Questionnaire Survey of Physical activITy in Genral Practictioners (PHIT GP Study)

Objectives: To assess the levels of physical activity and other health related behaviours of General Practitioners (GPs) and compare their reported levels of physical activity with those of the general population. Study Design: Cross sectional postal questionnaire survey. Methods: A questionnaire, which did not allow identification of individual respondents, was posted to all 1074 (GPs) in Northern Ireland. It included the validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and questions relating to smoking and alcohol consumption. A national survey of a representative sample of the general population of similar age (29-67 years; n = 3010) provided comparative data. Results: 735 GPs responded (68.4%). IPAQ data indicated that fewer GPs (43.4%) were “physically inactive” compared to the general population (56.2%) (p

The role of plug design in determining wall thickness distribution in thermoforming

An experimental investigation has been carried out into the effects of changes in plug design on the wall thickness distribution of thermoformed products. Plugs were machined with a series of geometrical variations and their effects on the process were measured. The overall results show that the plug has a crucial role in controlling the wall thickness distribution in thermoforming. Larger plugs tend to distribute more material to the base of the product, but the introduction of a small sidewall taper, base radius, or a reduction in plug diameter tend to lead to more balanced distributions. However, larger changes in any of the variables tend to destroy these benefits. It has also been demonstrated that the frictional and thermal properties of the plug are important in determining the deformation response of the sheet material. There is a clear evidence of slip in the sheet during plug contact and, although the cooling effect of the plug appears to be minimal, cooling in the highly deformed regions away from the plug appears to be a significant factor.

Brief review of invariant texture analysis methods

This paper considers invariant texture analysis. Texture analysis approaches whose performances are not affected by translation, rotation, affine, and perspective transform are addressed. Existing invariant texture analysis algorithms are carefully studied and classified into three categories: statistical methods, model based methods, and structural methods. The importance of invariant texture analysis is presented first. Each approach is reviewed according to its classification, and its merits and drawbacks are outlined. The focus of possible future work is also suggested.

The effect of treatment of cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations on airways and systemic inflammation

Background: Chronic infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) and airway inflammation leads to progressive lung injury Neutrophils are considered to be responsible for the onset and promotion of the inflammatory response within the CF lung. The relationship between infection and inflammation is complex but circulating inflammatory markers may not truly reflect the local inflammatory response in the lung. The aims of this study were to investigate the change of inflammatory biomarkers and cells within sputum and blood before and after intravenous antibiotics for a pulmonary exacerbation of CF Methods: Assays included neutrophil elastase (NE) and complex, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), fas ligand (FAS-L), and TNFr-1. Analysis of sputum cell differential and absolute cell counts and immunocytochemistry (CD11b and CD95) on sputum and isolated blood neutrophils were carried out. Results: There were no significant differences in absolute or differential sputum cell counts or sputum sol measurements following antibiotics. There was a significant increase in the percentage of blood neutrophils with minimal CD11b staining, 28 (4.1) mean percentage (SEM) versus41 (2.9) and a decrease in the percentage showing maximal staining 30 (0.5) versus 15 (2.5). There was a significant increase in the percentage of blood neutrophils without CD95 staining, 43 (5.4) mean percentage versus 52 (5.1). Conclusion: These data suggest a modifiable systemic response to IV antibiotics but a local sustained inflammatory response in the lung.

The structure of [Co(H-tptz)Cl-3] center dot H2O (tptz=2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine) prepared by crystallization from the ionic liquid, N-butyl-N-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide

The structure of tris-chloro[2,6-bis(2'-pyridyl)-4-(2'-pyridinium)-1,3,5-triazine]cobalt(II) monohydrate, [Co(C18H13N6)Cl-3]center dot H2O (C2/c (No. 15), a = 7.783(11), b = 22.42(3), c = 11.001(15) angstrom, beta = 90.05(2)degrees), crystallized from the open air reaction of CoCl2 and 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine in the ionic liquid, N-butyl-N-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide is reported. The structure consists of six coordinate cobalt in an octahedral geometry bonded to the tridentate tptz ligand and three chlorines. The non-coordinating pyridyl group in the tptz ligand is protonated (with the protonated nitrogen crystallographically disordered over two possible sites), providing overall charge neutrality for the complex.

Inter- and intrapersonal processes underlying authoritarianism: The role of social conformity and personal need for structure

Several personality constructs have been theorised to underlie right-wing authoritarianism (RWA). In samples from New Zealand and Germany (Ns = 218, 259), we tested whether these constructs can account for specific variance in RWA. In both samples, social conformity and personal need for structure were independent predictors of RWA. In Sample 2, where also openness to experience was measured, social conformity and personal need for structure fully mediated the impact of the higher-order factor of openness on RWA. Our results contribute to the integration of current approaches to the personality basis of authoritarianism. and suggest that two distinct personality processes contribute to RWA: An interpersonal process related to social conformity and an intrapersonal process related to rigid cognitive style. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Caesarean section is associated with an increased risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes: A meta-analysis of observational studies

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to investigate the evidence of an increased risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes in children born by Caesarean section by systematically reviewing the published literature and performing a meta-analysis with adjustment for recognised confounders.
Methods: After MEDLINE, Web of Science and EMBASE searches, crude ORs and 95% CIs for type 1 diabetes in children born by Caesarean section were calculated from the data reported in each study. Authors were contacted to facilitate adjustments for potential confounders, either by supplying raw data or calculating adjusted estimates. Meta-analysis techniques were then used to derive combined ORs and to investigate heterogeneity between studies.
Results: Twenty studies were identified. Overall, there was a significant increase in the risk of type 1 diabetes in children born by Caesarean section (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.15-1.32, p<0.001). There was little evidence of heterogeneity between studies (p=0.54). Seventeen authors provided raw data or adjusted estimates to facilitate adjustments for potential confounders. In these studies, there was evidence of an increase in diabetes risk with greater birthweight, shorter gestation and greater maternal age. The increased risk of type 1 diabetes after Caesarean section was little altered after adjustment for gestational age, birth weight, maternal age, birth order, breast-feeding and maternal diabetes (adjusted OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.36, p=0.01).
Conclusions/interpretation: This analysis demonstrates a 20% increase in the risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes after Caesarean section delivery that cannot be explained by known confounders.