Boston University

About: Boston University is a education organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 48688 authors who have published 119622 publications receiving 6276020 citations. The organization is also known as: BU & Boston U.

A consumer-constructed scale to measure empowerment among users of mental health services

Abstract: Objective A scale to measure the personal construct of empowerment as defined by consumers of mental health services was developed and field tested. Methods After extensive development, pilot testing, and analyses, a 28-item scale to measure empowerment was tested on 271 members of six self-help programs in six states. Factor analyses were used to identify the underlying dimensions of empowerment. To establish the scale's reliability and validity, responses were factor analyzed, and other analyses were conducted. Results Analyses revealed five factors: self-efficacy-self-esteem, power-powerlessness, community activism, righteous anger, and optimism-control over the future. Empowerment was related to quality of life and income but not to the demographic variables of age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education level, or employment status. Empowerment was inversely related to use of traditional mental health services and positively related to community activism. Conclusions The findings set a framework for a clearer understanding of the imprecise and overused concept of empowerment. The scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency and some evidence for validity. Further testing must be done to establish whether it has discriminant validity and is sensitive to change.

Amazon rainforests green‐up with sunlight in dry season

Abstract: Received 23 December 2005; revised 6 February 2006; accepted 8 February 2006; published 22 March 2006. [1] Metabolism and phenology of Amazon rainforests significantly influence global dynamics of climate, carbon and water, but remain poorly understood. We analyzed Amazon vegetation phenology at multiple scales with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite measurements from 2000 to 2005. MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI, an index of canopy photosynthetic capacity) increased by 25% with sunlight during the dry season across Amazon forests, opposite to ecosystem model predictions that water limitation should cause dry season declines in forest canopy photosynthesis. In contrast to intact forests, areas converted to pasture showed dry-season declines in EVI-derived photosynthetic capacity, presumably because removal of deep-rooted forest trees reduced access to deep soil water. Local canopy photosynthesis measured from eddy flux towers in both a rainforest and forest conversion site confirm our interpretation of satellite data, and suggest that basin-wide carbon fluxes can be constrained by integrating remote sensing and local flux measurements. Citation: Huete, A. R., K. Didan, Y. E. Shimabukuro, P. Ratana, S. R. Saleska, L. R. Hutyra, W. Yang, R. R. Nemani, and R. Myneni (2006), Amazon rainforests green-up with sunlight in dry season, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L06405, doi:10.1029/2005GL025583.

Case Definitions, Diagnostic Algorithms, and Priorities in Encephalitis: Consensus Statement of the International Encephalitis Consortium

Abstract: Background Encephalitis continues to result in substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Advances in diagnosis and management have been limited, in part, by a lack of consensus on case definitions, standardized diagnostic approaches, and priorities for research. Methods In March 2012, the International Encephalitis Consortium, a committee begun in 2010 with members worldwide, held a meeting in Atlanta to discuss recent advances in encephalitis and to set priorities for future study. Results We present a consensus document that proposes a standardized case definition and diagnostic guidelines for evaluation of adults and children with suspected encephalitis. In addition, areas of research priority, including host genetics and selected emerging infections, are discussed. Conclusions We anticipate that this document, representing a synthesis of our discussions and supported by literature, will serve as a practical aid to clinicians evaluating patients with suspected encephalitis and will identify key areas and approaches to advance our knowledge of encephalitis.

Rates and outcomes of primary and revision total hip replacement in the United States medicare population.

Abstract: Background: Information on the epidemiology of primary total hip replacement is limited, and we are not aware of any reports on the epidemiology of revision total hip replacement. The objective of this study was to characterize the rates and immediate postoperative outcomes of primary and revision total hip replacement in persons sixty-five years of age and older residing in the United States. Methods: We used Medicare claims submitted by hospitals, physicians, and outpatient facilities between July 1, 1995, and June 30, 1996, to identify individuals who had undergone elective primary total hip replacement for a reason other than a fracture (61,568 patients) or had had revision total hip replacement (13,483 patients). Annual incidence rates of primary and revision total hip replacement were calculated, and multivariate modeling was used to evaluate the association between patient characteristics and surgical rates. The rates of occurrence of five complications within ninety days postoperatively were also evaluated, and relationships between those outcomes and patient characteristics were assessed with use of multivariate models adjusted for hospital and surgeon volume. Results: The rates of primary total hip replacement were three to six times higher than the rates of revision total hip replacement. Women had higher rates than men, and whites had higher rates than blacks. The rates of primary and revision total hip replacement increased with age until the age of seventy-five to seventy-nine years and then declined. The rates of complications occurring within ninety days after primary total hip replacement were 1.0% for mortality, 0.9% for pulmonary embolus, 0.2% for wound infection, 4.6% for hospital readmission, and 3.1% for hip dislocation. The rates after revision total hip replacement were 2.6%, 0.8%, 0.95%, 10.0%, and 8.4%, respectively. Factors associated with an increased risk of an adverse outcome included increased age, gender (men were at higher risk than women), race (blacks were at higher risk than whites), a medical comorbidity, and a low income. Conclusions: Analysis of United States Medicare population data showed that the rates of total hip replacement increased with age up to the age of seventy-five to seventy-nine years and that blacks had a significantly lower rate of total hip replacement than whites. The overall rates of adverse outcomes were relatively low, but they were significantly higher after revision than after primary total hip replacement. Level of Evidence: Prognostic study, Level II-1 (retrospective study). See p. 2 for complete description of levels of evidence.