bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outsourcing Care
Authors: Leinaweaver Jessaca B.
Published: September 2010

Migration from Peru has increased dramatically over the past decade, but the social and relational repercussions of these transnational movements have not yet been fully explored. Examination of the way migrants manage their responsibilities to dependent kin in Peru reveals that child fostering makes it possible for adults to migrate in search of better work opportunities by ensuring care for their children and company for their older relatives. For Peruvians engaging in labor migration, child fostering tempers some of the challenges of continuing to participate in established social networks from a distance.
The European paradox: A communication deficit as long as European integration steals the headlines
Authors: van Noije Lonneke
Published: September 2010

In 2007, the Dutch state secretary for European affairs lamented the narrow focus on the rules of European integration in the public debate, overshadowing the EU’s impact on citizens’ daily lives. This study compares the amount and type of news about the EU in the British, French and Dutch press during the period 1990—2003. A content analysis of Dutch EU coverage for the years 2004 up to 2006 was subsequently undertaken, which saw key events such as the EU enlargement and referenda on the constitution. The results show how Dutch EU news is notable for its domestic viewpoint until 2003. The prominence of EU news in all three countries seems unrelated to the EU’s growing authority. Besides key events regarding the integration process, the EU appears to rely on crises and rows to draw media attention. Everyday politics remain invisible.
Review Essays: Human Motives and Social Cooperation
Authors: Sabbagh Clara
Published: September 2010

This review essay discusses the attempts of four books to surpass traditional disciplinary borders and address a basic question across the social sciences: What motivational forces guide human behaviour, and how do these forces affect and how are they affected by, the dynamics of social cooperation and collective action? Even though the books adopt different theoretical and methodological perspectives for examining this question, they all challenge the univalent and decontextualized economic (self-interested) view of human motivation, supporting interdisciplinarity and a multidimensional and contextualized view of human motivation.
Freeze, Wait, Reanimate: Cryonic Suspension and Science Fiction
Authors: Shoffstall Grant
Published: September 2010

This essay takes as its chief point of departure Jacques Ellul’s contention that imaginative treatments of malevolent technology in antitechnological science fiction, by way of inviting rejection, refusal, dismissal, or condemnation, conspire in facilitating human acceptance of and adjustment to technology as it otherwise presently is. The author extends Ellul’s argument to accounts of cryonic suspension, or “cryonics,” the practice of freezing human corpses, by way of gradually subjecting them, at the moment of legal death, to extremely low temperatures in hopes that medicine will at some future point achieve the necessary kinds and levels of technology to facilitate “reanimation.” The author maintains that, analogous to Ellul’s treatment of science fiction, most extant accounts of cryonic suspension, by focusing almost exclusively on issues pertaining to the scientific legitimacy and technological feasibility of the practice, fall prey to the performative conventions of a discursive- cum-epistemic trap, one that ultimately works to facilitate the acceptance of and adjustment to technology as it otherwise presently is.
Disability, HRQoL and resource use among chronic and episodic migraineurs: Results from the International Burden of Migraine Study (IBMS)
Authors: Blumenfeld AM , Varon SF , Wilcox TK , Buse DC , Kawata AK , Manack A , Goadsby PJ , Lipton RB
Published: September 2010

Background: Migraine imposes significant burden on patients, their families and health care systems. In this study, we compared episodic to chronic migraine sufferers to determine if migraine status predicted headache-related disability, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and health care resource utilization.

Methods: A Web-based survey was administered to panelists from nine countries. Participants were classified as having chronic migraine (CM), episodic migraine (EM) or neither using a validated questionnaire. Data collected and then analyzed included sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, Migraine Disability Assessment, Migraine-Specific Quality of Life v2.1, Patient Health Questionnaire and health care resource utilization.

Findings: Of the respondents, 5.7% had CM and 94.3% had EM, with CM patients reporting significantly more severe disability, lower HRQoL, higher levels of anxiety and depression and greater health care resource utilization compared to those with EM.

Interpretation: These results provide evidence that will enhance our understanding of the factors driving health care costs and will contribute to development of cost-effective health care strategies.
Perceived job quality in the United States, Great Britain, Norway and West Germany, 1989-2005
Authors: Olsen Karen M. , Kalleberg Arne L. , Nesheim Torstein
Published: September 2010

This article examines cross-national differences and trends in perceived job quality, defined in terms of five dimensions — extrinsic rewards, intrinsic rewards, work intensity, working conditions and interpersonal relationships — as well as overall job satisfaction. We analyse country differences in 1989, 1997 and 2005, using data for four countries from the International Social Survey Programme. Job security, the ability to work independently and the quality of working conditions and interpersonal relationships tend to be greater in Norway and West Germany than in the USA and Great Britain; American workers tend to be most satisfied with advancement opportunities, intrinsic rewards and overall job quality. We find convergence in job in security and work intensity over time, which may reflect increased market pressures that encourage a ‘lean and mean’ management strategy.
The common European flexicurity principles: How a fragile consensus was reached
Authors: Mailand Mikkel
Published: September 2010

This article analyses the decision-making process underlying the adoption of common EU flexicurity principles. Supporters of the initiative succeeded in convincing the sceptics one by one; the change of government in France and the last-minute support of the European social partner organizations were instrumental in this regard. However, the critics succeeded in weakening the initially strong focus on the transition from job security to employment security and the divisions between insiders and outsiders in the labour market. In contrast to some decision-making on the European Employment Strategy, coalitions seem to have played only a minor role in the flexicurity process, although some actors joined forces in their attempts to influence the outcome.
Organizing employees in Central Eastern Europe: The approach of Solidarność
Authors: Krzywdzinski Martin
Published: September 2010

Despite severe membership losses after the transformation of 1989, trade unions in Central Eastern Europe were slow to develop methods to recruit new members. This article examines how Solidarność in Poland has adopted American organizing approaches, and analyses how an emerging group of young trade union organizers and activists changed the self-understanding of the union. The article ends with a comparative discussion of the conditions which may promote the development of organizing activities in Central Eastern Europe.
Rules on working conditions in Europe: Subordinated to freedom of services?
Authors: Cremers Jan
Published: September 2010

Industrial relations in most European countries are based on a national regulatory framework consisting of both labour legislation and provisions laid down in collective agreements. This institutional framework provides rules and procedures for working conditions and social security. These rules and procedures are important contributions to a general feeling of justice and fair treatment, and are perceived as powerful instruments to defend workers’ rights. The introduction of free market principles has brought new challenges for the functioning of this framework, as liberalization and deregulation became the leading principles for the modelling of labour markets. Recent ECJ rulings and European Commission infringement procedures assert the primacy of the supranational principle of free movement in the business environment. The author discusses the inconsistencies in the EU approach.
Vibration and damping analysis of cylindrical sandwich panels containing a viscoelastic flexible core
Authors: Afshin Mehdi , Sadighi Mojtaba , Shakeri Mahmood
Published: September 2010

In the present study, vibration and damping analysis of cylindrical sandwich panels containing a viscoelastic flexible core based on the high-order theory of sandwich structures is investigated. A layerwise formulation is developed to study the applicability of the high-order theory. The face sheets are considered as composite laminates with cross-ply layup that follow first-order shear deformation assumption and the core is considered as a linear viscoelastic medium with out-of-plane stresses only. The field equations along with the boundary conditions are derived via the application of Hamilton’s principle. A closed-form solution is developed for simply supported boundary conditions and a comparison is made with available results in the literature to verify the high-order and layerwise solution results. Finally, the influence of parameters including the core stiffness, the core to the face sheets thickness ratio, and the core damping on the applicability of the high-order theory, and variation of natural frequencies and modal loss factors of the sandwich panel are investigated. The results demonstrate a good agreement between the high-order and layerwise theories for small core stiffnesses, and for a wide range of the core to the face sheet thickness ratio and core damping.
Towards a critical theory of value creation in cross-sector partnerships
Authors: Le Ber Marlene J. , Branzei Oana
Published: September 2010

This article develops a critical theory of value creation in cross-sector partnerships by recasting value creation from the standpoint of the beneficiary. We first explain how distinct combinations of principles, relations and relational processes set largely non-overlapping foundations for conceptualizing the role of the beneficiary in value creation within Marxist, pragmatist and Frankfurt schools of thought. We introduce the construct of beneficiary voice to delineate and illustrate three distinct roles that beneficiaries may play in value creation in cross-sector partnerships: voice-receiving, voice-making and voice-taking. We then focus on the generative tensions to bridge value creation arguments across these three critical theories and thus contribute an overtly socialized and explicitly relational foundation of value creation in cross-sector partnerships.
Validity of an Internet version of the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire
Authors: Akbar Nadine , Honarmand Kimia , Kou Nancy , Levine Brian , Rector Neil , Feinstein Anthony
Published: September 2010

Background: Neuropsychological batteries are long and require expertise to administer. For this reason, the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ) was developed as it is quick and easy to complete. The informant version of the scale has proven to be a useful screen for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: The objective was to validate an Internet version of the MSNQ.

Methods: The following psychometric data were collected at home over the Internet in 82 MS patients: (a) patient self-report version MSNQ (P-MSNQ), (b) informant version MSNQ (I-MSNQ), and (c) Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Thereafter patients underwent in-office testing with the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N). The sensitivity and specificity of the Internet MSNQ to detect cognitive impairment relative to the BRB-N was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: Thirty-five percent of the sample was cognitively impaired. The P-MSNQ was correlated with depression and two tests of the BRB-N. The I-MSNQ was correlated with depression and all five tests of the BRB-N. A cut-off score of 26 on the I-MSNQ gave a sensitivity and specificity of 72% and 60% respectively. Test-retest and internal reliability analyses were strong for both the P-MSNQ and I-MSNQ.

Conclusion: This is the first attempt at an Internet validation of the MSNQ. The modest sensitivity and specificity values suggest that further research is needed before either the patient or informant version of the MSNQ can be used for neuropsychological screening purposes over the Internet.
The logic of identity and resemblance in culturally appropriate health care
Authors: Shaw Susan J.
Published: August 2010

Greater diversity in the health care workforce is frequently proposed as a means of addressing health disparities between minority and majority populations in the USA by improving health care access and quality for minority groups. ‘Culturally appropriate’ health care programs that include ethnic resemblance between physician and patient are emerging as new technologies of knowledge and power in a wide range of health care settings. Based on participant-observation research and interviews with patients and health care providers at a federally funded New England clinic, this article uses theories of cultural identity supported by ethnographic examples to examine arguments in favor of patient—provider resemblance. While ethnic identity is often assumed to incorporate cultural expertise or competence, in practice, developing and maintaining such expertise is the result of repeated performances developed in part through didactic trainings described herein. Claims for the efficacy of patient—provider resemblance in addressing disparities in quality of care mobilize notions of specificity, difference and recognition that both depend on and construct racialized ethnic identities. Proposed as a means to expand access to health care, resemblance programs nonetheless perpetuate segregation in health care by relying on minority health care providers to care for the minority poor. Both patients and health care providers I interviewed perceived benefits associated with ethnic resemblance, yet also articulated critiques of the essentialized notions of identity that render ethnicity automatically efficacious. Following Laclau, I argue that an exclusive focus on physician—patient resemblance constructs ethnicity as ‘mere particularity’ and in so doing helps to obscure the relations of power and inequality that produce the very health disparities that resemblance is meant to solve.
Review: Endocrine and metabolic emergencies: thyroid storm
Authors: Carroll Richard , Matfin Glenn
Published: September 2010

Thyrotoxicosis is a common endocrine condition that may be secondary to a number of underlying processes. Thyroid storm (also known as thyroid or thyrotoxic crisis) represents the severe end of the spectrum of thyrotoxicosis and is characterized by compromised organ function. Whilst rare in the modern era, the mortality rate remains high, and prompt consideration of this endocrine emergency, with specific treatments, can improve outcomes.
IDH1 mutations are detected in 6.6% of 1414 AML patients and are associated with intermediate risk karyotype and unfavorable prognosis in adults younger than 60 years and unmutated NPM1 status
Authors: Schnittger Susanne , Haferlach Claudia , Ulke Madlen , Alpermann Tamara , Kern Wolfgang , Haferlach Torsten
Published: August 2010

Mutations in the IDH1 gene at position R132 coding for the enzyme cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase are known in glioma and have recently been detected also in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These mutations result in an accumulation of α-ketoglutarate to R (2)-2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). To further clarify the role of this mutation in AML, we have analyzed IDH1R132 in 1414 AML patients. We detected IDH1R132 mutations in 93 of 1414 patients (6.6%) with a clear prevalence in intermediate risk karyotype group (10.4%, P < .001). Although IDH1R132 mutations can incidentally occur together with all other molecular markers, there were strong associations with NPM1 mutations (14.2% vs 5.4% in NPM1wt, P < .001) and MLL-PTD (18.2% vs 7.0% in MLLwt, P = .020). IDH1-mutated cases more often had AML without maturation/French-American-British M1 (P < .001), an immature immunophenotype, and female sex (8.7% vs 4.7% in male, P = .003) compared with IDH1wt cases. Prognosis was adversely affected by IDH1 mutations with trend for shorter overall survival (P = .110), a shorter event-free survival (P < .003) and a higher cumulative risk for relapse (P = .001). IDH1 mutations were of independent prognostic relevance for event-free survival (P = .039) especially in the age group < 60 years (P = .028). In conclusion, these data show that IDH1R132 may significantly add information regarding characterization and prognostication in AML.
Comparison of information-theoretic to statistical methods for gene-gene interactions in the presence of genetic heterogeneity
Authors: Sucheston Lara , Chanda Pritam , Zhang Aidong , Tritchler David , Ramanathan Murali
Published: September 2010

Background

Multifactorial diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases are caused by the complex interplay between genes and environment. The detection of these interactions remains challenging due to computational limitations. Information theoretic approaches use computationally efficient directed search strategies and thus provide a feasible solution to this problem. However, the power of information theoretic methods for interaction analysis has not been systematically evaluated. In this work, we compare power and Type I error of an information-theoretic approach to existing interaction analysis methods.

Methods

The k- way interaction information (KWII) metric for identifying variable combinations involved in gene-gene interactions (GGI) was assessed using several simulated data sets under models of genetic heterogeneity driven by susceptibility increasing loci with varying allele frequency, penetrance values and heritability. The power and proportion of false positives of the KWII was compared to multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR), restricted partitioning method (RPM) and logistic regression.

Results

The power of the KWII was considerably greater than MDR on all six simulation models examined. For a given disease prevalence at high values of heritability, the power of both RPM and KWII was greater than 95%. For models with low heritability and/or genetic heterogeneity, the power of the KWII was consistently greater than RPM; the improvements in power for the KWII over RPM ranged from 4.7% to 14.2% at for α = 0.001 in the three models at the lowest heritability values examined. KWII performed similar to logistic regression.

Conclusions

Information theoretic models are flexible and have excellent power to detect GGI under a variety of conditions that characterize complex diseases.
Prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis in adults referring hospital for annual health check-up in Southern China
Authors: Liu Haiying , Liu Yunfeng , Wang Luxia , Xu Dexing , Lin Bingliang , Zhong Renqian , Gong Sitang , Podda Mauro , Invernizzi Pietro
Published: September 2010

Background

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease characterized by the presence of anti-mitocondrial autoantibodies (AMA) which has an essential role also for diagnosis. In addition, also some anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) have been shown to be highly specific PBC. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of PBC among the adults referring hospital for annual health check-up in Southern China by screening sera for PBC-specific autoantibodies.

Methods

AMA and ANA were screened in 8,126 adults (mean age 44 ± 15 years, 48% females) by indirect immunofluorenscence (IIF). Positive sera were tested by ELISA/immunoblotting for AMA-M2, anti-sp100 and anti-gp210. A diagnosis of PBC was re-assessed six months after the initial testing.

Results

Out of 8,126 individuals 35 were positive for AMA and 79 positive for ANA. Nineteen, 4, and 3 of the subjects positive for AMA and/or ANA showed reactivity for AMA-M2, anti-sp100 or gp210, respectively, further tested with ELISA/immunoblotting. Fourteen in the 39 individuals positive for AMA at IIF, AMA-M2, anti-gp210, or anti-sp100 had abnormal cholestatic liver functional indices. One definite and 3 probable PBC diagnosis could be made in 4 cases including 3 females and 1 male after half a year.

Conclusions

We found a point prevalence rate of PBC among Southern Chinese adults attending for yearly health check-up of 492 cases per million (95% CI, 128 to 1,093) and 1,558 cases per million (95% CI, 294 to 3,815) for women over 40, a finding similar to prevalence reported in other geographical areas.
Pneumomediastinum as a complication of emphysematous cholecystitis: Case report
Authors: Delgado-Plasencia Luciano , González-García Ignacio , Rodríguez-González Diana , Torres-Monzón A Esther
Published: September 2010

Background

Emphysematous cholecystitis is a variant of acute cholecystitis which is generally caused by gas-forming organisms. Emphysematous cholecystitis may cause gas spreading within the subcutaneous tissue, peritoneal cavity and retroperitoneum.

Case presentation

We present a case of emphysematous cholecystitis in a middle-aged diabetic patient who, postoperatively, presented edema in both flanks and left chest crepitation on palpation, associated with hemodynamic worsening. Computed tomography scan of the chest and abdomen revealed a large pneumomediastinum, pneumoretroperitoneum, gas in subcutaneous tissue and flank abscesses. In both blood and surgical wound exudate cultures, Escherichia coli was found.

Conclusion

Emphysematous cholecystitis should be considered as a possible cause of pneumomediastinum.
Simulated effect of pneumococcal vaccination in the Netherlands on existing rules constructed in a non-vaccinated cohort predicting sequelae after bacterial meningitis
Authors: Commandeur Arno E , de Jonge Rogier CJ , Koomen Irene , Spanjaard Lodewijk , van Furth A Marceline , Terwee Caroline B
Published: September 2010

Background

Previously two prediction rules identifying children at risk of hearing loss and academic or behavioral limitations after bacterial meningitis were developed.Streptococcus pneumoniaeas causative pathogen was an important risk factor in both. Since 2006 Dutch children receive seven-valent conjugate vaccination againstS. pneumoniae. The presumed effect of vaccination was simulated by excluding all children infected byS. pneumoniaewith the serotypes included in the vaccine, from both previous collected cohorts (between 1990-1995).

Methods

Children infected by one of the vaccine serotypes were excluded from both original cohorts (hearing loss: 70 of 628 children; academic or behavioral limitations: 26 of 182 children). All identified risk factors were included in multivariate logistic regression models. The discriminative ability of both new models was calculated.

Results

The same risk factors as in the original models were significant. The discriminative ability of the original hearing loss model was 0.84 and of the new model 0.87. In the academic or behavioral limitations model it was 0.83 and 0.84 respectively.

Conclusion

It can be assumed that the prediction rules will also be applicable on a vaccinated population. However, vaccination does not provide 100% coverage and evidence is available that serotype replacement will occur. The impact of vaccination on serotype replacement needs to be investigated, and the prediction rules must be validated externally.
Long-term effect of stereotactic body radiation therapy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma ineligible for local ablation therapy or surgical resection. Stereotactic radiotherapy for liver cancer
Authors: Kwon Jung Hyun , Bae Si Hyun , Kim Ji Yoon , Choi Byung Ock , Jang Hong Seok , Jang Jeong Won , Choi Jong Young , Yoon Seung Kew , Chung Kyu Won
Published: September 2010

Background

We evaluated the long-term effect of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for primary small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ineligible for local therapy or surgery.

Methods

Forty-two HCC patients with tumors ≤ 100 cc and ineligible for local ablation therapy or surgical resection were treated with SBRT: 30-39 Gy with a prescription isodose range of 70-85% (median 80%) was delivered daily in three fractions. Median tumor volume was 15.4 cc (3.0-81.8) and median follow-up duration 28.7 months (8.4-49.1).

Results

Complete response (CR) for the in-field lesion was initially achieved in 59.6% and partial response (PR) in 26.2% of patients. Hepatic out-of-field progression occurred in 18 patients (42.9%) and distant metastasis developed in 12 (28.6%) patients. Overall in-field CR and overall CR were achieved in 59.6% and 33.3%, respectively. Overall 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 92.9% and 58.6%, respectively. In-field progression-free survival at 1 and 3 years was 72.0% and 67.5%, respectively. Patients with smaller tumor had better in-field progression-free survival and overall survival rates (<32 cc vs. ≥32 cc, P < 0.05). No major toxicity was encountered but one patient died with extrahepatic metastasis and radiation-induced hepatic failure.

Conclusions

SBRT is a promising noninvasive-treatment for small HCC that is ineligible for local treatment or surgical resection.
Photoperiodic diapause under the control of circadian clock genes in an insect
Authors: Ikeno Tomoko , Tanaka Shinichi I , Numata Hideharu , Goto Shin G
Published: September 2010

Background

Most organisms have evolved a circadian clock in order to anticipate daily environmental changes and many of these organisms are also capable of sophisticated measurement of daylength (photoperiodism) that is used to regulate seasonal events such as diapause, migration and polymorphism. It has been generally accepted that the same elements are involved in both circadian (daily) and seasonal (annual) rhythms because both rely upon daily light-dark cycles. However, as reasonable as this sounds, there remains no conclusive evidence of such a molecular machinery in insects. We have approached this issue by using RNA interference (RNAi) inRiptortus pedestris.

Results

The cuticle deposition rhythm exhibited the major properties of circadian rhythms, indicating that the rhythm is regulated by a circadian clock. RNAi directed against the circadian clock genes ofperiodandcycle, which are negative and positive regulators in the circadian clock, respectively, disrupted the cuticle deposition rhythm and distinct cuticle layers were produced by these RNAi. Simultaneously,periodRNAi caused the insect to avert diapause under a diapause-inducing photoperiod whereascycleRNAi induced diapause under a diapause-averting photoperiod. The expression patterns of juvenile hormone-regulated genes and the application of juvenile hormone analogue suggested that neither ovarian development itself nor a downstream cascade of juvenile hormone secretion, were disturbed byperiodandcycleRNAi.

Conclusions

This study revealed that the circadian clock genes are crucial not only for daily rhythms but also for photoperiodic diapause. RNAi directed againstperiodandcyclehad opposite effects not only in the circadian cuticle deposition rhythm but also in the photoperiodic diapause. These RNAi also had opposite effects on juvenile hormone-regulated gene expression. It is still possible that the circadian clock genes pleiotropically affect ovarian development but, based on these results, we suggest that the circadian clock operated by the circadian clock genes,periodandcycle, governs seasonal timing as well as the daily rhythms.

See Commentary:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/8/115
Insertion torque is not a good predictor of pedicle screw loosening after spinal instrumentation: a prospective study in 8 patients
Authors: Sandén Bengt , Olerud Claes , Larsson Sune , Robinson Yohan
Published: September 2010

Background

Pedicle screw loosening is a major safety concern in instrumented spinal surgery due to loosening with potential pseudarthrosis and possible loss of correction requiring revision surgery. Several cadaver studies have compared insertion torque of pedicle screws with resistance to pullout or cyclic loading. In most of these studies, a correlation has been found between these variables. Clinical studies have been made, comparing insertion torque to bone mineral density or radiological signs of screw loosening. There are no clinical studies comparing insertion torque to extraction torque or other biomechanical parameters in vivo. This study was designed to investigate whether the insertion torque of pedicle screws can be used to predict the purchase of the screws.

Methods

The insertion torque of stainless steel pedicle screws was recorded in eight patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery with four-screw constructs. Torque gauge manometers were used for the recordings. The implants were removed after one year, and the extraction torque of the screws was recorded.

Results

The mean insertion torque was 76 ± 41 Ncm and the mean extraction torque 29 ± 36 Ncm. The r value was 0.591, suggesting that there was a correlation between the insertion and extraction torque. However, the scattergram revealed that the screws could be divided into two groups, six screws with a high correlation between insertion and extraction torque, and 26 screws where no correlation could be demonstrated.

Conclusions

In this unique human in-vivo study, the insertion torque could not be used to predict the purchase of lumbar pedicle screws one year after implantation. It could be demonstrated that in vivo insertion torque alone is of minor value to estimate pullout strength, and should be combined with or replaced by more accurate measures.
Selective Detection of As(V) with High Sensitivity by As-deposited Boron-doped Diamond Electrodes
Authors: Nagaoka Yasutaka , Ivandini Tribidasari A , Yamada Daisuke , Fujita Shinoka , Yamanuki Mikito , Einaga Yasuaki
Published: August 2010

Electrochemical selective detection of not only As(III) but also As(V) has been investigated by anodic stripping voltammetry. Here, instead of using modified working electrodes, simple as-deposited boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes were used with the addition of gold ions in the sample solution as a catalyst for the electrochemical reaction. A potential-step technique was performed to minimize the hydrogen evolution effect that occurs at the highly negative potential such as −1.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) for the reduction of As(V). The present method realized very high sensitivity with an experimental detection limit of 12 ppb and excellent stability for the detection of both As(III) and As(V) as well as mixed solutions of these forms.
New Class of Catalysts for Alternating Copolymerization of Alkylene Oxide and Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Okada Atsushi , Kikuchi Satoshi , Nakano Koji , Nishioka Kiyoshi , Nozaki Kyoko , Yamada Tohru
Published: August 2010

Di(ketoiminato)cobalt complexes have been employed for the alternating copolymerization of alkylene oxide and carbon dioxide. These complexes exhibited not only good catalytic activity for polycarbonate synthesis, but also an excellent selectivity for the formation of carbonate linkages without any ether linkage in the reaction of several alkylene oxides, especially for ethylene oxide.
Emergency Release for Winter Sports Equipment
Authors: Schott Wolfgang , Senner Veit
Published: August 2010

Using a pyrotechnical pill, Winter sports equipment can be electrically released and removed, where mechanical opening is impossible because of missing torque between binding and equipment, e.g., at avalanche and tree-well situations or at ski base jumping with a wingsuit. Since the pill driven binding opening is very fast (∼1 ms), it may also be advantageous at a ski downhill racer accident.
Fault Detection of Water Hydraulic Motor by Demodulated Vibration Signal Analysis with the Hilbert Transform and Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Wang Qingjun , Chen Hanxin , Chua Patrick , Hian Lim Geok
Published: August 2010

The vibration signals analysis from the water hydraulic motor is the most modern technique for fault detection of water hydraulic motor. The machine’s residual life is estimated by the detection of the fault presence and type at an earlier stage for the adequate plan of maintenance. The most important components in the impulsive vibration signal spectra are the rotational frequency and its harmonics as well as sidebands due to modulation phenomena. This paper studied the fault detection of fluid machines by the demodulated frequency components of the periodic impulse vibration signal. We apply the Hilbert transform to demodulate the characteristic envelope of the periodic impulsive signal to show the fundamental frequencies. The adaptive spectrogram is optimized to get the optimal parameters to show the characteristic frequencies of the Hilbert transform-based envelope of the vibration signals. The results show that it is applicable and effective to fault detection of water hydraulic motor by analyzing the demodulated frequency components of the periodic impulsive signal.
Entwurf endlich-dimensionaler Regler für lineare verteilt-parametrische Systeme durch Ausgangsbeobachtun
Authors: Deutscher Joachim , Harkort Christian
Published: August 2010

In diesem Beitrag wird der endlich-dimensionale Reglerentwurf für lineare verteilt-parametrische Systeme basierend auf Ausgangsbeobachtern betrachtet. Da für diese Beobachter beim Entwurf das Separationsprinzip gilt, lassen sich statische Rückführungen der rekonstruierten Ausgänge und der verfügbaren Messgrößen systematisch entwerfen. Die besondere Eigenschaft der zusätzlichen Ausgänge, dass sie nur wenig “spillover”-behaftet sind, wird auch für den Entwurf endlich-dimensionaler Beobachter mittels der “early-lumping”-Methode genutzt. Durch Kaskadierung der Ausgangsbeobachter lässt sich dann eine systematische “spillover”-Vermeidung erreichen. Die vorgestellten Verfahren werden anhand eines Wärmeleiters erprobt.
Conditions Under Which Genome-Wide Association Studies Will be Positively Misleading
Authors: Platt Alexander , Vilhjálmsson Bjarni J , Nordborg Magnus
Published: September 2010

Genome-wide association mapping is a popular method for using natural variation within a species to generate a genotype–phenotype map. Statistical association between an allele at a locus and the trait in question is used as evidence that variation at the locus is responsible for variation of the trait. Indirect association, however, can give rise to statistically significant results at loci unrelated to the trait. We use a haploid, three-locus, binary genetic model to describe the conditions under which these indirect associations become stronger than any of the causative associations in the organism—even to the point of representing the only associations present in the data. These indirect associations are the result of disequilibrium between multiple factors affecting a single trait. Epistasis and population structure can exacerbate the problem but are not required to create it. From a statistical point of view, indirect associations are true associations rather than the result of stochastic noise: they will not be ameliorated by increasing sampling size or marker density and can be reproduced in independent studies.
New jazz histories
Authors: Shipton Alyn
Published: September 2010

Perhaps the time is past to think in terms of a single synoptic history of jazz. However, by singling out ideas from the academic reviews of A New History of Jazz, it is possible to view it as not only (as History Today called it) an interlocking set of theses about the development of jazz, but as a series of starting points for further investigation. After addressing the ways in which the book could stimulate discussion in several areas of study, from issues of periodization to the mediating role of television and radio, and from an exploration of non-Anglophone writing on jazz to reassessing the careers of such individual musicians as John Coltrane and Miles Davis, the article turns to oral history. In particular it addresses the way that instead of being approached as individual sources, a collective body of oral histories can become a far more useful resource, able to enlighten and stimulate the history and historiography of jazz by providing several viewpoints, several opinions and several challenges to key moments in the music’s history.
Multiplicidade de vínculos de médicos no Estado do Ceará
Authors: Maciel Regina Heloisa , Santos João Bosco Feitosa dos , Sales Telma Bessa , Alves Marco Aurélio de Andrade , Luna Ana Paula , Feitosa Leonardo Bezerra
Published: August 2010

OBJETIVO: Analisar a multiplicidade de vínculos dos profissionais médicos do Sistema Único de Saúde no Estado do Ceará. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada pesquisa documental sobre os vínculos de trabalho dos médicos, a partir de um banco de dados de contratos de profissionais da saúde dos municípios no Estado do Ceará, em 2008. Foram criados índices para a quantidade de vínculos de cada médico, bem como para os municípios com os quais cada médico mantinha vínculos empregatícios. Foram computadas também as distâncias entre os municípios com os quais os profissionais mantinham vínculos, visando estimar os percursos realizados pelos médicos para cumprir os contratos de trabalho e sua carga horária semanal. RESULTADOS: Dos 7.008 médicos vinculados ao Estado, 3.751 (53,5%) possuíam entre dois e quatro vínculos, e 39 (0,6%) de 11 a 20 vínculos. Um profissional possuía 20 vínculos. Mais da metade (51,9%) dos médicos possuía vínculos de trabalho que, quando somados, totalizavam uma jornada semanal acima de 40 horas e 27,0% (1.894) mantinha vínculos em mais de um município. CONCLUSÕES: Para aumentar os ganhos com seu trabalho os médicos articulam vários empregos, exercendo a profissão em locais diferentes em um constante ir e vir, inclusive em variados municípios, contribuindo para a precarização da qualidade de suas vidas e, conseqüentemente, do sistema de saúde.
Aumento na sobrevida de crianças de grupos de peso baixo ao nascer em Santa Catarina
Authors: Pinheiro Carlos Eduardo Andrade , Peres Marco Aurélio , D' Orsi Eleonora
Published: August 2010

OBJETIVO: Analisar fatores associados à sobrevida no primeiro ano de vida. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte histórica foi realizado com dados dos sistemas de informação de nascimento e mortalidade sobre 90.153 registros de nascidos vivos e 1.053 registros de óbitos de menores de um ano em hospitais de Florianópolis e São José, SC, entre 1999 e 2006. Foram estimadas curvas de sobrevida (Kaplan-Meier) para grupos de peso ao nascer, período (quadriênios) e tipo de maternidade. Foram calculadas razões de riscos proporcionais para óbitos utilizando regressão de Cox. RESULTADOS: A sobrevida (98,8%) não se modificou entre os grupos de peso, mas aumentou nos grupos de menos de 2.000 g (77,7% para 81,2%, p = 0,029) entre os quadriênios de 1999 a 2002 e 2003 a 2006. Houve aumento de menores de 2.000 g no segundo quadriênio estudado. O tipo de hospital foi associado significativamente à probabilidade de sobrevida. CONCLUSÕES: Há maior probabilidade de sobrevida entre nascidos em hospitais privados e no hospital de ensino para todos os grupos de peso e para o grupo de menos de 2000 g. A sobrevida dos grupos de peso abaixo de 2000 g aumentou no quadriênio mais recente. Entretanto, o coeficiente de mortalidade infantil não diminuiu nesse período, pois a prevalência dos nascidos em grupos de menor peso também aumentou.
Humanização e voluntariado: estudo qualitativo em hospitais públicos
Authors: Nogueira-Martins Maria Cezira Fantini , Bersusa Ana Aparecida Sanches , Siqueira Siomara Roberta
Published: August 2010

OBJETIVO: Analisar o perfil de voluntários e seu processo de trabalho em humanização hospitalar. PROCEDIMENTOS METODOLÓGICOS: Foram utilizados como instrumentos questionário sociodemográfico e entrevista semi-estruturada, aplicados a 26 coordenadores de voluntariado e 26 voluntários, pertencentes a 25 hospitais da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, entre 2008 e 2009. As entrevistas foram analisadas segundo os princípios da análise temática. ANÁLISE DOS RESULTADOS: Cinco temas principais foram formulados: perfil do voluntário (idade, sexo, faixa de renda); organização do trabalho voluntário (termo de compromisso, treinamento); relações voluntariado-hospital (relacionamento com a direção do hospital e com os funcionários); motivação (solidariedade, experiência anterior com doenças próprias ou de familiares, realização pessoal, resolução de conflitos) e beneficiários (individual, dual, coletivo); humanização e atividades dos voluntários (cuidados ao paciente, apoio logístico, apoio emocional, desenvolvimento de habilidades dos pacientes, recreação, organização de eventos comemorativos). CONCLUSÕES: Na atividade desenvolvida pelos voluntários há aspectos positivos (como a contribuição para a humanização hospitalar), bem como problemáticos (como a realização de atividades que são atribuições de funcionários). É necessária atenção à normatização das atividades voluntárias, especialmente no cuidado com os pacientes, bem como às ações de valorização do voluntariado nos hospitais e integração dos voluntários com os grupos de trabalho de humanização.
Comércio internacional de serviços e complexo industrial da saúde: implicações para os sistemas nacionais de saúde
Authors: Santos Maria Angelica Borges dos , Passos Sonia Regina Lambert
Published: August 2010

Os serviços de saúde evidenciam um padrão de inovação - na forma de expansão para mercados públicos e do comércio internacional - que os credencia a assumir um papel preponderante no complexo industrial da saúde. O comércio internacional e suas bases regulatórias, definidas no General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), têm o potencial de gerar desenvolvimento econômico, mas também de reordenar os recursos disponíveis para a saúde em âmbito nacional e global, em direções favoráveis ou não. Onde houver uma combinação de prestadores públicos e privados atuando na saúde pública, como no caso brasileiro, os termos do GATS admitem a interpretação de que a prestação pública recai no âmbito do GATS, criando-se restrições às opções políticas dos países para a saúde. São necessárias informações sistematizadas e específicas para cada país sobre serviços eletrônicos, movimento de pacientes e profissionais, e investimento direto estrangeiro em serviços de saúde para compor evidências que permitam decisões mais informadas sobre adesão ao GATS.
A produção do lugar de transmissão da leishmaniose tegumentar: o caso da Localidade Pau da Fome na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Authors: Kawa Hélia , Sabroza Paulo Chagastelles , Oliveira Rosely Magalhães de , Barcellos Christovam
Published: August 2010

Este trabalho analisa as características de um dos lugares de transmissão de maior relevância da leishmaniose tegumentar na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, considerando sua configuração territorial e as relações desta com processos de organização do espaço. Utilizou-se o modelo de análise do processo de ocupação e organização do espaço urbano, em escala local, considerando-se as novas funções adquiridas pelos elementos espaciais expressos por diferentes relações de trabalho, uso do solo e valor da terra. Empregaram-se técnicas de geoprocessamento e de classificação de imagens obtidas por sensoriamento remoto, localização de domicílios e casos de leishmaniose tegumentar, associados a dados qualitativos sobre o processo histórico de ocupação e uso do solo. A análise mostrou áreas com distintas condições de vulnerabilidade, e que mudanças destas condições viabilizaram a produção da epidemia em um determinado período e sua posterior redução. O estudo contribui para o monitoramento da enfermidade em nível local e para a aplicação de medidas eficazes para as ações de vigilância e controle da leishmaniose tegumentar.
Confiabilidade das informações obtidas de informante secundário em inquéritos de saúde
Authors: Jardim Renata , Barreto Sandhi Maria , Giatti Luana
Published: August 2010

O uso de informante secundário, recurso utilizado no Brasil, pela Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios, pode ser uma fonte de viés em estudos epidemiológicos. Este estudo objetiva estimar a concordância, confiabilidade, magnitude e direção de vieses, e a influência de algumas co-variáveis na discordância entre informações de 710 pares de informantes primário-secundário. A influência do ponto de vista adotado pelo informante secundário, se própria ou na perspectiva do informante primário, também foi investigada. As variáveis pesquisadas estão relacionadas ao modo de vida, avaliação da saúde, morbidade referida e uso de serviços de saúde. Os resultados mostram, em geral, boa concordância. As características dos informantes secundários associadas estatisticamente à discordância foram: idade mais velha, menores escolaridade e conhecimento sobre a saúde do informante primário. Os adultos discordaram menos sobre a avaliação da saúde dos idosos quando utilizaram a perspectiva dos idosos para responder. Os resultados confirmam a presença de viés ao utilizar o informante secundário para hipertensão e consulta médica.
Planejamento da qualidade nas unidades de saúde da família, utilizando o Desdobramento da Função Qualidade (QFD)
Authors: Volpato Luciana Fernandes , Meneghim Marcelo de Castro , Pereira Antonio Carlos , Ambrosano Gláucia Maria Bovi
Published: August 2010

A qualidade é um requisito indispensável na área da saúde, e sua procura se faz presente em virtude da necessidade de atender as exigências de uma população ciente de seus direitos, da essência das boas relações no trabalho e diminuição dos custos tecnológicos. Assim, a qualidade envolve todos que fazem parte do processo (usuários e profissionais), deixando de ser um atributo do serviço. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo verificar a possibilidade de planejar a qualidade nas unidades de saúde da família, por meio do Desdobramento da Função Qualidade (QFD). Este planeja a qualidade segundo a satisfação do usuário, envolvendo os profissionais da instituição e identificando novos caminhos para aperfeiçoar os processos de trabalho. A construção da matriz, denominada Casa da Qualidade, é o aspecto mais importante desse método. Os resultados mostram que há similaridade entre a qualidade exigida pelos usuários e a qualidade planejada pelos profissionais. O presente estudo comprovou que a ferramenta QFD constitui-se em instrumento eficiente no planejamento da qualidade nos serviços públicos de saúde.
Desigualdade sócio-espacial expressa por indicadores do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (SINASC)
Authors: Predebon Kelen Marja , Mathias Thais Aidar de Freitas , Aidar Tirza , Rodrigues Ana Lucia
Published: August 2010

Foram georreferenciadas variáveis do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (SINASC) de nascimentos de residentes em municípios da Região Metropolitana de Maringá, Paraná, Brasil, por 19 Áreas de Expansão Demográfica (AED). Mapas temáticos e a estatística Moran I e LISA foram utilizadas para avaliar a autocorrelação de mãe adolescente, baixa escolaridade, raça/cor preta e parda, número insuficiente de consultas de pré-natal, parto cesáreo, prematuridade, baixo peso ao nascer e Apgar < 8 no 5º minuto. Baixa escolaridade, raça/cor preta e parda e Apgar < 8 no 5º minuto apresentaram padrão concentrado nas AED periféricas com autocorrelação significativa (Moran I: 0,50; 0,67 e 0,63, respectivamente), enquanto altas proporções de parto cesáreo concentraram-se nas AED centrais (Moran I = 0,59), onde se observaram padrões do tipo "baixo-baixo" para mães adolescentes, baixa escolaridade e raça/cor preta e parda. Foram identificados conglomerados de risco nas AED periféricas da Região Metropolitana de Maringá que mostram a AED como alternativa metodológica viável, juntamente com o SINASC, para monitoramento das desigualdades sócio-espaciais da saúde materno-infantil.