The effect of high dose antibiotic impregnated cement on rate of surgical site infection after hip hemiarthroplasty for fractured neck of femur : a protocol for a double-blind quasi randomised controlled trial

Background: Mortality following hip hemiarthroplasty is in the range of 10-40% in the first year, with much attributed to post-operative complications. One such complication is surgical site infection (SSI), which at the start of this trial affected 4.68% of patients in the UK having this operation. Compared to SSI rates of elective hip surgery, at less than 1%, this figure is elevated. The aim of this quasi randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to determine if high dose antibiotic impregnated cement can reduce the SSI in patients at 12-months after hemiarthroplasty for intracapsular fractured neck of femur. Methods: 848 patients with an intracapsular fractured neck of femur requiring a hip hemiarthroplasty are been recruited into this two-centre double-blind quasi RCT. Participants were recruited before surgery and quasi randomised to standard care or intervention group. Participants, statistician and outcome assessors were blind to treatment allocation throughout the study. The intervention consisted of high dose antibiotic impregnated cement consisting of 1 gram Clindamycin and 1 gram of Gentamicin. The primary outcome is Health Protection Agency (HPA) defined deep surgical site infection at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include HPA defined superficial surgical site infection at 30 days, 30 and 90-day mortality, length of hospital stay, critical care stay, and complications. Discussion: Large randomised controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of a surgical intervention are uncommon, particularly in the speciality of orthopaedics. The results from this trial will inform evidence-based recommendations for antibiotic impregnated cement in the management of patients with a fractured neck of femur undergoing a hip hemiarthroplasty. If high dose antibiotic impregnated cement is found to be an effective intervention, implementation into clinical practice could improve long-term outcomes for patients undergoing hip hemiarthroplasty

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three: A global synthesis

This ISAAC Phase Three synthesis provides summarised information on the main findings of the study, regional tables and figures related to the prevalence and severity of current symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in the main regions of the world. The large number of surveyed children (≈1,200,000), the large number of centres (233) and countries (98) that participated in ISAAC Phase Three makes this study the most comprehensive survey of these diseases ever undertaken. Globally, the prevalence for current asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in the 13-14-year age group was 14.1%, 14.6% and 7.3%, respectively. In the 6-7-year age group the prevalence for current asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema was 11.7%, 8.5% and 7.9%, respectively. The study shows a wide variability in the prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema which occurs not just between regions and countries but between centres in the same country and centres in the same city. This study definitively establishes that the prevalence of those diseases can be very high in non-affluent centres with low socioeconomic conditions. The large variability also suggests a crucial role of local environment characteristics to determine the differences in prevalence between one place and another. Thus, ISAAC Phase Three has provided a large body of epidemiological information on asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in childhood from contrasting environments which is expected to yield new clues about the aetiology of those conditions and reasons for their marked global variability. © 2012 SEICAP

Towards a better understanding of custodian farmers and their roles: insights from a case study in Cachilaya, Bolivia.

This publication is the result of a research collaboration between Bioversity International and the Fundación para la Promoción e Investigación de Productos Andinos (PROINPA). It deals with issues regarding on-farm conservation of agrobiodiversity, which is a poorly addressed field of research in spite of its pivotal role in the maintenance of global crop diversity. Strategic actors in on-farm conservation are those farmers who, for various reasons, distinguish themselves from others by their contribution to conserving crop diversity. We call them ‘custodian famers’, even though the terminology may not be suitable to all social contexts. Understanding who these custodian farmers are, their presence over the territory, the types of crops they maintain, why and how, as well as gaining insights on the cultural, social and economic drivers behind their efforts is, for scientists, a very important step in devising effective on-farm conservation strategies and this booklet is a contribution in that direction. The open-ended interviews and participant observation methodologies provided in this study are helpful in guiding future methodological approaches and advancing our understanding of how the roles of custodian farmers can be better recognized, harnessed and supported by society. This work has been carried out in the framework of a major global UN Project supported by IFAD and the European Commission, which is focusing on the development of innovative participatory approaches for the conservation of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) on farm

A New Approach to Analyzing Patterns of Collaboration in Co-authorship Networks - Mesoscopic Analysis and Interpretation

This paper focuses on methods to study patterns of collaboration in co-authorship networks at the mesoscopic level. We combine qualitative methods (participant interviews) with quantitative methods (network analysis) and demonstrate the application and value of our approach in a case study comparing three research fields in chemistry. A mesoscopic level of analysis means that in addition to the basic analytic unit of the individual researcher as node in a co-author network, we base our analysis on the observed modular structure of co-author networks. We interpret the clustering of authors into groups as bibliometric footprints of the basic collective units of knowledge production in a research specialty. We find two types of coauthor-linking patterns between author clusters that we interpret as representing two different forms of cooperative behavior, transfer-type connections due to career migrations or one-off services rendered, and stronger, dedicated inter-group collaboration. Hence the generic coauthor network of a research specialty can be understood as the overlay of two distinct types of cooperative networks between groups of authors publishing in a research specialty. We show how our analytic approach exposes field specific differences in the social organization of research.Comment: An earlier version of the paper was presented at ISSI 2009, 14-17 July, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Revised version accepted on 2 April 2010 for publication in Scientometrics. Removed part on node-role connectivity profile analysis after finding error in calculation and deciding to postpone analysis

On the recent star formation history of the Milky Way disk

We have derived the star formation history of the Milky Way disk over the last 2 Gyr from the age distribution diagram of a large sample of open clusters comprising more than 580 objects. By interpreting the age distribution diagram using numerical results from an extensive library of N-body calculations carried out during the last ten years, we reconstruct the recent star formation history of the Milky Way disk. Our analysis suggests that superimposed on a relatively small level of constant star formation activity mainly in small-N star clusters, the star formation rate has experienced at least 5 episodes of enhanced star formation lasting about 0.2 Gyr with production of larger clusters. This cyclic behavior seems to show a period of 0.4+/-0.1 Gyr.Comment: Abridged abstract. Accepted by New Astronomy. Major changes. A number of figures have been added in order to improve the discussion on error

A Shared Global Heritage. Architectural History, Conservation, and Preservation

A series of studies on fascinating cases in architectural history, the essays in this collection reveal the complexity of the current issues in the field, draw attention to the value of architectural heritage and the risks it faces, and suggest possible interpretations as well as alternative methods in the preservation, conservation, reconstruction, and use of architectural heritage. Each essayist has been in residence at Columbia's Italian Academy with a fellowship supported by the Sidney J. Weinberg Jr. Foundation. Edited by B. Faedda Authors: S. Al-Qaisi, P. Aykac, S. Crane, G. de Felice, D. La Monica, F. Marcorin, C. Ruggero, A. Zunic

Palynological and chemical volatile components of tipically autumnal honeys of the western Mediterranean

[EN] Twenty-five samples of autumnal honeys from the western Mediterranean (Mallorca and Eivissa, Balearic Islands) were examined for pollen content (qualitative and quantitative melissopalynological analysis), moisture, electrical conductivity, colour, sensorial qualities and volatile components. Quantitative analysis showed that the honey contained Maurizio's Class II: 64%, Class III: 28%, Class IV: 4% and Class V: 4%. Fifty-four pollen types, with an average number of 16.68 per sample, were identified, belonging to 29 botanical families. Only two taxa (Ceratonia siliqua and Erica multiflora) were found in all samples. Seventeen samples were unifloral (68%) - ten (40%) of C. siliqua, six (24%) of E. multiflora and one (4%) of Hedera helix. All honeys have a low honeydew index (<?0.09%), while the values for electrical conductivity and water content were high. The major honey volatile components are: cis- and trans-linalool oxides (64.2%) and hotrienol (10.4%) for the carob (C. siliqua) and trans-linalool oxide (13.4%), p-menthane-1,8-diol (11.1%), safranal (9.7%), limonene (5,4%), -pinene (3.7%) and oxoisophorone (3.4%) for the winter heather (E. multiflora).The authors would like to extend their gratitude to the Mallorca Rural 'Leader plus' programme and the beekeepers of Mallorca and Eivissa for their support and friendly collaboration. The authors also thank an anonymous reviewer for useful comments and suggestions on an earlier version of the manuscript.Boi, M.; Llorens Molina, JA.; Cortés, L.; Lladó, G.; Llorens, L. (2013). Palynological and chemical volatile components of tipically autumnal honeys of the western Mediterranean. Grana. 52(2):93-105. doi:10.1080/00173134.2012.744774S93105522Andrade, P. B., Amaral, M. T., Isabel, P., Carvalho, J. C. M. F., Seabra, R. M., & Proença da Cunha, A. (1999). Physicochemical attributes and pollen spectrum of Portuguese heather honeys. Food Chemistry, 66(4), 503-510. doi:10.1016/s0308-8146(99)00100-4Anklam, E. (1998). A review of the analytical methods to determine the geographical and botanical origin of honey. Food Chemistry, 63(4), 549-562. doi:10.1016/s0308-8146(98)00057-0Bosch, J., Del Pino, F. G., Ramoneda, J., & Retana, J. (1996). FRUITING PHENOLOGY AND FRUIT SET OF CAROB, CERATONIA SILIQUA L. (CESALPINACEAE). Israel Journal of Plant Sciences, 44(4), 359-368. doi:10.1080/07929978.1996.10676657Bouseta, A., Collin, S., & Dufour, J.-P. (1992). Characteristic aroma profiles of unifloral honeys obtained with a dynamic headspace GC-MS system. Journal of Apicultural Research, 31(2), 96-109. doi:10.1080/00218839.1992.11101268Cajka, T., Hajslova, J., Pudil, F., & Riddellova, K. (2009). Traceability of honey origin based on volatiles pattern processing by artificial neural networks. Journal of Chromatography A, 1216(9), 1458-1462. doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2008.12.066Castro-Vázquez, L., Díaz-Maroto, M. C., González-Viñas, M. A., & Pérez-Coello, M. S. (2009). Differentiation of monofloral citrus, rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, thyme and heather honeys based on volatile composition and sensory descriptive analysis. Food Chemistry, 112(4), 1022-1030. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.06.036Conti, M. E., Stripeikis, J., Campanella, L., Cucina, D., & Tudino, M. B. (2007). Characterization of Italian honeys (Marche Region) on the basis of their mineral content and some typical quality parameters. Chemistry Central Journal, 1(1). doi:10.1186/1752-153x-1-14Custódio, L., Serra, H., Nogueira, J. M. F., Gonçalves, S., & Romano, A. (2006). Analysis of the Volatiles Emitted by Whole Flowers and Isolated Flower Organs of the Carob Tree Using HS-SPME-GC/MS. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 32(5), 929-942. doi:10.1007/s10886-006-9044-9Cuevas-Glory, L., Ortiz-Vázquez, E., Pino, J. A., & Sauri-Duch, E. (2012). Floral classification of Yucatan Peninsula honeys by PCA & HS-SPME/GC-MS of volatile compounds. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 47(7), 1378-1383. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2012.02983.xDe Bolòs, O., & Molinier, R. (1984). Vegetation of the Pityusic Islands. Biogeography and Ecology of the Pityusic Islands, 185-221. doi:10.1007/978-94-009-6539-3_9De Maria, C. A. B., & Moreira, R. F. A. (2003). Compostos voláteis em méis florais. Química Nova, 26(1), 90-96. doi:10.1590/s0100-40422003000100016Guyot, C., Scheirman, V., & Collin, S. (1999). Floral origin markers of heather honeys: Calluna vulgaris and Erica arborea. Food Chemistry, 64(1), 3-11. doi:10.1016/s0308-8146(98)00122-8Herrera, J. (1988). Pollination Relationships in Southern Spanish Mediterranean Shrublands. The Journal of Ecology, 76(1), 274. doi:10.2307/2260469Jerković, I., & Marijanović, Z. (2010). Volatile Composition Screening of Salix spp. Nectar Honey: Benzenecarboxylic Acids, Norisoprenoids, Terpenes, and Others. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 7(9), 2309-2325. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201000021Jones, G. D., & Bryant, Jr, V. M. (2004). The use of ETOH for the dilution of honey. Grana, 43(3), 174-182. doi:10.1080/00173130410019497Kummerow, J. (1983). Comparative Phenology of Mediterranean-Type Plant Communities. Ecological Studies, 300-317. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-68935-2_17La‐Serna Ramos, I. E., & GÓmez Ferreras, C. (2006). Pollen and sensorial characterization of different honeys from El Hierro (Canary Islands). Grana, 45(2), 146-159. doi:10.1080/00173130600578658Del Carmen Llasat, M., Ramis, C., & Barrantes, J. (1996). The meteorology of high‐intensity rainfall events over the west Mediterranean region. Remote Sensing Reviews, 14(1-3), 51-90. doi:10.1080/02757259609532313Louveaux, J., Maurizio, A., & Vorwohl, G. (1978). Methods of Melissopalynology. Bee World, 59(4), 139-157. doi:10.1080/0005772x.1978.11097714Martins, R. C., Lopes, V. V., Valentão, P., Carvalho, J. C. M. F., Isabel, P., Amaral, M. T., … Silva, B. M. (2008). Relevant principal component analysis applied to the characterisation of Portuguese heather honey. Natural Product Research, 22(17), 1560-1582. doi:10.1080/14786410701825004Melliou, E., & Chinou, I. (2011). Chemical constituents of selected unifloral Greek bee-honeys with antimicrobial activity. Food Chemistry, 129(2), 284-290. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.04.047Pendleton, M. (2006). Descriptions of melissopalynological methods involving centrifugation should include data for calculating Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF) or should express data in units of RCF or gravities (g). Grana, 45(1), 71-72. doi:10.1080/00173130500520479Pérez, R. A., Sánchez-Brunete, C., Calvo, R. M., & Tadeo, J. L. (2002). Analysis of Volatiles from Spanish Honeys by Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography−Mass Spectrometry. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50(9), 2633-2637. doi:10.1021/jf011551rPersano Oddo, L., Piana, L., Bogdanov, S., Bentabol, A., Gotsiou, P., Kerkvliet, J., … von der Ohe, K. (2004). Botanical species giving unifloral honey in Europe. Apidologie, 35(Suppl. 1), S82-S93. doi:10.1051/apido:2004045Persano Oddo, L., & Piro, R. (2004). Main European unifloral honeys: descriptive sheets. Apidologie, 35(Suppl. 1), S38-S81. doi:10.1051/apido:2004049Piana, M. L., Persano Oddo, L., Bentabol, A., Bruneau, E., Bogdanov, S., & Guyot Declerck, C. (2004). Sensory analysis applied to honey: state of the art. Apidologie, 35(Suppl. 1), S26-S37. doi:10.1051/apido:2004048Piasenzotto, L., Gracco, L., & Conte, L. (2003). Solid phase microextraction (SPME) applied to honey quality control. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 83(10), 1037-1044. doi:10.1002/jsfa.1502Radovic, B. S., Careri, M., Mangia, A., Musci, M., Gerboles, M., & Anklam, E. (2001). Contribution of dynamic headspace GC–MS analysis of aroma compounds to authenticity testing of honey. Food Chemistry, 72(4), 511-520. doi:10.1016/s0308-8146(00)00263-6RAMÓN-LACA, L., & MABBERLEY, D. J. (2004). The ecological status of the carob-tree (Ceratonia siliqua, Leguminosae) in the Mediterranean. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 144(4), 431-436. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2003.00254.xRetana, J., Ramoneda, J., Garcia Del Pino, F., & Bosch, J. (1994). Flowering phenology of carob,Ceratonia siliquaL. (Cesalpinaceae). Journal of Horticultural Science, 69(1), 97-103. doi:10.1080/14620316.1994.11515254Ricciardelli d’Albore, G. & Vorwohl, G. (1979). Mieles monoflorales en el Mediterráneo documentado con ayuda del análisis microscópico de mieles. Actas de XXVII Congreso Internacional de Apicultura, Athens, Greece, 14–20 September 1979, 201–208.Pilar de Sá‐Otero, M., Armesto‐Baztan, S., & DÍaz‐Losada, E. (2006). A study of variation in the pollen spectra of honeys sampled from the Baixa Limia‐Serra do Xurés Nature Reserve in north‐west Spain. Grana, 45(2), 137-145. doi:10.1080/00173130600708537Seijo, M. C., Jato, M. V., Aira, M. J., & Iglesias, I. (1997). Unifloral honeys of Galicia (north-west Spain). Journal of Apicultural Research, 36(3-4), 133-140. doi:10.1080/00218839.1997.11100939Terrab, A., Diez, M. J., & Heredia, F. J. (2003). Palynological, physico-chemical and colour characterization of Moroccan honeys: III. Other unifloral honey types. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 38(4), 395-402. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2621.2003.00713.xTERRAB, A., PONTES, A., HEREDIA, F. J., & DÍEZ, M. J. (2004). A preliminary palynological characterization of Spanish thyme honeys. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 146(3), 323-330. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2004.00335.xTerrab, A., Valdés, B., & Josefa Díez, M. (2003). Pollen analysis of honeys from the Mamora forest region (NW Morocco). Grana, 42(1), 47-54. doi:10.1080/00173130310008580Thompson, J. D. (2005). Plant Evolution in the Mediterranean. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198515340.001.0001Von Der Ohe, W., Persano Oddo, L., Piana, M. L., Morlot, M., & Martin, P. (2004). Harmonized methods of melissopalynology. Apidologie, 35(Suppl. 1), S18-S25. doi:10.1051/apido:2004050VORWOHL, G. (1964). DIE BEZIEHUNGEN ZWISCHEN DER ELEKTRISCHEN LEITFÄHIGKEIT DER HONIGE UND IHRER TRACHTMÄSSIGEN HERKUNFT. Annales de l’Abeille, 7(4), 301-309. doi:10.1051/apido:19640403Vorwohl, G. (1967). The microscopic analysis of honey, a comparison of its methods with those of the other branches of palynology. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 3(1-4), 287-290. doi:10.1016/0034-6667(67)90061-

Mammography stages of change in middle-aged women with schizophrenia: An exploratory analysis

BACKGROUND: Health care providers and educators who seek to create health promotion programs and individualized comprehensive care plans for women with schizophrenia are hindered by the lack of data to guide their efforts. PURPOSE: This study tested the hypothesis that women with schizophrenia adhere to mammography screening guidelines at the same rate as other same-age women. The study also investigated the validity of the Health Belief (HB) and Stages of Change (SOC) models for breast cancer screening among women with schizophrenia. METHODS: Socio-demographic and clinical variables, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and barriers were assessed as a function of stage of change related to breast cancer screening in 46 women with schizophrenia. RESULTS: Women with schizophrenia were statistically less likely to be adherent to the screening recommendations than those without schizophrenia. Some support was found for the validity of the HB and SOC models for breast cancer screening in women with schizophrenia. Women in the Precontemplation stage had significantly higher negative attitude scores compared to Contemplation and Action/Maintenance stages (59.7, 45.7, and 43.2, respectively), and there was a trend for more barriers in the Precontemplation group (4.6, 2.6, 2.7 respectively). CONCLUSION: Given the small sample size, further research on the rates of breast cancer screening in women with schizophrenia is warranted. Nonetheless, these data suggest that providers who care for women with schizophrenia may need to make take additional measures to ensure that this population receives appropriate screening so as to not put them at greater risk for a late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer. Furthermore, these pilot data suggest that HB and SOC theory-based interventions may be valid for increasing mammography rates in women with schizophrenia

A review of elliptical and disc galaxy structure, and modern scaling laws

A century ago, in 1911 and 1913, Plummer and then Reynolds introduced their models to describe the radial distribution of stars in `nebulae'. This article reviews the progress since then, providing both an historical perspective and a contemporary review of the stellar structure of bulges, discs and elliptical galaxies. The quantification of galaxy nuclei, such as central mass deficits and excess nuclear light, plus the structure of dark matter halos and cD galaxy envelopes, are discussed. Issues pertaining to spiral galaxies including dust, bulge-to-disc ratios, bulgeless galaxies, bars and the identification of pseudobulges are also reviewed. An array of modern scaling relations involving sizes, luminosities, surface brightnesses and stellar concentrations are presented, many of which are shown to be curved. These 'redshift zero' relations not only quantify the behavior and nature of galaxies in the Universe today, but are the modern benchmark for evolutionary studies of galaxies, whether based on observations, N-body-simulations or semi-analytical modelling. For example, it is shown that some of the recently discovered compact elliptical galaxies at 1.5 < z < 2.5 may be the bulges of modern disc galaxies.Comment: Condensed version (due to Contract) of an invited review article to appear in "Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems"(www.springer.com/astronomy/book/978-90-481-8818-5). 500+ references incl. many somewhat forgotten, pioneer papers. Original submission to Springer: 07-June-201