1,657 research outputs found
Characterization of an integrative and conjugative element ICEKp1 associated genomic heterogeneity in a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain isolated from a primary liver abscess.
No full textThe 3’-to-5’ exoribonuclease (encoded by HP1248) of Helicobacter pylori regulates motility and apoptosis-inducing genes.
No full textAnalysis and comparison of the psychometric properties of three balance measures for stroke patients
No full textserum-induced iron-azquisition system and TonB contribute to virulence in Klebsiella pneumoniae causing primary liver abscess
No full textA comparison of psychometric properties of the smart balance master system and the postural assessment scale for stroke in people who have had mild stroke
No full textSC
Characterization of the Muscle Electrical Properties in Low Back Pain Patients by Electrical Impedance Myography
No full text[[abstract]]Objectives: This study aims to investigate the electrical properties of lumbar paraspinal muscles (LPM) of patients with acute lower back pain (LBP) and to study a new approach, namely Electrical Impedance Myography (EIM), for reliable, low-cost, non-invasive, and real-time assessment of muscle-strained acute LBP.
Design: Patients with muscle-strained acute LBP (n = 30) are compared to a healthy reference group (n = 30). Electrical properties of LPM are studied.
Background: EIM is a novel technique under development for the assessment of neuromuscular disease. Therefore, it is speculated that EIM can be employed for the assessment of muscle-strained acute LBP.
Methods: Surface electrodes, in 2-electrode configurations, was used to measure the electrical properties of patient's and healthy subject's LPM at six different frequencies (0.02, 25.02, 50.02, 1000.02, 3000.02, and 5000.02 kHz), with the amplitude of the applied voltage limited to 200 mV. Parameters of impedance (Z), extracellular resistance (R-e), intracellular resistance (R-i), and the ratio of extracellular resistance to intracellular resistance (R-e/R-i) of LBP patient's and healthy subject's LPM were assessed to see if significant difference in values obtained in muscle-strained acute LBP patients existed.
Results: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed that all measurements (ICC>0.96 for all studying parameters: Z, R-e, R-i, and R-e/R-i) had good reliability and validity. Significant differences were found on Z between LBP patient's and healthy subject's LPM at all studying frequencies, with p<0.05 for all frequencies. It was also found that R-e (p<0.05) and R-e/R-i (p<0.05) of LBP patient's LPM was significant smaller than that of healthy subjects while R-i (p<0.05) of LBP patient's LPM was significant greater than that of healthy subjects. No statistical significant difference was found between the left and right LPM of LBP patients and healthy subjects on the four studying parameters.
Conclusion: EIM is a promising technique for assessing muscle-strained acute LBP.[[note]]SC
Functional status and its related factors in residents of long-term care facilities in Taiwan
No full textCapsular polysaccharide synthesis regions in Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype K57 and a new capsular serotype.
No full textContextual metrical invisibility
No full textIn some languages, certain vowels are invisible to syllable-sensitive processes, but only in certain contexts. This paper argues that metrically invisible vowels are undominated by a syllable node in prosodic structure. Considering mainly Mohawk and Passamaquoddy, the behavior of these "weak vowels" is derived from pressure to avoid using weak vowels as syllable nuclei, countered by pressure to realize underlying segments in well-formed syllables. Because not only epenthetic vowels can be weak vowels, their unsuitability as syllable nuclei is derived representationally, through amount of underlying prosodic structure. Existing analyses of the data are critiqued, and the theoretical implications and potential extensions are discussed.The definitive version of this paper was published in PF: Papers at the Interface (1997) and is available at http://mitwpl.mit.edu/catalog/mwpl30/Hagstrom, P. (1997). Contextual metrical invisibility. In B. Bruening, Y. Kang, & M. McGinnis (Eds.) PF: Papers at the interface (pp. 113-181). Cambridge, MA: Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Tests of data quality, scaling assumptions, reliability, and construct validity of the SF-36 health survey in people who abuse heroin
No full textBackground/Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is considered an important outcome indicator in substances abuse studies. However, psychometric properties of HRQOL measures are largely unknown in people who abuse heroin. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine data quality, scaling properties, reliability, and construct validity of the 36-Item Short Form healthy survey (SF-36) in people who abuse heroin. ;Methods: A total of 469 people who abuse heroin participated in the study. Data quality was determined by data completeness. Scaling properties were evaluated by item frequency distribution, equivalence of item means and standard deviations, item-internal consistency, and item-discriminant validity (calculating scaling success). Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was examined by investigating convergent validity and divergent validity among the eight scales of the SF-36. ;Results: The results of data quality showed low missing rates (0.0-3.8%) and high completion rates in the scales (91.9-98.7%). The results of scaling assumptions showed good item frequency distribution on each item, roughly equivalent item means and standard deviations within a scale, good item-internal consistency (>0.4) and good scaling success rates (77.5-100%), except on the two scales of bodily pain (BP) and social functioning (SF). Three scales showed ceiling and/or floor effects [i.e., physical functioning (PF), role limitations due to physical problems (RP), and role limitations due to emotional problems (RE)]. Cronbach's a was acceptable (>0.7), except for the BP and SF scales. Construct validity was partially supported by the results of convergent validity and divergent validity. ;Conclusion: The results confirmed good data quality; satisfactory scaling assumptions and internal consistency (except for the BP and SF scales); and generally acceptable construct validity. However, the PF, RP, and RE scales showed ceiling and/or floor effects. Therefore, the BP, SF, PF, RP, and RE scales should be used with cautions in measuring HRQOL in people who abuse heroin. Copyright (C) 2012, Elsevier Taiwan LLC & Formosan Medical Association. All rights reserved
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