bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating Psychosocial Care Into Cancer Services
Authors: Fann Jesse R. , Ell Kathleen , Sharpe Michael
Published: March 2012

Despite substantial evidence that patients with cancer commonly have significant psychosocial problems, for which we have evidence-based treatments, many patients still do not receive adequate psychosocial care. This means that we risk prolonging life without adequately addressing the quality of that life. There are many challenges to improving the current situation, the major one of which is organizational. Many cancer centers lack a system of psychosocial care that is integrated with the cancer care of the patient. Psychosocial care encompasses a range of problems (emotional, social, palliative, and logistical). The integration must occur with the cancer care of the patient at all stages (from screening to palliative care) and across all clinical sites of care (inpatient and outpatient cancer services as well as primary care). In this article, we consider the challenges we face if we are to provide such integrated psychosocial services. We focus on the collaborative care service model. This model comprises systematic identification of need, integrated delivery of care by care managers, appropriate specialist supervision, and the stepping of care based on systematic measurement of outcomes. Several trials of this approach to the management of depression in patients with cancer have found it to be both feasible to deliver and effective. It provides a model for services to meet other psychosocial needs. We conclude by proposing the key components of an integrated psychosocial service that could be implemented now and by considering what we need to do next if we are to succeed in providing better and more comprehensive care to our patients.
What Happens Now? Psychosocial Care for Cancer Survivors After Medical Treatment Completion
Authors: Stanton Annette L.
Published: March 2012

The growing population of adults living with a history of cancer in the United States mandates attention to quality of life and health in this group, as well as to the implementation of evidence-based interventions to address psychosocial and physical concerns at completion of medical treatments and beyond. The goals of this article are to document the need for attention to psychosocial domains during the re-entry and later phases of the cancer survivor trajectory, offer an overview of current evidence on efficacy of psychosocial interventions during those phases, and offer suggestions for application and research regarding post-treatment psychosocial care.
RNAimmuno: A database of the nonspecific immunological effects of RNA interference and microRNA reagents
Authors: Olejniczak Marta , Galka-Marciniak Paulina , Polak Katarzyna , Fligier Andrzej , Krzyzosiak Wlodzimierz J.
Published: March 2012

The RNAimmuno database was created to provide easy access to information regarding the nonspecific effects generated in cells by RNA interference triggers and microRNA regulators. Various RNAi and microRNA reagents, which differ in length and structure, often cause non-sequence-specific immune responses, in addition to triggering the intended sequence-specific effects. The activation of the cellular sensors of foreign RNA or DNA may lead to the induction of type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokine release. Subsequent changes in the cellular transcriptome and proteome may result in adverse effects, including cell death during therapeutic treatments or the misinterpretation of experimental results in research applications. The manually curated RNAimmuno database gathers the majority of the published data regarding the immunological side effects that are caused in investigated cell lines, tissues, and model organisms by different reagents. The database is accessible at http://rnaimmuno.ibch.poznan.pl and may be helpful in the further application and development of RNAi- and microRNA-based technologies.
What Motivates People to Purchase Digital Items on Virtual Community Websites? The Desire for Online Self-Presentation
Authors: Kim Hee-Woong , Chan Hock Chuan , Kankanhalli Atreyi
Published: March 2012

The sale of digital items, such as avatars and decorative objects, is becoming an important source of revenue for virtual community (VC) websites. However, some websites are unable to leverage this source of revenue, and there is a corresponding lack of understanding about what motivates people to purchase digital items in VCs. To explain the phenomenon, we develop a model based on the theory of self-presentation. The model proposes that the desire for online self-presentation is a key driver for such purchases. We also hypothesize that the social influence factors of online self-presentation norms and VC involvement as well as personal control in the form of online presentation self-efficacy are antecedents of the desire for online self-presentation. The model was validated by using survey data collected from Cyworld (N=217) and Habbo (N=197), two online social network communities that have been pioneers in the sale of digital items. This work contributes to our understanding of the purchase of digital items by extending the theory of self-presentation and adds to the broader line of research on online identity. It also lends insights into how VC providers can tap this source of revenue.
Corporate IT Standardization: Product Compatibility, Exclusive Purchase Commitment, and Competition Effects
Authors: Li Xinxin , Chen Yuxin
Published: March 2012

When companies purchase information technology (IT) products for their employees, departments, or divisions, whether to standardize on one product or to allow the users to make their own choices is an important decision for IT managers to make. By consolidating demand and committing to buy from a single seller, standardization ensures product compatibility within the corporation and has a potential to induce intense price competition among sellers, but this potential is subject to whether competing products are compatible and the relative competitive advantages of the sellers. This paper studies when it is optimal for an employer to commit to exclusive purchase from a single seller to enforce standardization and sellers' incentives to invest in mutual compatibility. Our results suggest that the employer is more likely to make such a commitment when the competing products are compatible, less vertically differentiated, and/or more horizontally differentiated. We also find that the sellers agree to cooperate and invest in mutual compatibility only when the gap between their competitive advantages is moderate, but the availability of third party converters that enable partial compatibility can induce more collaboration among the sellers.
Real-Time Tactical and Strategic Sales Management for Intelligent Agents Guided by Economic Regimes
Authors: Ketter Wolfgang , Collins John , Gini Maria , Gupta Alok , Schrater Paul
Published: March 2012

Many enterprises that participate in dynamic markets need to make product pricing and inventory resource utilization decisions in real time. We describe a family of statistical models that addresses these needs by combining characterization of the economic environment with the ability to predict future economic conditions to make tactical (short-term) decisions, such as product pricing, and strategic (long-term) decisions, such as level of finished goods inventories. Our models characterize economic conditions, called economic regimes, in the form of recurrent statistical patterns that have clear qualitative interpretations. We show how these models can be used to predict prices, price trends, and the probability of receiving a customer order at a given price. These “regime” models are developed using statistical analysis of historical data and are used in real time to characterize observed market conditions and predict the evolution of market conditions over multiple time scales. We evaluate our models using a testbed derived from the Trading Agent Competition for Supply Chain Management, a supply chain environment characterized by competitive procurement, sales markets, and dynamic pricing. We show how regime models can be used to inform both short-term pricing decisions and long-term resource allocation decisions. Results show that our method outperforms more traditional short- and long-term predictive modeling approaches.
Public Access to Environmental Information Held by Private Companies
Authors: Etemire Uzuazo
Published: March 2012

The pervading thought in England and Wales has been that private utility companies such as water-only companies (WOCs) and water and sewage companies (WASCs) were public authorities under the 2004 Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and so were subject to the regime. However, on 23 November 2010, on appeal, the Upper Tribunal delivered a judgment in the case of Smartsource Drainage & Water Report Ltd v The Information Commissioner and 19 Water Companies to the effect that WOCs and WASCs were not public authorities under the EIR. This decision potentially puts certain important environmental information out of public reach in England and Wales. This paper briefly addresses the contextual issues of the advancement of the public's right to access environmental information into the domain of the private sector and why the public needs to be able to access environmental information directly from private companies and not just from government regulators. Primarily, however, this paper reinforces the case for wide public access to environmental information held by private companies mainly through counter-arguments raised to demonstrate the lack of purposive and contextual interpretation by the Upper Tribunal, in the Smartsource case, of the relevant provisions of the EIR (i.e., Regulation 2(2)(c) and (d)). It concludes with a possible legislative solution to help clarify the import of the relevant EIR provision.
How Safe Is the Outpatient Management of Patients with Acute Chest Pain and Mildly Increased Cardiac Troponin Concentrations?
Authors: Meune Christophe , Reichlin Tobias , Irfan Affan , Schaub Nora , Twerenbold Raphael , Meissner Julia , Reiter Miriam , Lüthi Adrian , Haaf Philip , Balmelli Cathrin , Drexler Beatrice , Winkler Katrin , Hochholzer Willibald , Osswald Stefan , Mueller Christian
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND

The appropriate management of patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) with increased high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) but normal or borderline-high conventional cardiac troponin concentrations is unknown.

METHODS

We investigated 643 consecutive ED patients with acute chest pain who had been discharged for outpatient management after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) had been ruled out by serial measurements of conventional cardiac troponin. hs-cTnT was measured blindly, and we calculated the rates of all-cause mortality (primary endpoint) and subsequent AMI (secondary endpoint) at 30, 90, and 360 days.

RESULTS

hs-cTnT concentrations were increased (>14 ng/L) in 114 patients (18%) but <30 ng/L in 95% of these patients. Of those 114 patients, 96 (84%) had an adjudicated noncoronary cause of chest pain. Thirty-day mortality (95% CI) was 0.9% (0.1%–6.1%), 90-day mortality was 2.7% (0.9%–8.1%), and 360-day mortality was 5.2% (2.2%–11.9%) in patients with increased hs-cTnT; respective rates (95% CI) of AMI were 0.0%, 1.9% (0.5%–7.2%), and 7.6% (3.7%–15.3%). Increased hs-cTnT was associated with increased mortality and AMI at 90 days (P = 0.006 and P = 0.081, respectively) and 360 days (P = 0.001 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

hs-cTnT is a strong prognosticator of intermediate and long-term mortality and AMI in low-risk patients discharged from the ED after AMI has been ruled out. The relatively low rate of 30-day events may suggest that patients without acute coronary syndrome and small increases in cardiac troponin are in need of further investigations and treatments, but not necessarily immediate hospitalization.
Getting ‘do’ in Croatian. Goals, boundaries and more in prefixal semantics
Authors: Brala-Vukanović Marija , Memišević Anita
Published: March 2012

The focus of this paper is on the semantics of the Croatian prefix ‘do-’, or, more specifically, on its contribution to the verbal semantics and the resulting network of senses realized by all the ‘do-’ prefixed verbs in standard Croatian. Following a brief review of the current most influential theoretical treatments of the semantics of the Croatian ‘do-’, which is complemented by a brief review of the analyses of ‘do-’ in Polish and Russian, the central portion of the paper is represented by a detailed and systematic analysis and of the semantic components but also syntactic requirements of all the ‘do-’ prefixed Croatian verbs. In the conclusive part of the paper the authors propose a semantic network accommodating all the senses expressed by Croatian ‘do-’ prefixed verbs, which is interestingly paralleled by systematic syntactic requirements of ‘do-’ prefixed verbs falling into different semantic subcategories.
Zur ältesten Geschichte der deutsch-polnischen Lexikographie. Wörterbücher aus dem 16. und 17. Jahrhundert
Authors: Budziak Renata
Published: March 2012

The subject of the article are the oldest works on the subject of lexicography. Its origins go back to the 1630s and originate from a tradition of multilingual dictionaries in which Latin was the leading (or initial language). In the mid-17th century the first German-Polish-Latin dictionary was published and towards the end of the 17th century the first German-Polish dictionary in which Latin was not included.
Effect on Infant Illness of Maternal Supplementation With 400 000 IU Vs 200 000 IU of Vitamin A
Authors: Fernandes Taciana Fernanda dos Santos , Figueiroa José Natal , Grande de Arruda Ilma Kruze , Diniz Alcides da Silva
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Postpartum vitamin A supplementation is a strategy used to combat vitamin A deficiency and seems to reduce maternal/infant morbidity and mortality. However, studies have shown that a dose of 200 000 IU (World Health Organization [WHO] protocol) does not seem to provide adequate retinol levels in maternal breast milk, infant serum, and infant tissue. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of postpartum maternal supplementation with 400 000 IU (International Vitamin A Consultative Group protocol) compared with 200 000 IU of vitamin A on infant morbidity.

METHODS:

This was a randomized controlled, triple-blinded clinical trial conducted at 2 public maternity hospitals in Recife in northeastern Brazil. There were 276 mother–child pairs that were allocated to 2 treatment groups: 400 000 IU or 200 000 IU of vitamin A. They were followed up for >6 months to evaluate infant morbidity.

RESULTS:

Fever (rate ratio [RR]: 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.75–1.14]), diarrhea (RR: 0.96 [95% CI: 0.72–1.28]), otitis (RR: 0.94 [95% CI: 0.48–1.85]), acute respiratory infection (RR: 1.03 [95% CI: 0.88–1.21]), the need for intravenous rehydration (RR: 2.08 [95% CI: 0.64–2.07]), and the use of antibiotic treatment (RR: 0.80 [95% CI: 0.43–1.47]) did not differ significantly between the 2 treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings suggest that postpartum maternal supplementation with 400 000 IU of vitamin A does not provide any additional benefits in the reduction of illness in children aged <6 months; therefore, we do not support the proposal to increase the standard vitamin A dose in the existing WHO protocol.
Hypercalcemia in Children Receiving Pharmacologic Doses of Vitamin D
Authors: Vanstone Michelle B. , Oberfield Sharon E. , Shader Laurel , Ardeshirpour Laleh , Carpenter Thomas O.
Published: March 2012

Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, requiring vitamin D at doses greater than daily dietary intake. Several treatment regimens are found in the literature, with wide dosing ranges, inconsistent monitoring schedules, and lack of age-specific guidelines. We describe 3 children, ages 2 weeks to 2 and 9/12 years, who recently presented to our institution with hypercalcemia and hypervitaminosis D (25-hydroxyvitamin D levels >75 ng/mL), associated with treatment of documented or suspected vitamin D-deficient rickets. The doses of vitamin D used were within accepted guidelines and believed to be safe. The patients required between 6 weeks and 6 months to correct the elevated serum calcium, with time to resolution of hypercalcemia related to age and peak serum calcium, but not to peak 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. With recent widespread use of vitamin D in larger dosages in the general population, we provide evidence that care must be taken when using pharmacologic dosing in small children. With limited dosing guidelines available on a per weight basis, the administration of dosages to infants that are often used in older children and adults has toxic potential, requiring a cautious approach in dose selection and careful follow-up. Dosage recommendations may need to be reassessed, in particular, where follow-up and monitoring may be compromised.
The role of homocysteine and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, methionine synthase, methionine synthase reductase polymorphisms in the development of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension
Authors: Marosi Krisztina , Ágota Annamária , Végh Veronika , Joó József Gábor , Langmár Zoltán , †Kriszbacher Ildikó , Nagy Zsolt B.
Published: March 2012

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death in the developed countries. Elevated homocysteine level is as an independent risk factor of CVDs. The C677T and A1298C variants of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) have been shown to influence folate and homocysteine metabolisms. However, the relationship between MTHFR polymorphisms and hyperhomocysteinemia has not been well established yet. The gene variants were also reported to be associated with CVDs. In addition, the C677T polymorphisms may play a role in the development of hypertension. Recent research evidence has suggested that MTHFR variants might be independently linked to CVDs and hypertension, because of the involvement of the MTHFR enzyme product (5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate /5-MTHF) in the regulation of endothelial functions. Further research is required to investigate the association between gene polymorphisms of folate-metabolizing enzymes and CVDs, and to identify the possible role of the relevant gene variants in the molecular pathogenesis of hyperhomocysteinemia. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 445–453.
Proinflammatory and Anti‐Inflammatory Cytokines in Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Serum of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Patients With Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: Cetinkaya Burcu , Guzeldemir Esra , Ogus Ersin , Bulut Sule
Published: March 2012

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate proinflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokine levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic periodontitis (CP) patients to assess whether cytokine profiles distinguish patients with RA and patients with CP while using healthy patients as background controls.

Methods: A total of 49 patients, 17 patients with RA (three males and 14 females; mean age: 47.82 ± 10.74 years), 16 patients with CP (10 males and six females; mean age: 44.00 ± 7.00 years), and 16 controls (eight males and eight females; mean age: 28.06 ± 6.18 years) were enrolled. Patients with RA were under the supervision of rheumatologists; 15 of the patients with RA were being treated with methotrexate–sulfasalazine combined therapy, and two of the patients were being treated with leflunomid therapy. Periodontal parameters (plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level) were recorded. Interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐4, IL‐10, and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) were determined in GCF and IL‐1β and IL‐10 in serum by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: There were significant differences found among RA, CP, and control groups for all periodontal parameters (P <0.05). The total amount and concentration of GCF IL‐1 β, IL‐4, IL‐10, and TNF‐α were similar in RA and CP patients (P >0.05). Although the total amount and concentration of serum IL‐10 was not significantly different among the groups (P >0.05), serum IL‐1β was significantly lower in the RA group compared to CP patients and controls and was higher in GCF of the RA group compared to the CP group.

Conclusions: Although clinical periodontal disease parameters indicated more severe periodontal disease in CP compared to RA patients, immunologic evaluation did not reveal consistent results regarding proinflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokine levels. This might be a result of the use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and rheumatoid agents by patients with RA.
The Lifetime Direct Cost of Periodontal Treatment: A Case Study From a Norwegian Specialist Practice
Authors: Fardal Øystein , O'Neill Ciaran , Gjermo Per , Fardal Elizabeth , Sandvik Leiv , Hansen B. Frode , Linden Gerard J
Published: March 2012

Background: Successful periodontal treatment requires a commitment to regular lifelong maintenance and may be perceived by patients to be costly. This study calculates the total lifetime cost of periodontal treatment in the setting of a specialist periodontal practice and investigates the cost implications of choosing not to proceed with such treatment.

Methods: Data from patients treated in a specialist practice in Norway were used to calculate the total lifetime cost of periodontal treatment that included baseline periodontal treatment, regular maintenance, retreatment, and replacing teeth lost during maintenance. Incremental costs for alternative strategies based on opting to forego periodontal treatment or maintenance and to replace any teeth lost with either bridgework or implants were calculated.

Results: Patients who completed baseline periodontal treatment but did not have any additional maintenance or retreatment could replace only three teeth with bridgework or two teeth with implants before the cost of replacing additional teeth would exceed the cost of lifetime periodontal treatment. Patients who did not have any periodontal treatment could replace ≤4 teeth with bridgework or implants before a replacement strategy became more expensive.

Conclusions: Within the limits of the assumptions made, periodontal treatment in a Norwegian specialist periodontal practice is cost‐effective when compared to an approach that relies on opting to replace teeth lost as a result of progressive periodontitis with fixed restorations. In particular, patients who have initial comprehensive periodontal treatment but do not subsequently comply with maintenance could, on average, replace ≤3 teeth with bridgework or two teeth with implants before this approach would exceed the direct cost of lifetime periodontal treatment in the setting of the specialist practice studied.
Sustainable homes: a methodology for assessing influence on regional water demand
Authors: Paula Micou Ana , Mitchell Gordon , McDonald Adrian
Published: March 2012

Growth in population and households, and lifestyle changes are factors placing water resources under increasing stress in some parts of the UK. The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), a government regulation defining performance standards for new dwellings, is one measure that may act to counter rising domestic water demand. One goal of the CSH is to reduce potable water use per capita in each home through implementation of water conservation measures. This paper reports on work in progress that aims to understand the likely impact of the CSH on regional and national water demand. A spreadsheet model is being developed to assess domestic water demand under a range of CSH uptake scenarios, as well as a range of demographic, technical, economic and behavioural aspects of water consumption and conservation. The paper discusses the model development and presents some preliminary results for the Yorkshire region.
Antimony release in PET bottled natural water in Lebanon
Authors: Hureiki Lina , Mouneimne Youssef
Published: March 2012

Antimony (Sb) leaching from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottling material was assessed in eight registered Lebanese brands of bottled natural water as a function of contact time. The study was performed indoors at 22 °C in the dark and outdoors at a maximum temperature of 45 °C under sunlight. The leached antimony concentration increased with contact time for all of the studied brands except one. The antimony concentration reached 5.5 μg/L after 544 days of contact time with PET packaging. Small bottles with large contact surface area had higher antimony concentration. However, outdoor storage under sunlight at temperatures below 45 °C did not reveal a significant effect on antimony release. Among some physico-chemical parameters studied (pH, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate), only calcium concentration showed a significant effect on antimony release. The rate of antimony leaching, normalized to the surface to volume ratio of the water bottle, fits the exponential model Sb/(S/V) = 0.562e0.0041t, with R2 = 0.87. Atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis of the different PET packaging material showed an antimony concentration between 80.6 and 352.7 mg Sb/kg PET.
Comparison of evaporation rates for seawater and brine from reverse osmosis in traditional salt works: empirical correlations
Authors: Rodríguez Fernando A. , Santiago Dunia E. , Franquiz Suárez Nut , Ortega Méndez J. A. , Veza José M.
Published: March 2012

The use of evaporation ponds is one alternative to direct disposal of desalination brine. Evaporation ponds are shallow basins that expose their contents to the environment, reducing liquid volume by means of evaporation. As they resemble traditional salt works that customarily use seawater, evaporation ponds were analyzed for their use for brine desalination management. In order to numerically evaluate this modification, a comparative study of the evaporation rate achieved in both traditional salt works and in evaporation ponds was carried out. Two equations were obtained for each estimation. The numerical expressions are specific for high salinity water as opposed to those available for low salinity water. These equations show the influence of fluid nature, the effect of wind and the lower brine evaporation capacity. It was observed in this study that the difference in brine evaporation capacity through the use of seawater is low enough to indicate that the use of brine in traditional salt works allows an increase in salt production without necessarily multiplying the surface required for evaporation.
Comparing heterotrophic and hydrogen-based autotrophic denitrification reactors for effluent water quality and post-treatment
Authors: Tang Youneng , Ziv-El Michal , Meyer Kerry , Zhou Chen , Shin Jung Hun , Ahn Chang Hoon , McQuarrie James , Candelaria Daniel , Swaim Paul , Scott Rick , Rittmann Bruce E.
Published: March 2012

This work compares a pilot-scale H2-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) and a pilot-scale packed-bed heterotrophic reactor (PBHR) for denitrification of nitrate-contaminated groundwater. The comparison includes the effluent water quality of the denitrification reactors (NO3−, NO2−, dissolved oxygen, SO42−, (biodegradable) dissolved organic carbon, heterotrophic plate counts (HPC), turbidity, NH4+, and pH), and the impact of post-treatment on water quality. At the same nitrate carrier-surface loading, effluent water quality was generally better directly from the MBfR than from the PBHR. However, post treatment including an ozone-contact tank and a post-filter brought the finished-water quality for both systems to roughly the same level, which met all drinking water standards except for HPC.
The Choice of the Best Surgery After Single Level Anterior Cervical Spine Discectomy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Botelho Ricardo Vieira , dos Santos Buscariolli Yuri , de Barros Vasconcelos Fernandes Serra Marcus Vinicius Flores , Bellini Marcia Nogueira Pires , Bernardo Wanderley Marques
Published: March 2012

Background:

The anterior cervical discectomy (ACD) is often used to treat spinal cord and nerve root compressions and the frequent use of interbody fusion (ACDF) has popularized it as a common practice associated or not with cages or plates for maintaining the intervertebral disc height.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to clarify the effectiveness of ACD compared with ACDF, with or without the use of anterior cervical spacer (Cage) or instrumentation with plate fixation (ACDFI).

Methods:

randomized controlled trials or quasi-randomized trials were selected for analysis in one segmental level. The comparison criteria were the rates of success and failure with surgery (Odom’s’ criteria), fusion rates and kyphosis rates. Electronic search was made in the MEDLINE database (Pubmed), in the Central Registry of randomized trials of Cochrane database and EMBASE.

Results:

Seven studies were selected for analysis.

Conclusion:

Implications for practice: There is moderate evidence that clinical results of ACD and ACDF are not significant different. There is moderate evidence that addition of intervertebral cage enhance clinical results.There is moderate evidence that anterior cervical plate does not change the clinical results of ACD.

There is moderate evidence that ACD produce more segmental kyphosis than ACDF and ACDFI, with use of cage or plate.There is moderate evidence that ACD produce lower rate of fusion than ACDF and than the cages. There is limited evidence of the lower capacity of PMMA to produce fusion. There is limited evidence that fused patients have better outcome than non fused patients.
Die linke und die rechte todesauffassung: Zur kritik einer antitotalitären thanatologie
Authors: Kuljic Todor
Published: March 2012

Hier sind die tiefere Schichten in der Todesauffassung bei der Ideologien der
Linke und der Rechte untersucht und die Frage nach ihren antitotalit?ren
Glei?chsetzung in punkto Betrachtung gestellt. Zu diesem Zweck werden
verschiedene Opfersauffassungen und verschiedene Heilshoffnungen, aber auch
verschiedene Ideolosierungen des Todes im Faschismus und Sozialismus gelegt,
verglichen und in einen breiteren Kontext gestellt. Daraus folgt der starke
Kluft zwischen linken und rechten Auffassung von normalen Lebensumst?nden.
Die Herrschaft (nicht der Gott) formiert und auf ideologische Weise n?tzt
Angst vom Tod. F?r die kritische Theorie ist die Gegen?berstellung von Leben
und Tod ein Teil von emanzipatorische Praxis und Kapitalismuskritik. Die
dargelegte Kritik der neoliberalen Thanathologie ist ein Teil von dieser
Absicht.
Parasitic infections in wild ruminants and wild boar
Authors: Ilic Tamara , Stojanov Igor , Dimitrijevic Sanda
Published: March 2012

Wild ruminants and wild boar belong to the order Artiodactyla, the suborders
Ruminantia and Nonruminantia and are classified as wild animals for big game
hunting, whose breeding presents a very important branch of the hunting
economy. Diseases caused by protozoa are rarely found in wild ruminants in
nature. Causes of coccidiosis, cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis,
sarcocystiosis, giardiasis, babesiosis, and theileriosis have been diagnosed
in deer. The most significant helminthoses in wild ruminants are fasciosis,
dicrocoeliasis, paramphistomosis, fascioloidosis, cysticercosis,
anoplocephalidosis, coenurosis, echinococcosis, pulmonary strongyloidiasis,
parasitic gastroenteritis, strongyloidiasis and trichuriasis, with certain
differences in the extent of prevalence of infection with certain species.
The most frequent ectoparasitoses in wild deer and doe are diseases caused by
ticks, mites, scabies mites, and hypoderma. The most represented
endoparasitoses in wild boar throughout the world are coccidiosis,
balantidiasis, metastrongyloidiasis, verminous gastritis, ascariasis,
macracanthorhynchosis, trichinelosis, trichuriasis, cystecercosis,
echinococcosis, and less frequently, there are also fasciolosis and
dicrocoeliasis. The predominant ectoparasitoses in wild boar are ticks and
scabies mites. Knowledge of the etiology and epizootiology of parasitic
infections in wild ruminants and wild boar is of extreme importance for the
process of promoting the health protection system for animals and humans, in
particular when taking into account the biological and ecological hazard
posed by zoonotic infections.
Using Nonfinancial Measures to Improve Fraud Risk Assessments
Authors: Ames Daniel , Brazel Joseph F. , Jones Keith L. , Rich Jay S. , Zimbelman Mark F.
Published: March 2012

Nonfinancial measures (e.g., number of employees, square feet of operations, independent customer satisfaction, number of customer accounts) can be helpful in assessing the risk of revenue frauds. Companies committing such frauds may have a hard time falsifying nonfinancial measures, especially those produced independently (e.g., customer satisfaction). Auditors can benefit from examining relationships between nonfinancial measures and financial measures to validate financial statement data. A recent study, “Using Nonfinancial Measures to Assess Fraud Risk” (Brazel et al. 2009), provides empirical evidence concerning the relationship between various nonfinancial measures and revenue frauds. This article may be useful as a reference for auditors, or as a teaching tool in the classroom, as it reviews and summarizes Brazel et al.'s (2009) study and provides specific actual examples.
Substantial Increase in Incidence of Severe Hypoglycemia Between 1997–2000 and 2007–2010
Authors: Holstein Andreas , Patzer Olaf M. , Machalke Kathrin , Holstein Judith D. , Stumvoll Michael , Kovacs Peter
Published: March 2012

OBJECTIVE

To compare the incidences of severe hypoglycemia and corresponding clinical circumstances in a German population between 2007–2010 and 1997–2000.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A screening for severe hypoglycemia was performed in the Lippe-Detmold area in Germany to sensitively detect severe hypoglycemia. This was defined as a symptomatic event requiring treatment with intravenous glucose and being confirmed by a blood glucose measurement of <50 mg/dL.

RESULTS

Severe hypoglycemia increased considerably from 264 events in 1997–2000 to 495 events in 2007–2010, which translated into an increase in frequency of severe hypoglycemia among all emergency admissions from 0.68 to 0.83% (P = 0.015). This was mostly related to intensification of antihyperglycemic therapy, particularly in the increasingly morbid group of hypoglycemic patients with type 2 diabetes indicated by lower HbA1c, more comedication (3.3 vs. 7.7 drugs), and more concomitant diseases (3.6 vs. 4.4) (all P values <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Within a 10-year period, there was an intensification of antihyperglycemic therapy in increasingly comorbid subjects, leading to a considerably higher incidence of severe hypoglycemia.
Association of Diabetes and HbA1c Levels With Gastrointestinal Manifestations
Authors: Tseng Ping-Huei , Lee Yi-Chia , Chiu Han-Mo , Chen Chien-Chuan , Liao Wei-Chih , Tu Chia-Hung , Yang Wei-Shiung , Wu Ming-Shiang
Published: March 2012

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) in a Taiwanese population undergoing bidirectional endoscopies.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Subjects voluntarily undergoing upper endoscopy/colonoscopy as part of a medical examination at the National Taiwan University Hospital were recruited during 2009. Diagnosis of DM included past history of DM, fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL, or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥6.5%. Comparisons were made between diabetic and nondiabetic subjects, subjects with lower and higher HbA1c levels, and diabetic subjects with and without complications, respectively, for their GI symptoms, noninvasive GI testing results, and endoscopic findings.

RESULTS

Among 7,770 study subjects, 722 (9.3%) were diagnosed with DM. The overall prevalence of GI symptoms was lower in DM subjects (30.3 vs. 35.4%, P = 0.006). In contrast, the prevalence of erosive esophagitis (34.3 vs. 28.6%, P = 0.002), Barrett's esophagus (0.6 vs. 0.1%, P = 0.001), peptic ulcer disease (14.8 vs. 8.5%, P < 0.001), gastric neoplasms (1.8 vs. 0.7%, P = 0.003), and colonic neoplasms (26.6 vs. 16.5%, P < 0.001) was higher in diabetic subjects. Diagnostic accuracy of immunochemical fecal occult blood test for colonic neoplasms was significantly decreased in DM (70.7 vs. 81.7%, P < 0.001). Higher HbA1c levels were associated with a decrease of GI symptoms and an increase of endoscopic abnormalities. Diabetic subjects with complications had a higher prevalence of colonic neoplasms (39.2 vs. 24.5%, P = 0.002) than those without.

CONCLUSIONS

DM and higher levels of HbA1c were associated with lower prevalence of GI symptoms but higher prevalence of endoscopic abnormalities.
Circulating 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations Are Correlated With Cardiometabolic Risk Among American Black and White Adolescents Living in a Year-Round Sunny Climate
Authors: Parikh Samip , Guo De-huang , Pollock Norman K. , Petty Karen , Bhagatwala Jigar , Gutin Bernard , Houk Chris , Zhu Haidong , Dong Yanbin
Published: March 2012

OBJECTIVE

Low vitamin D status is common among healthy black and white adolescents residing at southern U.S. latitudes with a year-round sunny climate. Thus we aimed to study the relationships between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and cardiometabolic risk factors in this population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

25(OH)D concentrations were measured with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy in 701 girls and boys (14–18 years old, 54% blacks, 49% females). Cardiometabolic risk was indexed by adipokines, inflammatory markers, fasting glucose, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile, and blood pressure (BP).

RESULTS

Controlling for age, sex, race, sexual maturation, season, physical activity, and percent body fat, 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly correlated with adiponectin (r = 0.06, P = 0.05), leptin (r = −0.32, P < 0.01), fibrinogen (r = −0.05, P = 0.03), glucose (r = −0.16, P = 0.02), HOMA-IR (r = −0.17, P < 0.01), HDL cholesterol (r = 0.14, P = 0.02), systolic BP (r = −0.10, P = 0.02), and diastolic BP (r = −0.21, P < 0.01). When 25(OH)D concentrations were stratified into increasing tertiles, there were significant linear upward trends for adiponectin (P = 0.01) and HDL cholesterol (P = 0.04), but significant linear down trends for glucose (P < 0.01), HOMA-IR (P < 0.01), and systolic BP (P < 0.01), after adjusting for the above covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with various adverse cardiometabolic risk factors, independent of adiposity. Clinical trials addressing the effects of vitamin D supplementation on cardiometabolic risk are warranted in adolescents irrespective of their geographical regions.
Effects of Diet Soda on Gut Hormones in Youths With Diabetes
Authors: Brown Rebecca J. , Walter Mary , Rother Kristina I.
Published: March 2012

OBJECTIVE

In patients with type 2 diabetes, but not type 1 diabetes, abnormal secretion of incretins in response to oral nutrients has been described. In healthy youths, we recently reported accentuated glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion in response to a diet soda sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame-K. In this study, we examined the effect of diet soda on gut hormones in youths with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Subjects aged 12–25 years with type 1 diabetes (n = 9) or type 2 diabetes (n = 10), or healthy control participants (n = 25) drank 240 mL cola-flavored caffeine-free diet soda or carbonated water, followed by a 75-g glucose load, in a randomized, cross-over design. Glucose, C-peptide, GLP-1, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), and peptide Tyr-Tyr (PYY) were measured for 180 min. Glucose and GLP-1 have previously been reported for the healthy control subjects.

RESULTS

GLP-1 area under the curve (AUC) was 43% higher after ingestion of diet soda versus carbonated water in individuals with type 1 diabetes (P = 0.020), similar to control subjects (34% higher, P = 0.029), but was unaffected by diet soda in patients with type 2 diabetes (P = 0.92). Glucose, C-peptide, GIP, and PYY AUC were not statistically different between the two conditions in any group.

CONCLUSIONS

Ingestion of diet soda before a glucose load augmented GLP-1 secretion in type 1 diabetic and control subjects but not type 2 diabetic subjects. GIP and PYY secretion were not affected by diet soda. The clinical significance of this increased GLP-1 secretion, and its absence in youths with type 2 diabetes, needs to be determined.
Similarities between cortical “up” states during slow wave sleep and wakefulness: the implications for schizophrenia
Authors: Vukadinovic Zoran
Published: March 2012

Negative and positive symptoms are defining features of schizophrenia. This illness is commonly associated with a number of cognitive and affective deficits as well as with some more specific sleep abnormalities. It has been previously proposed that psychosis and positive symptoms in schizophrenia could be understood as disorders of internal brain dynamics. This proposed disordered network interplay might be particularly displayed during sleep when modulation by the senses is at the minimum. It is argued here that sleep abnormalities in schizophrenia inform our understanding of the pathomechanisms involved in psychosis. More specifically, sleep spindle initiation in NREM sleep and the preparation of sensory pathways for upcoming motor actions during wakefulness may share a common mechanism, and this shared mechanism is suggested to be impaired in schizophrenia.
Brodmann’s map of the human cerebral cortex — or Brodmann’s maps?
Authors: Judaš Miloš , Cepanec Maja , Sedmak Goran
Published: March 2012

The cytoarchitectonic map of the adult human cerebral cortex prepared by Korbinian Brodmann is probably the most widely used and reproduced cortical map. However, few people today realize that in the period between 1908 and 1914 (the first and last date of maps publication by Brodmann himself) that map was gradually developed, extended and subjected to some significant modifications. The aim of this article is to reproduce and briefly describe all versions of Brodmann’s map, trace its changes and highlight the importance of these changes — especially with respect to the speech and language related cortical regions of the left cerebral hemisphere.
fMRI neural activation patterns induced by professional military training
Authors: Ćosić Krešimir , Popović Siniša , Fabek Ivan , Kovač Bernard , Radoš Milan , Radoš Marko , Vasung Lana , Judaš Miloš , Kostović Ivica , Šimić Goran
Published: March 2012

Professional military training makes tough demands on soldiers’ perceptual and motor skills, as well as on their physical fitness and cognitive capabilities in the course of preparation for stressful operational environments. In this pilot study we attempted to identify difference in pattern of neural responses between extensively trained, professional mission-ready soldiers and novice soldiers during audiovisual simulation of mission conditions. We performed fMRI scanning on a few volunteers during presentation of semantically relevant video-clips of real combat from Afghanistan to evaluate influence of military training on mental responses of soldiers. We showed that for professional mission-ready soldiers a week before their deployment to Afghanistan, videoclips with deadly ambush combat induce greater overall brain activation compared to novice soldiers. Missionready soldiers showed greater activation in premotor/prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, and posterior temporal cortex. These results imply that fMRI technique could be used as challenging step forward in the multidimensional evaluation of military training influence on neural responses and operational capabilities of professional soldiers. This is extremely important not only for potential failure prevention and mere success of the mission, but even more for the survival and the well-being of the servicemen and servicewomen.
Deformation of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Structures by Design, in the Lab and in the Field
Authors: Heerten G.
Published: March 2012

Green-geo-engineering with geosynthetic reinforced soil structures is of increasing practice around the world. Poland is among the leading countries with the third biggest geogrid market in Europe. The German EBGEO 2010 Guideline for Soil Reinforcement with Geosynthetics as first European Guideline for Geosynthetics linked to the Eurocode 7, and the new design code for Japanese railway structures under seismic loading are introduced. New research results from the Geotechnical Institute of the RWTH Aachen, Germany, dealing with the soil/reinforcement interaction and new approaches for design codes for the reinforcement of base courses in traffic areas based on lab and field tests in the USA are presented.
Peat Consolidation – New Approach
Authors: Meyer Z. , Coufal R. , Kowalów M. , Szczygielski T.
Published: March 2012

The problem of consolidation of soil has been widely investigated. The basic approach was given by Terzaghi who assumed soil of constant physical and mechanical parameters. In the case of peat consolidation, the permeability coefficient of soil and the elasticity modulus are functions of the settlement which is an important additional factor. The model proposed here assumes varying the elasticity and permeability coefficients. Moreover, the settlement is described by the so-called elementary curve which was approximated empirically based upon laboratory tests. The model allows to consider the case when the filtration in the peat body goes in horizontal direction. It happens so when the charging layer does not receive outgoing water from the pores. The model includes also the case when the load involving consolidation varies in time i.e. the charging layer grows up gradually. The model has been applied practically in several cases and it comes that there is a good agreement between calculated and measured settlement of the consolidated peat layer.
Numerical Calculations of the Consolidation of Flotation Waste Landfill “Zelazny Most” Based on Biot’s Model with the Kelvin - Voight Rheological Skeleton
Authors: Strzelecki T. , Bartlewska-Urban M.
Published: March 2012

This paper presents simulation results of the consolidation process of the flotation waste landfill “Zelazny Most”. The mathematical model used in presented research is based on Biot’s model of consolidation and is extended with rheological skeleton. The load is the mass pressure of the landfill itself. The initial point selected for calculations was based on the ground water level calculated in a landfill. The creeping process in this waste landfill was analyzed along the north - south section. The solution is therefore 2D with the assumption of a plane strain state. Effective model parameters data were obtained in laboratory tests on the material from the waste landfill. Results obtained for a stress state in a storage state can help to determine whether the adopted linear model of visco-elastic medium does not lead to changes in the Coulomb - Mohr potential yield, showing the emergence of plasticity of material storage areas.
The Simultaneous Effect of the Operating Temperature and Solar Radiation on the Efficiency of Photovoltaic Panels / Jednoczesny Wpływ Temperatury Pracy Oraz Promieniowania Słonecznego Na Wydajnosc Ogniw Fotowoltaicznych
Authors: Heim D.
Published: March 2012

The proper designing of PV systems requires the use of advanced building energy simulation techniques. It allows to design the best position of the PV array, as well as the right quantity of produced energy in different cases. On the other hand the PV efficiency is not only a constant value but changes according to temperature and solar radiation. This paper is devoted to estimate the simultaneous effect of both weather factors on PV efficiency. The task was achieved by numerical simulation and ESP-r software. Computer simulations have been carried out with the use of the Typical Meteorological Year data for Warsaw (52°N 21°E). The greatest influence of temperature on the efficiency of solar energy conversion was observed for crystalline silicon cells. The influence of the boundary conditions assumed in the study is ignored for amorphous silicon cells in the summer period and regardless of the material type in the winter period.