Literature of broadcasting: Book in review

ADVERTISING: ITS ROLE IN MODERN MARKETING. Ry S. Watson Dunn. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1961. 621 + xvi pp. $8.95.     

An investigation of the relationship between cognitive complexity and listener‐adapted communication

This study investigated the hypothesis that dyads composed of two cognitively complex individuals would be more successful at a communication task than would dyads composed of two individuals who are both noncomplex. Another hypothesis was that mixed dyads (one person complex, one noncomplex) would be more effective than noncomplex dyads but not as effective as complex dyads. The data supported the hypotheses. When both members of a dyad were complex or when the complex member of a mixed dyad was the person giving directions, the directions were more effective than when both members are noncomplex or when the noncomplex member of a mixed dyad was giving directions.     

Physiological responses of elite Laser sailors to 30 minutes of simulated upwind sailing

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that elite dinghy sailing is a whole-body, dynamic, repeated-effort sport, and that increased heart rate and oxygen consumption reflect its dynamic element. Six elite male Laser sailors (mean age 19.7 years, s = 1.82; height 1.81 m, s = 0.03; body mass 78.0 kg, s = 4.1) performed a cycle ergometer test to volitional exhaustion to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO(2peak)) and a simulated 30-min upwind leg sail on a specially constructed Laser sailing ergometer. The simulation protocol was based on video analysis of previous Laser World Championships. Expired gases were collected in Douglas bags, heart rate recorded at rest and after every 5 min, and pre- and post-simulation capillary blood samples taken for blood lactate analysis. Results were analysed with a one-way analysis of variance. Mean VO(2peak) was 4.32 l . min(-1) (s = 0.16). Mean simulation VO(2) was 2.51 l . min(-1) (s = 0.24) and peaked at 2.58 l . min(-1) (s = 0.25) during the 5th minute. Mean simulation heart rate was 156 beats . min(-1) (s = 8), peaking during the final minute at 160 beats . min(-1) (s = 10). These results suggest that, unlike pseudo-isometric static hiking, elite dinghy sailing demands a substantial proportion (58%VO(2peak), s = 5.6) of aerobic capacity.     

Choosing the right imaging method in muscle hernias: musculoskeletal ultrasonography

Muscle hernia (MH) is a focal protrusion of muscle into the overlying subcutaneous tissue through an acquired or congenital facial defect. Herniation in the thigh muscles is not common and there are limited reports evaluating this pathology using ultrasonography (US). A 28-year-old amateur football player presented with a palpable mass on the anterior aspect of his right thigh. Sonographic examination demonstrated a MH through a fascial defect, which is called mushroom appearance. Based on the clinical and sonographic findings, the diagnosis of a MH in the rectus femoris muscle was established. Today, there is no doubt anymore on the role of musculoskeletal US in the field of sports injuries. Therefore, with its various advantages (non-invasive, practical and convenient, inexpensive, etc.), US is the key imaging method in the diagnosis of MHs.     

Contribution of the laboratory to a diagnosis process by sequential reflective testing: Paraprotein interference on a direct bilirubin assay

Errors in laboratory medicine occur in the preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical phases. The errors are mostly detected in the preanalytical period. However, analytical errors are still an important source of error, despite their frequency is reduced significantly in years thanks to developments in laboratories. In this case, an analytical error was noticed during the verification of a patient’s results. The direct bilirubin of a 66-year-old male patient admitted to the emergency department was higher than the total bilirubin. The patient’s symptoms were fatigue and dyspnoea. Albumin and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations of the patient were significantly low. After considering the patient’s demographics and laboratory results, the laboratory specialist suspected a paraproteinemia interference. Total protein was performed as a reflective test. The albumin/globulin ratio was reversed. Thereafter, serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) were performed as another reflective tests, respectively. SPEP and IFE results were in favour of monoclonal gammopathy. The patient was directed to a haematologist, underwent a bone marrow biopsy, and the result was reported as Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia with plasma cell differentiation expressing IgM-Kappa. The patient went on a chemotherapy protocol, and his condition has been improved in subsequent months. Detection of analytical errors is of great importance, like in our case, and may be used as a tool to identify patients who have not yet been diagnosed. The laboratory specialist must dominate the entire process of each test in the laboratory, be aware of the limitations of tests, and turn these disadvantages into advantages when necessary.     

Magnetophoretic-based microfluidic device for DNA isolation

This paper presents a continuous flow microfluidic device for the separation of DNA from blood using magnetophoresis for biological applications and analysis. This microfluidic bio-separation device has several benefits, including decreased sample handling, smaller sample and reagent volumes, faster isolation time, and decreased cost to perform DNA isolation. One of the key features of this device is the use of short-range magnetic field gradients, generated by a micro-patterned nickel array on the bottom surface of the separation channel. In addition, the device utilizes an array of oppositely oriented, external permanent magnets to produce strong long-range field gradients at the interfaces between magnets, further increasing the effectiveness of the device. A comprehensive simulation is performed using COMSOL Multiphysics to study the effect of various parameters on the magnetic flux within the separation channel. Additionally, a microfluidic device is designed, fabricated, and tested to isolate DNA from blood. The results show that the device has the capability of separating DNA from a blood sample with a purity of 1.8 or higher, a yield of up to 33 μg of polymerase chain reaction ready DNA per milliliter of blood, and a volumetric throughput of up to 50 ml/h.