Fourth Survey Research Articles

Motorcycle helmet usage to improve road traffic safety in Vietnam

The number and severity of road accident are increasing, especially motorcycle mode. 50% among the road accident was traumatic brain injury (TBI) with 25% rate of death. From 2007, the...

Daten rund um das Körpergewicht: Schweizerische Gesundheitsbefragung 2007

The 2007 Swiss Health Survey is the fourth survey conducted on a random sample of nearly 19,000 adults, living in Switzerland. 37% are overweight or obese, but between 2002 and 2007 no increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity were observed anymore. Overweight and obesity are associated with a number of socio-demographic and life-style factors. 9% of 15 to 34 years old women are underweight. Of the group of 15 to 49 years old men and women, 52% would like to change their body weight (to loose weight 87%, to gain weight 13%). 20% of them eat very irregularly and binge eating happens to 22%. In summary, life-style modifications are needed in relation to overweight, underweight and eating disorders.

Kauffman Firm Survey: Fourth Follow-Up Annotated Questionnaire

The Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS) is a panel study of new businesses founded in 2004 and tracked over their early years of operation. The survey focuses on the nature of new business formation activity; characteristics of the strategy, offerings, and employment patterns of new businesses; the nature of the financial and organizational arrangements of these businesses; and the characteristics of their founders. The fourth follow-up survey covers calendar year 2008.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal relation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and body mass index: the Tromsø study

The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are lower in obese than lean subjects. The present study examines the cross-sectional and longitudinal relations between body mass index (BMI) and serum 25(OH)D, and the serum 25(OH)D response to vitamin D supplementation in relation to BMI. The Tromsø study is a longitudinal population-based multipurpose study. The fourth survey was conducted in 1994 and the sixth in 2008. The intervention study was a 1-year placebo-controlled randomized intervention trial, where the results from the 93 subjects given 40,000IU per week are presented. A total of 10,229 subjects were included in the 2008 cross-sectional study. There was a significant negative association between serum 25(OH)D levels and BMI which was also present during the winter months. Serum 25(OH)D levels varied through seasons, but not BMI. In the longitudinal study from 1994 to 2008 which included 2,656 subjects, change in BMI was a significant negative predictor of change in 25(OH)D. In the intervention study, there was a significant and negative correlation between BMI and serum 25(OH)D both at baseline and at the end of the study. The increase in serum 25(OH)D after 1year was significantly and inversely related to baseline BMI. We have confirmed the strong association between serum 25(OH)D and BMI. The very obese need higher vitamin D doses than lean subjects to achieve the same serum 25(OH)D levels.

Aeolian Contamination of Se and Ag in the North Pacific from Asian Fossil Fuel Combustion

Energy production from fossil fuels, and in particular the burning of coal in China, creates atmospheric contamination that is transported across the remote North Pacific with prevailing westerly winds. In recent years this pollution from within Asia has increased dramatically, as a consequence of vigorous economic growth and corresponding energy consumption. During the fourth Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission baseline contaminant survey in the western Pacific Ocean from May to June, 2002, surface waters and aerosol samples were measured to investigate whether atmospheric deposition of trace elements to the surface North Pacific was altering trace element biogeochemical cycling. Results show a presumably anthropogenic enrichment of Ag and of Se, which is a known tracer of coal combustion, in the North Pacific atmosphere and surface waters. Additionally, a strong correlation was seen between dissolved Ag and Se concentrations in surface waters. This suggests that Ag should now also be considered a geochemical tracer for coal combustion, and provides further evidence that Ag exhibits a disturbed biogeochemical cycle as the result of atmospheric deposition to the North Pacific.

Daten zum Übergewicht und zu Ernährungsgewohnheiten aus der Schweizerischen Gesundheitsbefragung 2007

The 2007 Swiss Health Survey is the fourth survey conducted by the Federal Office of Statistics in intervals of five years. Data are collected from a random sample (n = 18760) of persons aged 15 and over, living in Switzerland: 29% are overweight, and additional 8% are obese, but between 2002 and 2007 no increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity were observed anymore. In relation to nutritional habits, nearly 30% of the interviewed persons do not care about their nutrition. Only 30% of the population eat the recommended five portions of fruits and vegetables per day, and only 10% consume the recommended three servings of milk and milk products. 37% do rarely or never consume fish. Nearly 20% eat meat or meat products every day. According to the four Swiss Health Surveys nutritional habits have hardly improved during the last fifteen years in Switzerland.

TheChandraDeep Protocluster Survey: point-source catalogues for a 400-ks observation of thez= 3.09 protocluster in SSA22

We present X-ray point-source catalogues for a deep ≈400-ks Chandra ACIS-I (Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer) exposure of the SSA22 field. The observations are centred on a z= 3.09 protocluster, which is populated by Lyman break galaxies (LBGs), Lyα emitters (LAEs) and extended Lyα-emitting blobs (LABs). The survey reaches ultimate (3 count) sensitivity limits of ≈5.7 × 10−17 and ≈3.0 × 10−16 erg cm−2 s−1 for the 0.5–2 and 2–8 keV bands, respectively (corresponding to L2-10 keV≈5.7 × 1042 erg s−1 and L10-30 keV≈2.0 × 1043 erg s−1 at z= 3.09, respectively, for an assumed photon index of Γ= 1.4). These limits make SSA22 the fourth deepest extragalactic Chandra survey yet conducted, and the only one focused on a known high-redshift structure. In total, we detect 297 X-ray point sources and identify one obvious bright extended X-ray source over a ≈330 arcmin2 region. In addition to our X-ray catalogues, we provide all available optical spectroscopic redshifts and near-infrared and mid-infrared photometry available for our sources. The basic X-ray and infrared properties of our Chandra sources indicate a variety of source types, although absorbed active galactic nuclei (AGN) appear to dominate. In total, we have identified 12 X-ray sources (either via optical spectroscopic redshifts or LAE selection) at z= 3.06 – 3.12 that are likely to be associated with the SSA22 protocluster. These sources have X-ray and multiwavelength properties that suggest they are powered by AGN with 0.5–8 keV luminosities in the range of ≈1043–1045 erg s−1. We have analysed the AGN fraction of sources in the protocluster as a function of local LAE source density and find suggestive evidence for a correlation between AGN fraction and local LAE source density (at the ≈96 per cent confidence level), implying that supermassive black hole growth at z≈ 3 is strongest in the highest density regions.

Still Married after All These Years? Union Organizing and the Role of Works Councils in German Industrial Relations

German trade unions are seeking new ways to counteract a steady downward trend in membership that has dragged on for fifteen years. Works councils' activities aimed at recruiting new members may play an important role in such efforts. The author's analysis of data from the fourth WSI survey of works and staff councils (2004–2005) shows that almost half of all works councils supported unions' recruitment endeavors, using a wide range of methods. Works councils' willingness to take active part in membership recruitment increased substantially when works councilors were personally involved in trade union affairs and were supported by negotiating bodies. Also important was works councilor participation in trade union seminars and training sessions. Favorable perceptions of such institutions were positively associated with the likelihood that works councils would actively engage in new member recruitment. The analysis also reveals a positive association between recruitment activity and plant-level union membership growth.

Heterogeneity and continuum of multiple sclerosis phenotypes in Japanese according to the results of the fourth nationwide survey

There are two distinct phenotypes of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Asians, optic-spinal MS (OSMS) and conventional MS (CMS). In 2004, we performed the fourth nationwide epidemiological survey of MS. The epidemiological features were reported elsewhere; here we report the characteristic features of patients with each MS phenotype, classified according to the clinically estimated sites of involvement and MRI findings. Among 1493 MS patients collated, 57.7% were classified as having CMS and 16.5% were classified as having OSMS. Based on MRI findings, MS patients were further subdivided into those with OSMS with or without longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions (LESCLs) and those with CMS with or without LESCLs. Although disease duration did not differ significantly among the four groups, EDSS scores were significantly higher in patients with LESCLs than in those without LESCLs, irrespective of OSMS or CMS phenotype. Similar trends were found for the frequencies of bilateral visual loss, transverse myelitis, and marked CSF pleocytosis and neutrophilia. Increased IgG index, brain lesions fulfilling the Barkhof criteria and secondary progression were more commonly found in CMS patients than in OSMS patients, while negative brain MRIs were more commonly encountered in OSMS patients than CMS patients, irrespective of the presence of LESCLs. These findings suggest that demographic features not only vary based on CMS or OSMS phenotype, but also with the presence or absence of LESCLs, and that nonetheless, these four phenotypes constitute a continuum.

Changes in the characteristics of definite Meniere's disease over time in Japan: a long-term survey by the Peripheral Vestibular Disorder Research Committee of Japan, formerly the Meniere's Disease Research Committee of Japan

Conclusion. The incidence of new cases of Meniere's disease (MD) in elderly patients aged 60 years or more was found to have increased over time after correction for age distribution in the overall population. Job- and care-related fatigue may be involved in the recent increase in elderly-onset cases because physical and mental fatigue can induce onset of the disease. Objectives. Changes over time in the epidemiologic characteristics of MD in Japan were analyzed. Materials and methods. Between 1975 and 2006, four nationwide, multi-center surveys of MD were conducted by the Meniere's Disease Research Committee of Japan (1975–1976) and the Peripheral Vestibular Disorders Research Committee of Japan (1982–1984, 1990, and 2001–2006). Information was collected by the committee members on a total of 1368 de novo cases of definite MD, 520 reported in the first survey, 290 in the second survey, 148 in the third survey, and 410 in the fourth survey. Results. Clear changes were seen over time in the population-adjusted sex distribution of the disease and population-adjusted age at onset. The number of definite MD cases in females increased over time relative to the number of cases in males. The proportion of cases in which onset occurred at 60 years of age or more increased over time when the number of cases in each age group was adjusted for changes in age distribution of the population over time. From the time of the third survey, there was a slight increase in the proportion of cases with bilateral involvement.

Composition of weed flora in spring cereals in Finland - a fourth survey

The weed flora in conventionally and organically grown spring cereals was investigated in southern and central Finland during 2007–2009. The survey was conducted in 16 regions, 283 farms and 595 fields (72 organically cropped and 523 conventionally cropped fields, of which 503 were treated with herbicides). The occurrence of weeds was assessed in late July–early August. Altogether 148 weed species were identified, of which 128 were broad-leaved and 20 grass species. In organically cropped fields, the average species number per field was 21 and the most frequent species were Chenopodium album 96%, Stellaria media 94%, Viola arvensis 94% and Elymus repens 89%. In conventionally cropped fields, the average species number was 12 and the most frequent weed species were Viola arvensis 83%, Stellaria media 65%, Galeopsis spp. 59% and Galium spurium 59%. The average density of weeds was 160 m-2 (median = 112) in sprayed conventional fields and 519 m-2 (468) in organic fields. The average air-dry biomass of weeds was 167 kg ha-1 (median = 82) and 775 kg ha-1 (563), respectively. Elymus repens, the most frequent and abundant grass species, produced the highest proportion (about 30%) of the total weed biomass in both cropping systems. The frequency of Galium spurium in conventional cropping and Fumaria officinalis in organic cropping had increased substantially since the previous survey in 1997–1999. The average size of the weed seedbank in the 5 cm surface layer was about 1 700 seeds m-2, the most predominant seeds being of C. album. Although the weed flora in Finnish spring cereal fields consists of numerous species, only a fraction of them severely threaten crop production in terms of their frequency and abundance. Weeds in conventional cropping were effectively controlled with available herbicides whereas weed management in organic cropping calls for urgent measures such as direct mechanical weed control in crop stands, which was not practised at all in survey fields.;

Committee Report: Disinfection Survey, Part2—Alternatives, experiences, and future plans

In 2007, the AWWA Disinfection Systems Committee conducted its fourth survey of drinking water disinfection practices. Part 1 of the survey report was published in the October 2008 issue and describes the survey process and respondent demographics, recent changes, and water quality. This article describes selection rationales and operational details of survey respondents using various forms of chlorine (about two thirds used chlorine gas, about one third used nongaseous forms of chlorine) and alterative disinfectants including chloramine (30%), ozone (10%), chlorine dioxide (8%) and ultraviolet light (2%). Respondents— status and projections with regard to new microbial disinfection by‐products regulations are summarized along with future plans.

Committee Report: Disinfection Survey, Part 1—Recent changes, current practices, and water quality

In 2007, the AWWA Disinfection Systems Committee conducted its fourth survey of drinking water disinfection practices. This first‐time online survey presented new challenges and benefits. Compared with the 1998 survey, fewer small systems (those serving populations < 10,000 people) responded and more mid‐sized to large groundwater systems responded. Ninety‐eight percent of respondents reported providing disinfected water. Chlorine gas remained the predominant disinfectant, used by 63% of respondents. Use rates for chloramine (30%), chlorine dioxide (8%), ozone (9%), and ultraviolet light (2%) increased from the prior survey. “Disinfection Contact—In Plant” (assumed for microbial inactivation) was the most frequently cited treatment. Almost half of respondents cited disinfection‐related changes since the last survey. Survey respondents appear compliant with current microbial and disinfection by‐product regulatory requirements and well positioned for compliance with future requirements.

Fourth WHO-coordinated survey of human milk for persistent organic pollutants (POPs): Belgian results

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that accumulate in the food chain and are toxic to humans and wildlife. The fourth World Health Organization (WHO) survey on POP levels in human milk (2006–2009) aims to provide baseline and trend information on human exposure to POPs. So far Belgium participated in all three previous rounds (1988, 1992, 2001). Whereas the first three rounds focused on determination of dioxins and PCBs in pooled (mixed) samples, the fourth survey comprised the analyses of individual milk samples for nine “basic POPs” (chlorinated pesticides and indicator PCBs) and of pooled milk samples for “basic POPs”, “advanced POPs” (dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs) and “optional POPs” (polybrominated diphenylethers [PBDEs], polybrominated dioxins and dibenzofurans [PBrDD/F], mixed halogenated dioxins and dibenzofurans [PXDD/F] and hexabromocyclododecane [HBCD]). For the Belgian participation human milk samples were collected during the summer of 2006 from 197 women between 18 and 30 years old distributed over all Belgian provinces. The individual samples were analyzed in a Belgian Laboratory for “basic” POPs. A pooled sample was made from 178 individual samples and analyzed by the WHO Reference Laboratory for the “basic, advanced and optional” POPs. The results indicate that most organochlorinated pesticides banned 25–30 years ago were below or around detection limits in Belgian human milk samples although DDE was still found at low levels in all samples. Over the last five years the levels of marker PCBs and PCDD/Fs in Belgian human milk decreased, respectively, by 58% and 39%. For some of the other emerging or older compounds recent international data are needed to allow comparison. This shows the importance of international studies as run by WHO.

The North American Third-party Logistics Industry in 2007: The Provider CEO Perspective

This article is a commentary reporting on the results of a 2007 survey of the CEOs of 21 of the largest third-party logistics (3PL) providers in North America. Collectively, these companies generated revenues of more than $30 billion in 2006. This is the fourth such regional survey of the industry. The other regions that are surveyed elsewhere are Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Each region has separate survey questionnaires. The methodology for administering the survey is described. The 2007 questionnaire focused on a variety of marketplace issues, along with the expanded involvement of private equity companies, new regional recruiting, training, and retention programs, recent branding efforts, efforts to deal with price compression and intense competition for management talent. Specific topics in the survey are listed, along with summaries of findings. Some of the topics include: revenues and profitability, operations in Mexico, geographic shifts of customers' manufacturing activities, mergers and acquisitions, and RFID technology. A table shows CEOs' perception of the three most important North American 3PL industry dynamics for 2007. Another shows the most important problems facing 3PL providers in North America. The companies, as a group, are quite bullish about the next three-year period for both their companies and the North American 3PL industry. A high priority should be development of contingent strategies for a possible slow-growth mode of operations.

Challenges in Estimating the Total Burden of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis

The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease/World Health Organization Global Project on Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance Surveillance recently released the fourth global survey, which documents the highest burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) yet reported. The best estimate of the number of new cases of multidrug-resistant disease occurring in 2006 is close to half a million and the recent recognition of extensively drug-resistant TB underscores the need for expanded surveillance, especially in areas in which TB control programs have been compromised by an escalating burden of TB and HIV. We review current methods used for drug resistance surveillance and describe methodologic obstacles for estimating the true extent of the problem, particularly in settings where HIV/TB coinfection is common or where a substantial portion of TB cases are treated in the private sector. We highlight practical challenges to the validity of surveillance studies and discuss how additional investment in laboratory capacity, diagnostic technologies, and sentinel site surveillance can improve our ability to estimate of the burden of drug-resistant TB.

Latest Trends of Reading in China

Chinese Institute of Publishing Science (CIPS), China’s largest publishing research institution, started to carry out national reading surveys since 1999 and here is the executive summary of its fourth survey, analyzing five key aspects of reading in China, including book and Internet readings, magazine reading, relations between book price and consumption, reading orientation of Chinese readers, as well as copyright consciousness among Chinese readers.

Comments on the Keynote

The day before Kurt Lang gave his paper at the 2007 WAPOR meeting I received the following message on my BlackBerry: ‘Two simultaneous car bombs outside the health ministry in central Baghdad killed seven people and wounded 23 on Tuesday. There was also another car bomb attack near Sadr City in Baghdad; eight people were killed and 22 wounded. Three earlier car bombs killed a total of nine people and wounded 28.’ A day earlier I received a rundown of available video shots of another day's attacks: ‘#052: Shows Baghdad's Jamila district—U.S. troops and Iraqi police at the site. Close up of wreckage of car. Grieving men hugging each other and crying.’ ‘#040: Shows wide shot of the bombing site. Remains of the car bomb. Man is shouting at his friends, ‘Here comes the Americans, be aware'cause they shoot randomly.’ Receiving these messages did not put me in an ideal frame of mind to hear Lang's warning about what polls cannot tell us about public opinion. Having just completed my fourth national survey in Iraq, I was far more focused at the time on what polls can and do tell us, often in a unique and irreplaceable way.

Current trends in bone grafting and the issue of banked bone allografts based on the fourth nationwide survey of bone grafting status from 2000 to 2004

BackgroundThe Japanese Orthopaedic Association Committee on Tissue Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine has conducted a nationwide survey of the status of bone grafting in Japan every 5 years from 1985. We report here the status of bone grafting from 2000 to 2004, show the trends in bone grafting from 1985 to 2004, and draw attention to the issues affecting banked bone allografts. MethodsQuestionnaires devised by the Committee were sent to all educational and training hospitals (2239 institutions) approved by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. ResultsSurvey responses were obtained from 1263 institutions (56%). Of these, 875 institutions performed tissue transplantation during this period. A total of 163 564 tissue transplantations were performed, and 134 782 (82.4%) of them were bone grafts. Of the bone grafts, 76015 (56.4%) were autografts, 53 735 (40%) used a synthetic bone substitute, and 4886 (3.6%) were banked bone allografts. The proportion of synthetic bone substitutes increased, and the proportion of autografts decreased year by year. Synthetic bone substitutes were most frequently used for replacement arthroplasty (31%). Fifty percent of banked bone allografts were performed for joint disorders requiring replacement arthroplasty. During this period, 271 institutions performed banked bone allografts, with 210 preserving allografts in their own institutions. Donor selection criteria, processing and preservation methods, and management of the bone bank were not the same in all banks. ConclusionsMost bone grafts performed in Japan during the four surveys were still autografts. However, the proportion of autografts decreased, and the proportion of synthetic bone substitutes increased. The number of synthetic bone substitutes and banked bone allografts used for replacement arthro-plasty increased significantly. However, the total number of banked bone allografts reported in the fourth survey was still low. Quality control of banked bone allografts and management of bone banks were not satisfactory, although they were improved.

State of the (positive) nation: findings from the fourth national Australian HIV futures survey

This paper characterises the health and wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Australia. The HIV Futures 4 Survey is a self-complete anonymous questionnaire distributed through multiple sites. Data were collected on health, clinical and social variables. There were 1059 responses, approximately 8% of the estimated HIV-positive population. Respondents were aged between 18 and 92 years and 77% were homosexual men. In total, 60% reported a viral load of <500 copies/mL and 83% a CD4 count of over 250 cells/microL. A total of 44% reported another major health condition and 35% a mental health condition. A total of 71% were using antiretroviral therapy. More than half of the respondents had stopped working because of HIV and 25% were living in poverty. In conclusion, adequate planning for the future of our response to HIV/AIDS relies in no small part on our access to detailed information about how the epidemic affects those with the virus.