Assessing the predictive value of means-end-chain theory: an application to meat product choice by Australian middle-aged women.

Means-end-chain theory seeks to understand how consumers make links between products and self-relevant consequences and values. To date, means-end-chain theory has remained a descriptive process and has not been applied to predicting product choice. Within the context of cooking meat, the main objective of this research was to assess the predictive value of the means-end-chain theory.

Reactions to genetically modified food crops and how perception of risks and benefits influences consumers' information gathering.

Previous research has reported strong consumer perception that genetically modified (GM) food crops may lead to adverse outcomes in a number of different areas. This is despite the widespread promulgation of the potential benefits and opportunities ascribed to the same technology by many scientists and other experts. A computer-based information gathering and evaluation task was completed by 198 adults to assess the extent to which their initial focus on the dangers or opportunities of genetic modification, or both, could be ascribed to the manner in which they gathered information on the topic (heuristically vs.

Food neophobia and associations with cultural diversity and socio-economic status amongst rural and urban Australian adolescents.

Exposure to diverse cultures and higher socio-economic status (SES) may increase knowledge of a wide variety of stimuli, including food, and be negatively associated with food neophobia. We contrasted questionnaire responses from two groups of Australian high school students (aged 12-18 years) from remote rural (rural, n=243) and cosmopolitan urban (city, n=696) locations to the food neophobia scale (FNS), familiarity with certain foods and willingness to try those foods. Cultural diversity measures and two SES scales were created.

Anti-ovine interleukin-1beta monoclonal antibody immunotherapy in an ovine model of gram-negative septic shock.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of an anti-ovine interleukin-1beta monoclonal antibody to ameliorate pathophysiological derangements and improve survival in an ovine model of gram-negative septic shock.

Design: Prospective, placebo-controlled, interventional study (24-hr study period).

Setting: University hospital animal research laboratory.

A prospective randomized trial evaluating the haemodynamic role of incompetent calf perforating veins.

Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the haemodynamic effect of incompetent calf perforating veins in patients with uncomplicated varicose veins and long saphenous incompetence.

Methods: Thirty-eight limbs from 35 patients were studied. All patients had uncomplicated varicose veins with both long saphenous and calf perforator incompetence on duplex ultrasonography.

Are causes of death predictable?

A random sample of death records of adult males from 1967 to 1970 was chosen from the South Australian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. The natural parents of these individuals were identified by cross-reference to birth certificates, and an extensive search was made of the death records for these parents. In this manner random families were selected for which, where possible, the cause of death and length of life of each family member were determined.

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mechanical ventilation: a reevaluation.

Objective: To review the intensive care unit (ICU) experience of patients admitted with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: University teaching hospital.

Is length of life predictable?

A random sample of death records of adult males from the period 1967 to 1970 was chosen from the South Australian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. The natural parents of these individuals were identified by cross-referencing to birth certificates, and an extensive search was made of the death records for these parents. In this manner random families were selected for which, where possible, the cause of death and length of life of each family member were determined.

N-acetyl-L-cysteine depresses cardiac performance in patients with septic shock.

Objective: To investigate the effects of adjunctive therapy with parenteral N-acetyl-L-cysteine in patients with newly diagnosed septic shock.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: Multidisciplinary intensive care unit at a university teaching hospital.

Microvascular luminal volume changes in aged mouse periodontal ligament.

Data for the microvascular bed in the aged periodontal ligament have not been established. This investigation tested the hypothesis that the luminal microvascular volume decreased in the aged ligament. Mice 35 days old and one year old were vascular-perfused and the mandibular first molar periodontal ligament processed for electron microscopy.

Parenteral magnesium sulfate versus amiodarone in the therapy of atrial tachyarrhythmias: a prospective, randomized study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of parenteral magnesium sulfate vs. amiodarone in the therapy of atrial tachyarrhythmias in critically ill patients.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

A review of the technical features of breast cancer screening illustrated by a specific model using South Australian cancer registry data.

This paper illustrates many of the concepts and issues relating to breast cancer screening by reference to a case study of screening in South Australia and by a survey of the mathematical screening models. This work is motivated by the observation that, for some women, the prospects for a breast cancer cure appear to be enhanced if the disease is detected early. We use data from the South Australian Cancer Registry to estimate some of the parameters which describe the pattern of this disease in the South Australian female population, and the underlying model is then used to estimate the impact of various screening designs on the efficacy of a variety of breast cancer screening programmes.

Hypocortisolaemia and adrenocortical responsiveness at onset of septic shock.

Objective: To characterise the plasma cortisol profile and adreno-cortial responsiveness (short Synacthen test) of patients in septic shock.

Design: Retrospective assessment using case-notes and ICU charts.

Setting: University teaching hospital ICU.

Intra-operative patient-controlled sedation and patient attitude to control. A crossover comparison of patient preference for patient-controlled propofol and propofol by continuous infusion.

Intra-operative patient controlled sedation with propofol (bolus dose 18 mg over 5.4 s; lockout period 1 min) has been compared to continuous propofol infusion (3.6 mg.

Mortality and myocardial infarction after coronary artery surgery. A review of 12,003 patients.

Objective: To review the results of uncomplicated coronary artery bypass graft surgery and to identify factors which influence operative mortality (OM) and postoperative myocardial infarction (PMI).

Design: An analysis of the outcome in patients having coronary artery bypass graft surgery for the first time from 1978 to 1990 inclusive.

Setting: The Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Conditioned life tables from registries with unidentified random losses.

We identify two types of random loss that may afflict registries which use 'passive follow-up'. The effects of these errors on estimates related to survival are examined mathematically and numerically. A procedure for correcting the attendant biases is suggested, and its strengths and limitations are explored.

Epinephrine as an inotropic agent in septic shock: a dose-profile analysis.

Objective: To characterize the acute actions and physiologic dose profile of epinephrine, as a single inotrope, in patients with septic shock.

Design: Prospective clinical study. The relationship between epinephrine dose and cardiovascular variables was analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Predictions of restoration deterioration.

This study evaluated the application of a mixture model involving a Weibull distribution function to predict the median times for restorations of three dental restorative materials to achieve unsatisfactory rating scores for six clinical factors. The accuracy of the method was assessed graphically against the known actuarial long-term deterioration observations of 1813 amalgam, 1774 anterior resin composite and 474 glass polyalkenoate (ionomer) cement restorations, assessed over periods of up to 20, 18 and 14 years, respectively. Of the six clinical factors investigated (which included marginal fracture), only four had sufficient long-term unsatisfactory rating score data to enable their median times to be predicted.

Double-blind comparison of patient recovery after induction with propofol or thiopentone for day-case relaxant general anaesthesia.

Postoperative recovery after induction with either propofol or thiopentone has been compared in forty ASA I unpremedicated day surgery patients undergoing surgical extraction of third molar teeth under relaxant general anaesthesia. Mean recovery times in the propofol group, required for patients to sit out of bed (44.8 minutes; SD 18.

Inspiratory work imposed by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines: the effect of CPAP level and endotracheal tube size.

Inspiratory work imposed by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines has been a matter of concern. The imposed inspiratory work of CPAP machine circuits (Wcir) and the effect of the total breathing apparatus with endotracheal tube (ETT) and connector included in the circuit (Wapp), were measured in three continuous flow (CF) and various configurations of three demand flow (DF) CPAP machines. The performance was assessed at 0, 5, 10 and 15 cmH2O CPAP using a Michigan Instruments Test Lung Model 1600, internal compliance set at 50 ml/cmH2O, driven at square wave inspiratory flows (VI) of 20, 40 and 60 l/min at a tidal volume of 500 ml.

Survival predictions of four types of dental restorative materials.

The present study assessed the survival predictions made for four different types of dental restorative materials, using a mixture model involving the standard Weibull distribution function. A large number of amalgam, anterior resin, glass polyalkenoate (ionomer) cement, and pit and fissure sealant restorations were examined over varying periods of up to 18 years. The materials had been placed by numerous staff and students at a teaching hospital.

Survival predictions of amalgam restorations.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival predictions made for four different amalgam alloy restorations, using a mixture model involving the standard Weibull function. The amalgam alloys were placed by students and staff in patients attending a dental hospital, and 1680 restorations were examined over periods of up to 18 years. Based on maximum likelihood estimations of the parameters of the mixture model distribution, predictive survival distributions were generated and found to match closely the actuarial survival estimates established from the same data.

Continuous tooth eruption in Australian aboriginal skulls.

Increases in the distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar crest (CEJ-AC) have often been attributed to senile atrophy of the bone or to the effects of periodontitis, without reference to the condition of the alveolar crest. This study investigated the relationship between CEJ-AC distance, tooth wear, gender, site of the CEJ-AC measurements, and age in 161 pre-white-contact Australian aboriginal skulls. Individual teeth were included in the study when there was no evidence of dehiscence, periodontitis, or abscess cavity formation in the supporting alveolar bone.

Prediction of amalgam restoration longevity.

The purpose of the present study was to assess predictions of longevity for amalgam restorations using a fitted Weibull distribution against base estimates using actuarial methods. The 1345 restorations involved were from 100 members of the Royal Australian Air Force whose dental conditions had been monitored regularly over a minimum period of 10 years. Based on maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters of a Weibull distribution, Weibull curves could be determined and were found to be very close to actuarial survival curves established from the same data set.

Effects of irrigation fluid on human menisci: an experimental comparison of water, normal saline, and glycine.

A technique has been developed to demonstrate the macroscopic morphology of collagen fiber arrangement in human menisci. It was observed that 0.9% normal saline solution removed the ground substance of the meniscus, leaving intact collagen bundles.