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A Swedish interview study of how deaf pupils reason about phenomena in a science context revealed significant variation in the extent to which pupils used scientific principles for reasoning about science phenomena, which suggests that for some pupils, school science offers little as a framework for reasoning. (Contains references.) (DB)

Cross-modal transfer was investigated within the verbal mediation paradigm A-B, B-C, A-C. In the first stage the subjects learned to associate OVO syllables with three-dimensional ceramic objects, which were presented either visually or tactually. In stage III transfer was tested by presenting the objects in the one of the two modalities which was not used during the first stage learning. Verbal mediation was found to be an effective aid in the transfer of information between the two sensory modalities. It was also found that an interference effect could be obtained in stage II, although non-verbal stimuli were used in stage I. Transfer appeared to be larger when training started tactually and was tested visually than vice versa. It is suggested that this asymmetric effect is caused by differential verbal mediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a eulogy for the late psychologist Mats Bjorkman who died in 2001. Career achievements; Academic background.

Abstract Background The anaerobic spirochetes Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Brachyspira pilosicoli cause diarrheal diseases in pigs. Their fastidious nature has hampered standardization of methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. For monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility wild type cutoff values are needed to define where the wild type distribution of MICs ends and no approved cutoffs are available for Brachyspira spp. In this study antimicrobial susceptibility data for both species (in total 906 isolates) were compiled and analyzed and wild type cut off values for B. hyodysenteriae proposed. Methods The MICs of tiamulin, valnemulin, tylosin, tylvalosin, doxycycline and lincomycin were determined by broth dilution in brain heart infusion broth supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. Results The compiled MICs from the broth dilution tests of the B. hyodysenteriae type strain, B78T (ATCC® 27164T), showed that the method yields reproducible results. In an international perspective the frequencies of isolates with decreased antimicrobial susceptibility were low among both B. hyodysenteriae and B. pilosicoli. However, in B. pilosicoli a constant level of 10-15% isolates with tiamulin MICs >4 μg/ml was detected between 2002 and 2010 and in B. hyodysenteriae a gradual increase in tiamulin MICs was seen between 1990 and 2003 although this increase has ceased during the last years. The wild type cutoff values proposed for B. hyodysenteriae are: tiamulin >0.25 μg/ml, valnemulin >0.125 μg/ml, tylosin >16 μg/ml, tylvalosin >1 μg/ml, lincomycin >1 μg/ml and doxycycline >0.5 μg/ml. Conclusions The broth dilution method used in this study has over the years generated tightly grouped MIC populations for the field isolates and reproducible results for the control strain B78T and is therefore a suitable antimicrobial susceptibility test method for monitoring of Brachyspira spp. Here we propose wild type cutoff values for six antimicrobial agents for B. hyodysenteriae tested by broth dilution based on MIC distributions and the current knowledge on mechanisms of resistance in this species. There are few studies on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and MIC distributions in B. pilosicoli but to some extent the cutoff values proposed for B. hyodysenteriae may be applicable also for monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility in B. pilosicoli.

Introduction: Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) has emerged among pigs in many countries. MRSA in the pig population constitute a reservoir with risk for transmission to humans in close contact with pigs. Absence of MRSA in the top of the breeding pyramid would prevent spread to the rest of the pig population. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of MRSA in nucleus and multiplying pig herds in Sweden. Materials and methods: All nucleus and multiplying pig herds in Sweden present in 2011 ( n  = 53) and 2014 ( n  = 39) were sampled for MRSA. Results and discussion: MRSA was not detected either in 2011 or in 2014. That MRSA was not detected in the top of the breeding pyramid indicates a favourable MRSA situation in the Swedish pig population. A bbreviations: MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; LA-MRSA: livestock-associated MRSA; CC: clonal complex.

Background: Respiratory illness is traditionally regarded as the disease of the growing pig, and has historically mainly been associated to bacterial infections with focus on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. These bacteria still are of great importance, but continuously increasing herd sizes have complicated the scenario and the influence of secondary invaders may have been increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of A. pleuropneumoniae and M. hyopneumoniae, as well as that of the secondary invaders Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus suis by serology in four pig herds (A-D) using age segregated rearing systems with high incidences of pleuritic lesions at slaughter., Results: Pleuritic lesions registered at slaughter ranged from 20.5 to 33.1 % in the four herds. In herd A, the levels of serum antibodies to A. pleuropneumoniae exceeded A 450  > 1.5, but not to any other microbe searched for. The seroconversion took place early during the fattening period. Similar levels of serum antibodies to A. pleuropneumoniae were also recorded in herd B, with a subsequent increase in levels of antibodies to P. multocida. Pigs seroconverted to both agents during the early phase of the fattening period. In herd C, pigs seroconverted to P. multocida during the early phase of the fattening period and thereafter to A. pleuropneumoniae. In herd D, the levels of antibodies to P. multocida exceeded A 450  > 1.0 in absence (A 450  < 0.5) of antibodies to A. pleuropneumoniae. The levels of serum antibodies to M. hyopneumoniae and to S. suis remained below A 450  < 1.0 in all four herds. Pigs seroconverted to M. hyopneumoniae late during the rearing period (herd B-D), or not at all (herd A)., Conclusion: Different serological patterns were found in the four herds with high levels of serum antibodies to A. pleuropneumoniae and P. multocida, either alone or in combination with each other. Seroconversion to M. hyopneumoniae late during the rearing period or not at all, confirmed the positive effect of age segregated rearing in preventing or delaying infections with M. hyopneumoniae. The results obtained highlight the necessity of diagnostic investigations to define the true disease pattern in herds with a high incidence of pleuritic lesions.

Studies investigating the regulation of force of motor actions are scarce, and particularly so in the area of sports. This is surprising, considering that in most sports precise force is of great importance. The current study demonstrates how a psychophysical scale, the Borg CR100 scale(®) (Borg and Borg, 2001), can be used to assess subjective force as well as regulate force in putting. Psychophysical functions were calculated on the relationships between judgments of force using the CR100 scale and the length of putting shots, examined in a laboratory setting, where 44 amateur golfers played on both flat and uphill surfaces. High agreement and consistency between CR 100 ratings and distances putted was demonstrated. No significant differences in handling the scale were observed between younger (mean age ≈37 years) and older (mean age ≈69 years) players or between players of different skill level. This study provides a new innovative use of an existing instrument, the Borg CR 100 scale(®), in order to understand the regulation of force needed for putts of various lengths and surfaces. These results and the potential future benefits of the psychophysical approach in golf are discussed.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequency of errors in panoramic radiographs in young orthodontic patients, to register pathologic and abnormal conditions, and to compare these findings with the patient's record. A total of 1287 panoramic radiographs of children and adolescents (530 boys and 757 girls; mean age 14.2 years) were analyzed. The radiographs were obtained of patients referred for orthodontic treatment during a 1 year period. Four observers evaluated the radiographs for 10 common errors, pathologies, and/or anomalies. Cohen's kappa was used for the calculations of inter- and intraobserver variability. Five of the errors were divided into clinically relevant or not clinically relevant errors, i.e. errors influencing diagnosis. Only those pathological findings with a possible influence on orthodontic treatment were compared with the patient's record. Of the 1287 radiographs, 96 per cent had errors. The number of errors in each image varied between 1 and 5, and in 24 per cent of these images, the errors could be of importance for clinical decision making. The most common error was that the tongue was not in contact with the hard palate. Pathologies or anomalies were found in 558 patients and a total of 1221 findings were recorded. Findings of possible relevance for orthodontic treatment were 63, and 12 of those were registered in the patient records. Pathological findings outside the dental arches were low and could be an argument for minimizing the radiation field.

The present study assesses and evaluates the psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the Job Stress Survey (JSS; Spielberger, 1991; Spielberger & Vagg, 1999). This instrument is constructed to measure generic sources of occupational stress encountered by employees in a wide variety of work settings, settings that often result in psychological strain. The JSS was administered to metal assembly industry workers and medical service personnel in northern Sweden (n= 1186). The exploratory factor analysis showed that there is a high similarity between the present Swedish version and the original American version. Internal reliabilities of the scales, as well as test-retest reliabilities were shown to be high, and concurrent validity, as examined by comparisons with the Perceived Stress Questionnaire Index (Levenstein et al., 1993) was found to be satisfactory. The consistency of these findings is discussed with particular focus on groups of employees, gender, and cross-cultural evaluations.

Objectives: Content-based access (CBA) to medical image archives, i.e. data retrieval by means of image-based numerical features computed automatically, has capabilities to improve diagnostics, research and education. In this study, the applicability of CBA methods in dentomaxillofacial radiology is evaluated., Methods: Recent research has discovered numerical features that were successfully applied for an automatic categorization of radiographs. In our experiments, oral and maxillofacial radiographs were obtained from the day-to-day routine of a university hospital and labelled by an experienced dental radiologist regarding the technique and direction of imaging, as well as the displayed anatomy and biosystem. In total, 2000 radiographs of 71 classes with at least 10 samples per class were analysed. A combination of co-occurrence-based texture features and correlation-based similarity measures was used in leaving-one-out experiments for automatic classification. The impact of automatic detection and separation of multi-field images and automatic separability of biosystems were analysed., Results: Automatic categorization yielded error rates of 23.20%, 7.95% and 4.40% with respect to a correct match within the first, fifth and tenth best returns. These figures improved to 23.05%, 7.00%, 4.20%, and 20.05%, 5.65% and 3.25% if automatic decomposition was applied and the classifier was optimized to the dentomaxillofacial imagery, respectively. The dentulous and implant systems were difficult to distinguish. Experiments on non-dental radiographs (10,000 images of 57 classes) yielded 12.6%, 5.6% and 3.6%., Conclusion: Using the same numerical features as in medical radiology, oral and maxillofacial radiographs can be reliably indexed by global texture features for CBA and data mining.

The present study aimed at comparing participants with and without self reported musculoskeletal pain in a normal population with regard to performance on a range of tests for episodic memory, semantic memory, and other cognitive functions and to see if expected differences interacted with age. The results showed that participants with pain performed worse on a range of tasks as compared to participants without pain, and that these differences occurred regardless of age. The most robust effects of pain were displayed on tests for vocabulary and construction ability as these were the only effects that remained significant after controlling for years of education and reported depression in separate analyses. When depression and education were controlled for in the same analysis, even these effects were eliminated, suggesting interplay between pain, depressive status, and educational level in the negative effects on cognitive functioning.

Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to compare the image quality of a storage phosphor system with that of conventional film-screen in pre-implant conventional tomography, and to test the influence of radiation dose on image quality in the storage phosphor system., Methods: Cross-sectional conventional tomographic images (Scanora) technique) were obtained on 11 patients with film-screen and with storage phosphor image plates (Digora) PCT) at normal and low doses. Ten observers graded the visibility of anatomical structures of importance for implant planning. A three-step rating scale was used, where -1 =worse, 0=equal and 1=better than the reference image., Results: Although image quality was graded as equally good in the majority (59%) of images, the storage phosphor system scored significantly lower than film-screen (-0.37 vs 0.00, respectively) for all the images. Low dose storage phosphor images were rated significantly lower (-0.21) than normal dose images (0.00)., Conclusions: In the majority of patients, anatomic structures of importance for implant planning are visualized equally well on storage phosphor and film-screen images. However, where differences do exist, storage phosphor images score lower than film-screen images. Dose reduction in the storage phosphor system had a negative influence on image quality.

A total of 128 male and female university students having Swedish as their mother tongue rated 439 actions on a 7-point scale in the dimensions of Familiarity, Emotionality, Motor Activity, and Memorability under instructions to imagine themselves performing each action (e.g., "to roll a ball", "to break a match"). Overall mean ratings were higher for women than for men in all four dimensions. High reliabilities were obtained in each scale. Intercorrelations between the dimensions were low to moderate, indicating that different characteristics of the actions were assessed. It is demonstrated that the ratings of the four dimensions are in agreement with previous categorisations of actions along the same or similar dimensions and with findings related to memory performance. Furthermore, control studies performed on the Familiarity dimension show that norm values are highly correlated with ratings given by participants in standard enacting and nonenacting conditions and with ratings in a condition where objects were present. These norms offer possibilities to control for and vary item characteristics of importance in the study of actions and the memory of actions.

Panoramic radiography was studied with the aim to answer some questions about technical and diagnostic properties regarding dental diagnostics. A unit with an intraoral X-ray tube was studied regarding radiation beam area, absorbed doses, and image quality for various screen-film combinations. The beam area for lateral views was wider than optimal and the contact dose high. Modifications of shielding cylinders would reduce both radiation beam and contact dose. One screen-film combination was most sensitive and produced radiographs with best subjectively perceived image quality. Agreement between panoramic (rotational and intraoral X-ray tube techniques) and intraoral radiography in diagnosis of periapical pathology, assessment of marginal bone height, and caries diagnosis was evaluated in 400 patients. Average agreement between panoramic and intraoral radiographs in periapical diagnosis was 55% for the rotational and 46% for the intraoral tube technique. Agreement in marginal bone height was 55% and 49%, respectively and in caries diagnosis 34% and 46%. Radiographs from 40 patients were used to evaluate a procedure starting with rotational panoramic radiography followed by intraoral radiographs considered necessary to achieve a comprehensive examination of teeth and surrounding bone. The number of intraoral radiographs, information loss, and monetary costs with this procedure were evaluated. Mean number of adjunct intraoral radiographs was 5.1 per patient whilst 8.5 should have been chosen to satisfy a "gold standard" used. Monetary costs were similar for an optimal combination of panoramic and intraoral radiography as for a survey with 20 intraoral images Sensitivity for a combination of radiographs was 80-96% in periapical diagnosis and marginal bone loss assessment, and 42-96% in caries diagnosis. Specificity was 95-97% for periapical and caries diagnosis and 50-92% for marginal bone loss. Radiographs from six conventional units and two programs ("dental" and "jaw" panorama) of a new multi-modal unit were compared in diagnostic quality of periapical and crestal bone areas. Number of adjunct intraoral radiographs to achieve a comprehensive evaluation of periapical and marginal bone was estimated. Quality of the "dental" panorama was significantly better than that of other machines/programs. There were no significant differences between images obtained with conventional units and the "jaw" panorama. Number of adjunct intraoral radiographs was lowest for the "dental" panorama. Quality obtained with an old unit was similar to that from modern machines. Rotational and intraoral X-ray tube panoramic radiography perform equally well. Agreement between panoramic and intraoral radiography is not sufficient for panoramic radiography to be used alone to diagnose periapical lesions, marginal bone loss and caries. It is possible to perform a full-mouth survey with a combination of panoramic and intraoral radiography but when limited regions need to be examined intraoral radiography is the method of choice.

It has been suggested that information from the panoramic radiograph makes it possible to appropriately select supplementary intraoral radiographs to achieve a comprehensive examination of teeth and surrounding bone with less patient dose but no significant information loss. Number of intraoral radiographs selected, information loss and monetary costs with such a procedure was evaluated in 40 patients. Results show that, on average, 5.1 intraoral radiographs were selected to supplement the panoramic radiograph. Of these, 3.1 contained information different from that in the panoramic radiograph but 2.0 did not. An additional 3.4 ought to have been taken to reach the result of the 'gold standard' achieved from a simultaneous evaluation by two expert observers of panoramic radiographs and full mouth surveys with intraoral radiographs. Sensitivity for the combined use of panoramic and supplementary intraoral radiographs was high (80-96%, depending on type of teeth) as regards periapical lesions and marginal bone loss but low for caries (42-96%). Specificity was high for periapical lesions and caries (95-97%) but low for marginal bone loss (50-92%). In Sweden, patient costs become almost the same for a combination of panoramic radiography and 8.5 intraoral radiographs as for a full mouth survey comprising 20 intraoral radiographs. The radiation dose reduction is 40-50% considering that the dose from a panoramic radiograph approximately corresponds to 2-4 intraoral radiographs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Because of the increase in panoramic radiography it is important to know if image quality has improved with recent technical developments and if there are differences between the different machines that can justify the difference in price. Six conventional panoramic units and the two panoramic programs (dental and jaw panorama) of the Scanora (Soredex, Orion Corporation Ltd, Helsinki, Finland) multi-modal unit were compared by evaluating the radiographs for subjective image quality and estimating the number of additional intra-oral radiographs necessary for a comprehensive evaluation of the periapical and periodontal bone status. Patients ranging in age from 40 to 60 years with teeth in all four quadrants were selected at random and radiographed with each machine or program. Thirty matching radiographs were selected from our archives in order to evaluate one machine (Orthopantomograph 5, Siemens AG, Bensheim, Germany) which was no longer in use. Seven oral radiologists scored the image quality of between 34 and 36 of the 240 radiographs on a 4-point scale and recorded the additional radiographs needed. The results showed that the mean score for the Scanora dental panorama was significantly higher than mean scores for the other machines/programs for both the periapical and crestal bone. The mean scores for the conventional machines and the Scanora jaw panorama program were not significantly different from each other. The image quality of radiographs obtained with the Orthopantomograph 5 was similar to that attained with the more modern machines. The mean number of additional intra-oral radiographs was lowest for the Scanora dental panorama. We conclude that the Scanora dental panorama program provided the best subjective image quality.

Panoramic and intraoral radiographs from 400 consecutive patients were compared for their ability to demonstrate periapical pathology and caries. Two hundred panoramic radiographs were exposed with the rotational technique and 200 with the intraoral X-ray tube technique. Periapical osteolytic and sclerotic lesions as well as approximal caries were recorded independently by two observes. Agreement with intraoral radiographs for periapical osteolytic lesions was, on average, 63% for the rotational and 55% for the intraoral X-ray tube technique and for sclerotic lesions 40% and 36%, respectively. The agreement varied with tooth type and lesion size. When teeth without periapical lesions were also included in the comparisons, the values for agreement were over 96%. Interobserver agreement for periapical osteolytic lesions was 61% for the rotational and 56% for the intraoral X-ray tube technique. The corresponding values for sclerotic lesions were 29% and 23%. Intraobserver agreement for periapical osteolytic lesions was 71% for the rotational and 67% for the intraoral X-ray tube technique. The corresponding values for sclerotic lesions were 46% and 56%. Agreement with intraoral radiographs for enamel caries was, on average, 21% for the rotational and 27% for the intraoral X-ray tube technique and for dentinal lesions 44% and 53%, respectively. When caries-free approximal surfaces were also included in the comparisons, the values for agreement were over 95%. It is concluded that panoramic and intraoral radiography perform equally well as diagnostic tools for the detection of periapical lesions, although the results are not identical.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Panoramic and intra-oral radiographs from 400 consecutive patients were evaluated for the assessment of the marginal bone height. Two hundred panoramic radiographs were exposed with the rotational technique and 200 with the intra-oral X-ray tube technique. Measurements of the approximal marginal bone level were independently performed by two observers. Complete agreement between panoramic and intra-oral radiographs was, on average, obtained in 55% and 49% of the sites, respectively. When the criterion for agreement was widened to include recordings with a difference of +/- 1 mm, the agreement was on average 87% irrespective of the techniques compared. The agreement varied with tooth type and severity of the marginal bone loss. Angular bony defects and furcation involvements were recorded separately. For angular bony defects there was a variation in agreement from 33% to 46% for the rotational technique and from 35% to 51% for the intra-oral X-ray tube technique depending on localization. Furcation involvements of the molars were equally recorded in 60% and 59%, respectively, but in only 12% and 28% for the upper premolars. Interobserver agreement was 58% for the intra-oral radiographs, 60% and 59% for the two panoramic techniques. Mean intra-observer agreement was 68%, 66% and 68%. It is concluded that panoramic radiography can often be used for the assessment of marginal bone loss alone, supplemented when necessary by intra-oral radiographs.

Highly skilled miniature golf players were examined on a simplified miniature golf task under different instructional conditions. Results indicated that requirements to attend to a variety of technical aspects of the game during preparation impaired motor performance, whereas providing players with those aspects of the game they reported thinking of did not affect motor performance. Data on concentration time and perceived difficulty indicated that increasing cognitive demands were associated with a decline in motor precision. The overall pattern of results was interpreted such that attention directed at technical aspects of the game interfered with the players' normal cognitive activity. Susceptibility to interference is a characteristic feature of controlled cognitive operations. Thus, the present results are consistent with the view that conscious cognitive activity may support motor behavior also at late stages of skill development.

Young (M = 27.8 years) and older (M = 53.2 years) highly skilled miniature golf players were observed in competitions in which the background noise was either tape-recorded traffic sounds or a radio broadcasting a soccer game. Varying in meaningfulness, the two conditions were examples of types of noise which prevail during normal competitive activity in miniature golf. Measures of motor performance, arousal, and memory for shots were registered. Results showed that players played less well and remembered fewer shots under the radio broadcasting condition than in the traffic noise condition; whereas younger players performed equally well for both measures in both noise conditions. In neither age group was the level of arousal affected by type of noise. The results suggest that there may be an age-related impairment in selective attention situations, and, in contrast to past findings, also when the task does not demand that the irrelevant noise stimuli be searched. A claim is made that the benefit of domain-specific expertise in older people is reduced in situations of high arousal or increased cognitive demands.

Younger and older highly skilled and moderately skilled miniature golf players were studied in training and competition. All of the players showed an increase of heart rate and rated anxiety from training to competition. A performance decline in competition was observed for both older players and less accomplished players. Results from a cognitive task (incidental recall of shots) suggest that older players are less proficient in coping with the high-stress conditions in competition, due to an age-related decline in task-relevant cognitive abilities.

Recently discovered metabolites in urine have suggested a defect of isoprenoid metabolism in multiple sclerosis. Lymphocyte HMG-CoA reductase was found unaffected however, and so was lymphocyte biosynthesis of geraniol, farnesol and squalene from mevalonolactone. The level of dolichol in white matter of an MS brain was similar to that of a control sample. Serum ubiquinone, on the other hand, was decreased in multiple sclerosis. Ubiquinone in serum was both age-dependent and related to serum cholesterol. Active as well as stable MS displayed a decreased level of serum ubiquinone, and a reduced ubiquinone-cholesterol ratio. These results are compatible with a deficient ubiquinone biosynthesis in multiple sclerosis.

Three field experiments are reported in which skilled miniature golf players varying in age were studied in three types of activities: training, minor competitions, and large competitions. Performance (i.e., number of shots) and arousal (heart rate and subjective ratings of anxiety) measures were registered in all types of activities. The major finding was that the level of performance of older adult players deteriorated in the large competitions, whereas groups of younger adult players, junior players, and youth players performed at the same level in all three events, although all of the groups exhibited a similar increase in arousal from training and minor competitions to large competitions. We suggest that older players may have a deficit in the ability to compensate for the negative effects of nonoptimal levels of arousal because of impairments in a variety of cognitive abilities critical to successful performance.