bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the complexity of nursing care in Internal Medicine using two different methods
Authors: Rocco Maria J. , Papetti Alberto 
Published: April 2013

IntroductionItaly is abandoning the hospital organization model based on clinical specialty divisions in favour of the model based on the intensity of care, in which patients are admitted to “the hospital sector most appropriate to their health-care needs, which are related not only to the type of hospitalization, but also to the clinical condition and the degree of dependence”. This model includes nursing care, which is organized into health-care sectors based on the complexity of the care required.Materials and methodsWe evaluated the complexity of nursing care in the Operative Unit of the Internal Medicine ward in Legnano hospital using two different methods: the Informative Nursing Performance System (INPS) and the Professionalizing Care Method (PCM). The former was used in a 30-day survey conducted in 2010. Data were collected by trained members of the Unit's nursing staff using an electronic data collection form created with Microsoft Excel®. The second method was used during a multicenter study conducted in 2009 to validate the PCM: data were collected for 150 consecutive days by trained members of the Unit's nursing staff using an electronic data form managed centrally by the organizer of the study.ResultsThe INPS-based survey found that 53.3% of the patients require highly complex nursing care. In the PCM survey, 61% of the patients required nursing care whose complexity was classified as medium-to-high or high. The data collection form used in the INPS survey was simpler and easier to use, with more intuitive questions that could be answered more rapidly (on the average, a total of 2 minutes). The PCM form was more detailed and more difficult to complete (average: 10 minutes after the first month of the survey). However, the PCM form was more complete: it considered a number of variables including the evaluation report and the context, and it can be used in place of the initial nursing assessment for elaborating a care plan.DiscussionThe two methods cannot be compared because of differences related to the duration of the surveys, the number of patients evaluated, the number of complexity classes used, and the manner in which the data were elaborated. The results of the two surveys were similar, however, and this finding has served as a starting point for reflection on the reorganization of the Internal Medicine areas of the new Legnano hospital in accordance with the intensity of care model.
Hypotermia in the elderly
Authors: Bragagni Gianpaolo , Alberti Anna , Castelli Giuliano , Lari Federico 
Published: April 2013

IntroductionAn 88-year-old woman suffered a cerebrovascular accident and was found on the floor of her cold house.Materials and methodsAt the time of admission to our division, the patient was unresponsive with a rectal temperature of 28 °C, blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg, and a heart rate of 40 bpm. The cerebral CT revealed a hypodense lesion in the temporal region. The ECG showed sinus bradycardia, prolonged PR and QTc intervals, and a classic “J” (Osborn) wave that was most pronounced in the lateral and inferior leads. The patient presented a low respiratory rate, hypoventilation, severe acidosis (both respiratory and metabolic), hyperkalemia, elevated liver enzymes, mild anemia, hyporeflexia, and sluggish pupil responses.ResultsDuring rewarming with thermic blanket and heated intravenous fluids, the respiratory condition improved, and the ECG alterations disappeared. Twenty-four hours later, however, the patient died suddenly due to cardiac asystole.DiscussionThis report analyses the effects of hypothermia and its clinical manifestations and provides a brief discussion of the electrophysiologic mechanisms underlying Osborn waves and the other electrocardiographic changes associated with hypothermia.
Use of ventilator associated pneumonia bundle and statistical process control chart to decrease VAP rate in Syria
Authors: Alsadat Reem , Al-Bardan Hussam , Mazloum Mona N , Shamah Asem A , Eltayeb Mohamed F. E. , Marie Ali , Dakkak Abdulrahman , Naes Ola , Esber Faten , Betelmal Ibrahim , Kherallah Mazen 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Objective: Implementation of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle as a performance improvement project in the critical care units for all mechanically ventilated patients aiming to decrease the VAP rates. Materials and Methods: VAP bundle was implemented in 4 teaching hospitals after educational sessions and compliance rates along with VAP rates were monitored using statistical process control charts. Results: VAP bundle compliance rates were steadily increasing from 33 to 80% in hospital 1, from 33 to 86% in hospital 2 and from 83 to 100% in hospital 3 during the study period. The VAP bundle was not applied in hospital 4 therefore no data was available. A target level of 95% was reached only in hospital 3. This correlated with a decrease in VAP rates from 30 to 6.4 per 1000 ventilator days in hospital 1, from 12 to 4.9 per 1000 ventilator days in hospital 3, whereas VAP rate failed to decrease in hospital 2 (despite better compliance) and it remained high around 33 per 1000 ventilator days in hospital 4 where VAP bundle was not implemented Conclusion: VAP bundle has performed differently in different hospitals in our study. Prevention of VAP requires a multidimensional strategy that includes strict infection control interventions, VAP bundle implementation, process and outcome surveillance and education.
Finding Communities in Credit Networks
Authors: Bargigli Leonardo , Gallegati Mauro 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIn this paper the authors focus on credit connections as a potential source of systemic risk. In particular, they seek to answer the following question: how do we find densely connected subsets of nodes within a credit network? The question is relevant for policy, since these subsets are likely to channel any shock affecting the network. As it turns out, a reliable answer can be obtained with the aid of complex network theory. In particular, the authors show how it is possible to take advantage of the ‘‘community detection’‘ network literature. The proposed answer entails two subsequent steps. Firstly, the authors verify the hypothesis that the network under study truly has communities. Secondly, they devise a reliable algorithm to find those communities. In order to be sure that a given algorithm works, they test it over a sample of random benchmark networks with known communities. To overcome the limitation of existing benchmarks, the authors introduce a new model and test alternative algorithms, obtaining very good results with an adapted spectral decomposition method. To illustrate this method they provide a community description of the Japanese bank-firm credit network, getting evidence of a strengthening of communities over time and finding support for the well-known Japanese main ‘‘bank’‘ system. Thus, the authors find comfort both from simulations and from real data on the possibility to apply community detection methods to credit markets. They believe that this method can fruitfully complement the study of contagious defaults. Since network risk depends crucially on community structure, their results suggest that policy maker should identify systemically important communities, i.e. those able extend the initial shock to the entire system.
Survival and Complications of Arteriovenous Fistula Dialysis Access in an Elderly Population
Authors: Borzumati Maurizio , Funaro Loredana , Mancini Elvira , Resentini Valerio , Baroni Adriana 
Published: April 2013

Purpose In recent years, the number of elderly uremic patients who commence renal replacement therapy has increased. A retrospective review assessed the survival rate and incidence of complications in elderly patients with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) created between January 2000 and August 2008. Methods A total of 78 patients, 48 men and 30 women aged ≥75 with a mean age of 82.5±7.5, commenced hemodialysis therapy during the period under consideration; 31% were diabetic and all had a LVEF ≥30%. For this group of patients, 90 AVF were created: 41 distal AVF (45%), 32 proximal AVF (35%), 13 midarm AVF (15%), and four AV grafts (5%). Results The survival rate of the AVF was 76% at 12 months and 71% at 24 months. A total of 47 patients with functioning AVF (60%) died during the study period. There were 18 cases of thrombosis (20%). No significant local or systemic complications occurred. Conclusions Several aspects should be highlighted: pre-operative color-flow duplex scanning, timing of the creation of the AVF and placement of the AVF as distal as possible. The creation of AVF in elderly patients is a choice supported by the opinion that patients with tunneled central venous catheters have higher mortality rates than those with AVF. In summary, choosing vascular access sites to be created in elderly patients is no different than for younger patients–an AVF remains the gold standard.
Examining the Production and Distribution of Shivwits Ware Pottery in the American Southwest
Authors: Harry Karen G. , Ferguson Timothy J. , Allison James R. , McLaurin Brett T. , Ferguson Jeff , Lyneis Margaret 
Published: April 2013

AbstractCompositional analyses were undertaken to evaluate the hypothesis that Shivwits Ware pottery found in southern Nevada was not produced in that area but, instead, manufactured on the Shivwits Plateau. The evidence supports this hypothesis and indicates that large quantities of Shivwits Ware jars moved through a distribution system linking the upland areas of the western Arizona Strip with the lowlands of southeastern Nevada. This long-distance movement of utilitarian pottery is unusual for precontact North America, in that it occurred in the apparent absence of any centralized distribution mechanisms and between what would have been small, kin-based communities. The nature and the causes for the development of this distribution system are discussed.
Facteurs influençant l’utilisation des technologies de l’information et de la communication chez les stagiaires en enseignement du secondaire
Authors: Villeneuve Stéphane , Karsenti Thierry , Collin Simon 
Published: April 2013

Le guide La formation à l’enseignement : les orientations, les compétences professionnelles, du ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec, présente douze compétences professionnelles à maîtriser. La huitième de ces compétences porte sur l’intégration des technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC). L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer les facteurs influençant l’utilisation des TIC par les futurs enseignants du secondaire en période de stage. Une analyse de régression logistique a permis de prédire les probabilités d’utilisation des TIC en stage par les participants (n = 455). Les résultats montrent que trois facteurs principaux se distinguent parmi les cinq relevés au total : 1) planifier des activités intégrant les TIC, 2) intégrer les TIC aux activités pédagogiques, 3) utiliser les TIC pour planifier son enseignement.
Corporate Citizenship: An Institutional Tool To Gauge Stakeholders Participation in Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines
Authors: Golosino Ernesto O. 
Published: April 2013

The advent of modernization and cutthroat competition necessitates an organization to dismantle if not redefine its directions and key positions in the market. This compelling reality prompted many corporations to change its vision, mission and goals and even to the point of system’s overhaul. Whatever modes adopted in order to get an edge in the market calls for participative and collegial decisions. However, strategic directions and corporate plans if conceptualized by the few “corporate think tank” only remain as beautiful as a piece of poetry. The absence of sense of ownership will convert these powerful ideas into garbage. Hence, cascading them to the entire system becomes a must. It is from this contention that this study was conceptualized. The primary aim of this study was to assess HNU’s practices in terms of corporate citizenship. The study used descriptive survey method. Personal interviews were effected in order to avoid bias and subjective interpretation of the questionnaire. Data gaps were addressed thru key informant interview. The findings showed that almost all parameters of corporate citizenship were given high regard, , but the prevalence of minute yet significant unfavorable data calls for an alarm. Keywords - corporate citizenship, institutional tool, stakeholder’s participation
Chemical Methods in Archaeology
Authors: Spoto Giuseppe 
Published: April 2013

AbstractChemistry plays an important role in the study of archaeological materials. For instance, chemistry has developed methods for dating archaeological material. It has also allowed for inferring trade routes by studying ancient artifacts and for shedding light on the technology used to make them. In addition, the diets and customs of ancient peoples have also been discovered by applying chemical methods. Furthermore, chemistry assists in gaining understanding of the mechanisms that cause archaeological material to degrade.The modern analytical methods available today have been used to study a wide range of archaeological inorganic, organic, and biological materials. A short overview of some of the most relevant achievements reached by applying chemical methods to archaeology is reported here.
Hafnium and Hafnium Compounds
Authors: Nielsen Ralph H. ,   Updated by Staff
Published: April 2013

AbstractHafnium, Hf, is in Group 4 (IVB) of the Periodic Table as are the lighter elements, zirconium and titanium. Hafnium is a heavy gray‐white metallic element never found free in nature. It is always associated with the more plentiful zirconium. The two elements are almost identical in chemical behavior. Hafnium is obtained as a by‐product of the production of hafnium‐free nuclear grade zirconium. The refining of hafnium for its principal uses is by van Arkel‐de Boer process. Most hafnium compounds require no special safety precautions because hafnium is nontoxic under normal exposure. It is reported as having negative effect on the environment. Hafnium metal is used in alloying and in control rods for nuclear reactors. Hafnium oxide, hafnium carbide and hafnium nitride are the most important compounds of hafnium. They are the most refractory of all the compounds.
Zirconium and Zirconium Compounds
Authors: H. Nielsen Ralph , H. Schlewitz James , Nielsen Henry ,   Updated by Staff
Published: April 2013

AbstractZirconium occurs naturally as a silicate in zircon, the oxide baddeleyite, and in other oxide compounds. Zircon has been known as a gem material since biblical times. Zirconium is a highly active metal and is resistant to corrosion by water, steam, mineral acids,alkalies, salts, etc. Zirconium is highly refractory and the ore is cracked with only strong reagents and high temperatures. Various processes accomplish this, such as electric furnace, cautic fusion, chlorination, fluorosilicate fusion. Zirconium and hafnium always occur together in natural minerals and separation of the two are discussed. Zirconium is not considered a hazard to the environment. Zircon ceramics, opacifiers, refractories, foundry application are the leading end uses for zirconium. Other end uses include abrasives, chemicals, metal alloys, and welding rod coatings. There are many zirconium compounds in the form of hydrides, carbides, nitrides, oxides, halides, organometallics, chalcogenides, oxides, etc. Information is given on many of these compounds.
Crosslinking Dyes
Authors: Zhang Shufen , Tang Bingtao , Yang Jingjing , Tang Yanfen , Ma Wei 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis article presents a detailed review of the development of crosslinking dyes and their crosslinking dyeing behaviors. Crosslinking dyes were developed in the 1960s to solve the problem of low utilization of reactive dyes due to hydrolysis of the reactive groups. Basazol dyes were the first dyes to exhibit linkage to the fibers through crosslinkers. Later, a series of crosslinking dyes was developed. Based on the number of crosslinking groups, crosslinking dyes can be divided into those that contain 1–2 crosslinking groups, which includes Basazol crosslinking dyes, Indosol crosslinking dyes, aminoalkyl crosslinking dyes, and the early produced crosslinking dyes of China and those that contain multiple crosslinking groups, which include polyethylene polyamine crosslinking dyes, polyallylamine crosslinking dyes, and polyvinylamine crosslinking dyes. The structure and dyeing characteristics of these crosslinking dyes are discussed. Here the crosslinkers used for crosslinking dyes with 1–2 crosslinking groups and their crosslinking dyeing behaviors are introduced. It is shown that the crosslinking dyes that contain multiple crosslinking groups crosslink with each other and simultaneously crosslink with fibers through crosslinkers to form covalent bonds.
A Cross‐Lagged Structural Equation Model of Relational Aggression, Physical Aggression, and Peer Status in a Chinese Culture
Authors: Tseng Wan‐Ling , Banny Adrienne M. , Kawabata Yoshito , Crick Nicki R. , Gau Susan Shur‐Fen 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis short‐term longitudinal study examined the associations among relational aggression, physical aggression, and peer status (i.e., acceptance, rejection, and perceived popularity) across three time points, six months apart, in a Taiwanese sample. Participants were 198 fifth grade students (94 girls and 104 boys; Mean age = 10.35 years) from Taipei, Taiwan. Study variables were assessed using peer nomination procedure. Results from the cross‐lagged structural equation models demonstrated that there were longitudinal associations between relational aggression and each of the peer status constructs while only one longitudinal association was found for physical aggression such that physical aggression positively predicted subsequent peer rejection. The longitudinal associations did not vary with gender. Results also showed high stabilities of relational aggression, physical aggression, and the three peer status constructs over 1 year as well as high concurrent association between relational and physical aggression. In addition, relational aggression and physical aggression were concurrently related to less acceptance, more rejection, and less perceived popularity, especially at the outset of the study. Findings of this study demonstrated both similarities and differences in relation to previous literature in primarily Western cultures. This study also highlights the bidirectional and complex nature of the association between aggression and peer status, which appears to depend on the form of aggression and on the particular indicator of peer status under study. Aggr. Behav. 39:301–315, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Meta‐analysis of association between obsessive‐compulsive disorder and the 3′ region of neuronal glutamate transporter gene SLC1A1
Authors: Stewart S.E. , Mayerfeld C. , Arnold P.D. , Crane J.R. , O'Dushlaine C. , Fagerness J.A. , Yu D. , Scharf J.M. , Chan E. , Kassam F. , Moya P.R. , Wendland J.R. , Delorme R. , Richter M.A. , Kennedy J.L. , Veenstra‐VanderWeele J. , Samuels J. , Greenberg B.D. , McCracken J.T. , Knowles J.A. , Fyer A.J. , Rauch S.L. , Riddle M.A. , Grados M.A. , Bienvenu O.J. , Cullen B. , Wang Y. , Shugart Y.Y. , Piacentini J. , Rasmussen S. , Nestadt G. , Murphy D.L. , Jenike M.A. , Cook E.H. , Pauls D.L. , Hanna G.L. , Mathews C.A. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe neuronal glutamate transporter gene SLC1A1 is a candidate gene for obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) based on linkage studies and convergent evidence implicating glutamate in OCD etiology. The 3′ end of SLC1A1 is the only genomic region with consistently demonstrated OCD association, especially when analyzing male‐only probands. However, specific allele associations have not been consistently replicated, and recent OCD genome‐wide association and meta‐analysis studies have not incorporated all previously associated SLC1A1 SNPs. To clarify the nature of association between SLC1A1 and OCD, pooled analysis was performed on all available relevant raw study data, comprising a final sample of 815 trios, 306 cases and 634 controls. This revealed weak association between OCD and one of nine tested SLC1A1 polymorphisms (rs301443; uncorrected P = 0.046; non‐significant corrected P). Secondary analyses of male‐affecteds only (N = 358 trios and 133 cases) demonstrated modest association between OCD and a different SNP (rs12682807; uncorrected P = 0.012; non‐significant corrected P). Findings of this meta‐analysis are consistent with the trend of previous candidate gene studies in psychiatry and do not clarify the putative role of SLC1A1 in OCD pathophysiology. Nonetheless, it may be important to further examine the potential associations demonstrated in this amalgamated sample, especially since the SNPs with modest associations were not included in the more highly powered recent GWAS or in a past meta‐analysis including five SLC1A1 polymorphisms. This study underscores the need for much larger sample sizes in future genetic association studies and suggests that next‐generation sequencing may be beneficial in examining the potential role of rare variants in OCD. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Preparation and properties of modified bismaleimide resins based on phthalide‐containing monomer
Authors: Xiong Xuhai , Ren Rong , Chen Ping , Yu Qi , Wang Jing , Jia Caixia 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTA series of bismaleimide resins based on phthalide‐containing monomer have been prepared by the copolymerization reaction of 3,3‐bis[4‐(4‐maleimidophenoxy)phenyl] ‐phthalide (PPBMI), 4, 4'‐dimaleimido diphenylmethane (MBMI) and 2, 2'‐diallyl bisphenol A (DABPA) in different feed ratios. The curing behavior, thermal, mechanical and physical properties and compatibility of all resultant resins were carefully characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), notched Izod impact test, water absorption test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). DSC investigations showed that with an increase of the weight ratio of PPBMI, the dominating exothermic polymerization temperature (Tp) increased. The glass transitions were observed from DMA thermograms for the cured BMI resins in the temperature range from 277°C to 311°C and decreased with increasing PPBMI content. The TGA results indicated the thermal stability was improved as PPBMI content increased. The investigations of the mechanical properties showed a complicated trend with an increase in PPBMI content. In addition, the equilibrium water uptake of the modified resins was reduced as PPBMI content increased. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1084‐1091, 2013