bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women’s disclosure of dating violence: A mixed methodological study
Authors: Edwards Katie M , Dardis Christina M , Gidycz Christine A
Published: May 2012

The researchers utilized quantitative and qualitative methods to examine college women’s disclosure of dating violence. Quantitative analyses showed that disclosure of dating violence was related to stress associated with abuse, partner blame, and thoughts about ending the relationship. Qualitative content analyses demonstrated that women’s minimization of the abuse was the most commonly given reason for nondisclosure. Women who disclosed dating violence reported that the following responses to their disclosures were most helpful: receiving ‘good advice’, the opportunity to vent/talk about it, receiving comfort and other emotional support, rationalizing the partners’ behavior, and providing a neutral perspective. Conversely, the following responses were reported as least helpful: being told to end the relationship, not understanding, joking about the experiences, and ‘bad advice’. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.
The body economic: The case of ‘childhood obesity’
Authors: Harrison Elisabeth
Published: May 2012

Recently, ‘obesity epidemic’ discourses have begun to focus on the ‘problem’ of ‘childhood obesity.’ Notwithstanding the fact that it is not clear that childhood obesity is a serious health problem, individual fat children are increasingly being targeted by anti-obesity interventions, despite the significant emotional and physical risks inherent in such measures. In order to understand why this is occurring, I operationalise Dorothy E Smith’s (1999) theory of ruling relations in order to draw out the ideological basis and implications of mediated textual representations. Drawing from Law and Mol’s (2002) work on case study methodologies and Titchkosky’s (2007 : 23) assertion that the texts we encounter in everyday life ‘are our world,’ I analyse three appearances of the ‘childhood obesity epidemic’ discourse within articles from online news sources. I find that the world constructed within these articles is one in which fat children’s bodies are understood as economic problems, and the children themselves are regarded as individual failed subjects within the currently dominant ideology of neoliberal capitalism.
The placebo in the context of scientific theories
Authors: Chóliz Mariano , Capafons Antonio
Published: May 2012

Placebo is not a unitary concept. It can have different meanings, depending on the scientific discipline in which it is used. The placebo exists in psychology, medicine, and other sciences, and in each case it is assumed that the results obtained by the placebo are unexplainable. But the results that can’t be explained by a scientific discipline could be explained by another. For example, a sugar pill used in the treatment of pain could be a pharmacological placebo, but it isn’t a psychological placebo, because there is an explanation of its effects based in psychological principles. In this work, a conceptual analysis of placebo in the context of scientific theories is presented.
Towards a grounding of the agentive subject in narrative therapy
Authors: Guilfoyle Michael
Published: May 2012

This paper examines the tensions between narrative therapy’s self-identification as a Foucauldian poststructural practice, and its attachment to the notion of personal agency. Michael White—narrative therapy’s primary author—used Foucault’s work as a theoretical foundation, moving us to pose a question that White did not address: Can the narrative therapeutic commitment to an agentive subject be sustained alongside White’s loyalty to the Foucauldian notion of power/knowledge and its account of the constituted subject? I argue that while Foucault is often criticized for not making space for freedom or agency, something like an agentive subject is implicit in, even required for, his constitutionalist perspective to work. Working through this problem could be useful for the developing field of narrative therapy. Three proposals are offered as a way of imagining this agentive figure, and their relevance to narrative therapy practice is discussed.
Critical social theory approach to disclosure of genomic incidental findings
Authors: Bevan Jeffrey L , Senn-Reeves Julia N , Inventor Ben R , Greiner Shawna M , Mayer Karen M , Rivard Mary T , Hamilton Rebekah J
Published: May 2012

Technology has expanded genomic research and the complexity of extracted gene-related information. Health-related genomic incidental findings pose new dilemmas for nurse researchers regarding the ethical application of disclosure to participants. Consequently, informed consent specific to incidental findings is recommended. Critical Social Theory is used as a guide in recognition of the changing meaning of informed consent and to serve as a framework to inform nursing of the ethical application of disclosure consent in genomic nursing research practices.
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) Analysis of Melanocytic Nevi and Melanomas
Authors: Fang Yuqiang , Dusza Stephen , Jhanwar Suresh , Busam Klaus J.
Published: May 2012

A 4-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay, using probes to chromosomes 11q, 6p, 6q, and 6 cent, has recently been proposed as an ancillary tool for the diagnosis of melanoma. The authors report herein their experience with this assay. To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the assay for histopathologically unequivocal cases, they analyzed 50 melanocytic nevi, 50 primary melanomas, and 15 metastatic melanomas. Of 50 melanocytic nevi, 47 were FISH negative on initial readout (test sensitivity, 94%); 49 were FISH negative after correction for tetraploidy (test specificity, 98%). Of 50 primary melanomas, 41 were FISH positive (test sensitivity, 82%). Of 15 metastatic lesions, 13 were FISH positive (test sensitivity, 85%). Of the 9 FISH-negative melanomas, 6 metastasized. The tumors of the 5 patients who had survived thick primary melanoma for more than 5 years without recurrence were all FISH positive. Half of the patients whose primary melanoma was tested by FISH had undergone sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. When the authors compared the FISH results of those 25 melanomas with the SLN status, no statistically significant correlation was found. These findings document limitations of the current FISH assay. A rare nevus may be FISH positive. Some primary metastasizing melanomas are FISH negative. Even metastatic melanomas can be FISH negative. Awareness of the limitations in test sensitivity and specificity of the FISH assay is important to avoid an erroneous diagnosis by overreliance on cytogenetic findings. Correlation with clinical and histopathological findings is paramount for accurate diagnosis.
The Violence Risk Scale
Authors: Lewis Kathy , Olver Mark E. , Wong Stephen C. P.
Published: May 2012

The Violence Risk Scale (VRS) uses ratings of static and dynamic risk predictors to assess violence risk, identify targets for treatment, and assess changes in risk following treatment. The VRS was rated pre- and posttreatment on a sample of 150 males, mostly high-risk violent offenders many with psychopathic personality traits. These individuals attended a high-intensity institution-based cognitive–behavioral–oriented violence reduction treatment program in Canada and were then followed up for approximately 5 years postrelease to determine court adjudicated community violent recidivism. VRS scores significantly predicted violent recidivism. Measurements of risk reduction using dynamic VRS predictors were significantly correlated with reduction of violent recidivism after controlling for various potential confounds. The results suggest that, in a high-risk group of offenders with significant psychopathic traits, the VRS demonstrated predictive validity and the dynamic predictors can be used to assess treatment progress, which is linked to a specific criterion variable, thus, fulfilling the criteria for causal dynamic predictors set forth by Kraemer et al.
Circadian, Weekly, and Seasonal Variation in Early Stent Thrombosis Patients Who Previously Underwent Primary Percutaneous Intervention With ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Isik Turgay , Ayhan Erkan , Uyarel Huseyin , Akkaya Emre , Ergelen Mehmet , Cicek Gokhan , Vuruskan Ertan , Kurt Mustafa , Tanboga Ibrahim Halil , Eren Mehmet
Published: May 2012

One of the major concerns remaining in the treatment with stenting is the occurrence of stent thrombosis (ST). We reviewed 1960 consecutive patients (mean age 56 ± 11.6 years, 84.6% males) treated with primary coronary stenting for ST elevation myocardial infarction between 2003 and 2008. All clinical, angiographic, and follow-up data were retrospectively collected. The data when the patient had angina pectoris was obtained from medical record. Early ST was observed in 89 (4.5%) patients. We identified 86 patients with early ST and known date and time of symptom onset. In these patients (mean age 59.2 ± 13.9, 83.7% males), symptoms occurred mostly at night time (00.00-6.00 am) and during winter months but the day of the week effect was not presence. In conclusion, occurrences of early ST throughout the week were equally distributed, but early ST was more likely to occur in the winter months and night hours.
Rules don’t apply: Kafka’s insights on bureaucracy
Authors: Hodson Randy , Martin Andrew W. , Lopez Steven H. , Roscigno Vincent J.
Published: May 2012

Weber’s ideal typical model of bureaucracy constitutes the starting point for most scholarship on organizations. Much organizational behaviour, however occurs outside this formalized model. It is thus somewhat surprising that behaviours outside the formal-rational model are, more often than not, treated as aberrations. In contrast, the emerging critical literature on ‘inhabited institutions’ has identified such gaps in our theoretical understanding as foundational, warranting a more agentic conception of organizational life—a conception more fully acknowledging of and sensitive to the dynamics of power in organizational life. In this regard, we highlight four prevalent (though seldom theoretically incorporated) features of contemporary bureaucracies—divergent goals, patrimonialism, unwritten rules and chaos. These features, which we contend are no less critical to organizational functioning than those identified by Weber, constitute an organizational logic more compatible with a Kafkan vision of bureaucracy than with a Weberian one. Theorizing such attributes allows us to explore elements of bureaucratic life that the formal-rational model of bureaucracy renders largely invisible and is conceptually and empirically ill equipped to incorporate. An illustrative analysis, drawing on narrative data drawn from the population of organizational ethnographies ( n = 162) (1) demonstrates the prominence of such dynamics in organizational life; and (2) highlights their implications for rule breaking as a relatively common yet under-theorized occurrence. A core implication of our analysis and critique is that the social sciences need a fundamentally revised theory of bureaucracy capable of understanding bureaucracy’s power laden and often dystrophic features.
Young children’s meaning making about the causes of illness within the family context
Authors: McIntosh Caroline , Stephens Christine , Lyons Antonia
Published: May 2012

In this article we highlight the ways in which young children draw on their family contexts in their meaning making about the causes of illness. Studies of young children’s understanding of illness causality have largely focused on the nature of children’s knowledge rather than the ways in which children acquire their knowledge. Seeking to advance a socio-constructivist understanding of young children’s conceptualization of illness causality, we interviewed five four-year-old children and their family members. Analysis of participants’ narrative accounts suggests that young children’s illness causality constructions are significantly influenced by the particular illness experiences, illness prevention messages and behavioural rules within families. By identifying and acknowledging young children’s meaning making within the socio-cultural context of the family, health practitioners may be better placed to develop effective health education programmes and provide enhanced psychosocial support for young children and their families.
The word/image dualism revisited: Towards an iconic conception of visual culture
Authors: Bartmanski Dominik
Published: May 2012

Is there any difference between the widely discussed ‘pictorial turn’ and the emerging ‘iconic turn’? If so, does it matter? The answers to these questions are positive if we look at the problem from a cultural sociological point of view. It has been observed that the concept of the ‘iconic turn’, coined by a German philosopher Gottfried Boehm, may capture more effectively the sense of life attributed to visual objects than W.J.T. Mitchell’s famous ‘pictorial turn’. This article endorses this conjecture and provides a theoretical context for its justification. It thus contributes to the emerging debate about the paradigm shift in studies of visual culture.
Clarifying a basis for qualitative generalization using approaches that identify shared culture
Authors: Fairweather John , Rinne Tiffany
Published: May 2012

While the topic of generalization is well documented for quantitative research, it is less well documented for qualitative research. Addressing this issue, Williams (2000) proposes the concept of ‘moderatum generalization’ in which generalization is based on the presence of shared culture, and Gobo (2009) proposes idiographic sampling theory via three modes of inference. This article builds on Williams (2000) by considering two mixed-method approaches, cultural consensus analysis combined with cultural modelling, and Q methodology. Both approaches provide a basis for qualitative generalization by explicitly identifying shared culture. In doing this they are consistent with the emblematic case mode of inference described by Gobo (2009).
MTHFR C677T, A1298C and ACE I/D polymorphisms as risk factors for diabetic nephropathy among type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: El-Baz Rizk , Settin Ahmad , Ismaeel Azza , Khaleel Abd Allah , Abbas Tarek , Tolba Wafaa , Abd Allah Wafaa , Sobh Mohammed Abd El-Kader
Published: May 2012

Background:

Genetic variations have been proposed to play a role in the susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy.

Objectives:

To check for the association of genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) genes with the development of diabetic nephropathy among type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods:

Participants comprised 202 patients with type 2 diabetes, of whom 102 were affected with diabetic nephropathy. Genetic variants corresponding to MTHFR C677T, A1298C and ACE I/D genotypes were determined using the PCR technique coupled with digestion and restriction analysis.

Results:

Cases with diabetic nephropathy had a significantly higher frequency of the MTHFR 677 TT, 677 CT, ACE DD mutant genotypes compared with diabetic cases without nephropathy. Analysis of the association of studied MTHFR C677T, A1298C and ACE I/D polymorphisms with albuminuria showed that the MTHFR 677 T polymorphism, in the recessive and dominant models, was a risk factor for both micro and macroalbuminuria, while the ACE DD mutant genotype was a risk factor for microalbuminuria and the MTHFR 1298C in the dominant model only was a risk factor for macroalbuminuria.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that ACE and MTHFR genetic polymorphisms might be considered as genetic risk factors for diabetic nephropathy among patients with type 2 diabetes.
Resistin involved in endothelial dysfunction among preclinical Tibetan male young adults
Authors: Yang Bo , Li Min , Chen Bin , Li Tian-De
Published: May 2012

Introduction:

Resistin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, was found to be linked to metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance over the past decade. There is growing evidence that resistin plays a potential role in endothelial dysfunction. To the best of our knowledge, few studies have been concerned with the effect of resistin on endothelial function in a Tibetan population.

Aims:

To investigate the correlation of resistin and endothelial function among preclinical Tibetan male young adults.

Materials and methods:

All participants recruited were young adults between 30 and 40 years old of male gender in Lhasa city. All subjects were native Tibetan. A total of 90 healthy subjects were accepted after excluding hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia or coronary artery disease. The subjects were divided into three groups according to flow-mediated dilation (FMD): lower FMD (group A), intermediate FMD (group B) and higher FMD (group C). Body mass index, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cigarette smoking were evaluated. Venous blood was sampled for the measurement of lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and plasma resistin quantitation. The non-invasive vascular endothelial function was evaluated through the measurement of FMD with B-mode ultrasound. The insulin resistance was estimated as homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) = FINS(mu/L)*FBG(mmol/L)/22.5.

Results:

No statistical significance was found between groups in age, smoking, SBP, DBP, fasting insulin, total cholesterol and HOMA-IR ( p>0.05). In the lipid profile, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in group C were better than in groups A and B ( p<0.01). Body mass index, which is an indicator for obesity, was much lower in group C than in group A and B ( p<0.05 and 0.01 respectively). Comparison of plasma resistin concentrations: group A > group B > group C ( p<0.01). Comparison of plasma ET-1 concentrations had a similar result: group A > group B > group C ( p<0.05). The multivariate regression analysis showed that total cholesterol ( p<0.05), LDL cholesterol ( p<0.01), plasma resistin ( p<0.01) and plasma ET-1 ( p<0.01) were correlated with FMD.

Conclusions:

Resistin is involved in endothelial dysfunction in preclinical male young Tibetan adults.
Hyperglycaemia exerts deleterious effects on late endothelial progenitor cell secretion actions
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhang Xiaoyun , Li Hong , Cui Xiaodong , Guan Xiumei , Tang Kexin , Jin Chengwen , Cheng Min
Published: May 2012

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a fundamental role in tissue regeneration and vascular repair both by differentiating into endothelial cells and by secretion of vasoactive substances that promote angiogenesis and maintain vascular homeostasis. It has previously been shown that hyperglycaemia impairs early and late EPC functions, such as differentiation, proliferation and adhesion. However, its role in the regulation of the production of vasoactive substances in EPCs, especially in late EPCs, is less well defined. We investigated the effects of hyperglycaemia on the production of vasodilator, fibrinolytic and angiogenic growth factors, and also on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in late EPCs. For this purpose, late EPCs were incubated with different concentrations of D-glucose (5–40 mmol/L) for 24 hr. Levels of nitric oxide (NO), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the activity of SOD were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Under high glucose stress conditions, late EPCs exhibited lower levels of NO, t-PA, PAI-1, PGI2 and VEGF compared to control medium (5 mmol/L glucose). Moreover, high glucose was also observed to decrease the activity of SOD in late EPCs. These results suggest that hyperglycaemia-induced impairment of late EPC secretion functions could contribute to the development of vascular disease in diabetes.
Thermal insulation property of spacer fabrics integrated by ceramic powder impregnated fabrics
Authors: Ziaei Mozhgan , Ghane Mohammad
Published: May 2012

Nowadays, because of limited sources of energy, thermal insulation property is becoming very important for engineers. The main purpose of this work is to investigate thermal insulation property of three-dimensional knitted spacer fabrics integrated by ceramic powder-impregnated fabrics. Ceramic materials are well-known and useful for thermal insulation applications. An apparatus was designed and manufactured for measuring the heat flux through fabrics as well as thermal insulation property. The apparatus consists of a guarded hot plate providing adjustable temperature ranging from 36 to 500℃. In order to measure the fabric cold-side temperature, an infrared thermometer is used. A heat flux sensor is also used to measure the heat flux through samples. To improve thermal property and prevent the air convection through spacer fabric, a three-layered fabric system consisting of a three-dimensional knitted polyester spacer fabric in the middle and integrated by two layers of knitted cotton fabrics impregnated with silica at both sides was constructed. This multilayer construction had a significant effect on increasing the thermal resistance property in comparison to the untreated spacer fabric. A series model was also considered for the thermal resistance of multilayered set. Thermal resistance of each layer was first measured separately and thermal resistance of multilayered set was calculated according to the series model. The total thermal resistance of the set was then measured. The results showed a good agreement with those from series model.
Characterization of poly (vinyl alcohol) nanofiber mats cross-linked with glutaraldehyde
Authors: Qin Xiaohong , Dou Guanxian , Jiang Guojun , Zhang Sai
Published: May 2012

Nanofiber mats formed in electrospinning process have many advantages, such as extensive application prospects in the thermal insulation, filtration, water protection and so on. In this study, poly (vinyl alcohol) nanofiber mats prepared by electrospinning were chemically cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The poly (vinyl alcohol)/ glutaraldehyde nanofiber mats were characterized by water durability test, mechanical, differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Water durability test showed that cross-linked with glutaraldehyde results in improvement in water stability. Differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis showed that cross-linking improved the thermal stability. X-ray diffraction patterns suggest a decrease in the degree of crystallinity.
An investigation into factors affecting mechanical properties of multi-axial nonwoven structure
Authors: Ajeli S , Zarrebini M , Sharifi H
Published: May 2012

Multi-axial fabrics are among new species of technical class of textile fabrics. These fabrics have found extensive use as composites reinforcement element. In this work, a novel method for production of multi-axial fabrics by incorporation of nonwoven layers into a basic thread-like structure was employed. Integration of fibrous into the basic structure was achieved using conventional needling operation. Effect of parameters such as yarn fineness, areal density of nonwoven fibrous layers and punch density were examined. It was found that, as far as fabric strength is concerned, the test samples behaves similar in various directions. Statistical analysis using ANOVA indicated that not only yarn fineness is the most influential factor affecting the strength of fabric but also reduction in yarn fineness results in increases in fabric strength. It is concluded that, an increase in areal density of nonwoven fibrous layers can improve fabric strength when fine yarns and lightly needled layers are used. In addition to above it was found that, generally the amount of punch density used during integration operation cannot influence the mechanical behavior of the resultant fabric.
Unnecessary Roughness
Authors: Ott Brian L.
Published: May 2012

This essay undertakes an analysis of ESPN’s coverage of the “Penn State sex abuse scandal” during the first week following the release of the November 2011 Grand Jury presentment, which indicted former Penn State college football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky on 40 counts of criminal sexual abuse. Understanding ESPN’s coverage—its particular framing of this story—is important and instructive, for it reveals how the news media shape public attitudes and opinions, pressure public officials, and model agentive citizenship in response to public traumas. Specifically, it is argued that ESPN’s visualnarrative framing of the scandal perpetuates a hypermasculine (and heteronormative) fantasy of violent vigilante justice that reduces political agency to personal and private acts.
Primary Closure With a Filleted Hallux Flap After Transmetatarsal Amputation of the Big Toe for Osteomyelitis in the Diabetic Foot
Authors: Aerden Dimitri , Vanmierlo Bert , Denecker Nathalie , Brasseur Lutgart , Keymeulen Bart , Van den Brande Pierre
Published: May 2012

In the diabetic foot, osteomyelitis of the first metatarsal head adjacent to a malum perforans may require resection of the metatarsophalangeal joint. This results in a dysfunctional great toe and large tissue defects that take a long time to heal. The authors postulated that transmetatarsal amputation followed by primary closure with a filleted hallux flap would be feasible in selected cases. Patients that required surgery for diffuse bone destruction of the first metatarsal head were included in the study. Transmetatarsal amputation was performed only if tissue removal rendered the hallux functionless. Primary closure with a filleted hallux flap was attempted in four out of sixteen patients. The developed skin flaps invariably were long enough to cover the plantar tissue defect; no flap necrosis or recurrent infection was noted. Mean healing time was 44 days (range 9-69). Long-term results were disappointing due to ulcer recurrences under the remaining metatarsal heads.
Verrucous Cell Carcinoma Arising From an Underlying Giant Keratoacanthoma
Authors: Bansal Manish , Manchanda Kajal , Pandey Shyam Sunder
Published: May 2012

Keratoacanthoma is a well-known, fast-growing, benign squamous epithelial neoplasm that usually presents as a solitary, dome-shaped, pink or flesh-colored nodule developing a central keratin-filled crater. Few authors consider it to be a benign cutaneous tumor whereas others suggest that it should be regarded as a low-grade variant of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A 21-year-old female presented with a firm, nontender, well-defined plaque with irregular margins measuring about 8 × 4 cm over the dorsal aspect of the right foot along with an exuberant growth from the plaque measuring 4 × 5cm. There was no lymphadenopathy. Systemic examination was within normal limits. Routine investigations, including complete blood counts, liver and renal function tests, urinalysis, chest radiographs, and abdominal ultrasonography, were normal. Histopathological examination of a skin biopsy from the plaque showed features suggestive of keratoacanthoma, whereas exuberant growth overlying the plaque showed features of verrucous carcinoma (a variant of SCC). Thus, it represents a case of SCC arising from a giant keratoacanthoma.
A Correlation Study Between Ankle Brachial Pressure Index and the Severity of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Benyakorn Thoetphum , Kuanprasert Sarun , Rerkasem Kittipan
Published: May 2012

Previous studies have shown that there was a correlation between low ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) and the presence of the coronary artery disease (CAD). However, few studies have investigated the correlation between ABPI and the severity of CAD by using a scoring system. The authors aimed to investigate this correlation by using ABPI and CAD diagnosed by coronary angiography (CAG). A total of 213 consecutive patients awaiting CAG in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital from July 2009 to November 2009 were enrolled in this study. The ABPI was measured before CAG. The severity of CAD was graded on CAG by using SYNTAX scores. The authors found a significantly negative correlation between ABPI and SYNTAX scores (correlation coefficient = −.172, P = .01). The authors concluded that ABPI appeared to correlate negatively with the severity of CAD in the Thai population.
Using Eye-Based Psychophysiological Cues to Enhance Screener Vigilance
Authors: Langhals Brent T. , Burgoon Judee K. , Nunamaker Jay F.
Published: May 2012

The objective of this study was to determine whether eye and head-based psychophysiological cues were indicative of vigilance levels during long-duration tasks. For this study, 48 participants reviewed 600 visual search images to determine whether any hazardous items (guns or knives) were present. Individual vigilance levels were determined by scoring the number of correct detections during eight 5-min periods (total study length = 40 min). With an eye-tracking machine, four concurrent eye and head activity measures (blink rates, saccades, pupil diameter, and head position) were used to model changes in vigilance level throughout a simulated baggage screening task. At the end of the study, changes in blink rates and saccade rates proved to be significant predictors of an individual’s ability to detect the presence of hazardous items among other nonsignificant baggage items.
Electrohydrodynamic impulse printing PANI sensor for NH3 gas
Authors: Zhan Zhan , Zheng Gaofeng , Tao Wei , Cai Yong , Sun Daoheng , Wu Dezhi
Published: May 2012

Electrohydrodynamic impulse printing is utilized to fabricate polyaniline droplets from protonic acid doped polyaniline, which can be composed to form lines as micro NH3 sensing elements. The effect of applied voltage, voltage frequency and voltage duty ratio on pattern size is investigated. The results show the size decreases with the frequency and voltage, but increases with the duty ratio. A minimum width line of 92 µm is obtained when applied voltage, voltage frequency, duty ratio, nozzle tip to substrate distance and flow rate are set to be 2450 V, 40%, 70 Hz, 1 mm and 100 µl/h, respectively. When exposed to NH3 gas, electrohydrodynamic printed polyaniline lines have a rapid response time to NH3. A minimum concentration of about 300 ppm of NH3 can be detected.
Developing microfluidics for rapid protoplasts collection and lysis from plant leaf
Authors: Hung Min-Sheng , Chang Jia-Hao
Published: May 2012

This study develops polydimethylsiloxane microfluidics to enable real-time collection and lysis of Phalaenopsis protoplasts and to analyze and compare the protoplast collecting efficiency of a concave sieving array with that of a convex–concave sieving array. Each set of microfluidics comprises a main flow channel and a protoplast sieving array with collecting channels. The protoplasts were isolated from Phalaenopsis leaves by an enzymatic breakdown of the cell walls and collected in side channels through microsieves. Finally, 1% w/v sodium dodecyl sulfate solution was injected into lysed protoplasts, and the DNA segment of the lysed protoplasts was released into the solution. The results indicate that the concave sieving array at the U-bend of the main flow channel causes the protoplasts to flow back into the main flow channel from the collecting channels. Thus, the protoplast collecting efficiency of the concave sieving array was lower in this study. Regarding the number and arrangement of protoplast microsieves, the convex–concave sieving array substantially restricts protoplasts from flowing back into the main flow channel, thereby increasing the collecting efficiency. Finally, DNA is released from lysed protoplasts after the injection of a lysis solution. DNA flow can be focused into a single stream to contact the rectangular microstructures in microchannels.
Determination of the aggregate fractal dimensions in colloidal nanofluids
Authors: Ganguly Suvankar , Basu Somnath , Sikdar Sudipta
Published: May 2012

Owing to the significant technological implications of nanoscale colloidal suspensions (nanofluids), it is necessary to develop suitable techniques to characterize the nanostructured aggregates in suspension. In the present work, a fractal dimension approach is applied to characterize the agglomerate structure using image analysis by scanning electron microscope photographs of the nanoparticle aggregates. Aqueous suspensions of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (nanofluids) are used for the study. A simple and direct method of projected image manipulation has been used to calculate the aggregate fractal dimensions in colloidal nanofluid. The fractal dimension provides quantitative information about important morphological features of the aggregate structure. A functional relationship is established between the two-dimensional fractal dimension ( d f2) and the three-dimensional fractal dimension ( d f3). The present study demonstrates that the optical image analysis technique can be effectively used for fractal dimension analysis of colloidal nanoparticle aggregates.
Current best practice in pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: de Blasio Francesco , Polverino Mario
Published: May 2012

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic condition that negatively affects several patient-centered outcomes. Among these, exercise capacity, dyspnea, and quality of life are the most relevant. In this article, factors contributing to exercise limitation, increase in exercise-induced dyspnea, quality of life deterioration, and other pathophysiological aspects in patients with COPD are analyzed in detail. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive intervention for patients with chronic respiratory diseases who are symptomatic and often have decreased daily life activities. PR has been clearly shown to induce favorable and long-lasting effects on all patient-centered outcomes. In addition, PR appears to have positive (even if not conclusively demonstrated) effects on other important outcomes in patients with COPD: number and severity of exacerbations, healthcare resource utilization, and survival. The organization of PR treatment, its components, outcome assessment, and future directions are discussed in light of the most robust scientific evidence.
Safety and efficacy of intracoronary adenosine administration in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Singh Mukesh , Shah Tejaskumar , Khosla Kavia , Singh Param , Molnar Janos , Khosla Sandeep , Arora Rohit
Published: May 2012

Background: Studies evaluating intracoronary administration of adenosine for prevention of microvascular dysfunction and ischemic-reperfusion injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have yielded mixed results. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of these trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intracoronary adenosine administration in patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI.

Methods: A total of seven prospective randomized controlled trials were analyzed. The endpoints extracted were post-procedure residual stent thrombosis (ST) segment elevation and ST segment resolutions (STRes), difference in peak creatine kinase (CK-MB) concentration, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade III flow (TIMI 3 flow), myocardial blush grade (MBG) 3, mean difference in post-PCI ejection fraction (EF), all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, heart failure (HF) and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Safety endpoints analyzed were bradycardia, second-degree atrioventricular block (AVB), ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF) and recurrence of chest pain (CP). The endpoints were analyzed by standard methods of meta-analysis.

Results: Intracoronary adenosine therapy led to significantly more post-PCI STRes [relative risk (RR) 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.90; p = 0.04] and reduction in residual ST segment elevation (RR 0.82, CI 0.69–0.99; p = 0.04) but did not improve TIMI 3 flow (RR 1.09, CI 0.94–1.27; p = 0.25), MBG3 (RR 1.04, CI 0.65–1.69; p = 0.88), peak CK-MB concentration (mean difference −39.43, CI −120.223 to 41.371; p = 0.339) and post-PCI EF (mean difference 1.238, CI −5.802 to 8.277; p = 0.730). There was a trend towards improvement and MACE (RR 0.64, CI 0.40–1.03; p = 0.06), incidence of HF (RR 0.47, CI 0.19–1.12; p = 0.08) and CV mortality (RR 0.15, CI 0.02–1.23; p = 0.08) that did not reach statistical significance but no difference in all-cause mortality (RR 0.77, CI 0.25–2.34; p = 0.64). Safety analysis showed no significant difference in CP events (RR 1.26, CI 0.55–2.86; p = 0.58), bradycardia (RR 2.19, CI 0.24–0.38; p = 0.49), VT (odds ratio 0.61, CI 0.08–4.90; p = 0.64) and VF (RR 0.49, CI 0.13–1.90; p = 0.30), but significantly more second-degree AVB (RR 7.88, CI 4.15–14.9; p < 0.01) in the adenosine group compared with the placebo group.

Conclusion: Intracoronary adenosine administration was well tolerated and significantly improved electrocardiographic outcomes with a tendency towards improvement in MACE, HF and CV mortality that could not reach statistical significance.
Reducing alcohol use during pregnancy: listening to women who drink as an intervention starting point
Authors: McBride Nyanda , Carruthers Susan , Hutchinson Delyse
Published: May 2012

Objectives. This study assesses factors that contribute to alcohol consumption during pregnancy and identifies potential intervention strategies to reduce consumption. Methods. The study sample includes 142 pregnant women who attended a public hospital for prenatal health care in Perth, Western Australia. All participants returned a self-completion survey. Results. Women who discontinued drinking during pregnancy were significantly more likely to be engaged in full time home duties and had completed less formal education. Women who continued to drink were more likely to have drunk in previous pregnancies and during the preconception period. Nearly 40% of high risk women reported a negative comment in response to their drinking. One-third of women in the risky group were advised by a health professional not to drink alcohol. Women were most likely to drink in their own home or at the home of a friend. Conclusions. Participatory research with women who drink while pregnant can assist in identifying potential intervention strategies that have resonance with this group and therefore more potential for creating behaviour change. Implications. The World Health Organization recognises, and has done for over 10 years, that alcohol use during pregnancy which results in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is the leading cause of environmental-related birth defects and mental retardation in the Western world.
SmartRoads: training Indonesian workers to become road safety ambassadors in industrial and community settings
Authors: Montero Kerry , Spencer Graham , Ariens Bernadette
Published: May 2012

This paper reports on a programme to improve road safety awareness in an industrial community in the vicinity of Jakarta, in Indonesia. Adapting the model of a successful community and school-based programme in Victoria, in Australia, and using a peer education approach, 16 employees of a major manufacturing company were trained to implement road safety education programmes amongst their peers. Specific target groups for the educators were colleagues, schools and the local community. Over 2 days the employees, from areas as diverse as production, public relations, personnel services, administration and management, learned about road safety facts, causes of traffic casualties, prevention approaches and peer education strategies. They explored and developed strategies to use with their respective target groups and practised health education skills. The newly trained workers received certificates to acknowledge them as ‘ SmartRoads Ambassadors’ and, with follow-up support and development, became road safety educators with a commitment and responsibility to deliver education to their respective work and local communities. This paper argues that the model has potential to provide an effective and locally relevant response to road safety issues in similar communities.
‘It’s just a way of approaching things now’: staff perspectives of an anticipatory care programme in Edinburgh
Authors: Carver Hannah , Douglas Margaret J. , Tomlinson Joy E. M. , Byrne Ciara
Published: May 2012

Background. Keep Well, an anticipatory care programme aimed at reducing health inequalities in Scotland, commenced in 2006. There is currently little evidence exploring how frontline staff respond to the delivery of anticipatory care. Aim. To understand how staff view changes in practice resulting from the implementation of Keep Well. Methods. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposively selected sample of 12 Keep Well staff. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results. Keep Well was viewed positively, especially in terms of increased knowledge and skills for staff and the benefits of a holistic health check to patients. Staff believed that Keep Well has improved their practice beyond the project. Concerns were raised, relating to potential inconveniences for patients, staff turnover, increased workload and procedures. There was a view that anticipatory care should continue to be delivered to deprived communities, provided that there are adequate resources, such as staff and funding, to do so. Conclusion. Keep Well staff believe that the project should continue to be offered as a 40-minute holistic health check targeted at patients in deprived areas.
Critically Loaded Time-Varying Multiserver Queues: Computational Challenges and Approximations
Authors: Ko Young Myoung , Gautam Natarajan
Published: May 2012

In this paper, we consider time-varying multiserver queues with abandonment and retrials. For their performance analysis, fluid and diffusion limits utilizing strong approximations have been widely used in the literature. Although those limits are asymptotically exact, they may not accurately approximate performance of multiserver queues even if the number of servers is large. To address that concern, this paper focuses on developing a methodology by taking fluid and diffusion limits in a nontraditional fashion. We show that our approximation is significantly more accurate and also asymptotically true. We illustrate the effectiveness of our methodology by performing several numerical experiments.
How Nondrug Allergies Are Listed in an Electronic Database; Operating Room Practice: “Stop Using Multiple Dose Vials”; Etravirine and Ethaverine Mix-Up; Rapaflo and Rapamune Confusion
Authors: Cohen Michael R. , Smetzer Judy L.
Published: May 2012

These medication errors have occurred in health care facilities at least once. They will happen again—perhaps where you work. Through education and alertness of personnel and procedural safeguards, they can be avoided. You should consider publishing accounts of errors in your newsletters and/or presenting them at your inservice training programs.

Your assistance is required to continue this feature. The reports described here were received through the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Medication Errors Reporting Program. Any reports published by ISMP will be anonymous. Comments are also invited; the writers' names will be published if desired. ISMP may be contacted at the address shown below.

Errors, close calls, or hazardous conditions may be reported directly to ISMP through the ISMP Web site ( www.ismp.org ), by calling 800-FAIL-SAFE, or via e-mail at ismpinfo@ismp.org . ISMP guarantees the confidentiality and security of the information received and respects reporters' wishes as to the level of detail included in publications.
Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone Regimen for Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Waddell J. Aubrey , Solimando Dominic A.
Published: May 2012

The complexity of cancer chemotherapy requires pharmacists be familiar with the complicated regimens and highly toxic agents used. This column reviews various issues related to preparation, dispensing, and administration of antineoplastic therapy, and the agents, both commercially available and investigational, used to treat malignant diseases.
Modafinil: Underarousal, Somnolence, and Fatigue Related to Brain Injury
Authors: Generali Joyce A. , Cada Dennis J.
Published: May 2012

This Hospital Pharmacy feature is extracted from Off-Label Drug Pacts, a quarterly publication available from Wolters Kluwer Health. Off-Label Drug Pacts is a practitioner-oriented resource for information about specific drug uses that are unapproved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This new guide to the literature enables the health care professional or clinician to quickly identify published studies on off-label uses and determine if a specific use is rational in a patient care scenario. References direct the reader to the full literature for more comprehensive information before patient care decisions are made. Direct questions or comments regarding Off-Label Drug Uses to jgeneral@kumc.edu .
Bedside Barcode Technology: Impact on Medication Administration Tasks in an Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Dwibedi Nilanjana , Sansgiry Sujit S. , Frost Craig P. , Johnson Michael L. , Dasgupta Anandaroop , Tipton Joyce A. , Jacob Sheeba M. , Shippy Angela A.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of bedside barcode medication administration (BCMA) on specific tasks performed by nurses during medication administration in an intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted on paper-based medication administration (PBMA) and BCMA in an ICU. A prevalidated time and motion observation instrument was used to measure time spent by nurses on tasks associated with PBMA and BCMA. Frequency of each task performed and mean duration of time dedicated to each task were obtained using descriptive statistics. Analysis of covariance was conducted to assess the difference in time spent with various nursing tasks between 2 periods. Factors considered as covariates were age, gender, body weight, length of stay of the patients in the ICU, number of drugs administered, and number of nurses involved.

Results

A total of 101 PBMA and 151 BCMA were analyzed. The mean duration of total medication administration time was found to be significantly higher during BCMA(377.8 ± 232.8 s) than during PBMA(313.3 ± 224.3 s). During BCMA, nurses spent more time on the following medication administration tasks: drug preparation(159.4 vs 27.3 s; P < .05), assisting physician(5.2 vs. 0.4 s; P < .05), universal precautions(3.6 vs 0.0 s; P < .05), and conversing with patients(21.6 vs 15.0 s; P < .05). During BCMA, nurses spent less time on the following medication administration tasks: giving medications(24.7 vs 35.0 s; P < .05), documenting medications(11.3 vs 17.3 s; P < .05), and cross-checking drugs with orders(7.4 vs 7.6 s; P =.04).

Conclusion

During PBMA, nurses spent more time on documenting medications and less time conversing with patients. This changed significantly after implementation of BCMA. BCMA resulted in nurses spending less time on documentation and more time conversing with patients during medication administration process.