Research Online @ GCU

Treatment of landscape water (LSW) by electrocoagulation process

Haifeng Wang et al. — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:39:43 PDT

The aim of this study was to utilize an aluminum electrocoagulation for the removal of algae and dissolved organic matter from landscape water, which was taken from an artifi cial lake and mixed with NaCl stock solutions to make its fi nal concentration in the range of 0.5−3 g/l. The removal effi ciency of chlorophyll-a, UV254 and turbidity was investigated under different current densities, charge loadings, conductivities (689–4684 μs cm−1) and pH values (3–11). The comparative removal performance together with sludge production by chemical coagulation and electrocoagulation were studied. With electrocoagulation, the optimal removal effi ciencies of chlorophyll-a and UV254 were 81% and 56%, respectively, and the residual turbidity and sludge production were less than 2.6 NTU and 5.1% of the total solution (after 10 min sedimentation), respectively. In comparison, for chemical coagulation the optimum removals of chlorophyll-a and UV254 were 75% and 46%, respectively, and the residual turbidity and the sludge production were 3.6 NTU and 9.3% of the total solution (after 10 min sedimentation), respectively. The results demonstrated that electrocoagulation was an effective process for the removal of algae and dissolved organic matter from landscape water and exhibited advantages to chemical coagulation.

The application of solidification and stabilization technology for the treatment of harbour sediments

Panagiotis Fotis et al. — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:21:15 PDT

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cement on the geotechnical properties of contaminated harbor sediments with the use of S/S technology Treatment techniques such as Solidification and Stabilization are becoming increasingly important in the contaminated land sector while they increase awareness of the environmental impact arising from its activities and resulting materials. This study was conducted on harbour sediments derived from Le Havre Harbour (France).

An extension of a study on cultural differences in consumer concern for ethical fashion: the case of the UK

Lindsey Carey et al. — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 02:54:49 PDT

This conference paper explores ethical fashion in the UK. 15-18 July 2011.

Apprenticeship training in England: Closing the gap?

Jim Campbell et al. — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:16:12 PDT

This article is a critical comparison of the development in apprenticeship training in Britain with that in other European countries, particularly Germany. In both countries, the apprenticeship system displays high levels of gender segregation where men dominate the ‘traditional’ apprenticeships in craft, technical and engineering occupations, while women dominate the mainly service or care sector occupations. Attempts to improve and expand apprenticeships in the UK, including tackling occupational segregation, are now unfolding in a climate of severe economic recession and public ﬁnance restraint. The article explores the extent to which increased ﬁnancial investment and policy developments over recent years have improved apprenticeship training in Britain, with speciﬁc reference to gender-based occupational segregation and the impact of the global economic recession.

Preliminary study of ciprofloxacin (cip) removal by potassium ferrate(VI)

JiaQian Jiang et al. — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:44:51 PDT

Ciprofloxacin was identified among the top 10 of high priority pharmaceuticals detected in aquatic envi- ronment. Potassium ferrate(VI) is a strong oxidant which possesses very high redox potential and has been widely studied in water disinfection and removing organic and inorganic pollutants. There has been one published work to detail the removal of phosphorus as well as micro-pollutants including ciproflox- acin by ferrate in wastewater treatment. However, developing a simple ciprofloxacin detection method and study of feasibility of its treatment by ferrate was the objective of this work.

Searchers vs surveyors in estimating the monetary value of a QALY: resolving a nasty dilemma for NICE

Rachel M. Baker et al. — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:18:37 PDT

Recently, for many health economics researchers, empirical estimation of the monetary valuation of a QALY has become an important endeavour. Different philosophical and practical approaches to this have emerged. On one hand, there is the view that, with health care budgets set centrally, decision-making bodies within the system can iterate, from observation of a series of previous decisions, towards the value of a QALY is, i.e. they can search for such a value. Alternatively, and more consistent with the approach taken in other public sectors, individual members of the public are surveyed with the aim of directly eliciting a preference-based – also known as a willingness-to-pay-based (WTP-based) - value of a QALY.

New insights into mutable collagenous tissue: correlations between the microstructure and mechanical state of a sea-urchin ligament

Ana R. Ribeiro et al. — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:47:35 PDT

The mutable collagenous tissue (MCT) of echinoderms has the ability to undergo rapid and reversible changes in passive mechanical properties that are initiated and modulated by the nervous system. Since the mechanism of MCT mutability is poorly understood, the aim of this work was to provide a detailed morphological analysis of a typical mutable collagenous structure in its different mechanical states. The model studied was the compass depressor ligament (CDL) of a sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus), which was characterized in different functional states mimicking MCT mutability. Transmission electron microscopy, histochemistry, cryo-scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy, and field emission gun-environmental scanning electron microscopy were used to visualize CDLs at the micro- and nanoscales. This investigation has revealed previously unreported differences in both extracellular and cellular constituents, expanding the current knowledge of the relationship between the organization of the CDL and its mechanical state.

A nurse led intermediate care package in patients who have been hospitalised with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Mangalam Sridhar et al. — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:32:19 PDT

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a nurse led intermediate care programme in patients who have been hospitalised with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Health Literacy in COPD

Nicola J. Roberts et al. — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:24:31 PDT

If patients are to participate fully in their care and in the management of a long-term condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, good communication is essential. However, not all patients are able to use the written word and we need to be aware of the size of this problem and its implications for the way in which we give information and conduct medical consultations. The impact of health literacy on outcomes can be considerable and improvements can be made by being aware of the problem, offering information in several different forms, and by reinforcing the spoken word with pictorial images.

Are evaluated respiratory service developments implemented into clinical practice?

Nicola Roberts et al. — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:54:25 PDT

Evaluation of the way in which respiratory care is delivered is increasingly recognised to be an important area for research. When service developments are reported, it is not always clear whether they are subsequently implemented within the reporting institution, and if not why not. 3281 abstracts from three specialist journals and one general journal were reviewed, and 36 reported evaluated service developments identified. The authors of each of these were approached to determine whether the reported service developments were in use in their institution.

Evaluation of a paper and electronic pictorial COPD action plan

Nicola J. Roberts et al. — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:34:07 PDT

Personalised written action plans are increasingly regarded as an important component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) self-management support and yet they may not be understood by those with limited literacy skills. This study was designed to produce a comprehensible pictorial COPD action plan for use by patients and health care professionals. With advice from a group of doctors and nurses a 'standard' written COPD action plan was translated by a medical artist into a series of pictorial images. These were assessed using the techniques of guessability and translucency in 21 adults attending a COPD clinic in a London hospital.

Urinary catheterization in acute stroke: clinical realities. A mixed methods study

Eileen Cowey et al. — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:28:47 PDT

The objective of this study was to determine what influences the decision to insert an indwelling urinary catheter in acute stroke patients.Design: A prospective casenote review and semi-structured interviews were conducted and corporate catheterization policy in the study sites was investigated. Three teaching hospitals, typical of stroke service provision in most developed countries were used in the study. Casenotes from 70 consecutive acute stroke admissions; 50 doctors, nurses and physiotherapists working in acute stroke units and medical receiving units.

Contact lens wear and the development of squamous metaplasia of the surface cells of the conjunctiva

Michael Doughty — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:45:24 PST

The aims of this research was to review the reported effects of contact lens wear on the surface epithelial cells of the human conjunctiva as assessed by conjunctival impression cytology (CIC). A literature search was undertaken to identify reports on the conjunctival health after contact lens wear, principally as assessed using CIC.

Partial hue-matching

Alexander D. Logvinenko et al. — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:30:17 PST

It is widely believed that color can be decomposed into a small number of component colors. Particularly, each hue can be described as a combination of a restricted set of component hues. Methods, such as color naming and hue scaling, aim at describing color in terms of the relative amount of the component hues. However, there is no consensus on the nomenclature of component hues. Moreover, the very notion of hue (not to mention component hue) is usually defined verbally rather than perceptually. In this paper, we make an attempt to operationalize such a fundamental attribute of color as hue without the use of verbal terms. Specifically, we put forth a new method—partial hue-matching—that is based on judgments of whether two colors have some hue in common.

Lightness constancy and illumination discounting

Alexander D. Logvinenko et al. — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:25:05 PST

Contrary to the implication of the term “lightness constancy”, asymmetric lightness matching has never been found to be perfect unless the scene is highly articulated (i.e., contains a number of different reflectances). Also, lightness constancy has been found to vary for different observers, and an effect of instruction (lightness vs. brightness) has been reported. The elusiveness of lightness constancy presents a great challenge to visual science; we revisit these issues in the following experiment, which involved 44 observers in total.

Exercise for preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Tracey E. Howe et al. — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:53:54 PST

Osteoporosis is a condition resulting in an increased risk of skeletal fractures due to a reduction in the density of bone tissue. Treatment of osteoporosis typically involves the use of pharmacological agents. In general it is thought that disuse (prolonged periods of inactivity) and unloading of the skeleton promotes reduced bone mass, whereas mechanical loading through exercise increases bone mass.

Exercise for improving balance in older people

Tracey E. Howe et al. — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:50:14 PST

Good balance and mobility are essential to the successful performance of most activities of daily living as well as a number of recreational pursuits. Balance is the ability to stay upright and steady when stationary and during movement. Using more technical terms, balance is defined as the ability to maintain the projection of the body's centre of mass (CoM) within manageable limits of the base of support, as in standing or sitting, or in transit to a new base of support, as in walking (Winter 1995). The base of support is composed of the area between all points of contact of the body with another surface; points of contact also include extensions of the body through assistive devices (e.g. walking sticks and frames). Balance is an integral component of daily (functional) activities, however, balance control is complex and multifactorial.

Taking control after fall-induced hip fracture: a grounded theory

Laura McMillan et al. — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:03:35 PST

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings from a grounded theory study exploring people’s concerns after fall-induced hip fracture. Hip fracture remains one of the most significant causes of death and ill health amongst older people (SIGN, 2009). The concerns of those who experience this traumatic injury are not articulated in the literature. Grounded theory is a systematic method of qualitative analysis and aims to develop a theory around a core category which explains how participants resolve their main concern. The emerging theory guides the sampling strategy and allows the researcher to take a flexible approach (Glaser and Strauss, 1967). Interviews were conducted with 19 people aged over 50 who had experienced traumatic hip fracture and surgical intervention, and were able and willing to provide informed consent. Interviews took place following discharge home.

Consensus on core outcome measures of function are needed to progress our knowledge of ‘best practice’ exercise components for older people

Tracey E. Howe et al. — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:54:48 PST

Functional ability is the mainstay of independence in older people. However, there has long been debate over the components of exercise training necessary to improve function. Back in the early 1990's trials were starting to report that explosive power might be more predictive of functional ability than isometric strength [1]. There have been many trials and, more recently, reviews that have considered the effects of either strength training [2] or power training [3] on function, but the paper by Tschopp et al. [4], in this issue, is the first meta-analysis of trials of ‘head-to-head’ comparisons of power training versus conventional resistance training in older people (aged 60+ years). The review included data from 11 studies, involving 377 participants and the authors concluded that improvements in functional outcomes were slightly greater with power training.

Evaluation of outcome measures for use in clinical practice for adults with musculoskeletal conditions of the knee: a systematic review

Tracey E. Howe et al. — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:46:35 PST

This systematic review reported on the clinimetric properties of outcome measures for use in clinical practice for adults with musculoskeletal conditions of the knee. A systematic search was performed in Medline, EMBASE, Cinahl and AMED to identify studies examining the clinimetric properties of outcome measures for adults undergoing conservative treatment of ligament injuries, meniscal lesions, patellofemoral pain and osteoarthritis of the knee. Outcomes measures taking less than 20 min to administer and requiring minimal equipment and space were included. Pairs of authors used a checklist to record the characteristics of the outcome measures, their reported clinimetric properties and the demographics of the study populations. The OMERACT filters of ‘truth’ and ‘discrimination’ were applied to the data for each outcome measure by an expert panel.