bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalized thermoelastic interaction in a functionally graded isotropic unbounded medium due to varying heat source with three-phase-lag effect
Authors: Banik Sukla , Kanoria Mridula
Published: March 2012

This paper deals with the problem of thermoelastic interactions in a functionally graded isotropic unbounded medium due to the presence of periodically varying heat sources in the context of the three-phase-lag thermoelastic models, GN ii (TEWOED) and GN iii (TEWED). The governing equations of three-phase-lag thermoelastic model (3P), generalized thermoelasticity without energy dissipation (GN ii) and with energy dissipation (GN iii) for a functionally graded material (i.e., a material with spatially varying material properties) are established. The governing equations are expressed in a Laplace–Fourier double transform domain and solved in that domain. Then the inversion of the Fourier transform is carried out by using residual calculus, where poles of the integrand are obtained numerically in a complex domain by using Laguerre's method and the inversion of the Laplace transform is done numerically using a method based on Fourier series expansion technique. The numerical estimates of the thermal displacement, temperature and thermal stress are obtained for a hypothetical material. The solution to the analogous problem for homogeneous isotropic material is obtained by taking a suitable non-homogeneity parameter. Finally, the results obtained are presented graphically to show the effect of non-homogeneity on thermal displacement, temperature and thermal stress. A comparison of the results for different theories (three-phase-lag model, GN ii and GN iii) is presented and the effect of non-homogeneity is also shown. In absence of non-homogeneity the results corresponding to the 3P model, GN ii and GN iii model agree with the results of the existing literature.
Theoretical, Statistical, and Substantive Issues in the Assessment of Construct Dimensionality
Authors: Tay Louis , Drasgow Fritz
Published: March 2012

Can one accurately infer the dimensionality of constructs such as emotions (i.e., happy–sad), work–family spillover (i.e., positive–negative), or job performance (i.e., organizational citizenship behaviors and counterproductive work behaviors) with commonly used methods? In this article, the authors show how the misapplication of commonly used methods (e.g., factor analysis [FA]) to data originating from an ideal point response process (i.e., self-reported typical behaviors: attitudes, personality, emotions, or interests) can lead to incorrect theoretical and statistical inferences. The authors demonstrate that principal components analysis (PCA) produces an additional spurious dimension despite Likert scaling procedures (i.e., reverse scoring and excluding items with low item-total correlations to improve scale reliability). This incorrectly leads to a conclusion against bipolarity. The authors illustrate the substantive implications for organizational research with emotions data showing that the misapplication of FA could underlie the longstanding debate on the bipolarity of affect. To circumvent this potential problem, the authors propose analytic steps to determine if the recovered constructs are spurious. Additionally, the authors lay out specific issues that need to be considered when evaluating the bipolarity of self-reported typical behavior constructs such as work–family spillover and job performance.
Party cartels beyond Western Europe
Authors: Hutcheson Derek S
Published: March 2012

The article applies and develops Katz and Mair’s ‘cartel party’ thesis to the Russian case. Challenging the accepted characterization of the Russian party system as ‘hegemonic’, the article contends that this underplays the systemic importance of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and its collusion with pro-Kremlin parties in the fields of electoral and party reform. By applying the concepts of cartelization to the Russian case, it appears that the intersection of state and party goes beyond simply the ‘top-down’ establishment of political parties towards a party system in which there is inter-party collusion around a strong state-based regime.
Measuring the Performance of Microfinancing Institutions: A New Approach
Authors: Nanayakkara Gemunu
Published: March 2012

Microfinancing Institutions (MFIs) have grown in popularity as an effective tool for reducing poverty in the developing countries over the last three decades. MFIs are different from traditional financial institutions like banks in many ways. They mainly provide financial assistance (usually without any security) to the needy poor who are denied access to institutional credit from other sources. Data relating to 2007 has shown that there are more than 3,000 MFIs operating around the world. Hundreds of millions of dollars of donor funds are injected into the microfinancing sector. Therefore, the ‘performance’ of MFIs which affect the effective and efficient utilization of these funds is an important issue. Standard criteria used to measure the performance of commercial enterprises such as profitability, return on investment, share price, etc., are not appropriate to assess the performance of MFIs which have fundamentally different objectives that conflict with commercial interests. This article analyzes the issues relating to criteria used for identifying the performance of MFIs and recommends a new approach to measure the performance of MFIs in an objective manner.

JEL: G21
Winner or Loser? A Post-Quota Case Study of Pakistan’s Textiles and Clothing Exports
Authors: Ghori Umair Hafeez
Published: March 2012

Textiles and Clothing (T&C) is a critically important sector of international trade for developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs). The T&C sector engages abundant labour resources and requires low investment threshold. The T&C sector has been a contentious area in multilateral trade negotiations. With the expiration of quotas in 2005, many T&C dependent countries are experiencing considerable adjustment challenges. Pakistan is one such country that is extensively reliant on T&C industries. This research note presents a brief case study which looks at post-quota developments in Pakistan’s T&C trade and the trade and economic policy issues it raises.

JEL: L67, L52, F50
Proof of concept for the role of glycemic control in the early detection of infections in diabetics
Authors: Botsis Taxiarchis , Lai Albert M. , Palmas Walter , Starren Justin B. , Hartvigsen Gunnar , Hripcsak George
Published: March 2012

The relationship of infections and glycemic control in diabetes has been previously investigated but no solid findings have been described. Meanwhile, the detection of any infection at the early stages of disease progression, i.e. during the incubation period, is critical. In order to study this topic, we used the infection evidence and the daily glycemic control data of 248 type-2 diabetics who participated in a large telemedicine study. The results showed that morning blood glucose was significantly elevated and that diabetics performed the measurements at a later time when infected. A simple model for predicting the occurrence of infection based on the glycemic control variables showed good performance (sensitivity: 56%, specificity: 92%). A set of variables that synthesize a diabetic’s profile could be included in a dedicated model and facilitate the early detection of infections; other aspects, such as continuous self-monitoring and personalized medical records, should be examined in this direction.
The accuracy of real-time procedure coding by theatre nurses: A comparison with the central national system
Authors: Maclean Donald , Younes Hakim Ben , Forrest Margaret , Towers Hazel K.
Published: March 2012

Accurate and timely clinical data are required for clinical and organisational purposes and is especially important for patient management, audit of surgical performance and the electronic health record. The recent introduction of computerised theatre management systems has enabled real-time (point-of-care) operative procedure coding by clinical staff. However the accuracy of these data is unknown. The aim of this Scottish study was to compare the accuracy of theatre nurses’ real-time coding on the local theatre management system with the central Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR01). Paired procedural codes were recorded, qualitatively graded for precision and compared (n = 1038). In this study, real-time, point-of-care coding by theatre nurses resulted in significant coding errors compared with the central SMR01 database. Improved collaboration between full-time coders and clinical staff using computerised decision support systems is suggested.
Storytelling, a model of and a model for planning
Authors: van Hulst Merlijn
Published: March 2012

Interest in storytelling in planning has grown over the last two decades. In this article two strands of research are identified: research that looks at storytelling as a model of the way planning is done and research that looks at storytelling as a model for the way planning could or should be done. Recently, the second strand has received the most attention. This article builds on theories of storytelling as an important aspect of everyday planning practice. It draws on an ethnographic case in which a range of actors struggled with the meaning of what was going on, (re)framing the past, present and future with the help of stories. The case illustrates how new stories are built on top of older ones and new understandings emerge along the way. The article also looks into the relationship between storytelling and other planning activities. The article ends with a plea for ethnographic fieldwork to further develop ideas on storytelling in planning practice.
Phase averaging of the velocity fields in an oscillating water column using splines
Authors: Fleming Alan , Penesis Irene , Macfarlane Gregor , Bose Neil , Hunter Scott
Published: March 2012

The principal objective of this paper is to present a phase averaging method by curve fitting using B-splines. The method was designed specifically to process phase-clumped and discontinuous periodic data. Phase averaging by ensemble averaging of data clumped in phase will cause phase bias error if the mean phase of the clumped data does not equal the desired phase. The curve-fitting method presented here avoids phase bias error. The performance of the curve-fitting method was compared favourably with the ensemble averaging method when processing phase-clumped experimental data. Generally, the curve-fitting method exceeded the performance of the ensemble averaging method when the data were clumped in phase and matched the performance of the ensemble averaging method when the data were randomly distributed in phase. Experimentally obtained phase-clumped two-dimensional velocity fields at the centre-line of a forward-facing bent-duct oscillating water column were processed using the curve-fitting method. The phase-averaged velocity fields were combined for visualization purposes in the form of animated graphics interchange format (GIF) images to show the velocity fields over a wave cycle. The GIF images correspond to the four separate monochromatic wave frequencies tested and accompany the online version of this paper. The GIF images reveal the two-dimensional phase-averaged flow characteristics at the centre-line of the model with phenomena including oscillating flow, water column heave and slosh, front-wall swash and down wash, an outflow jet and vortices. It was concluded that phase averaging using splines finds a niche for the phase averaging of data which are dispersed (or clumped) in phase.
Voices From the Trenches
Authors: Senn Theresa E. , Carey Michael P.
Published: March 2012

Experienced HIV prevention group facilitators have a unique perspective on sexual risk reduction interventions; however, their views are rarely reported in the research literature. To address this gap, the authors solicited input from four men and four women who served as facilitators in a randomized controlled trial of HIV risk reduction interventions. During focus groups or individual interviews, these facilitators commented on issues related to facilitation training and supervision, key facilitator characteristics, and challenges associated with intervention delivery. Facilitators reported that they valued training that was specific to the HIV context, the opportunity to observe workshops and to facilitate a mock workshop before facilitating themselves, and ongoing peer supervision. They recognized several important facilitator characteristics, including being open and nonjudgmental, being flexible, and being culturally competent. Finally, facilitators mentioned that facilitating workshops was made more difficult by the many psychosocial problems many low-income participants experienced, and that facilitating workshops with men was more difficult than with women. Observations such as these, provided by experienced facilitators, can help to improve intervention training and delivery, and may increase the likelihood that interventions will be adopted in community settings.
Is Health Promotion the Starting Point of Primary Cardiovascular Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Like Nepal?
Authors: Vaidya Abhinav , Krettek Alexandra
Published: March 2012

Background. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are on the rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but have not received adequate priority. With a lack of concrete policy and programs, the present emphasis of CVD management in most LMICs is on curative aspects. Nepal is a prototype in this trend as it is treatment centric, particularly in urban areas. A major drawback of cure-centrism is that it requires both larger funds and more skilled manpower—both of which are limited in Nepal and other LMICs. Aims. In this article, the authors suggest a possible role of health promotion as starting point for tackling the rising burden of CVDs in LMICs with Nepal as example. Conclusions. Health promotion is practiced in Nepal in connection with many health care programs and could be used to include CVD preventive strategies. The authors believe this to be a first step to increase health literacy toward CVD in the general population which may help bridge limited funds and manpower that the current curative-centric CVD strategy requires. Thus, health promotion strategies should be a tempting option for many LMICs and deserve further explorative attention.
The Impact of Bullying Victimization on School Avoidance
Authors: Hutzell Kirsten L. , Payne Allison Ann
Published: March 2012

An increasing body of research is examining the effects of bullying among adolescents in elementary, middle, and high school settings. Using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey: School Crime Supplement 2007, this study explores the impact of bullying victimization on school avoidance for 11,161 students between the ages of 12 and 18. More specifically, the authors investigate the likelihood of students avoiding locations in or around schools due to perceived or actual incidents of victimization. Results highlight the pervasiveness of peer aggression in schools and provide further encouragement for the development of prevention and intervention tactics to effectively mediate bully/victim issues.
Normal Pain Transmission
Authors: Urch Catherine
Published: March 2012

• Acute (normal) pain transmission is part of a survival response to prevent tissue damage and attend to and protect damaged tissue. • A cycle of afferent transmission, response to stimuli, followed by temporary hypersensitivity, then attenuation and resolution occurs. • Primary afferent, spinal cord ascending and descending pathways are fixed; however the response elicited is highly dynamic and not a linear relationship with input intensity. • Somatic inputs are topographically accurate, in contrast to diffuse visceral inputs. • Primary afferents code differentially for stimuli (heat, acid, pressure etc) and intensity. • The dorsal horn allows extensive modulation of initial inputs, either excitation or inhibition. • Higher CNS areas allow extensive modulation of inputs, account for the conscious recognition of pain: the intensity, location, emotional and memory aspects. • Descending pathways arising from midbrain regions can be inhibitory or excitatory.
Basic Opioid Pharmacology
Authors: Williams John
Published: March 2012

• Opioids can be classified according to their mode of synthesis into alkaloids, semi-synthetic and synthetic compounds. • There are three classical receptors (DOP, KOP and MOP). The novel NOP receptor is considered to be a non-opioid branch of the opioid receptor family. • Opioids can either act as agonists, antagonists or partial agonists at these receptors. • Opioid agonists bind to G-protein coupled receptors to cause cellular hyperpolarisation. • MOP receptor agonists act in the central and peripheral nervous system to elicit analgesia.
Lumbar Zygapophyseal (Facet) Joint Pain
Authors: Saravanakumar K. , Harvey A.
Published: March 2012

• Lumbar zygapophyseal joints act as primary pain generators in at least 10–15% of patients with chronic low back pain. • Diagnostic nerve blocks are the most reliable way to diagnose lumbar zygapophyseal joint pain. • IASP recommends either controlled or comparative blocks for diagnosis of zygapophyseal joint pain as there is a significant incidence of false positives with single blocks. • Management should be multimodal comprising education, exercises, analgesics and procedural interventions to achieve functional restoration. • There is a need for further RCTs with standardised diagnostic criteria and outcome measures as well as long-term data to determine the efficacy of radiofrequency denervation.
Acute Pain Management in Opioid Dependent Patients
Authors: Mehta Vivek , Langford Richard
Published: March 2012

• • Acute pain management remains a challenge in opioid dependent patients, and it has been recognised that these patients are commonly under-treated. • Chronic opioid exposure leads to widespread adaptations both at cellular and synaptic level. • Physical dependence is a neuropharmacological phenomenon as a result of neuroadaptation and neuroplasticity, in contrast to addiction that is both neuropharmacological and behavioural. • While providing the patient's pre-existing opioid requirement, the acute pain episode should be managed using additional multimodal analgesia: non-opioid medications in combination with local anaesthetic techniques and as required, short-acting opioid titrated to effect. • Patients on long term buprenorphine and methadone with acute pain episode should be continued with their maintenance therapy and an additional short-acting opioid analgesic titrated to achieve therapeutic effect.
Nuclear expression of Rac1 in cervical premalignant lesions and cervical cancer cells
Authors: Mendoza-Catalán Miguel A , Cristóbal-Mondragón Gema R , Adame-Gómez Jesús , del Valle-Flores Heidi N , Coppe José Fco , Sierra-López Laura , Romero-Hernández Mirna A , del Carmen Alarcón-Romero Luz , Illades-Aguiar Berenice , Castañeda-Saucedo Eduardo
Published: March 2012

Background

Abnormal expression of Rho-GTPases has been reported in several human cancers. However, the expression of these proteins in cervical cancer has been poorly investigated. In this study we analyzed the expression of the GTPases Rac1, RhoA, Cdc42, and the Rho-GEFs, Tiam1 and beta-Pix, in cervical pre-malignant lesions and cervical cancer cell lines.

Methods

Protein expression was analyzed by immunochemistry on 102 cervical paraffin-embedded biopsies: 20 without Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (SIL), 51 Low- grade SIL, and 31 High-grade SIL; and in cervical cancer cell lines C33A and SiHa, and non-tumorigenic HaCat cells. Nuclear localization of Rac1 in HaCat, C33A and SiHa cells was assessed by cellular fractionation and Western blotting, in the presence or not of a chemical Rac1 inhibitor (NSC23766).

Results

Immunoreacivity for Rac1, RhoA, Tiam1 and beta-Pix was stronger in L-SIL and H-SIL, compared to samples without SIL, and it was significantly associated with the histological diagnosis. Nuclear expression of Rac1 was observed in 52.9% L-SIL and 48.4% H-SIL, but not in samples without SIL. Rac1 was found in the nucleus of C33A and SiHa cells but not in HaCat cells. Chemical inhibition of Rac1 resulted in reduced cell proliferation in HaCat, C33A and SiHa cells.

Conclusion

Rac1 is expressed in the nucleus of epithelial cells in SILs and cervical cancer cell lines, and chemical inhibition of Rac1 reduces cellular proliferation. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of Rho-GTPases in cervical cancer progression.
Bioaugmentation of a historically contaminated soil by polychlorinated biphenyls with Lentinus tigrinus
Authors: Federici Ermanno , Giubilei Mariangela , Santi Guglielmo , Zanaroli Giulio , Negroni Andrea , Fava Fabio , Petruccioli Maurizio , D'Annibale Alessandro
Published: March 2012

Background

Several species belonging to the ecological group of white-rot basidiomycetes are able to bring about the remediation of matrices contaminated by a large variety of anthropic organic pollutants. Among them, polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are characterized by a high recalcitrance due to both their low bioavailability and the inability of natural microbial communities to degrade them at significant rates and extents. Objective of this study was to assess the impact of a maize stalk-immobilizedLentinus tigrinusCBS 577.79 inoculant combined with soybean oil (SO), as a possible PCB-mobilizing agent, on the bioremediation and resident microbiota of an actual Aroclor 1260 historically contaminated soil under unsaturated solid-phase conditions.

Results

Best overall PCB depletions (33.6 ± 0.3%) and dechlorination (23.2 ± 1.3%) were found after 60 d incubation in the absence of SO where, however, the fungus appeared to exert adverse effects on both the growth of biphenyl- and chlorobenzoate-degrading bacteria and the abundance of genes coding for both biphenyl dioxygenase (bph) and catechol-2,3-dioxygenase. A significant (P< 0.001) linear inverse relationship between depletion yields and degree of chlorination was observed in both augmented and control microcosms in the absence of SO; conversely, this negative correlation was not evident in SO-amended microcosms where the additive inhibited the biodegradation of low chlorinated congeners. The presence of SO, in fact, resulted in lower abundances of both biphenyl-degrading bacteria andbph.

Conclusions

The PCB depletion extents obtained in the presence ofL. tigrinusare by far higher than those reported in other remediation studies conducted under unsaturated solid phase conditions on actual site soils historically contaminated by Aroclor 1260. These results suggest that the bioaugmentation strategy with the maize stalk-immobilized mycelium of this species might be promising in the reclamation of PCB-contaminated soils. The addition of SO to matrices contaminated by technical PCB mixtures, such as Aroclor 1242 and Delor 103 and characterized by a large preponderance of low chlorinated congeners, might not be advisable.
Tratamento de hérnia umbilical em bovinos
Authors: Silva Luiz Antônio Franco da , Eurides Duvaldo , Souza Luiz Augusto de , Oliveira Benito Juarez Nunes Alves de , Helou Jalily Bady , Fonseca Ângela Moni , Cardoso Leonardo Lamaro , Freitas Sabrina Lucas Ribeiro de
Published: March 2012

Bovinos jovens são frequentemente acometidos por hérnias umbilicais. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a ocorrência e estabeleceu-se o tratamento cirúrgico para hérnias umbilicais em bovinos jovens, empregando 78 bezerros distribuídos em seis grupos. Em GI e GIV, na laparorrafia, utilizou-se sutura jaquetão; em GII e GV, jaquetão modificado e, em GIII e GVI, sutura separada simples com pontos de relaxamento. Em GI, GII e GIII utilizou-se fio de algodão e, em GIV, GV e GVI, de náilon. Dados não paramétricos, envolvendo a recuperação dos animais e sua independência ou associações com o padrão de sutura foram analisados pelo teste do Qui-quadrado e Exato de Fisher, fazendo-se uso do programa computacional Statistical Analysis System, a 5% (p < 0,05). Os demais resultados foram analisados descritivamente. A ocorrência de hérnia umbilical em bovinos foi expressiva e a herniorrafia, empregando-se fio de algodão, apresentou maiores complicações pós-operatórias; porém a maioria dos animais recuperou-se. O fio e o padrão de sutura, manejo pós-operatório, resposta individual e o tamanho do anel herniário influenciam na reabilitação dos animais e na redução das complicações pós-operatórias.
Efeito do nitrogênio e do lodo de esgoto nos fatores produtivos do feijoeiro
Authors: Lobo Thomaz Figueiredo , Filho Helio Grassi , Büll Leonardo Theodoro
Published: March 2012

A disposição final do lodo de esgoto vem se caracterizando como um dos problemas ambientais urbanos mais relevantes da atualidade e que cresce diariamente tanto nos países desenvolvidos quanto nos em desenvolvimento, como reflexo da ampliação das redes de coleta e incremento dos níveis de tratamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito da aplicação de lodo de esgoto e de adubação química de N nos fatores produtivos do feijoeiro. O lodo de esgoto compostado foi aplicado em dezembro de 2007, em feijão-comum cultivado em sistema de semeadura direta. Foi adotado o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, constituídos por seis tratamentos e quatro repetições, assim definidos: T0 - sem adubação nitrogenada; T1 - adubação química nitrogenada de acordo com o recomendado para a cultura; T2 - 50% adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto e 50% em forma mineral; T3 - 100% adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto; T4 - 150% adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto e T5 - 200% adubação nitrogenada proveniente do lodo de esgoto. O aumento da dose de lodo de esgoto promoveu o incremento no número de vagens, rendimento de matéria seca, rendimento de grãos e na massa de 1.000 grãos.
Fungos micorrízicos arbusculares afetando a produção de mudas de pinhão-manso na região sul do Estado de Tocantins, Brasil
Authors: Saboya Rita de Cássia Cunha , Chagas Jr Aloisio Freitas , Monteiro Fábio Pinto dos Reis , Santos Gil Rodrigues dos , Erasmo Eduardo Andrea Lemus , Chagas Lillian França Borges
Published: March 2012

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da inoculação de quatro espécies de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares no crescimento e nutrição de mudas de pinhão-manso. Foram utilizados 12 tratamentos e 10 repetições, sendo: a inoculação individual (Scutellospora calospora, Glomus clarum, Gigaspora margarita, Acaulospora morrowiae), em dupla das espécies (S. calospora + G. clarum, S. calospora + G. margarita, S. calospora + A. morrowiae, G. clarum + G. margarita, G. clarum + A. morrowiae e G. margarita + A. morrowiae), com a mistura das quatro espécies de micorrizas (MIX) e a testemunha sem inoculação com micorrizas. Para os teores de macro e micronutrientes, 75 dias após a emergência das plantas, diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) foram observadas para os teores de nitrogênio (N), fósforo (P), potássio (K), magnésio (Mg), enxofre (S), manganês (Mn) e boro (B), com destaque para a inoculação com G. clarum e A. morrowiae isoladamente e em dupla inoculação. Para a biomassa da parte aérea e raiz, colonização micorrízica e eficiência micorrízica, as maiores médias (p > 0,005) foram observadas para os tratamentos com G. clarum e A. morrowiae inoculados isoladamente e para a dupla inoculação de S. calospora + G. clarum e G. clarum + A. morrowiae.
Avaliação da conduta conservadora na lesão intraepitelial cervical de alto grau
Authors: Uchimura Nelson Shozo , Uchimura Taqueco Teruya , Martins João Paulo de Oliveira Branco , Assakawa Fernando , Uchimura Liza Yurie Teruya
Published: March 2012

OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação entre a conduta conservadora em lesão intraepitelial cervical de alto grau com o índice de recidiva da neoplasia e faixa etária. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal e retrospectivo realizado com 509 mulheres (15-76 anos) atendidas no período de 1996 a 2006, com colpocitologia oncótica alterada, em um serviço público de referência em Maringá, PR. Os dados foram coletados dos prontuários médicos e estudadas as variáveis diagnóstico definitivo, tipos de tratamento, ocorrência da lesão e recidivas, analisados por meio de testes de associação de qui-quadrado de Pearson e teste exato de Fisher. RESULTADOS: A lesão intraepitelial cervical de alto grau ocorreu em 168 casos; destes, 31 mulheres foram submetidas à amputação cônica, 104 a cirurgias de alta frequência, nove histerectomizadas e 24 receberam conduta conservadora. Dentre as mulheres com lesão de alto grau e tratadas de forma conservadora, oito (33,3%) recidivaram, enquanto dentre as submetidas à conduta não conservadora dez (6,9%) recidivaram, sendo essa diferença estatisticamente significante (p = 0,0009), RP = 4,8 (IC95% 2,11;10,93). Para aquelas que fizeram o seguimento clínico-citológico, três (30,0%) e, dentre as cauterizadas, cinco (35,7%) recidivaram no prazo de três anos, sem diferença significante (p = 0,5611). A recidiva abaixo e acima de 30 anos ocorreu, respectivamente, em sete (13,8%) e 11 (12,2%) mulheres (p = 0,9955). CONCLUSÕES: A idade da mulher não influencia o prognóstico de recidiva. O tratamento conservador deve ser indicado como conduta de exceção, dada a alta taxa de recidiva, e o seguimento deve ser rigoroso, com acompanhamento citológico e colposcópico de até três anos, período em que ocorre a maioria das recidivas.
Gênero e qualidade de vida percebida: estudo com professores da área de saúde
Authors: Oliveira Elizabete Regina Araújo de , Garcia Átala Lotti , Gomes Maria José , Bittar Telmo Oliveira , Pereira Antonio Carlos
Published: March 2012

O rápido processo de mudanças na economia global nos últimos anos e a organização do trabalho configuram as relações de gênero no trabalho docente. Essas transformações têm favorecido a situação desvantajosa da mulher, deixando-a em uma situação de sobrecarga ocupacional. Foram analisadas as condições de trabalho de Professoras do ensino superior da área da saúde em Vitória, no Estado do Espírito Santo, e suas implicações sobre a saúde e qualidade de vida. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de entrevistas e para a análise empregou-se a análise de conteúdo de Bardin, possibilitando a abordagem de três categorias: lazer, descanso e saúde; sentimentos de perda da interação social e familiar; e qualidade de vida percebida. Os resultados apresentam relatos relacionados à ausência de lazer com consequentes distúrbios do sono favorecendo doenças psíquicas; excesso de trabalho; alterações significativas na forma de organização do mesmo, comprometimento da interação social e familiar, com influência sobre a saúde e a qualidade de vida. O trabalho executado pelas professoras da área da saúde contribui para o desenvolvimento do processo de adoecimento, com influência sobre a sua vida familiar, amorosa, social, ambiental e profissional, com perda da qualidade de vida.
Report from China: Health Insurance in China—Evolution, Current Status, and Challenges
Authors: Cao Qi , Shi Leiyu , Wang Hufeng , Dong Keyong
Published: March 2012

The authors review the evolution of health insurance in China and analyze how it has been shaped to its current form by political and economic dynamics. They summarize the current status of health insurance in terms of population coverage, benefit design, scope of service, and its interaction with providers; address challenges regarding future health insurance reform; and propose policy recommendations. Although the recent health insurance reform has made major breakthroughs in population coverage, it is still too early to judge whether the political willingness to appease social unrest can be translated into concrete health care protections for the population.
Ecuador's Silent Health Reform
Authors: De Paepe Pierre , Tapia Ramiro Echeverría , Santacruz Edison Aguilar , Unger Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2012

Health sector reform was implemented in many Latin American countries in the 1980s and 1990s, leading to reduced public expenditure on health, limitations on public provision for disease control, and a minimum package of services, with concomitant growth of the private sector. At first sight, Ecuador appeared to follow a different pattern: no formal reform was implemented, despite many plans to reform the Ministry of Health and social health insurance. The authors conducted an in-depth review and analysis of published and gray literature on the Ecuadorian health sector from 1990 onward. They found that although neoliberal reform of the health sector was not openly implemented, many of its typical elements are present: severe reduction of public budgets, “universal” health insurance with limited coverage for targeted groups, and contracting out to private providers. The health sector remains segmented and fragmented, explaining the population's poor health status. The leftist Correa government has prepared an excellent long-term plan to unite services of the Ministry of Health and social security, but implementation is extremely slow. In conclusion, the health sector in Ecuador suffered a “silent” neoliberal reform. President Correa's progressive government intends to reverse this, increasing public budgets for health, but hesitates to introduce needed radical changes.
Social Inequalities in “Sickness”: Does Welfare State Regime Type Make a Difference? A Multilevel Analysis of Men and Women in 26 European Countries
Authors: van der Wel Kjetil A. , Dahl Espen , Thielen Karsten
Published: March 2012

In comparative studies of health inequalities, public health researchers have usually studied only disease and illness. Recent studies have also examined the sickness dimension of health, that is, the extent to which ill health is accompanied by joblessness, and how this association varies by education within different welfare contexts. This research has used either a limited number of countries or quantitative welfare state measures in studies of many countries. In this study, the authors expand on this knowledge by investigating whether a regime approach to the welfare state produces consistent results. They analyze data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC); health was measured by limiting longstanding illness (LLSI). Results show that for both men and women reporting LLSI in combination with low educational level, the probabilities of non-employment were particularly high in the Anglo-Saxon and Eastern welfare regimes, and lowest in the Scandinavian regime. For men, absolute and relative social inequalities in sickness were lowest in the Southern regime; for women, inequalities were lowest in the Scandinavian regime. The authors conclude that the Scandinavian welfare regime is more able than other regimes to protect against non-employment in the face of illness, especially for individuals with low educational level.
Design of Clinical Trials in Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Palevsky Paul M. , Molitoris Bruce A. , Okusa Mark D. , Levin Adeera , Waikar Sushrut S. , Wald Ron , Chertow Glenn M. , Murray Patrick T. , Parikh Chirag R. , Shaw Andrew D. , Go Alan S. , Faubel Sarah G. , Kellum John A. , Chinchilli Vernon M. , Liu Kathleen D. , Cheung Alfred K. , Weisbord Steven D. , Chawla Lakhmir S. , Kaufman James S. , Devarajan Prasad , Toto Robert M. , Hsu Chi-yuan , Greene Tom , Mehta Ravindra L. , Stokes John B. , Thompson Aliza M. , Thompson B. Taylor , Westenfelder Christof S. , Tumlin James A. , Warnock David G. , Shah Sudhir V. , Xie Yining , Duggan Emily G. , Kimmel Paul L. , Star Robert A.
Published: March 2012

Acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a complex clinical problem associated with significant short-term morbidity and mortality and lacking effective pharmacologic interventions. Patients with AKI experience longer-term risks for progressive chronic ESRD, which diminish patients’ health-related quality of life and create a larger burden on the healthcare system. Although experimental models have yielded numerous promising agents, translation into clinical practice has been unsuccessful, possibly because of issues in clinical trial design, such as delayed drug administration, masking of therapeutic benefit by adverse events, and inadequate sample size. To address issues of clinical trial design, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases sponsored a workshop titled “Clinical Trials in Acute Kidney Injury: Current Opportunities and Barriers” in December 2010. Workshop participants included representatives from academia, industry, and government agencies whose areas of expertise spanned basic science, clinical nephrology, critical care medicine, biostatistics, pharmacology, and drug development. This document summarizes the discussions of collaborative workgroups that addressed issues related to patient selection, study endpoints, the role of novel biomarkers, sample size and power calculations, and adverse events and pilot/feasibility studies in prevention and treatment of AKI. Companion articles outline the discussions of workgroups for model trials related to prevention or treatment of established AKI in different clinical settings, such as in patients with sepsis.
Effects of Dapagliflozin, an SGLT2 Inhibitor, on HbA1c, Body Weight, and Hypoglycemia Risk in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Inadequately Controlled on Pioglitazone Monotherapy
Authors: Rosenstock Julio , Vico Marisa , Wei Li , Salsali Afshin , List James F.
Published: March 2012

OBJECTIVE

To examine the safety and efficacy of dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, added on to pioglitazone in type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on pioglitazone.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Treatment-naive patients or those receiving metformin, sulfonylurea, or thiazolidinedione entered a 10-week pioglitazone dose-optimization period with only pioglitazone. They were then randomized, along with patients previously receiving pioglitazone ≥30 mg, to 48 weeks of double-blind dapagliflozin 5 (n = 141) or 10 mg (n = 140) or placebo (n = 139) every day plus open-label pioglitazone. The primary objective compared HbA1c change from baseline with dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone versus placebo plus pioglitazone at week 24. Primary analysis was based on ANCOVA model using last observation carried forward; all remaining analyses used repeated-measures analysis.

RESULTS

At week 24, the mean reduction from baseline in HbA1c was −0.42% for placebo versus −0.82 and −0.97% for dapagliflozin 5 and 10 mg groups, respectively (P = 0.0007 and P < 0.0001 versus placebo). Patients receiving pioglitazone alone had greater weight gain (3 kg) than those receiving dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone (0.7–1.4 kg) at week 48. Through 48 weeks: hypoglycemia was rare; more events suggestive of genital infection were reported with dapagliflozin (8.6–9.2%) than placebo (2.9%); events suggestive of urinary tract infection showed no clear drug effect (5.0–8.5% for dapagliflozin and 7.9% for placebo); dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone groups had less edema (2.1–4.3%) compared with placebo plus pioglitazone (6.5%); and congestive heart failure and fractures were rare.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on pioglitazone, the addition of dapagliflozin further reduced HbA1c levels and mitigated the pioglitazone-related weight gain without increasing hypoglycemia risk.
Chemical Engineering Education and Practice in Bangladesh
Authors: Mahmud Iqbal
Published: March 2012

Chemical Engineering as a distinct engineering discipline is now more than hundred years old. It was 1888 when Professor Louis Mills Norton first introduced the curricula for Chemical Engineering at MIT. As creative chemists came up with new chemicals it provided ever new challenges to the Chemical Engineers to innovate new industrial processes applying the new found knowledge in unit operations, unit processes, reaction engineering, process control, (later) transport phenomena and (recently) process integration. In Bangladesh the founding fathers of engineering education took a long term view of the industrial development prospects and took the innovative decision to introduce Chemical Engineering curricula in the erstwhile Ahsanullah Engineering College in the early fifties. During these early years large corporations in the public sector provided the initial thrust for development of chemical and process industries. However it was not adequately appreciated during the formative years that mere experience in the successful operation of complex chemical plants does not constitute technology transfer in the real sense of the term. Professional in the field stressed the need for setting up of design sections where local chemical engineers with inputs form relevant professionals would be able to contribute meaningfully in establishing the design criteria for a plant. In the private sector Chemical Engineers have demonstrated in Bangladesh that they can be innovative in transferring technology and developing Ceramic and medium scale Basic Chemical industries. Thus, it has been amply demonstrated that accumulating technological capacity through such dynamic technology transfer efforts should be one of the avowed objectives of any development process. Professional Capability and Areas of Competence of Chemical Engineers have grown over the years in this country and this issue has been elaborated with specific examples.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jce.v26i1.10174 JCE 2011; 26(1): 1-8
Renewable Energy: The Key to Achieving Sustainable Development of Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Islam MS , Khan AMHR , Nasreen S , Rabbi F , Islam MR
Published: March 2012

Renewable energy technologies (RETs) can help reduce poverty, energy shortage and environmental degradation such as desertification, biodiversity depletion and climate change effects in Bangladesh. The country is short of gas and electricity supply. Over-exploitation of biomass in meeting energy needs of the rural people has caused environmental degradation. RET can help solve those problems if it is widely used in the rural Bangladesh where people primarily depend on biomass energy. Bangladesh has enough renewable to mitigate such energy crisis and its adverse consequences. Bangladesh being an underdeveloped country, global initiative would be helpful in transferring RETs for the village households. This paper describes the glimpses of RETs in Bangladesh in terms of its policy issues, implementation, dissemination, marketing, and research and development activities. Modern RETs are still in the research, development and demonstration phase in the country. Like most of the developing countries, there is a niche market for new RETs and several private sector entrepreneurs and NGOs have tried to explore this market. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jce.v26i1.10175 JCE 2011; 26(1): 9-15
Effect Of Starch Addition On The Properties Of Low Density Polyethylene For Developing Environmentally Degradable Plastic Bags
Authors: Amin M Ruhul , Abu-Sharkh Basel F , Al-Harthi Mamdouh
Published: March 2012

Starch is an inexpensive abundant product and is totally biodegradable in a wide variety of environments and allows the development of totally degradable products for specific market needs. We study the influence of starch on the degradation behavior of plastic films prepared by mixing the film grade polyethylene pellets with different amounts of starch. The mechanical strength of the polymer films were measured by Instron 5560 Tensile Testing Machine and observed that with the addition of starch mechanical strength decreases. As biodegradation rate increases with starch addition, 25 to 35% starch can be added safely in the plastic shopping bag without changing its strength significantly. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jce.v26i1.10180 JCE 2011; 26(1): 38-40
An alternative approach of Risk Analysis for Multivariable Alarm System
Authors: Arifin BMS , Choudhury MAAS
Published: March 2012

Alarm system of a plant works as a safeguard to prevent hazards and unexpected accidents. But too many false alarms may make the operators indifferent to critical alarms that may lead to serious mishaps. In this study, the risk based multivariable alarm system proposed by [1] has been restudied and an alternative approach of quantifying the system failure probability is proposed. Since in all the modern chemical plants there are adequate safety measures and the safety is ensured by installing different instruments, and the failure data of these instruments are available in [2], so the risk of the system can be quantified by applying statistical methods as a combination of several instruments If the risks and hazards associated with a system can be properly identified, the hazards can be correlated with the failure of the different parts of the instrumentation system and the probabilities of failure can be estimated [3]. Then it is necessary to know the consequence factor of a hazardous situation since risk depends on both the failure probability and the consequence probability. According to the severity of failure probabilities of the instruments of the physical system, the alarms can be indexed and all alarms of a single system can be consolidated into a single alarm, which will notify the operator about the importance of the situation. Since risks can also be properly indexed, it is easier for the operator to take necessary steps as soon as he gets the alarm. Thus the purpose of the alarm system will be fully satisfied = to keep the process operation safe and sound. In this study, failure probabilities were calculated for a simple model process namely a tank heating system. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jce.v26i1.10189 JCE 2011; 26(1): 75-79
“SimDelta”—Inquiry into an Internet-Based Interactive Model for Water Infrastructure Development in The Netherlands
Authors: Rijcken Ties , Stijnen Jan , Slootjes Nadine
Published: March 2012

The Dutch Delta Program is currently developing new government policies for flood protection and fresh water supply. Decision support instruments have to address the program’s technical and political complexity. The water system functions are highly interwoven and would benefit from an integrated approach on a national level, with decisions supported by a scientific Systems Analysis. Politically, there is a tendency towards broad participation and decentralization, and decision-making is typically supported by Conflict Resolution methods. To connect these two sides of the Delta Program’s task, an outline is presented of an internet community-based interactive instrument, preliminarily named SimDelta. On-line interactive maps and elements of serious gaming intuitively provide local Delta Program participants insight into the interaction between scenarios, problems, and solutions. SimDelta uses the internet to more frequently and efficiently present conceptual designs by architects and engineers to the Delta Program stakeholders, record their preferences, and “crowdsource” corrections, improvements and new ideas.