bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of a Linear Analog Scale Questionnaire to Measure Health‐Related Quality of Life in Elderly Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Katsura Hideki , Yamada Kouichi , Kida Kozui 
Published: July 2003

OBJECTIVES: To examine the validity, discriminatory ability, and responsiveness of health‐related quality‐of‐life (HRQoL) questionnaires using a linear analog scale (Quality of Life (QOL) scale) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).DESIGN: Cross‐sectional and longitudinal.SETTING: Outpatient.PARTICIPANTS: One hundred two elderly subjects with mild to severe COPD.MEASUREMENTS: Scores on the QOL scale, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the 36‐item Short‐Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF‐36) and various clinical parameters were recorded. The correlations between these QOL questionnaires and various clinical parameters were then examined. The responses of 31 elderly COPD patients to the QOL scale and the SGRQ before and 3 months after the completion of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program were compared longitudinally.RESULTS: On cross‐sectional study, the QOL scale showed a significant correlation with the total score and three components of the SGRQ. The QOL scale correlated significantly with all components of the SF‐36, but the total SGRQ score correlated with only six components of the SF‐36, excluding vitality and the mental health index. Both the QOL scale and the total score of the SGRQ correlated significantly with the oxygen cost diagram (OCD), Morale scale, 6‐minute walking distance (6MWD), forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) score. When subjects were divided into three groups according to disease severity (mild, moderate, severe) using American Thoracic Society guidelines, the total SGRQ score discriminated between the three groups. The QOL scale could not discriminate between mild and moderate or moderate and severe. On longitudinal study, 3 months after finishing the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program, the QOL scale, the SGRQ, 6MWD, and OCD all showed significant improvement. The difference in the QOL scale after the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program showed a significant correlation with changes in the SGRQ total score and the OCD but not with the 6MWD.CONCLUSION: The QOL scale is similar to more‐complex questionnaires such as the SGRQ in terms of validity and responsiveness for evaluating disease‐specific HRQoL in elderly COPD patients. In clinical settings, the QOL scale, as a simple questionnaire, may be useful for disease‐specific HRQoL assessments in elderly COPD patients.
Modeling Agglomeration and Dispersion in City and Country: Gunnar Myrdal, François Perroux, and the New Economic Geography
Authors: Meardon Stephen J. 
Published: July 2003

The “new economic geography” is a recent body of literature that seeks to explain how resources and production come to be concentrated spatially for reasons other than the standard “geographic” ones. Unlike alternative explanations of the geographic distribution of industry, the literature is not interdisciplinary. The new economic geography lies well within economics proper: it is an offspring of international trade theory, with models characterized by increasing returns, factor mobility, and transportation costs. The models explain the distribution of industry in terms of the opposition of an agglomerating force, the interaction of transportation costs and increasing returns to scale, with a dispersing force, commonly the interaction of transportation costs and a partially fixed input or output market.Some authors outside the new economic geography (e.g., Martin 1999) have criticized it as simplistic, irrelevant, or passé. They claim it employs overly abstract analysis, prioritizes mathematical technique over realistic explanation, and is reminiscent of the much earlier works of Gunnar Myrdal and François Perroux—in comparison to which, however, it falls short.This paper investigates the similarities and differences between the new economic geography and the work of Myrdal and Perroux, who in the previous special issue of this journal were ranked by Zafirovsky (1999, pp. 596, 598) as among the leading twentieth century economic sociologists. I examine how the techniques of analysis and intuitive explanations of agglomeration compare between these economic sociologists and the new economic geographers. The paper highlights what has been gained and what has been lost by the new economic geographers, who generally eschew interdisciplinary study.
Poly(propylene amine) Dendrimers Decorated with Dimethoxybenzene Units. Photophysical and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Ceroni Paola , Vicinelli Veronica , Maestri Mauro , Balzani Vincenzo , Gorka Marius , Lee Sang-Kyu , Dragut Patrick , Vögtle Fritz 
Published: July 2003

We have investigated the absorption spectra, the fluorescence spectra and decay and the electrochemical redox processes of five dendrimers Gn (n = 1 to 5) that contain 2n+1 - 2 (i.e., 62 for G5) tertiary amino groups in the interior and 2n+1 (i.e., 64 for G5) 1,2-dimethoxybenzene (DMB) units in the periphery. In dichloromethane solution the absorption spectrum of the dendrimers is quite similar to that of 3,4-dimethoxy-N-propylbenzene-1- sulfonamide, a model compound of the peripheral DMB units. The fluorescence band of the DMB unit (λmax = 319 nm, τ = 0.95 ns, Φ = 0.08 for the model compound), however, is much weaker in the dendrimers, which also display a broad emission tail above 450 nm (τ from 2 to 7 ns, depending on dendrimer generation), assigned to exciplex formation between the peripheral dimethoxybenzene groups and the inner tertiary amino groups. Upon addition of trifluoroacetic acid, which causes protonation of the inner amino groups of the dendrimers, the intensity of exciplex emission decreases and the intensity of the 319 nm band of the DMB units increases, reaches a maximum, and then decreases with increasing protonation of the dendrimer interior, presumably because of excimer formation between peripheral DMB units. Electrochemical investigations have shown that in acetonitrile the dendrimers exhibit a reversible, multielectron oxidation wave at about +1.7 V vs SCE, assigned to the peripheral DMB units and broad anodic peaks in the region +0.8/+1.5 V, assigned to oxidation of the inner tertiary amino groups.
National physical education curriculum: motor and cardiovascular health related fitness in Greek adolescents
Authors: Koutedakis Y , Bouziotas C 
Published: July 2003

Background:State school physical education (PE) programmes are common throughout Greece. However, it is not known if the main objectives of the Greek PE curriculum are achieved.Objective:To assess the current national PE curriculum in relation to selected motor and cardiovascular health related fitness parameters.Methods:A sample of 84 Greek schoolboys (mean (SD) age 13.6 (0.3) years, height 160.7 (8.6) cm, weight 50 (10.8) kg) volunteered. Forty three indicated participation only in school PE classes and habitual free play (PE group). The remaining 41 were involved in extracurricular organised physical activities in addition to school PE and habitual free play (PE+ group). The subjects underwent anthropometric, motor (flexibility, balance, standing broad jump, hand grip, sit ups, and plate tapping), and cardiovascular health related (percentage body fat, aerobic fitness, and physical activity) fitness assessments.Results:Children in the PE group had inferior motor and cardiovascular health related fitness profiles compared with those in the PE+ group. Body fat (20.3 (8.8)v13.9 (3.5); p<0.001), aerobic fitness (34.7 (3.7)v43.9 (4.2); p<0.001), and time spent in intensive physical activity (0.2 (0.2)v0.7 (0.3); p<0.001) showed the greatest differences between the two groups. In the pupils in the PE group, these were lower than the levels proposed to be necessary to combat future health risks. Adjustments for confounding variables showed a decrease in the significance of motor fitness, but not in cardiovascular health related parameters.Conclusions:The national PE curriculum for Greek secondary schools does not achieve the required levels of motor and cardiovascular health related fitness and should be reconsidered.
Decreased maximal aerobic capacity with use of a triphasic oral contraceptive in highly active women: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lebrun C M , Petit M A , McKenzie D C , Taunton J E , Prior J C 
Published: July 2003

Background:Oral contraceptives are commonly used by women athletes. However, their effect on athletic performance is unclear.Objectives:To examine the effects of a moderate dose, triphasic oral contraceptive on measures of athletic performance in highly trained women athletes.Methods:This is a double blind, placebo controlled trial in 14 women with ovulatory menstrual cycles and maximal aerobic capacity (Vo2max) ≥50 ml/kg/min. Four measures of athletic performance were tested: Vo2max, anaerobic capacity (anaerobic speed test), aerobic endurance (time to fatigue at 90% of Vo2max), and isokinetic strength (Cybex II dynamometer). Height, weight, and six skinfold measurements were also recorded. All these observational tests were completed during both the follicular and mid-luteal phases of an ovulatory menstrual cycle. Cycle phases were confirmed by assaying plasma oestradiol and progesterone. Participants were subsequently randomly assigned to either a tricyclic oral contraceptive or placebo and retested in identical fashion (oral contraceptive phase).Results:Absolute and relative changes in Vo2maxfrom follicular to oral contraceptive phase decreased in the oral contraceptive group by 4.7%, whereas the placebo group showed a slight increase (+1.5%) over the same time period. Two of the women taking oral contraceptive had decreases of 4 and 9 ml/kg/min. In contrast, most women in the placebo group improved or maintained Vo2max. There was also a significant increase in the sum of skinfolds in women taking oral contraceptive compared with those taking placebo (p<0.01). There were no significant changes in other physiological variables (maximum ventilation, heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, packed cell volume) or measures of performance (anaerobic speed test, aerobic endurance, isokinetic strength) as a function of oral contraceptive treatment.Conclusions:The decrease in Vo2maxthat occurs when oral contraceptive is taken may influence elite sporting performance in some women. Further studies are required to determine the mechanisms of this change.
Evaluation of cricket helmet performance and comparison with baseball and ice hockey helmets
Authors: McIntosh A S , Janda D 
Published: July 2003

Background:Protective helmets in sport are important for reducing the risk of head and facial injury. In cricket and other sports with projectiles, national test standards control the minimum helmet performance. However, there are few field data showing if helmets are effective in reducing head injury.Objectives:(a) To examine the performance of cricket helmets in laboratory tests; (b) to examine performance with regard to test standards, game hazards, and helmet construction; (c) to compare and contrast these findings with baseball and ice hockey helmets.Methods:Impact tests were conducted on a selection of helmet models: five cricket, two baseball, and two ice hockey. Ball to helmet impacts at speeds of 19, 27, 36, and 45 m/s were produced using an air cannon and a Hybrid III dummy headform and neck unit. Free fall drop tests with a rigid headform on to a selection of anvils (flat rigid, flat deformable, and hemispherical rigid) were conducted. Resultant headform acceleration was measured and compared between tests.Results:At the lower speed impacts, all helmets produced a good reduction in headform acceleration, and thus injury risk. At the higher speed impacts, the effectiveness was less. For example, the mean maximum headform accelerations for all cricket helmets at each speed were: 67, 160, 316, and 438gfor 19, 27, 36, and 45 m/s ball speeds respectively. Drop tests on to a hemispherical anvil produced the highest accelerations. The variation in performance increased as the magnitude of the impact energy increased, in both types of testing.Conclusions:The test method used for baseball helmets in which the projectile is fired at the helmet may be superior to helmet drop tests. Cricket helmet performance is satisfactory for low speed impacts, but not for impacts at higher, more realistic, speeds. Baseball and ice hockey helmets offer slightly better relative and absolute performance at the 27 m/s ball and puck impacts.
Effect of testosterone and endurance training on glycogen metabolism in skeletal muscle of chronic hyperglycaemic female rats
Authors: van Breda E , Keizer H , Kuipers H , Kranenburg G 
Published: July 2003

Objectives:To investigate in glycolytic and oxidative muscles of trained (nine weeks) and untrained hyperglycaemic female rats the effect of hyperandrogenicity and/or endurance training on energy metabolic properties.Methods:Glycogen content and activity of muscle enzymes with regulatory functions in glycogen synthesis were examined.Results:Testosterone treatment increased glycogen content of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles of hyperglycaemic sedentary (18% and 84% respectively) and hyperglycaemic trained (7% and 16% respectively) rats. In both types of muscle of the hyperglycaemic testosterone treated exercised subgroup, less depletion of glycogen was found than in the untreated group (38% and 87% for EDL and soleus respectively).Conclusions:The mechanisms by which training and/or hyperandrogenism alone or in combination elicits their specific effects are complex. Differences in sex, surgery, levels of hormones administered, and exercise model used may be the main reasons for the observed discrepancies. Conclusions from the results: (a) hyperandrogenism is not a primary cause of the development of insulin resistance; (b) glycogen content of slow and fast twitch muscle is increased by training through increased glycogen synthase activity. The most plausible explanation for differences between different muscle fibre types is the different levels of expression of androgen receptors in these fibres. Hyperandrogenicity therefore acts on energy metabolic variables of hyperglycaemic animals by different mechanisms in glycolytic and oxidative muscle fibres.
Time-Complexity of the Word Problem for Semigroups and the Higman Embedding Theorem
Authors: Birget Jean-Camille 
Published: July 2003

The following algebraic characterization of the computational complexity of the word problem for finitely generated semigroups is proved, in the form of a refinement of the Higman Embedding Theorem: Let S be a finitely generated semigroup whose word problem has nondeterministic time complexity T (where T is a function on the positive integers which is superadditive, i.e. T(n+m) ≥T(n)+T(m)). Then S can be embedded in a finitely presented semigroup H in which the derivation distance between any two equivalent words x and y (and hence the isoperimetric function) is O (T(∣x∣+∣y∣)2). Moreover, there is a conjunctive linear-time reduction from the word problem of H to the word problem of S, so the word problems of S and H have the same nondeterministic time complexity (and also the same deterministic time complexity). Thus, a finitely generated semigroup S has a word problem in NTIME(T) (or in DTIME(To)) iff S is embeddable into a finitely presented semigroup H whose word problem is in NTIME(T) (respectively in DTIME(To)). In the other direction, if a finitely generated semigroup S is embeddable in a finitely presented semigroup H with isoperimetric function ≤ D (where D(n) ≥ n), then the word problem of S has nondeterministic time complexity O(D). The word problem of a finitely generated semigroup S is in NP (or more generally, in NTIME((T) O(1) )) iff S can be embedded in a finitely presented semigroup H with polynomial (respectively (T) O(1) ) isoperimetric function. An algorithmic problem L is in NP (or more generally, in NTIME((T) O(1) )) iff L is reducible (via a linear-time one-to-one reduction) to the word problem of a finitely presented semigroup with polynomial (respectively (T) O(1) ) isoperimetric function. In essence, this shows: (1) Finding embeddings into finitely presented semigroups or groups is an algebraic analogue of nondeterministic algorithm design; (2) the isoperimetric function is an algebraic analogue of nondeterministic time complexity.
A Greatest Common Divisor Algorithm
Authors: Belenkiy Ari , Vidunas Raimundas 
Published: July 2003

Algorithms of computation of the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) of two integers play a principal role in all computational systems dealing with rational arithmetic. The simplest one (Euclidean) is not the best for large numbers (see D. E. Knuth's book "The Art of Computer Programming" for details). One improvement was suggested by D. H. Lehmer in 1938 who noticed that it is possible to run the Euclidean algorithm with a few leading digits of large numbers and, with some care, still obtain the correct answer. In the 70's G. E. Collins pointed out that Lehmer's algorithm simultaneously analyzed two similar sequences of numbers and hence did twice as much work as necessary. Collins found a way to work with only one sequence of numbers together with a verification of a certain inequality. The proof of the validity of this inequality is, perhaps, too complicated. We present a similar but softer inequality and give a short and simple proof thereof.
Process Capability Studies for Short Production Runs
Authors: Deleryd Mats , Vännman Kerstin 
Published: July 2003

The current trend in modern production is directed towards shorter and shorter production runs. The two major reasons causing this trend are the rapid spread of the just in time (JIT) philosophy and the constantly increasing multiplicity of customer demands. The short runs of modern production not only constitute a challenge for production management, but they also cause some problems when applying traditional statistical methods, designed to be used for large sets of data. One of these methods is process capability studies. Since theories on how to use process capability studies in short production environments are incomplete, the aim of this paper is to present some ideas which will partly fill this gap. The theories of process capability studies for short runs presented are based on ideas of focusing on the process, not on the products, and on using data transformation. By using the transformation presented, it is possible to conduct process capability studies in a traditional straightforward manner. A simulation study shows that the suggested transformation technique works satisfactorily in real situations. Finally, the [Formula: see text]-plot is introduced as a method of interpreting and analyzing the capability of a short run production process. By using the [Formula: see text]-plot, additional information is obtained concerning the capability of a process, compared to using traditional process capability indices only.
Assertive outreach teams in London: Models of operation
Authors: Wright Christine , Burns Tom , James Peter , Billings Joanne , Johnson Sonia , Muijen Matt , Priebe Stefan , Ryrie Iain , Watts Joanna , White Ian 
Published: July 2003

BackgroundAssertive outreach teams have been introduced in the UK, based on the assertive community treatment (ACT) model. It is unclear how models of community care translate from one culture to another or the degree of adaptation that may result.AimsTo characterise London assertive outreach teams and determine whether there are distinct groups within them.MethodSemi-structured interviews with team managers plus one month's prospective process of care data collection were used to test for ‘model fidelity'to ACT and, by cluster analysis, to identify groupings.ResultsFidelity varied widely, with four teams (out of 24 studied) rated ‘high fidelity’ and three teams rated ‘low fidelity’ by US standards and 17 rated ‘ACT-like’. Three clusters were identified, with voluntary sector teams being the most distinct group.ConclusionsThere is wide variation in the practice of assertive outreach in London. The role of the voluntary sector requires increased attention. Heterogeneity in practice is a clinical challenge but a research opportunity in distinguishing effective from redundant components of the approach.
Care Programme Approach – documentation of past risk-related behaviour
Authors: Dick Peter , Durham Tessa , Stewart Mitchell , Kane Scott , Duffy Jim 
Published: July 2003

Aims and MethodThe aim of the study was to assess the practicality of extracting past risk-related information from case records and to assess how this process might be cost-effectively incorporated in routine practice. Case records of 43 patients referred to the Care Programme Approach in Dundee were examined.ResultsOur study yielded relevant information – 39% of patients had a history of violence, 58% of self-harm or suicide, 58% of severe self-neglect and 72% of non-compliance with medication. However, it took an average of 5 hours to conduct a thorough review of each case because the notes were bulky and poorly organised.Clinical ImplicationsRetrospective review of conventional case records in routine practice is likely to be incomplete and misleading. Prospective recording should be practicable if used selectively, but requires a standardised approach to clinical recording and case note maintenance. The risk recording system we developed, incorporating a dated index of incidents by risk category, followed by brief summaries of each incident, provides key clinical information not available from a simple check list while not sacrificing brevity.
Patient, client or service user? A survey of patient preferences of dress and address of six mental health professions
Authors: Mcguire-Snieckus Rebecca , Mccabe Rosemarie , Priebe Stefan 
Published: July 2003

Aims and MethodA positive therapeutic relationship is essential to psychiatry and should take into account patients' preferences. Preferences of 133 community care patients were surveyed regarding dress and forms of address of six professions. Participants' sex, age, ethnicity and diagnosis were recorded.ResultsNinety-eight per cent of participants expressed a preference. While most preferred to be called ‘patients' by general practitioners (75%) and psychiatrists (67%), there was no statistically significant difference in preference for the term ‘patient’ or ‘client’ when used by community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists or social workers. Participants over the age of 40 preferred the term ‘client’. Asymmetrical relationships were preferred with general practitioners and psychiatrists, evidenced by a preference to be addressed by first name (71% and 68%, respectively), to address the professional by title (81% and 80%, respectively), and the professional to be ‘smartly’ dressed (67% and 66%, respectively).Clinical ImplicationsA more differentiated approach may be suggested by taking professional background and some demographic characteristics into consideration.