The disuse hypothesis of cognitive aging attributes decrements in fluid intelligence in older adults to reduced cognitively stimulating activity. This study experimentally tested the hypothesis that ...a period of increased mentally stimulating activities thus would enhance older adults' fluid intelligence performance. Participants (N = 44, mean age 67.82) were administered pre- and post-test measures, including the fluid intelligence measure, Cattell's Culture Fair (CCF) test. Experimental participants engaged in diverse, novel, mentally stimulating activities for 10-12 weeks and were compared to a control condition. Results supported the hypothesis; the experimental group showed greater pre- to post-CCF gain than did controls (effect size d = 0.56), with a similar gain on a spatial-perceptual task (WAIS-R Blocks). Even brief periods of increased cognitive stimulation can improve older adults' problem solving and flexible thinking.
Genomic technologies are having an increasing impact across medicine, including primary care. To enable their wider adoption and realize their potential, education of primary health-care ...practitioners will be required. To enable the development of such resources, understanding where GPs currently access genomic information is needed. One-hundred fifty-nine UK GPs completed the survey in response to an open invitation, between September 2017 and September 2018. Questions were in response to 4 clinical genomic scenarios, with further questions exploring resources used for rare disease patients, direct-to-consumer genetic testing and collecting a family history. Respondents were most commonly GP principals (independent GPs who own their clinic) (64.8%), aged 35–49 years (54%), worked as a GP for more than 15 years (44%) and practiced within suburban locations (typically wealthier) (50.3%). The most popular ‘just in time’ education source for all clinical genomic scenarios were online primary care focussed resources with general Internet search engines also popular. For genomic continuous medical education, over 70% of respondents preferred online learning. Considering specific scenarios, local guidelines were a popular resource for the familial breast cancer scenario. A large proportion (41%) had not heard of Genomics England’s 100,000 genome project. Few respondents (4%) would access rare disease specific Internet resources (Orphanet, OMIM). Twenty-five percent of respondents were unsure how to respond to a direct-to-consumer commercial genetic test query, with 41% forwarding such queries to local genetic services. GPs require concise, relevant, primary care focussed resources in trusted and familiar online repositories of information. Inadequate genetic education of GPs could increase burden on local genetic services.
School playgrounds offer everyday opportunities for physically active and social play that combats obesity, develops skills, and promotes well-being. However, teachers' fear of the legal consequences ...of injury can elicit over-zealous risk reduction with the result that playgrounds lack challenge, and the potential benefits of play become limited. In this research, we trialled a simple, cost-effective strategy to encourage children to be more active and social on a school playground. Over 11 weeks, we made available materials with no fixed purpose (e.g. car tires, boxes) to a playground of children aged five to seven. Accelerometers showed children became significantly more active. Interviews with teachers suggested children also became more social, creative, and resilient. However, despite no incidence of injuries, teachers perceived an increased risk and encountered dilemmas regarding duty of care. We conclude that future interventions should address issues of 'surplus safety' at individual, school, system, and policy levels.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) show a specific deficit in visuo‐spatial abilities. This finding, however, derives mainly from performance on small‐scale laboratory‐based tasks. This study ...investigated large‐scale route learning in individuals with WS and two matched control groups (moderate learning difficulty group MLD, typically developing group TD). In a non‐labelling and a labelling (verbal information provided along the route) condition, participants were guided along one of two unfamiliar 1‐km routes with 20 junctions, and then retraced the route themselves (two trials). The WS participants performed less well than the other groups, but given verbal information and repeated experience they learnt nearly all of the turns along the route. The extent of improvement in route knowledge (correct turns) in WS was comparable to that of the control groups. Relational knowledge (correctly identifying spatial relationships between landmarks), compared with the TD group, remained poor for both the WS and the MLD group. Assessment of the relationship between performance on the large‐scale route‐learning task and that on three small‐scale tasks (maze learning, perspective taking, map use) showed no relationship for the TD controls, and only a few non‐specific associations in the MLD and WS groups.
Current road safety programs and thinking in Australia are constructed within a paradigm that tends to accept existing cultural arrangements. Such programs therefore, favour symptomatic solutions and ...technical and/or physical solutions as a way forward. Fundamental redesign of cultural arrangements is necessary in order to challenge the “culture of speed”. Our research is developing a holistic, social ecological model for reconnecting road safety with communities that value quality of life and slower ways of being. Improving road safety through reduction in the volume and speed of motorised traffic is integrally related to enhancing health and fitness, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving neighbourhood planning and community cohesion. In this regard, community-based travel behaviour change initiatives are deserving of much greater attention in the road safety area. As well as these changes at the personal and community scale, policy changes to urban and transport planning that address the broader issues of sustainability in an era of climate change and peak oil can also be linked to improvements in road safety.
The primary objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of a two-step solvent extraction-precipitation process for separating transmutation and fission products from irradiated beryllium. ...Beryllium metal was dissolved in nitric and fluoroboric acids. Isotopes of
241
Am,
239
Pu,
85
Sr,
60
Co, and
137
Cs were then added to make a surrogate beryllium waste solution. A series of batch contacts was performed with the spiked simulant using chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide and polyethylene glycol diluted with sulfone to extract the isotopes of Cs and Sr. Another series of batch contacts was performed using a combination of octyl (phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide in tributyl phosphate diluted with dodecane for extracting the isotopes of Pu and Am. The
60
Co was separated by first forming a cobalt complex and then selectively precipitating the beryllium as a hydroxide. The results indicate that >99.9% removal can be achieved for each radionuclide. Transuranic isotope contamination levels are reduced to <100 nCi/g, and sources of high beta-gamma radiation (
60
Co,
137
Cs, and
90
Sr) are reduced to levels that will allow the beryllium to be contact handled. The separation process may be applicable to a recycle or waste disposition scenario.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS/fSRT) are standard treatments for brain metastases. Each SRS/fSRT plan has a low-dose penumbra outside ...the high dose area, which multiplies if multiple metastases are irradiated and results in a low-dose bath in healthy brain tissue. We hypothesize that a certain dose of the low-dose bath can sterilize brain tissue and prevent local recurrences. We present first data of an ongoing project.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Data of fifty-three patients with brain metastases treated with single fraction SRS or fractionated fSRT at our institute between 2020 and 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients with at least one cranial follow-up MRI after 3 months were evaluated. Follow-up MRI scans were fused to the original treatment plans. New metastases in the isodose-volumes of 10 Gy-, 8 Gy-, 6 Gy-, 4 Gy-, and 2 - Gy were identified and evaluated. Mean doses, on the site of the new lesions, received from SRS/fSRT were tabulated summarized and analyzed.
RESULTS
Six of the 53 patients met the inclusion criteria. Five patients developed recurrent brain metastases out-of-field within 2-4 months of follow-up. One metastasis was observed outside the irradiation field. One patient developed no new metastases. With decreasing isodose levels an increasing number of new metastases were observed: In the reconstructed volume of 10Gy (V10Gy), V8Gy and V6Gy two metastases each, no metastases in the V4Gy and 5 metastases in the V2Gy. No toxicities were observed.
CONCLUSION
Our data suggest a trend towards a benefit that the low-dose bath as part of the penumbra of stereotactic radiotherapy sterilizes brain tissue. Especially, brain regions receiving doses of 4 Gy or more had fewer new lesions compared to regions that received less than 4 Gy. This should be further validated prospectively in larger patient populations, in clinical trials with combination of CNS-accessible immunotherapy like Osimertinib. Indications for whole brain radiotherapy could be further reduced. Low dose spillage with manageable risks might be sufficient to treat microscopic brain metastases in the future.
The authors developed and tested a dual stress magnetic resonance (MR) imaging protocol to evaluate myocardial perfusion, function, and hibernation. The technique was well tolerated, and high-quality ...images were achieved. The comprehensive information obtained can be used to guide clinical management decisions regarding coronary artery revascularization procedures. This protocol offers a one-stop assessment of patients with coronary artery disease with use of a clinical MR imager.
•Cycling constituted 5% of the one-way primary and secondary school trips mode share.•Students attending neighbourhood schools accounted for 70% of cycling modal splits.•Mode choice determinant ...associations varied for primary and secondary school trips.•Male adolescents from two parent homes owning fewer cars were more likely to cycle.•Both spatial and socio-economic variables were significant for school mode choices.
The low prevalence of Australian students’ utilitarian school cycling could be attributed to the varied and context specific demographic, socio-economic and spatial school travel mode choice determinants. Travel distance is universally important for school cycling and is reliant amongst related home and school spatial proximity factors on a student’s choice of schools. This paper, primarily based on school students’ travel data extracted from the 2009 South East Queensland Household Travel Survey (SEQHTS), examines comparative school cycling travel patterns, school catchment choices and the significant analytical determinants of cycling mode choices from within an urban regional Australian context. Students’ choice of a school external to that located within their designated State school catchment zone was associated with household attributes of parent/guardian employment location, number of income earners and ownership of private vehicles coupled with State school and catchment attributes. Noteworthy variations in school travel distances and modal splits were allied with school catchment choices. Adolescent male students from two parent households owning fewer than two cars and more than two bicycles, with parents/guardians commuting using non-motorised travel modes and resident in Census Collection Districts with conducive cycling environments, contributed largely to the one-way bi-directional primary and secondary school cycling mode shares. This prevalent student cyclist profile indicates the need for enhancements in student school cycling participation, through policies addressing both the spatial (built) and social environment which impact students’ personal and traffic safety coupled with utilitarian cycling image enhancements. Concerted efforts to bolster cycling amongst student segments with current low cycling participation inclusive of females, students from single parent households and those with adequate access to private motorised travel modes may be necessary to further enhance school cycling mode shares. The paper makes a case for individualised targeted travel interventions informed by segregated mode choice determinant analysis for respective primary and secondary school types and directions of school travel.
In our fast-changing urban world, the impacts of social and environmental change on children are often overlooked. Children and their Urban Environment examines these impacts in detail, looking at ...the key activities, spaces and experiences children have and how these can be managed to ensure that children benefit from change.
The authors highlight the importance of planners, architects and housing professionals in creating positive environments for children and involving them in the planning process. They argue that children's lives are becoming simultaneously both richer and more deprived, and that, despite apparently increasing wealth, disparities between children are increasing further.
Each chapter includes international examples of good practice and policy innovations for redressing the balance in favour of child supportive environments.
The book seeks to embrace childhood as a time of freedom, social engagement and environmental adventure and to encourage creation of environments that better meet the needs of children. The authors argue that in doing so, we will build more sustainable neighbourhoods, cities and societies for the future.
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