bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inferior Short-term Safety Profile of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Compared With Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement for Idiopathic Normal-Pressure Hydrocephalus
Authors: Chan Andrew K. , McGovern Robert A. , Zacharia Brad E. , Mikell Charles B. , Bruce Sam S. , Sheehy John Paul , Kelly Kathleen M. , McKhann Guy M.
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND:

In small series, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been shown to potentially have efficacy similar to that of ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) for idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Therefore, some clinicians have advocated for ETV to avoid the potential long-term complications associated with VPS. Complication rates for these procedures vary widely based on limited small series data.

OBJECTIVE:

We used a nationwide database that provides a comprehensive investigation of the perioperative safety of ETV for iNPH compared with VPS.

METHODS:

We identified discharges with the primary diagnosis of iNPH (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 331.5 [ICD-9]) with ICD-9 primary procedure codes for VPS (02.34) and ETV (02.2) from 2007 to 2010. We analyzed short-term safety outcomes using univariate and hierarchical logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS:

There were a total of 652 discharges for ETV for iNPH and 12 845 discharges for VPS for iNPH over the study period. ETV was associated with a significantly higher mortality (3.2% vs 0.5%) and short-term complication (17.9% vs 11.8%) rates than VPS despite similar mean modified comorbidity scores. On multivariate analysis, ETV alone predicted increased mortality and increased length of stay when adjusted for other patient and hospital factors.

CONCLUSION:

This is the first study that robustly assesses the perioperative complications and safety outcomes of ETV for iNPH. Compared with VPS, ETV is associated with higher perioperative mortality and complication rates. This consideration is important to weigh against the potential benefit of ETV: avoiding long-term shunt dependence. Prospective, randomized studies are needed.
Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Metastases of Non-neurogenic Origin
Authors: Knafo Steven , Pallud Johan , Le Rhun Emilie , Parker Fabrice , Iakovlev Gueorgui , Roux François-Xavier , Page Philippe , Meder Jean-François , Emery Evelyne , Devaux Bertrand ,   the Club de Neuro-oncologie of the Société Française de Neurochirurgie
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND:

Leptomeningeal metastases from carcinoma are still poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE:

To better define the management of unique intradural extramedullary spinal metastases (IESM) from solid cancers of non-neurogenic origin, in particular regarding leptomeningeal metastasis (LM).

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, case-control study including 11 patients with IESM matched with 11 patients with LM. Primary endpoint was overall survival; secondary endpoints were diagnostic criteria and prognostic factors.

RESULTS:

Descriptive analysis showed a clinically significant difference between IESM and LM patients regarding preexisting neurological deficit (45.5% vs 90.1%, P = .06) and malignant cells in cerebrospinal fluid (0% vs 54.5%, P = .03). The median overall survival was significantly higher for IESM patients (732 days) than for patients with LM (53 days; P < .0002). Multivariate analysis showed that preexisting neurological deficit was a negative prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio: 10.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.88-102; P = .04), in contrast to functional improvement with treatment (hazard ratio: 0.01; 95% confidence interval: 0.00-0.52; P = .04). We propose the following diagnostic criteria for IESM: (1) a solid lesion located within the intradural extramedullary space, (2) the absence of other leptomeningeal lesion seen on full-spine injected magnetic resonance imaging, (3) the absence of malignant cells in cerebrospinal fluid, and (4) a histological confirmation of the metastatic nature of the lesion.

CONCLUSION:

The significant difference in survival between IESM and LM suggests that they are 2 distinct evolutions of the metastatic disease. Distinguishing IESM also has therapeutic consequences because patients can benefit from a focal surgical treatment with functional improvement and extended survival.
Insertion Metathesis Depolymerization of Aromatic Disulfide-containing Dynamic Covalent Polymers under Weak Intensity Photoirradiation
Authors: Ohishi Tomoyuki , Iki Yoko , Imato Keiichi , Higaki Yuji , Takahara Atsushi , Otsuka Hideyuki
Published: August 2013

Aromatic disulfide bonds become dynamic in a radical process under weak intensity photoirradiation and can undergo metathesis. Aryl disulfide-containing dynamic covalent polyurethanes were prepared by the polyaddition of disulfide-containing diol and diisocyanate compounds. To determine the dynamic nature of the aryl disulfide-containing polymers, insertion metathesis depolymerization was performed under weak intensity photoirradiation at room temperature. The molecular weights of the dynamic covalent polymers decreased as the irradiation time increased.
Trade, Tastes, and Nutrition in India
Authors: Atkin David
Published: August 2013

This paper explores the causes and consequences of regional taste differences. I introduce habit formation into a standard general equilibrium model. Household tastes evolve over time to favor foods consumed as a child. Thus, locally abundant foods are preferred in every region, as they were relatively inexpensive in prior generations. These patterns alter the correspondence between price changes and nutrition. For example, neglecting this relationship between tastes and agro-climatic endowments overstates the short-run nutritional gains from agricultural trade liberalization, since preferred foods rise in price in every region. I examine the model's predictions using household survey data from many regions of India. (JEL D12, I12, O12, O18, R23)
The Great Diversification and its Undoing
Authors: Carvalho Vasco , Gabaix Xavier
Published: August 2013

We investigate the hypothesis that macroeconomic fluctuations are primitively the results of many microeconomic shocks. We define fundamental volatility as the volatility that would arise from an economy made entirely of idiosyncratic sectoral or firm-level shocks. Fundamental volatility accounts for the swings in macroeconomic volatility in the major world economies in the past half-century. It accounts for the “great moderation” and its undoing. The initial great moderation is due to a decreasing share of manufacturing between 1975 and 1985. The recent rise of macroeconomic volatility is chiefly due to the growth of the financial sector. (JEL E23, E32, E44)
Does Disability Insurance Receipt Discourage Work? Using Examiner Assignment to Estimate Causal Effects of SSDI Receipt
Authors: Maestas Nicole , Mullen Kathleen J , Strand Alexander
Published: August 2013

We present the first causal estimates of the effect of Social Security Disability Insurance benefit receipt on labor supply using all program applicants. We use administrative data to match applications to disability examiners and exploit variation in examiners' allowance rates as an instrument for benefit receipt. We find that among the estimated 23 percent of applicants on the margin of program entry, employment would have been 28 percentage points higher had they not received benefits. The effect is heterogeneous, ranging from no effect for those with more severe impairments to 50 percentage points for entrants with relatively less severe impairments. (JEL H55, J14, J22)
Early Life Health Interventions and Academic Achievement
Authors: Bharadwaj Prashant , Løken Katrine Vellesen , Neilson Christopher
Published: August 2013

This paper studies the effect of improved early life health care on mortality and long-run academic achievement in school. We use the idea that medical treatments often follow rules of thumb for assigning care to patients, such as the classification of Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW), which assigns infants special care at a specific birth weight cutoff. Using detailed administrative data on schooling and birth records from Chile and Norway, we establish that children who receive extra medical care at birth have lower mortality rates and higher test scores and grades in school. These gains are in the order of 0.15–0.22 standard deviations. (JEL I11, I12, I18, I21, J13, O15)
Intergenerational Occupational Mobility in Great Britain and the United States Since 1850: Comment
Authors: Hout Michael , Guest Avery M
Published: August 2013

We reanalyze Long and Ferrie's data. We find that the association of occupational status across generations was quite similar over time and place. Two significant differences were: (i) American farms in 1880 were far more open to men who had nonfarm backgrounds than were American farms in 1973 or British farms in either century; (ii) of the four cases, the intergenerational correlation was strongest in Britain in 1881. Structural mobility related to, among other things, economic growth and occupational differentiation, affected mobility most in 1970s America. (JEL J62, N31, N32, N33, N34)
Intergenerational Occupational Mobility in Great Britain and the United States Since 1850: Reply
Authors: Long Jason , Ferrie Joseph
Published: August 2013

We respond to several criticisms by Avery Guest and Michael Hout (2013) and Yu Xie and Alexandra Killewald (2013) to Jason Long and Joseph Ferrie (2013). We do not dispute Guest and Hout's characterization of the importance of total mobility in addition to relative mobility. We find much in their additional analyses that supports our original findings. In response to Xie and Killewald, we discuss the limitations of our data and the conceptualization of mobility. (JEL J62, N31, N32, N33, N34)
Business telephone communications
Authors: Дубовская  , Dubovskaya O.
Published: August 2013

The telephone is the most important means of communication in business. The manner in which employees speak to their clients and customers plays an important part in building an image of a company. A telephone conversation is a complex process with special challenges. When all parts of the communication process work effectively together, telephone communication is clear and useful. It is imperative to know all the rules while talking on a phone for business purposes.
Visual compousing forms as a way to attract the readers attention
Authors: Ленкова  , Lenkova T.
Published: August 2013

The article addresses the use of extra linguistic means in journalism. The author draws attentions to the impact of social factors on the development of linguistic aspects of journalism and defines the term «visual compositional forms».
Consciousness in System Psychology Limits
Authors: Маршинин  , Marshinin B.
Published: August 2013

The consciousness is described as a functional component in the psyche system. The quality of ideal is distinguished as its specific. The dependence of conscious complexity from the level of psyche development is emphasized. The problem of conscious clearness levels and unconsciousness category, as well as conscious disorders according to their medical severity, is affected. The conclusion is drawn that at such approach it’s quite adequately to describe subject’s behavior (activity, actions) as organized and supervised by the system of psyche’s functional components.
Post-Non-Classical Subjectivity in Virtual Reality Space
Authors: Борисова-Юрковская  , Borisova-Yurkovskaya E.
Published: August 2013

The paper deals with the actual problem of subject, which acts in the field of virtual reality and media space. The author analyses contemporary approaches to the formation of «subject in philosophy» concept. The phenomenon of decentration, splitting «I» is in detail considered. It is concluded what kind of features are characteristic for the subject configuration in the post-non-classical philosophy, what is their difference from the subject’s classical concept, what world outlook consequences the decentration has.
Technologies related to Formation of Administrative Qualities and Professionally-Ethical Competences in Educational Process
Authors: Викторук  , Viktoruk Elena , Коваленко  , Kovalenko V.
Published: August 2013

The research results related to conditions of forming of professionally-ethical competences and acquisition of stakeholder analysis as a method of making of ethical managerial decisions are presented in this paper. The object of examination is one of the basic ethical competencies — the ability to make ethical assessment and choice in the mood of managerial decision with required degree of ethicality.
Bases of Russian Statehood Centuries-Old Stability
Authors: Гайнутдинова  , Gaynutdinova Lyudmila
Published: August 2013

In this paper devoted to 1150-year anniversary of the Russian

statehood, the bases of its centuries-old stability are analyzed. There are following key factors of this stability: centuries-old expansion of borders due to extremely adverse foreign policy context; mobilization type of political system development for achievement the extraordinary purposes by extraordinary means; absolute monarchy as political system that proved to be capable to carry out a complex of drastic military and bureaucratic measures; acceptance of Orthodoxy which has become a basis of Russian identity as well as political and ideological basis of Russian statehood.
Spiritual and Religious Culture in Modern Education Context
Authors: Шафажинская  , Shafazhinskaya Natalya
Published: August 2013

Justification related to integration of expanded spiritually and religious component in the system of higher school’s culturological and theological formation is given in this paper. This approach’s relevance is determined by need of carrying out a program related to the studying of bases of religious culture and spiritual ethics as necessary component of pupils’ encyclical liberal arts education, increase of cultural, philosophy and psychological-pedagogical competence of future teachers of humanitarian disciplines, and also optimization related to moral education of modern youth as a whole. As the chosen position argumentation the author offers the factual material promoting the best understanding of importance and more objective assessment related to a role of spiritual and theological component in educational process.
New technologies in second foreign language training
Authors: Полушина  , Polushina Lyubov , Давыдова  , Davydova Lyudmila
Published: August 2013

In this paper it is refers to distance technologies in second foreign

language training. They become more and more popular. It is impossible to confuse a correspondence study with distance learning because the last one is always individual.
Heroes of Radiation
Authors: Kingston Gareth
Published: August 2013

RADIOGRAPHY IS A YOUNG SCIENCE, A LITTLE OVER A CENTURY OLD. THE DENTAL PROFESSION WAS QUICK TO SEIZE THE POTENTIAL OF RADIOGRAPHY, BUT THIS ESSENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC TOOL CAME AT A HIGH COST.
Adherence to Nice Guidelines on Recall Intervals and the FGDP(UK) Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography
Authors: Drage Nicholas A , Davies Kristian JM
Published: August 2013

Aim

The study investigated adherence of GDPs to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on recall intervals and the FGDP(UK)'s Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography. It also explored any factors that might influence GDPs’ compliance with the guidelines.

Method

A previously piloted questionnaire was circulated to all GDPs within the district of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB). The questionnaire sought demographic data as well as answers to questions relating to compliance with guidelines.

Results

Of 215 questionnaires, 133 (61.9%) were returned. One hundred a nd thirty (97.7%) respondents were familiar with NICE recall guidelines and 112 (84.2%) were familiar with the FGDP(UK) publication Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography. Thirty six (27.7%) ‘always’ followed the NICE recall guidelines and, overall, 108 (81.8%) ‘always or mostly’ followed the guidance. Fifty one (38.6%) respondents ‘always’ carried out a caries risk assessment for adult patients and 57 (43.5%) ‘always’ carried out a caries risk assessment for child patients. Seventy nine (59.8%) reported that they ‘always or mostly’ recorded the patient's disease risk category in the notes. Fifty two (39.7%) respondents ‘always’ took bitewing radiographs that corresponded to disease risk. Overall, however, 119 GDPs (90.8%) ‘always or mostly’ took bitewing radiographs at appropriate intervals according to disease risk. Bitewing radiographs for new adult patients were prescribed more often for new child patients. The dentist's length of experience, NHS commitment, country of graduation, access to digital radiography or panoramic machines, receipt of any postgraduate qualifications or involvement in dental foundation training were proven not to have any statistically significant association with adherence to NICE or FGDP(UK) guidelines.

Conclusions

Most dentists are familiar with NICE guidelines on recall intervals and the FGDP(UK)'s Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography. The number of dentists who always comply with these sets of guidance is low. None of the variables investigated were shown to have any statistically significant association with adherence to these guidelines.
IsraPulp: The Israeli Popular Literature Collection at Arizona State University
Authors: Leket-Mor Rachel
Published: August 2013

Based on research literature, the article reviews the history of Hebrew popular literature since the 1930s, its connections with Yiddish Schund literature and its effects on the development of Modern Hebrew literature and Israeli identity, especially in light the New Hebrew ethos. The article features the research collection of Hebrew pulps at Arizona State Univeristy, demonstrates the significance of collecting popular materials in research libraries, and suggests possible new study directions. An appendix lists some of the materials available at the IsraPulp Collection.
Isaac Edward Kiev: Early Leader in American Judaica Librarianship
Authors: Stempler Amy
Published: August 2013

Isaac Edward Kiev (1905–1975), former Chief Librarian of New York’s Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, spent a lifetime facilitating Jewish research. This article, based on the author’s Master’s thesis on Kiev, focuses on his contributions to the founding of Jewish book and library organizations during the American post-war era, including the Association of Jewish Libraries, Jewish Book Council of America, Jewish Cultural Reconstruction, Inc., and numerous Jewish book foundations in the United States and Israel. In addition to providing insight into the creation of these associations, the article illustrates the parallel development of the fields of Judaica librarianship and Jewish Studies in academia. Kiev’s legacy continues into the twenty-first century through his lasting influence on his profession as well as the I. Edward Kiev Judaica Collection at the George Washington University.
Improvement of dimensional stability of wood by in situ synthesis of organo-montmorillonite: preparation and properties of modified Southern pine wood
Authors: Wang Wang , Zhu Yuan , Cao Jinzhen , Liu Ru
Published: August 2013

Southern pine (Pinus spp.) wood was impregnated sequentially with sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT; in concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 4%) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (in a concentration of 2%) in a two-step method to form organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) inside the wood. The impregnated samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses. Moreover, the water absorption, anti-swelling efficiency, compression strength, and surface hardness of the modified samples were investigated. In the first step, wood is impregnated with Na-MMT, and in the second step, Na-MMT is transformed to OMMT by in situ synthesis and the silicate layers of the clay are intercalated into the cell wall. As a result, the dimensional stability of the modified wood was improved as a function of increased clay concentration. The compression strength and surface hardness of OMMT-modified wood were also improved greatly compared with the untreated control.
Enzyme-substrate complexes of the quinate/shikimate dehydrogenase from Corynebacterium glutamicum enable new insights in substrate and cofactor binding, specificity, and discrimination
Authors: Höppner Astrid , Schomburg Dietmar , Niefind Karsten
Published: August 2013

Quinate dehydrogenase (QDH) catalyzes the reversible oxidation of quinate to 3-dehydroquinate by nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and is involved in the catabolic quinate metabolism required for the degradation of lignin. The enzyme is a member of the family of shikimate/quinate dehydrogenases (SDH/QDH) occurring in bacteria and plants. We characterized the dual-substrate quinate/shikimate dehydrogenase (QSDH) from Corynebacterium glutamicum (CglQSDH) kinetically and revealed a clear substrate preference of CglQSDH for quinate compared with shikimate both at the pH optimum and in a physiological pH range, which is a remarkable contrast to closely related SDH/QDH enzymes. With respect to the cosubstrate, CglQSDH is strictly NAD(H) dependent. These substrate and cosubstrate profiles correlate well with the details of three atomic resolution crystal structures of CglQSDH in different functional states we report here: with bound NAD+ (binary complex) and as ternary complexes with NADH plus either shikimate or quinate. The CglQSDH-NADH-quinate structure is the first complex structure of any member of the SDH/QDH family with quinate. Based on this novel structural information and systematic sequence and structure comparisons with closely related enzymes, we can explain the strict NAD(H) dependency of CglQSDH as well as its discrimination between shikimate and quinate.
Role of Joule Heating in Electro-Assisted Processes: A Boundary Layer Approach for Rectangular Electrodes
Authors: Oyanader Mario A. , Arce Pedro E. , Bolden James D.
Published: August 2013

An analysis for boundary layer flows caused by natural convection due to heat generation caused by the Joule heating effect is presented. The integral approximation approach developed by Von Karman is used to model the boundary layer flow in the system. Effects of the heat generation on temperature and velocity profiles as well as on the boundary layer thickness are discussed, and their implication for possible convective mixing effects near the electrode region is highlighted. These are important pieces of information when designing applications in electrokinetic remediation and separation of biomolecules.
The relative/indefinite theme: from Hittite enclitic position to the SC de Cn. Pisone patre
Authors: Calboli Gualtiero
Published: August 2013

In Hittite (habitually), in Vedic and Sanskrit (very frequently), in Greek and Latin (sometimes) a relative/indefinite theme is placed in an enclitic position after the referred noun, e.g., Virg. Aen. 1,573

Subordination is a topic of many papers and books produced in recent years, nevertheless the key point of the relationship coordination∼subordination as well as of other types of linking calls for further refinements. There are points still remaining relatively unexplored, namely the enclitic position of the relative theme (better to say of the *

Without rejecting different methods of linguistic explanation such as transformational grammar, typological and functional approaches, cross-linguistic analysis, or Asymmetry Assumption, I think that we must explore the collected data more in depth. In this sense I would like to show that at least three steps may be distinguished in the syntactic use of the relative/indefinite theme: firstly, the use of an enclitic to produce a kind of clause; secondly, an introduction of a couple of clauses, the first of which is considered a relative clause; thirdly, its use as an adjective similar to the use we meet in classical Latin. It is however not excluded that other steps took place and were overwhelmed; at any rate it is presupposed that “there are languages that at a certain stage in their history, do not have any specific construction for the expression of particular cognitive relations between States of Affairs” (S. Cristofaro 2004: 49).

Anyhow we must start from the enclitic relative(-indefinite) pronoun after excluding the
Resemblance After Photography
Authors: Brevern Jan von
Published: August 2013

Resemblance did not come naturally to photography. Soon after it became a public medium in 1839, photography’s ability to produce resemblant images—and therefore portraits—was widely challenged. Proponents of photography quickly responded to those challenges by developing more complex concepts of the new medium. This article argues that photography played an important part in evolving debates on resemblance. It also maintains that resemblance, far from being the “epistemological obstacle” it was deemed by theoreticians in the twentieth century, was exceptionally fertile for early photographic theory.
The ben1-1 Brassinosteroid-Catabolism Mutation Is Unstable Due to Epigenetic Modifications of the Intronic T-DNA Insertion
Authors: Sandhu Kulbir Singh , Koirala Pushpa Sharma , Neff Michael M
Published: August 2013

Loss-of-function genetic analysis plays a pivotal role in elucidating individual gene function as well as interactions among gene networks. The ease of gene tagging and cloning provided by transfer DNA (T-DNA) insertion mutants have led to their heavy use by the Arabidopsis research community. However, certain aspects of T-DNA alleles require caution, as highlighted in this study of an intronic insertion mutant (ben1-1) in the BEN1 (BRI1-5 ENHANCED 1) gene. As a part of our analysis of brassinosteroid catabolic enzymes, we generated a genetic triple-mutant from a cross between the bas1-2 sob7-1 double-null (T-DNA exonic insertion mutants of phyB-4 ACTIVATION TAGGED SUPPRESSOR 1 and SUPPRESSOR OF phyB-4 7) and ben1-1. As previously described, the single ben1-1 line behaves as a transcript null. However, in the triple-mutant background ben1-1 was reverted to a partial loss-of-function allele showing enhanced levels of the wild-type-spliced transcript. Interestingly, the enhanced expression of BEN1 remained stable when the ben1-1 single-mutant was reisolated from a cross with the wild type. In addition, the two genetically identical pretriple and posttriple ben1-1 mutants also differed phenotypically. The previously functional NPTII (NEOMYCIN PHOSPHOTRANSFERASE II) T-DNA marker gene (which encodes kanamycin resistance) was no longer functional in the recovered ben1-1 allele, though the length of the T-DNA insertion and the NPTII gene sequence did not change in the pretriple and posttriple ben1-1 mutants. Methylation analysis using both restriction endonuclease activity and bisulfite conversion followed by sequencing showed that the methylation status of the T-DNA is different between the original and the recovered ben1-1. These observations demonstrate that the recovered ben1-1 mutant is epigenetically different from the original ben1-1 allele.
Yeast hEST1A/B (SMG5/6)–Like Proteins Contribute to Environment-Sensing Adaptive Gene Expression Responses
Authors: Lai Xianning , Beilharz Traude , Au Wei-Chun , Hammet Andrew , Preiss Thomas , Basrai Munira A , Heierhorst Jörg
Published: August 2013

During its natural life cycle, budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has to adapt to drastically changing environments, but how environmental-sensing pathways are linked to adaptive gene expression changes remains incompletely understood. Here, we describe two closely related yeast hEST1A-B (SMG5-6)–like proteins termed Esl1 and Esl2 that contain a 14-3-3–like domain and a putative PilT N-terminus ribonuclease domain. We found that, unlike their metazoan orthologs, Esl1 and Esl2 were not involved in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay or telomere maintenance pathways. However, in genome-wide expression array analyses, absence of Esl1 and Esl2 led to more than two-fold deregulation of ∼50 transcripts, most of which were expressed inversely to the appropriate metabolic response to environmental nutrient supply; for instance, normally glucose-repressed genes were derepressed in esl1Δ esl2Δ double mutants during growth in a high-glucose environment. Likewise, in a genome-wide synthetic gene array screen, esl1Δ esl2Δ double mutants were synthetic sick with null mutations for Rim8 and Dfg16, which form the environmental-sensing complex of the Rim101 pH response gene expression pathway. Overall, these results suggest that Esl1 and Esl2 contribute to the regulation of adaptive gene expression responses of environmental sensing pathways.
FlyPrimerBank: An Online Database for Drosophila melanogaster Gene Expression Analysis and Knockdown Evaluation of RNAi Reagents
Authors: Hu Yanhui , Sopko Richelle , Foos Marianna , Kelley Colleen , Flockhart Ian , Ammeux Noemie , Wang Xiaowei , Perkins Lizabeth , Perrimon Norbert , Mohr Stephanie E
Published: August 2013

The evaluation of specific endogenous transcript levels is important for understanding transcriptional regulation. More specifically, it is useful for independent confirmation of results obtained by the use of microarray analysis or RNA-seq and for evaluating RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene knockdown. Designing specific and effective primers for high-quality, moderate-throughput evaluation of transcript levels, i.e., quantitative, real-time PCR (qPCR), is nontrivial. To meet community needs, predefined qPCR primer pairs for mammalian genes have been designed and sequences made available, e.g., via PrimerBank. In this work, we adapted and refined the algorithms used for the mammalian PrimerBank to design 45,417 primer pairs for 13,860 Drosophila melanogaster genes, with three or more primer pairs per gene. We experimentally validated primer pairs for ~300 randomly selected genes expressed in early Drosophila embryos, using SYBR Green-based qPCR and sequence analysis of products derived from conventional PCR. All relevant information, including primer sequences, isoform specificity, spatial transcript targeting, and any available validation results and/or user feedback, is available from an online database (www.flyrnai.org/flyprimerbank). At FlyPrimerBank, researchers can retrieve primer information for fly genes either one gene at a time or in batch mode. Importantly, we included the overlap of each predicted amplified sequence with RNAi reagents from several public resources, making it possible for researchers to choose primers suitable for knockdown evaluation of RNAi reagents (i.e., to avoid amplification of the RNAi reagent itself). We demonstrate the utility of this resource for validation of RNAi reagents in vivo.
Use of Urine Testing in Outpatients Treated for Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Copp Hillary L. , Yiee Jenny H. , Smith Alexandria , Hanley Janet , Saigal Christopher S.
Published: August 2013

OBJECTIVE:

To characterize urine test use in ambulatory, antibiotic-treated pediatric urinary tract infection (UTI).

METHODS:

We studied children <18 years who had an outpatient UTI and a temporally associated antibiotic prescription from 2002 through 2007 by using a large claims database, Innovus i3. We evaluated urine-testing trends and performed multivariable logistic regression to assess for factors associated with urine culture use.

RESULTS:

Of 40 603 treated UTI episodes in 28 678 children, urinalysis was performed in 76%, and urine culture in 57%; 32% of children <2 years had no urinalysis or culture performed for an antibiotic-treated UTI episode. Urine culture use decreased during the study period from 60% to 54% (P < .001). We observed variation in urine culture use with age (<2 years: odds ratio [OR] 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9–1.1; 2–5 years: OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2–1.4; 6–12 years: OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2–1.4, compared with 13–17 years); gender (boys: OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.8–0.9); and specialty (pediatrics: OR 2.6, 95% CI 2.5–2.8; emergency medicine, OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3; urology: OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4–0.6, compared with family/internal medicine). Recent antibiotic exposure (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.1–1.2) and empirical broad-spectrum prescription (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.2) were associated with urine culture use, whereas previous UTI and urologic anomalies were not.

CONCLUSIONS:

Providers often do not obtain urine tests when prescribing antibiotics for outpatient pediatric UTI. Variation in urine culture use was observed based on age, gender, and physician specialty. Additional research is necessary to determine the implications of empirical antibiotic prescription for pediatric UTI without confirmatory urine testing.
Cost-Effectiveness of Routine Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease in US Newborns
Authors: Peterson Cora , Grosse Scott D. , Oster Matthew E. , Olney Richard S. , Cassell Cynthia H.
Published: August 2013

OBJECTIVES:

Clinical evidence indicates newborn critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening through pulse oximetry is lifesaving. In 2011, CCHD was added to the US Recommended Uniform Screening Panel for newborns. Several states have implemented or are considering screening mandates. This study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of routine screening among US newborns unsuspected of having CCHD.

METHODS:

We developed a cohort model with a time horizon of infancy to estimate the inpatient medical costs and health benefits of CCHD screening. Model inputs were derived from new estimates of hospital screening costs and inpatient care for infants with late-detected CCHD, defined as no diagnosis at the birth hospital. We estimated the number of newborns with CCHD detected at birth hospitals and life-years saved with routine screening compared with no screening.

RESULTS:

Screening was estimated to incur an additional cost of $6.28 per newborn, with incremental costs of $20 862 per newborn with CCHD detected at birth hospitals and $40 385 per life-year gained (2011 US dollars). We estimated 1189 more newborns with CCHD would be identified at birth hospitals and 20 infant deaths averted annually with screening. Another 1975 false-positive results not associated with CCHD were estimated to occur, although these results had a minimal impact on total estimated costs.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study provides the first US cost-effectiveness analysis of CCHD screening in the United States could be reasonably cost-effective. We anticipate data from states that have recently approved or initiated CCHD screening will become available over the next few years to refine these projections.
Use of Conventional and Novel Smokeless Tobacco Products Among US Adolescents
Authors: Agaku Israel T. , Ayo-Yusuf Olalekan A. , Vardavas Constantine I. , Alpert Hillel R. , Connolly Gregory N.
Published: August 2013

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the prevalence and correlates of use of conventional and novel smokeless tobacco products among a national sample of US middle and high school students.

METHODS:

Data from the 2011 National Youth Tobacco Survey were analyzed to determine national estimates of current use of conventional (“chewing tobacco”, “snuff,” or “dip”), novel (“snus” and “dissolvable tobacco products”), and any smokeless tobacco products (novel and/or conventional products) within the past 30 days.

RESULTS:

The overall prevalence of current use of any smokeless tobacco product was 5.6% (n = 960). Among all students, 5.0% used chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip; 1.9% used snus; and 0.3% used dissolvable tobacco products. Among users of any smokeless tobacco, 64.0% used only conventional products, 26.8% were concurrent users of novel plus conventional products, whereas 9.2% exclusively used novel products. Approximately 72.1% of current any smokeless tobacco users concurrently smoked combustible tobacco products, and only 40.1% expressed an intention to quit all tobacco use. Regression analyses indicated that peer (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 9.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.14–12.80) and household (aOR: 3.32; 95% CI: 2.23–4.95) smokeless tobacco use were associated with smokeless tobacco use, whereas believing that all forms of tobacco are harmful was protective (aOR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.38–0.79).

CONCLUSIONS:

Conventional smokeless tobacco products remain the predominant form of smokeless tobacco use. Most users of novel smokeless tobacco products also concurrently smoked combustible tobacco products. Smokeless tobacco use was associated with lower perception of harm from all tobacco products and protobacco social influences, indicating the need to change youth perceptions about the use of all tobacco products and to engage pediatricians in tobacco use prevention and cessation interventions.
Risk-Adjusted Hospital Outcomes for Children’s Surgery
Authors: Saito Jacqueline M. , Chen Li Ern , Hall Bruce L. , Kraemer Kari , Barnhart Douglas C. , Byrd Claudia , Cohen Mark E. , Fei Chunyuan , Heiss Kurt F. , Huffman Kristopher , Ko Clifford Y. , Latus Melissa , Meara John G. , Oldham Keith T. , Raval Mehul V. , Richards Karen E. , Shah Rahul K. , Sutton Laura C. , Vinocur Charles D. , Moss R. Lawrence
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric was initiated in 2008 to drive quality improvement in children’s surgery. Low mortality and morbidity in previous analyses limited differentiation of hospital performance.

METHODS:

Participating institutions included children’s units within general hospitals and free-standing children’s hospitals. Cases selected by Current Procedural Terminology codes encompassed procedures within pediatric general, otolaryngologic, orthopedic, urologic, plastic, neurologic, thoracic, and gynecologic surgery. Trained personnel abstracted demographic, surgical profile, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables. Incorporating procedure-specific risk, hierarchical models for 30-day mortality and morbidities were developed with significant predictors identified by stepwise logistic regression. Reliability was estimated to assess the balance of information versus error within models.

RESULTS:

In 2011, 46 281 patients from 43 hospitals were accrued; 1467 codes were aggregated into 226 groupings. Overall mortality was 0.3%, composite morbidity 5.8%, and surgical site infection (SSI) 1.8%. Hierarchical models revealed outlier hospitals with above or below expected performance for composite morbidity in the entire cohort, pediatric abdominal subgroup, and spine subgroup; SSI in the entire cohort and pediatric abdominal subgroup; and urinary tract infection in the entire cohort. Based on reliability estimates, mortality discriminates performance poorly due to very low event rate; however, reliable model construction for composite morbidity and SSI that differentiate institutions is feasible.

CONCLUSIONS:

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric expansion has yielded risk-adjusted models to differentiate hospital performance in composite and specific morbidities. However, mortality has low utility as a children’s surgery performance indicator. Programmatic improvements have resulted in actionable data.
Validating the Clinical Use of the Modified Huddart and Bodenham Scoring System for Outcome in Cleft Lip and/or Palate
Authors: Dobbyn Lorna , Gillgrass Toby , McIntyre Grant , Macfarlane Tatiana , Mossey Peter
Published: August 2013

Objective

The aim of this study was to validate the clinical use of the modified Huddart and Bodenham scoring system for the measurement of maxillary arch constriction in children born with cleft lip and/or palate.

Design

The study design consisted of a reliability assessment between clinical and study model scoring.

Setting

The study was carried out in cleft clinics at three hospital-based orthodontic units.

Participants

A total of 53 subjects were recruited when attending routine clinic appointments and gave informed consent to participate.

Intervention

The modified Huddart and Bodenham scoring system was applied to study models for 53 subjects by all examiners; whereas, one examiner scored 53 subjects clinically, the other two examiners scored 25 and 28 subjects, respectively, on two occasions at least 1 month apart.

Main Outcome Measure

Reliability of modified Huddart and Bodenham scoring clinically and on study models was compared.

Results

When scoring clinically with the modified Huddart and Bodenham index on two occasions, the intraexaminer and interexaminer intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) indicated a high level of repeatability and reliability (ICC range, 0.941 to 0.989). The Bland-Altman plots did not show any areas of systematic bias. The ICC between clinical and model scores for each examiner ranged between 0.923 and 0.959. The Bland-Altman plots did not show any areas of systematic bias. The ICC between clinical and model scores for each examiner ranged between 0.923 and 0.959. Canines had lower reliability than molars and incisors.

Conclusions

There was excellent intraexaminer and interexaminer agreement both on study models and in the intraoral scoring using the modified Huddart and Bodenham index. In addition, there was a high degree of correlation between study model and clinical scores using this index.
Aspirin-loaded P(3HO)/P(3HB) blend films: potential materials for biodegradable drug-eluting stents
Authors: Basnett Pooja , Ching Kuan Yong , Stolz Martin , Knowles Jonathan C. , Boccaccini Aldo R. , Smith Caroline , Locke Ian C. , Roy Ipsita
Published: August 2013

Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P(3HO)/P(3HB), blend films loaded with aspirin were prepared, and the influence of aspirin loading on the surface properties, mechanical, thermal and degradation properties were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the addition of aspirin introduced a new topography on the surface of the blend films. Aspirin contributed to the increase in the hydrophilic nature of the blend films compared with the unloaded blend films. This was complemented by a considerable increase in the total protein adsorption in the aspirin-loaded blend films. The percentage cell viability was higher in the aspirin-loaded blend films compared with the unloaded blend films. There was a decrease in the tensile strength and the Young’s modulus with the addition of the aspirin. However, the percentage elongation at break, a measure of elasticity, was higher in the aspirin-loaded films, indicating an increase in their flexibility compared with the unloaded blend films. There was a decrease in the melting temperature (Tm), glass transition temperature (Tg) and the crystallization temperature (Tc) due to the decrease in the crystallinity of the aspirin-loaded blend films in comparison with the unloaded blend films. Finally, controlled release of aspirin was observed without any burst release, and 96·6% release was achieved within 25 d, ideal for the development of biodegradable drug-eluting stents.
Briefing: Plan, predict and be proactive – Lostwithiel, UK floods case study
Authors: Andrew Robin Matthew , Knight Kerry Lisa
Published: August 2013

This article is based on the flood events in Cornwall, UK, in November and December 2012, and takes forward the arguments presented in a paper entitled ‘Building community resilience' published in November 2012. It uses a case study in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, to argue that if public agencies and local communities work and plan together, using all available data, then proactive steps can be taken to build resilience that assists in both the response and recovery stage of major incidents to minimise the direct impacts of floods and ensure that communities can return to normal as soon as possible after an event. This article also highlights some of the wider impacts that need to be considered when planning for emergencies
Assessing the performance of urban water networks across the EU Mediterranean area: The paradox of high NRW levels and absence of respective reduction measures
Authors: Kanakoudis V. , Tsitsifli S. , Samaras P. , Zouboulis A.
Published: August 2013

The aim of this paper is to assess the performance level of water distribution systems (WDS) in six areas located in four Mediterranean countries, and evaluate their common characteristics. The second modification of the IWA Standard International Water Balance was used to account for the fixed charge included in the customers' bills. Each WDS efficiency was annually assessed, although in particular cases, shorter time periods (6 and 4 months) were applied depending upon local conditions, data availability, etc. The main common characteristic found was that some data needed to perform water balance calculations were missing (e.g. regarding the level of unbilled authorized use, unauthorized use, and customer meter inaccuracies). Moreover, a fixed-charge billing policy was adopted by the local utilities in all six cases, underestimating the impact of the high non-revenue water (NRW) values. This policy results in misleading, low values of unrecoverable revenues, although water losses remain high. Thus, water utilities are not motivated to develop NRW reduction strategies. Nevertheless, the analysis revealed that real losses represent the main NRW component in all case studies, thus respective reduction strategies should focus on them. Wherever WDS monitoring, simulation and leakage reduction measures were established, lower NRW values occur.
Diagnosis of pipe systems by the SLE: first results
Authors: Massari Christian , Yeh Tian-Chyi J. , Ferrante Marco , Brunone Bruno , Meniconi Silvia
Published: August 2013

In this study, an algorithm is presented for pipe system diagnosis. The algorithm is the Successive Linear Estimator (SLE) previously used in groundwater hydrology to estimate the hydraulic proprieties of soils. The SLE is an iterative cokriging-like technique which provides statistically the best unbiased estimates and quantifies the associated uncertainty. In this paper the algorithm has been extended to the pipe system diagnosis to infer leak areas, status of valves and partial blockage location and extent. We first present the theoretical formulation of the algorithm and then test it by a numerical case study.
Development of a sealing material and robot for automatic socket rehabilitation of grey cast iron pipes in drinking water supply systems
Authors: Schoberleitner C. , Archodoulaki V.-M. , Koch T. , Lüftl S. , Mateos L. A. , Vincze M. , Werderitsch M. , Kuschnig G.
Published: August 2013

The project DeWaLoP, led by Vienna Water, aims to develop a robot that is able to apply a sealing system to repair the joint sockets of pressure operating water pipes measuring about 1 m in diameter. To do this, a modification of the sealing material for inner surface application will be developed and a complex robot system will be designed to perform various tasks, such as inspecting, cleaning and restoring. Seven commercial sealing materials with a broad spectrum of mechanical and physical properties were tested. For this purpose, a series of tests was carried out to measure tensile strength, bending and adhesion; in addition, dynamic mechanical analyses, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses were also conducted. A change in the mechanical and physical properties of these materials after water exposure could be observed. Furthermore, the surface preparation and remaining contaminants, e.g. rust, can affect the adhesion properties of the sealant. The plan is to develop a formulation of a matched material based on the results of these tests and the existing knowledge about the behaviour of sealing materials. The proposed in-pipe robot consists of three main subsystems: a control station, a mobile robot (similar to a vehicle) and a maintenance unit with a redevelopment system. An operator controls the movement of the cable-tethered robot system remotely from outside the construction side.