Embedded motivational interviewing combined with a smartphone app to increase physical activity in people with sub-acute low back pain: study protocol of a cluster randomised control trial

Background: Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based, client-centred counselling technique that has been used effectively to increase physical activity, including for people with low back pain. One barrier to implementing Motivational Interviewing in health care settings more broadly is the extra treatment time with therapists. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of a cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of an intervention that pairs Motivational Interviewing embedded into usual physiotherapy care with a specifically designed app to increase physical activity in people with sub-acute low back pain. Methods: The study is a cluster randomised controlled in which patients aged over 18 years who have sub-acute low back pain (3–12 weeks duration) are recruited from four public hospital outpatient clinics. Based on the recruitment site, participants either receive usual physiotherapy care or the Motivational Interviewing intervention over 6 consecutive weekly outpatient sessions with a specifically designed app designed to facilitate participant-led physical activity behaviour change in between sessions. Outcome measures assessed at baseline and 7 weeks are: physical activity as measured by accelerometer (primary outcome), and pain-related activity restriction and pain self-efficacy (secondary outcomes). Postintervention interviews with physiotherapists and participants will be conducted as part of a process evaluation. Discussion: This intervention, which comprises trained physiotherapists conducting conversations about increasing physical activity with their patients in a manner consistent with Motivational Interviewing as part of usual care combined with a specifically designed app, has potential to facilitate behaviour change with minimal extra therapist time

Internal Structure Evaluation of Three-Dimensional Calcium Phosphate Bone Scaffolds: A Micro-Computed Tomographic Study

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66317/1/j.1551-2916.2006.01143.x.pd

Using a hypothetical scenario to assess public preferences for colorectal surveillance following screening-detected, intermediate-risk adenomas: annual home-based stool test vs. triennial colonoscopy

Background To assess public preferences for colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance tests for intermediate-risk adenomas, using a hypothetical scenario. Methods Adults aged 45–54 years without CRC were identified from three General Practices in England (two in Cumbria, one in London). A postal survey was carried out during a separate study on preferences for different first-line CRC screening modalities (non- or full-laxative computed tomographic colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy). Individuals were allocated at random to receive a pack containing information on one first-line test, and a paragraph describing CRC surveillance recommendations for people who are diagnosed with intermediate-risk adenomas during screening. All participants received a description of two surveillance options: annual single-sample, home-based stool testing (consistent with Faecal Immunochemical Tests; FIT) or triennial colonoscopy. Invitees were asked to imagine they had been diagnosed with intermediate-risk adenomas, and then complete a questionnaire on their surveillance preferences. Results 22.1 % (686/3,100) questionnaires were returned. 491 (15.8 %) were eligible for analysis. The majority of participants stated a surveillance preference for the stool test over colonoscopy (60.8 % vs 31.0 %; no preference: 8.1 %; no surveillance: 0.2 %). Women were more likely to prefer the stool test than men (66.7 % vs. 53.6 %; p = .011). The primary reason for preferring the stool test was that it would be done more frequently. The main reason to prefer colonoscopy was its superiority at finding polyps. Conclusions A majority of participants stated a preference for a surveillance test resembling FIT over colonoscopy. Future research should test whether this translates to greater adherence in a real surveillance setting

Oxygen diffusion in alpha-Al2O3

Oxygen self diffusion coefficients were determined in single crystal alpha-Al2O3 using the gas exchange technique. The samples were semi-infinite slabs cut from five different boules with varying background impurities. The diffusion direction was parallel to the c-axis. The tracer profiles were determined by two techniques, single spectrum proton activation and secondary ion mass spectrometry. The SIMS proved to be a more useful tool. The determined diffusion coefficients, which were insensitive to impurity levels and oxygen partial pressure, could be described by D = .00151 exp (-572kJ/RT) sq m/s. The insensitivities are discussed in terms of point defect clustering. Two independent models are consistent with the findings, the first considers the clusters as immobile point defect traps which buffer changes in the defect chemistry. The second considers clusters to be mobile and oxygen diffusion to be intrinsic behavior, the mechanism for oxygen transport involving neutral clusters of Schottky quintuplets

Increased osteoblast adhesion on nanograined hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate containing calcium titanate

Depending on the coating method utilized and subsequent heat treatments (such as through the use of plasma-spray deposition), inter-diffusion of atomic species across titanium (Ti) and hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings may result. These events may lead to structural and compositional changes that consequently cause unanticipated HA phase transformations which may clearly influence the performance of an orthopedic implant. Thus, the objective of the present in vitro study was to compare the cytocompatibility properties of chemistries that may form at the Ti:HA interface, specifically HA, tricalcium phosphate (TCP), HA doped with Ti, and those containing calcium titanate (CaTiO 3 ). In doing so, results of this study showed that osteoblast (bone-forming cells) adhesion increased with greater CaTiO 3 substitutions in either HA or TCP. Specifically, osteoblast adhesion on HA and TCP composites with CaTiO 3 was almost 4.5 times higher than that over pure HA. Material characterization studies revealed that enhanced osteoblast adhesion on these compacts may be due to increasing shrinkage in the unit lattice parameters and decreasing grain size. Although all CaTiO 3 composites exhibited excellent osteoblast adhesion results, Ca 9 HPO 4 (PO 4 ) 5 OH phase transformation into TCP/CaTiO 3 increased osteoblast adhesion the most; because of these reasons, these materials should be further studied for orthopedic applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2006Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55979/1/30923_ftp.pd

Negative thermal expansion artificial material from iron-nickel alloys by oxide co-extrusion with reductive sintering

Objects with a fine-scale design of bimetallic beams can display negative thermal expansion. Based on a unit cell design for a negative expansion, produced by Optimal Design methods, we fabricate a thermoelastic “artificial material” using coextrusion of iron and nickel oxides, followed by reductive sintering. A bulk sample with 162 unit cells from Fe-60Ni and Fe-36Ni alloys displayed a thermal expansion coefficient of −3.0 × 10 −6 /°C, in agreement with the optimal design prediction.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44777/1/10853_2004_Article_5277020.pd

Variable Dielectrics in the Calcium Magnesium Titanate System Characterized with Scanning Microwave Microscopy

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65839/1/j.1551-2916.2006.00962.x.pd

Exploring Agricultural Production Systems and Their Fundamental Components with System Dynamics Modelling

Agricultural production in the United States is undergoing marked changes due to rapid shifts in consumer demands, input costs, and concerns for food safety and environmental impact. Agricultural production systems are comprised of multidimensional components and drivers that interact in complex ways to influence production sustainability. In a mixed-methods approach, we combine qualitative and quantitative data to develop and simulate a system dynamics model that explores the systemic interaction of these drivers on the economic, environmental and social sustainability of agricultural production. We then use this model to evaluate the role of each driver in determining the differences in sustainability between three distinct production systems: crops only, livestock only, and an integrated crops and livestock system. The result from these modelling efforts found that the greatest potential for sustainability existed with the crops only production system. While this study presents a stand-alone contribution to sector knowledge and practice, it encourages future research in this sector that employs similar systems-based methods to enable more sustainable practices and policies within agricultural production

Prediction of ceramic stereolithography resin sensitivity from theory and measurement of diffusive photon transport

A general, quantitative relationship between the photon-transport mean free path (l*)(l*) and resin sensitivity (DP)(DP) in multiple-scattering alumina/monomer suspensions formulated for ceramic stereolithography is presented and experimentally demonstrated. A Mie-theory-based computational method with structure factor contributions to determine l*l* was developed. Planar-source diffuse transmittance experiments were performed on monodisperse and bimodal polystyrene/water and alumina/monomer systems to validate this computational tool. The experimental data support the application of this l*l* calculation method to concentrated suspensions composed of nonaggregating particles of moderately aspherical shape and log-normal size distribution. The values of DPDP are shown to be approximately five times that of l*l* in the tested ceramic stereolithography suspensions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87411/2/024902_1.pd

Photolithographic micromolding of ceramics using plasma etched polyimide patterns

Features as fine as 4 μm with high aspect ratio were produced from ceria‐zirconia ceramic using a thick plasma‐etched polyimide layer as a micromold.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70009/2/APPLAB-63-24-3379-1.pd