bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the bioavailability of potentially harmful elements in urban soils through ammonium acetate–EDTA extraction: a case study in southern Italy
Authors: Albanese S.
Published: January 2008

Bioavailability of some harmful elements in the urban soils of the cities of Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Napoli and Salerno (Italy) has been evaluated through an analytical process based on an ammonium acetate–EDTA extraction followed by ICP-MS analysis. Comparison between concentration values obtained for the same samples by means of an aqua regia leach and a weaker extraction such as ammonium acetate–EDTA (AA-EDTA) demonstrates how some elements, mostly of anthropogenic origin in the study areas (e.g. Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn), are more easily available to the biological cycle and thus more harmful to human health than others of strictly geogenic origin (e.g. As, Tl and V), depending on their chemical binding in the crystalline lattice of the soil minerals. Determination of elemental bioavailability can help to evaluate the environmental risks of human exposure and to redefine the local intervention levels for risk assessment based on a better knowledge of the geochemical background concentrations.
A comparison of the effects of fish oil and flaxseed oil on cardiac allograft chronic rejection in rats
Authors: Othman Rgia A. , Suh Miyoung , Fischer Gabor , Azordegan Nazila , Riediger Natalie , Le Khuong , Jassal Davinder S. , Moghadasian Mohammed H.
Published: January 2008

Both fish and flaxseed oils are major sources of different n-3 fatty acids. Beneficial effects of fish oil on posttransplantation complications have been reported. The current study aimed to compare the effects of flaxseed and fish oils in a rat cardiac allograft model. Male Fischer and Lewis rats were used as donors and recipients, respectively, to generate a heterotopic cardiac allograft model. Animals were randomly assigned into three groups and fed a diet supplemented with 1) 5% (wt/wt) safflower oil (control, n = 7), 2) 5% (wt/wt) flaxseed oil ( n = 8), or 3) 2% (wt/wt) fish oil ( n = 7), and an intraperitoneal injection of cyclosporine A (CsA; 1.5 mg·kg−1·day−1) over 12 wk. Body weight, blood pressure, plasma levels of lipids, CsA, select cytokines, as well as graft function and chronic rejection features were assessed. Body weight and blood CsA levels were similar among the groups. Relative to controls, both treated groups had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and plasma levels of macrophage chemotactic protein-1. Treatment with fish oil significantly ( P < 0.05) lowered plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol. HDL-cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in the flaxseed oil-treated group compared with the other two groups. Both flaxseed oil and fish oil may provide similar biochemical, hemodynamic, and inflammatory benefits after heart transplantation; however, neither of the oils was able to statistically significantly impact chronic rejection or histological evidence of apparent cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity in this model.
The role of natriuretic peptide receptor-A signaling in unilateral lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in the intact mouse
Authors: Dodd-o Jeffrey M. , Hristopoulos Maria L. , Kibler Kathleen , Gutkowska Jolanta , Mukaddam-Daher Suhayla , Gonzalez Alfredo , Welsh-Servinsky Laura E. , Pearse David B.
Published: January 2008

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) causes human lung injury in association with the release of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP), but the role of ANP/BNP in IR lung injury is unknown. ANP and BNP bind to natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A) generating cGMP and to NPR-C, a clearance receptor that can decrease intracellular cAMP. To determine the role of NPR-A signaling in IR lung injury, we administered the NPR-A blocker anantin in an in vivo SWR mouse preparation of unilateral lung IR. With uninterrupted ventilation, the left pulmonary artery was occluded for 30 min and then reperfused for 60 or 150 min. Anantin administration decreased IR-induced Evans blue dye extravasation and wet weight in the reperfused left lung, suggesting an injurious role for NPR-A signaling in lung IR. In isolated mouse lungs, exogenous ANP (2.5 nM) added to the perfusate significantly increased the filtration coefficient sevenfold only if lungs were subjected to IR. This effect of ANP was also blocked by anantin. Unilateral in vivo IR increased endogenous plasma ANP, lung cGMP concentration, and lung protein kinase G (PKGI) activation. Anantin enhanced plasma ANP concentrations and attenuated the increase in cGMP and PKGIactivation but had no effect on lung cAMP. These data suggest that lung IR triggered ANP release and altered endothelial signaling so that NPR-A activation caused increased pulmonary endothelial permeability.
Surface Photochemistry: Benzophenone as a Probe for the Study of Modified Cellulose Fibres
Authors: Vieira Ferreira L. F. , Costa A. I. , Ferreira Machado I. , Branco T. J. F. , Boufi S. , Rei-Vilar M. , Botelho do Rego A. M.
Published: January 2008

This work reports the use of benzophenone, a very
well characterized probe, to study new hosts (i.e., modified
celluloses grafted with alkyl chains bearing 12 carbon atoms)
by surface esterification. Laser-induced room temperature
luminescence of air-equilibrated or argon-purged solid
powdered samples of benzophenone adsorbed onto the two
modified celluloses, which will be named C12-1500 and
C12-1700, revealed the existence of a vibrationally structured
phosphorescence emission of benzophenone in the case where
ethanol was used for sample preparation, while a nonstructured
emission of benzophenone exists when water was used instead of
ethanol. The decay times of the benzophenone emission vary
greatly with the solvent used for sample preparation and do
not change with the alkylation degree in the range of
1500–1700 micromoles of alkyl chains per gram of cellulose.
When water was used as a solvent for sample preparation, the
shortest lifetime for the benzophenone emission was observed;
this result is similar to the case of benzophenone adsorbed
onto the “normal” microcrystalline cellulose
surface, with this latter case previously reported by Vieira
Ferreira et al. in 1995. This is due to the more efficient
hydrogen abstraction reaction from the glycoside rings of
cellulose when compared with hydrogen abstraction from the
alkyl chains of the modified celluloses. Triplet-triplet
transient absorption of benzophenone was obtained in both
cases and is the predominant absorption immediately after
laser pulse, while benzophenone ketyl radical formation occurs
in a microsecond time scale both for normal and modified
celluloses.
Preparation, Characterisation, and Photocatalytic Behaviour of Co‐TiO2 with Visible Light Response
Authors: Amadelli Rossano , Samiolo Luca , Maldotti Andrea , Molinari Alessandra , Valigi Mario , Gazzoli Delia
Published: January 2008

The preparation of cobalt‐modified TiO2 (Co‐TiO2) was carried out by the incipient impregnation method starting from commercial TiO2 (Degussa, P‐25) and cobalt acetate. XPS data show that cobalt is incorporated as divalent ion, and it is likely present within few subsurface layers. No appreciable change in structural‐morphologic properties, such as surface area and anatase/rutile phase ratio, was observed. Conversely, Co addition brings about conspicuous changes in the point of zero charge and in surface polarity. Diffuse reflectance spectra feature a red shift in light absorption that is dependent on the amount of cobalt.
The influence of cobalt addition on the performance of TiO2 as a photocatalyst in the degradation of 4‐chlorophenol and Bisphenol A is investigated. The results show that the modified oxide presents a higher photoactivity both for illumination with
UV‐visible (λ > 360 nm) and visible light (λ > 420 nm; λ > 450 nm), and that this enhancement depends on the amount of the added species and on the final thermal treatment in the preparation step. We also show that Co‐TiO2 is a more active catalyst than pure TiO2 for the reduction of O2 in the dark, which is an important reaction in the overall photocatalytic processes.
Multilayer Reinforcement of Woven Fabric for Composite Materials
Authors: Chepelyuk Elena V. , Choogin Valeriy V. , Hui David , Strzhemechny Yuri M.
Published: January 2008

This paper describes a new approach for the design of multilayer reinforcements of textile composite materials and products. We offer an alternative to multilayer complex fabrics for which the laminates of the composite reinforcement material consist of orthogonal woven fabrics with an original variable structure when each fabric layer is composed of alternating one‐ply (one warp and one weft) and one and‐ a‐half‐ply (one warp and two wefts) sections. Combination of these sections produces a “gearing” effect, preventing the delamination of textile composites in the process of their exploitation. An important aspect of the proposed method is a possibility to design woven fabrics in concurrence with the dimensions of the composite product and conditions of its exploitation; this leads to a substantial improvement of many properties of such composite product.
The Eyewall-Penetration Reconnaissance Observation of Typhoon Longwang (2005) with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Aerosonde
Authors: Lin Po-Hsiung , Lee Cheng-Shang
Published: January 2008

In this paper, a successful eye-penetration reconnaissance flight by an unmanned aerial vehicle, Aerosonde, into Typhoon Longwang (2005) and the preliminary analyses of the collected data are presented. The 10-h flight is diagnosed through four flight legs. The wind field measured along flight leg 1 provides the tangential and radial wind profiles from the outer perimeter into the eye of the typhoon at the 700-hPa layer. A vertical sounding was taken in the eye along flight leg 2 and the derived surface pressure in the eyewall is close to the estimates made by the local weather agencies. Along flight leg 3, the strongest winds during the whole flight mission were measured. These in situ wind measurements by Aerosonde are consistent with the winds observed by the Hua-lien Doppler weather radar. The maximum 10-min (1 min) wind along flight leg 3 when Aerosonde was flying around the eyewall region is 58.6 m s−1 (62 m s−1). The maximum sustained surface wind derived from this maximum wind speed is also close to the estimates made by the local weather agencies. In conclusion, this successful mission demonstrates that the Aerosonde with a trained crew can play a role in severe weather monitoring and the Aerosonde’s measurement can serve as an independent check for Doppler radar wind retrieval.
Religious Involvement and Attitudes Toward Parenting Among Low-Income Urban Women
Authors: Hill Terrence D. , Burdette Amy M. , Regnerus Mark , Angel Ronald J.
Published: January 2008

The authors employ data from the Welfare, Children, and Families project, a probability sample of 2,402 low-income women with children living in low-income neighborhoods in Boston, Chicago, and San Antonio, to test whether religious attendance is associated with parental satisfaction, perceived parental demands, and parental distress over 2 years. They also consider three potential mediators of the association between religious attendance and attitudes toward parenting: social support, self-esteem, and psychological distress. Results show that women who frequently attend religious services report greater parental satisfaction, perceive fewer parental demands, and report less parental distress than do women who attend less frequently. The authors also find that the mediators under study help to partially explain the relationship between religious attendance and attitudes toward parenting.
High strain rate deformation of Ti–15Mo–5Zr–3Al alloy over wide temperature range
Authors: Lee W.-S. , Lin C.-F. , Chen T.-H. , Hwang H.-H.
Published: January 2008

This study employs a split Hopkinson pressure bar to investigate the deformation behaviour of Ti–15Mo–5Zr–3Al alloy under strain rates of 8 × 102 to 8 × 103 s−1 at temperatures ranging from 25 to 900u C. The mechanical properties and fracture features of the alloy are found to be significantly dependent on both the strain rate and the temperature. The flow stress increases with increasing strain rate, but decreases with increasing temperature. For a constant temperature, the work hardening rate, maximum stress, strain at maximum stress and fracture strain all increase with increasing strain rate. For a given strain rate, the mechanical properties of Ti–15Mo–5Zr–3Al alloy exhibit their lowest values at a temperature of ∼700°C. As the strain rate increases, the strain rate sensitivity increases, but the activation volume decreases. However, as the temperature increases, the strain rate sensitivity decreases and the activation volume increases. For the current strain rate and temperature conditions, the activation energy decreases with increasing flow stress. Finally, optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations reveal that the alloy specimens fracture primarily as the result of the formation of adiabatic shear bands. The presence of dimples on the fracture surfaces is indicative of a ductile failure mode. The density of the dimples reflects the toughness of the alloy specimen and is found to vary directly as a function of the strain rate and the temperature.
Fabrication and microstructural investigations of porous ceramic particle/polymer matrix composites
Authors: Sharif M. A. , Sueyoshi H.
Published: January 2008

Well defined porous ceramic particle/polymer matrix composites consisting of Si and nanosized ZrO2 particles have been fabricated by the pyrolysis of phenolic resin at 1123 K in vacuum. Electron probe microanalyser analysis showed that the pyrolysis of the starting materials led to the agglomeration of ZrO2 particles and the uniformly distribution of Si particles in the matrix. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the formation of spherical pores ranging from 10 μm to several 100 μm in diameter in the composite, resulting in the flexural strength of ∼14 MPa. X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that β-SiC might be formed in the composite; and the matrix of porous polymer matrix ceramic composite was amorphous carbon.
Shedded neuronal ICAM-5 suppresses T-cell activation
Authors: Tian Li , Lappalainen Jani , Autero Matti , Hänninen Satu , Rauvala Heikki , Gahmberg Carl G.
Published: January 2008

Intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) bind to leukocyte β2 integrins, which, among other functions, provide costimulatory signals for T-cell activation. ICAM-5 (telencephalin) is expressed in the somadendritic region of neurons of the mammalian brain. The receptor for ICAM-5 is the integrin LFA-1, a major leukocyte integ-rin expressed in lymphocytes and microglia. In conditions of brain ischemia, epilepsy, and encephalitis, the soluble form of ICAM-5 (sICAM-5) has been detected in physiologic fluids. Here, we report that sICAM-5 attenuates the T-cell receptor-mediated activation of T cells as demonstrated by the decreased expression of the activation markers CD69, CD40L, and CD25 (IL-2R). This effect is most clearly seen in CD45ROLow (naive), and not in CD45ROHigh (memory) T cells, and is most effective early in priming, but not in the presence of strong costimulatory signals. Furthermore, sICAM-5 promotes the mRNA expression of the cytokines TGF-β1 and IFN-γ, but not TNF. The formation of sICAM-5 is promoted by activated T cells through the cleavage of ICAM-5 from neurons. This suggests that ICAM-5 is involved in immune privilege of the brain and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Development and validation of a predictive model for chemotherapy-associated thrombosis
Authors: Khorana Alok A. , Kuderer Nicole M. , Culakova Eva , Lyman Gary H. , Francis Charles W.
Published: January 2008

Risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is elevated in cancer, but individual risk factors cannot identify a sufficiently high-risk group of outpatients for thromboprophylaxis. We developed a simple model for predicting chemotherapy-associated VTE using baseline clinical and laboratory variables. The association of VTE with multiple variables was characterized in a derivation cohort of 2701 cancer outpatients from a prospective observational study. A risk model was derived and validated in an independent cohort of 1365 patients from the same study. Five predictive variables were identified in a multivariate model: site of cancer (2 points for very high-risk site, 1 point for high-risk site), platelet count of 350 × 109/L or more, hemoglobin less than 100 g/L (10 g/dL) and/or use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, leukocyte count more than 11 × 109/L, and body mass index of 35 kg/m2 or more (1 point each). Rates of VTE in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively, were 0.8% and 0.3% in low-risk (score = 0), 1.8% and 2% in intermediate-risk (score = 1-2), and 7.1% and 6.7% in high-risk (score ≥ 3) category over a median of 2.5 months (C-statistic = 0.7 for both cohorts). This model can identify patients with a nearly 7% short-term risk of symptomatic VTE and may be used to select cancer outpatients for studies of thromboprophylaxis.
A new perspective: molecular motifs on oxidized LDL, apoptotic cells, and bacteria are targets for chronic lymphocytic leukemia antibodies
Authors: Lanemo Myhrinder Anna , Hellqvist Eva , Sidorova Ekaterina , Söderberg Anita , Baxendale Helen , Dahle Charlotte , Willander Kerstin , Tobin Gerard , Bäckman Eva , Söderberg Ola , Rosenquist Richard , Hörkkö Sohvi , Rosén Anders
Published: January 2008

The restricted immunoglobulin (Ig) repertoire found in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) implies a role for antigen(s) in the leukemogenesis. The nature of the antigens has, however, not been characterized, although examples of autoantigens have been demonstrated. We have analyzed a panel of 28 CLL cell lines and primary cultures, producing monoclonal Ig with different Ig heavy-chain variable region gene usage and mutational status, including several complementarity determining region 3 homology subset members. Using mass-spectrometry, immunoassays, or protein macroarrays, we have discovered novel antigens binding to CLL Igs. These antigens included cytoskeletal proteins vimentin, filamin B, and cofilin-1, but also phosphorylcholine-containing antigens (eg, Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharides and oxidized low-density lipoprotein [oxLDL]). Additional new antigens identified were cardiolipin and proline-rich acidic protein-1. Remarkably, these antigens represent molecular motifs exposed on apoptotic cells/blebs and bacteria, and several CLL Igs bound to apoptotic Jurkat cells. In conclusion, these intriguing data, showing a limited target structure recognition, indicate that CD5+ CLL B cells are derived from a cell compartment that produces “natural antibodies,” which may be instrumental in elimination and scavenging of apoptotic cells and pathogenic bacteria.
Solving the Capacitated Local Access Network Design Problem
Authors: Salman F. Sibel , Ravi R. , Hooker John N.
Published: January 2008

We propose an exact solution method for a routing and capacity installation problem in networks. Given an input graph, the problem is to route traffic from a set of source nodes to a sink node and to install transmission facilities on the edges of the graph to accommodate the flow at minimum cost. We give a branch-and-bound algorithm that solves relaxations obtained by approximating the noncontinuous cost function by its lower convex envelope. The approximations are refined by branching on the flow ranges on selected edges. Our computational experiments indicate that this method is effective in solving moderate-size problems and provides very good candidate solutions early in the branch-and-bound tree.
Heuristic and Exact Algorithms for the Identical Parallel Machine Scheduling Problem
Authors: Dell'Amico Mauro , Iori Manuel , Martello Silvano , Monaci Michele
Published: January 2008

Given a set of jobs with associated processing times, and a set of identical machines, each of which can process at most one job at a time, the parallel machine scheduling problem is to assign each job to exactly one machine so as to minimize the maximum completion time of a job. The problem is strongly NP-hard and has been intensively studied since the 1960s. We present a metaheuristic and an exact algorithm and analyze their average behavior on a large set of test instances from the literature. The metaheuristic algorithm, which is based on a scatter search paradigm, computationally proves to be highly effective and capable of solving to optimality a very high percentage of the publicly available test instances. The exact algorithm, which is based on a specialized binary search and a branch-and-price scheme, was able to quickly solve to optimality all remaining instances.
Mean Variance Vulnerability
Authors: Eichner Thomas
Published: January 2008

This paper transfers the concept of Gollier and Pratt's (Gollier, C., J. W. Pratt. 1996. Risk vulnerability and the tempering effect of background risk. Econometrica 64 1109–1123) risk vulnerability into mean variance preferences. Risk vulnerability is shown to be equivalent to the slope of the mean variance indifference curve being decreasing in mean and increasing in variance. Next, we introduce the notion of mean variance vulnerability to link the concepts of decreasing absolute risk aversion, risk vulnerability, properness, and standardness. All of the abovementioned concepts are characterized in terms of mean variance indifference curve properties and in terms of absolute risk measures.
OR PRACTICE—An Economic Equilibrium Model of the Market for Marine Transportation Services in Petroleum Products
Authors: Mudrageda Murthy , Murphy Frederic H.
Published: January 2008

We describe a model of the market for petroleum tank vessels used for planning by Maritrans, Inc. This model is an enhanced version of an earlier model and more closely approximates the market for transportation services. Because of the better representation, we found that the market, which is defined around an index for transportation services, has the potential for multiple equilibria. We present how the model has been used in making major decisions at Maritrans and show how the index design leads to an anomaly where demand could increase with increasing prices, leading to the potential for multiple equilibria. We have not observed this phenomenon in the market. However, with the advent of forward markets for transportation services, known as freight-forward markets, if multiple equilibria do appear, it could become profitable for a player to move a market from one equilibrium to another.
Two-Stage Fleet Assignment Model Considering Stochastic Passenger Demands
Authors: Sherali Hanif D. , Zhu Xiaomei
Published: January 2008

An airline's fleet typically contains multiple aircraft families, each having a specific cockpit design and crew requirement. Each aircraft family contains multiple aircraft types having different capacities. Given a flight schedule network, the fleet assignment model is concerned with assigning aircraft to flight legs to maximize profits with respect to captured itinerary-based demand. However, because of related yield management and crew-scheduling regulations, in particular, this decision needs to be made well in advance of departures when market demand is still highly uncertain, although subsequently at a later stage, reassignments of aircraft types within a given family can be made when demand forecasts improve, while preserving crew schedules. In this paper, we propose a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programming approach in which the first stage makes only higher-level family-assignment decisions, while the second stage performs subsequent family-based type-level assignments according to forecasted market demand realizations. By considering demand uncertainty up-front at the initial fleeting stage, we inject additional flexibility in the process that offers more judicious opportunities for later revisions. We conduct a polyhedral analysis of the proposed model and develop suitable solution approaches. Results of some numerical experiments are presented to exhibit the efficacy of using the stochastic model as opposed to the traditional deterministic model that considers only expected demand, and to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms as compared with solving the model using its deterministic equivalent.
Financial Implications of Plans to Combat Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in an Orthopaedic Department
Authors: Hassan K , Koh C , Karunaratne D , Hughes C , Giles SN
Published: January 2008

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to calculate retrospectively the cost of MRSA infections in the elective and trauma orthopaedic population in Rotherham District General Hospital in a 3-month period during 2005.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 686 patients were admitted to the orthopaedic wards and the surgical wounds 10 patients became infected with MRSA.

RESULTS

The cost of these infections when extrapolated over 12 months was £384,000 excluding staff costs.

CONCLUSIONS

The key in the fight against MRSA in the hospital setting is multifactorial and requires a combination of measures. Our solution is: cohort nursing; non-selective screening of all admissions to the orthopaedic wards; use of a polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic tool; ring-fencing of beds; and separate wound dressing rooms for each ward. The total cost is projected to be £301,000.
Clean and Green: Saving Water in the Operating Theatre
Authors: Jehle Karlheinz , Jarrett Nick , Matthews Shaun
Published: January 2008

INTRODUCTION

There is a growing trend to use alcohol-based hand disinfectants in clinical practice. In addition to their antibacterial efficacy, these disinfectants offer an alternative to traditional surgical hand disinfection agents that can save water in the operating theatre.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The amounts of water and soap used during traditional surgical hand disinfection with antiseptic soap preparations were measured and water usage over a 1-year period was estimated. Costs of traditional disinfection agents were compared with alcohol-based agents.

RESULTS

One surgical hand disinfection episode with traditional agents used 18.5 l of water. During 15,500 procedures performed at our institution over a 1-year period, 931,938 l of water were used which could have been saved had alcohol-based agents been used. Cost per episode of hand disinfection depends on the amounts used and is not higher compared to traditional agents.

CONCLUSIONS

The benefits of using an alcohol-based surgical hand disinfectant may include significant water savings, in addition to previously published advantages of improved efficacy. When deciding on the method of surgical hand disinfection, careful thought should be given to the use of water as a resource. Surgeons should be aware of the environmental impact of their profession.
Providing a plastic surgery service in the new NHS
Authors: Seaward JR , Bryant MA , Oliver DW
Published: January 2008

The introduction of payment by results is part of a fundamental restructuring of the finances of the NHS. It was outlined in October 2002 in the DH's consultation document, Reforming NHS Financial Flows, and is currently being introduced over a fixed time scale to be fully implemented in 2009 (see http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Organisationpolicy/Financeandplanning/NHSFinancialReforms/index.htm). Essentially, payment by results means that hospitals will be paid a set price for every patient seen, irrespective of volume, based on a nationally determined price list for particular procedures or appointment types, called the national tariff. The purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss what these changes might mean to a typical plastic surgery department.
The New Alex: child-friendly services in Brighton
Authors: Towell Elaine
Published: January 2008

You get a sense that the new children's hospital, the Royal Alexandra in Brighton, must be pretty spectacular when someone claims to be 'looking forward to visiting it in the future.' The young boy who is so excited about the hospital is 12-year-old Hugo. He is one of nine children and young people (some formerly patients) who make up the children and young people's board at the 'New Alex' as it's affectionately known to the local residents.
Dental care standards in the prison setting
Authors: Hunter Sally
Published: January 2008

The Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) exists to raise the standards of care delivered to the patient in a primary dental care setting. The majority of the FGDP(UK)'s members work in dental practices; however, the primary care remit does not stop at the high street dentist and the Faculty's work encompasses other areas of dentistry such as the armed forces and salaried services. The FGDP(UK) has recently been involved in one such project to develop a set of national standards for the commissioning of dental care in prisons.
How to create a winning training portfolio
Authors: McTiernan R , Rainsbury JW , Vourous M , Jefferis AF
Published: January 2008

Those doctors currently in foundation training programmes will be familiar with the concept of a training portfolio, while 'old-style' SHOs, who have been trained and assessed in a less structured way, may not be familiar with this impo rt ant part of evaluating junior doctors.
Working for nothing! Payment by results shortfall in an ENT unit
Authors: Stimpson P , Pezier T , Bowdler D
Published: January 2008

Many NHS Trusts are currently experiencing severe financial problems, with many resorting to compulsory redundancy for staff in order to balance the books. In 2005 the Department of Health (DH) introduced a system of payment by results (PbR), by which health care Trusts charge the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) for the care and ser vices they provide. PbR represents a dramatic change to the way in which funds flow through the health care system. The aims of PbR are to ensure services are appropriately rewarded while creating financial incentives for Trusts as well as to 'support wider reform'. This system is based on a series of codes and has pushed the role of clinical coders to the fore in NHS Trusts. Every patient contact with the Trust, every diagnosis and every procedure performed generates a particular code from which a predetermined fee can be calculated.
Managing vascular complications of diabetes
Authors: Yusef Waquar
Published: January 2008

There are nearly 2.3 million individuals with diagnosed diabetes in the UK. Cardiovascular disease is the cause of death in up to 75 per cent of patients with type 2 diabetes. Often these deaths are premature.
College and ALSGBI pioneer laparoscopic surgery courses
Authors: Coleman Mark
Published: January 2008

Over the last two decades, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become the mainstream method for the treatment of many abdominal diseases previously treated by open surgery. It has resulted in improvements in many outcomes during and after surgery. The Royal College of Surgeons of England has always played an active role in training both consultant surgeons and trainees in minimally invasive surgery with courses such as the Intercollegiate Basic Surgical Skills Courses (BSS) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy courses run in the College itself and in regional units. Laparoscopic surgery itself presents unique challenges that demand that courses be designed specifically with these in mind.
Getting through the structured selection process
Authors: Howse F , Ward M , Horwood J , Byrne B , Mirnezami A
Published: January 2008

In 2007 a new method of selection for specialist training in the UK was introduced. Traditional forms of application and interview were abandoned in favour of an online application system and a structured interview process. Due to widely reported shortcomings the online application system has since been abandoned. The interview process also underwent modification during the first and second round of applications, specifically to incorporate the consideration of CVs at interview in addition to trainee portfolios. Nevertheless, the basic structured interview format promises to become the norm for the selection of surgical trainees throughout the country, potentially for many years to come.
The Specialist Library for Surgery, Theatres and Anaesthesia: 2007 and beyond
Authors: Setterfield Polly , Sams Steffi
Published: January 2008

Since its launch in December 2006, the Specialist Library for Surgery, Theatres and Anaesthesia (http://www.library.nhs.uk/theatres/) has continued to go from strength to strength. With over 50,000 visits in the past year (see Figure 1), it is fast becoming one of the best-used specialist libraries from the National Library for Health (NLH). We can't, however, rest on our laurels as the next year promises further changes and developments. This article rounds up the specialist library's activity over the past year and looks at what is likely to be in store.
The Tooke report: implications for surgery
Authors: Ribeiro Bernard
Published: January 2008

For the first time in my professional career I have witnessed near-universal approval for a report that has captured the mood of a dispirited profession. Faced with the evidence of the debacle of Modernising Medical Careers (MMC), Sir John and his team have undertaken a forensic analysis, with true scientific rigour, of all the evidence submitted. The key to their success was the use of e-consultation, which provided a graphic presentation of the responses to all 45 recommendations and gave a level of response that was exceptionally high. Over 1,400 individual and organisational responses were received, with 39,850 responses to the 45 recommendations. Of these, 87% agreed or strongly agreed, 9% were neutral and only 4% disagreed with the recommendations.
It depends what you do in the laboratory
Authors: Watt Roger , Quinn Sandra
Published: January 2008

This is a Commentary on Kingstone et al. (2008).
Specificity of the jump‐to‐conclusions bias in deluded patients
Authors: Peters Emmanuelle R. , Thornton Patricia. , Siksou Lea. , Linney Yvonne. , MacCabe James H.
Published: January 2008

Objective

To investigate the specificity of the ‘jump‐to‐conclusions’ (JTC) bias in delusions.

Methods

Thirty‐seven psychotic patients were divided into two separate groupings: (1) deluded versus non‐deluded individuals and (2) individuals with and without a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Groups were compared on three reasoning tasks (‘Beads’ task, Wason's 2–4–6 task, and Wason's selection task).

Results

Deluded participants had a tendency to show a JTC bias on data‐gathering tasks, but no differences were found with the schizophrenia diagnosis grouping. There were no differences between any groups on tasks of general reasoning and probability judgments.

Conclusion

The results suggest that JTC is specific to delusions rather than diagnosis, and to data gathering rather than a general deficit in reasoning.
Mechanisms of implementation intention effects: The role of goal intentions, self‐efficacy, and accessibility of plan components
Authors: Webb Thomas L. , Sheeran Paschal
Published: January 2008

Although considerable evidence suggests that forming an implementation intention increases rates of goal attainment, less research has examined the mechanisms that underlie these effects. The present research investigated the role of deliberative processes and accessibility of plan components as explanation for the relationship between implementation intentions and goal achievement. Study 1 used meta‐analysis to quantify the effects of implementation intentions on goal intentions and self‐efficacy. The results of 66 tests suggested that forming implementation intentions had negligible effects on both variables. Study 2 focused on the accessibility of plan components and found that the effect of implementation intentions on goal achievement was mediated simultaneously by the accessibility of specified situational cues and by the strength of the association forged between these cues and the intended response. These findings suggest that implementation intention effects are not explained by increased deliberation, but rather accrue from heightened accessibility of specified opportunities and strong opportunity‐response links.
Reducing the mapping between perception and action facilitates imitation
Authors: Perra Oliver. , Gattis Merideth.
Published: January 2008

This study investigated two hypotheses regarding the mapping of perception to action during imitation. The first hypothesis predicted that as children's cognitive capacities increase the tendency to map one goal and disregard others during imitation should decrease. This hypothesis was tested by comparing the performances of 168 4‐ to 7‐year‐olds in a gestural imitation task developed by Bekkering, Wohlschläger, and Gattis. The second hypothesis predicted that reducing the mapping between perception and action should reduce the demands on the cognitive resources of the child. This hypothesis was tested by creating a condition in which perception and action overlapped by sharing objects between experimenter and child. In three experimental conditions, an adult modelled four gestures, directed at either: 1) one of two sets of round stickers (proprietary objects); 2) the same location on the table, without any sticker (no objects); or 3) one set of round stickers, which were shared with the child (shared objects). The results confirmed both hypotheses. Four‐ and five‐year‐olds imitated less accurately when imitation involved mapping of both objects and movements (proprietary and shared objects) than when imitation involved mapping movements only (no objects). Seven‐year‐olds imitated accurately in all three conditions, demonstrating that increased cognitive capacity allowed them to map multiple goals from perception to action. Most importantly, reducing the mapping between perception and action in the shared objects condition facilitated imitation, specifically for the transitional group, 6‐year‐olds. We conclude that mapping between perception and action is not direct, but resembles mapping relations in analogical reasoning: cognitive processes mediate mapping from perception to action.
Effects of (very) brief writing on health: The two‐minute miracle
Authors: Burton Chad M. , King Laura A.
Published: January 2008

This study tested the lower boundary of the dosage required to garner health benefits from written emotional expression. Participants wrote about either a personal trauma, a positive life experience, or a control topic for 2 minutes each day for 2 days. Emotion word usage in the essays was examined and physical health complaints were measured 4–6 weeks after the last writing session. Trauma and positive experience essays contained more emotional content than the control essays and such content was of a similar percentage to that demonstrated by past research. Both the trauma and the positive experience conditions reported fewer health complaints at follow‐up than the control condition.
Avaliação ultra-sonográfica do segmento posterior de olhos de cães diabéticos e não diabéticos portadores de catarata
Authors: Squarzoni Renata , Morales Maira S.A. , Safatle Angélica M.V. , Barros Paulo Sérgio M.
Published: January 2008

A catarata impossibilita a passagem de luz dentro do olho, dificultando o exame físico direto das estruturas oculares. É necessária a identificação prévia de quaisquer alterações oculares que contra-indiquem a cirurgia de catarata. A ultra-sonografia, ou ecografia ocular, é um exame seguro, de baixo custo, não invasivo, de fácil realização, que completa o exame oftálmico. Foi realizada avaliação ultra-sonográfica, com transdutor linear, freqüência de 10 MHz, de 225 olhos de 123 cães, sendo cães controle (Grupo 1), 52 cães não diabéticos portadores de catarata (Grupo 2) e 35 cães diabéticos portadores de catarata (Grupo 3), todos eles atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade de São Paulo. Foram encontradas as seguintes alterações ultra-sonográficas no Grupo 1: degeneração vítrea em 43%, descolamento de vítreo posterior em 7,7%, hialose asteróide em 4,6% dos olhos; no Grupo 2: degeneração vítrea em 58,9%, descolamento de vítreo posterior em 8,4%, hialose asteróide em 2,1%, processo inflamatório e/ou hemorrágico em 2,1% e descolamento de retina em 4,3% dos olhos; e no Grupo 3: degeneração vítrea em 50,7%, descolamento de vítreo posterior em 13,8%, hialose asteróide em 12,3%, processo inflamatório e/ou hemorrágico em 3,1% e descolamento de retina em 3,1% dos olhos. Concluiu-se, que (1) cães diabéticos, principalmente os que apresentam a doença há mais de 2 anos, tem maior predisposição para o desenvolvimento de hialose asteróide; (2) não houve diferença entre a freqüencia de descolamento de retina encontrada em cães diabéticos e não diabéticos; e (3) a ultra-sonografia ocular é em exame seguro, eficaz e importante na avaliação pré-operatória de cães portadores de catarata.
Controle de arroz-vermelho (Oryza sp.) com o herbicida nicosulfuron ou a mistura formulada de imazethapyr + imazapic
Authors: Fontana L.C. , Agostinetto D. , Pinto J.J.O. , Rosenthal M.D. , Rigoli R.P. , Figueredo S.S.
Published: January 2008

Foi avaliada a eficácia no controle de arroz-vermelho com o herbicida nicosulfuron ou a mistura formulada de imazethapyr + imazapic. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação da Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel (UFPel), no município de Capão do Leão (RS), na estação de crescimento 2005/06, em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em esquema fatorial 2 x 7, sendo o fator A os herbicidas e o fator B as doses dos herbicidas (0, 0,25, 0,50, 0,75, 1,0, 1,25 e 1,50 L ha-1). A aplicação foi feita sobre as plantas de arroz-vermelho em estádio de desenvolvimento V4. As variáveis analisadas foram controle, estatura da planta e massa seca da parte aérea. Para as variáveis respostas foi verificada interação significativa entre os fatores estudados. Incrementos nas doses dos herbicidas resultaram em respostas crescentes de controle, com redução na taxa de crescimento das plantas e produção de massa seca da parte aérea. Os resultados mostraram que o arroz-vermelho é controlado pelos herbicidas testados. A eficácia de controle não é restrita à mistura formulada de imazethapyr + imazapic, ocorrendo também com o herbicida nicosulfuron a partir de 40 g ha-1.
Effects of venous supercharging in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap
Authors: Groth Anne Karoline , Campos Antônio Carlos Ligocki , Gonçalves Carolina Gomes , Silva Ruy Fernando Caetano da , Silva Alfredo Benjamim Duarte da , Greca Fernando Hintz , Graf Ruth
Published: January 2008

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of venous supercharging in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap in rats. METHODS: 20 Wistar rats were randomized in 2 groups: control group (C), all had flaps raised based on the deep inferior epigastric perforator vessels (DIEP), and experimental group (E), which was identical to group C, except that the contralateral superficial inferior epigastric vein was also kept with the flap. Flow studies using laser Doppler flowmetry where performed daily in the four zones of the flap. On the 7th postoperative day rats were killed and flap survival was determined using digital planimetry. RESULTS: Flow values were presented as a percentage of the baseline flow after incision of the flap edges. The surviving flap area was demonstrated as a percentage of the total flap area. Evaluation by digital planimetry showed that flap survival in group E was higher than in group C (97,38%±1,32%vs.44,13%±4,83%, p=0,0006). CONCLUSION: This study shows that venous supercharging of the rat DIEP flap results in greater flap survival.
Prevalência de obesidade em crianças de uma escola pública e de um ambulatório geral de Pediatria de hospital universitário
Authors: Troncon Júlia Kefalás , Gomes Juliana Pierobon , Guerra-Júnior Gil , Lalli Cristina Alba
Published: January 2008

OBJETIVO: Verificar a associação entre atividade física e características socioeconômicas com a presença de obesidade e/ou sobrepeso em crianças de seis a 14 anos, escolares da Escola Sérgio Porto e pacientes que procuraram o Ambulatório de Pediatria no Hospital de Clínicas (HC), ambos no campus da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp). MÉTODOS: O estudo foi realizado por meio da aplicação de questionário aos pais ou responsáveis e coleta de dados de peso e altura das crianças. Foi calculado o índice de massa corpórea (IMC), e feita a classificação em normal, sobrepeso ou obesidade, a partir dos dados do Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dos Estados Unidos. Foi feita análise descritiva dos dados e utilizados os testes do qui-quadrado ou exato de Fisher. RESULTADOS: A amostra ambulatorial foi composta por 107 crianças (13,1% com sobrepeso e 11,2% obesas) e a escolar de 109 (16,5% com sobrepeso e 20,2% obesas). Não foi observada diferença significante entre a prevalência de obesidade ou de obesidade e sobrepeso entre as duas amostras, apesar de as amostras serem diferentes em relação à renda mensal (p<0,0001), escolaridade materna (p<0,0001) e atividade física (p<0,0001), sendo que a população ambulatorial apresentou menores índices nestas três variáveis, comparada à escolar. CONCLUSÕES: Os índices de sobrepeso e obesidade encontrados no presente estudo foram elevados, confirmando que houve a transição nutricional em ambas as amostras, de maneira similar à observada no resto do nosso país, independentemente do sexo, da classificação socioeconômica e da atividade física.
A experiência da toxicomania e da reincidência a partir da fala dos toxicômanos
Authors: Santos Clayton Ezequiel dos , Costa-Rosa Abílio da
Published: January 2008

Este estudo teve como objetivo examinar o fenômeno da toxicomania e sua reincidência a partir da fala dos toxicômanos. Foi realizado em instituição especializada no tratamento da dependência química e problemas relacionados ao uso de álcool e outras drogas, contando com dados do acompanhamento de onze sujeitos. Utilizou-se o referencial teórico psicanalítico para a escuta de indivíduos em situação de toxicomania, com o dispositivo das entrevistas preliminares, dentro do referencial da "clínica da urgência" em psicanálise. Os resultados do trabalho de escuta e da reflexão apontaram uma série de características psicológicas dos indivíduos estudados de clara relevância para o planejamento de estratégias individuais ou coletivas de atenção ao problema. Destacamos a hipótese de duas modalidades de toxicomania relacionadas com as formas particulares da subjetividade em que ocorre. A questão da reincidência na toxicomania aparece como um falso problema para os sujeitos, que demonstraram que a desintoxicação, concomitante à abstinência e provocada pela internação, é somente um momento de privação, simultaneamente necessária e forçada, do gozo propiciado pela droga. Finda a internação segue-se, geralmente, um novo período de uso. A aceitação da abstinência não significa que os sujeitos fazem uma renúncia, correlata, ao desejo pela droga. É apenas uma parada provavelmente ligada à menor tolerância psíquica à modalidade de gozo em ação na toxicomania, um gozo capaz de confrontar o sujeito com a morte. A abstinência forçada, como estratégia da política pública de saúde, presente no tratamento comum da toxicomania, mostrou conseqüências altamente negativas para o resultado do tratamento, parecendo indicar a necessidade de sua revisão urgente. Procurou-se problematizar a questão da abertura à dimensão subjetiva da experiência dos toxicômanos como estratégia capaz de interferir na trajetória dos sujeitos na relação com as drogas a partir do momento em que buscam ajuda.