bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of traditional Chinese medicine among pregnant women in Taiwan
Authors: Yeh Hsiao‐Yun , Chen Yu‐Chun , Chen Fang‐Pey , Chou Li‐Fang , Chen Tzeng‐Ji , Hwang Shinn‐Jang 
Published: August 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the patterns of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) use among pregnant women in the National Health Insurance program in Taiwan.MethodsWomen who gave birth in Taiwan in 2006 were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Claims for reimbursement following TCM ambulatory visits by these women were analyzed.ResultsIn total, 20.9% of women in the study who gave birth in 2006 used TCM during pregnancy, with older women more likely to utilize this form of care (23.9% of women > 35 years of age vs 16.2% of women < 20 years of age). There was an increase in the use of TCM for pregnancy‐related problems such as hypertension (194 women before pregnancy vs 2163 during) and nausea/vomiting (220 women before vs 1648 during). The predominant modality (88.4%) of TCM treatment during pregnancy was herbal preparation.ConclusionTraditional Chinese medicine, with the exception of acupuncture, is popular among pregnant women in Taiwan. In addition to its efficacy, the safety of TCM during pregnancy requires future investigation.
GIVING NEW SORGHUM VARIETY OPTIONS TO RESOURCE-POOR FARMERS IN NICARAGUA THROUGH PARTICIPATORY VARIETAL SELECTION
Authors: TROUCHE GILLES , VOM BROCKE KIRSTEN , AGUIRRE SILVIO , CHOW ZILDGHEAN 
Published: August 2009

SUMMARYIn the dry areas of Nicaragua, white-grain sorghum is an important subsistence crop for resource-poor farmers. From 2002 to 2007, participatory varietal selection (PVS) was implemented in three regions with the aim of identifying new varieties matching small farmers' needs. This paper describes the general approach, the partnership and the methods used to identify farmers' selection criteria (FSC), as well as the evaluation of new germplasm using the scoring method. Data analysis involved relating farmers' evaluation data to agronomic data and farmers' selection decisions (FSD), using Spearman correlations and the chi-square test. In the three regions, higher grain yield and good grain quality for making tortillas were identified as the two main FSCs for both the ‘tortillero’ and ‘millón’ sorghum types; the ranking of the other important FSC differed between the sites and the sorghum types. Our data shows that farmers' scores for earliness were highly correlated with breeder's observations while farmers' assessments of grain yield were correlated with measured yield in half the cases, depending on their knowledge of the crop. The study shows that in evaluating grain quality the farmers used several specific traits which were not considered by breeders. Overall appreciation, grain yield and grain quality were the key farmers' criteria that contributed to FSD. The PVS work enabled breeders to obtain a better understanding of farmers' criteria as well as identifying new progenitors, which should be useful for the sorghum breeding schemes in Central America in the future. Furthermore, by exploring wide genetic diversity, it was possible to release several farmer-preferred and high-performing varieties within a fairly short period.
Design and similarity evaluation on humanoid motion based on human motion capture
Authors: Huang Qiang , Yu Zhangguo , Zhang Weimin , Xu Wei , Chen Xuechao 
Published: August 2009

SUMMARYThis paper explores the design of humanoid complicated dynamic motion based on human motion capture. Captured human data must be adapted for the humanoid robot because its kinematics and dynamics mechanisms differ from those of the human actor. It is expected that humanoid movements are highly similar to those of the human actor. First, the kinematics constraints, including ground contact conditions, are formulated. Second, the similarity evaluation on the humanoid motion based on both the spatial and temporal factors compared with the human motion is proposed. Third, the method to obtain humanoid motion with high similarity is presented. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed by simulations and experiments of our developed humanoid robot “sword” motion performance.
A Jacobian-based algorithm for planning the motion of an underactuated rigid body undergoing forward and reverse rotations
Authors: Koh Sung K. 
Published: August 2009

SUMMARYA Jacobian-based algorithm that is useful for planning the motion of a floating rigid body operated using two input torques is addressed in this paper. The rigid body undergoes a four-rotation fully reversed (FR) sequence of rotations which consists of two initial rotations about the axes of a coordinate frame attached to the body and two subsequent rotations that undo the preceding rotations. Although a Jacobian-based algorithm has been useful in exploring the inverse kinematics of conventional robot manipulators, it is not apparent how a correct FR sequence for a desired orientation could be found because the Jacobian of FR sequences is singular as well as being a null matrix at the identity. To discover the FR sequences that can synthesize the desired orientation circumventing these difficulties, the Jacobian algorithm is reformulated and implemented from arbitrary orientations where the Jacobian is not singular. Due to the insufficient degrees-of-freedom of four-rotation FR sequences required to achieve all possible orientations, the rigid body cannot achieve certain orientations in the configuration space. To best approximate these infeasible orientations, the Jacobian-based algorithm is implemented in the sense of least squares. As some orientations can never be attained by a single four-rotation FR sequence, two different four-rotation FR sequences are exploited alternately to ensure the convergence of the proposed algorithm. Assuming the orientation is supposed to be manipulated using three input torques, the switching Jacobian algorithm proposed in this paper has significant practical importance in planning paths for aerospace and underwater vehicles which are maneuvered using only two input torques due to the failure of one of the torque-generation mechanisms.
Globally exponential continuous controller/observer for position tracking in robot manipulators with hysteretic joint friction
Authors: Malagari Srinivasulu , Driessen Brian J. 
Published: August 2009

SUMMARYIn this work, we present a continuous observer and continuous controller for a multiple degree of freedom robot manipulator with hysteretic joint friction. The fictitious hysteresis state is of course unknown to the controller and must be estimated. The joint velocities are assumed measured here. For this considered plant, we propose and present a continuous observer/controller that estimates or observes the hysteresis state and drives the position tracking error to zero. We prove that the combined tracking error and observer error converges to zero globally exponentially.
Phylogeny of the Ecnomidae (Insecta: Trichoptera)
Authors: Johanson Kjell A. , Espeland Marianne 
Published: August 2009

AbstractEcnomidae are a family of seven previously accepted extant genera having a typical Gondwanan distribution, except one genus (Ecnomus) being widely distributed also in the Oriental and Palearctic regions. We analysed a molecular data set of 3379 characters representing the sum of four different protein‐coding genes (COI, CAD, EF‐1a and POL‐II). Six equally most parsimonious trees were generated from the combined data set, distributed into two distinct islands. In all maximum parsimony (MP) trees the Ecnomidae is monophyletic when the genus Zelandoptila (Psychomyiidae) is included. The sister group to Ecnomidae including Zelandoptila is Pseudoneureclipsis, previously classified in the other families. This sister‐group relationship contradicts earlier findings that the Polycentropodidae are the sister group to Ecnomidae. A Bayesian analysis resulted in a monophyletic Ecnomidae when accepting inclusion of Pseudoneureclipsis, which contradicts the results from the MP analysis by leaving Zelandoptila as the sister group to Ecnomidae including Pseudoneureclipsis. In the majority rule tree from this analysis Polycentropodidae form the sister group to Ecnomidae. We were not able to obtain a monophyletic Ecnomus due to the inclusion of Psychomyillodes. We conclude that the genus Zelandoptila or Pseudoneureclipsis probably belongs to the Ecnomidae, and that Psychomyiellodes and Ecnomus are synonyms. Three additional, as yet undescribed monotypic genera from Australia and New Caledonia remain to be erected in Ecnomidae.© The Willi Hennig Society 2009.
Motivation and patch treatment for HIV+ smokers: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lloyd‐Richardson Elizabeth E. , Stanton Cassandra A. , Papandonatos George D. , Shadel William G. , Stein Michael , Tashima Karen , Flanigan Timothy , Morrow Kathleen , Neighbors Charles , Niaura Raymond 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTAims  To test the efficacy of two smoking cessation interventions in a HIV positive (HIV+) sample: standard care (SC) treatment plus nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) versus more intensive motivationally enhanced (ME) treatment plus NRT.Design  Randomized controlled trial.Setting  HIV+ smoker referrals from eight immunology clinics in the northeastern United States.Participants  A total of 444 participants enrolled in the study (mean age = 42.07 years; 63.28% male; 51.80% European American; mean cigarettes/day = 18.27).Interventions  SC participants received two brief sessions with a health educator. Those setting a quit date received self‐help quitting materials and NRT. ME participants received four sessions of motivational counseling and a quit‐day counseling call. All ME intervention materials were tailored to the needs of HIV+ individuals.Measurements  Biochemically verified 7‐day abstinence rates at 2‐month, 4‐month and 6‐month follow‐ups.Findings  Intent‐to‐treat (ITT) abstinence rates at 2‐month, 4‐month and 6‐month follow‐ups were 12%, 9% and 9%, respectively, in the ME condition, and 13%, 10% and 10%, respectively, in the SC condition, indicating no between‐group differences. Among 412 participants with treatment utilization data, 6‐month ITT abstinence rates were associated positively with low nicotine dependence (P = 0.02), high motivation to quit (P = 0.04) and Hispanic American race/ethnicity (P = 0.02). Adjusting for these variables, each additional NRT contact improved the odds of smoking abstinence by a third (odds ratio = 1.32, 95% confidence interval = 0.99–1.75).Conclusions  Motivationally enhanced treatment plus NRT did not improve cessation rates over and above standard care treatment plus NRT in this HIV+ sample of smokers. Providers offering brief support and encouraging use of nicotine replacement may be able to help HIV+ patients to quit smoking.
The frequency of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia in patients with pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours and non‐neuroendocrine cell carcinomas
Authors: Rizvi Selim M H , Goodwill Joseph , Lim Eric , Yap Yoong K , Wells Athol U , Hansell David M , Davis Peter , Abdel‐Ghani Syed , Goldstraw Peter , Nicholson Andrew G 
Published: August 2009

Aims:  To evaluate the frequency of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (NEH) in resected neuroendocrine tumours and non‐neuroendocrine cell carcinomas and to study its relationship to selected clinical parameters.Methods and results:  Random blocks without tumour from resected typical carcinoids (TCs, n = 46), atypical carcinoids (ACs, n = 14), large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs, n = 18), small cell carcinomas (SCLCs, n = 22), adenocarcinomas (ADENOs, n = 26) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs, n = 18) were stained for CD56 and evaluated for linear proliferations, cell aggregates (>4 CD56+ cells), and tumourlets (<5 mm with basement membrane invasion). There was a statistically significant difference between the frequency of NEH in all neuroendocrine tumours (TC/AC/LCNEC/SCLC, 35/100, 35%) (P = 0.009) when compared with non‐neuroendocrine carcinomas (ADENO/SCC, 6/44, 14%) and in the frequency of NEH in TC (21/46, 46%) versus all other tumours (AC/LCNEC/SCLC/SCC/ADENO, 20/98, 20%) (P = 0.001). There was increased frequency of NEH in peripheral TCs (8/13, 62%) compared with central TCs (14/33, 43%) (P = 0.33). There was no association between smoking history and NEH. Clinical and imaging data showed no evidence of an increased frequency of obliterative bronchiolitis in patients with NEH.Conclusions:  NEH is significantly increased in the background lung of neuroendocrine tumours when compared with non‐neuroendocrine carcinomas, supportive data for NEH having neoplastic potential.
Immunoexpression of Bcl‐x in squamous cell carcinoma and keratoacanthoma: differences in pattern and correlation with pathobiology
Authors: Tan Kong‐Bing , Lee Yoke Sun 
Published: August 2009

Aims:  Bcl‐x is an important anti‐apoptotic member of the Bcl‐2 family. The aim was to determine its immunoexpression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and keratoacanthoma (KA).Methods and results:  Sixteen SCCs and 39 KAs were investigated by Bcl‐x immunohistochemistry. Bcl‐x immunoreactivity was mostly diffuse in SCC (75% of cases), whereas that in KA was typically confined to the mid‐to‐upper spinous keratinocytes (95%) (P < 0.0001). There was a trend for SCC to have a higher likelihood of immunopositivity (weighted staining score ≥6 of 12) compared with KA (88% versus 59%, P = 0.058). Twenty‐nine per cent of regressing KA had immunopositivity, whereas 47% and 82% of its stable and proliferating counterparts, respectively, had equivalent positivity (P = 0.024).Conclusions:  These results provide some insight into the pathobiology of SCC and KA. The generally diffuse and stronger Bcl‐x immunoreactivity in SCC suggests that the protein contributes to the survival advantage and aggressiveness of the tumour. In KA, the preferential reactivity of the mid‐to‐upper neoplastic keratinocytes can plausibly be explained by such differentiated cells attempting to prolong their existence under rapidly evolving circumstances, whereas the reduced reactivity in regressing KA is consistent with the end stage of the tumour.
Staffs' knowledge and perceptions of working with women with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems
Authors: Taggart L. , McMillan R. , Lawson A. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAim  There is a growing evidence of the physical and mental health inequalities in people with intellectual disability (ID) although less has been written concerning the mental health of women with ID (International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities). This is compared with the substantive literature published within mainstream psychiatry on gender. The aim of this study was to explore a range of health and social care staffs' knowledge and perceptions of caring for women with ID who have mental health problems focusing upon risk and resilient/protective factors.Method  A qualitative methodology was used. Eight focus groups were conducted with hospital, community and residential staff across one region of the UK. The focus groups were audiotaped and the transcriptions were subjected to a thematic content analysis using Newell & Burnard's framework.Findings  Six inter‐related risk factors were identified by the participants as potential causes for the women with ID to develop a mental illness and these were: having an ID and being female, unmet expectations, dysfunctional family upbringing, unstable relationships/loss of children, domestic violence and negative life experiences. Few of the participants acknowledged hormonal issues as a risk factor. Resilient/protective factors included being proactive, greater community participation, early recognition and mental health maintenance.Conclusion  These results are discussed in light of current developments and policy within mainstream psychiatric gender approaches. Greater recognition of a proactive health approach for both staff and women with an ID is recommended.
Detection of bacterial contamination of apheresis platelets in a Chinese Blood Center
Authors: Zhu L. , Xu J. , Yang X. , Shen Z. , Wang Y. , Zhu F. , Lv H. , Yan L. 
Published: August 2009

summary.Bacterial contamination of platelets is considered as the most frequent infectious risk of transfusion. The prevalence of bacterial contamination has been reported and varied considerably in different countries, but the data for bacterial contamination of platelets in China are rarely reported. Eight thousand apheresis platelet concentrates (PCs) were analysed by aerobic and anaerobic cultures. Ten millilitres of PCs were inoculated into aerobic and anaerobic bottles (5 mL each), followed by the incubation for a maximum of 7 days. A new sample was taken from the unit for reculturing in order to confirm the initial positive reaction. All positive culture bottles were referred for bacterial isolation and identification. Twenty one cultures (0.26%) were flagged as positive in initial culture. Five cultures (0.06%) were confirmed as true positive and nine cultures (0.11%) were confirmed as indeterminate in reculture. A bacterium from skin flora (Propionibacterium spp.) was the most prevalent contaminant. Mean time to initial positive culture from start of incubation was 22.1 h for confirmed positive units and 97.3 h for indeterminate units. Most PC units had already been issued by the time of initial positive culture with a ‘negative‐to‐date’ issued strategy. There is a risk of bacterial contamination of PCs in China. Implementing bacterial screening of platelets could reduce the risk of septic reaction and fatalities due to transfusion of bacterially contaminated platelets. However, bacterial contamination PCs can still be transfused due to the delay until a positive signal in the culture system.
Costing of severe pneumonia in hospitalized infants and children aged 2–36 months, at a secondary and tertiary level hospital of a not‐for‐profit organization
Authors: Madsen Helle Ostergaard , Hanehøj Malin , Das Ashima Rani , Moses Prabhakar D , Rose Winsley , Puliyel Mammen , Konradsen Flemming , John K. R. , Bose Anuradha 
Published: August 2009

SummaryObjectives  To determine health care provider cost and household cost of the treatment of severe pneumonia in infants and young children admitted to secondary and tertiary level health care facilities.Methods  The study was done in a private, not‐for‐profit medical college hospital, in Vellore, India, in mid‐2008. Children aged 2–36 months admitted with severe pneumonia with no underlying chronic disease were included in the study. The relatives were interviewed daily on matters relating to patients’ view point of the costs. These were direct medical costs, direct non‐medical costs which comprised travel, accommodation and special food during the period of illness, and indirect costs of productivity loss for family members. Patient specific resource consumption and related charges were recorded from charts, nursing records, pharmacy lists and hospital bills, and the providers view point of the costs was estimated. Unit cost estimates for bed days, treatment and investigation inputs were calculated.Results  Total cost to health care provider for one episode of hospitalized childhood pneumonia treated at secondary level was US$ 83.89 (INR 3524) and US$ 146.59 (INR 6158) at tertiary level. At both levels the greatest single cost was the hospital stay itself, comprising 74% and 56% of the total cost, respectively. Diagnostic investigations were a large expense and supportive treatment with nebulization and oxygen therapy added to the costs. Mean household expenditure on secondary level was US$ 41.35 (INR 1737) and at tertiary level was US$ 134.62 (INR 5655), the largest single expense being medicines in the former and the hospitalization in the latter. (one US$=INR 42.1 at time of study)Conclusions  A considerable cost difference exists between secondary and tertiary level treatment. Admission at lowest possible treatment level for appropriate patients could decrease the costs borne by the provider and the patient.
Patient participation in collective healthcare decision making: the Dutch model
Authors: Van De Bovenkamp Hester M. , Trappenburg Margo J. , Grit Kor J. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractObjective  To study whether the Dutch participation model is a good model of participation.Background  Patient participation is on the agenda, both on the individual and the collective level. In this study, we focus on the latter by looking at the Dutch model in which patient organizations are involved in many formal decision‐making processes. This model can be described as neo‐corporatist.Design  We did 52 interviews with actors in the healthcare field, 35 of which were interviews with representatives of patient organizations and 17 with actors that involved patient organizations in their decision making.Results  Dutch patient organizations have many opportunities to participate in formal healthcare decision making and, as a result, have become institutionalized. Although there were several examples identified in which patient organizations were able to influence decision making, patient organizations remain in a dependent position, which they try to overcome through professionalization.Discussion  Although this model of participation gives patient organizations many opportunities to participate, it also causes important tensions. Many organizations cannot cope with all the participation possibilities attributed to them. This participation abundance can therefore cause redistribution effects. Furthermore, their dependent position leads to the danger of being put to instrumental use. Moreover, professionalization causes tensions concerning empowerment possibilities and representativeness.Conclusion  Although the Dutch model tries to make patient organizations an equal party in healthcare decision making, this goal is not reached in practice. It is therefore important to study more closely which subjects patients can and should contribute to, and in what way.
Cognitive features in euthymic bipolar patients in old age
Authors: Delaloye Christophe , Moy Guenaël , Baudois Sandra , De Bilbao Fabienne , Remund Corinne Dubois , Hofer Françoise , Paquier Claire Ragno , Campos Leticia , Weber Kerstin , Gold Gabriel , Moussa Abba , Meiler Corina Carmen , Giannakopoulos Panteleimon 
Published: August 2009

Objectives:  Studies of cognition in bipolar disorder (BD) have reported impairments in processing speed, working memory, episodic memory, and executive function, but they have primarily focused on young and middle‐aged adults. In such studies, the severity of cognitive deficits increases with the duration of illness. Therefore, one would expect more pronounced deficits in patients with longstanding BD. The first aim of the present study was to determine the pattern and the magnitude of cognitive impairment in older euthymic BD patients. The second aim was to explore the interrelationship between these cognitive deficits and determine whether they reflect a single core impairment or the co‐occurrence of independent cognitive deficits.Methods:  Twenty‐two euthymic elderly BD patients and 22 controls, matched for gender, age, and education, underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment.Results:  Compared to controls, BD patients had significantly reduced performance in processing speed, working memory, verbal fluency, and episodic memory, but not in executive function. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that verbal fluency and working memory impairments were fully mediated by changes in processing speed. This was not the case for the episodic memory dysfunction.Conclusion:  The cognitive profile in older euthymic BD cases is similar to the one described in younger BD cohorts. Our results further suggest that impaired processing speed plays a major role in the cognitive changes observed in BD patients except for deficits in episodic memory, thus providing strong evidence that processing speed and episodic memory are two core deficits in elderly BD patients.