Family process in health research: Extending a family typology to a new cultural context.

To describe family context in health research, the authors tested a typology of families developed in California with a sample of families in Quebec, Canada. Family scales from the California study were submitted to focus groups, translated, and standardized on a sample of 209 parents. A panel of experts then revised the scales to make them relevant to Quebec families and to health promotion. Data from the new and revised scales were collected on 509 Quebec couples (1,018 spouses) and were clustered separately by gender, using K means. The procedure classified all respondents into family types that paralleled the original typology. Discriminant analyses indicated that family profile variables significantly distinguished family types. Comparisons with family, stress, and health variables further differentiated among the types and expanded their meaning. The study demonstrates a method for redefining and extending family data in health research with different cultural groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research design for patient selection in clinical trials phase II

Phase II trials play a key role in the development of a treatment, because they are crucial in deciding whether or not to proceed to phase III. In the event of the evaluation of a new treatment given to only one group of subjects, multi-stage designs were developed to include subjects in phase II trials. Gehan's two stage designs stop inclusion of subjects if no success is observed among the first n1 subjects. They are easy to use, but have the disadvantage of exposing many subjects to an inefficient treatment at the second stage. Fleming's multi-stage designs and Simon's two stage designs permit the early termination of a trial when the intermediate results are extreme, either in favor of the efficiency or in favor of the inefficiency of the treatment. Simon's plans minimize either the average or the maximum number of subjects exposed to ineffective treatment. Ensign's three stage designs combine the first stage of Gehan with the two stages of Simon. These plans are interesting because they can reject a treatment quickly after a long run of failures which minimizes the average number of subjects exposed to an ineffective treatment.     

Influence of faulting on a mine shaft—a case study: part II—Numerical modelling

The X41 shaft is the man and supply shaft at Copper Mine, Mount Isa, Australia. There has been observed evidence of degradation manifested by the development of cracks in the shaft concrete lining since the early nineties. In addition, the shaft steel structure is being deformed and needs regular and meticulous maintenance. The shaft degradation has been attributed to the presence of two major geological structures, the W41 and W42 faults, which intersect the shaft in two distinct locations.Since the X41 shaft gives a direct access to the Copper Mine, it has to remain operational for the mine life. An objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms inducing damage to the shaft. In order to assess the long-term integrity of the shaft, it was essential to evaluate the impact of its deformation, related to the late mining status of the Copper Mine and the presence of the two major faults. It was important to determine an estimate of the future rate of displacement, as well as the total displacement, for the rest of the mine life.This paper presents a case study whereby the causes of shaft degradation were examined. The influence of faulting and mining sequence on the stability of the main mine shaft were investigated by means of field investigations and numerical modelling. This paper concentrates on the numerical modelling performed as part II of this project. It presents exhaustively the methodology used to build the numerical model and presents the outcomes.     

Data Acquisition System for the Open-Circuit Potential Decay Technique Using Different Sampling Times in One Experiment

I- INTRODUCTION

The open-circuit potential decay (OCPD) technique has been used to get information on:

- the uncompensated ohmic potential, iR_u;

- the electrode capacitance behavior;

- kinetics and mechanistic parameters such as i_o and b = dE/d in i;

- and kinetics of chemical reactions such as passivation/depassivation.     

The effect of reducing the number of EMG channel inputs on loading and stiffness estimates from an EMG-driven model of the spine

Electromyography (EMG)-driven models of the spine routinely require between ten and 14 EMG channels to estimate joint load and stiffness variables. This study was designed to determine the sensitivity of common EMG-driven model outputs to the removal of individual EMG channels, and to test two adapted models driven from eight channels. A total of 11 male participants performed a variety of static exertions designed to resist either an applied trunk flexion or right side trunk lateral bend moment. In this study, 14 channels of EMG were recorded and used to drive a biomechanical model of the spine to predict L4-L5 joint load and stiffness values. The model was subsequently re-run after the removal of individual pairs of bilateral EMG channels, and again with eight-channel models in which the rectus abdominus, latissimus dorsi and multifidus EMG-channels were eliminated. Results showed that the eight-channel model provided estimates for the majority of output variables that did not differ substantially from the 14-channel model, except in instances in which muscle force output was ramped to resist flexion moments. Estimates of the output variables were, in general, improved when multifidus fascicles were re-added to the model and driven from the lumbar erector spinae EMG sites.     

The mechanism of phosphating of steel

A schema of the mechanism involved in the different steps during phosphating of steel is proposed. The effect of electrochemical reactivity as a function of surface finishing, metal microstructure and quantity of inclusions is discussed. Certain aspects concerning crystallization and crystalline reorganization of phosphate layers are defined. The distribution of iron and zinc in the phosphate layers formed by the treatment of steel in zinc phosphating baths was investigated.     

Medical conditions and the risk of motor vehicle crashes in men

BACKGROUND: The appropriateness of laparoscopic colon resection (LCR) as treatment for malignancy has been questioned. METHODS: From 1992 to 1997, 91 patients were entered into a prospective study of LCR for cancer. Clinical, pathologic, and economic parameters of LCR were compared in a cohort of patients matched for age, tumor stage, and type of colectomy who underwent open colon resection (OCR) during the same time period. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 26 months, there were no significant differences in survival rate for patients in the LCR, converted colon resection, and OCR groups. There were no port-site recurrences and the number of lymph nodes harvested was similar among the procedures. Hospital stay was significantly shorter if laparoscopic resection was successful. Total hospital costs were similar for LCR and OCR; however, the costs were significantly higher for converted colon resection. CONCLUSIONS: LCR is a sound oncologic procedure that can be performed with costs similar to OCR.     

Skill Requirements for the Rehabilitation Engineer: Results of a Survey

A survey of skills requred for rehabilitation engineering was prepared by the Biomedical Engineering Divison of the American Society for Engineering Education. The purpose of the survey was to determine basic and specific skills needed for the practice of rehabilitation engineering as assessed by four groups: biomedical engineering educators, practicing engineers, medical doctors, and medical specialists. Results indicated an emphasis in basic skills such as transducers, medical devices, kdnesiology, and anatomy, and in specific skills such as rehabilitation devices and aids, equipment control programs, and legal correlates. The two engineering groups tended to agree with each other as did the two medical groups; however, the engineeringgroups did not always concur with the medical groups. Medical doctors and medical specialists generally desired a more broadly trained and more highly skilled rehabilitation engineer. Results suggest that the M.S. degree level appears most reasonable for educational training in rehabilitation engineering.