Search results for "methods"
showing 10 items of 4526 documents
Contour integration with corners.
2016
Contour integration refers to the ability of the visual system to bind disjoint local elements into coherent global shapes. In cluttered images containing randomly oriented elements a contour becomes salient when its elements are coaligned with a smooth global trajectory, as described by the Gestalt law of good continuation. Abrupt changes of curvature strongly diminish contour salience. Here we show that by inserting local corner elements at points of angular discontinuity, a jagged contour becomes as salient as a straight one. We report results from detection experiments for contours with and without corner elements which indicate their psychophysical equivalence. This presents a challeng…
Statistical analysis of life history calendar data
2016
The life history calendar is a data-collection tool for obtaining reliable retrospective data about life events. To illustrate the analysis of such data, we compare the model-based probabilistic event history analysis and the model-free data mining method, sequence analysis. In event history analysis, we estimate instead of transition hazards the cumulative prediction probabilities of life events in the entire trajectory. In sequence analysis, we compare several dissimilarity metrics and contrast data-driven and user-defined substitution costs. As an example, we study young adults' transition to adulthood as a sequence of events in three life domains. The events define the multistate event…
Are laboratory tests useful for monitoring the activity of lupus nephritis? A 6-year prospective study in a cohort of 228 patients with lupus nephrit…
2008
Objectives:To evaluate the role of immunological tests for monitoring lupus nephritis (LN) activity.Methods:C3, C4, anti-dsDNA and anti-C1q antibodies were prospectively performed over 6 years in 228 patients with LN.Results:In membranous LN only anti-C1q antibodies differentiated proteinuric flares from quiescent disease (p = 0.02). However, in this group 46% of flares occurred with a normal value of anti-C1q antibodies versus 20% in proliferative LN (p = 0.02). In patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (APL), 33% of flares occurred with normal levels of anti-C1q antibodies versus 14.5% in patients that were APL-negative (p = 0.02). In proliferative LN, anti-C1q antibodies showed a slig…
Induction of a recall deficit by rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation
1994
We used rapid-rate, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for the noninvasive study of verbal recall. Five right-handed normal subjects were studied. Recall followed immediately after presentation of a 12-word list. Focal rTMS was applied with a figure eight coil in trains of 500 ms duration to F7, F8, T5, T6, P3, P4, or O1, O2 at latencies of 0, 250, 500, or 1000 ms during word list presentation. Recall was consistently significantly diminished only after left mid-temporal and bilateral dorsofrontal rTMS at both 0 and 250 ms latencies. We conclude that rTMS may be useful as a non-invasive tool for the study of verbal memory processes.
Amateur Runners’ Commitment: An Analysis of Sociodemographic and Sports Habit Profiles
2020
The aim of this work is to analyse the commitment to running among urban runners by identifying groups regarding commitment to this sport and by defining their sociodemographic profile and their sports habits. A sample of 1806 participants in popular urban races in the city of Valencia was interviewed using an 11-item questionnaire on commitment to running, sociodemographic characteristics, and sports habits. The psychometric properties of the running-commitment scale allowed for the identification of two factors in commitment to running: enthusiasm for running (6 items) and affliction from running (5 items). Subsequently, a cluster analysis combining hierarchical and non-hierarchical metho…
Investigation into mechanisms mediating the inhibitory effect of 1,4-benzodiazepines on mast cells by gene expression profiling.
2013
Abstract Aims This study aims to identify by a molecular genetic approach potential targets in mast cells at which 1,4-benzodiazepines may cause their inhibitory effect on mast cell activity. Main methods Gene expression analyses with microarray gene chip and/or quantitative PCR were performed using 1,4-benzodiazepine-treated human mast cell leukemia HMC-1.2 cells, promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells and human mast cells from healthy volunteers and patients with mast cell activation disease (MCAD). Pathway analysis was applied to search for enriched biological functions and canonical pathways within differentially regulated genes. Key findings Both neoplastic and normal human mast cells expr…
The adjunctive use of a controlled-release chlorhexidine chip following treatment with a new ultrasonic device in supportive periodontal therapy: a p…
2007
Abstract: Objective: The aim of this randomised, split-mouth, controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a controlled-release chlorhexidine chip (CHX chip) as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing (SRP) with a newly developed ultrasonic device in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). Materials and methods: Twenty patients with moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis, displaying at least four sites with probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm and persistent bleeding on probing (BOP), were recruited for the study. The target sites were randomly treated with either a newly developed piezo-driven ultrasonic device VectorTM- or ultrasonic system (VUS) + CHX chip or VUS alone…
Micro-lightguide spectrophotometry as an intraoral monitoring method in free vascular soft tissue flaps.
2003
Abstract Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to measure the hemoglobin oxygen saturation (HbO2%) and relative Hb concentration of free vascular soft tissue flaps using micro-lightguide spectrophotometry. The objective was to measure the normal range and topographic differences in HbO2% and rel. Hb conc. in tissue transfers before establishing this as a clinical method for monitoring perfusion and vitality. Patients and Methods: In 39 patients who had received free vascular soft tissue flaps (34 radial forearm flaps; 8 latissimus flaps) to cover defects after tumor surgery, the capillary HbO2% in transferred tissue was measured spectrophotometrically preoperatively at the donor si…
The effect of training on aerobic power characteristics of young cross-country skiers.
1987
The influences of growth, training and various training methods were investigated by analysing long-term training effects in young cross-country and biathlon skiers (n = 129). Some athletes (n = 49) were studied six times in three years and some at least once a year during a four year period (n = 48). During three summer training periods skiers emphasized either intensive training or distance training or continued to train normally. The results indicated that maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and heart volume increased between 15 and 20 years of age and the most significant changes in heart volume were observed between 16 and 18 years of age. International level skiers were able to increase t…
Association of Anorexia Nervosa With Risk of Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
2019
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the association of anorexia nervosa with the cancer incidence and mortality among study populations with anorexia nervosa compared with the general population or those without anorexia nervosa.