bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supporting a caring fatherhood in cyberspace – an analysis of communication about caring within an online forum for fathers
Authors: Eriksson Henrik , Salzmann‐Erikson Martin
Published: April 2012

Scand J Caring Sci; 2013; 27; 63–69

Supporting a caring fatherhood in cyberspace – an analysis of communication about caring within an online forum for fathers

Background:  Today’s parents seek out social support on the Internet. A key motivation behind the choice to go online is the need for more experience based information. In recent years, new fathers have increasingly taken on an active parental role. Men’s support for their caring activities for infants on the Internet needs attention.

Aim:  The aim was to describe communication about caring activities for infants among men who visited an Internet‐based forum for fathers and elaborate on the dimensions of support available in the forum.

Method:  An archival and cross‐sectional observational forum study was undertaken using principles for conducting ethnographic research online: “nethnography”. A total of 1203 pages of data from an Internet forum for fathers were gathered and analysed.

Result:  Support for a caring fatherhood in cyberspace can be understood as fathers’ communicating encouragement, confirmation and advice. The findings show that important ways of providing support through the forum included a reciprocal sharing of concerns – how to be a better father – in relation to caring for an infant. Concerns for their child’s well‐being and shared feelings of joy and distress in everyday life were recurrent supportive themes in the communication. Information gained from contacting others in similar situations is one important reason for the fathers’ use of the Internet.

Discussion:  Support offered in this kind of forum can be considered as a complement to formal support. Professionals can use it to provide choices for fathers who are developing themselves as caregivers without downplaying the parental support offered by formal health care regimes.

Further research:  Online support will probably be one of the main supporting strategies for fathers in Scandinavia. Caring and nursing researchers need to closely monitor support activities that develop, and over time, as these ill likely become an important source of support for people.
Shear Modulus Determination of Cuboid Metallic Open‐Lattice Cellular Structures by Analytical, Numerical and Homogenisation Methods
Authors: Ptochos E. , Labeas G.
Published: April 2012

Abstract:  The shear response of irregular open‐lattice cellular cores made of interconnected metallic struts is analysed, and the core shear modulus in the three material principal directions is derived. The analytical approach is based on the technical beam theory, which is used for the determination of the unit‐cell response under complex loading. The influence of the strut geometrical parameters and unit‐cell shape and size on the cellular core shear stiffness is determined. The analytical determination of the unit‐cell properties is successfully validated by a reference numerical model of the unit cell, which is developed for comparison purposes. Furthermore, the homogenisation principles are applied to the prediction of the shear response of a core block structure comprising a high number of unit cells, for which experimental results were available; the comparison revealed that the experimental results coincide well with the results obtained from the homogenised model.
Effectiveness of tropical grass species as sediment filters in the riparian zone of Lake Victoria
Authors: WANYAMA J. , HERREMANS K. , MAETENS W. , ISABIRYE M. , KAHIMBA F. , KIMARO D. , POESEN J. , DECKERS J.
Published: April 2012

The effectiveness of tropical grass species in strips of different length in trapping sediment from cropland was assessed, and the influence of filter length was determined. The assessment was made under natural rainfall which induced sheet and rill erosion in run‐off plots and then using simulated run‐off which caused concentrated erosion. The evaluated grasses were elephant grass, lemon grass, paspalum and sugarcane. Run‐off plots were on a 10% slope in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Filter lengths were 2.5, 5 and 10 m against a 10‐m‐long sediment source area planted with maize on a clay loam soil. The results show that sediment trapping effectiveness (TE) increases nonlinearly with increasing filter length for all grasses. Under natural rainfall, more than 70% of sediment was trapped in the first 5 m, and lengthening the strip to 10 m only resulted in a marginal increase in TE. With concentrated run‐off, more than 70% of sediment was trapped in the first 5 m and lengthening the strip to 10 m resulted in a significant increase in TE. Paspalum and lemon grass performed significantly better than other grasses (P < 0.05), owing to their spreading growth pattern over the soil surface. Paspalum also has the highest root density in the upper 0.3‐m layer of the soil followed by lemon grass, hence offering the greatest resistance to erosion from concentrated flow. The results demonstrate that tropical grass filter strips provide a viable means for reducing the sediment flux from cropland.
Epigenetic mechanisms in anti‐cancer actions of bioactive food components – the implications in cancer prevention
Authors: Stefanska B , Karlic H , Varga F , Fabianowska‐Majewska K , Haslberger AG
Published: April 2012

The hallmarks of carcinogenesis are aberrations in gene expression and protein function caused by both genetic and epigenetic modifications. Epigenetics refers to the changes in gene expression programming that alter the phenotype in the absence of a change in DNA sequence. Epigenetic modifications, which include amongst others DNA methylation, covalent modifications of histone tails and regulation by non‐coding RNAs, play a significant role in normal development and genome stability. The changes are dynamic and serve as an adaptation mechanism to a wide variety of environmental and social factors including diet. A number of studies have provided evidence that some natural bioactive compounds found in food and herbs can modulate gene expression by targeting different elements of the epigenetic machinery. Nutrients that are components of one‐carbon metabolism, such as folate, riboflavin, pyridoxine, cobalamin, choline, betaine and methionine, affect DNA methylation by regulating the levels of S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine, a methyl group donor, and S‐adenosyl‐L‐homocysteine, which is an inhibitor of enzymes catalyzing the DNA methylation reaction. Other natural compounds target histone modifications and levels of non‐coding RNAs such as vitamin D, which recruits histone acetylases, or resveratrol, which activates the deacetylase sirtuin and regulates oncogenic and tumour suppressor micro‐RNAs. As epigenetic abnormalities have been shown to be both causative and contributing factors in different health conditions including cancer, natural compounds that are direct or indirect regulators of the epigenome constitute an excellent approach in cancer prevention and potentially in anti‐cancer therapy.
Discovery of purinergic signalling, the initial resistance and current explosion of interest
Authors: Burnstock G
Published: April 2012

There has been a remarkable growth of papers published about purinergic signalling via ATP since 1972. I am most grateful to the wonderful PhD students and postdoctoral fellows who have worked with me over the years to pursue the purinergic hypothesis despite early opposition and to the many outstanding scientists around the world who are currently extending the story. Recently, therapeutic approaches to pathological disorders include the development of selective P1 and P2 receptor subtype agonists and antagonists, as well as of inhibitors of extracellular ATP breakdown and of ATP transport enhancers and inhibitors. Medicinal chemists are starting to develop small molecule purinergic drugs that are orally bioavailable and stable in vivo.
Honokiol promotes non‐rapid eye movement sleep via the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor in mice
Authors: Qu Wei‐Min , Yue Xiao‐Fang , Sun Yu , Fan Kun , Chen Chang‐Rui , Hou Yi‐Ping , Urade Yoshihiro , Huang Zhi‐Li
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Decoctions of the Chinese herb houpu contain honokiol and are used to treat a variety of mental disorders, including depression. Depression commonly presents alongside sleep disorders and sleep disturbances, which appear to be a major risk factor for depression. Here, we have evaluated the somnogenic effect of honokiol and the mechanisms involved.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Honokiol was administered i.p. at 20:00 h in mice. Flumazenil, an antagonist at the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor, was administered i.p. 15 min before honokiol. The effects of honokiol were measured by EEG and electromyogram (EMG), c‐Fos expression and in vitro electrophysiology.

KEY RESULTS Honokiol (10 and 20 mg·kg−1) significantly shortened the sleep latency to non‐rapid eye movement (non‐REM, NREM) sleep and increased the amount of NREM sleep. Honokiol increased the number of state transitions from wakefulness to NREM sleep and, subsequently, from NREM sleep to wakefulness. However, honokiol had no effect on either the amount of REM sleep or EEG power density of both NREM and REM sleep. Honokiol increased c‐Fos expression in ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) neurons, as examined by immunostaining, and excited sleep‐promoting neurons in the VLPO by whole‐cell patch clamping in the brain slice. Pretreatment with flumazenil abolished the somnogenic effects and activation of the VLPO neurons by honokiol.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Honokiol promoted NREM sleep by modulating the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor, suggesting potential applications in the treatment of insomnia, especially for patients who experience difficulty in falling and staying asleep.
Race, ABO blood group, and venous thromboembolism risk: not black and white
Authors: Fang Chunhui , Cohen Hillel W. , Billett Henny H.
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: The rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been reported to be higher in blacks compared to whites. Non‐O blood groups have also been associated with a significantly higher VTE risk. Given that a higher proportion of blacks have O blood group, one might have expected that black individuals would have fewer VTEs.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this study, we analyzed race, sex, age, ABO or Rh blood group, and VTE risk in 60,982 black and white patients admitted over a span of 10 years.

RESULTS: The overall occurrence of VTEs was 7.6%, higher in males (8.7% males vs. 7.2% females), higher in non‐O blood groups (8.5% non‐O vs. 6.9% O blood group), and increased with age (5.8% <65 years, 11.3% ≥65 years). No difference in VTE rate was noted with Rh antigen positivity. When stratified by age, VTE rate was consistently higher in blacks and non‐O blood groups. No difference was detected among the various non‐O blood groups. To assess the potential confounder of comorbidities, we stratified patients according to Charlson comorbidity score. In a subgroup of healthy patients with age‐independent Charlson comorbidity scores of 0 (n = 28,387), blacks still had an increased VTE risk and this risk was still higher with increasing age and in those with non‐O blood groups.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that black race and non‐O blood groups have increased VTE risk when stratified for age and that associated comorbidities do not explain these differences.
Blood ordering from the operating room: turnaround time as a quality indicator
Authors: McClain Colt M. , Hughes Jonathan , Andrews Jennifer C. , Blackburn Jennifer , Sephel Stephanie , France Dan , Viele Maurene , Goodnough Lawrence T. , Young Pampee P.
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: Quality indicators in transfusion medicine are necessary for patient safety and customer satisfaction. The turnaround time (TAT) of issuing red blood cells (RBCs) has emerged as a quality indicator but is not an established benchmark. We examined the TAT for issuing RBCs from the blood bank to the operating rooms (ORs) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Stanford University Medical Center (SUMC).

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: TAT was defined from time of request to when RBCs exited the blood bank. Cases eligible for analysis had completed type‐and‐screen results with requests for four or fewer RBC units. Patients with a positive antibody screen had serologically crossmatched units prepared and reserved for intraoperative use. We also e‐mailed surveys to academic institutions to establish the current state of TAT monitoring and to anesthesiologists at VUMC to gauge the TAT expectations of the OR.

RESULTS: The mean TATs at the two institutions were comparable (VUMC, 10 ± 3.8 min; SUMC, 14 ± 7.2 min) for orders of RBCs. The most common reasons for delayed TAT were overlapping orders, medical technologists occupied by phone calls, and oversaturation of pneumatic tube stations. Only 3 of 24 surveyed institutions actively monitored RBC TAT. Surveyed anesthesiologists (n = 7) reported an expectation for RBC TAT of 5 to 15 minutes for urgent cases. Established internal TAT policies were 15 and 20 minutes at VUMC and SUMC, respectively, for crossmatched RBC requests for patients with complete diagnostic testing.

CONCLUSION: Many of the surveyed institutions do not monitor stat RBC issue TAT as a quality indicator. This study serves as a starting point for establishing a benchmark for TAT for issuing RBCs from the blood bank to ORs.
Global Outsourcing Relationships and Innovation: A Conceptual Framework and Research Propositions
Authors: Roy Subroto , Sivakumar K.
Published: April 2012

Increasing globalization and the rapid growth of information technologies, including the Internet, have resulted in drastic changes in international activities of companies. Once limited to manufactured goods, currently, global outsourcing encompasses a wide variety of knowledge‐based services, such as accounting, financial services, taxation, customer service, information technology, engineering drawings, human resources, research and development (R&D), data processing, and sales. The domain of outsourcing knowledge‐based services is the focus of this paper. Moving beyond the inevitability of global outsourcing, this research takes the perspective of the outsourcer and focuses on managing its transition to providers in the context of innovation. In addition to delivering projected cost benefits to outsourcers, effective transition management can facilitate the generation of innovations. This research attempts to extend the current academic research on global outsourcing in three ways: (1) It offers a framework for understanding the transition process in outsourcing and its relationship to innovation; (2) it takes a broader perspective of outsourcing, including globalization, knowledge‐based services, and core activities of the firm; and (3) using a parsimonious set of theoretical concepts based on control theory, it develops several research propositions to clarify the linkages between variables. Based on our theorizing, outsourcing top management should ask two questions when planning outsourcing of knowledge‐based services to generate innovations in a globalized world. These two questions are: (1) How close is the task to our core competence? And (2) how much tacit knowledge is involved in doing the outsourced task? Next, managers must identify global providers and then spend considerable thought in operational execution of the transition of the task for that is the only time that both complete teams will work together. For tasks that are close to core competence, rigid‐explicit behavioral controls should be put in place; however, for tasks that have high tacit knowledge content, high norms‐based relational control would be more effective. These different types of controls would lead to different innovation outcomes. Rigid‐explicit behavioral controls would produce incremental innovation while relational norms‐based controls would encourage radical innovation.
Achieving Fit between Learning and Market Orientation: Implications for New Product Performance
Authors: Yannopoulos Peter , Auh Seigyoung , Menguc Bulent
Published: April 2012

Drawing on the learning and market orientation literature, this study examines how responsive and proactive market orientations interact with exploitative and exploratory learning to affect new product performance. Despite advancements in understanding the distinctions between the different types of learning and market orientations, little evidence exists regarding which types of market orientation work best with exploitative or exploratory learning to improve new product performance. Using a sample of 216 high‐techCanadian firms, the authors find that new product performance is elevated only when exploratory learning is bundled with proactive market orientation. New product performance suffered when exploratory learning was complemented with responsive market orientation and when exploitative learning was complemented with proactive market orientation. Implications for marketing theory and practice are discussed.
Should Firms Consider Employee Input in Reward System Design? The Effect of Participation on Market Orientation and New Product Performance
Authors: Wei Yinghong (Susan) , Frankwick Gary L. , Nguyen Binh H.
Published: April 2012

Will increasing employee participation in reward decisions increase new product performance by first increasing a firm's level of market orientation? Literature offers limited insight to the effects of listening to employees regarding reward system design and whether this may influence market orientation implementation and new product performance. This paper provides research to fill the gap by examining the relationship between participation‐based reward systems, market orientation, and new product performance. Based on expectancy theory, a conceptual model was developed suggesting that participation‐based rewards will increase market orientation by considering employees' desires regarding performance rewards. To test the model, a mixed method was used to collect data. First, in‐depth interviews were conducted with managers from 11 different firms to verify the proposed model. Then a multi‐industry sample of managers from 290 firms was surveyed to maximize generalizability of the results. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling techniques to simultaneously fit the measurement and structural models. The findings show that market orientation significantly impacts objective new product performance and mediates the relationship between participation‐based rewards and objective new product performance. Participation‐based rewards positively affect market orientation but surprisingly affect new product performance negatively, while positively moderating the relationship between market orientation and new product performance. The results suggest that managers should include employee input in designing reward systems. However, managers should also be careful of how much input they allow employees in determining their rewards and goals as more input will improve market orientation or responding to information collected by, and disseminated throughout the firm, and that, in turn, will improve some types of new product performance. However, the direct effect of employee input can decrease new product performance suggesting that there may be a trade‐off between various success measures of new products developed and introduced by the firm.
Assessing Consequences of Component Sharing across Brands in the Vertical Product Line in the Automotive Market
Authors: Verhoef Peter C. , Pauwels Koen H. , Tuk Mirjam A.
Published: April 2012

Component sharing may look great in the boardroom but not in the showroom. Indeed, savings on research and development and production costs could be offset by a plunge in customer brand attractiveness. The central objective of this paper is to investigate consumer and market responses toward component sharing between brands. More specifically, by combining experimental with econometric studies, this paper investigates the impact of component sharing on customer evaluation of luxury, volume, and economy brands offered in a car manufacturer's vertical product line. An experimental study in which component sharing between automotive brands was made explicit aimed to understand the impact of brand combinations and type of sourcing on the evaluations of the two brands sharing components. This experimental study shows that the evaluation of luxury brands sharing with a volume brand suffers more than when a volume brand shares components with an economy brand. This experimental study was executed for two different brand combinations including one luxury, one volume, and one economy brand: (1) Audi, Volkswagen, and Skoda; and (2) Lexus, Toyota, and Suzuki. The evaluation of an economy brand benefits more from sharing with a volume brand than a volume brand suffers from sharing with an economy brand. The magnitude of these effects depends on several factors, such as component type, the source of the component sharing, and the salience of component sharing to the consumers. One important limitation of the experiment is that component sharing is made rather salient, and no behavioral effects of component sharing are studied. Therefore, a second was executed in which market share data on brands of the Volkwagen company (i.e., Audi, Volkswagen, Seat, and Skoda) were collected, while also data on the component‐sharing practices between these brands were gathered. A market share model was estimated in which market shares of the four studied brands were explained by component‐sharing practices and some control variables (i.e., price, model changes) in an exploratory fashion. The explorative examination of market share effects confirms that luxury brands may suffer, while economy brands may benefit from component sharing. In sum, this research suggests that component sharing between brands has negative effects for the higher‐end, and positive effects for the lower‐end brand. However, it also shows that sourcing matters. This study is considered as the first study investigating the phenomenon of component sharing, and it points to multiple future research issues, such as studying this phenomenon in other markets.
Mental Models and Successful First‐mover Entry Decisions: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Entrepreneurs
Authors: Zhao Y. Lisa , Parry Mark E.
Published: April 2012

Existing research has identified a variety of mechanisms through which early entrants may be able to develop competitive advantages that favorably influence performance relative to later entrants. At the same time, later entrants can sometimes enjoy cost advantages arising from free riding and the resolution of uncertainty. Despite the impressive array of possible explanations linking entry timing with performance, it is unclear how these explanations align with the cognitive representations that guide managerial decision making. The authors address this gap in the literature by arguing that the resource‐based view of the firm provides potential insight into the way that perceived pioneer advantages and disadvantages influence managerial behavior. The resource‐based view argues that the value of various pioneer advantages will depend on the degree to which those advantages enable pioneers to access and control resources that are costly to copy. Because legal and cultural variables also influence access to resources, the value of specific dimensions of pioneer advantage will vary depending on the macroenvironment within which a firm operates. To test this reasoning, the authors examine the impact of perceived pioneer advantages on the number of first‐mover entry decisions of Chinese service entrepreneurs, who operate in an environment characterized by underdeveloped legal institutions and inadequate legal protections, a fledgling capital market, the limited availability of information about products and industries, and an emphasis on personal connections. The authors hypothesize that these unique characteristics of Chinese markets will affect the perceived importance of sources of pioneer advantage identified in studies of Western (primarily United States) firms. Using data collected from 302 Chinese service entrepreneurs, the authors find strong evidence that the number of pioneer entry decisions made by Chinese entrepreneurs are strongly tied to entrepreneurs’ perceptions that pioneer firms tend to outperform later entrants and have the ability to preempt key assets. In addition, the number of entry decisions is negatively related to perceptions of pioneer cost disadvantages and the level of uncertainty faced by pioneers relative to later entrants. However, consistent with the research hypotheses, perceptions of pioneer leadership and cost advantages do not significantly influence the entry decisions of Chinese service entrepreneurs.
High‐end Encroachment Patterns of New Products
Authors: van der Rhee Bo , Schmidt Glen M. , Van Orden Joseph
Published: April 2012

Previous research describes two key ways in which a new product may encroach on an existing market. In high‐end encroachment, the new product first sells to high‐end customers and then diffuses down‐market; in low‐end encroachment, the new product enters at the low end and encroaches up‐market. This paper focuses on high‐end encroachment, which can further be broken down into three subtypes, which are called the immediate, the new‐attribute, and the new‐market forms of high‐end encroachment.

This paper makes three key contributions. First, it provides a sound theoretical underpinning for the three distinct subtypes of high‐end encroachment—a linear reservation price curve model (LRPCM) is used to establish this theoretical foundation. Second, this paper delineates and illustrates four different ways the high‐end new‐market diffusion process may progress over time. These four are: (1) the traditional type, where the new product diffuses relatively slowly and methodically over time; (2) the fad scenario, where the new product opens a new market but then fizzles out after a relatively short period of high sales; (3) the rapid diffusion outcome, where the new product opens a new market and then rapidly diffuses down‐market; and (4) the prolonged‐niche type, where the new product purposefully restricts itself to its own niche rather than diffusing down‐market.

The third key contribution of this paper is to offer managerial insights into the new‐market high‐end encroachment process by discussing two short case studies; namely, a retrospective look at the introduction of the iPhone, and a prospective look at Tesla's challenges in growing the market for its electric car. With regard to the iPhone, it helps explain why Apple precipitously dropped the price of the iPhone by one third only 68 days after its introduction. With regard to Tesla, it discusses how Tesla must leverage the revenues that stem from its current high‐end pricing power. Tesla must be able to progress down the learning curve fast enough so that it can create a virtuous cycle; a cycle in which cost reductions and technology improvements lead to price reductions and increased sales, which in turn lead to further cost reductions.

At the conclusion of the paper, a step‐by‐step approach is offered to aid in determining which type of encroachment should be pursued and in determining how the encroachment pattern will eventually develop. The encroachment framework and the step‐by‐step approach are intended to help managers better assess and mitigate the risks inherent with a new product introduction.
PR Depression Is Useful in the Differential Diagnosis of Myopericarditis and ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Porela Pekka , Kytö Ville , Nikus Kjell , Eskola Markku , Airaksinen K.E.J.
Published: April 2012

Background: Deviation of the PR segment is a common but often ignored ECG finding in acute myopericarditis, but seems to be rare in the acute phase of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Since rapid bedside differential diagnosis of acute myopericarditis and STEMI is essential, we decided to assess the diagnostic power of PR depressions in patients presenting with ST elevations in the emergency room.

Methods: Thirty‐four consecutive patients with acute myopericarditis and 46 STEMI patients presenting with ST elevations fulfilling the criteria for STEMI were included. The first ECG recorded in the emergency room was analyzed with a focus on the PR segment. The diagnoses of myopericarditis and STEMI were ascertained with clinical follow‐up together with rise in troponin levels, and in the STEMI patients also with coronary angiography.

Results: In myopericarditis, the most common location for PR depression was lead II (55.9%), while this ECG finding least likely appeared in lead aVL (2.9%). PR depression in any lead had a high sensitivity (88.2%), but fairly low specificity (78.3%) for myopericarditis. The combination of PR depressions in both precordial and limb leads had the most favorable predictive power to differentiate myopericarditis from STEMI (positive 96.7% and negative power 90%).

Conclusions: Our present observations show that PR segment analysis is a powerful tool in the differential diagnosis of myopericarditis and STEMI. This simple information should be added to the diagnostic workup of patients presenting with ST elevations.
The Terminal Part of the QT Interval (T peak to T end): A Predictor of Mortality after Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Erikssen Gunnar , Liestøl Knut , Gullestad Lars , Haugaa Kristina H. , Bendz Bjørn , Amlie Jan P.
Published: April 2012

Background: The terminal part of the QT interval (T peak to T end; Tp‐e)—an index for dispersion of cardiac repolarization—is often prolonged in patients experiencing malignant ventricular arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We wanted to explore whether high Tp‐e might predict mortality or fatal arrhythmia post‐AMI.

Methods: Tp‐e was measured prospectively in 1359/1384 (98.2%) consecutive patients with ST elevation (n = 525) or non‐ST elevation (n = 859) myocardial infarction (STEMI or NSTEMI) admitted for coronary angiography.

Results: Tp‐e was significantly correlated with age, heart rate (HR), heart failure, LVEF, creatinine, three‐vessel disease, previous AMI and QRS and QT duration. During a mean follow‐up of 1.3 years (range 0.4–2.3),109 patients (7.9%) died; 25, 45, and 39 from cardiac arrhythmia, nonarrhythmic cardiac causes and other causes, respectively. Long Tp‐e was strongly associated with increased risk of death, and Tp‐e remained a significant predictor of death in multivariable Cox analyses (RR 1.5, 95% CI[1.3–1.7]). HR‐corrected Tp‐e (cTp‐e) was the strongest predictor of death (RR 1.6 [1.4–1.9]). Tp‐e and cTp‐e were particularly strong predictors of fatal cardiac arrhythmia (RR 1.6 [1.2–2.1] and RR 1.8 [1.4–2.4]). Findings were similar in STEMI and NSTEMI. When comparing two methods for measuring Tp‐e, one including the tail of the T wave and one not, the former had markedly higher predictive power (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Tp‐e, and in particular cTp‐e, were strong predictors of mortality during the first year post‐AMI, and should be further evaluated as prognostic factors additional to established post‐AMI risk factors.
Quality of hemodialysis water in a resource‐poor country: The Nigerian example
Authors: Braimoh Rotimi Williams , Mabayoje Monica Omolara , Amira Christiana Oluwatoyin , Coker Hubert
Published: April 2012

Hemodialysis (HD) patients are exposed to large volumes of water, separated from patients' blood by semipermeable membrane of dialyzers. Chemical contaminants in poorly treated water impact negatively on quality of life of these patients. This survey was carried out to assess the HD water quality in Lagos, Nigeria. Ten milliliters of feed and treated water from all six HD centers in Lagos were tested for aluminum, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium using atomic absorption spectrometry; sodium and potassium were tested using flame photometry, fluoride with molecular photoluminescence method; sulfate using turbidimetry, nitrates measured by cadmium column reduction method, chloramines and free chlorine were measured using N, N‐diethyl‐1‐P‐phenylenediamine colorimetric method. Information on sources of feed water, frequency of testing of HD water, methods of water treatment, type of water purification system and maintenance was also obtained. All centers used borehole as main source of water supply. None of the centers met Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) guidelines for most chemical contaminants. Only chlorine (0.48 ± 0.07 mg/L) and potassium (3.9 ± 0.95 mg/L) levels met AAMI standards after treatment. Mean levels of chemical contaminants in treated water were as follows: aluminum 0.04 ± 0.01 mg/L, zinc 0.27 ± 0.08 mg/L, chloramines 0.16 ± 0.03 mg/L, fluoride 1.83 ± 0.40 mg/L, sulfate 117 ± 86.1 mg/L which were mildly elevated; calcium 126.00 ± 22.7 mg/L, sodium 179 ± 25.6 mg/L, and nitrate 70.5 ± 50.8 mg/L, which were markedly elevated; and magnesium 8.3 ± 3.38 mg/L, which was moderately elevated above AAMI recommended levels. HD water quality is poor in our environment. Concerted efforts are required to ensure good quality water for HD.
Superior patient and technique survival with very high standard Kt/V in quotidian home hemodialysis
Authors: Lockridge Robert , Ting George , Kjellstrand Carl M.
Published: April 2012

We studied the association of patient and dialysis factors with patient and technique survival in a cohort of all of our 191 of patients surviving >3 months on quotidian home hemodialysis (QHHD). Eighty‐one patients were on nocturnal QHHD and 110 on short ‐daily QHHD. Weekly dialysis time was 7.5–48 hours, single pool Kt/V was 0.38–4.5 per treatment, and weekly standardKt/V was 2.1–7.5. The association of 18 patient and dialysis variables with patient and technique survival was analyzed by Kaplan‐Meier and Cox analyses. Ninety‐nine patients (52%) remained on QHHD, 34 (18%) were transplanted, 31 (16%) returned to 3/week HD, and 27 (14%) died. The 5‐year patient survival was 71% ± 6% (night: 79% ± 7%, day: 69% ± 9%, P = 0.002). The 5‐year technique survival was 80% ± 4% (night: 93% ± 3%, day: 46% ± 17%, P = 0.001). In Cox analyses, patient survival was independently associated with standard Kt/V (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.29, P < 0.0001), graduating from high school (HS) (HR = 0.11, P = 0.0002), and use of graft/fistula (HR = 0.22, P = 0.007). Technique survival was independently associated with standard Kt/V (HR = 0.50, P = 0.0003) and start of QHHD after 2003 (HR = 0.18, P = 0.007). Every increase in standard Kt/V was associated with improved survival. The highest survival occurred when standard Kt/V exceeded 5.1, only possible when weekly dialysis hours exceed 35 hours. In QHHD, higher standard Kt/V, education, and subcutaneous access are associated with better patient survival and higher standard Kt/V and longer experience of center with better technique survival. There was no upper limit of standard Kt/V, where survival plateaus. The amount of minimally “adequate” dialysis should be much increased.
Size and Microstructure Control of Calcium Aluminate Microcapsules
Authors: Sturzenegger Philip N. , Gonzenbach Urs T. , Martynczuk Julia , Gauckler Ludwig J.
Published: April 2012

Microencapsulation is nowadays widely applied for the separation or controlled and targeted release of substances. In the present work we propose using particle‐stabilized water‐in‐oil emulsions to produce microcapsules from calcium aluminate cement. First, we investigate the parameters determining the capsule size and size distribution. Then, the anhydrous particles at the water‐oil contact line are hydrated resulting in the formation of a layer of precipitated calcium aluminate hydrate that strengthens the capsule shells. By manipulating the hydration reaction of the cement particles, the capsule shell thickness is varied between 200 and 1300 nm. For hydration temperatures of 3°C and 25°C, the capsule walls are mainly formed from Ca2Al2O5·8H2O, whereas Ca2Al2O5·8H2O and the stable γ‐Al(OH)3 and Ca3Al2O6·6H2O phases are precipitated at 60°C. In addition, the impact of these manipulations on the yield of dry microcapsules is discussed. The highest yield of intact capsules observed in this study is 72 ± 3%. We believe that such microcapsules can lead to new applications, particularly in environments with harsh conditions or in inorganic matrixes.
Low Temperature Sintering of Nanocrystalline Zinc Oxide: Effect of Heating Rate Achieved by Field Assisted Sintering/Spark Plasma Sintering
Authors: Schwarz Sebastian , Thron Andrew M. , Rufner Jorgen , van Benthem Klaus , Guillon Olivier
Published: April 2012

Using Field Assisted Sintering Technique/Spark Plasma Sintering the effect of heating rate on the sintering of zinc oxide at a temperature of 400°C has been investigated. For the highest heating rate of 100°C/min, relative density larger than 95% was achieved whereas at low heating rates only little shrinkage occurred. Hardness measurements, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and impedance spectroscopy revealed clear differences between heating rates. It was found that residual water is responsible for this behavior, enhancing particle rearrangement and diffusion kinetics.
Dimensions of Distributed Leadership and the Impact on Teachers' Organizational Commitment: A Study in Secondary Education
Authors: HULPIA HESTER , DEVOS GEERT , ROSSEEL YVES , VLERICK PETER
Published: April 2012

In this study, we first operationalized distributed leadership. Multilevel confirmatory factor analyses showed that distributed leadership can be defined from different dimensions: quality and distribution of support and supervision performed by the leadership team; cooperation within this team; and participative decision making. Second, the relation between dimensions of distributed leadership and teachers' organizational commitment was investigated. Multilevel analyses on data from 1,522 teachers in 46 secondary schools indicated that 9% of the variance in teachers' organizational commitment was attributable to differences between schools. Further, the analyses revealed that it is not the distribution of leadership functions among formal leaders that plays a key role in teachers' organizational commitment. The perceived cooperation within the leadership team and the quality of their support are crucial.
The potential benefits of sugar‐free chewing gum on the oral health and quality of life of older people living in the community: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Al‐Haboubi M , Zoitopoulos L , Beighton D , Gallagher JE
Published: April 2012

Objectives

To determine the effects of prescribing sugar‐free chewing gum on the oral health and quality of life of dentate older people living in the community and attending for routine dental care.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 186 older people who were not regular chewers of gum, (aged 60 years and over with ≥ 6 teeth) recruited from primary care clinics. Participants were randomly allocated to a gum‐chewing group (chewing xylitol‐containing gum twice a day for 15 min; n = 95) or a control group (no gum; n = 91). Both groups were examined at baseline and at the end of the study (6 months later). The primary outcome measure for the study was increased in stimulated saliva flow rate. Secondary measures included improvements in Plaque and Gingival Indices, and self‐perceived change in oral health.

Results

The retention rate for the study was 78.5% (n = 146 at follow‐up); reported compliance with the protocol was 84% (ranged between 12% and 100%). There was no significant change in the saliva flow of the gum‐chewing group (1.20–1.17 ml/min), while the control group experienced an increase in flow rate (1.06–1.32 ml/min; P = 0.001). The gum‐chewing group, however, demonstrated significant improvement in Plaque and Gingival Index scores over the control group. For the Plaque Index, the mean scores (±SD) were 0.29 (±0.29) and 0.56 (±0.46) for the gum‐chewing group and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001), at the second examination, which remained significant after controlling for age and saliva flow rate. For the Gingival Index, the scores were 0.73 (±0.30) and 0.92 (±0.32), respectively (P < 0.001), which persisted after controlling for age. A significantly higher proportion of participants in the gum‐chewing group perceived that their oral health had improved during the study period in comparison with the control group (40% cf 21%; P = 0.016).

Conclusions

Prescription of sugar‐free chewing gum to dentate older people living in the community and attending routine dental services was not associated with a significant increase in stimulated saliva flow. There were, however, significant improvements in Plaque and Gingival Index scores, and in self‐perceived oral health.
Validation of a dental image‐analyzer tool to measure the radiographic defect angle of the intrabony defect in periodontitis patients
Authors: Moutinho R. P. , Coelho L. , Silva A. , Lobo Pereira J. A. , Pinto M. , Baptista I. P.
Published: April 2012

Moutinho RP, Coelho L, Silva A, Lobo Pereira JA, Pinto M, Baptista IP. Validation of a dental image‐analyzer tool to measure the radiographic defect angle of the intrabony defect in periodontitis patients. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 695–700. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Background and Objective:  A report describing the software Dental Image Analyzer (DIA) was published in this journal in 2009. A new function – measurement of the periodontal intrabony defect angle – was added to the software in 2010. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether measurements of the radiographic intrabony defect angle using digital radiographs and the newly developed DIA tool were comparable with measurements obtained using the conventional protractor method.

Material and Methods:  The baseline radiographic defect angle of intrabony defects was measured conventionally, using a protractor, in 60 selected teeth from 47 patients and then digitally using the newly developed DIA tool. The measurements were made independently by four experienced dentists. The radiographic defect angle of intrabony defects was measured after the three anatomical landmarks were identified, namely the cemento–enamel junction, the top of the crest and the bottom of the defect.

Results:  Both methods showed a high interexaminer reliability for measurements of the radiographic defect angle of intrabony defects (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.97). Moreover, both methods showed high reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.96). On the other hand, the new DIA tool, compared with the conventional method, exhibited high sensitivity (0.92) and high specificity (0.91) in selecting defects of ≥ 37° or < 37°. Analysis of the time taken for measurements revealed significant differences between the two methods, with the protractor method being more time consuming.

Conclusions:  This study provided evidence for the lack of a significant difference between the conventional method and the DIA tool for radiographic measurement of intrabony defects. However, digital analysis was significantly faster.
Nitric oxide inhibits androgen receptor‐mediated collagen production in human gingival fibroblasts
Authors: Lin S‐J. , Lu H‐K. , Lee H‐W. , Chen Y‐C. , Li C‐L. , Wang L‐F.
Published: April 2012

Lin S‐J, Lu H‐K, Lee H‐W, Chen Y‐C, Li C‐L, Wang L‐F. Nitric oxide inhibits androgen receptor‐mediated collagen production in human gingival fibroblasts. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 701–710. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Background and Objective:  In our previous study, we found that flutamide [an androgen receptor (AR) antagonist] inhibited the up‐regulation of collagen induced by interleukin (IL)‐1β and/or nifedipine in gingival fibroblasts. The present study attempted to verify the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the IL‐1β/nifedipine‐AR pathway in gingival overgrowth.

Material and Methods:  Confluent gingival fibroblasts derived from healthy individuals (n = 4) and those with dihydropyridine‐induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) (n = 6) were stimulated for 48 h with IL‐1β (10 ng/mL), nifedipine (0.34 μm) or IL‐1β + nifedipine. Gene and protein expression were analyzed with real‐time RT‐PCR and western blot analyses, respectively. Meanwhile, Sircol dye‐binding and the Griess reagent were, respectively, used to detect the concentrations of total soluble collagen and nitrite in the medium.

Results:  IL‐1β and nifedipine simultaneously up‐regulated the expression of the AR and type‐I collagen α1 [Colα1(I)] genes and the total collagen concentration in DIGO cells (p < 0.05). IL‐1β strongly increased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and the nitrite concentration in both healthy and DIGO cells (p < 0.05). However, co‐administration of IL‐1β and nifedipine largely abrogated the expression of iNOS mRNA and the nitrite concentration with the same treatment. Spearman’s correlation coefficients revealed a positive correlation between the AR and total collagen (p < 0.001), but they both showed a negative correlation with iNOS expression and the NO concentration (p < 0.001). The iNOS inhibitor, 1400W, enhanced IL‐1β‐induced AR expression; furthermore, the NO donor, NONOate, diminished the expression of the AR to a similar extent in gingival fibroblasts derived from both healthy patients and DIGO patients (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:  IL‐1β‐induced NO attenuated AR‐mediated collagen production in human gingival fibroblasts. The iNOS/NO system down‐regulated the axis of AR/Colα1(I) mRNA expression and the production of AR/total collagen proteins by DIGO cells.
Text messaging as a new method for injury registration in sports: A methodological study in elite female football
Authors: Nilstad A. , Bahr R. , Andersen TE.
Published: April 2012

Methodological differences in epidemiologic studies have led to significant discrepancies in injury incidences reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate text messaging as a new method for injury registration in elite female football players and to compare this method with routine medical staff registration. Twelve teams comprising 228 players prospectively recorded injuries and exposure through one competitive football season. Players reported individually by answering three text messages once a week. A designated member of the medical staff conducted concurrent registrations of injuries and exposure. Injuries and exposure were compared between medical staff registrations from nine teams and their 159 affiliated players. During the football season, a total of 232 time‐loss injuries were recorded. Of these, 62% were captured through individual registration only, 10% by the medical staff only, and 28% were reported through both methods. The incidence of training injuries was 3.7 per 1000 player hours when calculated from individual registration vs 2.2 from medical staff registration [rate ratio (RR): 1.7, 1.2–2.4]. For match injuries, the corresponding incidences were 18.6 vs 5.4 (RR: 3.4, 2.4–4.9), respectively. There was moderate agreement for severity classifications in injury cases reported by both methods (kappa correlation coefficient: 0.48, confidence interval: 0.30–0.66).