bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health-related quality of life and physical recovery after a critical illness: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of a home-based physical rehabilitation program
Authors: Elliott Doug , McKinley Sharon , Alison Jennifer , Aitken Leanne M , King Madeleine , Leslie Gavin D , Kenny Patricia , Taylor Penny , Foley Rachel , Burmeister Elizabeth 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Introduction
Significant physical sequelae exist for some survivors of a critical illness. There are, however, few studies that have examined specific interventions to improve their recovery, and none have tested a home-based physical rehabilitation program incorporating trainer visits to participants' homes. This study was designed to test the effect of an individualised eight-week home-based physical rehabilitation program on recovery.

Methods
A multi-centre randomised controlled trial design was used. Adult intensive care patients (length of stay of at least 48 hours and mechanically ventilated for 24 hours or more) were recruited from 12 Australian hospitals between 2005 and 2008. Graded, individualised endurance and strength training intervention was prescribed over eight weeks, with three physical trainer home visits, four follow-up phone calls, and supported by a printed exercise manual. The main outcome measures were blinded assessments of physical function; SF-36 physical function (PF) scale and six-minute walk test (6MWT), and health-related quality of life (SF-36) conducted at 1, 8 and 26 weeks after hospital discharge.

Results
Of the 195 participants randomised, 183, 173 and 161 completed the 1, 8 and 26 weeks assessments, respectively. Study groups were similar at Week 1 post-hospital; for the intervention and control groups respectively, mean norm-based PF scores were 27 and 29 and the 6MWT distance was 291 and 324 metres. Both groups experienced significant and clinically important improvements in PF scores and 6MWT distance at 8 weeks, which persisted at 26 weeks. Mixed model analysis showed no significant group effects (P = 0.84) or group by time interactions (P = 0.68) for PF. Similar results were found for 6MWT and the SF-36 summary scores.

Conclusions
This individualised eight-week home-based physical rehabilitation program did not increase the underlying rate of recovery in this sample, with both groups of critically ill survivors improving their physical function over the 26 weeks of follow-up. Further research should explore improving effectiveness of the intervention by increasing exercise intensity and frequency, and identifying individuals who would benefit most from this intervention.

Trial registration
Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12605000166673
Critical care services and the H1N1 (2009) influenza epidemic in Australia and New Zealand in 2010: the impact of the second winter epidemic
Authors:   The ANZIC Influenza Investigators
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Introduction
During the first winter of exposure, the H1N1 2009 influenza virus placed considerable strain on intensive care unit (ICU) services in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). We assessed the impact of the H1N1 2009 influenza virus on ICU services during the second (2010) winter, following the implementation of vaccination.

Methods
A prospective, cohort study was conducted in all ANZ ICUs during the southern hemisphere winter of 2010. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics, including vaccination status and outcomes, were collected. The characteristics of patients admitted during the 2010 and 2009 seasons were compared.

Results
From 1 June to 15 October 2010, there were 315 patients with confirmed influenza A, of whom 283 patients (90%) had H1N1 2009 (10.6 cases per million inhabitants; 95% confidence interval (CI), 9.4 to 11.9) which was an observed incidence of 33% of that in 2009 (P < 0.001). The maximum daily ICU occupancy was 2.4 beds (95% CI, 1.8 to 3) per million inhabitants in 2010 compared with 7.5 (95% CI, 6.5 to 8.6) in 2009, (P < 0.001). The onset of the epidemic in 2010 was delayed by five weeks compared with 2009. The clinical characteristics were similar in 2010 and 2009 with no difference in the age distribution, proportion of patients treated with mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU admission, or hospital mortality. Unlike 2009 the incidence of critical illness was significantly greater in New Zealand (18.8 cases per million inhabitants compared with 9 in Australia, P < 0.001). Of 170 patients with known vaccination status, 26 (15.3%) had been vaccinated against H1N1 2009.

Conclusions
During the 2010 ANZ winter, the impact of H1N1 2009 on ICU services was still appreciable in Australia and substantial in New Zealand. Vaccination failure occurred.
Acute kidney injury is an independent risk factor for pediatric intensive care unit mortality, longer length of stay and prolonged mechanical ventilation in critically ill children: a two-center retrospective cohort study
Authors: Alkandari Omar , Eddington K Allen , Hyder Ayaz , Gauvin France , Ducruet Thierry , Gottesman Ronald , Phan Véronique , Zappitelli Michael 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Introduction
In adults, small (< 50%) serum creatinine (SCr) increases predict mortality. It is unclear whether different baseline serum creatinine (bSCr) estimation methods affect findings of acute kidney injury (AKI)-outcome associations. We characterized pediatric AKI, evaluated the effect of bSCr estimation approaches on AKI-outcome associations and evaluated the use of small SCr increases to predict AKI development.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort database study of children (excluding postoperative cardiac or renal transplant patients) admitted to two pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) for at least one night in Montreal, QC, Canada. The AKI definition was based on the Acute Kidney Injury Network staging system, excluding the requirement of SCr increase within 48 hours, which was impossible to evaluate on the basis of our data set. We estimated bSCr two ways: (1) the lowest SCr level in the three months before admission or the average age- and gender-based norms (the standard method) or (2) by using average norms in all patients. Outcomes were PICU mortality and length of stay as well as required mechanical ventilation. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate AKI risk factors and the association between AKI and mortality. We used multiple linear regression analysis to evaluate the effect of AKI on other outcomes. We calculated diagnostic characteristics for early SCr increase (< 50%) to predict AKI development.

Results
Of 2,106 admissions (mean age ± SD = 5.0 ± 5.5 years; 47% female), 377 patients (17.9%) developed AKI (using the standard bSCr method) during PICU admission. Higher Pediatric Risk of Mortality score, required mechanical ventilation, documented infection and having a bSCr measurement were independent predictors of AKI development. AKI was associated with increased mortality (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.7, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 2.1 to 6.4, using the standard bSCr method; OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 2.6 to 7.9, using normative bSCr values in all patients). AKI was independently associated with longer PICU stay and required mechanical ventilation. In children with no admission AKI, the initial percentage SCr increase predicted AKI development (area under the curve = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.74).

Conclusions
AKI is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in critically ill children, regardless of the bSCr used. Paying attention to small early SCr increases may contribute to early AKI diagnosis in conjunction with other new AKI biomarkers.
Potential Costs and Benefits of Statewide Smoking Cessation in Pennsylvania
Authors: Rumberger Jill S. , Hollenbeak Christopher S. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractObjectives:To determine whether the cost of a statewide smoking cessation program in Pennsylvania could be justified by the benefits.Methods:A cost-benefit analysis of statewide access to smoking cessation programs. We compared three treatment alternatives, both with and without counselling: nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion and varenicline.Results:While the retail price of a pack of cigarettes in Pennsylvania is on average US$4.72, the combined medical costs and productivity losses in Pennsylvania attributable to each pack of cigarettes sold are approximately US$23.78 per pack of cigarettes. The ratio of benefits to cost varied from US$0.97 to US$2.76 saved per dollar spent on smoking cessation programs, depending upon the type of intervention.Conclusions:For most smoking cessation treatments, the benefits of a statewide smoking cessation program in Pennsylvania would greatly outweigh its costs.
Morpholino knockdown of the ubiquitously expressed transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS4a in zebrafish embryos exhibits severe defects in organogenesis and cell adhesion
Authors: Ohler Anke , Becker-Pauly Christoph 
Published: June 2011

AbstractOver the past years the members of the type II transmembrane serine protease (TTSP) family have emerged as new players in mammalian biology. TMPRSS4 (transmembraneprotease/serine) is overexpressed in several human cancer tissues, promoting invasion, migration, and metastasis. However, the physiological function has not yet been elucidated. Here, we present morpholino knockdown studies targeting TMPRSS4a, a homolog of human TMPRSS4 in zebrafish embryos. By RT-PCR, we could demonstrate an expression of this protease already 5 h post-fertilization, suggesting important functions in the early stages of embryonic development. Indeed,in vivogene silencing caused severe defects in tissue development and cell differentiation including a disturbed skeletal muscle formation, a decelerated heartbeat, and a degenerated vascular system. Scanning electron microscopy revealed strong defects in epidermal skin organization, with clearly altered cell-cell contacts, resulting in the detachment of keratinocytes from the underneath tissue. The disturbed organogenesis in general is consistent with RT-PCR results which exhibited a ubiquitous expression of TMPRSS4a, predominantly in kidney, skin, heart, and gills. Our results demonstrate the importance of TMPRSS4a in tissue development and cell differentiation. Whether its proteolytic activity is directed towards adhesion molecules or leads to the activation of other proteases needs to be investigated further.
Effect of water environment on jute/polypropylene composites
Authors: Morii Tohru , Tomioka Seiji , Hamada Hiroyuki 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of water immersion on tensile properties of jute fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites. The long fiber type jute/PP pellet and neat PP pellet were used as materials and the jute/PP specimens with different fiber content were prepared by injection molding with dry-blending of jute/PP and neat PP pellets. All the specimens were aged in hot distilled water at 80°C, and after the fixed periods of immersion, the weight changes and the tensile properties were measured. The weight gain by water absorption was significantly affected by the fiber content. The specimens with the jute fiber content of 30 wt% more easily absorbed water and it reached more than 10%. In these specimens, significant material loss by immersion also occurred. The tensile strength after immersion decreased remarkably in the specimens with the jute fiber content of 30 wt% and more, and all the jute/PP composites showed lower strength than neat PP after immersion of 1000 h.
Characterization of polypropylene composites reinforced with flax fibers treated by mechanical and alkali methods
Authors: Hu Wei , Ton-That Minh-Tan , Denault Johanne , Belanger Christian 
Published: June 2011

AbstractFlax is a type of natural fiber widely used as reinforcing materials for polymer composites. The commercially available flax fibers in Canada consist of a significant amount of shive and other impurities, which could act as stress concentration regions to negatively affect the mechanical property of composites. In this study, the shive was manually removed from the commercial flax fibers by screening and combing to obtain different shive contents from 0 to 30 wt%. By contrast, the obtained flax fibers were further treated with alkaline solution. The fibers obtained from mechanical and alkali treatment were compared on their thermal and mechanical properties. As expected, it was found that the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the flax reinforced polypropylene composites increased significantly with the removal of the shive content. However, the alkali treatment on flax fiber did not further improve the composites properties. The possible reason was that the proper mechanical treatment (screening and combing) prior to alkaline treatment effectively loosened the fiber bundles for better single fiber separation in matrix and significantly removed the impurities, thus the effect of alkaline treatment did not become obvious.
Towards a sustainable concrete: “sandless” concrete
Authors: Tan Kiang Hwee , Du Hongjian 
Published: June 2011

AbstractAs a step towards ensuring the sustainability of concrete as a construction material, an investigation was carried out on the mechanical and durability properties of concrete made without natural sand, termed “sandless” concrete, and with cement partially replaced by fly ash. Four groups of concrete mixes, with water-cement (w/c) ratios of 0.40, 0.45, 0.50 and 0.55, respectively, were studied. For each w/c ratio, there were six mixes with 0, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% of cement content replaced by fly ash by mass, and one normal concrete mix containing natural sand. The difference in mechanical properties between normal and “sandless” concrete was not significant. “Sandless” concrete mixes with cement replaced by fly ash by <30% showed comparable compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strengths as those without fly ash. However, the elastic modulus was reduced with the incorporation of fly ash. In addition, use of fly ash led to reduced drying shrinkage of “sandless” concrete, and significantly improved the resistance to chloride ion penetration. The resistance to sulfate attack, on the other hand, seemed to decrease with higher fly ash content. From the study, it appears that “sandless” concrete with cement replaced by fly ash up to 30% could be considered for structural applications.
Exploring the Linkages between Geotechnical Properties and Electrical Responses of Sand-Clay Mixtures under Varying Effective Stress Levels
Authors: Boadu Fred K. , Owusu-Nimo Frederick 
Published: June 2011

The strength and stability conditions of unconsolidated geo-materials, for example soils, are influenced by modifications of their micro-structure, texture, mineralogy and effective stress levels. These modifications in the internal structures of the soils often result in geohazards (e.g., landslides, liquefaction, debris flow), which often claim so many lives, destroy the environment, and cause considerable amounts of property damage. Characterization and monitoring of such geohazards demand knowledge about the geotechnical (physical and mechanical) properties of unconsolidated near-surface geo-materials of interest. The fundamental relations between geo-electrical parameters and the geotechnical properties that influence the mechanical behavior of soils are investigated by performing controlled laboratory experiments on sand-clay mixtures under stress. Spectral electrical response (SER) measurements are performed on these mixtures over a range of frequencies [Formula: see text] with concurrent measurements of their geotechnical properties. Electrical parameters, such as phase, resistivity amplitude, capacitance, and loss tangent, are extracted from the SER measurements, and geotechnical properties of the mixtures, which include void ratio, dry density, and the modulus of elasticity, are obtained from laboratory measurements. Cross-plots of geotechnical properties and geo-electrical parameters indicate significant correlations. The phase and capacitance values decrease with an increase in the dry density, whilst the loss tangent and the resistivity values increase with increase in dry density. The phase and capacitance values, however, decrease with an increase in the values of the modulus of elasticity, whereas the loss tangent and the resistivity values increase with increase in elastic modulus. These relations can be useful in non-invasive prediction of the physical, mechanical, and geotechnical properties of unconsolidated geo-materials relevant in the assessment, monitoring, and mitigation of geohazards.
Spectral Induced Polarization Detects Cracks and Distinguishes between Open- and Clay-filled Fractures
Authors: Schmutz Myriam , Ghorbani Ahmad , Vaudelet Pierre , Revil Andre 
Published: June 2011

Spectral induced polarisation (SIP) is applied to the detection and localization of fractures located in the roof of an abandoned quarry at Saint-Germain-la-Rivière (Gironde, southwest France). Two types of fracture are observed in the roof of the galleries: open (mostly clay-free) and clay-filled. The phase between current and voltage is used to detect the presence of these fractures and can differentiate those with or without clays. The amplitude and phase of complex conductivity can be analysed using a Cole-Cole model of relaxation times. Open fractures are characterized by very low chargeability and a high relaxation time in the order of [Formula: see text]. Clay-filled fractures are characterized by high chargeability and a low relaxation time.
Application of Sensitivity Analysis to the Correction of Static Characteristics of a Phase Angle Modulator
Authors: Sroka Ryszard 
Published: June 2011

Application of Sensitivity Analysis to the Correction of Static Characteristics of a Phase Angle ModulatorThe paper presents definitions and relative measures of the system sensitivity and sensitivity of its errors. The model of a real system and model of an ideal measuring system were introduced. It allows to determine the errors of the system. The paper presents also how to use the error sensitivity analysis carried out on the models of the measuring system to the correction of the nonlinearity error of its static characteristic. The corrective function is determined as a relation between the input variable of the tested system and its chosen parameter. The use of the proposed method has been presented on the example of a phase angle modulator. The obtained results have been compared with the results of analytic calculations. The idea of a phase angle modulator is also presented.
A Velocity Measurement Method Based on Scaling Parameter Estimation of a Chaotic System
Authors: Liu Lidong , Hu Jifeng , He Zishu , Han Chunlin , Li Huiyong , Li Jun 
Published: June 2011

A Velocity Measurement Method Based on Scaling Parameter Estimation of a Chaotic SystemIn this paper, we propose a new method of measuring the target velocity by estimating the scaling parameter of a chaos-generating system. First, we derive the relation between the target velocity and the scaling parameter of the chaos-generating system. Then a new method for scaling parameter estimation of the chaotic system is proposed by exploiting the chaotic synchronization property. Finally, numerical simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed method in target velocity measurement.
Conceptualising Food as Death: A Radical Environmentalist Politics of Food
Authors: Van Kemenade Julie 
Published: June 2011

Research into the politics of food cannot assume universal acceptance of what is meant by the term ‘food’ which has multiple meanings and significantly different associations. A semiotic approach demonstrates the meaning and value of this point. Food has variously been conceptualised as process and as commodity, nature or culture. None of these tropes are value neutral, but are associated with opposing priorities and conflicts of interest. Drawing from ecocentric and anthropocentric environmental philosophies, an alternative trope, that of food-as-death, can be developed, which challenges other, more dominant, tropes. Semiotics denies the notion that language ‘mirrors’ reality. Rather, language creates reality. Semiotics, then, can be useful in developing alternative realities. To conceptualise food as death is more than using death as a metaphor. Where food is prioritised as commodity, commercial/industrial food practices promote death: death of the body through malnutrition or over-consumption; death of communities through the power of transnationals and commercial interests; death of the natural world through the prioritisation of these human food provision systems. Food-as-death is a trope which privileges the destructive aspect of food over others such as pleasure, identity and nurturing. Power is invested in those whose trope gains the greatest acceptance. The challenge for environmentalism is to demonstrate the validity of food-as-death. The essential task therefore, is to demonstrate that food for humans can be organised in a way which affirms the well being of humans, communities and nature. This trope will be food-as-life.
Electric Utility Demand Side Management in Canada
Authors: Rivers Nic , Jaccard Mark 
Published: June 2011

Government, utility, and private subsidies for energy efficiency play a prominent role in current efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, yet the effectiveness of this policy approach is in dispute. One opportunity for empirical analysis is provided by the past energy efficiency subsidies, called demand-side management programs, offered by electric utilities in North America over several decades. Between 1990 and 2005, most electric utilities in Canada administered such programs, with total spending of $2.9 billion (CDN$2005). This paper uses the significant inter-annual variation in demand side management spending during this period to econometrically estimate the effectiveness of these subsidies. The resulting estimates indicate that these programs have not had a substantial impact on overall electricity consumption in Canada. doi: 10.5547/ISSN0195-6574-EJ-Vol32-No4-5