bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparative case study of bowel cancer screening in the UK and Australia: Evidence lost in translation?
Authors: Flitcroft K L , John D J B St , Howard K , Carter S M , Pignone M P , Salkeld G P , Trevena L J 
Published: December 2011

Objectives (i) To document the current state of the English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and Australian bowel cancer screening programmes, according to seven key characteristics, and (ii) to explore the policy trade-offs resulting from inadequate funding. Setting United Kingdom and Australia. Methods A comparative case study design using document and key informant interview analysis. Data were collated for each national jurisdiction on seven key programme characteristics: screening frequency, population coverage, quality of test, programme model, quality of follow-up, quality of colonoscopy and quality of data collection. A list of optimal features for each of the seven characteristics was compiled, based on the FOBT screening literature and our detailed examination of each programme. Results Each country made different implementation choices or trade-offs intended to conserve costs and/or manage limited and expensive resources. The overall outcome of these trade-offs was probable lower programme effectiveness as a result of compromises such as reduced screening frequency, restricted target age range, the use of less accurate tests, the deliberate setting of low programme positivity rates or increased inconvenience to participants from re-testing. Conclusions Insufficient funding has forced programme administrators to make trade-offs that may undermine the potential net population benefits achieved in randomized controlled trials. Such policy compromise contravenes the principle of evidence-based practice which is dependent on adequate funding being made available.
Health-related quality-of-life in children with coeliac disease, measured prior to receiving their diagnosis through screening
Authors: Nordyke Katrina , Norström Fredrik , Lindholm Lars , Carlsson Annelie , Danielsson Lars , Emmelin Maria , Högberg Lotta , Karlsson Eva , Ivarsson Anneli 
Published: December 2011

Objective To compare the health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) of children with screening-detected coeliac disease (CD), before they learned of their diagnosis, with that of children without CD and in those previously diagnosed with CD. Methods In a cross-sectional CD screening study (‘ETICS’: Exploring the Iceberg of Coeliacs in Sweden), of 10,041 Swedish 12-year-olds invited, 7567 (75%) consented to participate, and 7208 (72%) children without previously diagnosed CD had serological markers analysed. Before the screening results were known, 7218 children (72%) and 6524 of their parents (65%) answered questionnaires. Questionnaires included the Swedish child-friendly pilot version of the EQ-5D instrument and proxy version of the EQ-5D instrument, which are generic tools used to describe HRQoL. Results We found no significant difference in HRQoL between the groups of children with screening-detected CD, without CD, and those previously diagnosed with CD. Conclusion The HRQoL reported by 12-year-olds with screening-detected CD, before they learned of their diagnosis, was not worse than that of the children without CD or those previously diagnosed with CD. Thus, mass screening for CD should not be justified on the basis that children with unrecognized CD have a poor HRQoL. However, because these children rated their HRQoL before diagnosis and treatment, they may not have recognized or perceived symptoms as severe enough to seek medical attention which demonstrates how difficult clinical/active case finding can be. Mass screening may still, therefore, be considered if the aim is early detection and prevention of future complications.
Newborn screening for medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in England: Prevalence, predictive value and test validity based on 1.5 million screened babies
Authors: Oerton Juliet , Khalid Javaria M , Besley Guy , Dalton R Neil , Downing Melanie , Green Anne , Henderson Mick , Krywawych Steve , Leonard James , Andresen Brage S , Dezateux Carol 
Published: December 2011

Background Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) is a rare, life-threatening condition. Early diagnosis by screening asymptomatic newborns may improve outcome, but the benefit to newborns identified with variants not encountered clinically is uncertain. Objective To estimate, overall and by ethnic group: screen-positive prevalence and predictive value (PPV); MCADD prevalence; proportion MCADD variants detected of predicted definite or uncertain clinical importance. Setting All births in areas of high ethnic minority prevalence in England. Methods Prospective multicentre pilot screening service; testing at age five to eight days; standardized screening, diagnostic and management protocols; independent expert review of screen-positive cases to assign MCADD diagnosis and predicted clinical importance (definite or uncertain). Results Approximately 1.5 million babies (79% white; 10% Asian) were screened. MCADD was confirmed in 147 of 190 babies with a positive screening result (screen-positive prevalence: 1.20 per 10,000; MCADD prevalence: 0.94 per 10,000; PPV 77% [95% CI 71–83]), comprising 103 (70%) with MCADD variants of definite clinical importance (95 white [95%]; 2 Asian [2%]) and 44 (30%) with variants of uncertain clinical importance (29 white [67%]; 12 Asian [28%]). Conclusion One baby in every 10,000 born in England is diagnosed with MCADD by newborn screening; around 60 babies each year. While the majority of MCADD variants detected are predicted to be of definite clinical importance, this varies according to ethnic group, with variants of uncertain importance most commonly found in Asian babies. These findings provide support for MCADD screening but highlight the need to take account of the ethnic diversity of the population tested at implementation.
Enhanced Flame-Retardant Capacity of Natural Rubber/Organo-Montmorillonite and Hyper-Branched Organo-Montmorillonite Composites
Authors: Wang Jincheng , Guo Xi , Zheng Xiaoyu , Zhao Yi , Li Weifei 
Published: December 2011

AbstractMost natural and synthetic rubbers have inherently high flammability, a property which limits their uses. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) and modified OMMT on the flame-retardance and mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR) composites. The OMMT was modified with hyper-branched polymer via condensation polymerization between the intercalation agent, N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-dodecyl-N-methylammonium chloride, and the monomer, N,N-dihydroxyl-3-aminomethyl propionate. This modified OMMT was then reacted with phosphate, and a novel flame-retardant hyper-branched organic montmorillonite (FR-HOMMT) was thus obtained. The surface morphology, interlayer space, interlamellar structure, and thermal properties of these modified clays were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. The FR-HOMMT showed increased basal spacing and better thermal stabilities due to the different arrangement and thermal stability of the novel organic macromolecular surfactant. Natural rubber NR/OMMT and NR/FR-HOMMT composites were prepared by conventional compounding with OMMT and the phosphorus-based organo-montmorillonite. The cure characteristics, tensile strength, wear resistance, thermal stabilities, and flame-retardant properties were researched and compared. The best dispersion of this modified clay was observed for 20 phr (parts per hundred of rubber) of FR-HOMMT-filled composite, which resulted in the best mechanical performance with an increase of 47% in tensile strength, of 40% in elongation at break, and decrease of 140% in abrasion loss compared with 20 phr of the OMMT-filled matrix. A mechanism for reinforcing and flame retardance is proposed here. The 'anchor' effect caused by the hyper-branched polymer may decrease the number and size of the voids in the NR matrix, and thus increase the crack path during tensile drawing. Meanwhile, the flame retardance of the OMMT and the phosphate may increase the number of carbonaceous layers, thus inhibiting the degree of pyrolysis of the NR matrix during burning.
Adsorption of Low-Concentration Ammonium Onto Vermiculite from Hebei Province, China
Authors: Wang Mingshan , Liao Libing , Zhang Xiuli , Li Zhaohui , Xia Zhiguo , Cao Weida 
Published: December 2011

AbstractVermiculite is a common layered silicate clay mineral which has good adsorption and ion-exchange properties, and which is used to remove pollutants from groundwater. The adsorption by vermiculite from Heibei Province, China, of low-concentration ammonium in water was assessed here to evaluate the effects of adsorption time, particle size, adsorbent dose, pH, and temperature. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, the concentration of NH4+ at 1430 cm−1 was evaluated after ammonium was adsorbed by vermiculite. Based on Langmuir-model analysis, the adsorption capacity of the Chinese vermiculite (in the particle-size range 0.025–0.075 mm) for ammonium was 18 mg/g after 3 h of equilibration. Optimal adsorption occurred at pH 6–7 and 60°C, which is different from that at high ammonium concentrations. Smaller particle-size fractions showed greater degrees of adsorption. Increase in Mg2+, K+, or Na+ concentrations influenced ammonium adsorption and, therefore, indicated that cation exchange was the mechanism for ammonium uptake from low-concentration solutions.
A Critical Textural Evolution Study of Zerovalent Iron/Montmorillonite Nanosized Heterostructures Under Various Iron Loadings
Authors: Fan Mingde , Yuan Peng , Bergaya Faïza , He Hongping , Chen Tianhu , Zhu Jianxi , Liu Dong 
Published: December 2011

AbstractHeterostructures formed by nanoparticles hybridized with porous hosts are of great potential in many practical applications such as catalysis, adsorption, and environmental remediation, based on their intrinsic properties. The objectives of this study were to synthesize zerovalent iron nanoparticles/montmorillonite heterostructures and to investigate their textural evolution under different Fe loadings. Iron nanoparticles were hybridized with montmorillonite by impregnation of montmorillonite by ferric ions followed by chemical reduction with sodium borohydride in solution. These hybridized Fe nanoparticles were well dispersed on the montmorillonite surface, size adjustable, and resistant to oxidation under the protection of native Fe-oxide shells. The textural evolution of these heterostructures under various Fe loadings was investigated using nitrogen physisorption, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and elemental analyses. As the Fe loadings increased, the total pore and mesopore volumes were almost unchanged; the total, micropore, and external surface areas as well as the micropore volume decreased; and the average pore diameter increased. These textural changes could be attributed to the filling of the interparticle pores of montmorillonite by a variable amount of Fe nanoparticles. In addition, with increasing Fe loadings, the mesoporous character was enhanced for these heterostructures. These fundamental results are important in understanding the structure of these heterostructures as well as in developing some novel applications in related fields.
First-Principles Study of Isomorphic (‘Dual-Defect’) Substitution in Kaolinite
Authors: He Man-Chao , Zhao Jian , Fang Zhi-Jie , Zhang Ping 
Published: December 2011

AbstractKaolinite is often a cause of deformation in soft-rock tunnel engineering, leading to safety problems. In order to gain a better predictive understanding of the governing principles associated with this phenomenon, the physical and chemical properties of kaolinite were investigated using an efficient, firstprinciples scheme for studying isomorphic substitution of Al ions in kaolinite by two kinds of other elements (namely, the dual defect). Elements that are relatively common in natural kaolinite were chosen from groups II (Be, Mg, Ca, and Sr) and III (Fe and Sc) of the Periodic Table as dual-defect ions to substitute for Al ions in kaolinite. By systematically calculating the impurity-formation energies (which characterize the difference in the total crystal energy before and after the defect arises) and transitionenergy levels, which characterize the energy cost for the transformation between two different charge states, the (Be + Sc)Al (i.e. the replacement of two specific Al ions in kaolinite by external Be and Sc ions), (Ca + Sc)Al, (Mg + Sc)Al, and (Sr + Sc)Al ion pairs were determined to have low formation energies, suggesting that these combinations of ions can easily substitute for Al ions in kaolinite. The (Be + Fe)Al, (Ca + Fe)Al, (Mg + Fe)Al, and (Sr + Fe)Al ion pairs have relatively high formation energies which make isomorphic substitution (or doping) in kaolinite difficult. Moreover, these combinations of elements from groups II and III were found to have relatively low transition-energy levels compared with other element pairs. Among them, (Sr + Sc)Al have the lowest transition-energy level at 0.06 eV above the valence band maximum. When compared with single external substitutional defects in kaolinite, remarkably, the dual defects have relatively low formation energies and transition-energy levels. The results are helpful in understanding the chemical and physical properties of natural kaolinite.
Miscibility gap and thermoelectric properties of ecofriendly Mg2Si1−xSnx (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) solid solutions by flux method
Authors: Chen Luxin , Jiang Guangyu , Chen Yi , Du Zhengliang , Zhao Xinbing , Zhu Tiejun , He Jian , Tritt Terry M. 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Nursing Research in Community-Based Approaches to Reduce Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
Authors: Hahn Ellen J. , Ashford Kristin B. , Okoli Chizimuzo T. C. , Rayens Mary Kay , Ridner S. Lee , York Nancy L. 
Published: December 2011

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States and a major source of indoor air pollution, accounting for an estimated 53,000 deaths per year among nonsmokers. Secondhand smoke exposure varies by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The most effective public health intervention to reduce SHS exposure is to implement and enforce smoke-free workplace policies that protect entire populations including all workers regardless of occupation, race/ethnicity, gender, age, and socioeconomic status. This chapter summarizes community and population-based nursing research to reduce SHS exposure. Most of the nursing research in this area has been policy outcome studies, documenting improvement in indoor air quality, worker’s health, public opinion, and reduction in Emergency Department visits for asthma, acute myocardial infarction among women, and adult smoking prevalence. These findings suggest a differential health effect by strength of law. Further, smoke-free laws do not harm business or employee turnover, nor are revenues from charitable gaming affected. Additionally, smoke-free laws may eventually have a positive effect on cessation among adults. There is emerging nursing science exploring the link between SHS exposure to nicotine and tobacco dependence, suggesting one reason that SHS reduction is a quit smoking strategy. Other nursing research studies address community readiness for smoke-free policy, and examine factors that build capacity for smoke-free policy. Emerging trends in the field include tobacco free health care and college campuses. A growing body of nursing research provides an excellent opportunity to conduct and participate in community and population-based research to reduce SHS exposure for both vulnerable populations and society at large.
Environmental Influences on Joint Attention in Great Apes: Implications for Human Cognition
Authors: Leavens David A. , Bard Kim A. 
Published: December 2011

In humans, cultural differences in advanced social cognition have been well demonstrated. In tasks pertaining to theory of mind, for instance, individuals pass standard assessments of false-belief understanding at substantially different ages in different cultural environments. Less well-studied are more basic sociocognitive capacities, such as joint attention, which are held by many to constitute the foundational skill set for advanced sociocognitive reasoning. Here, we review the striking group differences in joint attention displayed by great apes as a consequence of being raised in different cultural environments, including wild habitats, institutional settings such as zoos and biomedical research centers, and home-rearing or language-training settings. Like humans, apes develop tactics for joint attention that are adaptive to the particular environments of their early rearing experiences. Great apes serve as animal models for environmental influences on sociocognitive capacities in our own species.[T]hey felt themselves at liberty to indulge their imaginations, to guess at whatmight be, rather than in inquiringwhat is; in other words, they employed themselves in conjecturing what might have been the course of nature at a remote period, rather than in the investigation of what was the course of nature in their own times. (Lyell, 1833, p. 2, emphasis in original)
Between Theory and Practice Falls the Shadow: The Learning Theories Profile
Authors: Annan Jean , Bowler Josephine , Mentis Mandia , Somerville Matthew P. 
Published: December 2011

Between the ideaAnd the realityBetween the motionAnd the actFalls the ShadowT. S. Eliot, “The Hollow Men”This article reports on the development and evaluation of a meta-cognitive tool for practitioners’ reflection on the ‘shadow’ between espoused theories and theories-in-use. The learning theories profile (LTP) was developed to support practitioners in education to identify and reflect on the theoretical perspectives that underpin their professional decision-making. In order to assess the usefulness of the LTP for reflection on professional development and practice, 15 special educators who were enrolled in a university course took part in a trial of the tool. Data from pre-activity and post-activity surveys suggested that the LTP helped students to critically consider contemporary and traditional theories of learning, raised awareness of the application of learning theories in education practice and supported users to reflect on their own professional practice, and interactions.
Trefoil Factors in Saliva and Gingival Tissues of Patients With Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: Chaiyarit Ponlatham , Chayasadom Anek , Wara‐Aswapati Nawarat , Hormdee Doodsadee , Sittisomwong Sapatporn , Nakaresisoon Sirinun , Samson Mie Hessellund , Pitiphat Waranuch , Giraud Andrew S. 
Published: December 2011

Background: Trefoil factors (TFFs) are secreted molecules that are involved in cytoprotection against tissue damage and the immune response. TFFs have been detected in saliva and oral tissues, but their clinical significance has never been investigated in patients with chronic periodontitis. The objective of this study is to determine whether TFF expression in saliva and gingival tissues is associated with periodontal pathology.Methods: Saliva and gingival tissue samples were collected from 25 non‐periodontitis individuals and 25 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate the expression of TFFs (TFF1, TFF2, and TFF3) in saliva and gingival tissues, respectively. Periodontopathic bacteria were quantified by real‐time polymerase chain reaction.Results: Reduced salivary TFF1 and TFF3 concentrations were observed in patients with CP (P = 0.003 and P <0.001, respectively). Decreased TFF3 expression in gingival tissues of patients with CP was demonstrated (P = 0.041). Levels of salivary TFF3 concentrations were negatively correlated with periodontal pathology and number of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia (formerly known as Bacteroides forsythus).Conclusions: Altered expression of TFFs in saliva and gingival tissues was detected in patients with CP. The results suggest that TFF3 may be involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.
Association Between Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms and Periodontitis: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Chen Li‐li , Li Hao , Zhang Peng‐peng , Wang Shu‐mei 
Published: December 2011

Background: The purpose of the meta‐analysis is to explore the association between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms (including four gene loci: Taq‐I, Bsm‐I, Apa‐I, and Fok‐I) for susceptibility to periodontitis (either chronic [CP] or aggressive [AP]). Up to now, there has been only one systematic review focusing on this topic. We obtained some different findings compared with the previously published literature.Methods: Nineteen case‐control studies were identified through a search of multiple electronic databases (from January 1, 1999 to June 30, 2011). The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using codominant, dominant, and recessive genetic models from meta‐analysis were the main outcome measure. The Harbord test was used to detect the publication bias for each group.Results: Eighteen identified articles met the eligibility criteria. Through overall analyses, no statistical association was found between polymorphisms of the four gene loci and periodontitis. However, based on subgroup analyses, a significant association between the Taq‐I variants and CP rather than AP was shown in Asians (OR = 0.590; 95% CI = 0.425, 0.818) but not in whites (OR = 0.823; 95% CI = 0.637, 1.063). No statistically significant association was found between polymorphisms of Bsm‐I and Apa‐I with either AP or CP. The Fok‐I polymorphism showed a statistical association with AP (OR = 1.583; 95% CI = 1.157, 2.166) instead of CP (OR = 1.081; 95% CI = 0.638, 1.830) in Asians.Conclusions: The results of the present meta‐analysis indicate the following: 1) the mutant allele t of the Taq‐I locus may be a protective factor for CP but not for AP in Asians, although this was not true in whites; 2) the mutant allele F of the Fok‐I locus appeared to be a risk factor for AP rather than CP in Asians; and 3) Bsm‐I and Apa‐I polymorphisms were found to have no significant associations with susceptibility to periodontitis (CP/AP).