bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of care from patients’ perspective: impact of the combination of person‐related and external objective care conditions
Authors: Grøndahl Vigdis Abrahamsen , Karlsson Ingela , Hall‐Lord Marie Louise , Appelgren Jari , Wilde‐Larsson Bodil 
Published: July 2011

Aims and objectives.  To describe patients’ perceptions of quality of care and to explore combinations of person‐related and external objective care conditions as potential predictors of these perceptions.Background.  Several studies have examined various single factors of person‐related and external objective care conditions in relation to quality of care. None of these has included the effect of over‐occupancy on patients’ perception of quality of care. Furthermore, little is known about how combinations of different factors are related to each other and to the perception of quality of care using multivariate analysis.Design.  A cross‐sectional design.Method.  A total of 528 patients (83·7%) from 12 medical, surgical or medical‐surgical wards in five hospitals in Norway participated. Perceptions of quality of care and person‐related conditions were measured with the ‘Quality from Patient’s Perspective’ instrument. Data on external objective care conditions was collected from ward statistics provided by head nurses. Multivariate general linear modelling was used (p < 0·05).Results.  The combination of person‐related and external objective care conditions revealed five factors that predict patients’ perception of quality of care. Three of these are person‐related conditions: sex, age and self‐reported psychological well‐being and two of them are external objective care conditions: RNs (headcount) on the wards and frequency of over‐occupancy. These five factors explained 55% of the model. Patients rated the quality of care high.Conclusions.  Sex, age, psychological well‐being, frequency of over‐occupancy and the number of RNs are important factors that must be emphasised if patients are to perceive the quality of care as high.Relevance to clinical practice.  Head nurses and healthcare authorities must continually prepare the wards for over‐occupancy and they must consider the number of RNs working on the wards.
Orbitally forced sedimentary rhythms in the stratigraphic record: is there room for tidal forcing?
Authors: DE BOER POPPE L. , ALEXANDRE JOÃO TRABUCHO 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe imprint of orbital cycles, which result from the varying eccentricity of the Earth’s orbit and changes in the orientation of its axis, have been recognised throughout the Phanerozoic rock record. Variations in insolation and their effect on climate are generally considered to be the sole transfer mechanism between the orbital variables and cyclic sedimentary successions. Common oceanographic principles, however, show that the ocean tide also responds to variations in the orbital parameters. The ocean tide has not yet been considered to be a valid, additional transfer mechanism for the orbital variations. In geological studies of Milankovitch cycles in sedimentary successions the insolation paradigm offers satisfying explanations, and the role of long‐term variations of the ocean tide has not yet been appreciated. Variations in the ocean tide, related to changing eccentricity (at present 0·0165, theoretical maximum 0·0728), affect a variety of oceanographic and sedimentary processes. In addition to the widely accepted paradigm of orbitally forced insolation changes, the tidal transfer of orbital signals may explain certain less well‐understood aspects of orbitally induced cycles in the stratigraphic record related to ocean mixing, organic productivity, and tidal processes in shallow seas and deep water. Variations of the ocean tide in relation to the 18·6 year lunar nodal cycle, which has no insolation counterpart by which they may be obscured, indeed show that these relatively small variations can produce significant effects in sedimentary environments that are sensitive to variations in the strength of the ocean tide. In analogy with the 18·6 year lunar nodal cycle, orbital variations of the tide on Milankovitch time scales are likely to have affected sedimentary systems in the past.
Acute inhibitory effects of clenbuterol on force, Ca2+ transients and action potentials in rat soleus may not involve the β2‐adrenoceptor pathway
Authors: Head Stewart I , Ha Tuyen NV 
Published: July 2011

Summary1. Clenbuterol, a β2‐adrenoceptor agonist, can have inhibitory and myotoxic effects on slow‐twitch muscles. Clenbuterol is lipophilic and may enter into the intracellular compartment, and because of this, it is likely that clenbuterol will have different effects to classical β2‐adrenoceptor agonists such as terbutaline. The aim of the present study is to investigate clenbuterol’s effect on force, intracellular [Ca2+] and electrophysiology, and the role of the β2‐adrenoceptor pathway in these effects.2. Simultaneous measurements of isometric force and [Ca2+]i were made from small bundles of rat soleus muscle fibres in which several superficial fibres had been pressure‐injected with the fluorescence Ca2+ indicator Indo‐1. The muscle’s electrophysiological response was measured using glass intracellular microelectrodes.3. The most robust effect of clenbuterol was a concentration‐ (10–50 μmol/L) and frequency‐dependent (10–80 Hz) loss of force and [Ca2+]i maintenance during tetanic stimulation of muscle fibres. None of these effects were reduced in the presence of the β2‐antagonist ICI 118551.4. In addition clenbuterol had a significant effect on muscle electrophysiology, with action potentials measured during tetanic trains being inhibited in a concentration‐ and frequency‐dependent manner. This response was also unchanged by pre‐treatment with the β2‐antagonist ICI 118551.5. These results indicate that some of clenbuterol’s effects are mediated through a pathway other than the β2‐adrenoceptors.
Nursing and competencies — a natural fit: the politics of skill /competency formation in nursing
Authors: Windsor Carol , Douglas Clint , Harvey Theresa 
Published: July 2011

WINDSOR C, DOUGLAS C and HARVEY T. Nursing Inquiry 2012; 19: 213–222  Nursing and competencies — a natural fit: the politics of skill/competency formation in nursingThe last two decades have seen a significant restructuring of work across Australia and other industrialised economies, a critical part of which has been the appearance of competency based education and assessment. The competency movement is about creating a more flexible and mobile labour force to increase productivity and it does so by redefining work as a set of transferable or ‘soft’ generic skills that is transportable and is the possession of the individual. This article sought to develop an analysis of competency based clinical assessment of nursing students across a bachelor of nursing degree course. This involved an examination of a total of 406 clinical assessment tools that covered the years 1992–2009 and the three years of a bachelor degree. Data analysis generated three analytical findings: the existence of a hierarchy of competencies that prioritises soft skills over intellectual and technical skills; the appearance of skills as personal qualities or individual attributes; and the absence of context in assessment. The article argues that the convergence in nursing of soft skills and the professionalisation project reform has seen the former give legitimacy to the enduring invisibility and devaluation of nursing work.
Language assessment of non‐handicapped twins at 5 years of age
Authors: Gucuyener Kivilcim , Arhan Ebru , Soysal A. Sebnem , Ergenekon Ebru , Turan Ozden , Onal Esra , Koç Esin , Turkyılmaz Canan , Atalay Yıldız 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground:  The aim of the present study was to determine language levels in twins and singletons born after at least 34 weeks gestation and without identifiable neurological abnormality and to evaluate whether in vitro fertilization (IVF) affects language development in twin pregnancies.Methods:  A prospective study of a large cohort of all children born between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2003 was carried out at Gazi University Hospital. All live‐born twin pairs in which both twins survived were identified, and a comparable sample of families with pairs of singletons were chosen. The Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scale Form and the translated Turkish form of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test were completed at 60 months.Results:  Even after excluding the most premature twins and those with diagnosable neurological damage, twins performed worse than singletons on language development tests. Twin girls had better scores than twin boys. A statistically significant difference was found between the scores of term and preterm twins. No significant difference was noted when compared according to birth order. Appropriate for gestational age (AGA) twins did better than small for gestational age (SGA) twins in the test scores. All twin girls did not differ from singleton girls, but all twin boys performed worse than singleton boys. Term twins had similar results with term singletons, but preterm twins had lower scores than preterm singletons. SGA singletons had better scores than SGA twins, while AGA twins and singletons did not differ. When the children were compared with regard to method of conception, IVF children had significantly lower scores on the tests than those in the spontaneous conception group.Conclusion:  It is hoped that the present findings could lead to a more precise assessment of children for speech impairment and, above all, to more efficient preventive intervention. Whatever mechanisms are involved, the present results indicate that twins born as a result of IVF, are at a disadvantage in terms of language development in comparison with spontaneously conceived twins.
Impaired endothelial function and elevated levels of pentraxin 3 in early‐onset preeclampsia
Authors: HAMAD RANGEEN RAFIK , ERIKSSON MARIA J. , BERG ELISABETH , LARSSON ANDERS , BREMME KATARINA 
Published: July 2011

AbstractObjective. To study endothelial function in relation to anti‐angiogenic biomarkers and the inflammatory process in preeclampsia. Design. Observational study. Setting. Data were obtained from pregnant women who were admitted to the obstetrical ward at the Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden. Population. Thirty‐five women with newly developed and untreated preeclampsia and 30 healthy controls. Methods. Flow‐mediated dilation of the brachial artery, levels of anti‐angiogenic and inflammatory markers were measured in plasma during pregnancy and 3–6 months after delivery. Main outcome measures. Flow‐mediated dilation of the brachial artery, anti‐angiogenic and inflammatory markers. Results. Flow‐mediated dilation was decreased in the preeclamptic group at inclusion and at follow‐up (p<0.05). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and ratio of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) were elevated in women with preeclampsia during pregnancy (p<0.001). Furthermore flow‐mediated dilation was lower and the ratio sFlt‐1/PlGF and PTX3 were higher in early‐onset preeclampsia than late preeclampsia (p=0.018, 0.002 and 0.039). Levels of PTX3 at inclusion correlated inversely with flow‐mediated dilation at follow‐up both in the preeclampsia and control groups (Spearman, rs=–0.47, p=0.02 and rs=–0.46, p=0.02 respectively). Conclusion. Impaired endothelial function and increased ratio sFlt/PlGF, elevated PTX3 is present in women with preeclampsia and is especially pronounced in women with early‐onset preeclampsia.
Effect of Administration of Moxifloxacin plus Rifampin against Mycobacterium tuberculosis for 7 of 7 Days versus 5 of 7 Days in an
In Vitro
Pharmacodynamic System
Authors: Drusano G. L. , Sgambati N. , Eichas A. , Brown D. , Kulawy R. , Louie A. 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACT

Some trials administered antituberculosis agents for 5 of 7 days (5/7-day regimen) to optimize adherence. Since moxifloxacin has a longer half-life than rifampin, rifampin concentrations are <1% of the maximum concentration in serum (
C
max
) on day 6 and nondetectable on day 7, while concentrations of moxifloxacin remain and are able to induce error-prone replication. We determined if functional moxifloxacin monotherapy for 24 h/week caused resistance. In
in vitro
pharmacodynamic experiments,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
was treated with mean area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) exposures for moxifloxacin and rifampin of 400 and 600 mg/kg/day and exposures equal to 1 standard deviation (SD) above and below the mean values. The drugs were administered on schedules of 7/7 days and 5/7 days. Over the 28-day experiments, bacteria were plated onto antibiotic-free agar to determine the effects of exposure and schedule on the total population. MICs were checked for emergence of resistance. At days 7 and 14, there was a 0.56- to 1.22-log
10
-CFU/ml greater cell kill with the 7/7-day regimen versus the 5/7-day regimen (low exposure). This difference was not seen for the larger exposures at day 21. At day 23, the low-exposure 5/7-day arm had breakthrough resistance, with the total count increasing to >2 log
10
CFU/ml above the low-exposure 7/7-day arm. Pharmacokinetic mismatching of drugs in the therapy of tuberculosis may result in emergence of resistance when a drug holiday is imposed during which there is functional monotherapy and where the remaining agent induces error-prone replication. This is particularly true for the portion of the population where the clearance is higher (1 SD above the mean).

IMPORTANCE
Directly observed therapy is a cornerstone of treatment of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. Patients are often given a drug holiday to facilitate the direct observation of therapy. With rifampin and moxifloxacin, there is a discordance between the half-lives of these agents (1.9 versus 6.5 h when employed in combination). In addition, moxifloxacin induces error-prone replication in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. In this experiment, we demonstrate that the drug holiday (5 of 7 days of therapy [5/7-day regimen]) allows the emergence of resistance to moxifloxacin, which was not seen with 7/7-day therapy. If drug holidays are used, it is imperative to better match pharmacokinetics to minimize the risk of emergence of resistance.
Phase I Trial of Cixutumumab Combined with Temsirolimus in Patients with Advanced Cancer
Authors: Naing Aung , Kurzrock Razelle , Burger Angelika , Gupta Sachin , Lei Xiudong , Busaidy Naifa , Hong David , Chen Helen X. , Doyle Lawrence A. , Heilbrun Lance K. , Rohren Eric , Ng Chaan , Chandhasin Chandtip , LoRusso Patricia 
Published: July 2011

Abstract
Purpose: Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors mediate AKT activation through a type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R)–dependent mechanism. Combining the mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus with cixutumumab, a fully human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody directed against IGF-1R, was expected to enhance mTOR-targeted anticancer activity by modulating resistance to mTOR inhibition. The objectives of this phase I study were to evaluate the tolerability and activity of temsirolimus and cixutumumab.
Experimental Design: Patients in sequential cohorts (“3 + 3” design) received escalating doses of temsirolimus with cixutumumab weekly for 28 days. At the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), 21 patients were randomized into three separate drug sequence treatment groups for serial blood draws and 2[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography combined with X-ray computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scans for pharmacodynamic analyses (PD).
Results: Forty-two patients with advanced cancer (19 male/23 female, median age = 53, median number of prior therapies = 4) were enrolled. MTD was reached at cixutumumab, 6 mg/kg IV and temsirolimus, 25 mg IV. Dose-limiting toxicities included grade 3 mucositis, febrile neutropenia, and grade 4 thrombocytopenia. The most frequent toxicities were hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, thrombocytopenia, and mucositis. Tumor reduction was observed in 2 of 3 patients with Ewing's sarcoma and in 4 of 10 patients with adrenocortical carcinoma. PD data suggest that cixutumumab alone or combined with temsirolimus increased plasma IGF-1 and IGF binding protein 3. FDG-PET/CT showed the odds of achieving stable disease decreased by 58% (P = 0.1213) with a one-unit increase in absolute change of standard uptake value from baseline to day 3.
Conclusions: Temsirolimus combined with cixutumumab was well tolerated. We are currently enrolling expansion cohorts at the MTD for Ewing's sarcoma and adrenocortical carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res; 17(18); 6052–60. ©2011 AACR.
Comparison between decoherence time for a two-state spin ½ system with its corresponding quantum retrieval period
Authors: Shafiee Afshin , Tirandaz Arash 
Published: July 2011

Abstract
The evolution of a two-state quantum system (a spin ½ particle) in both the framework of standard quantum mechanics and under the decoherence regime is considered. The former approach on this issue is the well-known quantum flipping process of a dichotomic system subjected to a time-dependent magnetic field. In the latter approach, the Spin-Boson model is utilized to describe the interaction of system with its environment and the Born-Markov master equation is derived to obtain the decoherence time. It is possible to show that under certain conditions, one may find a potential conflict between the predictions of decoherence theory and the result observed in a typical quantum flipping experiment.
Gene expression profile in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to a 300 mT static magnetic field
Authors: Polidori Emanuela , Zeppa Sabrina , Potenza Lucia , Martinelli Chiara , Colombo Evelin , Casadei Lucia , Agostini Deborah , Sestili Piero , Stocchi Vilberto 
Published: July 2011

AbstractIn a previous investigation we reported that exposure to a moderate (300 mT) static magnetic field (SMF) causes transient DNA damage and promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). To better understand the response of HUVECs to the 300 mT SMF, a high‐quality subtracted cDNA library representative of genes induced in cells after 4 h of static magnetic exposure was constructed. The global gene expression profile showed that several genes were induced after the SMF exposure. The characterized clones are involved in cell metabolism, energy, cell growth/division, transcription, protein synthesis, destination and storage, membrane injury, DNA damage/repair, and oxidative stress response. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) experiments were performed at 4 and 24 h on four selected genes. Their expression profiles suggest that HUVEC's response to SMF exposure is transient. Furthermore, compared to control cells, an up‐regulation of several genes involved in cell growth and division was observed. This up‐regulation is likely to be the cause of the slight, but significant, increase in cell proliferation at 12 h post‐treatment. These results provide additional support to the notion that SMFs may be harmless to human health, and could support the rationale for their possible use in medical treatments. Bioelectromagnetics 33:65–74, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Measurement setup and protocol for characterizing and testing radio frequency personal exposure meters
Authors: Lauer Oliver , Neubauer Georg , Röösli Martin , Riederer Markus , Frei Patrizia , Mohler Evelyn , Fröhlich Jürg 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBody‐worn radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF‐EMF) personal exposure meters (PEMs) have been increasingly used for exposure assessment in epidemiological research. However, little research on the measurement accuracy of these devices is available. In this article a novel measurement setup and a measurement protocol are presented for characterizing and testing PEMs. The whole setup and procedure is tested using two EME SPY 120 devices. The performance of the PEM was analyzed for absolute measurements in an anechoic chamber. Modulated signals representing the different services as real signals generated by appropriate testers were used. Measurement results were evaluated with respect to a root mean square detector. We found that measurement accuracy depends strongly on the carrier frequency and also on the number of occupied time slots for Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)‐based services. Thus, correction factors can only be derived if the distribution of the network configuration over the measurement time for all measurement points is available. As a result of the simplicity of the measurement setup and the straightforward measurement protocol, the possibility of fast validation leads to a higher accuracy in the characterization and testing of PEMs. Bioelectromagnetics 33:75–85, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lentivectors are efficient tools to manipulate the dendritic cell cytoskeleton
Authors: Metelo Joao , Ward Natalie , Thrasher Adrian J. , Burns Siobhan O. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractDendritic cells (DC) are key cells of the innate immune system required to prime adaptive immunity. Central DC functions including antigen uptake and presentation and DC migration are critically dependent on dynamic cytoskeletal reorganisation, the regulation of which remains poorly understood. Cytoskeletal studies are complicated by the fact that DC cytoarchitecture is altered considerably by maturation stimuli, including many tools employed for biological manipulation. Lentiviral vectors, capable of transducing non‐dividing cells such as DC, hold promise both for experimental and therapeutic manipulation of DC gene and protein expression but controversy remains about their effect on DC maturation. Here, we have examined the potential of lentiviral vectors as tools for gene delivery to monocyte derived human DC with preservation of immature DC cytoskeletal structure and function. We show that vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSVG)‐pseudotyped lentivectors are most efficient at transducing immature DC and their precursor monocytes. Even at high multiplicities of infection transduced DC retained an immature cytoskeletal phenotype, with no significant alteration of migration, antigen uptake or T‐cell stimulation capacities. Furthermore, lentivectors did not alter subsequent functional maturation of the DC cytoskeleton in response to lipopolysaccharide exposure. Together our data show that VSVG‐psudotyped lentiviral vectors are an effective tool for gene manipulation in human DC with preservation of functional immaturity and plasticity, making them ideal for studies of the DC cytoskeleton. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Impact of Bulimic Syndromes, Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Their Comorbidity on Psychosocial Impairment: What Drives Impairment in Comorbidity?
Authors: Bodell Lindsay P. , Brown Tiffany A. , Keel Pamela K. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo examine associations between psychosocial impairment and comorbid disorders in bulimic syndromes.MethodParticipants (N = 391; 91% women) completed structured clinical interviews to determine the presence of Axis I disorders (bulimic syndromes, anxiety disorders and mood disorders) and current psychosocial functioning.ResultsIndividuals with a current bulimic syndrome and comorbid anxiety disorder had worse psychosocial functioning than either disorder alone. In contrast, there was no additional effect of a current bulimic syndrome in individuals with a current mood disorder on psychosocial impairment.DiscussionFindings highlight the importance of addressing comorbid disorders in individuals with bulimic syndromes to improve overall functioning and reduce risk of relapse. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
NSAIDs for RA, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Chaplin Steve , Hawkins Tina , Emery Paul 
Published: July 2011

AbstractA concise guide to the properties of NSAIDs and their current recommended place in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Interface Ltd