1,721,011 research outputs found
The mechanical behavior of the human forearm in response to transient perturbations
No full textStatic and dynamic components of mechanical impedance of human forearm were evaluated by applying two kinds of perturbations: 1) large viscoelastic loads, and 2) small pseudo-random perturbations. When the task involved the active resistance of the perturbations, both stiffness and viscosity increased relatively to their values in the passive task, the increment in stiffness being larger than that in viscosity. The time course of such changes was investigated during the transition between the two operating points defined by the instructions "do not resist" and "resist" the applied perturbations. The changes in stiffness and viscosity were relatively slow, those in the latter lagging behind those in the former
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Appropriateness of antibiotic prescription for prophylactic purposes among italian dental practitioners: Results from a cross-sectional study
Full text linkThe primary objective of this study was to investigate the pattern of antibiotic prescription for prophylaxis purposes among Italian DPs (dental practitioners). A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted using a multi-stage sampling design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and information about antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) prescriptions for selected dental diagnoses and surgical procedures. The presence of an indication and appropriateness of AP were defined according to international guidelines. In total, 563 DPs answered the questionnaire (response rate 52.6%). The proportions of DPs who prescribed AP in the presence of an indication ranged from 39.1% for luxation injury with soft tissue trauma to 73.1% for dental implants, whilst DPs who prescribed AP in healthy patients ranged from 41.9% in luxation injury with soft tissue trauma to 70.3% for bone grafting. The course of AP reported by DPs was not consistent with the guidelines in 70.9% of explored procedures. A high proportion of AP prescriptions before dental procedures were unnecessary. This highlights the urgent need to incorporate recommendations for best practices into national and local protocols as soon as they are established. Specific antibiotic stewardship strategies targeted to DPs should be implemented and assessed for effectiveness in improving prescribing of antibiotics
Antibiotic-dispensing practice in community pharmacies: results of a cross-sectional study in Italy
No full textInappropriate use of antibiotics in the community contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance (ABR), one of the most concerning issues in modern medicine. The objectives of the study were to investigate the knowledge and attitudes regarding ABR and dispensing antibiotics without prescription (DAwP) and to assess the extent of the practice of DAwP among Italian community pharmacists (CPs). A nationwide cross-sectional study using an anonymous, structured, validated, and pilot-tested questionnaire was conducted. The five sections gathered data on demographic and professional characteristics, knowledge and attitudes toward ABR and DAwP, practices regarding dispensing antibiotics with or without prescription and their reasons, counselling on the potential antibiotic side effects and the importance of adherence to medication regimen, and the information sources used to update the knowledge about ABR. About 4 in 10 CPs (37.1%) reported being involved in DAwP, although 93.7% knew that it is illegal in Italy. The vast majority affirmed to have always/often asked clients about their drug allergies (95.5%) and about their medication history (82.5%). Two-thirds (66.2%) warned their clients about the potential side effects of the drugs, and 55% informed them about the importance of completing the full course of antibiotics. Complacency with clients who found it difficult to consult the physician was the most significant predictor of DAwP. A considerable proportion of DAwP was described, so it could be easy for patients to misuse these drugs. Future policies need to enhance the enforcement of existing prescription-only regulations and to develop monitoring strategies to ensure their establishment in real-life practices
Knowledge and practices regarding antibiotics use: Findings from a cross-sectional survey among Italian adults
No full textBackground and objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge on antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the antibiotic use among the general public in Southern Italy and to analyze whether sociodemographic characteristics could be associated with poor knowledge and improper practices.Methodology: From March to November 2019, a face-to-face interview was conducted with adult subjects attending the waiting room of 27 randomly selected general practitioners (GPs) in Southern Italy. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge on antibiotics and AMR and practices regarding the consumption of and self-medication with antibiotics.Results: The response rate was 89.7%. In the sample, 29.2% thought that antibiotics are effective for viral infections, and 49.5% correctly recognized the definition of AMR. Predictors of good knowledge about antibiotics and AMR were female gender and a higher education level. Almost half of the respondents had used antibiotics in the previous year and 23.6% took antibiotics to treat a common cold and/or fever. Among participants, 25.5% reported to have bought antibiotics without a prescription, and 30.6% were classified as antibiotic self-medication users. Use of antibiotics in the previous 12 months and having taken an antibiotic after a phone consultation with the GP were positively associated with both antibiotic use for a common cold and/or fever and self-medication with antibiotics.Conclusions and implications: The findings of this study highlighted a considerable antibiotic consumption in the adult population of Southern Italy together with misconceptions regarding the correct indication for antibiotic use that could foster indiscriminate antibiotic use. Lay Summary: The findings of this study highlighted a considerable antibiotic consumption in the adult Italian population together with misconceptions regarding the correct indication for antibiotic use that could foster indiscriminate antibiotic use. Almost a quarter of the respondents took antibiotics to treat a common cold and/or fever and reported to have bought antibiotics without a prescription
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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