Introductory Phase Research Articles

Yield and Growth Response to Transplanted Aman Rice under Raised Bed over Conventional Cultivation Method

Bed planting method for rice production systems is very new and research on it is still at an introductory phase. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different agronomic aspects of bed planting on the growth and yield of transplanted aman rice (both irrigated and rain fed). This study also evaluates the water and fertilizer application efficiency of rice cropping system under bed planting method. Results showed that the bed planting method increased grain yield of rice up to 16% than the conventional method. Bed planting also increased the number of panicle m−2, number of grains panicle−1, and 1000-grain weight of rice than conventional method. Sterility percentage and weed infestation were lower in bed planting than conventional method. About 42% of the irrigation water and time for application could be saved through bed planting in transplanted aman rice cropping system. Water use efficiency and crop productivity for grain production were higher in bed planting over conventional method. This study concluded that bed planting method is a new approach for optimum fertilizer and water use efficiency as well as higher yield compared to conventional flat method.

Participation in an Adapted Version of MBCT in Psychiatric Care

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) groups are challenged by high attrition particularly in early sessions. This leads to disturbances in the composition of the groups and potential dissatisfaction. In order to support patients in their decision about participation and to accommodate the program to psychiatric patients, an adapted version of MBCT was developed with nine instead of 8 weekly units, reduced duration of some exercises, and patients invited to make an active decision about continuing with the program or leaving the group after an introductory phase of the first three sessions. 120 participants joined the program, 35 % decided to leave the program before the advanced stage started, and 50.8 % completed it. In a multiple logistic regression model, neither the degree of depression and mindfulness at onset nor sociodemographic variables could predict if participants would complete the program. The only significant predictor was the number of sessions attended in the introductory phase. In bivariate analyses, having participated in group therapies earlier strongly predicted if a person would complete sessions 1 to 3. The therapist’s assessment of the patient’s motivation and her/his predictions if the patient would leave the group preterm and if the patient would finalize the program regularly were also related to attrition. The modified version of MBCT has proved to be feasible and useful to stabilize the participants’ presence in the later sessions. Particular attention should be paid to patients who miss sessions in the introductory phase and for which the therapist recognizes low motivation or risk of dropping out.

Newborn Screening: A Lifetime of Impact from a Simple Heel Stick

national board certified lactation consultants to identify patients requiring consults. Also, a central lactation phone line was created for nursing staff and physician office staff to request lactation consults from the international board certified lactation consultant team. One international board certified lactation consultant was selected for the role of clinical coordinator of lactation services, and this person coordinates phone requests and online requests from the electronic documentation system. Although, this project is still in the introductory phase, breast milk exclusivity rates for the six-hospital system have increased from 30.1% to 33.7% in 1 year.

I Love NH. The Marginal Gentrification of an Ideal Socialist City of Nowa Huta

This paper presents the chosen and initial issues relating to the potential of the historical gentrification in Nowa Huta – the part of Krakow that was erected as a new, perfect town of socialism in the 50s. In order to investigate the gentrification potential of this area, I take into account the important subject of urban changes present in the Polish conditions. In fact, I do it from a different perspective and in a different moment; I observe the gentrification process through the eyes of the new citizens and in its introductory phase.

GuideWeb: a conceptually infrastructure-free vehicle navigation system

A new paradigm named GuideWeb for networks based on vehicle-to-vehicle (v2v) communication is presented. GuideWeb is a support network for vehicle navigation and guidance. It is constituted by the cooperation of a multitude of autonomous MapSynthesiser nodes located in vehicles. A MapSynthesiser, being the autonomous core of GuideWeb, receives over radio communication traffic flow information using information-enhanced maps (called map syntheses) from other GuideWeb participants’ MapSynthesiser. From received map syntheses and the information of its own travel route it creates a new map synthesis, which is then broadcasted. MapSynthesiser provides timely and accurate information on traffic flow and density as well as traversability everywhere within a radius of ∼100 km to a navigation system for driver assistance. MapSynthesiser cooperation is based on short-range radio communication (e.g. Wireless Local Area Network – WLAN) and/or mobile communication networks. GuideWeb deploys the simple method of broadcast for network formation and thus, avoids the time lags arising from setting up and maintaining a connection-oriented ad hoc network. By the map-based data design, data security and privacy are ensured. Therefore, GuideWeb can serve as a commercially viable introductory phase for full-fledged v2v communication networks. The lessons learned from GuideWeb deployment provide insights for a v2v network design.

Impact of an embedded simulation team training programme in a paediatric intensive care unit: a prospective, single-centre, longitudinal study

To evaluate the impact of an embedded simulation-based team training programme on perceived performance and to compare the effect over different phases of the programme. This was a prospective, single-centre, longitudinal study over the first 2 years of the programme. A total of 219 multidisciplinary health-care professionals participated in simulation sessions, followed by anonymous evaluation questionnaires. The programme was divided into three different phases: introductory (first 6 months), intermediate (second 6 months) and established phase (second year). A total of 88.7% of participants evaluated the impact on overall practice as effective, 56.5% reported a highly effective impact. A total of 90.9% (391/430) of questions on non-technical skills (communication and teamwork) showed an effective impact, 55.6% a highly effective impact, whereas only 70.2% (262/373) of questions on technical skills showed an effective impact. There was a significant (p < 0.001) increased score for effective impact in all categories between the introductory and intermediate phase, which was maintained throughout the established phase. Overall, 72.7% of the participants felt more confident to attend a future critical event, 32.5% were highly confident. In the longitudinal analysis there was a stepwise significant (p < 0.05) increase of confidence of participants. In a subgroup analysis (n = 143) there was a significant (p < 0.001) higher confidence in participants who had attended at least 3 sessions (90.7 vs. 61%). There is a 6- to 12-month learning curve in the implementation of an embedded multidisciplinary team training programme. Repeated exposure to simulation is most beneficial to crisis resource management training and single, isolated exposure may not be sufficient.

Integrated megavoltage portal imaging with a 1.5 T MRI linac

In this note, the feasibility of complementing our hybrid 1.5 T MRI linac (MRL) with a megavoltage (MV) portal imager is investigated. A standard aSi MV detector panel is added to the system and both qualitative and quantitative performances are determined. Simultaneous MR imaging and transmission imaging can be performed without mutual interference. The MV image quality is compromised by beam transmission and longer isocentre distance; still, the field edges and bony anatomy can be detected at very low dose levels of 0.4 cGy. MV imaging integrated with the MRL provides an independent and well-established position verification tool, a field edge check and a calibration for alignment of the coordinate systems of the MRI and the accelerator. The portal imager can also be a valuable means for benchmarking MRI-guided position verification protocols on a patient-specific basis in the introductory phase.

Is it possible to achieve a safe glycated hemoglobin level during intensive hypoglycemic therapy? (results of ADVANCE study)

Aim. To study efficacy of glycemic control in terms of reduced HbA1c level using glyclazide modified release (MR) in patients with DM2 and differentclinical characteristics at the initial stage of therapy in the framework of ADVANCE study (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax andDiamicron Modified Release (MR) Controlled Evaluation). Materials and methods. A total of 11140 patients aged 55 years or older with DM2 and one or several cardiovascular risk factors were randomized forthe study. They were randomly distributed between 2 groups, one to receive intensive hypoglycemic therapy with glyclazide MR the other to be treatedin a standard mode as recommended by local, regional or national guidelines after a 6 week introductory phase. The efficacy of therapy was assessedbased on the following criteria: absolute change in HbA1c level (difference between the last and the first values obtained during the randomizationperiod), real HbA1c level achieved, percent of patients with target HbA1c level (

Student versus athlete: Professional socialisation influx

Against the backdrop of commercial sport and increased professional opportunities for high performance athletes, student-athletes experience a bi-polarity of identify formation – as professionals and/or professional athletes. A case study was undertaken at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) to identify the various factors and phases of this duality in socialisation practices across a spectrum of six different sports (i.e. rugby, cricket, soccer, netball, hockey and athletics). A total of 62 current (mean age 21.1 years) and 31 ‘early’ retired student-athletes (mean age 22.4 years) completed a self-constructed questionnaire. The recall of past influences informs and gives body to the first (sampling or introductory phase) entry into the world of competitive sport. A symbolic interactionist framework provides the interpretative nuances for the deconstruction of the realities of being a student, on the one hand, and an elite athlete, on the other. The results indicate that injuries (71.0%), promising career opportunities (56.5%) and the financial cost of participating (46.8%) are the main contributing factors to retirement from active participation. Continued participation and self-reported high levels of motivation relate to sporting success (69.4%), perceived talent (62.9%) and enjoyment (77.4%). The career choice and possible trauma of early retirement is related to the identity formation, loss of social status, and availability of a professional career as a coach within the high performance sporting sector. Stakeholders should be informed about the social realities to design appropriate programmes and interventions for long-term talent and career development that would produce a much needed human resource for the elite sport sector.

FactForge: A fast track to the Web of data

The advent of Linked Open Data has seen a large number of structured datasets from various domains made available to the public. These datasets are seen as a key enabler for the Semantic Web, where applications can consume and combine this data in powerful and meaningful ways. However, the uptake of Linked Data during this 'introductory phase' is hampered in ways similar to the uptake of any new technology - until the technology has found widespread use, the range of opportunities for exploiting it is limited and until the opportunities are fully explored, the uptake of the technology is restricted. FactForge is a free, publicly available service that provides an easy point of entry for would-be consumers of Linked Data. This Web application is based on OWLIM, a high performance semantic repository that offers outstanding RDF data management and reasoning capabilities based on OWL. The data-exploration functionality provided by FactForge exploits the advanced features of OWLIM to allow users to combine SPARQL with various full-text search and ranking functions for powerful, user-guided data-mining over a number of the most popular LOD datasets. This paper gives an overview of FactForge, its many unique capabilities and its role within the emerging trend for the exploitation of Linked Open Data using OWL-based inference.

University of Utah School of Medicine

University of Utah School of Medicine

Laparoscopic appendectomy using a single polymeric clip to close the appendicular stump

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, morbidity, and cost-effectiveness of the closure of the appendicular stump with a single non-absorbable polymeric clip compared with the closure of the appendicular stump with a stapler. From January 2009 to December 2009, 82 patients, 31 males and 51 females (mean age of 35.4 years; range of 17 to 79 years), were included in this prospective, non-randomized trial. In 56 patients, the appendicular stump was closed by staplers, and in 26 patients, a single Hem-o-lok MLX polymeric clip was applied. The data collected included age, sex, time of surgery, costs, time of hospitalization, day-time of surgery, complications, and preoperative white blood count (WBC) and c-reactive protein (CRP). There were no differences between the two groups regarding age, sex, WBC, CRP, and time of hospitalization. Time of surgery was longer in the clip group due to the introductory phase. Morbidity did not differ significantly and was highly acceptable in both groups. The costs of one set of Hem-o-lock clips were negligible compared to staplers (19.94 euros versus 356.43 euros). The use of a single non-absorbable polymeric clip is easy to use even for surgical trainees; it is safe and cost-effective. We suggest the use of a single clip for the closure of the appendicular stump as the standard procedure in laparoscopic appendectomy whenever possible.

Electrification potential of the car – an estimate from a mid-size Swedish town

An electrification of vehicles can contribute to increased energy efficiency and decreased air pollution in urban environments. The high vehicle costs involved, especially for the batteries, means that careful considerations of the options are needed. We have investigated the optimal design and potential for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) under various viability conditions with the help of a data set for individual vehicle movements from a mid-size Swedish town. In the estimates each car is equipped with a battery cost-optimized in size with respect to the individual car movement pattern and charging options expressed as the minimum break time interval required for considering recharging. The resulting optimal battery sizes are relatively small for lower economic viability, but increase with raised charging options. For high economic competitiveness the optimal sizes are larger, but decrease with better recharging possibilities. The results point to a PHEV design strategy with a small battery in an introductory phase and then an increased size when the economic competitiveness is further enhanced. Still the resulting optimal battery size is highly dependent on the specific movement pattern of the individual car. It is now urgent for the continued development, planning, and estimates of proliferation and impact of electrified vehicles that further statistical data, today mostly lacking, for the movement patterns of individual vehicles in various regions are assembled and utilized.

Initial weight loss is the best predictor for success in obesity treatment and sociodemographic liabilities increase risk for drop-out

Objective To identify pre-treatment factors related to weight loss in obesity treatment. Methods Weight-related and psychological factors were tested in relation to three different weight loss phases: spontaneous weight loss after screening visit (Pre-treatment), weight loss after a preparatory 5-week series of lectures (Step I) and after group treatment lasting two semesters (Step II) in 247 obesity patients. Results The strongest factor for predicting weight loss in the Step II treatment was initial Step I weight loss. At least 1 kg weight loss in Step I predicted 13% of the variation in Step II weight loss. Spontaneous pre-treatment weight loss after screening and a history of more weight losses were also related to more Step II weight loss. Psychological encumbrances such as eating disorders and mental distress were not related to weight loss, neither were self-reported motivation nor weight locus of control. The overall attrition rate was 63% and associated with lower education, being an immigrant, lack of occupation, fewer previous weight losses and higher body dissatisfaction. Conclusion Initial weight loss is the most certain factor for predicting treatment outcome. Practice implication A treatment design including an introductory phase with a minimum weight loss criterion for continuing treatment is suggested.

Effects of music therapy on involuntary swallowing

The present study was a pilot study concerning the effects of standard music therapy (MT) on involuntary swallowing movement. Swallowing movement was monitored in 10 elderly patients with brain disorders, who were inpatients requiring daily support for mobility and feeding. Swallowing movements were recorded using a pair of surface electrodes placed on the thyroid cartilage and chin. The electromyography (EMG) signals were transferred through a wireless amplifier. A swallowing movement was identified as short-polyphasic EMG bursts followed by slow waves. MT was conventionally provided for approximately 40 minutes, which included an introductory phase, songs and singing with patients, as well as rhythmic activities. The number of swallowing movements significantly increased during MT compared with the resting condition before MT (p < 0.001). A histogram of swallowing movements revealed that the swallowing rate was increased during the singing session in MT, although the patients did not sing during the session. We considered that MT was effective for disabled patients to facilitate involuntary swallowing, which is an important factor to prevent aspiration pneumonia.

実務実習事前学習における対話型シミュレーターを活用した体系的コミュニケーション演習の構築

We have developed a systematic communication training program for preclinical training using a dialog simulator,as a new teaching approach for pharmacy students.The communication training consisted of 3 processes for the clinical case scenarios that were devised (e.g.anamnesis at pharmacy,instructing patients in compliance,prescription questions,instruction in self-injection).In the first,students checked interview items using a dialog simulator as the introductory phase of the training (process 1).In the second,students used this to prepare role-plays consisting of interviews with simulated patients (SP) in small groups (process 2).Students took turns at being the patient,pharmacist and observer in small groups and then students received feedback from SPs on their performance as pharmacists in the role-plays (process 3).Faculty participated in the communication training with regard to its scheduling and in the role-playing as patients.Afterwards,we conducted a questionnaire survey of the students’impressions of such training using a dialog simulator and subjected the results to CS analysis in order to evaluate the areas for improvement in the communication-training program.Students’evaluations with regard to the effectiveness of self-learning were both significant and interesting.While there was a little dissatisfaction with the speech recognition function of the simulator and it was considered to require the most improvement (rating of 18.78),our findings indicate that our original program using such a device in systematic communication training is useful in helping students to acquire communication skills.

A theoretical and empirical study on China's transition to digital TV

This paper explores the impact of policies made by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and TV on China's transition to digital TV. The method of stakeholder analysis is used to present a theoretical study on the digital transition, with a quantitative model analyzing the welfare change of three segments of consumers. A simultaneous-equation model is used to study the characteristics of the demand and supply of digital TV in China. It is argued that the policy of uniform transition that ignores coordination among stakeholders does harm to consumers’ benefits, and the healthy and sustainable development of China's cable digital TV industry. In an introductory phase of digital TV, educating consumers with convenient and pleasing experience is essential, and restructuring cable operators in a market-oriented way is also critical for developing countries like China.

겨우살이 암치료제의 임상의학적 중요성과 한의학적 겨우살이 약침제제 개발 및 적용 가능성에 관한 고찰

Objectives : Mistletoe extracts have been in use for around 85 years, predominantly in the area of cancer therapy. Today mistletoe preparations are among the most prescribed drugs in cancer medicine, thus constituting a standard biological therapy in the area of oncology. The purpose of this study is to analyze the practical implications of mistletoe cancer therapy, their clinical status, their preparation techniques and companies. Contents : Mistletoe therapy for cancer has been developed within the context of anthroposophical medicine. One major effect of mistletoe extract is that it stimulates the immune system and cancer defences. In Germany, a total of eight different mistletoe preparations are available, five developed by Anthroposophic Medicine and three evolved from research in phytotherapy. Therapy always consists of an introductory phase in order to test the patient`s tolerance, find the right dosage and choose the most suitable preparation. This paper covers the background of mistletoe medical plant materials, mistletoe therapy for cancer, the anthroposophical medicine and clinical research, the practical regulation of treatment, preparation of mistletoe drugs. Result & suggestion : Mistletoe extracts are a complementary teratment of cancer, widely used in intergrative cancer care. The study of the integration of korean mistletoe extracts to oriental cancer medicine, its development and feasibility in Korea are urgently needed. The products, substances, compositions of european mistletoe drugs are very similar to those of oriental medicine theory. Applying the mistletoe cancer therapy and its preparation techniques to oriental medicine, the herbal acupuncture preparation should be modernized and korean mistletoe products are to be developed. To this end, government and herbal acupuncture society need to interact each other for the development of oriental mistletoe cancer medicine.

Group work and whole‐class teaching with 11‐ to 14‐year‐olds compared

This article compares the academic performance and classroom behaviour of pupils when taught new concepts or engaged in problem solving in sessions organised either as cooperative group work or whole class, teacher directed instruction. Comparisons of attainment were made in classes of pupils aged 11 to 14 years (Key Stage 3) in English, mathematics and science. Pupils were also observed, mainly during the introductory phase of the topic under investigation, using a specially designed structured observation schedule. The attainment results suggest that a grouping approach is as effective, and in some cases more effective, than when whole class teaching is used. Classroom observation indicated that there were more sustained, higher cognitive level interactions when pupils worked in groups than during whole class discussions. It is argued in conclusion that the group work results could be improved still further if teachers gave more attention to training pupils to work in groups and if more time was given to debriefing after group work.

Reaction time of drivers who caused road traffic accidents

Human factor is the single cause of road traffic injuries in 57%, and together with other factors in more than 90% of all road traffic accidents. Human factor includes many aspects, where reaction time is very important. Thirty healthy drivers 28-40 y.o. with 50-500 km passed per week, having caused at least one road traffic accident in the last ten years were selected, provided they were not under the influence of alcohol and drugs during traffic accident. The same number of control were selected. Both cases and controls were tested to reaction time. We found statistically significant difference between car drivers who caused car accidents and those who did not in both simple and choice reaction times. Car drivers who caused road traffic accidents have longer reaction time (both simple and choice reaction time), but as the tasks were more complex, that difference was less visible. Since drivers involved in this study had introductory phase before measuring their reaction times, they faced with unpleasant sound when they made mistake, which forced them to be aware not to make a mistake in further tasks, so they showed longer reaction times. Measuring of reaction time seems to be important, and as we have showed they are different in drivers who have caused road traffic accidents and those who have do not.