people were receiving one or more of the domiciliary health and social services, another 6 were attending clubs or centres and 1 was attending a day hospital. Two of the 3 people not registered were receiving domiciliary services and the remaining one was attending a centre, so all of these people were “known” to either the health authorities or social services departments. It is argued from the findings from the Canterbury survey that attempts to measure the number of handicapped people in need of dental treatment, and of transport to it, by means of simple questioning will result in an under-estimate. A survey of handicapped people combining sociological data with data from a dental examination of each person is required, before sound plans to extend community dental services for handicapped people in accordance with the D. H. B. S. circular can be made. It will be necessary to be clear about the means of bringing the service to the notice and use of the handicapped person in need, and, hence, about the definition of “handicapped person”.

Pseudo Fan Beam Reconstruction Algorithms and Their Related Physical Problems

The pseudo fan beam reconstruction algorithm and related physical problems are considered. Image distortion related to the rearrangement to a parallel beam from a fan beam scan is discussed together with physical problems such as Compton scattering in tissue which affects the final image quality.