Search results for "value"
showing 10 items of 5321 documents
Modulation of corticospinal excitability by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
2000
Abstract Objective : Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is able to modulate the corticospinal excitability and the effects appear to last beyond the duration of the rTMS itself. Different studies, employing different rTMS parameters, report different modulation of corticospinal excitability ranging from inhibition to facilitation. Intraindividual variability of these effects and their reproducibility are unclear. Methods : We examined the modulatory effects of rTMS to the motor cortex at various frequencies (1, 10, 20 Hz) and at different time-points in twenty healthy volunteers. Results : We observed significant inhibition of MEPs following 1 Hz rTMS and significant facili…
Preliminary organizational culture scale focused on artifacts
2006
In this preliminary study, an organizational culture scale was developed to assess cultural artifacts according to Schein´s typology (1985). It includes a set of cultural artifacts to measure the extent to which an organization is more or less traditional. A total of 249 managers from a range of different companies responded to the items. Preliminary analysis yielded a one-dimensional scale with 14 items with high internal consistency and homogeneity.
Sprint mechanics evaluation using inertial sensor-based technology: A laboratory validation study.
2018
Advances in micro-electromechanical systems have turned magnetic inertial measurement units (MIMUs) into a suitable tool for vertical jumping biomechanical evaluation. Thus, this study aimed to determine whether appropriate reliability and agreement reports could also be obtained when analyzing 20-m sprint mechanics. Four bouts of 20-m sprints were evaluated to determine whether the data provided by a MIMU placed at the lumbar spine could reliably assess sprint mechanics and to examine the validity of the MIMU sensor compared to force plate recordings. Maximal power (P0), force (F0), and velocity (V0), as well as other mechanical determinants of sprint performance associated with the force-…
A validation study of an Italian version of the "ID Migraine".
2007
Background.—Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling disease which is substantially underdiagnosed in primary care. Recently, the ID Migraine, a self-administered questionnaire, consisting of only 3 items, was shown to be a valid and reliable screening instrument for migraine in primary care in the United States. Objective.—The aim of the present study was to validate an Italian version of the “ID Migraine” questionnaire. Methods.—Two hundred and twenty-two consecutive headache patients referring to 8 headache centers in Sicily (Italy) completed an Italian version of the ID Migraine. The responses to the questionnaire were compared with the diagnosis of headache made by a headache speci…
Immunohistochemical analysis of cellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1) and VEGF in fibrovascular membranes of patients with proliferative diabe…
2009
Abstract Purpose Diabetic fibrovascular membranes are the main pathological changes of proliferative diabetic retinopathy that can cause serious complications leading to blindness. Since the mechanism of fibrovascular membrane development is still unknown, the aim of our study was to identify potential biomarkers for this pathology. To this end, we analyzed the simultaneous expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and VEGF within tissues of diabetic fibrovascular membranes. Patients and methods Fibrovascular membranes were taken from nine diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The fibrovascular membrane specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to determine ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and …
Neural correlates of working memory dysfunction in first-episode schizophrenia patients: an fMRI multi-center study.
2005
Working memory dysfunction is a prominent impairment in patients with schizophrenia. Our aim was to determine cerebral dysfunctions by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a large sample of first-episode schizophrenia patients during a working memory task. 75 first-episode schizophrenia patients and 81 control subjects, recruited within a multi-center study, performed 2- and 0-back tasks while brain activation was measured with fMRI. In order to guarantee comparability between data quality from different scanners, we developed and adopted a standardized, fully automated quality assurance of scanner hard- and software as well as a measure for in vivo data quality. After t…
Oral supplements of vitamin E improve measures of oxidative stress in plasma and reduce oxidative damage to LDL and erythrocytes in β-thalassemia int…
2001
Fifteen beta-thalassemia intermedia patients, not requiring chronic transfusional therapy, were monitored in order to check their antioxidant status, and the lipid oxidation products in plasma, LDL, and erythrocytes before and during a 9-month oral treatment with 600 mg/day vitamin E. The low level of vitamin E, and high level of malondialdehyde in plasma clearly tended to normalize after three months (P < .001), and were quite similar to control after six months. The abnormally low level of vitamin E in LDL and the four times higher than control basal level of conjugated dienes (LDL-CD), were not modified after three months of treatment. Significant changes of LDL-VE (P < .05) and of the b…
An assessment of the human nail plate pH.
2010
<i>Purpose of Study:</i> To measure the pH of the surface of healthy nail plates. <i>Procedures:</i> The surface pH of human fingernails and big toenails was measured in vivo using a skin pH meter. The influence of washing, anatomical site (fingers/toes), side (left/right), digit (digits 1–5) and gender was determined. The pH of the nail interior was also measured. <i>Results:</i> The pH of the nail plate surface was around 5, with toenails having a significantly higher pH than fingernails. Immediately after hand washing, the nail surface pH increased significantly, from pH 5.1 ± 0.4 to 5.3 ± 0.5. However, this was not sustained with time, and the pH retu…
Effects on Heat Stress of a Flame-Retardant Ensemble for Aluminum Smelters
2000
A common belief is that a flame-retardant clothing ensemble will increase the level of heat stress over ordinary cotton work clothes. This is supported by bench tests on fabrics that indicate higher insulation and vapor resistance values for flame-retardant clothing. This research compared a flame-retardant clothing ensemble for an aluminum smelter (Zirpo wool shirt and FR8 denim pants) with typical cotton work clothing. Four young men walked on a treadmill at two work levels inside a climatic chamber under controlled conditions of heat stress. During each test, heart rate, core temperature, and skin temperatures were continuously monitored and recorded every 5 min. After a physiological st…
Value of the sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation level, as measured by the sperm chromatin dispersion test, in the outcome of in vitro fertiliz…
2005
To determine the prognostic value of sperm DNA fragmentation levels, as measured by the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test, in predicting IVF and ICSI outcome.Double-blind prospective study.University-affiliated private IVF setting.A total of 85 couples undergoing infertility treatment with IVF/ICSI.Analysis of DNA fragmentation by the SCD test in 170 aliquots obtained from the ejaculate and from the processed semen used for assisted reproductive technologies (ART).Percentage of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA was statistically correlated with embryo quality and reproductive success.Fertilization rate was inversely correlated with DNA fragmentation (r = -0.245 P = .045). Higher DNA fragm…