Is ‘more’ really more?

Starting from general problems of teaching grammar in the subject of German language as well as from basic assumptions of so-called ‘more-is-more’ didactics, we discuss demands to continue teaching grammar after the eighth grade (in Germany, that is the eighth year of school). We then present a quasi-experimental study which was carried out in grades 8 to 12 with the same participants for the purpose of finding out whether providing additional and repeated grammar teaching in the subject of German language even after the eighth grade results in improved and explicit long-term German grammar knowledge. At least at one measurement time point during the study, N = 821 students from six different schools were participating. As a crucial result it turned out that additional and repeated grammar teaching resulted in an improvement in explicit grammar knowledge both during individual grades and across grades. These study results support the demands of ‘more-is-more’ didactics, they however require long-term assessment concerning a number of problems, which are discussed.

No evidence for an effect of working from home on neck pain and neck disability among Swiss office workers: Short-term impact of COVID-19

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of working from home on neck pain (NP) among office workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Participants from two Swiss organisations, aged 18–65 years and working from home during the lockdown (n = 69) were included. Baseline data collected in January 2020 before the lockdown (office work) were compared with follow-up data in April 2020 during lockdown (working from home). The primary outcome of NP was assessed with a measure of intensity and disability. Secondary outcomes were quality of workstation ergonomics, number of work breaks, and time spent working at the computer. Two linear mixed effects models were fitted to the data to estimate the change in NP. Results No clinically relevant change in the average NP intensity and neck disability was found between measurement time points. Each working hour at the computer increased NP intensity by 0.36 points (95% CI: 0.09 to 0.62) indicating strong evidence. No such effect was found for neck disability. Each work break taken reduced neck disability by 2.30 points (95% CI: − 4.18 to − 0.42, evidence). No such effect was found for NP intensity. There is very strong evidence that workstation ergonomics was poorer at home. Conclusion The number of work breaks and hours spent at the computer seem to have a greater effect on NP than the place of work (office, at home), measurement time point (before COVID-19, during lockdown) or the workstation ergonomics. Further research should investigate the effect of social and psychological factors. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04169646. Registered 15 November 2019—Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04169646.

Autoregressive Cross-Lagged Modeling of The Longitudinal Relationship Between Sub-Health and Cold Hypersensitivity

Background: Sub-health refers to abnormal symptoms that occur in the body, but with no specific disease, and a high probability of future diseases. Meanwhile, cold hypersensitivity is one of the most basic diagnosis methods used in Oriental medicine for explaining a patient’s health status, and various studies have supported its association with health status. The present study analyzed differences in cold hypersensitivity regarding health status and examined changes in health status and cold hypersensitivity over time. Methods: The health status and cold hypersensitivity of 255 adults from Daejeon in South Korea were examined. To assess the longitudinal relationship between health status and cold hypersensitivity, data at baseline, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up were used for analysis using an autoregressive cross-lagged model (ARCLM).Results: ARCLM analysis showed that the path coefficients of each autoregressive coefficient (baseline to 6-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up to 12-month follow-up) of health status and cold hypersensitivity moving from measurement time point t to t+1 were significant in all time intervals. The same was true for health status patterns. Thus, these findings suggested that health status and cold hypersensitivity were not transient symptoms but persisted over time. The findings also showed that health status had a significant cross-lagged effect on cold hypersensitivity.Conclusions: Health status and cold hypersensitivity were found to be stable and associated with each other over time. Therefore, consistent care is necessary to maintain health status and treat cold hypersensitivity. The longitudinal data used in this study to examine the causal relationship between health status and cold hypersensitivity demonstrate the diagnostic value of cold hypersensitivity and the need for health status-based interventions.

An Experimental Application of the Brand Equity Pyramid Using a Healthy Movement Product Brand

Background: The brand equity pyramid is a theory that explains how people develop a relationship with a brand. Although the theory has received some support, few studies have tested it using a product brand, and no study has experimentally tested the theory. Research Question: The study tested whether brand equity pyramid variables pertaining to a health behavior promotion product brand (the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth) can be experimentally manipulated. The first objective was to examine whether brand equity of the guidelines would be higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. The second objective was to explore whether parental attitudes and intentions toward support, support behaviors, and parent-perceived child behavior would be higher in the intervention group compared to the control. Method: Using an online survey platform in Canada, all participants first viewed the guidelines. Participants in the intervention group were then presented with a video targeting key brand equity variables, whereas the control group received no video. Participants were 161 Canadian parents ( M age = 38.17, SD = 7.33 years) with a child 5–12 years of age. Measurements of brand equity and behavioral variables were taken at Time 1 (immediately post-intervention) and 2 weeks later at Time 2. Results: The intervention group had greater brand awareness than the control group and also showed a more positive attitude toward ensuring their child is less sedentary. However, generally, the 1-time intervention had limited effects. Recommendations for Research or Practice: This study indicates that a single exposure to stimuli targeting brand equity constructs can enhance awareness and some proximal cognitions. Future studies should examine whether repeated exposures to brand advertisements result in change in more important, distal variables such as brand loyalty and actual behavior. Limitations: This study lacked a true baseline measurement time point, there was only one exposure to brand stimuli, and parent-perceived child behavior was measured rather than behavior reported by the children themselves.

2136. Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing using ATP Luminescence and Machine Learning Methods

Background To prevent the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, a rapid and accurate antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) is necessary. Recently, morphokinetic microscopy approaches have been reported as a rapid AST method. However, these still require several hours to obtain a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) luminescence has also been reported as a rapid AST method that can detect bacterial growth more rapidly than morphokinetic approaches, since ATP in bacteria increases prior to bacterial division. In this study, we designed a new machine learning-based algorithm that predicts MIC rapidly, using a dataset that contains ATP luminescence patterns and conventional MICs determined by turbidity. Essential agreement (EA) rates between rapid and conventional MIC were then evaluated. Methods Sixty-three strains of E. coli (ATCC 25922 and clinical isolates from Toyama University Hospital) were tested. Bacterial suspensions were diluted 500-fold in Mueller–Hinton broth from 0.5 McF solutions, and the final concentration of bacteria was 3×105 CFU/mL. The suspensions were dispensed into a 96-well microplate, which had 12 antimicrobials in two-fold dilution series, and the microplate was incubated at 35°C. At each measurement time point, the amount of ATP in a 10 μL aliquot from each well was evaluated by our original measurement system, which can sensitively detect ATP luminescence equivalent to a single bacterium. After 22 hours, MIC was determined conventionally by measuring turbidity. A rapid MIC for each bacterium was estimated by the algorithm based on the dataset consisting of the rest of the 62 strains (leave-one-out cross validation). Results Table 1 shows the EA rate for the 12 antimicrobials; EA rates > 90% were achieved for 7 antimicrobials in 2 hours and for 12 antimicrobials in 3 hours. In 6 hours, an average EA rate > 97% was achieved. Conclusion Using the dataset, our new machine learning-based algorithm predicted MIC rapidly within 2 hours with an EA rate > 90% for 7 antimicrobials. The rapid AST detected by the ATP luminescence method will contribute toward both appropriate antimicrobial treatment and reduction in medication and admission charges. In the future, other species of bacteria will be evaluated by our ATP method. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Evaluation of the socially evaluated cold-pressor group test (SECPT-G) in the general population

Background In stress research, economic instruments for introducing acute stress responses are needed. In this study, we investigated whether the socially evaluated cold-pressor group test (SECPT-G) induces salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and/or cortisol responses in the general population and whether this is associated with anthropometric, experimental, and lifestyle factors. Methods A sample of 91 participants from the general population was recruited. Salivary cortisol and sAA levels were assessed prior to (t0), immediately after (t1), and 10 min after the SECPT-G (t2). Results A robust cortisol increase was found immediately after the SECPT-G, which further increased between t1 and t2. This was independent of most of the control variables. However, men showed a trend toward higher cortisol increases than women (p = 0.005). No sAA responses were found at all. However, sAA levels were dependent on measurement time point with highest levels between 9 pm and 9:30 pm. Participants who immersed their hands into the ice water for the maximally allowed time of 3 min showed higher sAA levels at all time points than participants who removed their hands from the water earlier. Conclusions We conclude that the SECPT-G is a good means of an acute stress test when cortisol—but not necessarily sAA—responses are intended.

Evaluation of the socially evaluated cold-pressor group test (SECPT-G) in the general population

Background. In stress research, economic instruments for introducing acute stress responses are needed. In this study, we investigated whether the socially evaluated cold-pressor group test (SECPT-G) induces salivary alpha-amylase and/or cortisol responses in the general population and whether this is associated with anthropometric, experimental, and lifestyle factors. Methods. A sample of 91 participants from the general population was recruited. Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (sAA) levels were assessed prior to (t0), immediately after (t1), and ten minutes after the SECPT-G (t2). Results. A robust cortisol increase was found immediately after the SECPT-G, which further increased between t1 and t2. This was independent of most of the control variables. However, men showed a trend towards higher cortisol increases than women (p = .005). No sAA responses were found at all. However, sAA levels were dependent on measurement time point with highest levels between 9 pm and 9:30 pm. Participants who immersed their hands into the ice water for the maximally allowed time of three minutes showed higher sAA levels at all time points than participants who removed their hands from the water earlier. Conclusions. We conclude that the SECPT-G is a good means of an acute stress test when cortisol – but not necessarily sAA – responses are intended.

Evaluation of the socially evaluated cold-pressor group test (SECPT-G) in the general population

Background. In stress research, economic instruments for introducing acute stress responses are needed. In this study, we investigated whether the socially evaluated cold-pressor group test (SECPT-G) induces salivary alpha-amylase and/or cortisol responses in the general population and whether this is associated with anthropometric, experimental, and lifestyle factors. Methods. A sample of 91 participants from the general population was recruited. Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (sAA) levels were assessed prior to (t0), immediately after (t1), and ten minutes after the SECPT-G (t2). Results. A robust cortisol increase was found immediately after the SECPT-G, which further increased between t1 and t2. This was independent of most of the control variables. However, men showed a trend towards higher cortisol increases than women (p = .005). No sAA responses were found at all. However, sAA levels were dependent on measurement time point with highest levels between 9 pm and 9:30 pm. Participants who immersed their hands into the ice water for the maximally allowed time of three minutes showed higher sAA levels at all time points than participants who removed their hands from the water earlier. Conclusions. We conclude that the SECPT-G is a good means of an acute stress test when cortisol – but not necessarily sAA – responses are intended.

Efficacy of Core Decompression for Treatment of Canine Femoral Head Osteonecrosis Induced by Arterial Ischaemia and Venous Congestion

Methods 40 healthy mixed-breed dogs were randomly divided into 2 groups, arterial ischaemia (AI) and venous congestion (VC), each containing 20 dogs. The dogs underwent a procedure where the deep femoral artery or deep femoral vein was ligated randomly on the left or right side to establish the femoral head osteonecrosis model. 13 dogs from each group, AI and VC, were randomly selected for subsequent study. 3 dogs were randomly chosen from each group to receive core decompression (CD) every 2 weeks for a total of 4 sessions. Results The development of femoral head osteonecrosis was slightly slowed at each measurement time point after CD in the arterial ischaemia (AI) group, but no restoration was observed. The venous congestion (VC) group showed a gradually reduced mixed signal after CD and exhibited a trend towards restoration. The various VC subgroups had significantly improved symptoms compared to the AI subgroups. Conclusions CD displayed greater treatment efficacy for femoral head osteonecrosis caused by VC, but poor efficacy for femoral head osteonecrosis caused by AI.

Effect of Bidirectional Rotation of An Acupuncture Needle at Li10 on Acupuncture Needle Sensation and Experimentally-Induced Contact Heat Pain in Healthy Human Volunteers

Introduction There is insufficient evidence of a relationship between acupuncture needle sensations ( de qi) and hypoalgesia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bidirectional needle rotation at LI10 on acupuncture needle sensations and heat pain thresholds. Methods Twenty-two healthy participants received one acupuncture needle at LI10 with bidirectional rotation of the needle in one experimental session and one acupuncture needle at LI10 with mock rotation in a separate session, in a randomised order. Measurements of heat pain thresholds were taken before needle insertion, during needle retention and 15 min after needle removal. At each measurement time point, participants rated needle sensations using the Massachusetts Acupuncture Sensation Scale (MASS) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) of overall intensity of needle sensation. Results Bidirectional needle rotation produced significantly higher scores for VAS, MASStotal, MASSpain and MASSsensation compared with mock rotation (all p<0.001). There were significantly higher pain thresholds relative to pre-intervention baseline during (p=0.014) and after (p<0.001) bidirectional needle rotation but not during (p=0.1) or after (p=0.62) mock bidirectional needle rotation. Bidirectional needle rotation increased the pain threshold relative to baseline 15 min after the needles were removed (p=0.009). A significant but low correlation between needle sensation and change in pain threshold after needling was only found when data from mock and rotation interventions were combined. Conclusions Needle rotation increases the magnitude of hypoalgesia. There is tentative evidence that needle sensation may be associated with the amount of change in pain threshold.