Database Used (database + used)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Processed animal products with emphasis on polyunsaturated fatty acid content

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Sabine Sampels
Abstract The fat composition of processed fish and meat varies due to the source of the animal diet and to the fats used during processing. The aim of this study was to analyse the fatty acid profiles in some commonly available fish and meat fast foods. Variation between similar products from different brands indicated the use of different fat sources during processing. Especially in fish products, a high variation was found in the n -6/n -3 ratio, being up to more than 400-fold higher than in plain fish, which might be of special concern in the evaluation of diet-related health claims. Many products showed considerable differences compared to those included in the official database used for calculation of dietary intake. This leads to the conclusion that the fat sources used during processing of fast food should be reported and available to the consumers. Interdisciplinary dialogue between all sectors involved in food production, processing and health care is proposed to evaluate optimal development of fast foods with nutritionally favourable fat composition. [source]


Tunnel stability analysis during construction using a neuro-fuzzy system

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 15 2005
José Luis Rangel
Abstract This paper presents an alternative strategy to evaluate the stability of tunnels during the design and construction stages based on a hybrid system, composed by neural, neuro-fuzzy and analytical solutions. A prototype of this system is designed using a database formed by 261 cases, 45 real and the rest synthetic. This system is capable of reproducing the displacements induced at the periphery of the tunnel before and after support installation. The stability of the excavation process is evaluated using a criterion that considers dimensionless parameters based on the shear strength of the media, the induced deformation level in the ground, the plastic radii and the advance of excavation without support. The efficiency and validity of the prototype is verified with two examples of actual tunnels, one included in the database used to train the system and the other not included. The results of both examples show a better approximation than other commonly used techniques. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Causes and Consequences of the Relation Between Split-Adjusted Share Prices and Subsequent Stock Returns

JOURNAL OF BUSINESS FINANCE & ACCOUNTING, Issue 1-2 2007
William D. Brown Jr
Abstract:, In this manuscript, we document and explain an empirical artifact , a persistent and substantial negative relation between split-adjusted share prices and subsequent stock returns , that has potentially important ramifications for capital markets research design. This relation pervades all commonly-used commercial databases and is insensitive to the choice of database used for either prices or returns. We investigate four potential causes of the empirical regularity: survivorship bias, asymmetric returns to low-priced stocks, extreme returns, and the effects of stock-split adjustments on portfolio classifications. We find that survivorship bias accounts for approximately half of the returns documented to a share-price-based hedge strategy and that re-classifications caused by stock split adjustments account for substantially all of the remaining returns. We do not find that controlling for either low-priced stocks or extreme returns is effective in purging the data of the empirical price artifact. These findings and our explanations thereof are important, as they show that there are potentially troublesome consequences of using share price as a deflator in markets-based research. In particular, we note and illustrate cause for concern when interpreting associations between share-price-scaled variables and subsequent returns as evidence of market inefficiency. [source]


Evaluation of a falls prevention programme in an acute tertiary care hospital

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2007
M Hth Sci, PG Dip Clin Epi, Teresa A Williams BN
Aims and objectives., To evaluate a systematic, coordinated approach to limit the severity and minimize the number of falls in an acute care hospital. Background., Patient falls are a significant cause of preventable injury and death, particularly in older patients. Best practice principles mandate that hospitals identify those patients at risk of falling and implement interventions to prevent or minimize them. Methods., A before and after design was used for the study. All patients admitted to three medical wards and a geriatric evaluation management unit were enrolled over a six-month period. Patients' risk of falling was assessed using a falls risk assessment tool and appropriate interventions implemented using a falls care plan. Data related to the number and severity of falls were obtained from the Australian Incident Monitoring System database used at the study site. Results., In this study, 1357 patient admissions were included. According to their risk category, 37% of patients (n = 496) were grouped as low risk (score = 1,10), 58% (n = 774) medium risk (score = 11,20) and 5% (n = 63) high risk (score = 21,33) for falls. The incidence of falls (per average occupied bed day) was eight per 1000 bed days for the study period. Compared with the same months in 2002/2003, there was a significant reduction in falls from 0·95 to 0·80 (95% CI for the difference ,0·14 to ,0·16, P < 0·001). Conclusion., We evaluated a systematic, coordinated approach to falls management that included a falls risk assessment tool and falls care plan in the acute care setting. Although a significant reduction in falls was found in this study, it could not be attributed to any specific interventions. Relevance to clinical practice., Preventing falls where possible is essential. Assessment of risk and use of appropriate interventions can reduce the incidence of falls. [source]


The law and incomplete database information as confounders in epidemiologic research on occupational injuries and illnesses,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010
Arthur Oleinick MD
Abstract Background Capture,recapture studies report undercounting of work injuries/illnesses with days away from work (DAFW) in the Bureau of Labor Statistics annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (BLS SOII) by 25,68% depending on the state and undercounting by various state workers' compensation (WC) systems of eligible claims by 5,35%. Methods Statutory/regulatory criteria defining eligible cases are used to adjust counts in the 1998,2001 Minnesota's WC system and the BLS SOII to permit comparison and to evaluate the recent studies. Missing information in the employer database used in the capture,recapture studies is tabulated. An attempt is made to harmonize results with two additional databases counting work injuries. Results Counts in the BLS SOII moderately undercount by 10,16% the number of WC cases. We believe that matching in capture,recapture studies is adversely affected by misperceptions regarding the application of statutory/regulatory eligibility criteria and by missing data. The result is that the reported undercounts in both the BLS SOII and several state WC databases are overstated in the capture,recapture studies. Although three of four databases can be approximately harmonized, the fourth cannot. Conclusions More precisely targeted information is needed before decisions regarding redesign of the BLS survey are made or before legislative or administrative changes in the WC are contemplated. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:23,36, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]