422 research outputs found
Perceptions of oral health adequacy and access in Michigan nursing facilities
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72951/1/j.1741-2358.2007.00202.x.pd
Extended phase space thermodynamics for charged and rotating black holes and Born-Infeld vacuum polarization
We investigate the critical behaviour of charged and rotating AdS black holes
in d spacetime dimensions, including effects from non-linear electrodynamics
via the Born-Infeld action, in an extended phase space in which the
cosmological constant is interpreted as thermodynamic pressure. For
Reissner-Nordstrom black holes we find that the analogy with the Van der Walls
liquid-gas system holds in any dimension greater than three, and that the
critical exponents coincide with those of the Van der Waals system. We find
that neutral slowly rotating black holes in four space-time dimensions also
have the same qualitative behaviour. However charged and rotating black holes
in three spacetime dimensions do not exhibit critical phenomena. For
Born-Infeld black holes we define a new thermodynamic quantity B conjugate to
the Born-Infeld parameter b that we call Born-Infeld vacuum polarization. We
demonstrate that this quantity is required for consistency of both the first
law of thermodynamics and the corresponding Smarr relation.Comment: 23 pages, 32 figures, v2: minor changes, upgraded reference
Schoolgirlsâ experience and appraisal of menstrual absorbents in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional evaluation of reusable sanitary pads
BACKGROUND:
Governments, multinational organisations, and charities have commenced the distribution of sanitary products to address current deficits in girlsâ menstrual management. The few effectiveness studies conducted have focused on health and education outcomes but have failed to provide quantitative assessment of girlsâ preferences, experiences of absorbents, and comfort. Objectives of the study were, first, to quantitatively describe girlsâ experiences with, and ratings of reliability and acceptability of different menstrual absorbents. Second, to compare ratings of freely-provided reusable pads (AFRIpads) to other existing methods of menstrual management. Finally, to assess differences in self-reported freedom of activity during menses according to menstrual absorbent.
// METHODS:
Cross-sectional, secondary analysis of data from the final survey of a controlled trial of reusable sanitary padand puberty education provision was undertaken. Participants were 205 menstruating schoolgirls from eight schools in rural Uganda. 72 girls who reported using the intervention-provided reusable pads were compared to those using existing improvised methods (predominately new or old cloth).
// RESULTS:
Schoolgirls using reusable pads provided significantly higher ratings of perceived absorbent reliability across activities, less difficulties changing absorbents, and less disgust with cleaning absorbents. There were no significant differences in reports of outside garment soiling (OR 1.00 95%CI 0.51â1.99), or odour (0.84 95%CI 0.40â1.74) during the last menstrual period. When girls were asked if menstruation caused them to miss daily activities there were no differences between those using reusable pads and those using other existing methods. However, when asked about activities avoided during menstruation, those using reusable pads participated less in physical sports, working in the field, fetching water, and cooking.
// CONCLUSIONS:
Reusable pads were rated favourably. This translated into some benefits for self-reported involvement in daily activities, although reports of actual soiling and missing activities due to menstruation did not differ. More research is needed comparing the impact of menstrual absorbents on girlsâ daily activities, and validating outcome measures for menstrual management research
Synthesis of C6-modified mannose 1-phosphates and evaluation of derived sugar nucleotides against GDP-mannose dehydrogenase.
Sufferers of cystic fibrosis are at significant risk of contracting chronic bacterial lung infections. The dominant pathogen in these cases is mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Such infections are characterised by overproduction of the exopolysaccharide alginate. We present herein the design and chemoenzymatic synthesis of sugar nucleotide tools to probe a critical enzyme within alginate biosynthesis, GDP-mannose dehydrogenase (GMD). We first synthesise C6-modified glycosyl 1-phosphates, incorporating 6-amino, 6-chloro and 6-sulfhydryl groups, followed by their evaluation as substrates for enzymatic pyrophosphorylative coupling. The development of this methodology enables access to GDP 6-chloro-6-deoxy-áŽ
-mannose and its evaluation against GMD
Results of the randomized phase IIB ARCTIC trial of low dose Rituximab in previously untreated CLL
ARCTIC was a multi-center, randomized-controlled, open, phase IIB non-inferiority trial in previously untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Conventional frontline therapy in fit patients is fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR). The trial hypothesized that including mitoxantrone with low-dose rituximab (FCM-miniR) would be non-inferior to FCR. 200 patients were recruited to assess the primary endpoint of complete remission (CR) rates according to IWCLL criteria. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), overall response rate, minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, safety and cost-effectiveness. The trial closed following the pre-planned interim analysis. At final analysis, CR rates were 76% FCR vs 55% FCM-miniR [adjusted odds-ratio: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.19â0.73]. MRD-negativity rates were 54% FCR vs 44% FCM-miniR. More participants experienced Serious Adverse Reactions with FCM-miniR (49%) compared to FCR (41%). There are no significant differences between the treatment groups for PFS and OS. FCM-miniR is not expected to be cost-effective over a lifetime horizon. In summary, FCM-miniR is less well tolerated than FCR with an inferior response and MRD-negativity rate and increased toxicity, and will not be taken forward into a confirmatory trial. The trial demonstrated that oral FCR yields high response rates compared to historical series with intravenous chemotherapy
P-V criticality of charged AdS black holes
Treating the cosmological constant as a thermodynamic pressure and its
conjugate quantity as a thermodynamic volume, we reconsider the critical
behaviour of charged AdS black holes. We complete the analogy of this system
with the liquid-gas system and study its critical point, which occurs at the
point of divergence of specific heat at constant pressure. We calculate the
critical exponents and show that they coincide with those of the Van der Waals
system.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, v2:added reference
CHY representations for gauge theory and gravity amplitudes with up to three massive particles
We show that a wide class of tree-level scattering amplitudes involving
scalars, gauge bosons, and gravitons, up to three of which may be massive, can
be expressed in terms of a Cachazo-He-Yuan representation as a sum over
solutions of the scattering equations. These amplitudes, when expressed in
terms of the appropriate kinematic invariants, are independent of the masses
and therefore identical to the corresponding massless amplitudes.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figure; v2: minor typos corrected, published versio
A qualitative understanding of the effects of reusable sanitary pads and puberty education: Implications for future research and practice
BACKGROUND: The management of menstruation has come to the fore as a barrier to girlsâ education attainment in
low income contexts. Interventions have been proposed and piloted, but the emerging nature of the field means
limited evidence is available to understand their pathways of effect.
// METHODS: This study describes and compares schoolgirlsâ experiences of menstruation in rural Uganda at the
conclusion of a controlled trial of puberty education and sanitary pad provision to elucidate pathways of effect in
the interventions. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with schoolgirls who participated in the
Menstruation and the Cycle of Poverty trial concurrent with the final set of quantitative surveys. A framework
approach and cross-case analysis were employed to describe and compare the experiences of 27 menstruating girls
across the four intervention conditions; education (n = 8), reusable sanitary pads (n = 8), education with reusable
sanitary pads (n = 6), and control (n = 5).
// RESULTS: Themes included: menstrual hygiene, soiling, irritation and infection, physical experience, knowledge of
menstruation, psychological, social and cultural factors, and support from others. Those receiving reusable pads
experienced improvements in comfort and reliability. This translated into reduced fears around garment soiling and
related school absenteeism. Other menstrual hygiene challenges of washing, drying and privacy remained
prominent. Puberty education improved girlsâ confidence to discuss menstruation and prompted additional support
from teachers and peers.
// CONCLUSIONS: Findings have important implications for the development and evaluation of future interventions. Results
suggest the provision of menstrual absorbents addresses one core barrier to menstrual health, but that interventions
addressing broader needs such as privacy may improve effectiveness. Puberty education sessions should increase
attention to body awareness and include strategies to address a wider range of practical menstrual challenges, including
pain management. Interviews revealed possibilities for improving quantitative surveys in future research
An assessment of validity and responsiveness of generic measures of health-related quality of life in hearing impairment
This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. This article is distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, provided the original
author(s) and the source are credited.Purpose: This review examines psychometric performance of three widely used generic preference-based measures, that is, EuroQol 5 dimensions (EQ-5D), Health Utility Index 3 (HUI3) and Short-form 6 dimensions (SF-6D) in patients with hearing impairments.
Methods: A systematic search was undertaken to identify studies of patients with hearing impairments where health state utility values were measured and reported. Data were extracted and analysed to assess the reliability, validity (known group differences and convergent validity) and responsiveness of the measures across hearing impairments.
Results: Fourteen studies (18 papers) were included in the review. HUI3 was the most commonly used utility measures in hearing impairment. In all six studies, the HUI3 detected difference between groups defined by the severity of impairment, and four out of five studies detected statistically significant changes as a result of intervention. The only study available suggested that EQ-5D only had weak ability to discriminate difference between severity groups, and in four out of five studies, EQ-5D failed to detected changes. Only one study involved the SF-6D; thus, the information is too limited to conclude on its performance. Also evidence for the reliability of these measures was not found.
Conclusion: Overall, the validity and responsiveness of the HUI3 in hearing impairment was good. The responsiveness of EQ-5D was relatively poor and weak validity was suggested by limited evidence. The evidence on SF-6D was too limited to make any judgment. More head-to-head comparisons of these and other preference measures of health are required.Medical Research Counci
The double burden of obesity and malnutrition in a protracted emergency setting: a cross-sectional study of Western Sahara refugees.
Households from vulnerable groups experiencing epidemiological transitions are known to be affected concomitantly by under-nutrition and obesity. Yet, it is unknown to what extent this double burden affects refugee populations dependent on food assistance. We assessed the double burden of malnutrition among Western Sahara refugees living in a protracted emergency
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