Significant Difference In Ability Research Articles

Optimization of achievement motivation to improve long jump performance

This study aims to reveal the achievement motivation of the athlete's long jump ability. This is so motivated by the observations of the athlete's performance is still not under the reality. Achievement of an athlete long jump is still lower than the previous year and declines. One reason is the low motivation of athlete achievement. This phenomenon is an attraction for writers to examine related to the optimization of achievement motivation to improve the performance of long jump athletes. This research is the quasi-experiment. Sampling is done by purposive random sampling. The sample size was 32 people out of 58 athletes. Achievement motivation data got through the use of instruments in the form of a questionnaire. Validity analysis is to test using product-moment correlation SPSS version 20.00 and data analysis with T-Test. The results showed that there was a significant difference in ability of long jump athletes with high achievement motivation compared to low achievement motivation.

Visual feedback during pedaling allows individuals poststroke to alter inappropriately prolonged paretic vastus medialis activity.

Individuals who have experienced a stroke often demonstrate inappropriate muscle activity phasing in the paretic leg during locomotion. Past research has demonstrated that inappropriate paretic phasing varies between behavioral contexts and is reduced during unilateral pedaling with the nonparetic leg inactive. We investigated whether individuals could voluntarily alter activity in a target muscle of the paretic limb in a consistent behavioral context and whether this voluntary change differed between bilateral and unilateral pedaling. During a fixed-speed motorized pedaling task, participants were asked to use visual feedback to deactivate the vastus medialis (VM) before a 90° target region of the pedaling cycle, as measured by surface electromyography and by change in fraction of total cycle amplitude in the target region. We based the start of this target region on the earliest observed deactivation for this muscle (found in fast pedaling), which allowed us to challenge both the paretic and nonparetic VM. During visual feedback, participants significantly reduced the fraction of activity found in the target region, with no significant difference in degree of reduction between paretic and nonparetic legs or between bilateral and unilateral pedaling. Surprisingly, in bilateral pedaling, individuals with greater clinical impairment demonstrated greater paretic limb response to feedback. Our results demonstrated that during this tightly constrained task, the paretic VM showed a surprisingly similar flexibility of muscle activity to the nonparetic VM. Our findings show that participants were able to use provided visual feedback to modulate the degree of an observed poststroke muscle-phasing impairment. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that by using visual feedback during a constrained task with minimized kinematic control requirements, participants with poststroke hemiplegia can voluntarily change muscle activity phase in the vastus medialis. Surprisingly, we did not observe a significant difference in ability to alter phasing between paretic and nonparetic legs or between bilateral and unilateral pedaling. In this visual feedback task, participants appear to modify muscle activity well in both the paretic and nonparetic legs.

Identification of premature infant states in relation to introducing oral feeding

BackgroundRecognizing oral readiness signs in infants is vital when planning the introduction of oral feeding. However, with premature infants, this can be difficult to gauge accurately because of immature development. MethodsTwenty three staff from a level 2 neonatal unit participated. A questionnaire elicited knowledge about oral readiness and other factors related to oral feeding with premature infants. Participant knowledge of the written Als (1986) infant state descriptors was completed. A comparison was made of the skills in identification of the various infant states on video without and with written descriptors (Als, 1986). Correlations investigated if years of experience and grade had any relation to accurate infant state identification. ResultsThere was wide variation in the type of training about premature infant feeding participants had received. Participants (65%) recognized the importance of oral readiness signs in relation to feeding development. A Wilcoxon signed ranks test revealed no significant differences in ability to identify infant states without and with the written Als (1986) descriptors when observing infant video materials. When not using the written descriptors, there was a strong negative correlation between grade and the identification of the [Active sleep] state, (p < 0.01), and a strong positive correlation between grade and the identification of the [Drowsy] state, (p < 0.05). There were no strong correlations between grade and years working when using the written descriptors. ConclusionOral readiness signs are important when introducing oral feeding with premature infants. However, accurate identification of oral readiness remains challenging.

PERBEDAAN PENGGUNAAN PENDEKATAN KOOPERATIF TIPE NUMBERED HEAD TOGETHER DAN THINK PAIR SHARE TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN MENULIS TEKS CERPEN SISWA KELAS VII SMP NEGERI 12 PADANG

This research were aims to describe the things as follows. First, the ability to write a short story text students of class VII SMP Negeri 12 Padang taught by using cooperative approach Numbered Head Together type. Second, the ability to write short story text students of class VII SMP Negeri 12 Padang taught by using cooperative approach Think Pair Share type. Third, the difference in ability to write short story text students of class VII SMP Negeri 12 Padang taught by cooperative approach Numbered Head Together and Think Pair Share type. This research was quantitative with descriptive method of quasi experimental research design. Sampling was done by using simple random sampling technique. In this research, class VII.3 was assigned as experiment class I which amounted to 32 students and VII.5 as experiment class II which amounted to 30 students. Data collected by using performance test writing short story text. The results of this study are as follows. First, the ability to write a short story text students of class VII SMP Negeri 12 Padang taught by using cooperative approach Numbered Head Together type was 89,58. Second, the ability to write short story text students of class VII SMP Negeri 12 Padang taught by using cooperative approach Think Pair Share type was 81,48. Third, there was a significant difference in ability to write short story text of students in class VII SMP Negeri 12 Padang taught by cooperative approach Numbered Head Together and Think Pair Share type.

Early removal of asymptomatic mandibular third molar-is it safe?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of complications between surgical removal of third molar and germectomy, objectively and subjectively.Material and Methods: A prospective non randomized study for all patients who were undergoing minor oral surgery of mandibular third molar was carried out in Oral &amp; Maxillofacial Department (OMF) Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, Malaysia (HSAH). The indication for surgery was for orthodontic reason. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their radiographic root morphology, namely group I (root not formed), group II (root partially formed), group III (roots fully formed)Results: A total of 44 patients were enrolled into this study, 2 teeth from each patient, henceforth involving 88 teeth. There was statistically difference in age among the 3 groups (p&lt;0.05). Germectomy was the shortest procedure. In the objective evaluation post-operative 1 week, no sign of trismus and facial swelling was observed in these 3 groups. In the subjective evaluation, there were significant differences in ability to tolerate orally (p&lt;0.05) and ability to perform daily activities (p&lt;0.05) among the 3 groups.Conclusion: This study shows low incidence of complications in all 3 groups. Germectomy is a simple and safe procedure, thus, this prompted the author advocate the early removal of mandibular third molar.

Influence of perceived difficulty of cases on student osteopaths\u2019 diagnostic reasoning: a cross sectional study

BackgroundDiagnostic reasoning refers to the cognitive processes by which clinicians formulate diagnoses. Despite the implications for patient safety and professional identity, research on diagnostic reasoning in osteopathy remains largely theoretical. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of perceived task difficulty on the diagnostic reasoning of students osteopaths.MethodsUsing a single-blinded, cross sectional study design, sixteen final year pre-registration osteopathy students diagnosed two standardized cases under two context conditions (complex versus control). Context difficulty was manipulated via verbal manipulation and case order was randomized and counterbalanced across subjects to ensure that each case was diagnosed evenly under both conditions (i.e. half of the subjects performed either case A or B first). After diagnosis, participants were presented with items (literal, inferred and filler) designed to represent analytical and non-analytical reasoning. Response time and error rate for each item were measured. A repeated measures analysis of variance (concept type x context) was performed to identify differences across conditions and make inferences on diagnostic reasoning.ResultsParticipants made significantly more errors when judging literal concepts and took significantly less time to recognize filler concepts in the complex context. No significant difference in ability to judge inferred concepts across contexts was found.ConclusionsAlthough speculative and preliminary, our findings suggest the perception of complexity led to an increased reliance on analytical reasoning at the detriment of non-analytical reasoning. To reduce the associated cognitive load, osteopathic educational institutions could consider developing the intuitive diagnostic capabilities of pre-registration students. Postgraduate mentorship opportunities could be considered to enhance the diagnostic reasoning of professional osteopaths, particularly recent graduates. Further research exploring the influence of expertise is required to enhance the validity of this study.

Frequency of equivocation in surgical meta-evidence: a review of systematic reviews within IBD literature

ObjectiveTo assess the level of equivocation among level 1 evidence in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease and determine whether any predisposing factors are present.MethodMEDLINE, Embase, CINHAL and Cochrane were searched...

Influences of Histidine-1 and Azaphenylalanine-4 on the Affinity, Anti-inflammatory, and Antiangiogenic Activities of Azapeptide Cluster of Differentiation 36 Receptor Modulators.

Azapeptide analogues of growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) exhibit promising affinity, selectivity, and modulator activity on the cluster of differentiation 36 receptor (CD36). For example, [A1, azaF4]- and [azaY4]-GHRP-6 (1a and 2b) were previously shown to bind selectively to CD36 and exhibited respectively significant antiangiogenic and slight angiogenic activities in a microvascular sprouting assay using choroid explants. The influences of the 1- and 4-position residues on the affinity, anti-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic activity of these azapeptides have now been studied in detail by the synthesis and analysis of a set of 25 analogues featuring Ala1 or His1 and a variety of aromatic side chains at the aza-amino acid residue in the 4-position. Although their binding affinities differed only by a factor of 17, the analogues exhibited significant differences in ability to modulate production of nitric oxide (NO) in macrophages and choroidal neovascularization.

Measurement of Liver Stiffness Using Shear Wave Elastography in a Rat Model: Factors Impacting Stiffness Measurement with Multiple- and Single-Tracking-Location Techniques

The clinical use of elastography for monitoring fibrosis progression is challenged by the subtle changes in liver stiffness associated with early-stage fibrosis and the comparatively large variance in stiffness estimates provided by elastography. Single-tracking-location (STL) shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) is an ultrasound elastography technique previously found to provide improved estimate precision compared with multiple-tracking-location (MTL) SWEI. Because of the improved precision, it is reasonable to expect that STL-SWEI would provide improved ability to differentiate liver fibrosis stage compared with MTL-SWEI. However, this expectation has not been previously challenged rigorously. In this work, the performance of STL- and MTL-SWEI in the setting of a rat model of liver fibrosis is characterized, and the advantages of STL-SWEI in staging fibrosis are explored. The purpose of this study was to determine what advantages, if any, arise from using STL-SWEI instead of MTL-SWEI in the characterization of fibrotic liver. Thus, the ability of STL-SWEI to differentiate livers at various METAVIR fibrosis scores, for ex vivo postmortem measurements, is explored. In addition, we examined the effect of the common confounding factor of fluid versus solid boundary conditions in SWEI experiments. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with carbon tetrachloride over several weeks to produce liver disease of varying severity. STL and MTL stiffness measurements were performed ex vivo and compared with the METAVIR scores from histological analysis and the duration of treatment. A strong association was observed between liver stiffness and weeks of treatment with the liver toxin carbon tetrachloride. Direct comparison of STL- and MTL-SWEI measurements revealed no significant difference in ability to differentiate fibrosis stages based on SWEI mean values. However, image interquartile range was greatly improved in the case of STL-SWEI, compared with MTL-SWEI, at small beam spacing.

Medication understanding among patients living with multiple chronic conditions: Implications for patient-reported measures of adherence.

Low health literacy is associated with poor medication adherence and poor health outcomes. Limited understanding of prescribed medications may decrease validity of patient-reported adherence measures. To assess knowledge of names and purposes of prescribed medications among patients with multiple chronic conditions. Individual interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of patients from six U.S. primary care clinics. Participants (n=57) were English and/or Spanish-speaking patients prescribed 3+medications for chronic conditions, for which non-adherence may lead to disability or death. In individual interviews, patients were asked to name their medications, explain the purpose of each, and to explain how they distinguish them from one another. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded; coded content was quantified by 1) whether or not the patient could name medications; 2) method of categorizing medications; 3) whether or not the purpose of the medication was understood. Descriptive statistics were compiled using Fisher's exact test to determine the relationship between patient knowledge and medication characteristics. Thirty percent of patients could not name at least one of their medications; 19% did not know their purpose; 30% held misconceptions about the purpose of one or more medications. There was no significant difference in ability to name medications or state their medication's purpose between patients using medi-sets, pre-packaged rolls, or blister packs, and patients who stored pills in their original containers (p=0.56 and p=0.73, respectively), or across demographic groups (p=0.085 to 0.767). Many patients demonstrated difficulty identifying the name and purpose of prescribed medications; this did not differ by demographic group or medication storage type. Patients may benefit from routine review of medications with their provider in order to improve health literacy, outcomes, and patient-reported adherence measurement.

Efficacy of Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation versus Nissen Fundoplication for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Short Term: A Meta-Analysis.

Background. The efficacy of Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation (MSA) and its outcomes for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) are uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to summarize and analyze the efficacy of two treatments for GERD. Methods. The meta-analysis search was performed, using four databases. All studies from 2005 to 2016 were included. Pooled effect was calculated using either the fixed or random effects model. Results. A total of 4 trials included 624 patients and aimed to evaluate the differences in proton-pump inhibitor use, complications, and adverse events. MSA had a shorter operative time (MSA and NF: RR = −18.80, 95% CI: −24.57 to −13.04, and P = 0.001) and length of stay (RR = −14.21, 95% CI: −24.18 to −4.23, and P = 0.005). Similar proton-pump inhibitor use, complication (P = 0.19), and severe dysphagia for dilation were shown in both groups. Although there is no difference between the MSA and NF in the number of adverse events, the incidence of postoperative gas or bloating (RR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54–0.94, and P = 0.02) showed significantly different results. However, there is no significant difference in ability to belch and ability to vomit. Conclusions. MSA can be recommended as an alternative treatment for GERD according to their short-term studies, especially in main-features of gas-bloating, due to shorter operative time and less complication of gas or bloating.

Variables Affecting Return to Play After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in the National Football League.

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in the National Football League (NFL). Limited literature exists regarding return to play (RTP) and the factors affecting RTP after ACL reconstruction in NFL players.Purpose/Hypothesis:To determine RTP rates after ACL reconstruction in NFL players and to ascertain which variables affect RTP in these players. We hypothesized that RTP in this population will be less than in the general population and similar to the limited studies published previously.Study Design:Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A total of 92 NFL athletes who sustained ACL injuries requiring ACL reconstruction from 2013 to 2015 were retrospectively studied to determine rate of RTP and the variables affecting RTP.Results:Sixty-two percent (57/92) of NFL athletes returned to NFL game play prior to the end of the 2015-2016 postseason. ACL injuries were noted in 10 different player positions, with 81.5% of all injuries as isolated ACL injuries (75/92) and 18.5% with concomitant knee injuries. A significant difference in ability to RTP was found for players who sustained in-season injuries compared with those who sustained off-season/preseason injuries (P = .02). No significant differences in RTP were found for players who played less than 4 years in the NFL compared with those who played longer. The mean draft round of players who returned was 3.96, with the odds ratio favoring RTP at 4.44 (P = .003) for players drafted in the first 3 rounds of the NFL draft compared with those drafted in the fourth round or later. No significant differences were found with regard to playing surface, laterality, concomitant injury, previous ipsilateral or contralateral ACL reconstruction, final outcome of the game, or contact compared with noncontact injuries.Conclusion:The RTP rates we reported after ACL reconstruction in NFL players are similar to prior studies; however, running backs and wide receivers had lower rates of RTP than previously reported. As previously published, quarterbacks were found to have high RTP rates. Most ACL injuries take place during the preseason or early regular season. Early selection in the NFL draft was a strong predictor of ability to RTP.

Abstract A03: Effects of survivin and lymphoma cell-derived exosomes on natural killer cell function

Abstract Tumors alter their microenvironment to promote survival using methods such as angiogenesis promotion, growth signals, and immune suppression. The immune system, whose regular function is to recognize and eradicate infected or abnormal cells, often seems unresponsive to transformed neoplastic cells. Many of the methods employed by tumors to reduce immune function are unclear, but there is evidence for T cell suppression, increased myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and reduced natural killer (NK) cell activity. NK cells are among the first cells to recognize and destroy abnormal cells due to their inherent killing capabilities. However, many types of cancers inhibit the surveillance and cytotoxic abilities of NK cells by releasing exosomes, vesicles that can modulate tumor microenvironment and intercellular communication for the purpose of enhancing tumor malignancy. Exosomes as a means for immunomodulation of tumor microenvironment have been the focus of recent research. These 50-150 nm sized lipid bound vesicles are secreted by many cell types, including immune cells and tumor cells, and the unique protein, lipid, mRNA and miRNA contents contribute to the complex intercellular communication occurring between malignant and normal cells. Cancer patients often have increased numbers of exosomes circulating through their body, including patients with hematological malignancies, such as lymphoma. Recently, cancer cell exosomes have been found to contain Survivin, an Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) protein that prevents cell death and induces Th2 polarity shift and decreases proliferation and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T lymphocytes. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of Survivin and cancer cell-derived exosomes, which contain Survivin, on the immune functions of NK cells. The hypothesis is that Survivin and exosomes will decrease NK cell functions by suppressing NK cell production or release of cytokines and cytotoxic granules. NK cells were obtained from peripheral blood using magnetic NK cell isolation kit from Miltenyi Biotec and exosomes were obtained from conditioned media from two lymphoma cell lines (WSU-DLCL2 and WSU-FSCCL) using ExoQuickTM (System Biosciences). Flow cytometry methods were used to evaluate degranulation capacity by measuring levels of CD107a, as well as expression of activating receptor NKG2D, cytotoxic granules (perforin, Granzyme B) and cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ). RNA message expression was investigated using both block RT-PCR and qPCR. Results showed little significant difference in ability to degranulate when exposed to stimuli, and NKG2D levels did not change after exposure to Survivin or lymphoma exosomes. Although ImageJ analysis of block PCR showed some instances of decreased band densities in some donors treated with Survivin protein, RNA levels in general did not show a trend between NK donors in response to treatment. However, protein expression of Granzyme B, perforin, TNF-α, and IFN-γ did appear to decrease after Survivin treatment. This work is still in the early stages and results are inconsistent due to donor variability. More samples are required, as well as further studies on NK cell functional cytotoxicity. Citation Format: Heather R. Ferguson Bennit, Amber Gonda, Jenniffer Licero Campbell, Laura Oppegard, David Chi, Nathan R. Wall. Effects of survivin and lymphoma cell-derived exosomes on natural killer cell function. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Function of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression; 2016 Jan 7–10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(15 Suppl):Abstract nr A03.

Controlled Postpartum–Newborn Simulation With Objective Evaluation Exchanged for Clinical Learning

BackgroundSimulation offers educators a way to replicate traditional clinical experiences in a controlled, safe environment. Simulated training bolsters nursing students' confidence, and nurse educators find simulation delivers measurable performance improvements. MethodUndergraduate nursing students' performance and learning in a simulated setting was compared with a traditional clinical setting. ResultsFindings revealed no significant differences in ability to demonstrate competent assessment skills, determine appropriate interventions, and think critically between students in a traditional pediatric clinical experience with postpartum–newborn simulations, compared with students in a traditional maternal–newborn clinical plus the same simulations. Differences between high- and low-performing student's performance in skills were evaluated beyond simple observation based on a standardized simulation evaluation tool. ConclusionsThese results support replacing traditional clinical experiences with simulation and provide support for objective evaluation benchmarking clinical reasoning capabilities beyond the “pass/fail” evaluation of student competency.

Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Access Program for Emergency Physicians, Nurses, and Corpsmen (Technicians) at a Military Hospital.

Peripheral intravenous (PIV) access is a common procedure in the emergency department (ED). However, conditions such as obesity and hypovolemia can often make access difficult by the traditional landmark technique. The use of ultrasonography has improved the success of PIV placement in this setting. A novel Ultrasound (US)-Guided PIV Access program was initiated in our ED to train emergency nurses, U.S. Navy corpsmen, and physicians. This was an observational study of emergency providers performing US-guided PIV placement. After a training session, all ED providers began utilizing the US for difficult intravenous access patients. All complications, location of access, and previous experience level were recorded. The choice of a transverse, longitudinal, or a combination approach was also recorded. We did not observe significant differences in ability with US-guided PIV access when comparing success rates between emergency physicians, nurses, and technicians (p = 0.13). In the novice user, a transverse or a novel combination of a transverse and longitudinal method appears to be the most successful. ED physicians, nurses, and corpsmen can successfully place US-guided peripheral catheters for venous access. Developing a training program for emergency providers in US-guided venous cannulation is feasible and safe.

Early experience with robotic pancreatic surgery in a Canadian institution.

Pancreatic resections have traditionally been associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The robotic platform is believed to improve technical aspects of the procedure while offering minimally invasive benefits. We sought to determine the safety and feasibility of the first robotic pancreaticoduodenectomies performed at our institution. We retrospectively reviewed data on all patients who underwent robotic-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (RAPD) between July 2010 and June 2014 and compared them to outcomes of patients undergoing hybrid laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomies (HLAPD) during the same time period. Fifteen patients were scheduled for RAPD; 2 were converted to an open approach and 1 to a mini-laparotomy during the laparoscopic portion of the procedure. Patients who had RAPD (n = 12) had a median duration of surgery of 596.6 (range 509-799) minutes, estimated blood loss of 275 (range 50-1000) mL and median length of stay of 7.5 (range 5-57) days. Mean total opioid use up to postoperative day 7 was 142.599 ± 68.2 versus 176.9 ± 112.7 mg equivalents of intravenous morphine for RAPD and HLAPD, respectively. There was no significant difference between RAPD and HLAPD in any parameters, highlighting the safety and feasibility of a step-wise minimally invasive learning platform. Most patients in the RAPD group had malignant pathology (88.2%). Oncologic outcomes were maintained with no significant difference in ability to resect lymph nodes or achieve negative margins. There were 4 (28.5%) Clavien I-II complications and 3 (29.4%) Clavien III- IV complications, 2 of which required readmission. There were no reported deaths at 90 days. Complication, pancreatic leak and mortality rates did not differ significantly from our laparoscopic experience. Outcomes of RAPD and HLAPD were comparable at our centre, even during the early stages of our learning curve. These results also highlight the safety, feasibility and patient benefits of a step-wise transition from open to hybrid to fully robotic pancreaticoduodenectomies in a high-volume academic centre.

PERBANDINGAN KEMAMPUAN CALISTUNG SISWA KELAS II SDN 79 PEKANBARU DENGAN PENERAPAN PENDEKATAN TEMATIK SAINTIFIK

The research method used is a quasi-experimental method which consists of experimental class and class II controlkelas SDN 79 Pekanbaru, which illustrates a significant difference in the ability to calistung between the two. Research on the data pretest seen from arithmetic average of the experimental 70.66 and control 65.9, experimental writing skills 77, and controls 71.6, experimental ability to read 76, and controls 77.5. To find significant differences in the ability of the chi square analysis was used to calculate the ability Xhitung &lt;Xtabel (1.67 &lt;3.841), there was no significant difference, the ability to write with Xhitung &lt;Xtabel (0.6 &lt;3.841), there was no significant difference on writing skills, and the ability to read with Xhitung &lt;Xtabel (1.12 &lt;3.841), there was no significant difference in reading ability. Posttest data seen from the average value of the experimental class numeracy 75.6 and 71.7 control, the ability to write an experimental class 81.9 and control 74.6, literacy class experimental 82.1 and control 78.5. To determine differences in the ability to use the chi square analysis on numeracy Xhitung &lt;Xtabel (3.51 &lt;3.841), there was no significant difference in the experimental class and the control class numeracy skills. The ability to write with Xhitung &lt;Xtabel (3.51 &lt;3.841), there was no significant difference, while the ability to read Xhitung &lt;Xtabel (0.71 &lt;3.841), there was no significant difference. Improved results in the experimental class capabilities calistung numeracy skills of 0.15, and control 0.16, the ability to write of 0.26, and control 0.11, the ability to read the experimental class of 0.31, and controls 0.07, it is seen larger in capacity building calistung the experimental class.Key words: calistung, scientific thematics, numeracy skills, reading skills, and writing skills

The Content of Secondary Metabolites and Antioxidant Activity of Wild Strawberry Fruit (Fragaria vesca L.).

Chemical analyses carried out in 2011–2013 aimed at evaluating the contents of flavonoids, free phenolic acids, tannins, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity (%) by means of DPPH radical neutralization ability in fresh and air-dried fruits of three wild strawberry cultivars. Examinations revealed differences in contents of biologically active substances determined in raw versus dried material depending on the cultivar. Mean concentrations of flavonoids and tannins were highest in raw fruits of “Baron von Solemacher” cv., which amounted to 1.244 mg·g−1 and 6.09%, respectively. Fresh fruits of “Regina” cv. were characterized by the highest average content of phenolic acids and anthocyanins: 4.987 mg·g−1 and 0.636 mg·100 g−1. The pattern of mean contents of biologically active substances analyzed in air-dried fruits was similar. Significant differences in abilities to neutralize the DPPH radical to diphenylpicrylhydrazine by extracts made of examined wild strawberry fruits were also indicated.

Re-contacting participants for inclusion in the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP): Findings from three case-control studies of lung cancer.

BackgroundSince January 2008, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has required that all investigators who receive NIH support submit de-identified high-throughput genomic data to the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP). The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of re-consenting participants from three inactive studies, conducted from 2000 through 2009, to submit their data to dbGaP.MethodsParticipants were those enrolled in one of three prior population-based case-control studies of lung cancer who had given a DNA sample. Consent to release de-identified data to dbGaP took place via mailed forms and follow-up phone calls. Chi-squared tests were used to examine differences in re-contact and consent proportions between groups.ResultsA total of 2,471 participants were initially eligible for re-contact. Six hundred and thirty-eight participants were found to be deceased (n = 627) or did not give permission to re-contact (n = 11). Of the 1,833 remaining participants, 42.3% provided written consent, 37.0% could not be located, 13.7% verbally agreed to have their data released but never returned written consent, 5.3% refused, and 1.6% were too ill at the time of contact. There were significant differences in ability to locate participants by age, race, gender, and case-control status; however, once located, there were no differences in re-consent rates.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that while most previous study participants agreed to release data, a small proportion are opposed to submitting their data to dbGaP. In addition, it demonstrates the difficulty studies based on existing samples may have in locating inactive participants for re-consent.

Direct versus indirect ophthalmoscopy: Medical student assessment of retinal pathology

AbstractPurpose Fundoscopy by non Ophthalmic specialists is typically performed by direct ophthalmoscopy. This challenging skill gives a magnified, monocular image. In contrast, indirect ophthalmoscopy as regularly used by Ophthalmologists allows a wide field, binocular view. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that compared to direct ophthalmoscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy is an easier technique to learn and that the correct diagnosis of fundus pathology is more readily achieved.Methods The design was a prospective cohort study, conducted on 50 third year medical students, at a large inner city hospital. Participants attended a practical teaching session on both techniques. Students were then randomly allocated to either ophthalmoscopy technique and scored on their ability to recognise common fundus pathology in a group of patients. Student perception of the technique was also ascertained.Results The number of surveys filled out for first and second session was 98% and 86% respectively. After the initial teaching session, the majority of students reported being ‘moderately’ confident in using both techniques (direct 52%; indirect 35%), but overall 59% preferred direct ophthalmoscopy. When asked to identify common retinal pathology, it was found that students allocated to direct ophthalmoscopy were more likely to correctly identify the pathology although not statistically significant (U value 9.5, p≤0.05).Conclusion Although indirect ophthalmoscopy provides better views of the retina, students are more confident using direct ophthalmoscopy. Furthermore, there is no significant difference in ability to diagnosis retinal pathology between either techniques.