Spatiotemporal visual statistics of aquatic environments in the natural habitats of zebrafish.

Animal sensory systems are tightly adapted to the demands of their environment. In the visual domain, research has shown that many species have circuits and systems that exploit statistical regularities in natural visual signals. The zebrafish is a popular model animal in visual neuroscience, but relatively little quantitative data is available about the visual properties of the aquatic habitats where zebrafish reside, as compared to terrestrial environments.

Optic flow in the natural habitats of zebrafish supports spatial biases in visual self-motion estimation.

Animals benefit from knowing if and how they are moving. Across the animal kingdom, sensory information in the form of optic flow over the visual field is used to estimate self-motion. However, different species exhibit strong spatial biases in how they use optic flow.

Source characterization and health risks of BTEX in indoor/outdoor air during winters at a terai precinct of North India.

BTEX are the consistently found air contaminants in indoor and outdoor environments. In order to investigate the exposure levels of BTEX, the indoor and outdoor air was analyzed during winter season at homes located at four selected sites of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, which comprised residential, roadside, industrial and agricultural areas. BTEX were sampled with a low-flow pump (SKC model 220).

Exposure levels and health risk assessment of ambient BTX at urban and rural environments of a terai region of northern India.

Benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) belong to an important group of aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are usually emitted from various sources. BTX play a vital role in the tropospheric chemistry as well as pose health hazard to human beings. Thus, an investigation of ambient benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) was conducted at urban and rural sites of Gorakhpur for a span of one year in order to ascertain the contamination levels.

Gaps exist in the current guidance on the use of randomized controlled trial study protocols in systematic reviews.

Objectives: The use of trial registry records and randomized controlled trial (RCT) study protocols can assist systematic reviewers in evaluating and, possibly, minimizing publication and selective reporting biases. This study examined current guidance on the use of registry records and RCT study protocols from key systematic review organizations, institutes, and collaborations.

Study Design And Setting: Handbooks, guidelines, and standard documents from key systematic review organizations and the EQUATOR network database were identified.

Exposure profiles, seasonal variation and health risk assessment of BTEX in indoor air of homes at different microenvironments of a terai province of northern India.

BTEX are known for their ability to deteriorate human health. A monitoring study was conducted at Gorakhpur, for a span of one year. BTEX were sampled by drawing air through activated charcoal tubes, using a low flow SKC model 220 pump.

Setting-based interventions to promote mental health at the university: a systematic review.

Objectives: Universities are dynamic environments. But university life presents challenges that may affect the mental health of its community. Higher education institutions provide opportunities to promote public health.

Exposure profiles of mercury in human hair at a terai belt of North India.

Human hair is frequently used as a bioindicator of mercury exposure. Mercury (Hg) has for centuries been a useful metal in a variety of applications. Unfortunately, this usefulness is counterbalanced by its neurotoxicological health impact.

Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Profile: a preliminary look at responsiveness.

Background: The Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Profile (SCI-FAP) is a valid, reliable measure of walking skill (eg, walking while negotiating obstacles, doors, and stairs).

Objective: The responsiveness of the SCI-FAP was assessed at least 7 months after spinal cord injury (SCI) and compared with that of the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) and the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT).

Design: A secondary analysis of data collected during a randomized, single-blind, crossover trial was performed.

The lived experience of family caregivers who provided end-of-life care to persons with advanced dementia.

Objective: Dementia is a terminal illness, and family caregivers play a vital role in providing end-of-life care to their relative. The present study begins to address the paucity of research regarding end-of-life caregiving experience with dementia.

Method: This study utilized Munhall's methodology for interpretive phenomenology.

Effectiveness of home visiting programs on child outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: The effectiveness of paraprofessional home-visitations on improving the circumstances of disadvantaged families is unclear. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the effectiveness of paraprofessional home-visiting programs on developmental and health outcomes of young children from disadvantaged families.

Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases (e.

Study of air-soil exchange of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the north-central part of India--a semi arid region.

Soil is the major environmental reservoir of organic compounds and soil-air exchange is a key process in governing the environmental fate of these compounds on a regional and global scale. Samples of air and soil were collected to study the levels of PAHs in the air and soil of the Agra region. Concentrations of PAH measured at four locations in the city of Agra, covers industrial, residential, roadside and agricultural areas.

Concentrations, sources, and exposure profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in particulate matter (PM(10)) in the north central part of India.

Airborne particulates (PM(10)) from four different areas within Agra city (a semi-arid region) were collected using respirable dust samplers during the winter season (Nov. 2005-Feb 2006) and were then extracted with methylene chloride using an automated Soxhlet Extraction System (Soxtherm). The extracts were analyzed for 17 target polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the heterocycle carbazole.