bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implementation of the Rhesus Prevention Programme: A Prospective Study
Authors: Ghosh S. , Murphy W.G. 
Published: January 2017

All rhesus-negative women who completed a pregnancy between January and August 1992 in two Scottish regions were studied to assess whether the administration of the rhesus prevention programme was complete: 671 rhesus positive (or rhesus type unknown) pregnancies were completed in 1120 Rh D negative women. For eight pregnancies no record of Rh D administration at birth was available. For recorded antenatal events that should have resulted in its administration anti-D was given in 195/280 (69.6%). Kleihauer testing was carried out in 9 of 98 instances of antepartum haemorrhage occurring after 20 weeks gestation. No cases of antenatal immunisation were identified. The study identified a need to increase awareness of the necessity for anti-D administration after potentially immunising events during pregnancy, and for increasing compliance with administration of postnatal anti-D in one of the study regions. Re-evaluation is also required of the recommendation that Kleihauer testing should be done when antenatal anti-D is given following an obstetric event after 20 weeks.
Cross-Linking of Cotton by Graft Polymerization with Vinyl Monomers
Authors: Åsnes H. , Edén C. , Larking R. 
Published: January 2017

Cotton fabrics have been reacted with N-methylolated acrylamide and methacrylamide in a single-ended reaction under acidic conditions similar to moist cross-linking or moist curing. Polymerization of the vinyl groups of the single-end reacted fabric has been initiated in a separate step with azobisisobutyronitrile. This polymerization was made with and without additions of monomers of methacrylamide, ethyl acrylate, ethoxyethylmethacrylate, and isoprene in methanol solution. The polymerization of the vinyl groups of the single-end reacted fabric is subjected to steric hindrance. By additions of vinyl monomers in the polymerization step, this steric hindrance can be overcome. By using this method, the polymer matrix, through which the cross-linking of cellulose is obtained, can be altered chemically by changing the monomers added. Fabric testing showed that wash-wear appearance increases when vinyl monomers are added in the polymerization step. The added monomers influence strength retention. The results indicate that monomers, like isoprene, which is supposed to give a rubberlike polymer matrix through which the cellulose is cross-linked, give the best strength retention.
Influence of Fiber Properties on Wrinkling Behavior of Fabrics
Authors: Prevorsek D. C. , Lamb G. E. R. , Butler R. H. 
Published: January 2017

The analysis of a series of controlled experiments using sets of fabrics of nominally the same woven construction made of different fibers led to the conclusion that, in general, a crease or wrinkle in a fabric can involve a permanent deformation of filaments, a deformation of the yarn caused by interfilament friction, and a structural distortion of the fabric. The main objective of the previous papers in this series was to establish the principal parameters which affect the filament and yarn bending recovery and the resistance of woven fabrics to undergo permanent distortion in construction when subjected to bending or wrinkling deformations. We found that the fiber properties which affect the recovery of single filaments are the yield strain in compression and the ratio of the compressional to tensile longitudinal moduli. Both these quantities are functions of draw ratio and thermal history of the fiber. The fiber properties which affect the recovery characteristics of yarns and fabrics are friction coefficient, modulus of elasticity, and settability. Previous articles of this series dealt with the development of a fabric wrinkle-recovery equation and its verification. In this study we present examples illustrating the application of the developed equation to analyze the effects of fabric construction and severity and time of application of wrinkling conditions.
Internal Mechanics of Twisted Yarn
Authors: Neckář Bohuslav 
Published: January 2017

Part I: Theoretical Model The equilibrium of the yarn element is defined on the basis of a cylindrical model of yarn formation. The fibrous system is considered a continuum. The stress-strain relationship is solved for the element of this fibrous continuum. A mathematical model is proposed which is based on the idea of effective elastic bonds including nonlinearity and finite strains. Through substitution of this model in a differential equation of equilibrium, a differential equation is found which can be solved numerically. Also, the effect of fiber migration is taken partly into consideration. A method of calculation is deduced for the course of the radial fiber packing density. Part II: Application A new method of experimental determination of the course of the fiber packing density is described. The method is based on mathematical evaluation of tracer fibers from photographs produced on the OMEST Tester. A modified evaluation of experimentally determined yarn diameters is proposed. Results obtained with carded cotton yarns are specified. The theoretical model is processed numerically. The input parameters of the numerical solution are discussed. Theoretical results are compared with the results of the fiber packing density and yarn diameter measurements. The findings are discussed from the viewpoint of the physical aspects of the internal mechanics of yarn.
Service Improves Performance of Unattended Draw-Over Halothane Vaporizers
Authors: Hansen D 
Published: January 2017

The accuracy of the output halothane concentration of seven draw-over halothane vaporizers (TEC, Ohmeda) which were delivered in 1986 to Malawi was investigated. They had not been serviced for the past 8 years. The output was studied at dial settings of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% at minute volumes of 2 to 8 litres before and after thorough cleaning of the vaporizers. The measured halothane concentration was corrected to sea level. Of seven vaporizers one was delivering concentrations up to 240% higher than the setting. A second vaporizer delivered concentrations much lower than the setting; the maximum output was 1.5% at the 5% setting. After cleaning, all vaporizers delivered concentrations close to the dial setting. The maximum deviation from the setting was 0.5% at the 0.5%, 1% and 2% setting and 0.9% at higher settings. Whether the replacement of damaged wicks and seals would improve the accuracy further could not be investigated because these spare parts were not available. It is concluded from this study that regular servicing of draw-over vaporizers is essential. Support for the training of technicians in developing countries and also support for the funding of spare parts and measuring instruments in these countries should be considered by donors.
An Evaluation of On-Site Testing for Syphilis
Authors: Patel A , Moodley D , Moodley J 
Published: January 2017

One of the major obstacles to the eradication of perinatal transmission of syphilis is the delay in obtaining the results of syphilis serological tests. The availability of on-site syphilis testing lead to this study which attempted to evaluate on-site syphilis testing performed by nursing staff. The seroprevalence of syphilis by laboratory rapid plasma reagin (RPR) was 8.2% ( n=42). Twenty-one of the 42 women were correctly identified by the on-site test. The overall sensitivity of on-site testing was 50% [95% confidence interval (CI)=34.4–65.6]; specificity of 90.9% (95% CI=87.8–93.2). The on-site test correctly identified as uninfected 429 of the 471 women reported as RPR negative by the laboratory, giving a specificity of 91.1% (95% CI=88.1–93.4). The results of the study show that on-site RPR test had a sensitivity of 75% in respect of the clinically important titres of ≤ 1:8. The specificity of the on-site test was 91.1% and on-site testing only failed to detect syphilis in those patients with titres of 1:1 and 1:2. On-site testing is a practical and cost-effective option to prevent congenital syphilis, in settings of a high prevalence of syphilis and using skilled testers.
Rural Men and Their Attitude towards Vasectomy as Means of Contraception in Ethiopia
Authors: Dibaba Asrat 
Published: January 2017

A descriptive study on the attitude of rural men towards vasectomy as means of contraception was conducted in southwestern Ethiopia. A total of 200 men who came to a rural health centre either for treatment or to accompany a patient were included for interview. The mean age of the interviewees was 30.9 and the main occupation was farming (67.5%). The mean number of offspring born to the respondents was 3.5 with 70% of the respondents wanting more children. Fifty-five per cent had heard about contraception before and in this group 31% of the wives used or were using one of the common methods. None of the respondents was against the use of contraceptives and none of them had heard previously of vasectomy as means of contraception. The acceptance of vasectomy as means of contraception was 79%. Twenty-one per cent opposed vasectomy because of the problem of possible loss of children due to death or divorce. The high acceptance rate of vasectomy indicates an unmet need for surgical contraception and the training of health personnel on the ‘no scalpel vasectomy’ technique. Making this service available, starting at health centre level, is recommended.
HIV/AIDS Pandemic and Surgical Practice in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital
Authors: Owotade Foluso J , Ogunbodede Eyitope O , Sowande Oladayo A 
Published: January 2017

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on surgical practice in a Nigerian teaching hospital. It involved a questionnaire survey of all the doctors practising in the surgical specialties at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in order to obtain their attitudes and practices toward HIV-positive surgical patients. Sixty-five doctors were interviewed, their ages ranged from 26 years to 62 years with a mean age of 35.1 years. The majority (35.4%) were in general surgery or obstetrics and gynaecology (24.6%). Almost half (47.7%) had operated on known HIV-positive patients and the majority were in support of preoperative HIV screening. Almost all (95.4%) were worried about occupational HIV infection – a significant number of consultants would refuse to be screened if their patient were allowed to know the results ( P=0.014). The cross infection control commonly employed included adequate instrument sterilization, presurgical hand washing and the use of gloves and facemasks. The wearing of eye goggles, double gloving, indirect instrument passing and wearing of water impervious gowns were used less frequently. As HIV/AIDS infected individuals are presenting for surgical procedures in the hospital, there is a need to improve the use of universal infection control measures and to educate all categories of healthcare personnel in order to allay the fears and to prevent discrimination that could militate against effective management of HIV/AIDS patients.
Low-Cost Refractometer for Measurement of Protein Concentration and Specific Gravity of Body Fluids
Authors: Singh Sarman , Singh Niti , Karmarkar M G 
Published: January 2017

The measurement of protein concentration in serum and other body fluids can be helpful in disease diagnosis and prognosis. It is commonly helpful to know whether a collection of fluid is transudate or exudate. The specific gravity of fluids, including urine, can also be a useful diagnostic tool. The estimation of protein concentration is usually possible only in hospitals where costly chemistry analysers are available. Specific gravity can be measured by standard methods only if large volumes of fluid are available: it is often not possible to measure the specific gravity of cerebrospinal, pleural, pericardial, or pancreatic fluids, or of urine if the volume is less than 50 μl. Recently, we have obtained a small and very handy device by which one can measure both the specific gravity of fluids in small volumes and also their protein content. The method is based on the refraction of light. Both purchase and running costs are very low by comparison with standard laboratory techniques. We describe the use of this instrument and compare its performance with other available methods.
Infertility Profile at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa
Authors: Chigumadzi P T , Moodley J , Bagratee J 
Published: January 2017

A prospective observational study over a 6-month period on women presenting with infertility was conducted at King Edward VIII Hospital (KEH), South Africa. The aim of the study was to establish the patient profile and investigations performed on women presenting with infertility. One hundred women were recruited. The mean age of the women was 31 years and 60% had secondary infertility. The mean duration of infertility was 7.2 years; 61% had histories suggestive of pelvic inflammatory disease and approximately half (49%), had had previous infertility investigations; 16% of the women were HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) antibody positive and 16% had positive syphilis serology. Tubal factors were identifiable in 77%, ovulatory factors in 21% and uterine factors in 21%. Male factor infertility was present in 21%. This study confirms that in developing countries, tubal factors are the commonest cause of infertility.
Maternal Brain Death
Authors: Sperling Daniel 
Published: January 2017

Pregnancy is a biological process that usually takes forty weeks. The more advanced pregnancy is in terms of gestational age, the higher the chances that the fetus would survive in case of a premature and unnatural delivery. Hence, when a pregnant woman is struck by brain death, the fetus’ chances of survival are seriously and immediately threatened. Until recently, there were two choices in such a situation: letting the mother (and the fetus) naturally die without further intervention or delivering the fetus through a cesarean section when the death of the fetus was a tragic but likely result.Recent advances in medical technology, however, have provided physicians with an ability to control over the time and manner of death in ways that were never previously considered by their patients.
The Obesity Agency: Centralizing the Nation's Fight against Fat
Authors: Thompson Brian 
Published: January 2017

Fat. Many love to eat it, but hate to carry it. The majority of people in the United States struggle to get out of this love/hate bond. Unfortunately, they find themselves stuck in an abusive relationship.Obesity is the “fastest-growing major health problem in the United States.” Approximately two thirds of American adults are overweight or obese. In addition, 15 percent of children are overweight. The number of people suffering from this chronic ailment dwarfs the number of people afflicted with other diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Obesity leads to over 400,000 deaths a year, and it costs the United States over $117 billion per year. The prevalence and cost of the disease “warrants an increased emphasis on prevention and treatment.”
Science, Politics, and the Regulation of Dietary Supplements: It's Time to Repeal DSHEA
Authors: Cohen Peter J. 
Published: January 2017

Since the turn of the century, resourceful entrepreneurs have advertised a wide variety of purportedly simple and painless cures for cancer, including liniments of turpentine, mustard, oil, eggs, and ammonia; peat moss; arrangements of colored floodlamps; pastes made from glycerine and limburger cheese … [T]his historical experience does suggest why Congress could reasonably have determined to protect the terminally ill, no less than other patients, from the vast range of selfstyled panaceas that inventive minds can devise.[Individuals have] the right to be treated by a health care practitioner with any medical treatment (including a treatment that is not approved, certified, or licensed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services) that such individual desires or the legal representative of such individual desires.The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit of happiness. They recognized the significance of man's spiritual nature, of his feelings and of his intellect.
Potential Interactions of the Orphan Drug Act and Pharmacogenomics: A Flood of Orphan Drugs and Abuses?
Authors: Loughnot David 
Published: January 2017

To overcome the unattractiveness of small markets, the United States government provides financial aid and incentives for drug manufacturers to create cures for rare diseases under the Orphan Drug Act (“the Act”). Recent research integrating genetic information and pharmacology holds promise for creating more effective drugs targeted at smaller populations than ever before. In the near future, it seems that a flood of new drugs targeted at small disease populations could take advantage of the government benefits under the Act. Drug applicants will include true orphan drugs along with “Trojan” applicants that seek to co-opt the benefits for drugs that should not qualify as orphans. Currently, the FDA appears ill prepared to discern between the two types of applicants and prevent abuse of the system.In 1983, the federal government passed the Act. Congress designed the Act and subsequent modifications to provide incentives for companies to bring drugs for rare diseases to market.
Addressing Supply Side Barriers to Introduction of New Vaccines to the Developing World
Authors: McElligott Sean 
Published: January 2017

AbstractLow-income countries experience significant morbidity and mortality from avoidable infectious diseases, but all too often life-saving innovative vaccines are only available in high-income markets. The Generic Open (GO) license proposal posits that an increase in generic entry will lower prices through greater competition and increase vaccine availability in low-income markets. However, the GO proposal, as currently structured, is unlikely to function as envisioned in the vaccine market. Innovator vaccine firms will be unlikely to participate in the program because the payments in the GO license do not adequately compensate firms for all lost profits. Additionally, the price reductions from competitive entry are unlikely because the vaccine market is already characterized by low, and in some cases unsustainable, prices. I propose a potential adaptation where developing world vaccine manufacturers serve as contract suppliers to innovator firms for a given period of time. Donors could also share in the initial costs of capacity with the developing world manufacturers. Sales of developing world manufactured vaccines would be sold solely to UN procurement agencies under a confidential pricing or rebate system. This would increase overall product availability, maintain market separation, and decrease costs to UN agencies.
Oil and Water: Mixing Individual Mandates, Fragmented Markets, and Health Reform
Authors: Hoffman Allison K. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe 2010 federal health insurance reform act includes an individual mandate that will require Americans to carry health insurance. This article argues that even if the mandate were to catalyze universal health insurance coverage, it will fall short on some of the policy objectives many hope to achieve through a mandate if implemented in a fragmented insurance market. To uncover this problem, this article sets forth a novel framework that disentangles three different policy objectives the individual mandate can serve. Namely, supporters of the mandate might hope for it to: (1) facilitate greater health and financial security for the uninsured (“paternalism”); (2) eliminate inefficiencies in health care delivery and financing (“efficiency”); and/or (3) require the healthy to buy insurance to help fund medical care for the sick (“health redistribution”). Health redistribution — the primary focus of this article — is a shifting of wealth from the healthy to the sick through the mechanism of risk pooling. Many see health redistribution as a means to enable all Americans to more equitably access medical care on the basis of need, rather than on the basis of ability or willingness to pay.Drawing on evidence from the implementation of an individual mandate in Massachusetts's health reform in 2006, this article reveals that the fragmented American health insurance market will thwart the mandate's ability to achieve these objectives— in particular the goal of health redistribution. Fragmentation is an atomization of the insurance market into numerous risk pools that has been driven by market competition and regulation. It prevents Americans from sharing broadly in the risk of poor health and, in doing so, entrenches a system where access to medical care remains tied to ability to pay and individualized characteristics. The final section of this article examines how various policies, including some in the new law (e.g., insurance regulation and exchanges) and others not (e.g., expanded public insurance), can reduce fragmentation so that the mandate can successfully serve all desired objectives and in the process gain greater legitimacy over time.
How the FDA Can Overturn Wyeth v. Levine
Authors: Gostanian Anthony 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIn Wyeth v. Levine, the Supreme Court held that an FDA-approved drug label did not preempt state tort law. Although the Supreme Court did not defer to the FDA's position, language in the opinion, and Breyer's concurring opinion, suggest that the FDA may be able to abrogate Wyeth v. Levine using the administrative law doctrine originally announced in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. That is, the FDA may claim deference to its position in a future case involving the same legal questions. This Note explains how Wyeth impacts the Chevron doctrine and identifies how the FDA assertion that drug labels preempt state law may win in a future case.
Follow the Money: Money Matters in Health Care, Just like in Everything Else
Authors: Hyman David A. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractI suspect that our collective search for villains — for someone to blame — has distracted us and our political leaders from addressing the fundamental causes of our nation's health-care crisis. All of the actors in health care — from doctors to insurers to pharmaceutical companies — work in a heavily regulated, massively subsidized industry full of structural distortions. They all want to serve patients well. But they also all behave rationally in response to the economic incentives those distortions create. Accidentally, but relentlessly, America has built a health-care system with incentives that inexorably generate terrible and perverse results. Incentives that emphasize healthcareover any other aspect of health and well-being. That emphasize treatment over prevention. That disguise true costs. That favor complexity and discourage transparent competition based on price or quality.