bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Development of Sectoral Worker Center Networks
Authors: Cordero-Guzmán Héctor R. , Izvănariu Pamela A. , Narro Victor
Published: April 2013

In this article, we argue that understanding the impact of economic structures on low-wage workers requires the study of emerging worker centers and networks and that individual labor market outcomes and experiences are mediated and impacted by the work of these institutions. We focus on the formation of sectoral worker center networks and address three key issues: (1) What are some of the reasons why worker centers and worker center networks have developed? (2) How do these organizations manage their roles as labor market institutions and social movement organizations? and (3) Why did worker center networks focus on employment and in particular sectors of the low-wage labor market? We find that sector-based organizing (1) facilitates the development of worker- and sector-targeted service strategies, thereby enabling low-wage worker groups and organizations to better achieve their service and policy goals; (2) maximizes opportunities for the organizations to obtain national resources; and (3) expands the reach of organizational networks by bringing organizations together to share resources and best practices. By providing a range of worker-, employment-, and labor market–centered services in specific labor market sectors, worker centers and their networks solidify their role as labor market institutions and become more effective advocacy and social movement organizations.
Home Is Hard to Find
Authors: Harding David J. , Morenoff Jeffrey D. , Herbert Claire W.
Published: April 2013

Poor urban communities experience high rates of incarceration and prisoner reentry. This article examines where former prisoners live after prison, focusing on returns to pre-prison social environments, residential mobility, and the role of intermediate sanctions—punishments for parole violations that are less severe than returning to prison—on where former prisoners live. Drawing on a unique dataset that uses administrative records to follow a cohort of Michigan parolees released in 2003 over time, we examine returns to pre-prison environments, both immediately after prison and in the months and years after release. We then investigate the role of intermediate sanctions in residential mobility among parolees. Our results show low rates of return to former neighborhoods and high rates of residential mobility after prison, a significant portion of which is driven by intermediate sanctions resulting from criminal justice system supervision. These results suggest that, through parole supervision, the criminal justice system generates significant residential mobility.
Integration and Exclusion
Authors: Chaskin Robert J.
Published: April 2013

Much contemporary policy seeking to address the problems of urban poverty and the failures of public housing focuses on deconcentrating poverty through the relocation of public housing residents to less-poor neighborhoods or by replacing large public housing complexes with mixed-income developments. Lying behind these efforts is a set of generally integrationist goals, aiming to remove public housing residents from contexts of isolation and concentrated disadvantage and settle them in safer, healthier, and more supportive environments that better connect them to resources, relationships, and opportunities. Although some of the goals of these efforts are being met, the broader integrationist goals are proving elusive. Focusing on the mixed-income component of Chicago’s Plan for Transformation—the most ambitious effort to remake public housing in the country—this article argues that a range of institutional actors (including developers, property management, community-based organizations, and the housing authority) and organizational behaviors (around design, service provision, intervention, deliberation, and representation) shape dynamics that reproduce exclusion and work against the integrationist goals of these policies.
Reconsidering the Urban Disadvantaged
Authors: Allard Scott W. , Small Mario L.
Published: April 2013

The recent economic recession and a sluggish recovery have made conditions especially precarious for the most disadvantaged members of the urban poor population—those with criminal records, health conditions, undocumented status, or unstable housing. We argue that the fewer the resources to which people have access, the more their circumstances will depend on the organizations in which they participate, the systems in which these organizations operate, and the institutions governing the behavior of both. We call for a renewed focus on systems, institutions, and organizations among researchers who study urban disadvantage, and review a series of studies that show the promise of these perspectives.
A novel approach to monitor glucose metabolism using stable isotopically labelled glucose in longitudinal studies in mice
Authors: Van Dijk T H , Laskewitz A J , Grefhorst A , Boer T S , Bloks V W , Kuipers F , Groen A K , Reijngoud D J
Published: April 2013

The aetiology of insulin resistance is still an enigma. Mouse models are frequently employed to study the underlying pathology. The most commonly used methods to monitor insulin resistance are the HOMA-IR, glucose or insulin tolerance tests and the hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp (HIEC). Unfortunately, these tests disturb steady state glucose metabolism. Here we describe a method in which blood glucose kinetics can be determined in fasted mice without noticeably perturbing glucose homeostasis. The method involves an intraperitoneal injection of a trace amount of [6,6-2H2]glucose and can be performed repeatedly in individual mice. The validity and performance of this novel method was tested in mice fed on chow or high-fat diet for a period of five weeks. After administering the mice with [6,6-2H2]glucose, decay of the glucose label was followed in small volumes of blood collected by tail tip bleeding during a 90-minute period. The total amount of blood collected was less than 120 μL. This novel approach confirmed in detail the well-known increase in insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet. The mice showed reduced glucose clearance rate, and reduced hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity. To compensate for this insulin resistance, β-cell function was slightly increased. We conclude that this refinement of existing methods enables detailed information of glucose homeostasis in mice. Insulin resistance can be accurately determined while mechanistic insight is obtained in underlying pathology. In addition, this novel approach reduces the number of mice needed for longitudinal studies of insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
Group housing of male CD1 mice: Reflections from toxicity studies
Authors: Annas A , Bengtsson C , Törnqvist E
Published: April 2013

Owing to their naturally aggressive behaviour, male mice are often housed individually in toxicity studies. However, several publications advocate group-housing of mice to enable normal social behaviour and interactions between the animals. This refinement project aimed at facilitate group-housing in toxicity studies. A handling procedure, including key factors such as allocation into groups before sexual maturation, transfer of used nesting material into clean cages and avoidance of external changes, that makes group-housing of male CD-1 mice possible in long-term toxicity studies has been developed at Safety Assessment within AstraZeneca, Sweden. Observations on the effect on aggression/fighting in group-housed male mice following different procedures performed in toxicity studies have shown that temporary removal of animals from the group for blood or urine sampling does not affect the group dynamics. However, temporary removal of animals for mating leads to fighting if the animals are taken back to the original group. Treatment with test compound might affect the general condition of the animals and the social hierarchy could be changed. In such cases aggression/fighting might occur and the animals have to be separated. Our experience clearly indicates that group housing of male mice in long-term studies leads to more easily handled animals, as compared with individually housed mice.
Range of blood lactate values in farm pigs prior to experimental surgery
Authors: Hofmaier F , Dinger K , Braun R , Sterner-Kock A
Published: April 2013

In biomedical research the pig is widely used as an animal model for experimental surgery. Feasible monitoring tools during anaesthesia are pivotal for successful and reliable research outcome. Blood lactate values are a monitoring tool and prognostic indicator during surgery both in humans and animals. Lactate levels in pigs might be influenced by various parameters including stressful handling, breed and weight differences. To determine blood lactate levels present prior to experimental surgery, values of 124 female farm pigs were measured in venous blood samples. Pigs presented with blood lactate concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5.5 mmol/L (median, 1.2 mmol/L; interquartile range [IQR] 1.2). Considering genetic background, Rheinhybrid/Pietrain pigs ( n = 51; median, 1.4 mmol/L; IQR, 1) had significantly higher blood lactate levels compared with Landrace/Pietrain crossbred animals ( n = 73; median, 1.1 mmol/L; IQR, 1; P < 0.05). Body weight had no significant effect on blood lactate levels within the evaluated range. This report can benefit research projects monitoring blood lactate values in farm pigs during experimental surgery.
Swaraj as Blossoming: Compassion, Confrontation and a New Art of Integration
Authors: Giri Ananta Kumar
Published: April 2013

The article seeks a new way of co-walking with Gandhi and his epochal Hind Swaraj. It seeks to reconstitute and realize Swaraj not only as self-rule but also as blossoming of self, other and the world. An uncritical and mechanical rendering of Swaraj as self-rule does not address the problem that self-rule is not always accompanied by visions and practices of co-determination, co-constitution and co-responsibility. Swaraj as self-rule and self-determination needs to be accompanied by Swaraj as mutual blossoming, co-determination and co-responsibilisation. It then argues how Swaraj as blossoming involves compassion, confrontation and a new art of integration.
Emergent Postmodern US Military Culture
Authors: Hajjar Remi M.
Published: April 2013

This article examines recent cultural adaptations in the contemporary emergent postmodern American armed forces’ culture. First, the piece provides a concise working definition for culture, including a beneficial cultural toolkit concept. Second, the article discusses the concept of postmodernism and then explores applicable examples of contested, divergent, fragmented, and complementary cultural changes, currents, and new tools in US military culture. This study explains cases of cultural innovation linked to the global growth of ambiguity, movement toward greater multiculturalism, impact of the information age, growth of military civilians, increasing questioning of authority and ideas, and the emergence of a multimission military. This project illuminates the stark oppositional qualities and cultural tools of two currently prominent and highly relevant cultural orientations—the warrior and the peacekeeper–diplomat—which, along with other conflicted and necessary cultural spheres, ultimately coalesce and comprise emergent postmodern US military culture. Finally, the article argues that the postmodern military theory requires a new military culture variable.
Proposal to utilize simplified Swensen protocol in diagnosis of isolated pulmonary nodule
Authors: Ribeiro Sergio Marrone , Ruiz Raul Lopes , Yoo Hugo Hyung Bok , Cataneo Daniele Cristina , Cataneo Antonio José Maria
Published: April 2013

Background

The problem of diagnosing whether a solitary pulmonary nodule is benign or malignant is even greater in developing countries due to a higher prevalence of infectious diseases. These infections generate a large number of patients who are generally asymptomatic and with a pulmonary nodule that cannot be accurately defined as having benign or malignant etiology.

Purpose

To verify the percentages of benign versus malignant non-calcified nodules, the length of time after contrast agent injection is spiral computed tomography (CT) most sensitive and specific, and whether three postcontrast phases are necessary.

Material and Methods

We studied 23 patients with solitary pulmonary nodules identified on chest radiographs or CT. Spiral scans were obtained with Swensen protocol, but at 3, 4, and 5 min after contrast injection onset. Nodules were classified as benign or malignant by histopathological examination or by an absence or presence of growth after 2 years of follow-up CT.

Results

Of the 23 patients studied, 18 (78.2%) showed a final diagnosis of benign and five (21.7%) malignant nodules. Despite the small sample size, we obtained results similar to those of Swensen et al., with 80.0% sensitivity, 55.5% specificity, and 60.8% accuracy. Four minutes gave the greatest mean enhancement in both malignant and benign lesions.

Conclusion

Small non-calcified benign nodules were much more frequent than malignant nodules. The best time for dynamic contrast-enhanced CT density analysis was 4 min postcontrast. As well as saving time and money, this simplified Swensen protocol with only precontrast and 4 min postcontrast phases also reduces patient exposure to ionizing radiation.
Good scent in MRI: can scent management optimize patient tolerance?
Authors: Schellhammer Frank , Ostermann Thomas , Krüger Götz , Berger Bettina , Heusser Peter
Published: April 2013

Background

Psychological distress for patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may range from mild anxiety to serious panic attacks. Scents associated with a sense of wellbeing have been used to diminish psychological stress in various clinical conditions.

Purpose

To evaluate the influence of inhalation aromatherapy in the reduction of artifacts in patients undergoing MRI.

Material and Methods

Based on the assumption aromatherapy will lead to significant reduction of patient-related motion artifacts (PRMA) in MRI, a randomized controlled trial with two groups of 54 patients was enrolled. The primary endpoint was the number of sequences with PRMAs. Secondary outcomes were improvements of mood measured with the ASTS questionnaire as well as patient's recommendation to fellow patients tested by a visual analogue scale. Incidence and intensity of adverse events were documented.

Results

Ninety-five patients were included in the statistical analysis. We were not able to detect a significant reduction of PRMAs. There were also no significant differences in mood or in relation to the feeling before and after examination. The only differences that neared significance were “positive mood” and “recommendation”. No adverse reaction was observed.

Conclusion

Although aromatherapy has been effective in enhancing patient's mood or wellbeing in a variety of stressful clinical settings, we were not able to find a similar effect. Neither the primary nor the secondary endpoints reached a clinical meaningful magnitude.
Effect of cost efficiency reporting on utilization by physician specialists: A difference-indifference study
Authors: Goodman Robert M
Published: April 2013

Summary

Objective:

To assess whether health plan implementation of specialist profile reports not associated with any health plan administered reward or consequence that measured physician cost efficiency relative to peers, and shared with specialists and primary care referral sources only, were associated with changes in specialist behaviour.

Data source/study setting:

Blue Care Network of Michigan is a non-profit statewide Health Maintenance Organization and wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. This study used administrative data from 2002 to 2006 and included only providers and adult (ages 18–65) commercial membership located in Southeastern Michigan.

Study design:

A difference-indifference study design of before and after specialist cost efficiency reporting on six specialties to both specialists and primary care referral sources, but not health plan members, to determine whether specialists who performed worse than peers changed the level of utilization of their own physician services without any direct health plan reward or consequence.

Principal findings:

Substantive changes were noted for interventional cardiology (-32.3%, P ≤ 0.01), orthopaedics (-13.3%, P ≤ 0.01) and otolaryngology (-15.9%, P ≤ 0.02). Less established, yet negative changes were noted for ophthalmology (-11.9%, P ≤ 0.01), gastroenterology (-3.2%, P = 0.23) and urology (-3.1%, P = 0.52).

Conclusions:

Simple and transparent reports on specialist cost efficiency distributed to referral sources and specialists using a more laissez-faire style reporting only health plan programme can engage providers and be associated with reductions in utilization. Possible mechanisms include explicit pressure from referral sources or self-motivated change by specialists.
The importance of normative integration in stroke services: Case study evidence from Sweden and England
Authors: Baeza Juan I , Boaz Annette , Fraser Alec , Fulop Naomi , McKevitt Christopher , Wolfe Charles
Published: April 2013

Summary

Objectives:

A number of evidence-based interventions are now available for stroke patients. Good-quality stroke care involves a range of health professionals located across ambulance, hospital, community and primary care services. This study examined the perspectives of health-care workers involved in stroke care in Sweden and England on the integration challenges stroke care presents.

Methods:

Four qualitative case studies were carried out in Sweden and England, including 95 semistructured interviews with clinicians and managers associated with four different hospitals providing specialized stroke services.

Findings:

High levels of organizational, functional, service and clinical integration among clinicians that deliver emergency and acute stroke care were identified. This is frequently lacking among professionals delivering postacute care. These findings are linked to the prevalence or lack of normative and systemic integration in each respective stage of care.

Conclusions:

Emphasis on the need to treat stroke as an emergency condition in both countries has created a context in which normative and systemic integration often occurs among clinicians that deliver emergency and acute stroke care, aiding the development of organizational, functional, service and clinical integration across the case study sites. In contrast, integration between hospital and community (rehabilitation and general practice) care is frequently less successful.
A low-cost solution for the restoration of femoral head centre during total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Hill Janet C , Salazar-Torres Jose J , Orr John F , Archbold HA Pooler , Beverland David E
Published: April 2013

Restoration of joint centre during total hip arthroplasty is critical. While computer-aided navigation can improve accuracy during total hip arthroplasty, its expense makes it inaccessible to the majority of surgeons. This article evaluates the use, in the laboratory, of a calliper with a simple computer application to measure changes in femoral head centres during total hip arthroplasty. The computer application was designed using Microsoft Excel and used calliper measurements taken pre- and post-femoral head resection to predict the change in head centre in terms of offset and vertical height between the femoral head and newly inserted prosthesis. Its accuracy was assessed using a coordinate measuring machine to compare changes in preoperative and post-operative head centre when simulating stem insertion on 10 sawbone femurs. A femoral stem with a modular neck was used, which meant nine possible head centre configurations were available for each femur, giving 90 results. The results show that using this technique during a simulated total hip arthroplasty, it was possible to restore femoral head centre to within 6 mm for offset (mean 1.67 ± 1.16 mm) and vertical height (mean 2.14 ± 1.51 mm). It is intended that this low-cost technique be extended to inform the surgeon of a best-fit solution in terms of neck length and neck type for a specific prosthesis.
Evaluation of a new approach for modelling the screw–bone interface in a locking plate fixation: A corroboration study
Authors: Moazen Mehran , Mak Jonathan H , Jones Alison C , Jin Zhongmin , Wilcox Ruth K , Tsiridis Eleftherios
Published: April 2013

Computational modelling of the screw–bone interface in fracture fixation constructs is challenging. While incorporating screw threads would be a more realistic representation of the physics, this approach can be computationally expensive. Several studies have instead suppressed the threads and modelled the screw shaft with fixed conditions assumed at the screw–bone interface. This study assessed the sensitivity of the computational results to modelling approaches at the screw–bone interface. A new approach for modelling this interface was proposed, and it was tested on two locking screw designs in a diaphyseal bridge plating configuration. Computational models of locked plating and far cortical locking constructs were generated and compared to in vitro models described in prior literature to corroborate the outcomes. The new approach led to closer agreement between the computational and the experimental stiffness data, while the fixed approach led to overestimation of the stiffness predictions. Using the new approach, the pattern of load distribution and the magnitude of the axial forces, experienced by each screw, were compared between the locked plating and far cortical locking constructs. The computational models suggested that under more severe loading conditions, far cortical locking screws might be under higher risk of screw pull-out than the locking screws. The proposed approach for modelling the screw–bone interface can be applied to any fixation involved application of screws.
Active elastodynamic cloaking
Authors: Norris Andrew N , Amirkulova Feruza A , Parnell William J
Published: April 2013

An active elastodynamic cloak destructively interferes with an incident time harmonic in-plane (coupled compressional/shear) elastic wave to produce zero total elastic field over a finite spatial region. A method is described which explicitly predicts the source amplitudes of the active field. For a given number of sources and their positions in two dimensions it is shown that the multipole amplitudes can be expressed as infinite sums of the coefficients of the incident wave decomposed into regular Bessel functions. Importantly, the active field generated by the sources vanishes in the far-field. In practice the infinite summations are clearly required to be truncated and the accuracy of cloaking is studied when the truncation parameter is modified.
A different kind of practice? Meanings attached by practitioners to the idea of ‘adult protection’
Authors: Sherwood-Johnson Fiona
Published: April 2013

This article began with an observation made during re-analysis of the dataset from a study of Scottish adult support and protection practice. Namely, different practitioners could mean different things when they said they had been doing ‘adult protection’ work. For this article, therefore, practitioners’ conceptualisations of adult protection work were hypothesised inductively from the dataset, and refined into categories through a process of constant comparison, open and axial coding. The dataset comprised material from case files and practitioner interviews relating to 23 ‘adults at risk’.

Findings

When practitioners said they had been doing ‘adult protection’ work, they could mean that: (a) they perceived themselves to have been responding to abuse, harm or high risk; and/or (b) they were adopting a certain formal, even coercive tone of work; and/or (c) they had formally flagged the work as adult protection, including through the use of procedures. Practitioners drew on and combined these meanings in different ways. They also varied in the extent to which they saw adult protection as a distinctive type of practice and/or as different from what had gone before.

Applications

Support and protection work involves nuanced judgements about the nature and intentions of policy, about how these relate to particular situations and about how best to translate them into practice. Time and support is required for this complex work. Further research is needed to deepen understandings of the practice context, particularly with respect to risk. Policy-makers should engage with such research as they continue to develop adult protection/safeguarding policies.
Effect of a Foot-Drop Stimulator and Ankle–Foot Orthosis on Walking Performance After Stroke
Authors: Everaert Dirk G. , Stein Richard B. , Abrams Gary M. , Dromerick Alexander W. , Francisco Gerard E. , Hafner Brian J. , Huskey Thy N. , Munin Michael C. , Nolan Karen J. , Kufta Conrad V.
Published: April 2013

Background. Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of functional electrical stimulation in the management of foot drop after stroke. Objective. To compare changes in walking performance with the WalkAide (WA) foot-drop stimulator and a conventional ankle–foot orthosis (AFO). Methods. Individuals with stroke within the previous 12 months and residual foot drop were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized controlled, crossover trial. Subjects were assigned to 1 of 3 parallel arms for 12 weeks (6 weeks/device): arm 1 (WA–AFO), n = 38; arm 2 (AFO–WA), n = 31; arm 3 (AFO–AFO), n = 24. Primary outcomes were walking speed and Physiological Cost Index for the Figure-of-8 walking test. Secondary measures included 10-m walking speed and perceived safety during this test, general mobility, and device preference for arms 1 and 2 for continued use. Walking tests were performed with (On) and without a device (Off) at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks. Results. Both WA and AFO had significant orthotic (On–Off difference), therapeutic (change over time when Off), and combined (change over time On vs baseline Off) effects on walking speed. An AFO also had a significant orthotic effect on Physiological Cost Index. The WA had a higher, but not significantly different therapeutic effect on speed than an AFO, whereas an AFO had a greater orthotic effect than the WA (significant at 12 weeks). Combined effects on speed after 6 weeks did not differ between devices. Users felt as safe with the WA as with an AFO, but significantly more users preferred the WA. Conclusions. Both devices produce equivalent functional gains.
Presidential Succession Planning
Authors: Klein Melissa F. , Salk Raintry Jean
Published: April 2013

Significant turnover among senior leadership is expected in higher education. This study sought to examine the degree of succession planning for the top position in private higher education institutions in Wisconsin. Twenty-five in-depth qualitative interviews with presidents, board chairs, and search firms were conducted. A significant percentage of participants reported a lack of succession planning in higher education and further identified the tradition of academy as a considerable challenge to succession planning. Results of the study suggest key factors to ensure success in filling leadership roles in the future.
Dimensions of lay health worker programmes: results of a scoping study and production of a descriptive framework
Authors: South Jane , Meah Angela , Bagnall Anne-Marie , Jones Rebecca
Published: April 2013

Background:

Approaches that engage and support lay health workers in the delivery of health improvement activities have been widely applied across different health issues and populations. The lack of a common terminology, inconsistency in the use of role descriptors and poor indexing of lay health worker roles are all barriers to the development of a shared evidence base for lay health worker interventions.

Objectives:

The aim of the paper is to report results from a scoping study of approaches to involve lay people in public health roles and to present a framework for categorisation of the different dimensions of lay health worker programmes.

Methods:

Our scoping study comprised a systematic scoping review to map the literature on lay health worker interventions and to identify role dimensions and common models. The review, which was limited to interventions relevant to UK public health priorities, covered a total of 224 publications. The scoping study also drew on experiential evidence from UK practice.

Results:

Research-based and practice-based evidence confirmed the variety of role descriptors in use and the complexity of role dimensions. Five common models that define the primary role of the lay health worker were identified from the literature. A framework was later developed that grouped features of lay health worker programmes into four dimensions: intervention, role, professional support/service and the community.

Discussion and conclusion:

More account needs to be taken of the variations that occur between lay health worker programmes. This framework, with the mapping of key categories of difference, may enable better description of lay health worker programmes, which will in turn assist in building a shared evidence base. More research is needed to examine the transferability of the framework within different contexts.
Predisposing, facilitating and reinforcing factors of healthy and unhealthy food consumption in schoolchildren: a study in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Authors: Daboné Charles , Delisle Hélène , Receveur Olivier
Published: April 2013

Objective:

African schoolchildren’s dietary habits are likely changing in the realm of the nutrition transition, particularly in urban areas, but data on their diet and on determinants are scanty. In order to design relevant interventions for this priority target group, the study aimed to assess food habits and their determinants in schoolchildren of Ouagadougou.

Methods:

In a cross-sectional survey, fifth-grade schoolchildren filled during school hours a questionnaire to assess consumption frequency of ‘healthy’ foods (fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, legumes) and ‘unhealthy’ (superfluous) items (cake, cookies, candies, ice, soda) and underlying factors, using Green’s PRECEDE model.

Results:

The study included 769 schoolchildren, mean age 11.7 ± 1.4 years, from eight public and four private schools. Consumption scores of unhealthy items were significantly higher than healthy foods ( p = 0.001). During the week prior to the survey, 25% of children had eaten no fruit, 20% no meat, 20% no legumes, 17% no fish and 17% no vegetables. While less than 4% ate fruits or vegetables every day, 18.3% ate ice pop every day. Children eating cookies, cakes and candy every day were up to seven-fold those eating fruits, vegetables or legumes. Compared to public-school pupils, those from private schools consumed both healthy and unhealthy items more frequently ( p = 0.002 and p = 0.007, respectively). Urban schoolchildren had significantly higher unhealthy food scores ( p = 0.027) compared to peri-urban schools. Children’s healthy and unhealthy food consumption was primarily explained by perceived decisional power and availability [facilitating factors] for both types of foods, and maternal reinforcement for healthy foods and peers’ reinforcement for consumption of unhealthy items. Overall, facilitating factors rated higher for unhealthy than healthy foods.

Conclusion:

The study showed that city schoolchildren’s eating behaviours are far from optimal. Nutrition interventions should be tailored to address the underlying factors in order to impact on behaviours, thereby preventing both dietary inadequacies and excess.
Adult Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Barry Aaron , Brzezinski Marek
Published: April 2013

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), sometimes used interchangeably with extracorporeal life support, is a therapy that artificially supports pulmonary and/or cardiac organ systems. Venous blood is continuously withdrawn from a patient and passed across a membrane that can support both oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide; blood is then reinfused back into the patient via venous or arterial access. A pump in the circuit can augment cardiac output, if necessary. Initial treatment with ECMO had discouraging outcomes, but recent experience with acute respiratory distress syndrome and the H1N1 influenza A pandemic in 2009 have led to a resurgence in popularity and additional research into this technique. At this time, treatment with ECMO is limited to highly specialized centers with well-trained practitioners. ECMO continues to be used primarily as a salvage technique in severe critical illness. This review will discuss the indications, complications, and types of ECMO. A guide to the clinical use of ECMO concludes the review.
Effect of Ce on microstructure and properties of Mg/Al butt joint welded by gas tungsten arc with Zn–30Al–xCe filler metal
Authors: Liu L M , Liu F
Published: April 2013

AZ31B Mg alloy and 6061 Al alloy are welded by gas tungsten arc welding filling with Zn–30Al– xCe filler metal. The effect of Ce content in Zn–30Al filler metal on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the different joints is investigated. The experimental results show that adding appropriate amount of Ce into Zn–30Al filler metal is conducive to improve the microstructure of the joints. The coarse α-Al in the fusion zone of joint is refined with the addition of 0·05 wt-%Ce to the filler metal, accordingly improved the joint strength. However, the microstructure of the fusion zone became coarse again with the addition of 0·08 wt-%Ce in the filler metal. The average tensile strength of the joint with the addition of 0·05 wt-%Ce to the filler metal can reach 132 MPa.
Hysteresis, structural and composition characteristics of deposited thin films by reactively sputtered titanium target in Ar/CH4/N2 gas mixture
Authors: Fouad O A , Ali B , Shah S I
Published: April 2013

Hysteresis, crystal structure and chemical composition of thin films deposited through reactive sputtering of titanium metal target in Ar/CH4/N2 gas mixture have been investigated. The transition from metallic to compound sputtering mode was clearly seen as the reactive gases (CH4 and N2) flowrate concentration first increased and subsequently decreased. Abrupt cathode current drop from 273 mA to reach a minimum value of 195 mA was observed upon addition of nitrogen gas from 0 to 10 flowrate concentration to the Ar/CH4 gas mixture. This was also accompanied by an abrupt change in reactive gas partial pressure. Exploration of the deposition rate and film thickness showed that it decreased from 4·5 to 1·5 nm min−1 and from 140 to 40 nm as the N2 flowrate concentration increased from 1·5 to 7·5 at 5·5CH4 flowrate concentration respectively. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of the deposited films confirmed the formation of titanium carbide and carbonitride phases as the methane and nitrogen gas concentrations in the sputtering gas were increased.
Determination of presence of undesirable carbides at surface of cast iron parts using differential eddy current technique
Authors: Kashefi M , Kahrobaee S
Published: April 2013

Machinability of grey cast iron parts can greatly suffer from the formation of carbide at the surface, resulting in a decrease in cutting tool life and higher production costs. Therefore, detection of the hardened layer and its hardness are the key factors in quality control and inspection processes. In the present paper, a number of metallurgical parameters (surface carbide, surface hardness and hardened depth) have been investigated using the non-destructive differential eddy current technique. The results show the high potential of the proposed method as a fast and accurate technique in inspecting and in consequent separation of undesirable parts.
N rich nanocrystalline bainite in surface layer of carbon steel
Authors: Zhang P , Zhang F C , Yan Z G , Zheng C L
Published: April 2013

A novel technology was proposed to synthesis nanocrystalline bainitic microstructures in the surface layer of medium carbon steel, which is based on nitriding and subsequent low temperature austempering. The nitrogen content in the nitriding layer increased to 1·2 wt-%, indicating that the martensite starting point was depressed. Nanocrystalline bainite formed in the nitrided layer and lath martensite in the centre by austempering at a low temperature, slightly higher than the martensite starting point of the surface layer. The N rich nanocrystalline bainite is composed of bainitic ferrite plates with uniformly distributed retained austenite and γ′-Fe4N. In addition, the hardness of the nitrided layer reaches 750 HV with the transformation of N rich nanocrystalline bainite.
Analysis of plasma degreased aluminium foil with XPS
Authors: Klingner S , Voigts F , Viöl W , Maus-Friedrichs W
Published: April 2013

Residuals of lubricants adhere as very thin layers of hydrocarbons to the surfaces of cold rolled aluminium foil. Subsequent processing of the foil requires a cleaning process. In this study, a new approach to degrease the aluminium is examined that employs an atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used to detect hydrocarbon layers on the surface of aluminium foil. The detected carbon content is a measure of the amount of residual lubricants remaining on the surface. Before any treatment, the proportion of carbon on the foil surface amounts to 19% corresponding to a lubricant layer thickness of 3·3 nm. Plasma degreasing reduces the carbon proportion to ∼6% corresponding to a layer thickness of 1·3 nm. With conventional heating, there is a layer thickness of ∼1 nm remaining on the foil surface. Still, the plasma degreasing is a less time and energy consuming cleaning process.
Performance of PVD AlTiCrN coating during machining of austenitic stainless steel
Authors: Kulkarni A P , Joshi G G , Sargade V G
Published: April 2013

In this study, the experimental results of dry, high speed turning of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steels using nanocrystalline AlTiCrN coated cemented carbide insert are presented. High power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HPPMS) and cathodic arc evaporation (CAE) techniques were used to deposit nanocrystalline AlTiCrN coating on fine grained K grade cemented carbide insert. The composition and microstructure of the deposited nanocrystalline AlTiCrN coatings were analysed using SEM. In addition, the adhesion and microhardness of the coatings were evaluated. Fine grained appearance with dense columnar structure was observed for the coating deposited by HPPMS technique. Microhardness values for nanocrystalline AlTiCrN coating deposited by HPPMS and CAE techniques were found to be 35 and 37 GPa respectively for the thickness of 4·2 μm. The effect of cutting speed and feed on the tool wear was investigated. HPPMS coated tool exhibited tool life of 24 min, whereas CAE coated tool exhibited tool life of 15 min for the same conditions.
Correlates of T-cell–mediated viral control and phenotype of CD8+ T cells in HIV-2, a naturally contained human retroviral infection
Authors: de Silva Thushan I. , Peng Yanchun , Leligdowicz Aleksandra , Zaidi Irfan , Li Lucy , Griffin Harry , Blais Marie-Eve , Vincent Tim , Saraiva Mavinga , Yindom Louis-Marie , van Tienen Carla , Easterbrook Philippa , Jaye Assan , Whittle Hilton , Dong Tao , Rowland-Jones Sarah L.
Published: April 2013

Key Points

HIV-2 viral control is associated with a polyfunctional Gag-specific CD8+ T-cell response but not with perforin upregulation. Our findings provide insight into cellular immune responses associated with a naturally contained human retroviral infection.
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Physical Therapy Outpatient Satisfaction Survey in an Italian musculoskeletal population
Authors: Vanti Carla , Bonetti Francesca , Ceron Daniele , Piccarreta Raffaella , Violante Francesco Saverio , Guccione Andrew , Pillastrini Paolo
Published: April 2013

Background

Although patient satisfaction is a relevant outcome measure for health care providers, few satisfaction questionnaires have been generally available to physical therapists or have been validated in an Italian population for use in the outpatient setting. The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Italian version of the Physical Therapy Outpatient Satisfaction Survey (PTOPS).

Methods

The Italian version of the PTOPS (PTOPS-I) was developed through forward-backward translation, review, and field-testing a pre-final version. The reliability of the final questionnaire was measured by internal consistency and test-retest stability at 7 days. Factor analysis was also used to explore construct validity. Concurrent validity was measured by comparing PTOPS-I with a 5-point Likert-type scale measure assessing the Global Perceived Effect (GPE) of the treatment and with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Results

354 outpatients completed the PTOPS-I, and 56 took the re-test. The internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) of the original domains (Enhancers, Detractors, Location, and Cost) was 0.758 for Enhancers, 0.847 for Detractors, 0.885 for Location, and 0.706 for Cost. The test-retest stability (Intra-class Correlation Coefficients) was 0.769 for Enhancers, 0.893 for Detractors, 0.862 for Location, and 0.862 for Cost. The factor analysis of the Italian version revealed a structure into four domains, named Depersonalization, Inaccessibility, Ambience, and Cost. Concurrent validity with GPE was significantly demonstrated for all domains except Inaccessibility. Irrelevant or non-significant correlations were observed with VAS.

Conclusion

The PTOPS-I showed good psychometric properties. Its use can be suggested for Italian-speaking outpatients who receive physical therapy.
Recognizing clinical entities in hospital discharge summaries using Structural Support Vector Machines with word representation features
Authors: Tang Buzhou , Cao Hongxin , Wu Yonghui , Jiang Min , Xu Hua
Published: April 2013

Background

Named entity recognition (NER) is an important task in clinical natural language processing (NLP) research. Machine learning (ML) based NER methods have shown good performance in recognizing entities in clinical text. Algorithms and features are two important factors that largely affect the performance of ML-based NER systems. Conditional Random Fields (CRFs), a sequential labelling algorithm, and Support Vector Machines (SVMs), which is based on large margin theory, are two typical machine learning algorithms that have been widely applied to clinical NER tasks. For features, syntactic and semantic information of context words has often been used in clinical NER systems. However, Structural Support Vector Machines (SSVMs), an algorithm that combines the advantages of both CRFs and SVMs, and word representation features, which contain word-level back-off information over large unlabelled corpus by unsupervised algorithms, have not been extensively investigated for clinical text processing. Therefore, the primary goal of this study is to evaluate the use of SSVMs and word representation features in clinical NER tasks.

Methods

In this study, we developed SSVMs-based NER systems to recognize clinical entities in hospital discharge summaries, using the data set from the concept extration task in the 2010 i2b2 NLP challenge. We compared the performance of CRFs and SSVMs-based NER classifiers with the same feature sets. Furthermore, we extracted two different types of word representation features (clustering-based representation features and distributional representation features) and integrated them with the SSVMs-based clinical NER system. We then reported the performance of SSVM-based NER systems with different types of word representation features.

Results and discussion

Using the same training (N = 27,837) and test (N = 45,009) sets in the challenge, our evaluation showed that the SSVMs-based NER systems achieved better performance than the CRFs-based systems for clinical entity recognition, when same features were used. Both types of word representation features (clustering-based and distributional representations) improved the performance of ML-based NER systems. By combining two different types of word representation features together with SSVMs, our system achieved a highest F-measure of 85.82%, which outperformed the best system reported in the challenge by 0.6%. Our results show that SSVMs is a great potential algorithm for clinical NLP research, and both types of unsupervised word representation features are beneficial to clinical NER tasks.
The protective effect and underlying mechanism of metformin on neointima formation in fructose-induced insulin resistant rats
Authors: Lu Jianxin , Ji Jingzhang , Meng Howard , Wang David , Jiang Bo , Liu Lixin , Randell Edward , Adeli Khosrow , Meng Qing H
Published: April 2013

Background

Insulin resistance is strongly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the underlying mechanisms linking insulin resistance and the development of atherosclerosis have not been fully elucidated. Moreover, the protective effect of antihyperglycemic agent, metformin, is not fully understood. This study investigated the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of metformin in balloon-injury induced stenosis in insulin resistant rats.

Methods

After 4 weeks high fructose diet, rats received balloon catheter injury on carotid arteries and were sacrificed at 1 and 4 weeks post injury. Biochemical, histological, and molecular changes were investigated.

Results

Plasma levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acids, and methylglyoxal were highly increased in fructose-induced insulin resistant rats and treatment with metformin significantly improved this metabolic profile. The neointimal formation of the carotid arteries was enhanced, and treatment with metformin markedly attenuated neointimal hyperplasia. A significant reduction in BrdU-positive cells in the neointima was observed in the metformin-treated group (P < 0.01). Insulin signaling pathways were inhibited in insulin resistant rats while treatment with metformin enhanced the expression of insulin signaling pathways. Increased expression of JNK and NFKB was suppressed following metformin treatment. Vasoreactivity was impaired while treatment with metformin attenuated phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction and enhanced methacholine-induced vasorelaxation of the balloon injured carotid arteries in insulin resistant rats.

Conclusion

The balloon-injury induced neointimal formation of the carotid arteries is enhanced by insulin resistance. Treatment with metformin significantly attenuates neointimal hyperplasia through inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and inflammation as well as by improvement of the insulin signaling pathway.
Exome sequencing identifies nonsegregating nonsense ATM and PALB2variants in familial pancreatic cancer
Authors: Grant Robert C , Al-Sukhni Wigdan , Borgida Ayelet E , Holter Spring , Kanji Zaheer S , McPherson Treasa , Whelan Emily , Serra Stefano , Trinh Quang M , Peltekova Vanya , Stein Lincoln D , McPherson John D , Gallinger Steven
Published: April 2013

We sequenced 11 germline exomes from five families with familial pancreatic cancer (FPC). One proband had a germline nonsense variant in ATM with somatic loss of the variant allele. Another proband had a nonsense variant in PALB2 with somatic loss of the variant allele. Both variants were absent in a relative with FPC. These findings question the causal mechanisms of ATM and PALB2 in these families and highlight challenges in identifying the causes of familial cancer syndromes using exome sequencing.