[Truncated abstract] Atypical handedness is found to be more prevalent in schizophrenia patients than in psychiatric and normal controls, suggesting atypical brain lateralisation, particularly of regions associated with language. This ‘behavioural aberration’ is commonly considered as a marker of disturbed neurodevelopment, which is usually indexed by minor physical abnormalities. A prevailing view in the literature is that the atypical lateralisation of hand preference provides an additional index for the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia. Consistent with this hypothesis, an atypical lateralisation of hand preferences can also be considered as a consequence of environmental agents that might have interfered with early embryonic development. Notwithstanding the above, an atypical lateralisation of hand preferences can occur as a result of genetic factors as well as an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The overall objective of this thesis was to advance existing knowledge on atypical laterality in schizophrenia by addressing its various (though related) aspects, including measurement, classification and conceptualisation. Atypical lateralisation of hand preferences in schizophrenia patients was approached by five separate studies. ... Overall, this thesis argues that the causes of atypical lateralisation of hand preferences are due to combined genetic and environmental factors and that its use as a marker of vulnerability to schizophrenia is limited. A cautious interpretation of various associations between the laterality and other measures, particularly cognitive measures, is advised until a broad agreement on the true nature of handedness is reached.

Thesis (BEd)-- Stellenbosch University, 1944 / Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Educational Psychology. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Activities such as throwing are, as a rule, carried out only with the better arm. Mostly this one-sided execution is due to mere convenience. If attempts are made to justify it, in the main two arguments are advanced: In the first place, it is taken for granted that the inferior arm cannot make appreciable progress anyway, and it is therefore considered as not worthwhile exercising it. In the second place, it is believed that, if the inferior arm should improve by such a practice, this happens at the expense of efficiency in general, and may have detrimental consequences in some regards or other. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming

DIPOMA THESIS IS CONCERNED IN ISSUES OF LATERALITY, FOCUSED ON LEFT HANDED WRITING. THESIS ACQUAINTS READERS WITH AN INVESTIGATION OF LATERALITY AND INDIVIDUAL TESTS OF UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES AND THE LEADING EYE AND EAR. IT EMPHASIZES THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF SUPPRESSED LEFT HANDED WRITING, THE HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF A LEFT-HANDED CHILD AND THE NEED OF HIS OR HER APPROPRIATE TRAINING. DIPLOMA THESIS CONCERNS IN THE METHODOLOGY OF LEFT-HANDED WRITING. DIPLOMA THESIS POINTS OUT THE PROBLEM AREAS AND COMPARES THE METHODOLOGY OF HOW THE CHILDREN LEARN TO WRITE WITH THEIR LEFT HAND IN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND CLASS AND HOW THE CHILDREN WRITE AT SECONDARY SCHOOL.

The thesis is aimed at comparing the systems of education and work with left-handed pupils in Germany and the USA (and some other selected countries if need be) and subsequent comparison with the attitude to left-handed individuals prevailing in our country. The thesis is based on a good orientation in specialized literature, contemporary textbooks and guides. The objective rests in mapping the phenomenon of left-handedness in selected countries and its subsequent comparison with the situation in the Czech Republic. The final part of the thesis contains a comprehensive analysis of left-handedness in our country and in the world. The thesis shall highlight differences in viewing this phenomenon in its complexity and outline feasibilities of enriching our views on laterality not only in education.

Left-handedness is an invisible handicap in today's classrooms. The education systsem in the United States makes special considerations and accommodations for special needs of students, yet left-handed individuals do not receive much consideration in a mainstream classroom. Experts say that up to twenty percent of children in Canada and the United States are left-handed. This project discusses how these left-handed children have to work in a right-handed world. The focus of this study was to provide right-handed teachers with teaching techniques, positive suggestions, and common sense approaches to accomodate the left-handed pupil.

This thesis deals with the German political party "Die Linke" (The Left). Die Linke was founded in 2007 by merging two different parties, namely Linkspartei.PDS, which was preceded by the ruling party of the GDR, and WASG, composed of West German activists and former party members of the Social Democratic Party. The opening parts contain definitions of basic terminology and a brief history of parties preceding Die Linke. The following sections deal with how the dual history of the party reflects in its organisation, its program and electorate. The party programs are also used to analyze its key program points and their evolution over time. The party's ideology is also examined. This thesis also deals with the current position of Die Linke within the German party system, in terms of both the voters and election results, and relations with other relevant parties.

Increasing diastolic dysfunction (DD) grade is associated with increased heart failure (HF). Patients with preserved ejection fractions and grade 1 DD may have left atrial dilatation, e′ < 8 cm/sec, increased left ventricular (LV) mass, or variable E/e′ ratios. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that LV hypertrophy or E/e′ ratio > 8 may be associated with a greater incidence of HF. Methods Two hundred twelve patients with grade 1 DD and ejection fractions > 50% were retrospectively studied. Group 1 comprised 108 patients with E/A ratios < 0.8, without LV hypertrophy, e′ < 8 cm/sec, and E/e′ ratios < 8. Group 2 comprised 104 patients with LV hypertrophy or E/e′ ratios > 8. Patients with incident HF and valvular or coronary disease were excluded. Using two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography, LV and left atrial volumes and transmitral spectral and tissue Doppler were analyzed. Medical records were examined for laboratory data, HF admissions, and all-cause mortality from 2004 to 2012. Results Despite similar ejection fractions, patients in group 2 had greater LV and left atrial volumes, LV mass index values, and E/e′ ratios (P < .01 for all). HF incidence was greater in group 2 (30 vs 4, P < .001). Combined HF or all-cause mortality was greater in group 2 (46 vs 14, P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that HF was associated with E/e′ ratio (P < .0001), systolic blood pressure (P = .0123), and LV mass index (P = .042). Combined HF or all-cause mortality was associated with E/e′ ratio (P < .0001), LV mass index (P = .009), and lower calcium channel blocker use (P = .0011). Conclusions HF alone or HF and all-cause mortality were increased in patients with grade 1 DD in the presence of LV hypertrophy or elevated LV filling pressures.

Background: Chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) patients demonstrate left ventricular (LV) remodeling with increased LV mass and volume but may have a preserved LV ejection fraction (EF). We hypothesize that in chronic AR, global longitudinal systolic and diastolic function will be reduced despite a preserved LV EF. Methods: We studied with Doppler echocardiography 27 normal subjects, 87 patients with chronic AR with a LV EF > 50% (AR + PEF), 66 patients with an EF < 50% [AR + reduced LV ejection fraction (REF)] and 82 patients with hypertensive heart disease. LV volume, transmitral spectral and tissue Doppler were obtained. Myocardial velocities and their timing and longitudinal strain of the proximal and mid wall of each of the 3 apical views were obtained. Results: As compared to normals, global longitudinal strain was reduced in AR + PEF (13.8 ± 4.0%) and AR + REF (11.4 ±4.7%) vs. normals (18.4 ± 3.6%, both p < 0.001). As an additional comparison group for AR + PEF, global longitudinal strain was reduced as compared to patients with hypertensive heart disease (p = 0.032). The average peak diastolic annular velocity (e’) was decreased in AR + PEF (6.9 ± 3.3 cm/s vs. 13.4 ± 2.6 cm/s, p < 0.001) and AR + REF (4.8 ± 2.1 cm/s, p < 0.001). Peak rapid filling velocity/e’ (E/e’) was increased in both AR + PEF (14.4 ± 6.2 vs. 6.2 ± 1.3, p < 0.001) and AR + REF (18.8 ± 6.4, p <0.001 vs. normals). Independent correlates of global longitudinal strain (r = 0.6416, p < 0.001) included EF (p < 0.0001), E/e’ (p < 0.0001), and tricuspid regurgitation velocity (p = 0.0176). Conclusion: With chronic AR, there is impaired longitudinal function despite preserved EF. Moreover, global longitudinal strain was well correlated with noninvasive estimated LV filling pressures and pulmonary systolic arterial pressures.

京都大学 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(医学) / 乙第13585号 / 論医博第2305号 / 新制||医||1070(附属図書館) / (主査)教授 石見 拓, 教授 古川 壽亮, 教授 近藤 尚己 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

In this work, we produce several prediction models for aspects of hospital emergency departments. Firstly, we demonstrate the use of a recurrent neural network to predict the rate of patient arrival at a hospital emergency department. The prediction is made on a per hour basis using date, time, calendar, and weather information. Then, we present our comparison of two prediction systems on the task of replicating the human decisions of patient admittance in a typical American emergency department. Again, a recurrent neural network (RNN) was trained to learn the task of selecting the next patient from the waiting room/queue to be admitted for treatment. Lastly, we present our attempt to produce a regression model that can predict the likelihood that a given patient will leave after waiting a specific amount of time in the emergency department’s waiting-room/queue. Such a model could be used to optimize the patient’s waiting-room/queue of an ED to minimize the likelihood of patients leaving without receiving care.