The EBSD spatial resolution of a Timepix-based detector in a tilt-free geometry.

Performing EBSD with a horizontal sample and a parallel EBSD detector sensor, enables safer specimen movements for data collection of large specimen areas and improves the longitudinal spatial resolution. The collection of electron backscattering patterns (EBSPs) at normal incidence to the electron beam has been revisited via the use of a direct electron detection (DED) sensor. In this article we present a fully operational DED EBSD detection system in this geometry, referred to as the tilt-free geometry. A well-defined Σ=3[101]{121} twin boundary in a Molybdenum bicrystal was used to measure the physical spatial resolution of the EBSD detector in this tilt-free geometry. In this study, two separate methods for estimating the spatial resolution of EBSD, one based on a pattern quality metric and the other on a normalised cross correlation coefficient were used. The spatial resolution was determined at accelerating voltages of 8 kV, 10 kV, 12 kV, 15 kV and 20 kV ranging from ~22-38 nm using the pattern quality method and ~31-46 nm using the normalised cross correlation method.

Factors determining the optimal body site and method for obtaining punch biopsies of human skin as a tissue in which to assess pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic endpoints in drug development studies.

There are potential advantages to detecting pharmacodynamic (PD) and pharmacokinetic (PK) endpoints in a tissue-based compartment such as the skin during the development of molecularly targeted drugs. We explored regional differences between inner arm, inner thigh, lower back and buttocks in 12 healthy male Caucasian volunteers in the tolerability of skin biopsy procedures; the Ki67 proliferation index; the frequency of detecting hair follicles and sweat glands; and the percentage of melanocytes. We also explored the amounts of tissue and protein obtained, and two separate methods of splitting biopsies for processing in mutually exclusive media. Biopsies from all body sites were well tolerated. The subjective ranking order was inner arm > buttocks = back > thigh. There were no statistically significant differences in the Ki67 labelling index (P > 0.05). The frequency of detecting sweat glands was the same in all body sites, but the frequency of detecting hair follicles was higher in back and buttock, compared to arm and thigh. The percentage of melanocytes was significantly lower in the buttocks compared to the back and thigh (P < 0.05), but not compared to the arm (P = 0.07). A 4-mm punch biopsy yielded a mean of 16.8 mg of tissue (range: 9-28 mg) and 160 microg of protein (range: 80-270 microg). In vivo sample splitting, by following a 2-mm punch with a 4-mm overpunch, had a shorter time from devascularisation to immersion into processing medium than ex vivo dissection of a 4-mm sample, which may be of importance to the assessment of labile endpoints. We conclude that multiple punch biopsies of the skin are feasible, with the buttocks representing the studied body site with the optimal balance between tolerability, hair follicle density and melanocyte density for obtaining tissue in which to assess PD and PK endpoints during drug development studies.

Measurement properties of the CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire in a sample of older Australians.

BACKGROUND: The effective evaluation of physical activity interventions for older adults requires measurement instruments with acceptable psychometric properties that are sufficiently sensitive to detect changes in this population. AIM: To assess the measurement properties (reliability and validity) of the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire in a sample of older Australians. METHODS: CHAMPS data were collected from 167 older adults (mean age 79.1 S.D. 6.3 years) and validated with tests of physical ability and the SF-12 measures of physical and mental health. Responses from a sub-sample of 43 older adults were used to assess 1-week test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Approximately 25% of participants needed assistance to complete the CHAMPS questionnaire. There were low but significant correlations between the CHAMPS scores and the physical performance measures (rho=0.14-0.32) and the physical health scale of the SF-12 (rho=0.12-0.24). Reliability coefficients were highest for moderate-intensity (ICC=0.81-0.88) and lowest for vigorous-intensity physical activity (ICC=0.34-0.45). Agreement between test-retest estimates of sufficient physical activity for health benefits (> or =150min and > or =5 sessions per week) was high (percent agreement=88% and Cohen's kappa=0.68). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the CHAMPS questionnaire has acceptable measurement properties, and is therefore suitable for use among older Australian adults, as long as adequate assistance is provided during administration.

Dose-associated pulmonary complication rates after fresh frozen plasma administration for warfarin reversal.

UNLABELLED: ESSENTIALS: Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) may be associated with a dose-based risk of pulmonary complications. Patients received FFP for warfarin reversal at a large academic hospital over a 3-year period. Almost 20% developed pulmonary complications, and the risk was highest after > 3 units of FFP. The risk of pulmonary complications remained significant in multivariable analysis. BACKGROUND: Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is often administered to reverse warfarin anticoagulation. Administration has been associated with pulmonary complications, but it is unclear whether this risk is dose-related. Aims We sought to characterize the incidence and dose relationship of pulmonary complications, including transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) and transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), after FFP administration for warfarin reversal. METHODS: We performed a structured retrospective review of patients who received FFP for warfarin reversal in the emergency department (ED) of an academic tertiary-care hospital over a 3-year period. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between FFP dose and risk of pulmonary events. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-one patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 49 patients (20%) developed pulmonary complications, including 30 (12%) with TACO, two (1%) with TRALI, and 17 (7%) with pulmonary edema not meeting the criteria for TACO. Pulmonary complications were significantly more frequent in those who received > 3 units of FFP (34.0% versus 15.6%, 95% confidence interval for risk difference 7.9%-8.9%). After stratification by subtype of complication, only the risk of TACO was statistically significant (28.3% versus 7.6%, 95% confidence interval for risk difference 8.2%-16.6%). In multivariable analysis controlling for age, sex, initial systolic blood pressure, and intravenous fluids given in the ED, > 3 units of FFP remained a significant risk factor for pulmonary complications (odds ratio 2.49, 95% confidence interval 1.21-5.13). CONCLUSIONS: Almost 20% of patients who received FFP for warfarin reversal developed pulmonary complications, primarily TACO, and this risk increased with > 3 units of FFP. Clinicians should be aware of and prepared to manage these complications.

Reliability and validity of a brief physical activity assessment for use by family doctors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of a brief physical activity assessment tool suitable for doctors to use to identify inactive patients in the primary care setting. METHODS: Volunteer family doctors (n = 8) screened consenting patients (n = 75) for physical activity participation using a brief physical activity assessment tool. Inter-rater reliability was assessed within one week (n = 71). Validity was assessed against an objective physical activity monitor (computer science and applications accelerometer; n = 42). RESULTS: The brief physical activity assessment tool produced repeatable estimates of "sufficient total physical activity", correctly classifying over 76% of cases (kappa 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33 to 0.72). The validity coefficient was reasonable (kappa 0.40, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.69), with good percentage agreement (71%). CONCLUSIONS: The brief physical activity assessment tool is a reliable instrument, with validity similar to that of more detailed self report measures of physical activity. It is a tool that can be used efficiently in routine primary healthcare services to identify insufficiently active patients who may need physical activity advice.

Challenges and opportunities for promoting physical activity in the workplace.

Although there would appear to be considerable potential for improving the health, productivity and quality of life of the Australian workforce through workplace physical activity (PA) promotion programs, the scientific evidence that such programs are effective is limited. This review appraises the quality of intervention studies conducted since 1997. Most studies included volunteer participants, who were either sufficiently motivated to change their behaviour or already active. Interventions that focused on corporate-fitness type programs and the provision of generic health education programs were not effective in terms of adequate participation rates and sustained behaviour change. The more successful individually-based programs were those which tailored materials to individual needs. The greatest potential for influencing the overall workforce appeared to be programs that included less 'organised' approaches and promoted incidental PA within and around the workplace. Future programs should; incorporate contemporary theories of behaviour and organisational change; emphasise linkages between the workplace and external settings; expand the profile of programs to address workplace culture; and encourage management support for behavioural adjustments to the organisation. There is a need for greater understanding and evaluation of desirable employer-related outcomes, such as reduced absenteeism, job stress and turnover and improved productivity and job satisfaction, coupled with the exploration of how these factors may relate to PA promotion and adoption. Finally, more in-depth evaluation strategies and complete descriptions of intervention programs are required, in order to identify the most effective strategies.

Mediated approaches for influencing physical activity: update of the evidence on mass media, print, telephone and website delivery of interventions.

The aim of this paper is to review evidence published since 1997 on the effectiveness of mass media, print, telephone and website-delivered physical activity (PA) interventions. For mass media, there is consistent evidence for impacts on recall of campaign tag lines and message content and modest evidence of short-term impacts on behaviour in some population subgroups. Print-based delivery of programs can have a modest impact on behaviour; research is needed on supplementary strategies to support print programs. Although there is a strong case for the potential of telephone and Internet delivered interventions, there is as yet little evidence that they can be effective. All of these 'mediated' approaches to PA program delivery are likely to be important elements of future public health interventions. The body of evidence for their effectiveness in changing behaviour is currently modest, however, and it is clear that these approaches have not yet been fully developed and evaluated. Combinations of different media and mutually supportive, integrated strategies are likely to be more effective and need to be developed and evaluated systematically, building on the current research evidence base.

The HealthyTexts study: a randomized controlled trial to improve skin cancer prevention behaviors among young people.

Several randomized trials have found behavior change programs delivered via text messaging to be efficacious to improve preventive health behaviors such as physical activity and stopping smoking; however few have assessed its value in skin cancer prevention or early detection. The HealthyTexts study enrolled 678 participants 18-42 years, and assigned them to receive 21 text messages about skin cancer prevention, skin self-examination or physical activity (attention control) over the course of one year. Baseline data have been collected and outcomes will be assessed at three months and twelve months post-intervention. The trial aims to increase the mean overall sun protection habits index score from 2.3 to 2.7 with a standard deviation of 0.5 (effect size of 0.5) and the proportion of people who conduct a whole-body skin self-examination by an absolute 10%. This paper describes the study design and participants' baseline characteristics. In addition, participants' goals for their health, and strategies they apply to achieve those goals are summarized.

Postpartum diet quality in Australian women following a gestational diabetes pregnancy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To describe the diet quality of a national sample of Australian women with a recent history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and determine factors associated with adherence to national dietary recommendations. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A postpartum lifestyle survey with 1499 Australian women diagnosed with GDM ≤3 years previously. Diet quality was measured using the Australian recommended food score (ARFS) and weighted by demographic and diabetes management characteristics. Multinominal logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between diet quality and demographic characteristics, health seeking behaviours and diabetes-related risk factors. RESULTS: Mean (±s.d.) ARFS was 30.9±8.1 from a possible maximum score of 74. Subscale component scores demonstrated that the nuts/legumes, grains and fruits were the most poorly scored. Factors associated with being in the highest compared with the lowest ARFS quintile included age (odds ratio (OR) 5-year increase=1.40; 95% (confidence interval) CI:1.16-1.68), tertiary education (OR=2.19; 95% CI:1.52-3.17), speaking only English (OR=1.92; 95% CI:1.19-3.08), being sufficiently physically active (OR=2.11; 95% CI:1.46-3.05), returning for postpartum blood glucose testing (OR=1.75; 95% CI:1.23-2.50) and receiving risk reduction advice from a health professional (OR=1.80; 95% CI:1.24-2.60). CONCLUSIONS: Despite an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, women in this study had an overall poor diet quality as measured by the ARFS. Women with GDM should be targeted for interventions aimed at achieving a postpartum diet consistent with the guidelines for chronic disease prevention. Encouraging women to return for follow-up and providing risk reduction advice may be positive initial steps to improve diet quality, but additional strategies need to be identified.

Engagement and retention of participants in a physical activity website.

BACKGROUND: Websites have the potential to deliver enhanced versions of targeted and tailored physical activity programs to large numbers of participants. We describe participant engagement and retention with a stage-based physical activity website in a workplace setting. METHODS: We analyzed data from participants in the website condition of a randomized trial designed to test the efficacy of a print- vs. website-delivered intervention. They received four stage-targeted e-mails over 8 weeks, with hyperlinks to the website. Both objective and self-reported website use data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 327 were randomized to the website condition and 250 (76%) completed the follow-up survey. Forty-six percent (n = 152) visited the website over the trial period. A total of 4,114 hits to the website were recorded. Participants who entered the site spent on average 9 min per visit and viewed 18 pages. Website use declined over time; 77% of all visits followed the first e-mail. CONCLUSIONS: Limited website engagement, despite the perceived usefulness of the materials, demonstrates possible constraints on the use of e-mails and websites in delivering health behavior change programs. In the often-cluttered information environment of workplaces, issues of engagement and retention in website-delivered programs require attention.

Trial of print and telephone delivered interventions to influence walking.

BACKGROUND: Both self-help print materials and telephone-assisted counseling have generally proved useful strategies to increase physical activity. This study examined their effectiveness in an intervention aimed specifically at promoting walking for specific purposes. METHODS: Participants (n = 399) were randomly allocated to one of two 3-week intervention programs. The Print program comprised multiple mailing of brochures that emphasized walking within the local community environments. The Print plus Telephone program received the same brochures plus three telephone calls. Data collected via mailed self-completed surveys were analyzed by exploring outcomes related to walking for specific purposes. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two programs in any of the walking measures. Both groups significantly increased time reported walking for exercise per week [Print: t(1,277) = -3.50, P < 0.001; Print plus telephone: t(1,106) = -2.44, P < 0.016]. Significantly, more participants in the Print plus Telephone group reported receiving and reading the materials (chi2 = 20.11, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The intervention programs were more successful at increasing walking for exercise than for any other purpose. The addition of brief telephone support was successful in focusing participants' attention on the print materials, but did not result in any additional increase in walking.

Can motivational signs prompt increases in incidental physical activity in an Australian health-care facility?

This study aimed to evaluate whether a stair-promoting signed intervention could increase the use of the stairs over the elevator in a health-care facility. A time-series design was conducted over 12 weeks. Data were collected before, during and after displaying a signed intervention during weeks 4-5 and 8-9. Evaluation included anonymous counts recorded by an objective unobtrusive motion-sensing device of people entering the elevator or the stairs. Self-report data on stair use by hospital staff were also collected. Stair use significantly increased after the first intervention phase (P = 0.02), but after the intervention was removed stair use decreased back towards baseline levels. Moreover, stair use did not significantly change after the re-introduction of the intervention. Lastly, stair use decreased below the initial baseline level during the final weeks of evaluation. Furthermore, there was no significant change in self-reported stair use by hospital staff. Therefore, the signed intervention aimed at promoting an increase in incidental physical activity produced small brief effects, which were not maintained. Further research is required to find more effective 'point of choice' interventions to increase incidental physical activity participation with more sustainable impact.

Perceptions of the physical environment, stage of change for physical activity, and walking among Australian adults.

Data for this study were from a population survey of 1,200 adults ages 40-60 years, sampled from the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Questionnaire items on perceptions of the environment were factor analyzed into: Aesthetic Environment and Practical Environment. For both factors, those in the Contemplation stage had more negative views of the environment than those in Maintenance. Those who walked for 0-20 min/week held more negative perceptions of their environment than those who walked for 21-120 min/week and those who walked for > 120 min/week. The health promotion implications of these findings are that environments perceived as attractive and as providing convenient access to services and facilities may influence motivational readiness for physical activity and time spent walking.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus in childhood: a matched case control study in Lancashire and Cumbria, UK.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to identify environmental risk factors for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 1 DM) in childhood. METHODS: A matched case-control study of Type 1 DM conducted in Lancashire and Cumbria, UK, using a structured interview. Cases (n=196, participation rate 83%) were children under 16 years of age diagnosed prior to October 1998 and attending diabetic clinics. Controls (n=381) were healthy children from the community matched by gender and by age (within a few days of birth). The data were analysed by logistic regression using the technique of Breslow and Day for matched case control studies. RESULTS: The multivariate regression model showed that the following factors were significantly associated with the risk of developing Type 1 DM (odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals): sharing a room with a sibling (0.458, 0.290-0.721), social contact with other children when aged 6-11 months (0.439, 0.256-0.752), consumption of sugary food (0.080, 0.024-0.261), parental insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (10.651, 3.086-36.761), maternal thyroid disease (4.861, 1.681-14.058), consuming more than one pint of milk per day prior to school entry (0.498, 0.310-0.802), maternal smoking during pregnancy (0.373, 0.218-0.636), a father with no academic qualifications (0.504, 0.278-0.913), maternal age at time of birth (0.900, 0.854-0.948), maternal infections in pregnancy (2.453, 1.011-5.948), other maternal illnesses or conditions in pregnancy (2.007, 1.139-3.535), belonging to an Asian family (0.104, 0.028-0.394), and regular contact with pets and other animals (0.552, 0.309-0.987). CONCLUSION: Many of the results are consistent with the hygiene hypothesis which links improved living standards with decreased exposure to microorganisms and increased risk of immune mediated disease in childhood. These findings challenge the idea that improved hygiene acts exclusively through a Th2 mechanism leading to atopic disease as Type 1 DM is mediated by a Th1 reaction. The association with maternal smoking could be due to recall bias but a causal link cannot be excluded with confidence.