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PubMed2006

Modified symbolic play test for Oriental children.

BACKGROUND: Symbolic play test (SPT) is a simple test for screening preverbal language in children. This test had been validated in English-speaking children. However, the toys may not be useful for other cultures such as Orientals like Chinese, Japanese, Koreans or Thais as they use chopsticks and bowls as eating utensils rather than spoon, fork or knife. The aim of this study was to find a set of miniature toys suitable for children of Oriental ethnic origin in order to get a reliable language test. METHODS: Altogether 140 children were recruited into this study. This included 62 control children and 78 with idiopathic developmental delay. The original SPT was applied together with an additional set of miniature toys appropriate for Oriental culture (i.e. modified version of SPT) by modifying play items in situations 3 and 4 to suit the Chinese culture. The authors replaced the knife, fork and plate with chopsticks and bowl in situation 3 and replaced the tractor and trailer with train carts in situation 4. For the ease of comparison, the authors segregated the age groups with the same age range as the original English-based SPT: less than 20 months (N= 11); 21-30 months (N= 45); 31-40 months (N= 43); 41-50 months (N= 21), and more than 50 months (N= 4). RESULTS: The mean scores of the cohort was higher (14.83) with the modified version of SPT than when the original SPT was used (13.64). A statistically significant increase in the mean score in situation 3 (3.67-3.24 = 0.43), situation 4 (3.76-3.36 = 0.40) and the overall score (14.83-13.64 = 1.19) was obtained when the modified SPT was used instead of the original SPT (all with P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The authors recommend replacing play items like spoon, knife, fork and plate with Oriental culture-based items like chopsticks and bowl for the modified SPT (Oriental version). Users of the test should have a set of toy train carts available to supplement the tractor and trailer as these toys were not commonly seen in real life for Oriental children. The authors hope that the modified SPT can be used reliably to assess for preverbal ability of Oriental children, especially Chinese children.

Asian People↗
PubMed2006

Orientation of multi-hair follicles in nonbald men: perpendicular versus parallel.

BACKGROUND: There has been much debate about the orientation of multi-hair grafts in order to obtain an appearance of fullness after the hair transplantation. OBJECTIVES: To analyze natural orientation of multi-hair follicles and the influence of hair flow from the crown swirl. METHODS: Natural orientation of follicles was analyzed microscopically in 100 nonbald men: a clockwise whorl flow group (50 men) and a counterclockwise group (50 men). RESULTS: The majority of multi-hair follicles were oriented perpendicular to the radial line from the whorl in both the groups. The percentage of perpendicular orientation was large in the peripheral and middle scalp areas (49-79%), and it decreased in the vertex (38-49%, p<.05 or .01). The percentages of parallel, right oblique, and left oblique orientation were small in the peripheral area with a slight increase in the vertex (3-12% vs. 14-24%, p<.05 or .01). CONCLUSION: Original orientation of multi-hair follicles was mainly perpendicular to the radial line from the whorl irrelevant to the crown swirl hair flow. Multi-hair grafts transplanted perpendicularly would look similar to the natural hair follicles in the front half of the scalp.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effect of goal orientation on achievement beliefs, cognition and strategies in team sport.

Nicholls' motivation conceptual framework pertaining to achievement goals was used to study the relationship between two implicit goal orientations (task and ego) and achievement cognitions and beliefs about the competitive team sport experience. The study examined the relationship between the goal orientations and purposes of team sport, motivational climate, satisfaction, sources of satisfaction, achievement strategies, and perception of ability in team sport. The subjects were 148 students experienced in team sport at a Norwegian university. The scales were translated specifically for the study and factor analyses used to determine the factor structure of the scales. Seventeen factors along the 6 dimensions emerged, and canonical analysis determined that predominantly task-oriented subjects focused on health-related activities within purposes, preferred mastery climates and focused on mastery-oriented criteria to determine satisfaction and other achievement-related beliefs. In contrast, predominantly ego-oriented subjects focused on status enhancement for purpose, preferred performance-oriented climates and focused on ego-oriented criteria to determine satisfaction and other achievement beliefs.

Achievement↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of collagen orientation in human dermis by two-dimensional second-harmonic-generation polarimetry.

We have proposed an optical probe that can be used to characterize the orientation of collagen fibers in human dermis. A specific probing ability for collagen results from the use of second-harmonic-generation (SHG) light induced by collagen molecules in the tissue. Based on the concept of collagen SHG light, a reflection-type polarization measurement system (named SHG polarimetry) with a probe light spot of 15 microm in diameter has been constructed, and the human reticular dermis has been measured using this system. Resultant data exhibit that the reticular dermis possesses approximately uniaxial orientation of the collagen fibers. Furthermore, we demonstrated a nondestructive measurement of the collagen orientation in the papillary dermis across an epidermis layer. For distribution measurement of the collagen fiber orientation in the reticular dermis, we have extended the SHG polarimetry to one- (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) measurement. By the macroscopic 2-D SHG polarimetry, we have observed that the orientation angle and organization degree of collagen fibers vary widely depending on the discrete probing positions in the reticular dermis. Furthermore, microscopic 1-D SHG polarimetry indicated a swell of the orientation angle and a large variance of the organization degree in the collagen fibers in the microscopic region. These results imply that the reticular dermis posses a tangled structure of collagen fibers, which is highly consistent with the result of the anatomical examination of the skin. The proposed method will be a powerful tool for monitoring the microscopic distribution of the collagen fiber orientation in the human dermis.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1988

Orientation and segregation of Robertsonian trivalents in Dichroplus pratensis (Acrididae).

Pairing behavior, metaphase I orientation, and anaphase I segregation of centric fusion trivalents were studied in 26 single, 15 double, and 2 triple male fusion heterozygotes of the polymorphic South American melanopline grasshopper Dichroplus pratensis. They represent the seven different fusions and their combinations already described in different populations of the species. Our analysis showed the following: (1) pairing behavior is very regular in all trivalents; (2) frequencies of linear orientation was very low irrespective of the trivalent involved; (3) reorientation seems to occur frequently since frequencies of abnormal segregation and aneuploid second division cells were invariably lower than those of nonconvergent orientation; (4) aneuploidy and abnormal sperm production increases with increasing number of fusions; (5) chiasma frequency and localisation is relevant to trivalent orientation since trivalents with nonconvergent orientations showed proximal and interstitial chiasmata more frequently than convergently oriented ones. The results are in agreement with the hypothesis that these polymorphisms are old and stable, and confirm that for the maintenance of a balanced polymorphism, if this polymorphism is adaptive because of its consequences on recombination, position effects, etc., changes tending to stabilise trivalent orientation and segregation are central.

Anaphase↗
PubMed2006

Finger length ratio (2D:4D) and dimensions of sexual orientation.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that both adult sexual orientation and the 2nd to 4th finger length ratio (2D:4D) are influenced by prenatal testosterone levels. Bearing this in mind, 2D:4D has been tested as a proxy measure of the putative prenatal testosterone impact on adult human homosexuality, but the results are inconsistent. To date, most studies in this field of research comprise categorical group comparison of heterosexuals and homosexuals with respect to their 2D:4D. AIMS: The purpose of our study was to evaluate 2D:4D and the dimensional perspective of sexual orientation in addition to categorical results. METHODS: We examined a community-based sample of 409 subjects and calculated correlations of 2D:4D and sexual orientation as a continuum ranging from homosexual to heterosexual. RESULTS: We found a significant negative correlation of 2D:4D with homosexual orientation (fantasy, attraction, activity and general score) in women, but not in men. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that with higher prenatal testosterone levels in women, the likelihood of homosexual orientation might increase. We hypothesize a continuous neurohormonal sexual differentiation of the brain, most notably for women, that overrides categories and results in varying dimensions of sexual orientation. This hypothesis contrasts with the predominant suggestion of fixed organizational effects of androgens in the brain and a categorical sexual orientation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Orientation of cultured arterial smooth muscle cells growing on cyclically stretched substrates.

Arterial smooth muscle cells from rabbit aortic media were grown in first subcultures on hydrophilized and collagen-coated silicone membranes which were then subjected to directional cyclic stretches and relaxations at a frequency of 50 times/min. The membranes were stretched 2, 5 and 10% beyond their resting length. Cells on unstretched and stationary membranes in the same chamber served as controls. The cells which were stretched with an amplitude of 2% remained in random orientation after 14 days of continuously performed cyclic stretching. The cells which were stretched 5% for 12 days orientated at an angle of 61 +/- 9 degrees to the direction of stretching, while the cells which were stretched with an amplitude of 10% for 6 days orientated at an angle of 76 +/- 5 degrees. The cells on the stationary and unstretched membranes remained in random orientation. We were able to confirm that the angle of orientation is reversible, i.e. preorientated cells changed their orientation during application of another stretching amplitude. The results suggest that stretching of the artery wall by blood pulsation may be a factor influencing the orientation of smooth muscle cells within the media of the artery wall and of those smooth muscle cells which proliferate into the subendothelial space after mechanical injury of the endothelium or electrical stimulation of the artery wall. An apparatus is presented which produces cyclic and directional mechanical stimuli similar to those which may occur in the artery wall.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Influence of local orientation cues on estimating the tilt of two-dimensional patterns.

Ten subjects estimated the orientation of elongated random patterns composed of dots or short line segments. The estimated overall orientation of the patterns was influenced by the local orientation of the composing lines. Thus, when they formed an angle of 5.7 deg with the orientation of the least-squared-distances axis (LS-axis) of the pattern there was an effect of 'attraction', and when this angle was 22.9 deg, an effect of 'repulsion'. Estimated orientation coincided with the orientation of the LS-axis for angles of 11.5 and 45.8 deg, and when the patterns were composed of dots. The results point to interactions between different mechanisms involved in orientation perception.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Perceived orientation of complex shape reflects graded part decomposition.

Although the orientation of line segments and simple shapes is a well-studied area of vision, little is known about geometric factors that influence perceived orientation of complex multipart shapes. The study of these factors is of interest because it allows for an insight into the basic problem of how local geometric attributes are integrated perceptually into a global shape representation. We examined the perceived orientation of two-part shapes using an adjustment method and a 2AFC task. In particular, we investigated the influence of the perceptual salience, or distinctiveness, of a part--as defined by the turning angles at its boundaries--and its area relative to the main "base" part. In contrast to previous results on simple shapes, our results exhibited large and systematic deviations of perceived orientation from the principal axis of the shape. For shapes with sharp part boundaries, perceived global orientation deviated maximally from the principal axis and was approximated by the axis of the main base part of the shape. With weakening part boundaries, the perceived orientation gradually approached the principal axis of the entire shape, reflecting that both parts were taken into account in estimating orientation. The results are consistent with a differentially weighted principal-axis computation in which the attached part is given systematically lower weighting with increasing turning angles at the part boundaries. They thus allow a quantitative characterization of part salience in terms of part independence: Turning angles at a part's boundaries determine the extent to which its influence is perceptually separable from the rest of the shape. We suggest that Robust Statistics may provide a useful framework for quantifying the influence of part segmentation on visual estimation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Orientational micro-Raman spectroscopy on hydroxyapatite single crystals and human enamel crystallites.

Single crystals of synthetic hydroxyapatite have been examined by orientational micro-Raman spectroscopy. The observed Raman bands include the PO4(3-)/OH-internal and external modes over the spectral range from 180 to 3600 cm-1. The Raman-active symmetry tensors (A, E1, and E2) of crystal-class C6 have been assigned to these bands. Intensities of the Raman bands are invariant to the orientation of the a- or b-axis of a single crystal, but depend solely on the c-axis orientation. Changes in the spectral profile thus reflect changes in the c-axis orientation, which, with respect to the known excitation/observation coordinates, can be determined through the angular dependencies of Raman bands due to A and E2 symmetries. The useful bands are those of the PO4(3-)v4 vibrational mode, which contains relatively well-defined bands due to E2 (581 cm-1) and A (593 cm-1) symmetries. A preliminary Raman study on crystallites near the intact outer surface of human enamel has also been carried out. Strong orientational dependencies similar to those of hydroxyapatite single crystals have been observed among the bands in enamel spectra. This suggests that the crystallites in the region investigated are highly oriented. The results were consistent with an averaged orientation of the crystallite c-axis being perpendicular to the outer surface.

Crystallography↗
PubMed2002

A quantitative method to determine the orientation of collagen fibers in the dermis.

We have developed a quantitative microscopic method to determine changes in the orientation of collagen fibers in the dermis resulting from mechanical stress. The method is based on the use of picrosirius red-stained cryostat sections of piglet skin in which collagen fibers reflect light strongly when epipolarization microscopy is used. Digital images of sections were converted into binary images that were analyzed quantitatively on the basis of the length of the collagen fibers in the plane of the section as a measure for the orientation of the fibers. The length of the fibers was expressed in pixels and the mean length of the 10 longest fibers in the image was taken as the parameter for the orientation of the fibers. To test the procedure in an experimental setting, we used skin after 0 and 30 min of skin stretching. The orientation of the fibers in sections of control skin differed significantly from the orientation of fibers in sections of skin that was stretched mechanically for 30 min [76 +/- 15 (n=5) vs 132 +/- 36 (n=5)]. The method described here is a relatively simple way to determine (changes in) the orientation of individual collagen fibers in connective tissue and can also be applied for analysis of the orientation of any other structural element in tissues so long as a representative binary image can be created.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Portable advanced medical simulation for new emergency department testing and orientation.

OBJECTIVES: Efforts to mitigate unexpected problems during transition of an active emergency department (ED) to a new physical plant are imperative to ensure effective health care delivery and patient safety. The authors used advanced medical simulation (SIM) to evaluate the capacity of a new ED for emergent resuscitative processes and assist facility orientation before opening day. METHODS: Operational readiness testing and orientation to the new ED of a large academic center were arranged through a Transportable Enhanced Simulation Technologies for Pre-Implementation Limited Operations Testing (TESTPILOT) project. Using a portable life-sized computerized manikin, the project required participants to perform assorted patient care interventions on-site. Cardiac arrest, multitrauma, uroseptic shock, and pediatric toxicology scenarios elicited the dynamics of real-life ED activities. Debriefings and surveys assessed participants' perceptions of the new facility's clinical readiness and identified areas needing administrative attention. Subjective utility of SIM orientation was compared with that of standard facility orientation. RESULTS: Fourteen ED clinicians and five SIM facilitators participated over two sessions. The new facility received mean (+/- SD) and median five-point Likert scale scores of 4.4 (+/- 0.8) and 5 for ability of clinical staff to perform resuscitations. The respective scores for ability of simulated scenarios to prepare staff for new ED function were 4.6 (+/- 0.5) and 5, compared with 4.2 (+/- 1.0) and 4 for non-SIM orientation (p = 0.22; not significant). Problems with equipment location, inadequate procedural surfaces, and insufficient orientation were discovered and rapidly corrected. CONCLUSIONS: Transportable SIM was used to evaluate the clinical functions of a new ED. Significant operational issues identified by participants were corrected before opening of the facility. Limited comparison did not reveal SIM enhancement of orientation.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2006

The impact of state community benefit laws on the community health orientation and health promotion services of hospitals.

This study examined the effect of state community benefit laws and guidelines on the community health orientation and the provision of hospital-based health promotion services in hospitals. The sample included all not-for-profit and investor-owned acute-care hospitals in the United States during the year 2000. Multiple regression procedures were used to test the effect of community benefit laws and type of ownership while controlling for organizational and environmental variables. The results of these procedures indicated that, on average, not-for-profit hospitals in the ten states with community benefit laws/guidelines reported significantly more community health orientation activities than did not-for-profit hospitals in the forty other states. The results of the multiple regression procedures also indicated that, on average, the investor-owned hospitals in the ten states with laws/guidelines reported significantly more community health orientation activities than did the investor-owned hospitals in the forty other states. The study found that community benefit laws had the effect of decreasing ownership-related differences in reported community health orientation activities. Further, Levene's test of equality of variance showed that the not-for-profit hospitals in community benefit states exhibited significantly lower variance in the community health orientation activities when compared with the not-for-profit hospitals in non-community benefit states. However, none of the statistical tests supported the hypotheses that community benefit laws compelled or induced hospitals to offer significantly more health promotion services. The study concluded that coercive measures such as community benefit laws were effective in compelling not-for-profit hospitals to report increased community orientation activities, and it also concluded that the mimetic pressures associated with these laws were effective in inducing investor-owned hospitals to report increased community orientation activities.

Community-Institutional Relations↗
PubMed1996

The flexible migratory orientation system of the savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

The orientation system of the Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is typical of nocturnal migrant passerine birds. It is based on a system of interacting compass senses: magnetic, star, polarized light and, perhaps, sun compasses. The magnetic compass capability develops in birds that have never seen the sky, but the preferred direction of magnetic orientation may be calibrated by celestial rotation (stars at night and polarized skylight patterns during the day). This ability to recalibrate magnetic orientation persists throughout life and enables the bird to compensate for variability in magnetic declination that may be encountered as it migrates. The polarized light compass may be manipulated by exposing young birds to altered patterns of skylight polarization. There is some evidence that the magnetic field may be involved in calibration of the polarized light compass. In short-term orientation decision-making during migration, visual information at sunset overrides both stars and magnetic cues, and polarized skylight is the relevant stimulus in dusk orientation. The star pattern compass seems to be of little importance. This extremely flexible orientation system enables the birds to respond to spatial and temporal variability in the quality and availability of orientation information.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

The geographical scale factor in orientation of migrating birds

Migration routes of birds throw light on orientation performance at different geographic scales, over distances ranging from a few kilometres to more than 104 km. Detailed knowledge about the flight routes may be used to test predictions about optimal orientation according to theoretical principles and about the use of compasses based on celestial or magnetic cues. Ringing recoveries demonstrate that the migratory journey of many species, such as the wheatear and willow warbler, is divided into successive legs with different main orientation. Autumn and spring migration routes are often different, sometimes diverging on a continental scale. Aerial radiotracking of whooping cranes in North America and satellite tracking of brent geese migrating from Iceland across the Greenland ice cap point to the significant role of large-scale topography for the shaping of migration routes. Compass and position control are also required, e.g. during long passages across featureless sea or ice, but how these elements are integrated into the birds' orientation system remains unclear. Radar studies from the Arctic Ocean illustrate the importance of map projections for interpreting flight paths and suggest that birds accomplish approximate great circle orientation. Gradual course changes shown by migrating knots monitored by radar in Scandinavia are at variance with expected changes if the birds were to use a star, sun or magnetic compass over longer distances. Accurate recording of short flight segments shows how flying birds respond to visual, audible and electromagnetic cues, and also documents orientation precision and capacity to integrate rapidly shifting courses into a consistent resulting orientation. Analyses of flight patterns are crucial for understanding how birds find and follow their migration routes over different ranges of geographical scale.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Evidence for orientation using the e-vector direction of polarised light in the sleepy lizard tiliqua rugosa

Adult sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) were trained to orient in a predictable direction under natural sky light in outdoor pens. When tested under clear skies in the late afternoon, without a view of the sun, the lizards exhibited a symmetrical bimodal pattern of orientation with respect to the trained axis. Since the e-vector of polarised light provides an axial rather than a polar cue, the bimodal orientation exhibited by the lizards is consistent with the use of a celestial compass based on sky polarisation patterns. To confirm that the lizards could orient with respect to a polarisation pattern, lizards were trained in indoor pens to orient in a predictable direction under a linearly polarised light source. When tested in a circular arena illuminated by another polarised light source, the lizards used the e-vector direction of the polarised light source to orient along the trained axis. There was no evidence that the lizards were using any room-specific cues or brightness patterns to orient in the training direction. These results support the hypothesis that the lizards can use the e-vector direction of polarised light in the form of a sky polarisation compass.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1978

The relationship of assumption and knowledge of the homosexual orientation to the abridgment of civil liberties.

This article is concerned with the relationship of assumption or knowledge of departure from the heterosexual orientation to the abridgment of civil liberties. The methodology for obtaining data on sexual orientation is described. The definitions for assumption and knowledge of sexual orientation is described. The definitions for assumption and knowledge of sexual orientation are provided. The results indicated that: (a) the most frequently violated civil liberties were equality and procedural due process; (b) there was more assumption than knowledge of sexual orientation; (c) patterns of violations of civil liberties were similar whether sexual orientation was known or assumed; and (d) there was much more use of avoidance than any other mode of resolution, both when the sexual orientation was known and when it was assumed.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Why we cannot conclude that sexual orientation is primarily a biological phenomenon.

While all mental phenomena must have an ultimate biological substrate, the precise contribution of biological factors to the development of sexual orientation remains to be elucidated. Does biology merely provide the slate of neural circuitry upon which sexual orientation is inscribed by experience? Do biological factors directly wire the brain so that it will support a particular orientation? Or do biological factors influence sexual orientation only indirectly, perhaps by influencing personality variables that in turn influence how one interacts with and shapes the environment as it contributes to the social relationships and experiences that shape sexual orientation as it emerges developmentally? Recent neurostructural and genetic linkage evidence pertaining to sexual orientation must be viewed tentatively until it has been adequately corroborated and integrated with psychological and cultural models. Moreover, even a reliable and robust correlation between a biological marker and sexual orientation would be equally compatible with the second and third possibilities delineated above. Yet if the third possibility more closely approximates reality, the search for predisposing biological factors will result in incomplete and misleading findings until their interactions with environmental factors are taken into account and controlled for in adequate longitudinal studies.

Animals↗