title: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Call for Better Data

authors: Wilson, Marcus T.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly used to treat stroke, Parkinson's disease and depression (Fregni et al., 2005; Loo and Mitchell, 2005; Hallet, 2007; O'Reardon et al., 2007; Ridding and Rothwell, 2007). rTMS uses bursts of magnetic pulses to change the excitability and connection strengths of cortical neurons. However, the evidence to inform clinical application is highly inconsistent (Thut and Pascual-Leone, 2010; Hamada et al., 2013) and substantially based on trial and error. Systematic theory is lacking. Typically, in rTMS research, measurements of motor-evoked potential (MEP) are made, often in terms of the strength of the MEP and the length of the cortical silent period that follows. However, the MEP is probably a poor and certainly an indirect measure of changes in the brain (Nicolo et al., 2015), clouding our understanding of rTMS mechanisms. In practice, therefore, particular amplitudes and timing of pulses in an rTMS sequence are selected because they show promise in small subsets of people. However, even basics such as the sign of any change in the outcome measure (e.g., does the MEP increase or decrease?) is debated. Many results show a wide spread in responses. It has become common to talk about “responders” and “non-responders” although evidence for a binary distinction in these two groups is lacking—in reality there is usually a continuum of response often including potentiation in some and depression in others (Nettekoven et al., 2015). Moreover, Héroux et al. (2015) provide evidence that the irreproducibility of results may be due to small sample sizes, unscientific screening of subjects and data, and selective reporting of results.

text: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Call for Better Data Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly used to treat stroke, Parkinson's disease and depression (Fregni et al., 2005; Loo and Mitchell, 2005; Hallet, 2007; O'Reardon et al., 2007; Ridding and Rothwell, 2007). rTMS uses bursts of magnetic pulses to change the excitability and connection strengths of cortical neurons. However, the evidence to inform clinical application is highly inconsistent (Thut and Pascual-Leone, 2010; Hamada et al., 2013) and substantially based on trial and error. Systematic theory is lacking. Typically, in rTMS research, measurements of motor-evoked potential (MEP) are made, often in terms of the strength of the MEP and the length of the cortical silent period that follows. However, the MEP is probably a poor and certainly an indirect measure of changes in the brain (Nicolo et al., 2015), clouding our understanding of rTMS mechanisms. In practice, therefore, particular amplitudes and timing of pulses in an rTMS sequence are selected because they show promise in small subsets of people. However, even basics such as the sign of any change in the outcome measure (e.g., does the MEP increase or decrease?) is debated. Many results show a wide spread in responses. It has become common to talk about “responders” and “non-responders” although evidence for a binary distinction in these two groups is lacking—in reality there is usually a continuum of response often including potentiation in some and depression in others (Nettekoven et al., 2015). Moreover, Héroux et al. (2015) provide evidence that the irreproducibility of results may be due to small sample sizes, unscientific screening of subjects and data, and selective reporting of results.

year: 2016

title: Wine maturation using high electric field

authors: Talele, Sadhana

subjects: Electric field

abstract: Wine maturation can take a long time and consumes storage space which can be a drawback while considering commercial aspect of wine making. In the past scientists have carried out experiments on maturing wine quickly using ultrasounds or gamma radiations. This study reports about maturing wine with high electric field at different frequencies applied for a short time duration. The electric field intensity and the frequency of the field along with the exposure time of wine to this field seem to be important parameters that could affect the the treated wine. Results obtained are encouraging and have a potential for commercial interest.

text: Wine maturation using high electric field Wine maturation can take a long time and consumes storage space which can be a drawback while considering commercial aspect of wine making. In the past scientists have carried out experiments on maturing wine quickly using ultrasounds or gamma radiations. This study reports about maturing wine with high electric field at different frequencies applied for a short time duration. The electric field intensity and the frequency of the field along with the exposure time of wine to this field seem to be important parameters that could affect the the treated wine. Results obtained are encouraging and have a potential for commercial interest.

year: 2013

title: A path to lotions and potions: Ngāti te Maunga ahi kā use of rongoā for hapū wellbeing

authors: Diamond, Kiri

subjects: rongoā

abstract: The research aimed to determine the challenges and improvements required during the implementation of the rongoā programme. The rongoā programme was based on a papakāinga near a marae, in a semi-rural location with difficult access. Participatory action research and autoethnography methods were used with the ahi kā (local residence) to develop a programme that would fulfil the hapū ora (extended family wellbeing) goals.  The goals of the programme were: for the ahi kā to use rongoā (modalities of health) confidently for their wellbeing; consistently use a Facebook page to learn and share information and to develop a database of the local rongoā rākau (medicinal plant). The ahi kā identified a further question to ask Facebook members to understand what motivated their participation and a survey was conducted. The ahi kā also wanted to understand the local doctor’s view on rongoā and its context on health provision in their area. An interview was conducted and the survey and interview added to the understanding of what the ahi kā could do to improve theirs and the hapū whānau (group extended family) wellbeing.
The findings of the research highlighted the complexities that arise from conducting research in a bicultural space where a common understanding of cultural knowledge is assumed to be homogenous. A shared history with colonisation and religious beliefs brought to the forefront the multiplicity Māori work through to determine a shared hapū identity. Based on an understanding of Māori principle values and tikanga (ways of enacting values), as understood by ahi kā, transformed a programme of learning how to make lotions and potions for the ahi kā, into influencing hapū members to change their attitudes and behaviours to their environment and their wellbeing.
This research highlighted the role that ahi kā hold as keepers of cultural knowledge that is rooted in the papakāinga through ancestral links that informs the identity of a hapū. Learning how to use rongoā provided ahi kā a platform to learn a new skill while helping the hapū heal through connecting with the identity and land of the hapū they belong to.

text: A path to lotions and potions: Ngāti te Maunga ahi kā use of rongoā for hapū wellbeing The research aimed to determine the challenges and improvements required during the implementation of the rongoā programme. The rongoā programme was based on a papakāinga near a marae, in a semi-rural location with difficult access. Participatory action research and autoethnography methods were used with the ahi kā (local residence) to develop a programme that would fulfil the hapū ora (extended family wellbeing) goals.  The goals of the programme were: for the ahi kā to use rongoā (modalities of health) confidently for their wellbeing; consistently use a Facebook page to learn and share information and to develop a database of the local rongoā rākau (medicinal plant). The ahi kā identified a further question to ask Facebook members to understand what motivated their participation and a survey was conducted. The ahi kā also wanted to understand the local doctor’s view on rongoā and its context on health provision in their area. An interview was conducted and the survey and interview added to the understanding of what the ahi kā could do to improve theirs and the hapū whānau (group extended family) wellbeing.
The findings of the research highlighted the complexities that arise from conducting research in a bicultural space where a common understanding of cultural knowledge is assumed to be homogenous. A shared history with colonisation and religious beliefs brought to the forefront the multiplicity Māori work through to determine a shared hapū identity. Based on an understanding of Māori principle values and tikanga (ways of enacting values), as understood by ahi kā, transformed a programme of learning how to make lotions and potions for the ahi kā, into influencing hapū members to change their attitudes and behaviours to their environment and their wellbeing.
This research highlighted the role that ahi kā hold as keepers of cultural knowledge that is rooted in the papakāinga through ancestral links that informs the identity of a hapū. Learning how to use rongoā provided ahi kā a platform to learn a new skill while helping the hapū heal through connecting with the identity and land of the hapū they belong to.

year: 2019