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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Malnutrition in institutionalized elderly: how and why?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of undernutrition and overnutrition in long-term care elderly patients and the functional, behavioral, environmental, nutritional, and medical variables associated with this prevalence. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational. SETTING: Long-term care hospital in Canada. SUBJECTS: Two hundred elderly patients (n = 166 male), average age 78.5 years. MEASUREMENTS: Assessment of nutritional status and presence of specific behavioral, medical, environmental, and functional characteristics known to impact on nutritional status. Nutritional status was determined by weight, % weight loss, BMI, skinfolds, arm circumference, area measurements, and % body fat. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated specifically with undernutrition and overnutrition in this population. RESULTS: Severe undernutrition was present in 18% (n = 36) and severe overnutrition in 10% (n = 20). Mild/moderate undernutrition was present in 27.5% (n = 55) and mild/moderate overnutrition in 18% (n = 36). Overnutrition was positively associated with primary diagnosis and number of medications and negatively associated with poor appetite, number of feeding impairments, protein intake, and mental state. Undernutrition was positively associated with dysphagia, slow eating, low protein intake, poor appetite, presence of a feeding tube, and age and negatively associated with primary diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Undernutrition exists at a level that is high (45.5%) but not unusual for this type of institutional setting. Behavioral, environmental, and disease-related factors greatly influence nutritional status. Undernutrition appears to be affected by nutritional factors more than overnutrition. Efforts should be directed toward influencing some of these factors to decrease undernutrition in the institutionalized elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Roots and branches of behavioral and cognitive practice.

Experimental psychology has contributed many empirical concepts and paradigms to behavioral theory and practice. While not all behavior therapy techniques can be traced from exact experimental paradigms, a general guiding framework is provided by concepts and methodology derived from behavioral research and theories. In this paper, two concepts are discussed in relation to modern behavior therapy: (1) environmental-behavioral relationship and (2) response probability, with emphasis on the work of Tolman, Hull, Skinner and Brunswik. Current studies of "cognitive behavior therapy" are discussed with reference to methodology and techniques. All but one of the studies purporting to compare behavior therapy with cognitive behavior therapy actually mixed regular behavioral techniques with cognitive practices. All of the results can be explained on ordinary behavioral principles. Finally the behavioral basis of attitudes and perceptions is discussed in the light of work by Festinger, Bem, Taylor, Jacobson, Razran and others; and cognitive variables are found to fit very well within a purely behavioral framework. Our concepts and methodology need to be sharpened, rather than clouded, if behavior therapy is to make headway against the traditionalist bulwarks of the psychiatric community.

Attitude↗
PubMed1993

Apomorphine sensitization effects: evidence for environmentally contingent behavioral reorganization processes.

Apomorphine-induced behavioral sensitization was investigated with a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm. Rats were administered apomorphine (2.0 mg/kg SC) daily for 7 days either paired or unpaired with a 10-min test environment placement. Initially, apomorphine induced hypolocomotion, but by treatment day 5, hyperlocomotion developed. Utilizing a videoimage analysis program which quantitated angular movement, it was determined that the increase in locomotion induced by repeated apomorphine treatment was due to an increase in rotational locomotion. Critically, rotation per se did not increase, but rather wide angle rotation toward the periphery of the test environment increased. Furthermore, a directional bias of rotation developed and stabilized which was unrelated to the animal's initial asymmetry bias. This emergence of a new locomotion pattern in conjunction with hyperlocomotion pointed to the need to reconceptualize behavioral sensitization phenomena into a new framework consistent with a progressive change in behavioral structure. Behavioral reorganization is presented as an alternative formulation to that of behavioral sensitization, as a drug-environment interactive process which is more compatible with the behavioral dynamics that emerge with repeated intermittent dopaminergic psychostimulant drug treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The effects of behavior and environmental enrichment on disease resistance of turkeys.

Turkey poults were provided with environmental enrichment for the first 14 days after hatch. At 2 days of age each bird was tested for the speed in which it would cross a T-maze. At 5 weeks of age birds were treated with dexamethasone and challenged with Escherichia coli. Enriched birds had higher body weights and incidence of disease and mortality and lower numbers of leukocytes when challenged. Challenged and enriched birds that tested FAST had higher mortality and air sacculitis scores and lower body weights than SLOW birds. Non-enriched, SLOW birds were the only ones to respond to challenge with increases in leukocyte counts and heterophil/lymphocyte ratios. These data suggest that environmental enrichment during the first 2 weeks after hatch may be detrimental to those birds with a FAST T-maze response, and that poults with a FAST response in the T-maze may be more susceptible to experimental bacterial infection.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2006

Differing adsorption behavior of environmentally important cyanophenol isomers at the air-water interface.

Vibrational sum-frequency spectroscopy and surface tensiometry have been used to study the adsorption of m- and p-cyanophenol at the air-water interface. Spectra of the cyano (CN) group under different polarization schemes are utilized to determine its hydrogen bonding environment and orientation. For both isomers, it is found that the cyano group is hydrogen bonded at the interface but that the CN orientation is independent of surface density. The average CN tilt angle (theta(0)), however, is found to differ between the isomers, such that the CN group points down toward the aqueous phase for m-cyanophenol (theta(0) = 96-106 degrees ) but points up toward the vapor phase for the p-cyanophenol (theta(0) = 65-80 degrees ). In addition, this average tilt angle is distributed over a narrow range, sigma(0) < 10 degrees for the meta isomer and sigma(0) < 16 degrees for the para isomer.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Environmental and behavioral predictors of salivary cotinine in Latino tobacco workers.

We report the results of a cohort study of 182 seasonal and migrant farmworkers engaged in tobacco production in two North Carolina counties. Data were collected on tobacco work tasks and risk factors for exposure to nicotine, including smoking, every 2 weeks over a 10-week period during the summer of 1999. Saliva samples were collected for cotinine analysis at every contact. Salivary cotinine levels increased across the season, independent of smoking status. Multivariate analyses identified a model (R2 = 0.68) in which predictors of cotinine included greater age, later-season work, wet working conditions, smoking, and work task. Harvesting ("priming") tobacco was associated with higher cotinine levels than other tasks. This study demonstrates that tobacco workers experience substantial work-related exposure to nicotine. The long-term effects of such exposure should be investigated.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Development of an automated performance test system for environmental and behavioral toxicology studies.

In developing a menu of computerized performance tests for repeated-measures applications the metric properties of selected tests have been examined. Factors of chief concern have been stability and reliability, as well as the practical issue of the length of time it takes to achieve high levels of both. In this study, these factors, as well as predictive validity, are examined. 25 subjects were tested repeatedly (10 sessions) with 11 tests previously identified as "good" candidates for repeated-measures research in paper-and-pencil (marker test) versions. The 11 tests were administered concurrently in their traditional paper-and-pencil modes and newly implemented microcomputer-based versions, along with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). Nine of the 11 microcomputer-based tests achieved stability. Reliabilities were generally high, with r greater than or equal to .77 for 3 min. of testing. Cross-correlations of microbased tests with traditional paper-and-pencil versions suggest equivalency between the test constructs in the different media. Correlations between six of the microbased subtests and the WAIS identified common variance, and these might comprise an efficient short (6 min.) battery of tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Environmental and behavioral aspects of glue sniffing in a population of emotionally disturbed adolescents.

The following study used an eight question survey to explore some ecological and behavioral dimensions of glue sniffing in a population of emotionally disturbed adolescents. The results indicated that peer-based pressure was a dominant motivational aspect for engaging initially in glue-sniffing behavior. In addition, a significant number of adolescents in this survey revealed a trend toward experiencing unpleasantness with continual use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Body temperature of dry cows on pasture: environmental and behavioral effects.

To investigate interrelations among factors potentially affecting body temperature, we observed body temperature, activity, and relative aggregation of 3 to 5 dry cows from a herd of 12 to 15 every 20 min. Ambient conditions were noted every 1 h and fly counts every 3 h. Observations during daylight for 5 d with and without shade indicated effects of shade were minimal and were extended to 24 h without shade at six weekly intervals. Cows lie down during the evening, grazed near sunrise and sunset, and alternated standing and grazing during the day. The aggregation index was greatest during periods of standing and least during grazing; however, it remained constant across periods of similar activity. Cows shifted activity from grazing to standing during periods of increased fly activity. Ambient temperatures ranging from 13 to 35 degrees C had little influence on measured variables. Body temperatures showed one to three daily dips (greater than 1 degree C) and a hysteresis pattern. Almost all dips were associated with transitions from lying to grazing. Body temperature was constant in the morning, rose to a higher level in the afternoon, and remained high until the next morning.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Environmental and behavioral components of sensitization induced by the dopamine agonist quinpirole.

Chronic intermittent injection of quinpirole (0.5mg/kg) to rats in a large non-standard open field (mirrored glass table without walls, 160 x 160cm and 60cm high) induces pronounced behavioral sensitization characterized by a 6-fold increase in locomotor distance and increased rigidity of travel along the same routes (path stereotype). Experiment 1 showed that equivalent treatment in the home cage induces much less sensitization of locomotor distance and no sensitization of path stereotypy, as evidenced by a test in the open field. In Experiment 2, transferring rats sensitized in one open field to a novel open field resulted in a 50% loss of sensitized locomotor distance and a virtual loss of sensitized path stereotypy. In Experiment 3, rotating the open field in relation to room cues did not affect sensitized responding, suggesting that the behavior is organized in relation to distal rather than local (open field) cues. Finally, an injection of saline in the sensitized environment failed to elicit conditioned locomotion (Experiment 4). These results are taken to indicate that the control of sensitization to quinpirole has components that are environment independent, behavior specific, and context dependent, each having a relatively different contribution and mechanism. It is suggested that under the experimental conditions of this study, the relative contributions to quinpirole sensitization were 50% for the context-dependent component, 30% for the behavior-specific component, and 20% for the environment-independent contribution. The mechanism for the context-dependent component may be related to development of path stereotypy and involve spatial learning.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

[Behavior of environmental contaminants in farm livestock].

Knowledge about pharmacokinetic factors is essential to evaluate the consequences of the exposure of farm animals to high levels of environmental contaminants. The bioavailability, which depends on for instance the exposure route and the matrix in which the contaminant is embedded, is of primary importance. The exposure of an animal expressed as internal dose rate is determined by the efficiency of the various elimination processes. If the combined rate of these processes is low, high body concentrations relative to exposure rate will occur. Metabolic elimination may lead to the formation of toxic metabolites and in that case it is necessary to study these metabolites as well. Residue problems may occur as a consequence of substance properties and/or the presence of specific binding proteins in organs and tissues. Finally, pharmacokinetic studies should be conducted at various levels of exposure as some kinetic processes may be non-linear in nature.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Environmental lighting, behavioral state, and hormonal response in the newborn.

This experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of constant and intermittent light on newborn infants. Changes in levels of salivary cortisol were utilized as indications of increased pituitary-adrenal activity. The sample consisted of 99 babies who were classified as state predominance sleep (Group A) babies or state predominance awake (Group B) babies following a 3-hour observation period for each infant. The experimental group was subjected to intermittent light and the control group to constant overhead lighting on two consecutive nights. A 2 X 2 ANOVA utilizing absolute change salivary cortisol scores revealed a statistically significant interaction between light and state. The findings suggest that the effects of different light conditions are related to individual response differences. In intermittent light, the absolute change salivary cortisol scores may reflect a previously assumed unobservable cortisol rhythmicity in Group B babies and a diminution of stress in Group A babies.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1995

A behavioral and environmental intervention to reduce false-positives in submaximal bicycle ergometry testing.

Although submaximal cycle ergometry testing (CET) can provide a good estimate of an individual's physical fitness, anticipatory heart rate increases accompanying pre-test anxiety can negatively affect the outcome of a submaximal CET. The present study evaluated the efficacy of a low-cost, technician-administered anxiety reduction intervention in the natural setting to reduce false-positives by removing heart rate feedback, and offering cognitive distraction and controlled breathing techniques. There were consistent findings for removing heart rate (HR) feedback and offering relaxation and distraction techniques on increasing the passing rate and decreasing HR at minute 1. Furthermore, when evaluated by gender, this minimal intervention also had an effect on increasing VO2max estimates, decreasing average HR, and increasing the passing rate for the female subjects. Interestingly, there were no effects found for any of the treatment conditions for the male subjects. The intervention's implications and future research directions are discussed.

Anxiety↗
PubMed2003

Structural and environmental characteristics of stereotyped behaviors.

Structural and environmental characteristics of multiple topographies of stereotypic behaviors shown by 8 individuals with developmental disabilities are described. Analysis of structural characteristics show that the parameters of stereotyped behavior (percentage of time, bout length, and bout length variability) were highly correlated. Analysis of the influence of environmental variables indicated that topographies of stereotyped behaviors were more likely to occur under conditions of low stimulation and less likely during conditions involving social contact. Individuals whose stereotyped behaviors were less influenced by environmental factors were more likely to engage in them for greater periods of time. Results suggest that an examination of individual topographies of stereotyped behaviors and their structural and environmental characteristics may provide useful insights for understanding the origins of these behaviors.

Adolescent↗