bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fatigue and Sleep Quality before and after Liver Transplantation
Authors: Rodrigue James R. , Nelson David R. , Reed Alan I. , Hanto Douglas W. , Curry Michael 
Published: July 2017

Context Recent publications suggest that fatigue and sleep disturbance are problems in patients with chronic liver disease and in liver transplant recipients. Objectives To characterize the severity and nature of fatigue and sleep quality before and after liver transplantation, to examine the relationship between fatigue/sleep quality and quality of life, and to identify their multivariate correlates. Design, Settings, and Participants Cross-sectional survey administered to 110 patients before and 95 patients after liver transplantation at 2 transplant centers. Main Outcome Measures Fatigue and sleep quality. Results Most pretransplant (86%) and posttransplant (76%) patients experienced high fatigue severity. Correlates of pretransplant fatigue severity were being female (odds ratio [OR] = 0.22, P= .04), higher body mass index (OR = 1.07, P= .04), higher mood disturbance (OR=1.05, P= .02), and poor sleep quality (OR=0.26, P= .02). Correlates of posttransplant fatigue severity were use of sleep medications in the past month (OR = 0.51, P= .02) and higher mood disturbance (OR = 1.06, P = .004). Seventy-three percent of pretransplant and 77% of posttransplant patients were classified as having poor sleep quality. Higher body mass index (OR = 1.06, P= .05), sleep medications (OR=0.43, P= .03), and more mood disturbance (OR=1.04, P = .007) were predictive of poor sleep quality in pretransplant patients, whereas higher body mass index (OR=1.07, P= .04) and more anxious mood (OR=1.28, P = .03) were predictive of poor sleep quality in posttransplant patients. Conclusion A very high proportion of both pretransplant and posttransplant patients experience clinically severe fatigue levels. Prospective research is necessary to identify causal mechanisms of these disorders and to evaluate strategies to reduce fatigue severity and improve sleep quality.
Why Families Decline Donation: The Perspective of Organ Procurement Coordinators
Authors: Anker Ashley E. , Feeley Thomas Hugh 
Published: July 2017

Context Current knowledge regarding the barriers to organ donation relies on 3 data sources: potential donor families, hospital staff, and members of the general public. The current study complements these findings by interviewing organ procurement coordinators about their experiences during the familial consent process. Objective To characterize organ procurement coordinators' reports of barriers to obtaining familial consent for donation. Design Structured, face-to-face interviews. Participants One hundred and two organ procurement coordinators recruited from a national sample of 16 organ procurement organizations. Main Outcome Measure Interviews were content analyzed to describe coordinators' experiences with families who decline donation. Manifest coding was used to determine the frequency with which particular barriers were identified by coordinators. Coordinators' reports of barriers were compared with organizational conversion rates to determine which barriers were associated with performance as an organization. Results Organ procurement coordinators revealed 16 distinct barriers in 4 overlying categories: concerns regarding decedents' wishes, structural barriers to donation, unsupportive belief systems, and lack of public education. Three reported barriers could be used to differentiate between high- and low-performance organizations: (1) familial concerns over bodily disfigurement, (2) failure of families to understand brain death, and (3) families' cultural/racial background. Conclusion These results supplement existing reports of barriers to donation and are discussed in terms of shaping future public education efforts and request processes to improve conversion rates.
Use of Telehealth Technology for Home Spirometry after Lung Transplantation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sengpiel Juliane , Fuehner Thomas , Kugler Christiane , Avsar Murat , Bodmann Isabelle , Boemke Annelies , Simon Andre , Welte Tobias , Gottlieb Jens 
Published: July 2017

Context Complications often occur during the early phase after lung transplantation, and rapid diagnosis is vital. Home spirometry is used to detect early changes in graft function. Bluetooth-equipped cell phones are easy to use and facilitate data transfer from home spirometry. Objective To explore use of home spirometry with Bluetooth data transfer in outpatient lung transplant recipients. Design Single-center prospective randomized controlled trial. Intervention Fifty-six patients were randomized either to home spirometry with data transfer via Bluetooth-equipped cell phones or to home spirometry alone before discharge after lung transplantation. In the Bluetooth group, results were transferred to a database capable of generating alarm messages. Main Outcome Measures Time from onset of symptoms to physician consultation during the first 6 months after lung transplantation was the primary end point. Results Adherence to home spirometry was 97.2% in the Bluetooth group and 95.3% in the home spirometry alone group ( P= .73). Median time to first consultation ( P = .60) and frequency of consultation ( P = .06) did not differ significantly in the 2 groups. Mean scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were lower in patients in the Bluetooth group (1.5; range, 0.0–4.0) than in the home spirometry alone group (4.0; range, 2.0–6.0; P = .04). Conclusion Home spirometry with data transfer is feasible and safe in lung transplant recipients. Compared with home spirometry alone, additional data transfer was equally effective regarding the time interval from symptom onset to consultation. Patients in the Bluetooth group reported less anxiety, which may improve emotional well-being.
Attitudes toward Organ Donation and Donor Behavior: A Review of the International Literature
Authors: Wakefield Claire E. , Watts Kaaren J. , Homewood Judi , Meiser Bettina , Siminoff Laura A. 
Published: July 2017

Objective To conduct a systematic review of published research that assessed the predictors of attitudes toward deceased organ donation, willingness to donate, and donor behavior. Data Sources MEDLINE, PreMEDLINE, PsycInfo, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched for the period from 1988 to 2009. Study Selection Eligible studies included members of the general public (ie, not transplant recipients, donor families, or health professionals) and used multivariate analyses for quantitative assessment of predictors. Data Extraction The search identified 33 relevant studies. Owing to heterogeneity in populations and measures, results were summarized rather than subjected to meta-analysis. Data Synthesis Research suggests that individuals who are younger, female, have higher education levels and socioeconomic status, hold fewer religious beliefs, have high knowledge levels, know others with positive attitudes, are more altruistic, and have fewer concerns about manipulation of the body of the deceased donor are more likely to have positive attitudes toward donation and are more willing to donate their organs. Conclusions The review revealed the complexity of individuals' attitudes toward donation and the need for more sophisticated future studies of the interactions between the broader factors influencing donation (such as social norms and existing legislation in each country) and individual factors, such as attitudes and beliefs.
A Two-Round Delphi Study Examining Consensus of Recommended Clinical Practices for Patients with Ventricular Assist Devices as Destination Therapy
Authors: Chichetti JoAnne V. 
Published: July 2017

Objective To identify the current clinical practices of Medicare-certified facilities offering ventricular assist devices as destination therapy and to attain a consensus of recommended clinical practices across the United States for the management of adults with ventricular assist devices as destination therapy. Method Sixty ventricular assist device coordinators from Medicare-certified centers were invited to participate in an online, 2-round Delphi survey. The surveys asked whether recommended practices are current practices and whether respondents always/agreed or never/disagreed with performing the recommended practice guidelines. Consensus was defined as 75% agreement. The clinical areas of focus were patient selection, preoperative preparation, postoperative care, infection control, nutrition, and patient discharge preparation. Practices were extracted from the advanced practice guidelines for HeartMate destination therapy and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation's 2006 guidelines for the care of heart transplant candidates. Results Representing 21 states across the country, the first-round survey had a response rate of 57% (n = 34). The second-round survey had a response rate of 74% (n= 17), representing 28% of the 60 centers. Consensus was obtained for 122 practices. The dimension of patient selection—diagnostic tests and screening had the highest level of consensus (16%, n = 20), and the dimension of postoperative care—intermediate/intensive care unit dimension had the lowest level of consensus (3.3%, n = 4). Conclusion Survey results identify a consensus of practices for the specific group of ventricular assist device coordinators who responded, but that consensus cannot be generalized to all ventricular assist device facilities. These results can, however, provide a foundation for further research leading to the development of standard-of-care practices for patients with ventricular assist devices as destination therapy.
Religious and Ethnic Influences on Willingness to Donate Organs and Donor Behavior: An Australian Perspective
Authors: Wakefield Claire E. , Reid John , Homewood Judi 
Published: July 2017

Context Globally, the demand for donated organs outstrips supply, meaning that there are both practical and theoretical reasons for examining factors that are predictive of individuals' willingness to donate their organs upon their death. Objectives To determine whether individuals of different religious denominations living in Australia have different views on organ donation, whether donation attitudes differ significantly across ethnic groups, and whether factors identified in international research are predictors of willingness to donate and actual donor behavior in this population. Participants Data for this study were collected from students at an Australian university from a range of religious and ethnic backgrounds, and their friends and relatives (N = 509). Intervention Participants were administered the Organ Donation Attitude Scale, as well as additional attitudes and knowledge measures. Main Outcome Measures Self-reported “willingness to donate” and “donor behavior.” Results Our findings complemented those reported in comparable countries, with females, younger Australians, and those with high knowledge levels being more willing to donate than males, older persons, and those with low knowledge. Persons who described themselves as having stronger religious beliefs (particularly Buddhist and Islamic) held less favorable attitudes toward donation, had lower knowledge levels, and were more likely to oppose donation. Conclusions Although this study established that attitudes toward, knowledge about, and predictors of organ donation in Australia are similar to those reported elsewhere, donation rates remain low. Further in-depth research examining the impact of religion and culture on attitudes, beliefs, and behavior is essential when exploring strategies to improve organ donation rates in highly multicultural societies such as Australia.
Quality of Life in Recipients before and after Liver Transplantation in Turkey
Authors: Ordin Yaprak S. , Dicle Aklime , Wellard Sally 
Published: July 2017

Context Liver transplantation has become the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage liver disease. Most studies show a positive effect on quality of life after liver transplantation, but most studies are based on data from Western countries and little is known about quality of life in liver transplant recipients in Turkey or other developing countries. Objective To investigate liver transplant recipients' quality of life and factors affecting it, before and 3 months after transplantation in western Turkey. Design Descriptive and comparative, with data collected prospectively. Setting Two medical centers in Western Turkey. Patients Sixty-five adult recipients of a liver transplant between May 15 and December 31, 2007. Instruments Quality of life was measured by using the Nottingham Health Profile Turkish version, and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from patients' records. Results Scores on all subscales of the Nottingham Health Profile differed significantly from before to after liver transplantation. The differences between the mean scores for quality of life before and after transplantation varied significantly with the patients' sex and disease severity.
Effect of Transplant Education on Nurses' Attitudes toward Organ Donation and Plans to Work with Transplant Patients
Authors: Hoy Haley , Alexander Susan , Frith Karen H. 
Published: July 2017

Context Despite the increase in rates of solid organ transplantation in the past 2 decades, nurses are inconsistently educated regarding issues of organ donation and posttransplant care. Objective To characterize the attitudes of registered nurses before and after a graduate-level elective on issues in transplantation. Design Pre-experimental, pretest and posttest interventional study Participants 30 graduate students, who are registered nurses, who enrolled in a transplant elective at a university in the Southeastern United States Main Outcome Measure Investigator-designed survey tool consisting of 18 questions delivered in an electronic format. Results Statistically significant results were seen in nurses' attitudes toward encouraging others to become organ donors ( P = .04), preparation to discuss transplantation with others ( P< .001), advocacy to discuss transplantation among colleagues ( P = .003), confidence in working with transplant patients ( P = .005), confidence in speaking to communities about organ donation ( P = .001), and plans to encourage others to get involved in transplantation ( P = .03). Conclusion These results support the need for providing focused education on transplantation issues to registered nurses, particularly in the academic setting.
Effectiveness of Phosphorus-Containing Flame Retardants in Textile Back-coating Formulations
Authors: Horrocks Richard , Wang Min Y. , Hall Michael E. , Pearson John S. 
Published: July 2017

A series of phosphorus-containing flame retardants including some intumescents have been formulated with selected resins and applied as back-coatings to both cotton and cotton-polyester (35:65) blended fabrics. While all formulations raise the limiting oxygen index, only those based on ammonium polyphosphate and a cyclic phosphonate enable samples to pass a small-scale version of the simulated match test. BS5852: 1979, Source 1. While the back-coatings containing intumescents promoted higher levels of char formation this did not reflect in their performance to the match test. Thermogravimetric analysis suggests that the more effective flame retardants, as exemplified by ammonium polyphosphate, are those which liquefy by melting and/or decomposition well below 300°c. It is proposed that this liquefication enables wetting of the back face of the fabric and diffusion to the front face where, as the temperature rises towards 300°c, char formation occurs before ignition can take place.
Managing: To Succeed with Rapid Prototyping
Authors: Carter Jim A. 
Published: July 2017

Rapid prototyping is a powerful tool both for analyzing user requirements and for involving the users in the design of suitable user interfaces. With it, the analysts/designers have users focus on frequent presentations of incomplete prototypes in order to get realistic expressions of the users' needs and wants. If not properly managed, these presentations may miss their objectives and either become high pressure sales pitches for designs or endless cycles of minor changes. Suitable management methods are required to ensure that the use of prototyping provides its expected benefits The process oriented nature of prototyping requires some different management techniques from those used to manage more traditional and artifact oriented analysis and design activities.
The Use of Aiding Techniques and Continuous Cursor Controllers to Designate Targets in 3-D Space
Authors: Liggett Kristen K. , Reising John M. , Beam Douglas J. , Hartsock David C. 
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of three variables on target designation tasks using three-dimensional (3-D) maps. Variable 1: two continuous control techniques, Variable 2: two aiding techniques, and Variable 3: two target densities. The two continuous controllers used were an ultrasonic hand tracker and a joystick. The two aiding techniques were referred to as simple and enhanced aiding. Simple aiding consisted of a color change to the target when the cursor penetrated the target volume. Enhanced aiding consisted of an algorithm (Osga, 1991) that “pulled” the cursor to the closest target and then changed its color. The two target densities were high (16 targets) and low (8 targets). Results showed that the hand tracker provided the best performance with respect to total target designation time. Enhanced aiding provided the best performance in terms of both total target designation time and percent errors. For the density variable, the common speed-accuracy trade-off was present — the low density condition had faster total target designation times, but the high density had less percent errors.
Simulating the Replacement of Spacecraft Modules by Means of a Telerobot
Authors: Sauerwein Timothy A. , Molino John A. 
Published: July 2017

An experiment was conducted to simulate executing a proposed on-orbit Space Station maintenance task by means of a telerobotic system. A battery Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) changeout task was simulated in the laboratory. This task was performed by 5 experienced robot operators using full-scale mockups of the ORU battery module and its interfaces. The space telerobot was emulated by a pair of Kraft robot arms mounted on a Cimcorp gantry robot. The results of the experiment demonstrated that the preliminary flight procedures defining the ORU changeout task worked well. The results also showed that the basic hardware design for the battery ORU could be manipulated by the telerobot. The effects of operator training were significant. Average task completion times improved almost 40 percent over 8 trials. The effects of training were not as pronounced on measures of performance quality, either in terms of errors made or forces and torques exerted on the ORU. Certain operator interface improvements were suggested.
The Relationship between Privacy, Control, and Stress Responses in Office Workers
Authors: O'Neill Michael J. , Carayon Pascale 
Published: July 2017

This paper describes a field study that examined the relationship between objective and subjective measures of enclosure, perceived privacy, and outcome measures of stress responses and environmental satisfaction. The use of designed features of the environment (such as work space panels) as a means of controlling visual privacy was also examined. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study examined the responses of 276 workers who used systems furniture in seven buildings around the United States. The stepwise regression analyses of the data show that there is a significant relationship between objective measures of the physical environment (such as square footage, number of panels and panel heights) and privacy. Perceived enclosure is an important predictor of privacy, environmental satisfaction and stress. The analyses also revealed a significant relationship between control over the environment and perceived privacy. There were no significant relationships directly between control over visual privacy and stress symptoms. These analyses provide indications that there is a link between work space design features, perceptions of enclosure and subsequent stress reactions to the environment.
Integrated Decision/Engineering Aid (IDEA)-Enhancements
Authors: Heasly Christopher C. , Malone Thomas B. 
Published: July 2017

Integrated Decision/Engineering Aid (IDEA) incorporates a standard process and a set of automated tools to support the application of the Department of Defense's Human/System Integration (HSI) program, the Army's Manpower and Personnel Integration (MANPRINT) initiative and Human Factors Engineering (HFE) throughout the materiel development process. IDEA provides the HSI/HFE analyst with guidelines, data and tools to integrate HSI/HFE into the acquisition of: (a) non-developmental items (NDI), (b) product improvements, and (c) new system developments, focusing on the activities and products at each phase of the materiel acquisition process. The purpose of the session is to demonstrate how IDEA is utilized in the definition of the HSI/MANPRINT requirements in support of the system development/acquisition process. Emphasis will be placed on a review of the overall architecture, arrangement and organization of the modules, and on the recent additions and modifications.
Strategies for Facilitation of Tendon Transfers for Enhanced Wrist Extension in Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report
Authors: Schwartz Deborah A 
Published: July 2017

Strategies for facilitation of tendon transfers following surgery for enhanced wrist extension in a patient with cerebral palsy are described. The therapeutic process began prior to surgery with a thorough pre-operative assessment and evaluation. This case report emphasises the effectiveness of a closely monitored therapeutic programme following surgery, and promotes the comprehensive utilisation and supervision of facilitation techniques during subsequent rehabilitation.
Post-Operative Rehabilitation After PIP Joint Arthroplasty with Early Active Motion: A Retrospective Review of Outcomes
Authors: Pratt Anna L , Burr Nicola 
Published: July 2017

We present a retrospective review of outcomes of the first 15 patients who underwent proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthroplasty and were treated using the same early active motion rehabilitation regime introduced by the therapy department at Mount Vernon Hospital. The regime utilises early motion of the PIP joint, while protecting the arthroplasty with a small static splint and digit strapping to reduce lateral forces on the joint. The notes of 15 patients were reviewed and their outcomes presented. To evaluate the outcomes in more detail, the patients were divided into three groups according to their diagnostic reason for the procedure (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and trauma). The overall mean arc of motion at the PIP joint on discharge from therapy was 54° improved from 28° pre-operatively. The patients with the osteoarthritic PIP joints gained the largest improvement in the PIP joint arc of motion and required the least rehabilitation intervention. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis required intense rehabilitation to gain less overall PIP joint motion, but still reported satisfaction with their outcome. All 15 patients experienced an improvement in their pain level and subjectively reported increased function in their affected hand. Following this retrospective review of cases, the team continue to use this regime for metal and silastic prosthesis, but now routinely provide additional written information pre operatively to assist patients’ understanding of the procedure and the extent of the rehabilitation required.