bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exercising Democratic Rights and Obligations as a Mechanism for Improved Service Delivery: The Case of Kampala City, Uganda
Authors: Lubinga S. N. , Du Plessis L. M. 
Published: January 2017

Emanating from literature (Ministry of Local government 2013:10; Gaventa 2002: p.26; Odero 2004: p.2), it is apparent that participatory frameworks exist in Uganda. However, in spite of a two decade-plus long prevalence these democratic participatory frameworks, the services rendered to the citizens are still poor. For instance, the delivery of health services has remained pitiable and the majority of people have turned to private hospitals. The provision for adequate infrastructure for the children enrolled in primary schools remains a challenge to the education sector. Yet, access to safe water is estimated at as low as 9% in some districts, while an estimated 19% of the improved water supply systems are still not functioning (UBOS, 2010: pp.33-57). This is not only attesting the statement that participatory initiatives in Uganda are more like “wish lists” than substantive statements that are guaranteed in practice, but also raising the research question as to what extent does the exercise of democratic rights and obligations of citizens by citizen’s impact on public service delivery in Uganda? In answering this question, this paper applied a quantitative research method in which aself-administered questionnaire survey based on three variables used to measure the exercise of democratic rights and obligations was distributed to a representative sample of 100 participants from Kampala city selected from three urban division councils (Kawempe, Makindye and Kampala Central). Thereafter, using the ordered logistic regression model of analysis, constructed on the findings the paper divulges that the exercise of democratic rights and obligations by citizens has a positive implication towards quality service delivery. <br /><br />
Critique of Public Administrative Reform System: Post-Independence in Nigeria
Authors: Aladegbola Isaac Adegbenga , Jaiyeola Femi 
Published: January 2017

The public service of any nation is its veritable instrument for national development. If it fails, the gamut of policies meant for the nation’s development would have failed. In this sense, the observable developmental deficits in Africa cannot therefore, be separated from the failures of the continents public service and the largest chunk of these failures are located on the ethical behaviour of the public servants who are taking the service mostly as a colonial service. Writing from Nigeria hindsight, the author observed that most nation’s public service in Africa, like its larger society, have not been able to separate themselves from their history, the history of “colonial mentality.” In a way, an enduring problem noticeable within the public service in most sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) states has been what appropriate strategy will remove, the clove of “colonial mentality” associated with the public servant behaviour even years after decolonization of most SSA states and in spite of various post independent reforms put up to rectify these deficiencies. Has the knowledge of Africa Solution to Africa Problem (ASAP) instil the right type of ethical behaviours that will accept the public service as African service and not foreign service of the old exploitative order, divide and rule system and the ‘not my business’ syndrome that pervaded the era of colonial rules? It is critical that the failure of public service is a failure of service delivery in Africa. This paper, using Nigeria as a case study, does not only chronicle these failures/challenges as it affects Africa development strides, it also offers a process of public service ethics education as strategy, in order to have long-term and sustainable solutions that will promote public service delivery in Africa. <br /><br />
Alternative Service Delivery in Africa: The Case for International Regional Organisations
Authors: Kiggundu Moses N. 
Published: January 2017

Alternative service delivery (ASD) is generally confined to the provision opublic services within the boundaries of a single nation state. This paper extends thisconceptualization and practice beyond a single nation state by focusing on services provided by international regional organizations (IROs), which encompass more than a single country. Recognizing that the regional approach may not be suitable under all circumstances, the papertakes a contingency approach and discusses with illustrations the conditions under which the regional or continental approaches may provide superior public services to the wider population. Three examples from the East African Community (EAC), Africa’s riparian river basins, and cross-border illicit trade of conflict minerals in the Great Lakes region are given as illustrative cases. Noting that Africa’s growing aspirations for inclusive development and rapid transformation call for better governance and quality public services, the paper ends by calling for more scholarly work and field experiments on ASD and other models applicable at local, national, regional and continental levels.
Prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases in rural & urban Tamil Nadu
Authors: Oommen Anu Mary , Abraham Vinod Joseph , George Kuryan , Jose V. Jacob 
Published: January 2017

Background & objectives:
Surveillance of risk factors is important to plan suitable control measures for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The objective of this study was to assess the behavioural, physical and biochemical risk factors for NCDs in Vellore Corporation and Kaniyambadi, a rural block in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, India.

Methods:
This cross-sectional study was carried out among 6196 adults aged 30-64 yr, with 3799 participants from rural and 2397 from urban areas. The World Health Organization-STEPS method was used to record behavioural risk factors, anthropometry, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipid profile. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess associations between risk factors.

Results:
The proportion of tobacco users (current smoking or daily use of smokeless tobacco) was 23 per cent in the rural sample and 18 per cent in the urban, with rates of smoking being similar. Ever consumption of alcohol was 62 per cent among rural men and 42 per cent among urban men. Low physical activity was seen among 63 per cent of the urban and 43 per cent of the rural sample. Consumption of fruits and vegetables was equally poor in both. In the urban sample, 54 per cent were overweight, 29 per cent had hypertension and 24 per cent diabetes as compared to 31, 17 and 11 per cent, respectively, in the rural sample. Physical inactivity was associated with hypertension, body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2, central obesity and dyslipidaemia after adjusting for other factors. Increasing age, male sex, BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and central obesity were independently associated with both hypertension and diabetes.

Interpretation & conclusions:
Diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, physical inactivity and overweight were higher in the urban area as compared to the rural area which had higher rates of smokeless tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Smoking and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables were equally prevalent in both the urban and rural samples. There is an urgent need to address behavioural risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables through primary prevention.
Association of type 2 diabetes mellitus genes in polycystic ovary syndrome aetiology among women from southern India
Authors: Reddy Battini Mohan , Kommoju Uma Jyothi , Dasgupta Shilpi , Rayabarapu Pranavchand 
Published: January 2017

Background & objectives:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive endocrine disorder of premenopausal women. Given the phenotypic overlap between PCOS and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), this study was carried out to investigate whether genes implicated in T2DM were also involved in the susceptibility to PCOS among women from southern India.

Methods:
A total of 248 women with PCOS and 210 healthy women as controls were genotyped for a panel of 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the nine T2DM genes, such as TCF7L2, IGF2BP2, SLC30A8, HHEX, CDKAL1, CDKN2A, IRS1, CAPN10 and PPARG, on Sequenom MassARRAY platform.

Results:
None of the 15 SNPs were found to be significantly associated with PCOS after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, either in the univariate or multivariate context. The cumulative effect of risk alleles observed with reference to T2DM was also not seen with reference to PCOS.

Interpretation & conclusions:
The nine T2DM genes considered in this exploratory study might not be the primary susceptibility factors for PCOS among Indian women. Our results supplement the lack of evidence of the association of T2DM genes with PCOS among the Chinese and Caucasians hinting at the possible universality of this pattern. Specifically designed comprehensive studies that include women with T2DM and PCOS are required to explore the precise role of the diabetes genes.
Antibiotic resistance & pathogen profile in ventilator-associated pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital in India
Authors: Chaudhury Abhijit , Rani A. Shobha , Kalawat Usha , Sumant Sachin , Verma Anju , Venkataramana B. 
Published: January 2017

Background & objectives:
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important hospital-acquired infection with substantial mortality. Only a few studies are available from India addressing the microbiological aspects of VAP, which have been done with small study populations. This study was carried out in the intensive care units (ICUs) of a tertiary care hospital to assess the profile of pathogens and to determine the pattern of antimicrobial resistance.

Methods:
This was a retrospective study of clinically suspected cases of VAP. Over a three year period, a total of 247 cases in 2011, 297 in 2012 and 303 in 2013 admitted in ICUs on mechanical ventilation with clinical evidence of VAP were included in our study. The endotracheal aspirate samples from these suspected cases were subjected to quantitative culture technique, and colony count of ≥105 colony forming units/ml was considered significant. Antimicrobial susceptibility test for the isolates was done.

Results:
VAP rates of 44.1, 43.8 and 26.3 were seen in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. In all the three years, non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli were the predominant organisms, followed by Pseudomonas spp. and Klebsiella spp. Staphylococcus aureus exhibited a downwards trend in prevalence from 50.0 per cent in 2011 to 34.9 per cent in 2013. An increase in vancomycin-resistant enterococci was seen from 4.3 per cent in 2012 to 8.3 per cent in 2013, while methicillin resistance amongst the S. aureus crossed the 50 per cent mark in 2013. An increasing trend in resistance was shown by Pseudomonas spp. for piperacillin-tazobactam (PTZ), amikacin and imipenem (IPM). For the non-fermenters, resistance frequency remained very high except for IPM (33.1%) and polymyxin-B (2.4%).

Interpretation & conclusions:
Our findings show VAP as an important problem in the ICU setting. The incidence of multidrug-resistant pathogens was on the rise. The resistance pattern of these pathogens can help an institution to formulate effective antimicrobial policy. To have a comprehensive pan-India picture, multicentric studies are needed.
A Comparative Study of Urogenital Problems and Urodynamic changes in Postmenopausal Women with Natural Menopause and Surgical Menopause
Authors: Lavania Prashant , Pathak Anu , Singh Richa , LNU Purnima 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACT
Noninvasive urodynamics (UDS) consists of tests [voiding diaries, flowmetry, postvoid residual estimation and pad tests], which do not require any patient manipulation. In contrast, invasive UDS warrants the insertion of catheters, transducers, and/or needle sets into the patients. While noninvasive tests are useful for screening or diagnosis, invasive tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis and refine the findings. Urodynamic evaluation is a good predictor of outcomes after therapeutic intervention.

How to cite this article
Singh R, Singh S, Pathak A, Lavania P, Purnima. A Comparative Study of Urogenital Problems and Urodynamic changes in Postmenopausal Women with Natural Menopause and Surgical Menopause. J South Asian Feder Menopause Soc 2013;1(1):38-42.
Improved GOMOS/Envisat ozone retrievals in the upper troposphere and the lower stratosphere
Authors: Sofieva Viktoria F. , Ialongo Iolanda , Hakkarainen Janne , Kyrölä Erkki , Tamminen Johanna , Laine Marko , Hubert Daan , Hauchecorne Alain , Dalaudier Francis , Bertaux Jean-Loup , Fussen Didier , Blanot Laurent , Barrot Gilbert , Dehn Angelika 
Published: January 2017

Abstract. Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars (GOMOS) on board Envisat has performed about 440 000 nighttime occultations during 2002–2012. Self-calibrating measurement principle, good vertical resolution, excellent pointing accuracy, and the wide vertical range from the troposphere up to the lower thermosphere make GOMOS profiles interesting for different analyses. The GOMOS ozone data are of high quality in the stratosphere and the mesosphere, but the current operational retrieval algorithm (IPF v6) is not optimized for retrievals in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS). In particular, validation of GOMOS profiles against ozonesonde data has revealed a substantial positive bias (up to 100 %) in the UTLS region. The retrievals in the UTLS are challenging because of low signal-to-noise ratio and the presence of clouds. In this work, we discuss the reasons for the systematic uncertainties in the UTLS with the IPF v6 algorithm or its modifications based on simultaneous retrievals of several constituents using the full visible wavelength range. The main reason is high sensitivity of the UTLS retrieval algorithms to an assumed aerosol extinction model. We have developed a new ozone profile inversion algorithm for GOMOS data (ALGOM2s version 1.0), which is optimized in the UTLS and uses IPF v6 advantages in the middle atmosphere. The ozone retrievals in the whole altitude range from the troposphere to the lower thermosphere are performed in two steps, as in the operational algorithm: spectral inversion followed by the vertical inversion. The spectral inversion is enhanced by using a DOAS-type method at visible wavelengths for the UTLS region. This method uses minimal assumptions about the atmospheric profiles. The vertical inversion is performed as in IPF v6 with the Tikhonov-type regularization according to the target resolution. The validation of new retrieved ozone profiles with ozonesondes shows a dramatic reduction of GOMOS ozone biases in the UTLS. The new GOMOS ozone profiles are also in a very good agreement with measurements by MIPAS, ACE-FTS, and OSIRIS satellite instruments in the UTLS. It is also shown that the known geophysical phenomena in the UTLS ozone are well reproduced with the new GOMOS data.
A Case Control Study of Cemented Acetabular Total Hip Arthroplasty Components in Patients Less than 50 with 5-Year Minimum Follow-up
Authors: Yeoman Thomas F.M. , Smy William , Gaston Paul 
Published: January 2017

Background This study investigates the outcomes of cemented sockets in young patients (<50 years) requiring a total hip replacement (THR) compared to older patients (>50 years) having the same procedure, under the same surgeon between June 2005 and May 2009. Methods Prosthesis survivorship rates, patient outcomes and radiological findings were compared between a consecutive series of 56 young patients (mean 42, range 25-49) and 56 older patients (mean 69, range 53-81) that underwent a primary THR using a cemented Stryker® Exeter™ Contemporary™ flanged cup. The minimum follow-up was 5 years. Results No significant difference was observed between the groups’ Oxford Hip Scores (p = 0.078) or satisfaction scores (p = 0.67). Worst case scenario analysis for revision, failure or lost to follow-up showed 94.6% survival in the <50 year olds and 92.9% survival in the >50 year olds at 5 years. This study demonstrates no significant difference in patient outcomes, survivorship or radiographic findings at a minimum of 5 years between patients <50 years old and those >50 years old undergoing THR with a cemented socket. Conclusions We believe the current trend towards uncemented cups may be driven by marketing rather than by evidence of improved outcomes. Cemented sockets provide very good outcomes for patients of all ages.
Can NGAL be Employed as Prognostic and Diagnostic Biomarker in Human Cancers? A Systematic Review of Current Evidence
Authors: Roli Laura , Pecoraro Valentina , Trenti Tommaso 
Published: January 2017

Background Some studies have reported differentially altered neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in several malignancies. We evaluated NGAL measured in plasma or urine as both prognostic and diagnostic marker for different types of human tumors. Methods We performed systematic electronic searches in Medline, Embase and CRDTAS. Studies were included if they evaluated NGAL as a prognostic or diagnostic marker for human cancers. The selection of the studies, screening of the full texts and data extraction were conducted independently by 2 authors. We used the random-effects model for the meta-analyses. A methodological assessment was completed. Results We included 35 studies dedicated to colorectal, pancreas, breast, thyroid, gastric, kidney, endometrial, brain, liver, lung, esophageal, oral and ovarian cancers. Our meta-analyses showed that, in patients with colorectal and breast cancer, positive NGAL expression was associated with a decrease of disease-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.27, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.54-3.36; HR = 1.78, 95% CI, 1.33-2.38, respectively). NGAL was a negative prognostic marker of overall survival in colorectal (HR = 2.37, 95% CI, 1.68-3.34) and endometrial (HR = 4.38, 95% CI, 1.9-10.12) cancers. Discriminative power of NGAL between cancer patients and control was moderate in colorectal cancer (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.6; pooled sensitivity 0.56; pooled specificity 0.72), acceptable in pancreatic cancer (AUC = 0.8; pooled sensitivity 0.6; pooled specificity 0.8) and good in thyroid cancer (AUC = 0.9; pooled sensitivity 0.85; pooled specificity 0.96). Conclusions NGAL determination in plasma and urine could be useful in the prognosis of colorectal and breast cancer, but its prognostic accuracy remains uncertain for other human tumors.
Endometrioma in Adolescents and Future Reproductive Health
Authors: Brosens Ivo , Benagiano Giuseppe 
Published: January 2017

There continues to be debate over the nature and progression of ovarian endometriomas in adolescence due to the possibility that they may have a different origin and to the impossibility to be able to predict progress. The hypothesis of a different origin traces its roots in the phenomenon called “neonatal menstruation” (NUB), occurring in approximately 5% of newborn. The retrograde shedding of neonatal endometrium may contain progenitor cells and stroma that may lie dormant under the peritoneal surface until being activated when estrogens begin to rise. In teenagers, ovarian endometriomas are often preceded by highly angiogenic implants in the fossa ovarica, with adhesion formation resulting in the invagination of the ovarian cortex and the creation of a pseudocyst. Use of imaging techniques makes it possible to diagnose even small endometriomas. This is vital to their management, since there is evidence that the disease in an adolescent represents a severe condition, with tendency to progression. In addition, if intervention is decided, the first surgical procedure can determine the ultimate outcome of her reproductive life, because there is a significantly higher risk of inadvertently removing ovarian tissue in the presence of an endometrioma than of other ovarian pathologies. For this reason, techniques avoiding additional trauma to the ovary should be preferred and those who wish to become pregnant should attempt conception as soon as possible; if pregnancy is not sought, hormonal therapy is strongly advised. Finally, young age at diagnosis may constitute a pivotal factor in considering fertility preservation.
Second Malignancy Risk in Patients with Bronchopulmonary Carcinoids: Epidemiological Results from Italian Network of Cancer Registries
Authors: Lococo Filippo , Galeone Carla , Sacchettini Claudio , Leuzzi Giovanni , Cesario Alfredo , Paci Massimiliano , Mangone Lucia ,   AIRTUM working group contributors, Autelitano M. , Mannino S. , Filiberti R.A. , Borciani E. , Buzzoni C. , Candela G. , D'oro L. Cavalieri , Coviello V. , Caiazzo A. L , Barchielli A. , Crocetti E. , Cusimano R. , Rugge M. , Falcini F. , Ferretti S. , Fusco M. , Gennaro V. , Giacomin A. , Gola G. , Stracci F. , Madeddu A. , Magoni M. , Mangone L. , Spagnoli M. , Maspero S. , Mazzoleni G. , Melcarne A. , Merletti F. , Michiara M. , Minerba S. , Pannozzo F. , Piffer S. , Quarta F. , Ricci P. , Russo A. , Sampietro G. , Sciacca S. , Sensi F. , Serraino D. , Sardo A. Sutera , Tagliabue G. , Tisano F. , Traina A. , Tumino R. , Usala M. , Vitale F. , Vitarelli S. 
Published: January 2017

Purpose This epidemiological study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of second tumors (STs) in patients with bronchopulmonary carcinoids (BCs). Methods Data on neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) from the AIRTUM registry (1975-2011) were used for the analysis. Among 32,325 NECs, we focused our analysis on 3,205 patients (9.9%) affected by BCs. The overall ST number and incidence were calculated. The number of STs was compared with the expected cancer number in the healthy Italian population, and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results The male/female ratio was 1.5:1 and the mean age 61.7 years (range: 7-94). A total of 640 STs were observed (overall incidence: 20%): 198 tumors were metachronous, 23 synchronous, and 419 occurred before the diagnosis of BC. The most common STs were bladder tumors (12.2%) followed by breast tumors (11.1%). We observed a large number of thyroid tumors (SIR = 3.88), with a remarkably higher frequency of thyroid tumors being synchronously detected with BC in female patients (SIR = 61.39). In male patients there was an increased frequency of urinary system tumors, in particular metachronous tumors of the kidney and renal pelvis (SIR = 3.34) and synchronous tumors of the urinary bladder (SIR = 11.48). Conclusions A high frequency of STs is predictable in patients with BCs, with synchronous thyroid tumors being observed in women and kidney and urinary bladder tumors in men. However, these data should be interpreted with caution, considering that the diagnosis of such tumors often occurs as an incidental finding during investigations for other malignancies.