bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Renten‐ und Gesundheitsinformationen: Datensammlung und Datennutzung für die politische Gestaltung
Authors: Lee Jinkook
Published: November 2010

Auszug

Eine wachsende Zahl von Ländern entwickelt oder reformiert die Renten‐ und Gesundheitspolitik angesichts der Alterung der Bevölkerung, um die Wohlfahrt der Bürger zu fördern. Das unterschiedliche Vorgehen in den verschiedenen Ländern führte zu einer Reihe von natürlichen Experimenten. Dies ist eine ungewöhnliche Gelegenheit, die Auswirkungen dieser verschiedenen Maßnahmen auf Gesundheit und Renten, das Verhalten von Individuen und Familien und die Wohlfahrt zu untersuchen. Diese Gelegenheit wahrzunehmen, ist nur mit einer harmonisierten Datensammlung möglich. Eine wachsende Zahl von Ländern hat sich bereit erklärt, harmonisierte Daten im Rahmen einer Studie über Gesundheit und Renten in den Vereinigten Staaten zur Verfügung zu stellen. Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert dieses Datenmaterial, einschließlich der zentralen Parameter, die Rente und Gesundheitszustand, Forschungsansätze, Stichproben und Rücklaufquoten bestimmen. Er erörtert auch die Möglichkeiten, die diese Daten für länderübergreifende Studien bieten, sowie deren Bedeutung für Evaluierung und Entwicklung politischer Ansätze.
One step forward, one step back: Quebec's 2003–04 health and social services regionalization policy
Authors: Martin Elisabeth , Pomey Marie‐Pascale , Forest Pierre‐Gerlier
Published: November 2010

Abstract:This article focuses on Quebec's most recent reform in the regionalization of health care to understand why the government chose to transform the regional boards into agencies. This case study used interviews and documentary analysis. Rooted in a political science perspective, the conceptual framework is inspired by the work of JohnKingdon (1995)and draws on the four variables that influence the choice of policy: ideas, interests, institutions and events. Results of the case study suggest that Quebec's Commission of Study for Health and Social Services (the Clair Commission) in 2000 and the 2002 pre‐electoral environment put the issue on the agenda. In 2003, the newly elected Liberal government passed Bill 25 – An Act Respecting Local Health and Social Services Network Development Agencies, which represented a political compromise: originally slated for eradication, the regional tier survived but in a new form. The element that sparked reform was the change in government following the elections. Different inquiry reports spread the reform's ideas, while interest groups articulated contrasting visions on the transformation. Above all, regional institutions showed great resilience in the face of change. From a historical perspective, this regionalization policy is a step backward: the regional tier is now stronger from a managerial and technocratic point of view, but it is politically and democratically weakened. This suggests a government intention, at that time, to maintain the regional level as a means of retaining centralized control over Quebec's health‐care system.
Alberta's and Ontario's liquor boards: Why such divergent outcomes?
Authors: Bird Malcolm G.
Published: November 2010

Abstract: The provinces of Alberta and Ontario have chosen very different methods to distribute alcoholic beverages: Alberta privatized the Alberta Liquor Control Board (ALCB) in 1993 and established a private market to sell beverage alcohol, while Ontario, in stark contrast, opted to retain and expand the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). This article examines the reasons for the divergent policy choices made by Ralph Klein and Mike Harris' Conservative governments in each province. The article draws on John Kingdon's “multiple streams decision‐making model,” to examine the mindsets of the key decision‐makers, as well as “historical institutionalism,” to organize the pertinent structural, historical and institutional variables that shaped the milieu in which decision‐makers acted. Unique, province‐specific political cultures, histories, institutional configurations (including the relative influence of a number of powerful actors), as well as the fact that the two liquor control boards were on opposing trajectories towards their ultimate fates, help to explain the different decisions made by each government. Endogenous preference construction in this sector, furthermore, implies that each system is able to satisfy all relevant stakeholders, including consumers.
Are happy employees healthy employees? Researching the effects of employee engagement on absenteeism
Authors: Hoxsey Dann
Published: November 2010

Abstract: In 2007, a survey was conducted to measure the levels of workplace engagement for British Columbian civil servants. Following the Heskett et al. model of the “service profit chain” (1994, 2002), the government's primary concerns were the increasing attrition rates and their effects on service delivery. Essentially, the model demonstrated that employees who were more engaged were more committed to their work and more likely to stay within the civil service and that this culminated in improved customer service. Under the joint rubrics of absenteeism and job satisfaction, this study uses a construct of engagement (i.e., job satisfaction) to test whether different levels of engagement have any effect on the amount of sick time (absenteeism) an employee incurs. Specifically, the author looks at whether there is any correlation between the amount of sick time used and an individual's level of engagement and proposes that there is an inverse negative relationship: as job engagement increases, sick time used decreases. Testing the old adage “A happy employee is a healthy employee,” this research demonstrates that, though a more engaged employee may use less sick time, the differences in use between highly engaged employees and those not engaged are fairly marginal and that correlations are further confounded by a host of other (often missing) factors.
Politiques publiques d'innovation régionale et compétitivité mondiale : une étude comparée Québec‐Wallonie
Authors: Doloreux David , Melançon Yannik , Devillet Guénaël
Published: November 2010

Abstract: The objective of this article is to analyse public initiatives to stimulate regional innovation in Walloon region in Belgium and in the Province of Quebec. The empirical analysis relies on the competitive poles program in Walloon and on the ACCORD project (Action Concertée de Coopération Régionale de Développement) in Quebec. The comparison will allow discussing the implementation and regional embedding of these programs and will reveal the similarities and the differences between the structure, the organization and the deployment of these strategies in the various regions targeted.
Insulin, Glucagon, and Leptin in Critically Ill Foals
Authors: Barsnick R.J.I.M. , Hurcombe S.D.A. , Smith P.A. , Slovis N.M. , Sprayberry K.A. , Saville W.J.A. , Toribio R.E.
Published: November 2010

Background:Endocrine dysregulation of hormones of energy metabolism is well documented in critically ill humans, but limited information exists in septic foals. The purpose of this study was to provide information on the hormonal response to energy metabolism in critically ill foals, focusing on insulin, glucagon, and leptin.

Hypothesis:Concentrations of insulin, glucagon, leptin, and triglycerides will be higher, whereas glucose concentration will be lower in septic foals than in healthy and sick nonseptic foals. The magnitude of these differences will be associated with severity of disease and nonsurvival.

Animals:Forty‐four septic, 62 sick nonseptic, and 19 healthy foals <7 days of age.

Methods:In this prospective multicenter cross‐sectional study, blood samples were collected at admission. Foals with positive blood culture or sepsis score ≥12 were considered septic.

Results:Septic foals had lower glucose and insulin and higher triglyceride and glucagon concentrations than did healthy foals. Glucagon concentrations were not different between septic foals that died (n = 14) or survived (n = 30). Higher insulin and lower leptin concentrations were associated with mortality. Quantitative insulin‐sensitivity check index was higher in septic foals.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance:Energy metabolism and the endocrine response of related hormones in septic foals are characterized by hypoglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low insulin concentration, and high glucagon concentration. Leptin and insulin may have prognostic value for nonsurvival in septic foals. The hormonal response related to energy metabolism in critical illness differs between foals and humans.
Transvenous Coil Embolization of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Small (≤3.0 kg) Dogs
Authors: Henrich E. , Hildebrandt N. , Schneider C. , Hassdenteufel E. , Schneider M.
Published: November 2010

Background: Surgical and interventional therapy for occlusion of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in small dogs is challenging. Interventional closure of a PDA is rarely described in small dogs.

Hypothesis: Transvenous single‐coil occlusion of a PDA in small (≤3.0 kg) dogs is possible and safe.

Animals: Twenty‐one client‐owned dogs with a left‐to‐right shunting PDA.

Methods: Prospective clinical study. Inclusion criteria were a left‐to‐right shunting PDA and a body weight ≤3.0 kg. Dogs with additional congenital cardiac diseases were excluded. Without arterial access, a single detachable coil was implanted by a transvenous approach with a 4 Fr catheter.

Results: Twenty‐one dogs were the study population with Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier being the commonest breeds (n = 6 and n = 5, respectively). There were 14 female and 7 male dogs. The age range was 1.9–83.5 months (median, 7.7 months), and the body weight was 1.0–2.9 kg (1.87 ± 0.45). By angiography, the minimal ductal diameter measured 1.2–2.4 mm (median, 1.8 mm) and the PDA ampulla diameter was 2.4–5.9 mm (median, 4.6 mm). Coil implantation was successful in all dogs. After detachment of the coil from the delivery cable, repositioning of the pulmonary loop of the coil became necessary in 1 dog. The prevalence of immediate closure was 76%. The prevalence of cumulative closure was 90%.

Conclusion: For an experienced cardiologist, transvenous occlusion of a PDA in small dogs is possible with a 4 Fr catheter and a commercial single detachable coil. Arterial access is not essential. The procedure is safe and successful in experienced hands.
Effects of Zinc‐l‐Carnosine and Vitamin E on Aspirin‐Induced Gastroduodenal Injury in Dogs
Authors: Baan M. , Sherding R.G. , Johnson S.E.
Published: November 2010

Background:Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs frequently cause gastrointestinal (GI) injury. Zinc‐l‐carnosine has antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, mucosal protective, and healing properties in rodent models and in some human studies of GI injury.

Hypothesis:The combination of zinc‐l‐carnosine and vitamin E attenuates aspirin‐induced gastroduodenal mucosal injury.

Animals:Eighteen healthy random‐source Foxhound dogs.

Methods:In this randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study dogs were treated with placebo (n = 6; 0X group), 30 mg/30 IU (n = 6; 1X group), or 60 mg/60 IU (n = 6; 2X group) zinc‐l‐carnosine/vitamin E orally every 12 hours for 35 days. Between Day 7 and 35, GI mucosal lesions were induced with aspirin (25 mg/kg PO q8h). Mucosal injury lesions (hemorrhage, erosion, and ulcer) were assessed by gastroduodenoscopy on Days 14, 21, and 35 with a 12‐point scoring scale.

Results:At baseline (Day −1) gastroscopy scores were not significantly different between groups (mean ± SD: 0X, 4.4 ± 0.8; group 1X, 4.4 ± 0.6; group 2X, 4.2 ± 0.3;P= .55). Gastroscopy scores increased significantly in all groups between Day −1 and Days 14, 21, and 35 (P< .0001). On Day 35, gastroscopy scores were 29.2 ± 5.2 (0X), 27.3 ± 3.7 (1X), and 28.6 ± 3.3 (2X). Mean gastroscopy scores were not significantly different among treatment groups on any of the days (P= .61).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance:Administration of the combination of zinc‐l‐carnosine and vitamin E at 1X or 2X dosing did not attenuate aspirin‐induced gastroduodenal mucosal injury.
Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma in 5 Dogs (2001–2008)
Authors: Stefanello D. , Valenti P. , Zini E. , Comazzi S. , Gelain M.E. , Roccabianca P. , Avallone G. , Caniatti M. , Marconato L.
Published: November 2010

Background: Splenic marginal zone lymphomas (MZL) in dogs arise from the marginal zone of B‐cell follicles and can progress slowly.

Objectives: To describe clinical features, treatment, and outcome of dogs with splenic MZL.

Animals: Five dogs with naturally occurring MZL.

Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and follow‐up data were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnosis was based on clinical, histopathological, and immunophenotypic features.

Results: All dogs had stage IV disease; among them, 2 were symptomatic (substage “b”) because of splenic rupture. Four dogs underwent splenectomy and adjuvant doxorubicin, and 1 dog underwent surgery only. Three out of the 4 dogs treated with surgery and chemotherapy died of causes unrelated to lymphoma, after 760, 939, and 1,825 days, whereas the remaining dog was alive and in complete remission after 445 days. The dog not receiving any adjuvant treatment had recurrence of the tumor after 180 days.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Splenic MZL appears indolent and can benefit from splenectomy, with or without systemic chemotherapy.
Design Policy in Flanders, Belgium
Authors: Valcke Johan
Published: November 2010

In Belgium, a multilingual country with three main regions, each with its own system of government, design policy has of necessity been a regional affair. And yet, at least in the Flanders region, the past five years have seen design develop from relative obscurity into a significant part of business and social welfare planning.
Global Poverty Reduction to 2015 and Beyond: What has been the Impact of the MDGs and what are the Options for a Post‐2015 Global Framework?
Authors: Sumner Andy , Tiwari Meera
Published: November 2010

The purpose of this paper is to assess the policy impact of the MDGs and to begin to ask questions about any post‐2015 global framework. The paper asks a series of questions and, in doing so, reviews the impact of the MDGs on policy and outcomes. The paper argues that the MDGs have had substantial but uneven policy impacts and post‐2015 a more explicit and shared ownership of both South and North in any new deal is essential, as is attention to a changed world compared with that of the late 1990s. We outline three stylised options for a post‐2015 framework in order to trigger further debate and propose that debate be led by a global commission.
Global Poverty and the New Bottom Billion: What if Three‐quarters of the World's Poor Live in Middle‐income Countries?
Authors: Sumner Andy
Published: November 2010

This paper argues that the global poverty problem has changed because most of the world's poor no longer live in low income countries (LICs). Previously, poverty was viewed as an LIC issue predominantly; nowadays such simplistic assumptions/classifications are misleading because some large countries that graduated into the MIC category still have large numbers of poor people. In 1990, we estimate 93 per cent of the world's poor lived in LICs; contrastingly in 2007–8 three quarters of the world's poor approximately 1.3bn lived in middle‐income countries (MICs) and about a quarter of the world's poor, approximately 370mn people live in the remaining 39 low‐income countries – largely in sub‐Saharan Africa.

This startling change over two decades implies a new ‘bottom billion’ who do not live in fragile and conflict‐affected states, but in stable, middle‐income countries. Such global patterns are evident across monetary, nutritional and multi‐dimensional poverty measures. This paper argues the general pattern is robust enough to warrant further investigation and discussion.
Estimating the Impact of the Food, Fuel and Financial Crises on Zambian Households
Authors: McCulloch Neil , Grover Amit
Published: November 2010

This paper combines nationally representative household survey data from Zambia in 2006, with detailed, spatially disaggregated, price data, to simulate the likely welfare impacts of the prices changes arising from the food, fuel and financial crises between 2006 and 2009. We find that urban households, particularly the poorest, were very hard hit by both the rises in food prices in 2008 and in non‐food prices in 2009. However, agricultural households in rural areas generally benefited from the food price rises. The key determinant of impact was whether a household is a net producer or a net consumer of food. Our results are robust to a wide range of assumptions about wage changes over the period. However, the poor quality of data on wages and non‐farm business income make it impossible to provide a definitive account of welfare changes.
Optimizing the Design and Deployment of Stationary Combined Heat and Power Fuel Cell Systems for Minimum Costs and Emissions—Part I: Model Design
Authors: Colella Whitney G. , Schneider Stephen H. , Kammen Daniel M. , Jhunjhunwala Aditya , Teo Nigel
Published: November 2010

Stationary combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell systems (FCSs) can provide electricity and heat for buildings and can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions significantly if they are configured with an appropriate installation and operating strategy. The maximizing emission reduction and economic saving simulator (MERESS) is an optimization tool that was developed to evaluate novel strategies for installing and operating CHP FCSs in buildings. These novel strategies include networking, load following, and the use of variable heat-to-power ratios, all of which industry typically has not implemented. A primary goal of models like MERESS is to use relatively inexpensive simulation studies to identify more financially and environmentally effective ways to design and install FCSs. Models like MERESS can incorporate the pivotal choices that FCS manufacturers, building owners, emission regulators, competing generators, and policy makers make, and empower them to evaluate the effect of their choices directly. MERESS directly evaluates trade-offs among three key goals: GHG reductions, energy cost savings for building owners, and high sales revenue for FCS manufacturers. MERESS allows one to evaluate these design trade-offs and to identify the optimal control strategies and building load curves for installation based on either (1) maximum GHG emission reductions or (2) maximum cost savings to building owners. Part I discusses the motivation and key assumptions behind MERESS model development. Part II discusses run results from MERESS for a California town and makes recommendations for further FCS installments (Colella , 2011, “Optimizing the Design and Deployment of Stationary Combined Heat and Power Fuel Cell Systems for Minimum Costs and Emissions—Part II: Model Results,” ASME J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol., 8(2), p. 021002).
A PEFC With Pt–TiO2/C as Oxygen-Reduction Catalyst
Authors: Selvarani G. , Maheswari S. , Sridhar P. , Pitchumani S. , Shukla A. K.
Published: November 2010

Carbon-supported Pt–TiO2(Pt–TiO2/C) catalyst with varying atomic ratio of Pt to Ti, namely, 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1, is prepared by sol-gel method and its electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) is evaluated for the application in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). The optimum atomic ratio of Pt to Ti in Pt–TiO2/C and annealing temperature are established by cyclic voltammetry and fuel-cell-polarization studies. Pt–TiO2/C annealed at 750°C with Pt and Ti in atomic ratio of 2:1, namely, 750 Pt–TiO2/C (2:1), shows enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward ORR. It is found that the incorporation of TiO2 with Pt ameliorates both electrocatalytic activity and stability of cathode in relation to pristine Pt cathode, currently being used in PEFCs. A power density of 0.75 W/cm2 is achieved at 0.6 V for the PEFC with 750 Pt–TiO2/C (2:1) as compared with 0.62 W/cm2 at 0.6 V achieved with the PEFC comprising Pt/C as cathode catalyst while operating under identical conditions. Interestingly, carbon-supported Pt–TiO2 cathode exhibits only 6% loss in electrochemical surface area after 5000 potential cycles while it is as high as 25% for Pt/C.
Application of a Taguchi Method Technique in Determining the Laminating Process Parameters for a Bonding Sheet
Authors: Yen Yu-Tang , Fang Te-Hua , Lin Yu-Cheng
Published: November 2010

This paper investigates the application of a Taguchi method to reduce warpage problem dealing with process parameters during production of bonding sheets. For this purpose, analysis was carried out by utilizing a combination of process parameters based on a two-level L12 Taguchi orthogonal design. The signal-to-noise and the analysis of variance are used to find the optimum levels and to indicate the impact of the process parameters on warpage. The results show that the method can reduce warpage by about 94%, and a verification test is also conducted to prove its effectiveness after the optimum levels of process parameters are determined. It can thus be concluded that this Taguchi method is suitable to solve the quality problems that occur due to warpage.
The Effect of Thermal Contact Resistance at Porous-Solid Interfaces in Finned Metal Foam Heat Sinks
Authors: DeGroot Christopher T. , Gateman Derek , Straatman Anthony G.
Published: November 2010

A numerical study on the effect of thermal contact resistance and its impact on the performance of finned aluminum foam heat sinks has been conducted. Calculations are based on the solution of the volume-averaged mass, momentum, and energy equations under conditions of local thermal nonequilibrium using a finite-volume-based computational fluid dynamics code for conjugate fluid/porous/solid domains. Numerical results have been obtained for a wide range of contact resistances at the porous-solid interfaces, up to the limit of an effectively infinite resistance. As the contact resistance is increased to such high levels, the heat transfer is found to asymptote as conduction into the solid constituent of the foam is completely blocked. Even without conduction into the solid, a convective enhancement is obtained due to the presence of the foam material. It is reasoned that this is due to the thinning of the momentum boundary layers as a result of the presence of the porous material, which acts as a momentum sink. As a result of the thinner boundary layers, the flow speed near the finned surfaces and base is increased, which serves to increase the rate of convection from these surfaces. It is also found that for most reasonable interface materials, such as thermal epoxies, the impact of thermal contact resistance on the heat transfer performance in comparison to that for an ideal bond is small.
Fast Organic Conditioning of Patterned Surfaces for Capillary Part-to-Substrate Self-Assembly
Authors: Mastrangeli M. , Jans K. , Steylaerts T. , Van Hoof C. , Celis J.-P.
Published: November 2010

Selective chemical preconditioning of geometrically patterned substrates and parts is necessary to enable capillary part-to-substrate self-assembly. On the other hand, long preparation procedures may preclude the throughput enhancement potentially brought by the technique. In this paper, we investigate the fast chemical preconditioning of patterned substrates by the chemisorption of thiolates from the liquid phase. We found that even under conservative conditions, deposition times as short as 15 s (i.e., about two orders of magnitude shorter than previously reported in specific literature) are sufficient for the intended purpose, which is changing the wetting character of metallic binding sites enough to allow their selective dip-coating with hydrophobic fluid lenses. Moreover, perfect fluid coating conformality is achieved when such short deposition times are combined with the use of recessed binding sites. Our findings further confirm organic species to be remarkable tools for the chemical preconditioning of patterned surfaces as they may help actualize the full benefits of capillary self-assembly for electronic packaging.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Thermo-Ultrasonic Flip-Chip Bonding Process for High-Brightness Light Emitting Diodes
Authors: Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Chen Hui-Ta , Su Te-Li , Huang Jr-Da
Published: November 2010

Flip-chip bonding is a kind of chip packaging technology, which can make fabricated chips lighter and smaller. Thermo-ultrasonic flip-chip bonding is a technology that directly joins gold pad and gold bump. This study combines principle component analysis and gray relational analysis to determine the optimal processing parameters for multiple quality characteristics of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The quality characteristics of this experiment include the candle light, forward voltage, and leakage current of LED and thrust value. First, this study determines the processing parameters that may affect the thermo-ultrasonic flip-chip bonding with the L18 orthogonal array, including substrate temperature, bonding downforce, ultrasonic working time, ultrasonic power, and rising and delay time of tool head bonding. Then, the gray relational analysis is applied to indicate the optimal processing parameters for the multiple quality characteristics of LED. Since the Taguchi method only takes one single quality characteristic into consideration, this study applies the Taguchi method to reduce the number of thermo-ultrasonic flip-chip bonding experiments. The experimental results prove that the optimal LED has good integral quality, which is above industrial standard.
Gaseotransmitters: New Frontiers for Translational Science
Authors: Szabo Csaba
Published: November 2010

Endogenous gaseous mediators offer therapeutic opportunities, as well as unexpected challenges for translational science.
Adducin- and Ouabain-Related Gene Variants Predict the Antihypertensive Activity of Rostafuroxin, Part 2: Clinical Studies
Authors: Lanzani Chiara , Citterio Lorena , Glorioso Nicola , Manunta Paolo , Tripodi Grazia , Salvi Erika , Carpini Simona Delli , Ferrandi Mara , Messaggio Elisabetta , Staessen Jan A. , Cusi Daniele , Macciardi Fabio , Argiolas Giuseppe , Valentini Giovanni , Ferrari Patrizia , Bianchi Giuseppe
Published: November 2010

Five genetic variants that affect Na,K-ATPase interactions predict the blood pressure response to rostafuroxin but not to losartan and hydrochlorothiazide.
Adducin- and Ouabain-Related Gene Variants Predict the Antihypertensive Activity of Rostafuroxin, Part 1: Experimental Studies
Authors: Ferrandi Mara , Molinari Isabella , Torielli Lucia , Padoani Gloria , Salardi Sergio , Rastaldi Maria Pia , Ferrari Patrizia , Bianchi Giuseppe
Published: November 2010

Rostafuroxin lowers blood pressure in rats and disrupts mutant α-adducin and ouabain–Na,K-ATPase complex interaction with the Src-SH2 domain without affecting the interaction of wild-type α-adducin or Na,K-ATPase in the absence of ouabain.
Predicting Recurrent
Clostridium difficile
Infection
Authors: Hansel Donna E.
Published: November 2010

IL-8 genotype predicts
Clostridium difficile
recurrence.
Pulmonary tuberculosis infection among workers in the informal public transport sector in Lima, Peru: Table 1
Authors: Horna-Campos Olivia Janett , Consiglio Ezequiel , Sánchez-Pérez Hector J , Navarro Albert , Caylà Joan A , Martín-Mateo Miguel
Published: November 2010

Background

Because a strong association was observed between pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and the use of public transport, increasing with duration of journey, a study was carried out to assess infection byMycobacterium tuberculosisand working conditions among workers in this sector.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and September 2008. A total of 104 workers from two public transport minibus (‘combi’) cooperatives covering marginal areas of the Ate-Vitarte district in Lima were interviewed. Demographic and occupational details were collected as well as prior family and personal history of TB and BCG vaccination. The tuberculin skin test (TST) was administered to each study subject and an induration of ≥10 mm was considered positive. Statistical analysis was based on logistic models, ORs and their 95% CIs.

Results

TST results were obtained for 70.2% (n=73), of whom 76.6% (n=56) were positive. Positivity was significantly associated with those who had worked for more than 2 years (crude OR 11.04; 95% CI 3.17 to 38.43) and more than 60 h/week (crude OR 9.8; 95% CI 2.85 to 33.72). These associations remained significant in a multivariate model as well.

Conclusion

The association observed between years of working and weekly work burden among minibus workers suggests an occupational risk in service jobs in low-income countries with high TB prevalence. Consequently, other types of users are at increased risk for TB infection, with a causal relationship between effect and duration of exposure.
Reconstructing past occupational exposures: how reliable are women's reports of their partner's occupation?
Authors: Tagiyeva Nara , Semple Sean , Devereux Graham , Sherriff Andrea , Henderson John , Elias Peter , Ayres Jon G
Published: November 2010

Objectives

Most of the evidence on agreement between self- and proxy-reported occupational data comes from interview-based studies. The authors aimed to examine agreement between women's reports of their partner's occupation and their partner's own description using questionnaire-based data collected as a part of the prospective, population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Methods

Information on present occupation was self-reported by women's partners and proxy-reported by women through questionnaires administered at 8 and 21 months after the birth of a child. Job titles were coded to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC2000) using software developed by the University of Warwick (Computer-Assisted Structured Coding Tool). The accuracy of proxy-report was expressed as percentage agreement and kappa coefficients for four-, three- and two-digit SOC2000 codes obtained in automatic and semiautomatic (manually improved) coding modes. Data from 6016 couples at 8 months and 5232 couples at 21 months postnatally were included in the analyses.

Results

The agreement between men's self-reported occupation and women's report of their partner's occupation in fully automatic coding mode at four-, three- and two-digit code level was 65%, 71% and 77% at 8 months and 68%, 73% and 76% at 21 months. The accuracy of agreement was slightly improved by semiautomatic coding of occupations: 73%/73%, 78%/77% and 83%/80% at 8/21 months respectively. While this suggests that women's description of their partners' occupation can be used as a valuable tool in epidemiological research where data from partners are not available, this study revealed no agreement between these young women and their partners at the two-digit level of SOC2000 coding in approximately one in five cases.

Conclusion

Proxy reporting of occupation introduces a statistically significant degree of error in classification. The effects of occupational misclassification by proxy reporting in retrospective occupational epidemiological studies based on questionnaire data should be considered.
Does the use of biofuels affect respiratory health among male Danish energy plant workers?
Authors: Schlünssen Vivi , Madsen Anne Mette , Skov Simon , Sigsgaard Torben
Published: November 2010

Objectives

To study asthma, respiratory symptoms and lung function among energy plant employees working with woodchip, straw or conventional fuel.

Methods

Respiratory symptoms in 138 woodchip workers, 94 straw workers and 107 control workers from 85 heating- or combined heating and power plants were collected by questionnaire. Spirometry, metacholine provocation tests and skin prick tests were performed on 310 workers. The work area concentrations of ‘total dust’ (n=181), airborne endotoxin (n=179), cultivableAspergillus fumigatus(n=373) and cultivable fungi (n=406) were measured at each plant. Personal exposure was calculated from the time spent on different tasks and average work area exposures.

Results

Median (range) average personal exposures in biofuel plants were 0.05 (0 to 0.33) mg/m3for ‘total’ dust and 3.5 (0 to 294) endotoxin units/m3for endotoxin. Fungi were cultivated from filters (straw plants) or slit samplers (woodchip plants); the average personal exposures were 5.230×103(118 to 1.85×104) and 1.03×103(364 to 5.01×103) colony-forming units/m3respectively. Exposure levels were increased in biofuel plants compared with conventional plants. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among conventional plant and biofuel plant workers was comparable, except for asthma symptoms among non-smokers, which were higher among straw workers compared with controls (9.4 vs 0%, p<0.05). A trend for increasing respiratory symptoms with increasing endotoxin exposure was seen with ORs between 3.1 (1.1 to 8.8) (work-related nose symptoms) and 8.1 (1.5 to 44.4) (asthma symptoms) for the most exposed group. Associations between fungal exposure and respiratory symptoms were less clear but suggested cultivable fungi to be associated with asthma symptoms and work-related respiratory symptoms. No associations were seen between lung function and the level of endotoxin or fungal exposure.

Conclusions

Working with biofuel at an energy plant does not generally enhance the prevalence of respiratory symptoms. However, the exposure level to micro-organisms has an impact on the occurrence of respiratory symptoms among biofuel workers.
Long-term effects of an intervention on psychosocial work factors among healthcare professionals in a hospital setting
Authors: Bourbonnais Renée , Brisson Chantal , Vézina Michel
Published: November 2010

Objective

This study assessed the long-term effects of a workplace intervention aimed at reducing adverse psychosocial work factors (psychological demands, decision latitude, social support and effort–reward imbalance) and mental health problems among health care professionals in an acute care hospital.

Methods

A quasi-experimental design with a control group was used. Pre-intervention (71% response rate) and 3-year post-intervention measures (60% response rate) were collected by telephone interviews with validated instruments.

Results

Three years after the intervention, all adverse psychosocial factors except one were reduced in the experimental group, and the improvement was statistically significant for 5/9 factors: psychological demands, effort–reward imbalance, quality of work, physical load and emotional demands. In addition, all health indicators improved and 2/5 significantly: work-related and personal burnout. In the control hospital, three work factors improved significantly but two deteriorated significantly: decision latitude and social support. All health problem deteriorated, although not significantly, in the control hospital. Moreover, 3 years after the intervention, the mean of all adverse factors except one (psychological demands) and all health indicators was significantly more favourable in the experimental than the control hospital, after adjusting for pre-intervention measures.

Conclusion

These results support the long-term effectiveness of the intervention. The reduction in many psychosocial factors in the experimental hospital may have clinical significance since most health indicators also improved in this hospital. These results support the whole process of the intervention given that significant improvements in psychosocial factors and health problems were observed in the experimental hospital but not in the control hospital.
Individual and organisational determinants of use of ergonomic devices in healthcare
Authors: Koppelaar E , Knibbe J J , Miedema H S , Burdorf A
Published: November 2010

Objective

This study aims to identify individual and organisational determinants associated with the use of ergonomic devices during patient handling activities.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out in 19 nursing homes and 19 hospitals. The use of ergonomic devices was assessed through real-time observations in the workplace. Individual barriers to ergonomic device use were identified by structured interviews with nurses and organisational barriers were identified using questionnaires completed by supervisors and managers. Multivariate logistic analysis with generalised estimating equations for repeated measurement was used to estimate determinants of ergonomic device use.

Results

247 nurses performed 670 patient handling activities that required the use of an ergonomic device. Ergonomic devices were used 68% of the times they were deemed necessary in nursing homes and 59% in hospitals. Determinants of lifting device use were nurses' motivation (OR 1.96), the presence of back complaints in the past 12 months (OR 1.77) and the inclusion in care protocols of strict guidance on the required use of ergonomic devices (OR 2.49). The organisational factors convenience and easily accessible, management support and supportive management climate were associated with these determinants. No associations were found with other ergonomic devices.

Conclusions

The use of lifting devices was higher in nursing homes than in hospitals. Individual and organisational factors seem to play a substantial role in the successful implementation of lifting devices in healthcare.
Republished paper: Where errors occur in the preparation and administration of intravenous medicines: a systematic review and Bayesian analysis
Authors: McDowell Sarah E , Mt-Isa Shahrul , Ashby Deborah , Ferner R E
Published: November 2010

Objective

To investigate the overall probability of error in preparing and administering intravenous medicines; to identify at which stage of the process an error is most likely to occur; and to determine the impact of error correction on the error probability.

Design

Systematic review and random-effects Bayesian conditional independence modelling.

Methods

Medline and EMBASE were searched for studies on intravenous medicines. The error rates of each stage were extracted. These, expert estimates, and error rates from generic tasks, were used in a Bayesian conditional independence model to find error ‘hot-spots.’ The main outcome measure was the probability of at least one error occurring during intravenous therapy.

Results

Nine published studies were identified for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall probability of making at least one error in intravenous therapy was 0.73 (95% credible interval (CrI) 0.54 to 0.90). If error-checking was introduced at each stage of the process, the overall rate fell to 0.22 (95% CrI 0.14 to 0.31). Errors were most likely in the reconstitution step. Removing the reconstitution step by providing preprepared injections would reduce the overall error rate to 0.17 (95% CrI 0.09 to 0.27).

Conclusions

Intravenous therapy is complex and error-prone. Error-checking at each stage could reduce the error probability. The use of preprepared injections may help by eliminating errors in the reconstitution of drug and diluent. However, it will be important to ensure that benefits are not outweighed by practical disadvantages such as an increase in selection errors.
Republished paper: Improving safety culture on adult medical units through multidisciplinary teamwork and communication interventions: the TOPS Project
Authors: Blegen M A , Sehgal N L , Alldredge B K , Gearhart S , Auerbach A A , Wachter R M
Published: November 2010

Aim

The goal of this project was to improve unit-based safety culture through implementation of a multidisciplinary (pharmacy, nursing, medicine) teamwork and communication intervention.

Method

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture was used to determine the impact of the training with a before–after design.

Results

Surveys were returned from 454 healthcare staff before the training and 368 staff 1 year later. Five of eleven safety culture subscales showed significant improvement. Nurses perceived a stronger safety culture than physicians or pharmacists.

Conclusion

While it is difficult to isolate the effects of the team training intervention from other events occurring during the year between training and postevaluation, overall the intervention seems to have improved the safety culture on these medical units.
COMPUTATIONAL COMPLEXITY OF THE PERFECT MATCHING PROBLEM IN HYPERGRAPHS WITH SUBCRITICAL DENSITY
Authors: KARPIŃSKI MAREK , RUCIŃSKI ANDRZEJ , SZYMAŃSKA EDYTA
Published: November 2010

In this paper we consider the computational complexity of deciding the existence of a perfect matching in certain classes of dense k-uniform hypergraphs. It has been known that the perfect matching problem for the classes of hypergraphs H with minimum ((k - 1)–wise) vertex degreeδ(H) at least c|V(H)| is NP-complete for [Formula: see text] and trivial for c ≥ ½, leaving the status of the problem with c in the interval [Formula: see text] widely open. In this paper we show, somehow surprisingly, that ½ is not the threshold for tractability of the perfect matching problem, and prove the existence of an ε > 0 such that the perfect matching problem for the class of hypergraphs H with δ(H) ≥ (½ - ε)|V(H)| is solvable in polynomial time. This seems to be the first polynomial time algorithm for the perfect matching problem on hypergraphs for which the existence problem is nontrivial. In addition, we consider parallel complexity of the problem, which could be also of independent interest.
ON THE UNDECIDABILITY OF THE IDENTITY CORRESPONDENCE PROBLEM AND ITS APPLICATIONS FOR WORD AND MATRIX SEMIGROUPS
Authors: BELL PAUL C. , POTAPOV IGOR
Published: November 2010

In this paper we study several closely related fundamental problems for words and matrices. First, we introduce the Identity Correspondence Problem (ICP): whether a finite set of pairs of words (over a group alphabet) can generate an identity pair by a sequence of concatenations. We prove that ICP is undecidable by a reduction of Post's Correspondence Problem via several new encoding techniques. In the second part of the paper we use ICP to answer a long standing open problem concerning matrix semigroups: "Is it decidable for a finitely generated semigroup S of integral square matrices whether or not the identity matrix belongs to S?". We show that the problem is undecidable starting from dimension four even when the number of matrices in the generator is 48. From this fact, we can immediately derive that the fundamental problem of whether a finite set of matrices generates a group is also undecidable. We also answer several questions for matrices over different number fields. Apart from the application to matrix problems, we believe that the Identity Correspondence Problem will also be useful in identifying new areas of undecidable problems in abstract algebra, computational questions in logic and combinatorics on words.
IMPROVING TWO NOVEL THREE-PARTY ENCRYPTED KEY EXCHANGE PROTOCOLS WITH PERFECT FORWARD SECRECY
Authors: LEE CHENG-CHI , CHANG RUI-XIANG , KO HSIEN-JU
Published: November 2010

It is a crucial that password security be effective and constantly improved. The three-party encrypted key exchange (3PEKE) protocol has been used to protect passwords transmitted between users. Recently, Chang and Chang proposed a novel 3PEKE (ECC-3PEKE) protocol using a super-poly-to-one trapdoor function which demonstrates high efficiency. However, Chen et al. and Yoon et al., respectively, showed that the ECC-3PEKE protocol can not prevent undetectable on-line password guessing attacks and proposed improved protocols. Unfortunately, their improved protocols suffer from off-line password guessing attacks without perfect forward secrecy. Hence, the authors propose an improved protocol to strengthen their security.
PARIKH MATRIX MAPPING AND LANGUAGES
Authors: ATANASIU RADU-FLORIAN
Published: November 2010

Restricting the Parikh Matrix mapping to a language rather than to an alphabet rises a set of problems that seem interesting to us. Moreover, amiability (or M -equivalence as it is named by other authors) is exploited in order to characterise certain types of languages. The paper also proposes a series of results establishing relations between classes of languages defined by Parikh matrix mappings and the Chomsky hierarchy. Finally, a result related to word composition concludes the paper, showing that for every two arbitrary words there exist two other words such that their composition (two by two) is amiable.
PARIKH MATRICES, AMIABILITY AND ISTRAIL MORPHISM
Authors: ATANASIU ADRIAN
Published: November 2010

Using the fact that the Parikh matrix mapping is not an injective mapping, the paper investigates some properties of the set of words having the same Parikh matrix; these words are called "amiable" or "M - equivalent". The presented paper uses the results obtained in [3] for the binary case. The aim is to distinguish the amiable words by using a morphism that provides additional information about them. The morphism proposed here is the Istrail morphism.
Effect of exercise intensity and AICAR on isoform-specific expressions of murine skeletal muscle PGC-1α mRNA: a role of β2-adrenergic receptor activation
Authors: Tadaishi Miki , Miura Shinji , Kai Yuko , Kawasaki Emi , Koshinaka Keiichi , Kawanaka Kentaro , Nagata Junichi , Oishi Yuichi , Ezaki Osamu
Published: November 2010

There are three isoforms of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) mRNA, which promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscles. Compared with PGC-1α-a mRNA, PGC-1α-b or PGC-1α-c mRNA is transcribed by a different exon 1 of the PGC-1α gene. In this study, effects of exercise intensity and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR) on isoform-specific expressions of PGC-1α were investigated. All isoforms were increased in proportion to exercise intensity of treadmill running (10–30 m/min for 30 min). Preinjection of β2-adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist (ICI 118551) inhibited the increase in PGC-1α-b and PGC-1α-c mRNAs, but not the increase in PGC-1α-a mRNA, in response to high-intensity exercise. Although high-intensity exercise activated α2-AMP-activated protein kinase (α2-AMPK) in skeletal muscles, inactivation of α2-AMPK activity did not affect high-intensity exercise-induced mRNA expression of all PGC-1α isoforms, suggesting that activation of α2-AMPK is not mandatory for an increase in PGC-1α mRNA by high-intensity exercise. A single injection in mice of AICAR, an AMPK activator, increased mRNAs of all PGC-1α isoforms. AICAR increased blood catecholamine concentrations, and preinjection of β2-AR antagonist inhibited the increase in PGC-1α-b and PGC-1α-c mRNAs but not the increase in PGC-1α-a mRNA. Direct exposure of epitrochlearis muscle to AICAR increased PGC-1α-a but not the -b isoform. These data indicate that exercise-induced PGC-1α expression was dependent on the intensity of exercise. Exercise or AICAR injection increased PGC-1α-b and PGC-1α-c mRNAs via β2-AR activation, whereas high-intensity exercise increased PGC-1α-a expression by a multiple mechanism in which α2-AMPK is one of the signaling pathways.