bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A National Snapshot of Local School Wellness Policies
Authors: Moag‐Stahlberg Alicia , Howley Nora , Luscri Lorry 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTBackground:  The federal mandate for local wellness policies (LWP) provides an unprecedented opportunity to improve schools’ practices that support student health, which, in turn, supports academic achievement. With a full agenda and budget challenges, districts need resources and support to turn policies into sustainable practices. The purpose of this study was to assess district policy goals and compare them to the federal mandate and benchmarks of best practices. It is hoped that this information will lead to development of specific assistance in the areas of policy implementation, evaluation, and revision.Methods:  Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) collected a convenience sample of 256 approved LWP. The sample included districts with small, medium, and large student enrollment from every state (except Hawaii). Policies were compared to federal requirements and the AFHK Wellness Policy Fundamentals, a tool which documents best practices for nutrition and physical activity in schools.Results:  Sixty‐eight percent of policies sampled were consistent with the mandates set forth in the law. Thirty‐two percent did not address 1 or more goal areas set by the federal mandate with 15% not addressing goals for evaluation and monitoring. None of the policies addressed all components of AFHK’s Fundamentals. Less than 1% addressed all 4 of the evaluation components. Teacher requirements and training for nutrition and physical education were addressed by 43% and 45% of policies, respectively.Conclusions:  This study’s findings indicate schools will need assistance to meet each of the mandates provided by the federal mandate. Areas lacking attention in policies, yet essential for sustaining wellness practices, include assurances of qualified staff, opportunities for staff development, and implementation, evaluation, and revision of the policy.
An Inquiry into the Determinants of the Exports of China and India
Authors: Eckaus Richard S. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractRegression analysis is used to tease out the relative significance of influences on the supply and demand for the exports of China and India. On the supply side, the value‐added tax in China has discouraged export supply. The elimination of the rebate on those taxes will discourage exports. Higher wages discourage exports, but the share of exports by foreign invested enterprise is a positive influence, as is a higher share of value added in output and greater experience in exporting. On the demand side, exports depend in part on aggregate income levels in importing countries. Relative wages have been more important than exchange rates in determining the demands for Chinese and Indian exports. This evidence does not support the pressures for a devaluation of the RMB. There is also evidence of the positive significance of the accustomization of purchasers to buying Chinese exports.
Rise of China and India in International Trade: From Textiles to New Technology
Authors: Lemoine Françoise , Ünal‐Kesenci Deniz 
Published: September 2008

AbstractChina and India are two demographic giants that have become big developing economic powers. They have maintained their specialization in textiles and developed outward‐oriented sectors linked to new technologies, taking advantage of offshoring and outsourcing. Their increasing contribution to international trade is changing the world supply and demand of manufactured goods, primary goods and services. They are new leaders in the international division of labor, but beyond technological catch‐up, their challenge is quality upgrading. Both countries are increasingly contributing to global economic growth, but they cannotyet trigger the growth of the rest of the world by themselves.
How China Could Contribute to a Benign Global Rebalancing?
Authors: Hong Pingfan , Vos Rob , Yao Keping 
Published: September 2008

AbstractOur study shows that China could contribute to an orderly global rebalancing using a package of policies to stimulate its domestic consumption. These policies include a progressive appreciation of the RMB, fiscal stimulation by increasing expenditure on education, health care, social safety nets and poverty reduction, income policies to reduce inequality and to strengthen wage income, and reforms of the financial system to improve financial efficiency and to mitigate financial constraints. By implementing such policies, China's external surplus could be narrowed and its domestic imbalances improved. The excessively high savings rate could be lowered and the share of household consumption increased, even though GDP growth would moderate slightly.
China's Excessive Investment
Authors: Lai Pingyao 
Published: September 2008

AbstractChina's economy has witnessed serious excessive investment over the past 5 years, mainly in the infrastructure and real estate. Excessive investment has adverse impacts on both economic growth and macroeconomic stability. The main causes of this excessive investment are inappropriate growth strategies, low interest rates and weak constraints on government investment expenditure. To effectively control excessive investment, China needs to adjust its growth strategy, to speed up the process of interest rate marketization, and reform the existing public expenditure system.
People's Mobility andGuanxiNetworks: A Case Study
Authors: Hu Biliang 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe increase in the movement of people from rural to urban areas since the mid‐1980s represents the largest labor migration ever experienced in China. Because migration is a process of selection, it is imperative that the major dynamics determining the selection are studied. What are the critical characteristics of migrants that help them to realize their mobility from rural areas to urban areas? While educational attainment, gender, age, marital status and personal skills are important variables in the selection process, the present paper examines how social networks (guanxiconnections) play a significant role in the process of migration selection in China. A case study from one of the northern villages in rural China is used to explore how social networks have shaped and given meaning to migration. The present paper elaborates on how people's social mobility has coincided with and been reinforced by people's physical mobility.
Provision of Residential Solid Waste Management Service in Rural China
Authors: Ye Chunhui , Qin Ping 
Published: September 2008

AbstractDrawing on a dataset covering a large number of randomly sampled villages across China, the present paper examines the issue of residential solid waste management service provision in rural China. Using a logistic model we evaluate the impacts of different factors on service provision at the village level with regard to residential solid waste disposal. These factors include the environmental pressures caused by residential solid waste generation, the financial capacity of the Villagers' Committee, village elections and the individual characteristics of village heads. We find that living density, village per capita income, the ratio of irrigated land, and the per capita profit submitted by village enterprises to the Villagers' Committee all have positive impacts on service provision. Moreover, village heads who are popularly elected by villagers are more likely to provide services that satisfy voters' demands.
Social Movements and Ethnographic Methodologies: An Analysis Using Case Study Examples
Authors: Plows Alexandra 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis paper defines and discusses the viability and applicability of specific ethnographic methods for the study and theorising of social movements and related social mobilisation. Ethnographic methods are shown to be one tool in a box of available methods, but are perhaps especially suited for the in‐depth study of social movements and social networks. Pros and cons of such methods are identified, using examples drawn from an ethnographic narrative comprising over a decade of research; ethnography of UK environmental direct activists, and more recent ethnography of UK publics engaging with human genetic technologies. Ethnography enables developments in latent social interactions to be identified in the field, providing data sources that inform social analysis and the development of theoretical stakes. This ethnographic narrative has contributed to the theorising of complexity in movement collective identity and complex social mobilisation patterns; namely the theorising of social movement. Findings can be disseminated to a range of stakeholders, including the research participants. Thus, ethnography can be both a method for studying social movements and a means of ‘upstream’ public engagement, understanding what is happening at the grassroots, with the aim of enabling capacity building between all actors in the research process. This methodological rationale is defined as ‘action research’.
Rheumatology 50 years ago: a short personal history
Authors: MUIRDEN Kenneth D. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis report reviews attitudes to the rheumatic diseases and treatment methods in use some 50 years ago. The focus is on Professor J. H. Kellgren's unit at the Manchester Royal Infirmary in the UK. For rheumatoid arthritis, aspirin, phenylbutazone, gold injections, antimalarials and prednisolone were all available and bed rest was probably overused. The Charnley hip replacement arthroplasty was being trialed but in 1960 had not been perfected. Kellgren and the two other great UK figures in rheumatology at the time, E. G. L. Bywaters and J. J. R. Duthie appeared to me to have only a limited interest in immunology, apart from the role of rheumatoid factor in rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions. Concentration remained to some extent on proteoglycans and collagen as befitting the 1950s concept of ‘collagen diseases’.
Efficacy of core decompression plus bone graft with minimal incision in 41 patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head
Authors: SHAHREZAEE Mostafa , NAVAB Issa , KESHTKARI Sara , KHATIBI Azadeh , MOTAGHI Arash , FARROKHI Aidin 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAim:  In this study, which is an experimental before‐after‐study, we evaluated the efficacy of core decompression in 56 hips of 41 patients with non‐traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head.Method:  Fifteen (36%) patients were male and 26 (64%) were female. The mean age of patients was 30 years. Thirty‐six (88%) patients had long‐term histories of steroidal use. Thirty‐three (80%) patients had a history of underlying disease. The mean duration of follow‐up was 55 months (14–122 months).Results:  According to Ficat classification, seven hips were in stage 1, 21 in stage 2A, 23 in stage 2B, and five in stage 3. Evaluation criteria according to Harris hip score (HHS), radiographic changes and total hip arthroplasty (THA) necessity were assessed in each stage. The result of core decompression and graft was remarkable compared with preoperation status. HHS increased from 82 to 91 in stage 1; 73 to 89 in stage 2A; 70 to 85 in stage 2B and 63 to 71 in stage 3 post‐operatively (P‐value < 0.05).Discussion:  In the last follow‐up, which the was same for all 41 patients, there was no need for THA in all cases; but 5/56 hips (9%) exhibited radiographic progression of at least one Ficat stage. This method did not have any major complications, as only three cases had superficial wound infection.Conclusion:  Good and safe clinical results of this method and the availability of this surgical treatment and also early return of patients to ordinary activities make us satisfied with applying this method.
High‐resolution ultrasonographic diagnosis of plantar fasciitis: a correlation of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: ABDEL‐WAHAB Nagui , FATHI Salwa , AL‐EMADI Samar , MAHDI Salah 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAim and Method:  In a prospective study of nine men and eight women with suspected unilateral or bilateral plantar fasciitis, 23 symptomatic heels were examined by both high‐resolution ultrasound and a preplanned limited sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol to assess the different signs. Eleven healthy volunteers (22 heels) acted as controls.Results:  The plantar fascia was thickened in symptomatic feet. The thickness of the plantar fascia in symptomatic feet was (3.0–7.0 mm; 4.9 ± 1.3) measured by ultrasound which was significantly thicker than in the control group (1.1–2.4 mm; 1.7 ± 0.06); P < 0.05. Other sonographic signs used for the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis in the study were compared to MRI findings. The diagnostic accuracy was 69.5% for abnormal focal echogenicity within the plantar fascia, 60.8% for edema around the plantar fascia, 78.2% for perifascial edema, 69.5% for rupture of the plantar fascia and the lowest diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound was in detection of associated calcaneal spur (56.5%). The findings were tabulated and discussed in relation to other literature.Conclusion:  It was concluded that the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound is comparable to that of MRI in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and it could be the straightforward initial imaging modality to confirm clinically suspected plantar fasciitis. MRI may be reserved for cases where a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis does not satisfactorily explain the clinical presentation and when complex pathology is suspected.
Validity of the Developed Arabic Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire for use in standard clinical care of patients with rheumatic diseases
Authors: EL MIEDANY Yasser , EL GAAFARY Maha , YOUSSEF Sally S. , AHMED Ihab 
Published: September 2008

AbstractObjective:  To assess the validity, reliability and comprehensibility of the Developed Arabic Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (Arabic‐MDHAQ) for use in standard clinical care of patients with rheumatic diseases.Methods:  The multidimensional questionnaire was developed on a one‐page sheet. One side includes 10 activities of daily living (Arabic HAQII), four items to assess psychological distress, duration of morning stiffness as well as visual analogue scales for pain, global status, and fatigue. The other side includes review of the systems, falls and cardiovascular risk assessment, the rheumatology attitudes index to assess the psychological construct of helplessness and self‐report of joint counts. The questionnaire was completed by consecutive patients with various rheumatic diseases including 85 with rheumatoid arthritis, 57 with fibromyalgia, 57 with osteoarthritis, 18 with psoriatic arthritis and 11 with ulcerative colitis.Results:  The test was reliable as demonstrated by a high standardized alpha‐value and minimal changes recorded in the second from the first test. The Developed Arabic‐MDHAQ correlated significantly with clinical parameters of disease activity as well as inflammatory markers. Changes in both functional and psychological assessment scores showed variation with diseases. The Arabic health assessment questionnaire II (functional disability) was significantly correlated with the original Arabic‐HAQ. The psychological assessment items in the Arabic‐MDHAQ were significantly correlated with depression as well as anxiety scores as demonstrated by Hamilton scales for depression and anxiety (P < 0.001). The Arabic‐MDHAQ showed also a high degree of comprehensibility (92.9%).Conclusion:  The Developed Arabic‐MDHAQ is a reliable and valid instrument for assessment of Arabic patients suffering from rheumatic diseases. Being short, rapid and comprehensive, this adds more to its applicability. The data support the value of completion of the simple 2‐page patient questionnaire, which provides a quantitative written documented record by the patient, at each visit to a rheumatologist.
A survey of the primary care management of osteoarthritis in Malaysia: a view from a rheumatologist's perspective
Authors: ARSHAD Anwar , RASHID Rozita , DAS GUPTA Esha 
Published: September 2008

AbstractObjective:  Primary care management of knee osteoarthritis (OA) has received little attention in the scientific literature and the main reason for this survey is to study and explore the variations and patterns of primary care management and assess both conventional and complementary therapy usage in knee OA in the primary care setting.Methods:  A cross‐sectional survey of 200 randomly selected general practitioners (GPs) in the peninsular states of Malaysia was undertaken using a questionnaire. The GPs involved were asked about basic knowledge of OA in terms of diagnosis, investigation, and treatment. They were also asked about their usage of conventional and complementary medication.Results:  One hundred and eighty (90%) GPs responded to the questionnaires sent: 77% were in solo practice and 33% in group practice. Most of the GPs surveyed (60%) had been in practice for more than 10 years, 30% for 5–10 years and 10% were in practice for less than 5 years. Of GPs surveyed, 55% saw an average of more than 20 patients per week, 35% about 10–20 patients and 10% less than 10 patients per week. Of GPs surveyed, 65% would arrange an X‐ray, 55% would arrange a blood test, mostly serum uric acid, rheumatoid factor and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Pharmacological management consists of first‐line treatment with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (61%), analgesics (35%) or a combination of the two (4%). Non‐pharmacological management consisted of advice on exercise (27%), weight reduction (33%) and referral to physiotherapy (10%). Of GPs surveyed, 85% prescribed some form of complementary medications, 60% prescribed glucosamine sulphate, 21% chondroitin sulphate, 11% cod liver oil and 9% evening primrose oil. Only 10% of GPs surveyed perform intra‐articular injections.Conclusion:  The data suggest that in the primary care setting, the majority of GPs over‐investigate the diagnosis of OA. Pharmacological interventions largely concentrate on analgesics and NSAIDs. The use of physiotheraphy and non‐drug approaches were significantly under‐utilized. There is a need to further educate GPs in the management of OA.
Predictors of disability among Filipinos with knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Penserga Ester G. , Tanque Andre Angelo G. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAims:  This study aims to describe the level of disability of Filipino patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in relation to common risk factors.Methodology:  This is a cross‐sectional analytic study. Patients with knee osteoarthritis diagnosed using the American College of Rheumatology criteria for the classification of knee OA, seen at East Avenue Medical Center, using the Quezon City, Philippines, were entered by convenient sampling. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC (va) 3.1 Tagalog Version) osteoarthritis index was used. Self‐reported disability was measured by the function subscale of the WOMAC OA index and used as the dependent variable. Independent variables assessed as possible risk factors affecting disability were age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), education (in years), number of comorbidities present, smoking status (pack years), duration of knee OA, pain and stiffness. Categories of disability were identified as high, moderate and low. Analyses of the data were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 13.Results:  Eighty‐five subjects were included in the study. The mean disability score was 674.1 ± 318.81 (moderate disability). Chi‐square tests showed that the categories or levels of disability are not significantly dependent on the categorical variables. Significant direct correlations were seen between mean disability and weight (r = 0.260, P = 0.016), pain (r = 0.574, P = 0.000), and stiffness (r = 0.616, P = 0.000).Conclusion:  This is the first study analysing the relationship between disability and specific risk factors among Filipino patients with knee OA. Self‐reported disability of knee OA in the population studied was strongly related to pain scores, weight and joint stiffness scores.
Asymmetric polyarthritis as an initial presentation of Rosai‐Dorfman disease
Authors: SHALABY Medhat A. F. , AL HUMAYED Suliman M. , DEWEDAR Ahmed M. , EL‐SAEED Tunis A. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractRosai‐Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare benign reactive lymphoproliferative disorder characterised by a histopathological pattern with sinus histiocytosis and hemophagocytosis. It usually presents with fever, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, cervical lymphadenopathy, other lymph node and extra‐nodal site involvement. We present the case of a 25‐year‐old female patient with polyarthritis mimicking rheumatoid arthritis (RA). When the para‐aortic lymph node was biopsied, it showed extensive histiocytic proliferation; some clusters of plasma cells, lymphocytes and rare multinucleated cells were seen, suggesting a diagnosis of RDD. There is nothing in the literature regarding the polyarthritic presentation of the disease. To the best of our knowledge, our patient is the first case of RDD presenting with a clinical picture mimicking atypical seronegative RA.
Primary CNS angiitis presenting as short‐term memory loss: a case report and literature review
Authors: DUHON Bradley , RENNER David , JENSEN Randy 
Published: September 2008

AbstractPrimary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is an idiopathic vasculitis of the small to medium vessels that often eludes diagnosis because of its variable signs and symptoms. A 36‐year‐old woman presented with a 4‐week history of progressive memory loss. Neurological examination revealed only severe cognitive deficits including anterograde amnesia. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated multiple ring‐enhancing lesions involving the left frontal lobe and uncus and bilateral thalami. Stereotactic biopsy showed findings consistent with CNS angiitis. Further workup revealed no evidence of systemic disease. We report the first case of biopsy‐proven PACNS presenting as profound isolated anterograde amnesia.
Performance of the preliminary definition of improvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients treated with methotrexate: experience from Bangladesh
Authors: ISLAM Mohammad Imnul , HOSSAIN Mahmuda , RAHMAN Shahana A 
Published: September 2008

AbstractObjective:  To evaluate the performance of Preliminary Definition of Improvement (PDI) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients treated with methotrexate (MTX).Methods:  This was a prospective observational study done in the paediatric department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) during April 2005–August 2006. All the patients fulfilling the International League of Associations for Rheumatology classification criteria had the American College of Rheumatology core set of variables assessed at baseline and follow‐up at the 4th, 12th and 24th week of treatment. Variables in the core set are: (1) physician's global assessment of disease activity; (2) parents’ or patients’ global assessment of disease activity; (3) functional ability; (4) number of joints with active arthritis; (5) number of joints with limited range of motion; and (6) erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Patients were classified as improved or not improved according to PDI. The following definition of improvement was selected: 30% improvement from baseline in three of any six variables in the core set with no more than one of the remaining variables worsening by > 30%.Results:  A total of 40 children with JIA, completed 6 months treatment. At the end of 6 months, most of the patients (92.5%) had been declared as improved according to PDI. Among the core set variables, active arthritis, physicians’ and patients’ global assessment of disease activity, detected the highest percentage of patients improved (92.5%) and functional assessment detected the lowest (37%).Conclusion:  The PDI identified that a maximum number of JIA patients treated with MTX had improved.