SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “interpretive description”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,585 records · Page 88Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Chaotic Dynamics in a Percolation Model for Evaporation of a Solid Body: A Description of Solid/Gas Reactions with Consumption Based on Thermodiffusive Nonlinearity at the Solid/Gas Interface.

A nonlinear truncated model, concerning thermodiffusive chaos in gaseous media, has been employed to represent evaporation of a solid body on the basis of nonlinearity at the solid/gas interface. Solid/gas consumption has been described in the cell which is characterized by the wavenumber of the interfacial convective motion. The solid molecule/atom evaporates according to a Boltzmann law that is ruled by temperature profiles coming from the truncated model. This allows the interpretation of the evaporative mechanism as depending on a Poincaré map related to the interfacial dynamics and suggests a possible correspondence between kinetics and nonlinear cooperative regimes. Percolative properties (k-th moments, critical threshold and exponents, fractal dimension) of the evaporating solid path have been derived for different thermal levels (i.e., reactivity), namely, for different values of the reduced Rayleigh number (r), which in the model accounts for the temperature contribution. The achieved descriptions generally agree with microstructural and theoretical observations concerning gasification of reacting solid/fluid systems. Moreover, previously proposed kinetic data (i.e., gasification rate versus fractional conversion) of char/air reactions have been interpreted in terms of a percolation theory that involves the solid/gas reactivity and the order of the convective mode (i.e., wavenumber). This result resembles the so-called finite amplitude cellular convection in gaseous and liquid layers working in nonlinear regimes. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Fractal dimension in human cortical surface: multiple regression analysis with cortical thickness, sulcal depth, and folding area.

Fractal dimension (FD) has been widely used to provide a quantitative description of structural complexity in the cerebral cortex. FD is an extremely compact measure of shape complexity, condensing all details into a single numeric value. We interpreted the variation of the FD in the cortical surface of normal controls through multiple regression analysis with cortical thickness, sulcal depth, and folding area related to cortical complexity. We used a cortical surface showing a reliable representation of folded gyri and manually parcellated it into frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital regions for regional analysis. In both hemispheres the mean cortical thickness and folding area showed significant combination effects on cortical complexity and accounted for about 50% of its variance. The folding area was significant in accounting for the FD of the cortical surface, with positive coefficients in both hemispheres and several lobe regions, while sulcal depth was significant only in the left temporal region. The results may suggest that human cortex develops a complex structure through the thinning of cortical thickness and by increasing the frequency of folds and the convolution of gyral shape rather than by deepening sulcal regions. Through correlation analysis of FD with IQ and the number of years of education, the results showed that a complex shape of the cortical surface has a significant relationship with intelligence and education. Our findings may indicate the structural characteristics that are revealed in the cerebral cortex when the FD in human brain is increased, and provide important information about brain development.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Neuronal elements in snail tentacles as revealed by horseradish peroxidase backfilling.

The snail tentacle ganglion is a prominent structure that innervates an epithelial pad sensitive to wind and odors. Its neural composition, and that of the sensory pad, was studied in the terrestrial snail Achatina fulica by applying horseradish peroxidase to the distal end of the cut tentactle nerve. Five types of neurons were labelled by the procedure: receptors, located in the subepithelial region; three kinds of interneurons, located in the ganglion and its digitlike extensions; and a bipolar neuron, located in the dermo-muscular wall of the tentacle. In contrast to earlier descriptions based on silver stains, the present results demonstrate the presence of neurons of large size (soma diameters up to 46 microns). Also, contrary to earlier interpretations, the results indicate that all five identified cell types send axons directly to the CNS.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

A new ligament: the "gastro-pancreatic".

The authors wish to draw attention to the gastro-pancreatic ligament (gastropancreaticus), no description of which is to be found in the usual anatomy text-books or in literature. The presence of this anatomic element can suggest new interpretations of the embryological development of the pancreas.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy of current educational literature on the staging of gastric carcinoma.

Staging of gastric adenocarcinoma is important for comparing aspects of the disease in Asia and in the Western countries, and it may be used to direct the treatment strategy. A survey of 13 popular current surgical textbooks and review journals found a high level of inaccuracy. Two texts (15%) did not mention any staging systems, and one (8%) described a nonstandard system. Three (23%) described staging systems that were out of date, and six descriptions (46%) were inaccurate. Only 40% of the cited staging systems was reliable. This level of inaccuracy leads to confusion for the reader and to difficulty interpreting other relevant literature.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pretending and believing: issues in the theory of ToMM.

Commonsense notions of psychological causality emerge early and spontaneously in the child. What implications does this have for our understanding of the mind/brain and its development? In the light of available evidence, the child's "theory of mind" is plausibly the result of the growth and functioning of a specialized mechanism (ToMM) that produces domain-specific learning. The failure of early spontaneous development of "theory of mind" in childhood autism can be understood in terms of an impairment in the growth and functioning of this mechanism. ToMM constructs agent-centered descriptions of situations or "metarepresentations". Agent-centered descriptions place agents in relation to information. By relating behavior to the attitudes agents take to the truth of propositions, ToMM makes possible a commonsense causal interpretation of agents' behavior as the result of circumstances that are imaginary rather than physical. Two early attitude concepts, pretends and believes, are discussed in the light of some current findings.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1991

The socio-cultural context of the transmission of HIV in Thailand.

At a global level there are considerable differences between regions in the levels of prevalence, and rate of transmission, of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Furthermore there are differences between regions in the social and demographic characteristics of HIV carriers/AIDS sufferers (e.g. heterosexuals, homosexuals, injecting drug users, infants). It is notable that Asia has generally lagged behind other regions in the spread of HIV. However recently Thailand has acknowledged rapidly increasing levels of infection. This paper is structured in terms of three broad sections. (1) An outline of some basic epidemiological principles concerning the transmission of HIV which help account for the regional variations in prevalence; (2) a description of the emerging awareness of HIV as a public health problem within Thailand; (3) a review of the social characteristics of HIV carriers in Thailand, interpreted by reference to the wider social context, chiefly in terms of; the commercial sex industry/sexual lifestyles, international tourism, and injecting drug dependency. Reference is also made to impressions of the personal response of individuals learning of their HIV seropositive status. A brief comment compares the sexual culture and sex industry in Thailand to that of other South East Asian countries (most notably the Philippines). The paper highlights the importance of considering the particular social and historical factors which shape and sustain the transmission of HIV within a particular country.

Commerce↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neonatal reductions in osteoclast number and function account for the transient nature of osteopetrosis in the rat mutation microphthalmia blanc (mib).

We have examined the general and skeletal manifestations of osteopetrosis in a new, mild osteopetrotic mutation in the rat, microphalmia blanc (mib). Newborn mutant (mib) rats exhibit the typical skeletal deformities and sclerosis of osteopetrosis at birth, which are reduced significantly during the first postnatal month but don't disappear entirely up to 8 months later. Osteoclast numbers, staining for TRAP and TraATPase, and bone resorption are reduced in mutants during the first 2 postnatal weeks but improve by 1 month. In mutants, serum concentrations of calcium and phosphorus are normal, but 1,25(OH)2 D levels are higher at 1 week than those in normal littermates. Neonatally, mutants exhibit extramedullary hemopoiesis in the spleen. These results are interpreted to mean that the transient perinatal skeletal sclerosis in mib rats is caused by reduced production and function of osteoclasts in this period. The recent description of transient, perinatal osteopetrosis in a child suggests that analyses of the early differences between mild and severe animal mutations might distinguish those children with osteopetrosis who need treatment from those who do not.

Aging↗

PubMed2006

Coronary artery anatomy in children with congenital heart disease by computed tomography.

AIMS: To evaluate electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) for recognition of coronary artery patterns in children with congenital heart diseases. METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained; informed consents were not required. A total of 226 children diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot (n=122), double outlet right ventricle (n=52), transposition of the great arteries (n=34), and congenitally corrected transposition (n=18) who had undergone cardiac EBCT at our institution between 1995 and 2002 were identified. Iodinated contrast medium was injected with arterial phase acquisition. The two radiologists and one pediatric cardiologist that interpreted the EBCT images and cardiac angiograms, respectively, were blinded to each other's results. Surgical and cardiac angiogram findings were compared to the EBCT results. Descriptive statistics were used to compare efficacy. RESULTS: Numerous aberrant patterns were clearly identified on the EBCT images. Pattern IX occurred in most patients with Tetralogy of Fallot or double outlet right ventricle. Patterns I and 0 are the most common coronary artery types in transposition of the great arteries and congenitally corrected transposition, respectively. Overall diagnostic accuracy for all disease groups was 82.7%. The diagnostic accuracy of the coronary arterial anatomy by EBCT increased with older age, and was more than 90% in individuals aged over 3 months. CONCLUSION: EBCT is effective for identification of the coronary anatomy of children with specific congenital heart diseases, except for neonates and small infants less than 3 months of age.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Using the nursing minimum data set for the Netherlands (NMDSN) to illustrate differences in patient populations and variations in nursing activities.

RATIONALE: A nursing minimum data set (NMDS) provides data that are useful to legitimate nurses' contribution to healthcare. In Belgium and the US, such NMDS are operational, other countries are developing it, among which is the Netherlands. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the nursing minimum data set for the Netherlands (NMDSN) is suitable to describe the diversity of patient populations and the variability of nursing care. METHODOLOGY: Using the NMDSN data collection forms, patient data were collected from 15 different hospital wards. During one week, nurses manually completed the NMDSN list for every patient. The data analysis methodology from the Belgian MVG was used, including ridit analysis and graphs. RESULTS: The NMDSN includes items related to hospital, patient demographics, medical condition, nursing process, nursing phenomena, nursing interventions, outcomes of nursing care, and complexity of care. There were 686 individual patients in the study, while for the data analysis their 2090 patient days in the hospital were used. Frequencies of nursing phenomena, nursing activities and results of care were calculated, transformed into ridit scores, and presented graphically as 'fingerprints'. CONCLUSION: The set of NMDSN items allows illustrating the diversity of patient populations, and variation in nursing care by means of 'fingerprints'.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2001

Nyctalopia in antiquity: a review of the ancient Greek, Latin, and Byzantine literature.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the original definition and use of the term nyctalopia in ancient medical literature in view of the controversy between the English and some continental European literatures. DESIGN: Historical manuscript. METHODS: We review the use of the term in ancient Greek, Roman, and early Byzantine medical literature (5th century BC-7th century AD) and include a quick reference to the theories on its etymology. RESULTS: Physicians of antiquity defined as nyctalopia the symptom of defective dark adaptation, most commonly in the clinical setting of vitamin A deficiency. An alternative definition, the improvement of vision at night, is not recorded before the 2nd century AD and seems to result from a broader interpretation of the word, lacking medical acceptance at that time. CONCLUSIONS: We propose to the ophthalmic community the use of the term nyctalopia exclusively for the description of defective dark adaptation.

Byzantium↗

PubMed1997

The variety of qualitative research. Part two: Non-positivist approaches.

For a number of reasons qualitative techniques have taken firm root in nursing research generally and are of growing importance in research undertaken by nurse educators. But there is a great deal of confusion about the nature of the data which are produced by qualitative research, the way such data must be handled, and the use to which such data can be put. The confusion often results from a failure to differentiate between several orientations to qualitative data. In the previous paper Positivist research was discussed. Non-positivist research is of a number of kinds, despite often being treated as unified. Examples are: (a) descriptive ('phenomenological') research-which seeks to give a faithful account of an area of experience or of an aspect of the 'life-world'; (b) interpretative ('hermeneutic') research-which aims to show ways of making sense of experience; and (c) discourse analysis-which draws out the socially available modes of thinking and action which reveal themselves in qualitative data.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

La desesperacion: migrant and seasonal farm workers living with HIV/AIDS.

Migrant seasonal farm workers (MSFWs) in south Texas are predominantly Mexican American and represent one of the most impoverished and medically underserved populations in the United States. La Frontera is a collaborative partnership between the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, migrant organizations, and HIV service delivery organizations to study and address special needs of MSFWs in Hidalgo and Maverick counties of south Texas. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the health-seeking experiences of HIV-positive MSFWs living in the La Frontera service area. Denzin's interpretive interactionism methodology guided the study. Thirteen participants were interviewed and audiotaped as they described their experiences. Findings from content analysis of the interviews revealed a description of the life of an HIV-positive MSFW as la desesperacion (a separate way of life). After their diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, the major themes in their lives were living in secrecy (a silent cry), finding and receiving health care, and accepting the disease (may it be the will of God).

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1994

PRO_LIGAND: an approach to de novo molecular design. 2. Design of novel molecules from molecular field analysis (MFA) models and pharmacophores.

A computational approach for molecular design, PRO_LIGAND, has been developed within the PROMETHEUS molecular design and simulation system in order to provide a unified framework for the de novo generation of diverse molecules which are either similar or complementary to a specified target. In this instance, the target is a pharmacophore derived from a series of active structures either by a novel interpretation of molecular field analysis data or by a pharmacophore-mapping procedure based on clique detection. After a brief introduction to PRO_LIGAND, a detailed description is given of the two pharmacophore generation procedures and their abilities are demonstrated by the elucidation of pharmacophores for steroid binding and ACE inhibition, respectively. As a further indication of its efficacy in aiding the rational drug design process, PRO_LIGAND is then employed to build novel organic molecules to satisfy the physicochemical constraints implied by the pharmacophores.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

PubMed1991

Directing spatial attention within an object: altering the functional equivalence of shape descriptions.

Three experiments extended the demonstrated effects of spatial attention to a new area, the perceptual organization of objects. We manipulated observers' fixation location, their spatial attention location, and their intentions to hold one alternative of a Necker cube that had been altered in one region to favor one of the alternative interpretations (the biased region) and measured reports about the perceived organization of the cube over 30-s trials. Regardless of fixation location, responses showed obligatory effects of the bias only when observers attended to the biased region of the cube and not when they attended to the unbiased region of the cube, even when the biased region lay between fixation and the attended unbiased region. On the basis of these experiments, we argue that spatial attention operates through mechanisms of facilitation and inhibition to determine the functional nature of the structural description of an object.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Response to Blomgren, Roy, Callister, and Merrill (2005).

PURPOSE: The purpose of this letter is to register concerns about a study reported by M. Blomgren, N. Roy, T. Callister, and R. Merrill (2005), entitled "Intensive Stuttering Modification Therapy: A Multidimentional Assessment of Treatment Outcomes." Concerns include questions about the description of the treatment, the duration of treatment time, and the results of the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment program did not inherently lend itself to clear description (would not be easily replicable), the participants did not improve their speech fluency, and the treatment time was extensive. One must take caution in the interpretation of the results given the concerns noted.

Humans↗

PubMed1976

Self- versus investigator-administered presumed fluency reinforcing stimuli.

The effects of self-administered and investigator-administered presumed fluency reinforcing monetary rewards for perceived fluency increases on the disfluency frequency rate of 17 adult stutterers were studied. Subjects read aloud during 11 one-minute segments under three conditions: one in which no reinforcer was administered at the end of each one-minute segment, a self-administered reinforcement condition, and an investigator-administered reinforcement condition. Although less stuttering was found in the two experimental conditions (with significantly less stuttering occurring in the self-administered fluency reinforcing condition than in the control condition), an increase in stuttering was observed in those reading segments which followed the administration of presumed fluency reinforcing stimuli. These results were interpreted to suggest that although the concept of self-reinforcement may be clinically useful, the operant learning paradigm may be insufficient in providing an adequate description of the events taking place following the administration of fluency contingent reinforcing or punishing stimuli.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The meaning that young Israeli adults ascribe to the least undesirable death.

The study examines descriptions by 14 Israeli young adults of the least undesirable death. The transcripts of essays and interviews were analyzed by phenomenological methods to determine themes and interpret their synthesis into the essence of the phenomenon. The least undesirable death was perceived as multi-dimensional, based on 4 themes: the time, manner, and place in which death occurs, and the importance of death being beneficial to others. These themes represent 2 salient ideologies in Israeli society: autonomy of the individual (including control over his/her own life) and communitarian philosophy that calls for emphasis of the common good. These 2 forces, which pull in opposite directions, were captured in the essence of the phenomenon: least undesirable for self versus least undesirable for others. The results of this study call researchers and practitioners in the field of death and dying to move beyond the common uni-dimensional perception of a "good death" and to recognize that this is a multi-layered phenomenon in which the perspectives of self (autonomy) and others (communitarianism) do not necessarily mesh.

Adult↗