1,680 research outputs found
Does Improving Exercise Capacity and Daily Activity Represent the Holistic Perspective of a New COPD Approach?
No full textSTRANGE-FACE-IN-THE-MIRROR ILLUSIONS: SPECIFIC EFFECTS ON DEREALIZATION, DEPERSONALIZATION, AND DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY
No full textAnomalous strange-face illusions (SFIs) are produced when mir
ror gazing under a low level of face illumination. In contrast to
past studies in which an observer’s task was to pay attention to
the reflected face and to perceive potential facial changes, the
present research used a mirror gazing task (MGT) that instructed
participants to fixate their gaze on a 4-mm hole in a glass mirror.
The participants’ eye-blink rates were thus measured without
priming any facial changes. Twenty-one healthy young indivi
duals participated in the MGT and a control panel-fixation task
(staring at a hole in a gray non-reflective panel). The Revised
Strange-Face Questionnaire (SFQ-R) indexed derealization
(deformations of facial features; FD), depersonalization (bodily
face detachment; BD), and dissociative identity (new or
unknown identities; DI) scales. Mirror-fixation increased FD,
BD, and DI scores compared to panel-fixation. In mirror-
f
ixation, FD scores revealed fading specific to facial features,
distinct from “classical” Troxler- and Brewster-fading. In mirror-
f
ixation, eye-blink rates correlated negatively with FD scores.
Panel-fixation produced low BD scores, and, in a few partici
pants, face pareidolias as detected on FD scores. Females were
more prone to early derealization and males to compartmenta
lization of a dissociative identity. SFQ-R may be a valuable
instrument for measuring face-specific dissociation (FD, BD, DI)
produced by MGT. Use of MGT and panel-fixation task for differ
ential diagnoses between schizophrenia and dissociative iden
tity disorder is discussed
Correlation between FD values and clinical status and recovery.
No full text<p>Correlation between the global FD, FD values of lesioned and non lesioned hemisphere and FD inter-hemispheric asymmetry index with clinical status in acute and stabilized phase and clinical recovery. Spearman’s rho (p value) and Pearson’s r (p value) are shown respectively for NIHss and effective recovery. Only values of correlation with p<0.05 are displayed (n.s. = not significant).</p
Evaluation of CAN-FD Protocol for Traffic Signalling
No full textU ovom diplomskom radu je evaluiran CAN-FD protokol u svrhu upravljanja prometnom signalizacijom. Naglasak je stavljen na ispitivanje karakteristika protokola u realnim uvjetima te je zbog toga razvijen elektronički modul koji simulira funkcionalnosti LED modula čijim kaskadiranjem se dobiva promjenjivi prometni znak veće površine. Opisane su razlike između CAN 2.0B i CAN-FD protokola te su opisane funkcije pojedinih okvira u jednom CAN-FD paketu. U poglavljima koji se tiču razvoja programske podrške je opisano kako se konfiguriraju generatori signala takta te osnovne inicijalizacije sustava, kao i verifikacija pojedinih segmenata programskog koda. Osim razvoja sklopovlja i programske podrške pokazan je i način odabira adekvatnog mikrokontrolera u smislu karakteristika, kućišta te cijene.In this master thesis author evaluated new CAN-FD communications protocol for use in controlling dynamic traffic signs. Protocol testing was done on a custom made embedded system that simulates the funcionality of a real LED module used in dynamic signs. The differences between CAN-FD and CAN2.0B and the functions are described in the third chapter. Clock configuration and system initialization are described in the chapters regarding development of a software solution for this system as well as testing individual code segments to verify their functionality. In addition to the development of hardware and software this thesis also considers the selection of an adequate microcontroller in terms of characteristics, package and price
Regulation FD: SEC Reestablishes Enforcement Capabilities over Selective Disclosure.
No full textThis Recent Development focuses on the potential effects Regulation Fair Disclosure (FD) will have on the participants in the American capital market and on the stock markets themselves. Congress and the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) seek to achieve confidence in the integrity and fairness of the American stock market and protection of investors from fraud by promoting equal opportunities for investors. In order to maintain a competitive edge, vis-à-vis its foreign counterparts, the United States must continually refine its financial systems to maximize fairness and integrity. This Recent Development focuses on selective disclosure—allowing a limited segment of investors access to information about a company’s financial performance—along with the inability of existing securities regulations to prohibit such practices. The recently promulgated Regulation FD is a measure anticipated to reign in the disclosure of nonpublic information to a privileged few. Specific requirements within the Regulation FD are examined by the author, and the SEC intends for the Regulation FD to level the playing field for investors. Furthermore, this Recent Development addresses potential trouble areas caused by the regulation’s interplay with other securities rules and regulations. In addition to suggestions for compliance, the various touchstones of controversy such as the effects related to Regulation FD on the securities industry are also discussed. Regulation FD molds a remedy to the perceived evils of selective disclosure. Confidentiality agreements represent the SEC’s strategy for controlling selective disclosure, without expressly authorizing it. This Recent Development concludes with an assessment of the practical effects that Regulation FD will have on the securities industry and the likelihood that it is here to stay
Widespread and Long-Enduring Hyperkeratosis Lenticularis Perstans (Flegel’s Disease): Clinico-Pathological and Dermoscopic Features of a Rare Presentation
No full textHyperkeratosis lenticularis perstans, also known as Flegel’s disease (FD), is a rare cutaneous disorder affecting mainly the lower extremities of middle-aged people. Due to its rarity, this disease is usually not recognized by physicians resulting in a delay in diagnosis, especially in those cases with atypical cutaneous involvement. Herein, we present a 72-year-old woman who developed FD characterized by a generalized distribution, involving, in addition to the lower limbs, the trunk and the upper limbs as well. We performed a description of the dermoscopic and pathologic features of this rare entity, also carrying out a brief reappraisal of the cases of FD with a diffuse, atypical and generalized distribution that have been described in the literature. Histopathology with clinical correlation is the cornerstone of the diagnosis, even and especially in atypical cases. This patient with a disease duration of 58 years also represents the longest-lasting case of FD reported in the literature
A Millimeter-Wave Front-End for FD/FDD Transceivers Featuring an Embedded PA and an N-Path Filter Based Circulator Receiver
No full textThis work presents an ultra-compact single-antenna FD/FDD transceivers front-end. It comprises a nonreciprocal circulator, RX, and an integrated power amplifier (PA). In the proposed circulator, we devise a ring quarter-wave transmission line topology with adjusted characteristic impedances to improve TX-to-antenna insertion loss and TX-to-RX isolation. Besides, an AND-gate switching-based N-path filter is proposed to realize the circulator's nonreciprocal gyrator while acting as a mixer-first RX. Owing to the ultra-compact N-path filter structure, the circulator occupies only 0.38mm 2 core area. Over a 27.1-to-31.1GHz band, the realized front-end offers >20dB TX-to-RX isolation while its measured TX-to-antenna insertion loss is 1.7~2.2dB. The RX path tolerates the PA's blocker signal, achieving 5dBm in-band and 13dBm out-of-band B 1dB. Moreover, the PA delivers 15.15dBm peak output power with 33% drain efficiency. Our front-end prototype occupies only 0.7mm 2 , including circulator, PA, quadrature hybrid coupler LO generators, and baseband circuits.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Electronic
Complementary and alterative treatments in functional dyspepsia
No full textINTRODUCTION AND AIM: The popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in treating functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) has steadily increased in Western countries. We aimed at analyzing available data on CAM effectiveness in functional dyspepsia (FD) patients.
METHODS: A bibliographical search was performed in PubMed using the following keywords: "complementary/alternative medicine”, “hypnosis”, “acupuncture” and/or “functional dyspepsia”.
RESULTS: In community settings, almost 50% of patients with FGIDs used CAM therapies. Herbal remedies consist in multi-component preparations, whose mechanisms of action have not been systematically clarified. Few studies analyzed the effectiveness of Acupuncture in Western countries, yielding conflicting results and possibly reflecting a population bias of this treatment. Hypnosis has been extensively used in irritable bowel syndrome, but few data support its role in treating FD.
CONCLUSIONS: Although some supporting well-designed studies have been recently performed, additional randomized control trials are needed before stating any recommendation on CAM effectiveness in treating FD
Microbiota modulation in disorders of gut-brain interaction
No full text: Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are common chronic conditions characterized by persistent and recurring gastrointestinal symptoms triggered by several pathophysiological factors, including an altered gut microbiota. The most common DGBI are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional constipation (FC) and functional dyspepsia (FD). Recently, a deep understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in these diseases was possible due to multi-omics methods capable to provide a comprehensive assessment. Most of the therapies recommended for these patients, can modulate the gut microbiota such as diet, prebiotics, probiotics and non-absorbable antibiotics, which were shown to be safe and effective. Since patients complain symptoms after food ingestion, diet represents the first line therapeutic approach. Avoiding dietary fat and fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, and increasing the number of soluble fibers represent the therapeutic choices for FD, IBS and FC respectively. Probiotics, as a category, have been employed with good results in all the abovementioned DGBI. Rifaximin has been shown to be useful in the context of bowel related disorders, although a recent trial showed positive results for FD. Fecal microbiota transplantation has been tested for IBS and FC with promising results. In this review, we will briefly summarize the current understanding on dysbiosis and discuss microbiota modulation strategies to treat patients with DGBI
To Treat or Not to Treat: Importance of Functional Dependence in Deciding Intravenous Thrombolysis of "Mild Stroke" Patients
No full textIntravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with a low National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 0-5 remains controversial. IVT should be used in patients with mild but nevertheless disabling symptoms. We hypothesize that response to IVT of patients with "mild stroke" may depend on their level of functional dependence (FD) at hospital admission. The aims of our study were to investigate the effect of IVT and to explore the role of FD in influencing the response to IVT. This study was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database, including 389 patients stratified into patients receiving IVT (IVT+) and not receiving IVT (IVT (-)) just because of mild symptoms. Barthel index (BI) at admission was used to assess FD, dividing subjects with BI score < 80 (FD+) and with BI score 80 (FD-). The efficacy endpoints were the rate of positive disability outcome (DO+) (3-month mRS score of 0 or 1), and the rate of positive functional outcome (FO+) (mRS score of zero or one, plus BI score of 95 or 100 at 3 months). At the multivariate analysis, IVT treatment was an independent predictor of DO+ (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.34-7.27, p = 0.008) and FO+ (OR: 4.70, 95% CI 2.38-9.26, p = 0.001). However, FD+ IVT+ patients had a significantly higher prevalence of DO+ and FO+ than those FD+ IVT-. Differently, IVT treatment did not influence DO+ and FO+ in FD- patients. In FD+ patients, IVT treatment represented the strongest independent predictor of DO+ (OR 6.01, 95% CI 2.59-13.92, p = 0.001) and FO+ (OR 4.73, 95% CI 2.29-9.76, p = 0.001). In conclusion, alteplase seems to improve functional outcome in patients with "mild stroke". However, in our experience, this beneficial effect is strongly influenced by FD at admission
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