2,179 research outputs found
Mild acetabular dysplasia and risk of osteoarthritis of the hip : a case-control study
Objective To determine whether mild variation in acetabular depth (AD) and shape is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip.
Methods The unaffected contralateral hip of patients with unilateral hip OA was compared with hips of asymptomatic controls without hip OA, derived from the Nottingham Genetics Osteoarthritis and Lifestyle caseâcontrol study. Standardised anteroposterior x-rays of the pelvis were used to measure centre edge (CE) angle and AD. Cut-off points for narrow CE angle and shallow AD were calculated from the control group (mean â1.96ĂSD). The relative risk of hip OA associated with each feature was estimated using OR and 95% CI and adjusted risks were calculated by logistic regression.
Results In controls, both the CE angle and the AD were lower in the left hip than in the right hip. The CE angle related to age in both hips, and AD of the right hip was lower in men than in women. The contralateral unaffected hip in patients with unilateral hip OA had a decreased CE angle and AD compared with controls, irrespective of side. The lowest tertile of the CE angle in contralateral hips was associated with an eightfold risk of OA (aOR 8.06, 95% CI 4.87 to 13.35) and the lowest tertile of AD was associated with a 2.5-fold risk of OA (aOR 2.53, 95% CI 1.28 to 5.00). Significant increases in the risk of OA were also found as the CE angle and AD decreased
The fear of bad smell: Health risk awareness related to using waste in agricultural production in Vietnam
Waste watersWater reuseAgricultural productionFish farmingIrrigation waterPublic healthRisksSkin diseasesOrganic fertilizersWomen
Identifying Old Tidal Dwarf Irregulars
We examine the observational consequences of the two possible origins for
irregular galaxies: formation from collapse of a primordial cloud of gas early
in the age of the Universe, and formation from tidal tails in an interaction
that could have occured any time in the history of the Universe. Because the
formation from tidal tails could have occurred a long time ago, proximity to
larger galaxies is not sufficient to distinguish tidal dwarfs from traditional
dwarfs. We consider the effects of little or no dark matter on rotation speeds
and the Tully-Fisher relationship, the metallicity-luminosity relationship,
structure, and stellar populations. From these selection criteria, we identify
a small list of dwarf irregular galaxies that are candidates for having formed
as tidal dwarfs.Comment: ApJ, to appear September 20, 200
Lipid coated liquid crystal droplets for the on-chip detection of antimicrobial peptides
We describe a novel biosensor based on phospholipid-coated nematic liquid crystal (LC) droplets and demonstrate the detection of Smp43, a model antimicrobial peptide (AMP) from the venom of North African scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus. Mono-disperse lipid-coated LC droplets of diameter 16.7 ± 0.2 Όm were generated using PDMS microfluidic devices with a flow-focusing configuration and were the target for AMPs. The droplets were trapped in a bespoke microfluidic trap structure and were simultaneously treated with Smp43 at gradient concentrations in six different chambers. The disruption of the lipid monolayer by the Smp43 was detected (<6 ΌM) at concentrations well within its biologically active range, indicated by a dramatic change in the appearance of the droplets associated with the transition from a typical radial configuration to a bipolar configuration, which is readily observed by polarizing microscopy. This suggests the system has feasibility as a drug-discovery screening tool. Further, compared to previously reported LC droplet biosensors, this LC droplet biosensor with a lipid coating is more biologically relevant and its ease of use in detecting membrane-related biological processes and interactions has the potential for development as a reliable, low-cost and disposable point of care diagnostic tool
The Luminosity Function of Galaxies in Compact Groups
From R-band images of 39 Hickson compact groups (HCGs), we use galaxy counts
to determine a luminosity function extending to M_R=-14.0, approximately two
magnitudes deeper than previous compact group luminosity functions. We find
that a single Schechter function is a poor fit to the data, so we fit a
composite function consisting of separate Schechter functions for the bright
and faint galaxies. The bright end is best fit with M^*=-21.6 and alpha=-0.52
and the faint end with M^*=-16.1 and alpha=-1.17. The decreasing bright end
slope implies a deficit of intermediate luminosity galaxies in our sample of
HCGs and the faint end slope is slightly steeper than that reported for earlier
HCG luminosity functions. Furthermore, luminosity functions of subsets of our
sample reveal more substantial dwarf populations for groups with x-ray halos,
groups with tidal dwarf candidates, and groups with a dominant elliptical or
lenticular galaxy. Collectively, these results support the hypothesis that
within compact groups, the initial dwarf galaxy population is replenished by
"subsequent generations" formed in the tidal debris of giant galaxy
interactions.Comment: 26 pages, to be published in The Astrophysical Journal, 8 greyscale
plates (figures 1 and 2) can be retrieved at
http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/sdh/pubs.htm
On the poverty of a priorism: technology, surveillance in the workplace and employee responses
Many debates about surveillance at work are framed by a set of a priori assumptions about the nature of the employment relationship that inhibits efforts to understand the complexity of employee responses to the spread of new technology at work. In particular, the debate about the prevalence of resistance is hamstrung from the outset by the assumption that all apparently non-compliant acts, whether intentional or not, are to be counted as acts of resistance. Against this background this paper seeks to redress the balance by reviewing results from an ethnographic study of surveillance-capable technologies in a number of British workplaces. It argues for greater attention to be paid to the empirical character of the social relations at work in and through which technologies are deployed and in the context of which employee responses are played out
Hubble Space Telescope Images of Stephan's Quintet: Star Cluster Formation in a Compact Group Environment
Analysis of Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 images of
Stephan's Quintet, Hickson Compact Group 92, yielded 115 candidate star
clusters (with V-I < 1.5). Unlike in merger remants, the cluster candidates in
Stephan's Quintet are not clustered in the inner regions of the galaxies; they
are spread over the debris and surrounding area. Specifically, these sources
are located in the long sweeping tail and spiral arms of NGC 7319, in the tidal
debris of NGC 7318B/A, and in the intragroup starburst region north of these
galaxies. Analysis of the colors of the clusters indicates several distinct
epochs of star formation that appear to trace the complex history of dynamical
interactions in this compact group.Comment: 24 pages, 21 figures (13 PostScript and 8 JPEG), LaTeX (uses
aastexug.sty), accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal (July
2001). Full-resolution PostScript figures available at
http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/gallsc/sq/figs.tar.g
Impact of a modified data capture period on Liu comorbidity index scores in Medicare enrollees initiating chronic dialysis
A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the authorâs publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Background: The Liu Comorbidity Index uses the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) to quantify comorbidity
in chronic dialysis patients, capturing baseline comorbidities from days 91 through 270 after dialysis initiation. The
270 day survival requirement results in sample size reductions and potential survivor bias. An earlier and shorter
time-frame for data capture could be beneficial, if sufficiently similar comorbidity information could be ascertained.
Methods: USRDS data were used in a retrospective observational study of 70,114 Medicare- and Medicaid-eligible
persons who initiated chronic dialysis during the years 2000â2005. The Liu index was modified by changing the
baseline comorbidity capture period to days 1â90 after dialysis initiation for persons continuously enrolled in
Medicare. The scores resulting from the original and the modified comorbidity indices were compared, and the
impact on sample size was calculated.
Results: The original Liu comorbidity index could be calculated for 75% of the sample, but the remaining 25% did
not survive to 270 days. Among 52,937 individuals for whom both scores could be calculated, the mean scores for
the original and the modified index were 7.4 ± 4.0 and 6.4 ± 3.6 points, respectively, on a 24-point scale. The most
commonly calculated difference between scores was zero, occurring in 44% of patients. Greater comorbidity was
found in those who died before 270 days.
Conclusions: A modified version of the Liu comorbidity index captures the majority of comorbidity in persons who
are Medicare-enrolled at the time of chronic dialysis initiation. This modification reduces sample size losses and
facilitates inclusion of a sicker portion of the population in whom early mortality is common.
Keywords: Comorbidity, Kidney failure, Chronic, Renal dialysis, Epidemiologic research desig
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