bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers to Initiation of Pediatric HIV Treatment in Uganda: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Boender T. Sonia , Sigaloff Kim C. E. , Kayiwa Joshua , Musiime Victor , Calis Job C. J. , Hamers Raph L. , Nakatudde Lillian Katumba , Khauda Elizabeth , Mukuye Andrew , Ditai James , Geelen Sibyl P. , Mugyenyi Peter , Rinke de Wit Tobias F. , Kityo Cissy
Published: February 2012

Although the advantages of early infant HIV diagnosis and treatment initiation are well established, children often present late to HIV programs in resource-limited settings. We aimed to assess factors related to the timing of treatment initiation among HIV-infected children attending three clinical sites in Uganda. Clinical and demographic determinants associated with early disease (WHO clinical stages 1-2) or late disease (stages 3-4) stage at presentation were assessed using multilevel logistic regression. Additionally, semistructured interviews with caregivers and health workers were conducted to qualitatively explore determinants of late disease stage at presentation. Of 306 children initiating first-line regimens, 72% presented late. Risk factors for late presentation were age below 2 years old (OR 2.83,P=0.014), living without parents (OR 3.93,P=0.002), unemployment of the caregiver (OR 4.26,P=0.001), lack of perinatal HIV prophylaxis (OR 5.66,P=0.028), and high transportation costs to the clinic (OR 2.51,P=0.072). Forty-nine interviews were conducted, confirming the identified risk factors and additionally pointing to inconsistent referral from perinatal care, caregivers’ unawareness of HIV symptoms, fear, and stigma as important barriers. The problem of late disease at presentation requires a multifactorial approach, addressing both health system and individual-level factors.
Bronchoscopy in Rural Areas?
Authors: Berntsen Reidar , Nielsen Erik Waage
Published: February 2012

Quality of bronchoscopy performed by one single pulmonologist in a scarcely populated subarctic area was compared to the guidelines provided by the British Thoracic Society (BTS). 103 patients underwent bronchoscopy. Diagnostic yield was increased to 76.6% when the first bronchoscopy was supplemented by bronchial washing fluid and brush cytology and to 86.7% (BTS guidelines >80%) after a second bronchoscopy. Median time from referral to bronchoscopy was 10 days and 8 days from positive bronchoscopy to operative referral to another hospital. 1% of patients that underwent transbronchial lung biopsy had minor complications. One pulmonologist had rate of correct diagnosis based on visible endobronchial tumors that was comparable to the rates of numerous pulmonologists at larger centers performing the same procedure. Time delay was short. Rate of complications was comparable. Bronchoscopy performed by one pulmonologist alone could, in organized settings, be carried out at local hospitals in areas of scattered settlement.
Mathematical Model of Hot Metal Desulfurization by Powder Injection
Authors: Cepeda Rodríguez Yolanda , González Múzquiz Guillermo , Parga Torres José Refugio , Eliezer Ramírez Vidaurri Luciano
Published: February 2012

Although there have been a numerous number of studies on mathematical model of hot metal desulfurization by deep injection of calcium carbide, the research field as a whole is not well integrated. This paper presents a model that takes into account the kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport processes to predict the sulfur levels in the hot metal throughout a blow. The model could be utilized to assess the influence of the treatment temperature, rate of injection, gas flow rate, and initial concentration of sulfur on the desulfurization kinetics. In the second part of this paper an analysis of the industrial data for injection of calcium carbide using this model is described. From a mathematical model that describes the characteristics of a system, it is possible to predict the behavior of the variables involved in the process, resulting in savings of time and money. Discretization is realized through the finite difference method combined with interpolation in the border domain by Taylor series.
Prediction of Microstructure Evolution in Hot Backward Extrusion of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy
Authors: Yeom Jong-Taek , Kim Jeoung Han , Hong Jae-Keun , Park Nho-Kwang , Lee Chong Soo
Published: February 2012

Microstructure evolution of Ti-6Al-4V alloy during hot backward extrusion process was simulated with the combined approaches of finite element method (FEM) and microstructure prediction model. From experimental analysis, it can be found that the change of microstructure during hot forming process of titanium alloy has a close relation to α/β phase transformation and grain growth behaviour. A microstructure prediction model was established by considering the change of volume fractions and grain size of both phases varying with process variables and then implemented into the user-defined subroutine of FEM analysis. In order to demonstrate the reliability of the model, the volume fraction and grain size of primary α phase during the hot backward extrusion process of Ti-6Al-4V alloy were simulated. The simulation results were compared with the experimental ones.
Comparison of Self- and Clinician’s Ratings of Personal and Social Performance in Patients with Schizophrenia: The Role of Insight
Authors: Schaub Daniela , Brüne Martin , Bierhoff Hans-Werner , Juckel Georg
Published: February 2012

Background: Patients with schizophrenia are often markedly impaired in their social functioning, partly independent of symptom severity. Few studies have examined patients’ self-reporting of their social functioning, how a patient’s self-perspective differs from third-party ratings, and whether or not the patients’ self-rating of social functioning is influenced by their awareness of illness. Sampling and Methods: Based on the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale as a clinician-administered scale, a PSP self-rating scale for patients was developed. The study included 42 inpatients with schizophrenia. Instruments were the PSP scale, the PSP self-rating scale, the Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale, and the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder. Results: A significant correlation was found between PSP self- and clinician’s rating for ‘socially useful activities’, whereas the other PSP subdimensions as well as the total score were not significantly correlated. For patients with high insight, a significantly positive association emerged with ‘disturbing and aggressive behaviour’, while there was no significant correlation between PSP self- and clinician’s ratings for the patients with poor insight into their disorder. Conclusions: Patients and clinicians only marginally converge on their judgments concerning the patients’ psychosocial functioning. Patients’ insight may have a moderating role on the approximation of agreement between self- and third-party ratings. Results are discussed in line with the present literature regarding the accuracy of self-awareness in schizophrenia.
The Influence of Social Cognition on Ego Disturbances in Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Schimansky Jenny , Rössler Wulf , Haker Helene
Published: February 2012

Background: Subjects experiencing ego disturbances can be classified as a distinct subgroup of schizophrenia patients. These symptoms imply a disturbance in the ego-world boundary, which in turn implies aberrations in the perception, processing and understanding of social information. This paper provides a comparison of a group of schizophrenia patients and a group of healthy controls on a range of social-cognitive tasks. Furthermore, it analyzes the relationship between ego disturbances and social-cognitive as well as clinical variables in the schizophrenia subsample. Methods: Two groups – 40 schizophrenia patients and 39 healthy subjects – were compared. In the source monitoring task, subjects performed simple computer mouse movements and evaluated the partially manipulated visual feedback as either self- or other-generated. In a second step, participants indicated the confidence of their decision on a 4-point rating scale. In an emotion-recognition task, subjects had to identify 6 basic emotions in the prosody of spoken sentences. In the ‘reading-the-mind-in-the-eyes’ test, subjects had to infer mental states from pictures that depicted others’ eyes. In an attribution task, subjects were presented with descriptions of social events and asked to attribute the cause of the event either to a person, an object or a situation. Additionally, all subjects were tested for cognitive functioning levels. Results: The schizophrenia patient group performed significantly worse on all social-cognitive tasks than the healthy control group. Correlation analysis showed that ego disturbances were related to deficits in person attribution and lower levels of confidence in the source monitoring task. Also, ego disturbances were related to higher PANSS positive scores and a higher number of hospitalizations. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that social-cognitive variables explained 48.0% of the variance in the ego-disturbance score and represented the best predictors for ego disturbances. One particular clinical variable, namely the number of hospitalizations, additionally explained 13.8% of the variance. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ego disturbances are related to deficits in the social-cognitive domain, and, to a lesser extent, to clinical variables such as the number of hospitalizations.
A Variational Method to Retrieve the Extinction Profile in Liquid Clouds Using Multiple-Field-of-View Lidar
Authors: Pounder Nicola L. , Hogan Robin J. , Várnai Tamás , Battaglia Alessandro , Cahalan Robert F.
Published: February 2012

Liquid clouds play a profound role in the global radiation budget, but it is difficult to retrieve their vertical profile remotely. Ordinary narrow-field-of-view (FOV) lidars receive a strong return from such clouds, but the information is limited to the first few optical depths. Wide-angle multiple-FOV lidars can isolate radiation that is scattered multiple times before returning to the instrument, often penetrating much deeper into the cloud than does the single-scattered signal. These returns potentially contain information on the vertical profile of the extinction coefficient but are challenging to interpret because of the lack of a fast radiative transfer model for simulating them. This paper describes a variational algorithm that incorporates a fast forward model that is based on the time-dependent two-stream approximation, and its adjoint. Application of the algorithm to simulated data from a hypothetical airborne three-FOV lidar with a maximum footprint width of 600 m suggests that this approach should be able to retrieve the extinction structure down to an optical depth of around 6 and a total optical depth up to at least 35, depending on the maximum lidar FOV. The convergence behavior of Gauss–Newton and quasi-Newton optimization schemes are compared. Results are then presented from an application of the algorithm to observations of stratocumulus by the eight-FOV airborne Cloud Thickness from Off-Beam Lidar Returns (THOR) lidar. It is demonstrated how the averaging kernel can be used to diagnose the effective vertical resolution of the retrieved profile and, therefore, the depth to which information on the vertical structure can be recovered. This work enables more rigorous exploitation of returns from spaceborne lidar and radar that are subject to multiple scattering than was previously possible.
Tropical Cyclone Lightning and Rapid Intensity Change
Authors: DeMaria Mark , DeMaria Robert T. , Knaff John A. , Molenar Debra
Published: February 2012

A large sample of Atlantic and eastern North Pacific tropical cyclone cases (2005–10) is used to investigate the relationships between lightning activity and intensity changes for storms over water. The lightning data are obtained from the ground-based World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN). The results generally confirm those from previous studies: the average lightning density (strikes per unit area and time) decreases with radius from the storm center; tropical storms tend to have more lightning than hurricanes; intensifying storms tend to have greater lightning density than weakening cyclones; and the lightning density for individual cyclones is very episodic. Results also show that Atlantic tropical cyclones tend to have greater lightning density than east Pacific storms. The largest lightning density values are associated with sheared cyclones that do not intensify very much. The results also show that when the lightning density is compared with intensity change in the subsequent 24 h, Atlantic cyclones that rapidly weaken have a larger inner-core (0–100 km) lightning density than those that rapidly intensify. Thus, large inner-core lightning outbreaks are sometimes a signal that an intensification period is coming to an end. Conversely, the lightning density in the rainband regions (200–300 km) is higher for those cyclones that rapidly intensified in the following 24 h in both the Atlantic and east Pacific. When lightning density parameters are used as input to a discriminant analysis technique, results show that lightning information has the potential to improve the short-term prediction of tropical cyclone rapid intensity changes.
Toward Improving High-Resolution Numerical Hurricane Forecasting: Influence of Model Horizontal Grid Resolution, Initialization, and Physics
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Sundararaman G. , Goldenberg Stanley , Quirino Thiago , Zhang Xuejin , Marks Frank , Yeh Kao-San , Atlas Robert , Tallapragada Vijay
Published: February 2012

This paper provides an account of the performance of an experimental version of the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting system (HWRFX) for 87 cases of Atlantic tropical cyclones during the 2005, 2007, and 2009 hurricane seasons. The HWRFX system was used to study the influence of model grid resolution, initial conditions, and physics. For each case, the model was run to produce 126 h of forecast with two versions of horizontal resolution, namely, (i) a parent domain at a resolution of about 27 km with a 9-km moving nest (27:9) and (ii) a parent domain at a resolution of 9 km with a 3-km moving nest (9:3). The former was selected to be consistent with the current operational resolution, while the latter is the first step in testing the impact of finer resolutions for future versions of the operational model. The two configurations were run with initial conditions for tropical cyclones obtained from the operational Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) and HWRF models. Sensitivity experiments were also conducted with the physical parameterization scheme. The study shows that the 9:3 HWRFX system using the GFDL initial conditions and a system of physics similar to the operational version (HWRF) provides the best results in terms of both track and intensity prediction. Use of the HWRF initial conditions in the HWRFX model provides reasonable skill, particularly when used in cases with initially strong storms (hurricane strength). However, initially weak storms (below hurricane strength) posed special challenges for the models. For the weaker storm cases, none of the predictions from the HWRFX runs or the operational GFDL forecasts provided any consistent improvement when compared to the operational Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme with an inland decay component (DSHIPS).
Verification of RUC 0–1-h Forecasts and SPC Mesoscale Analyses Using VORTEX2 Soundings
Authors: Coniglio Michael C.
Published: February 2012

This study uses radiosonde observations obtained during the second phase of the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) to verify base-state variables and severe-weather-related parameters calculated from Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) analyses and 1-h forecasts, as well as those calculated from the operational surface objective analysis system used at the Storm Prediction Center (the SFCOA). The rapid growth in temperature, humidity, and wind errors from 0 to 1 h seen at all levels in a past RUC verification study by Benjamin et al. is not seen in the present study. This could be because the verification observations are also assimilated into the RUC in the Benjamin et al. study, whereas the verification observations in the present study are not. In the upper troposphere, the present study shows large errors in relative humidity, mostly related to a large moist bias. The planetary boundary layer tends to be too shallow in the RUC analyses and 1-h forecasts. Wind speeds tend to be too fast in the lowest 1 km and too slow in the 2–4-km layer. RUC and SFCOA 1-h forecast errors for many important severe weather parameters are large relative to their potential impact on convective evolution. However, the SFCOA significantly improves upon the biases seen in most of the 1-h RUC forecasts for the base-state surface variables and most of the other severe-weather-related parameters, indicating that the SFCOA has a more significant impact in reducing the biases in the 1-h RUC forecasts than on the root-mean-squared errors.
Prediction of remission and recovery in young people presenting with first-episode psychosis in Hong Kong: A 3-year follow-up study
Authors: Chang Wing Chung , Tang Jennifer Y , Hui Christy L , Lam May M , Chan Sherry K , Wong Gloria H , Chiu Cindy P , Chen Eric Y
Published: February 2012

Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate the rates and predictors of symptomatic remission and recovery in patients presenting with first-episode psychosis 3 years after treatment initiation.

Methods: Seven hundred participants aged 15–25 years consecutively enrolled in a territory-wide early intervention programme in Hong Kong from July 2001 to August 2003 fulfilled study inclusion criteria, with 539 completing 3-year follow-up. Baseline and follow-up variables were collected via systematic medical file review. The operational criteria for recovery were based on clinical definition incorporating both symptom and functional dimensions.

Results: By the end of 3-year follow-up, 58.8% ( n = 317) and 17.4% ( n = 94) of participants met criteria for symptomatic remission and recovery, respectively. Around half (51.2%, n = 276) were not remitted either symptomatically or functionally in the last 12 months of follow-up. Of those who achieved sustained symptomatic remission, only 43.1% were also in functional remission. Patients in symptomatic remission had lower rate of admissions, shorter duration of hospitalisations and more favourable psychosocial functioning than non-remitted counterparts. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, older age of onset of psychosis, shorter duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and early symptom resolution predicted symptomatic remission at the end of follow-up. Higher educational attainment, superior baseline occupational status and shorter DUP were found to be predictive of recovery.

Conclusion: In a large representative cohort of Chinese young people presenting with first-episode psychosis, although more than half achieved symptomatic remission 3 years after service entry, the rates of functional remission and recovery were low. More intensive psychosocial interventions may be required to further improve patients’ functional outcome.
Visual memory in methamphetamine-dependent individuals: deficient strategic control of encoding and retrieval
Authors: Morgan Erin E , Woods Steven P , Poquette Amelia J , Vigil Ofilio , Heaton Robert K , Grant Igor ,   and the Translational Methamphetamine Research Center (TMARC) group
Published: February 2012

Objective: Chronic use of methamphetamine (MA) has moderate effects on neurocognitive functions associated with frontal systems, including the executive aspects of verbal episodic memory. Extending this literature, the current study examined the effects of MA on visual episodic memory with the hypothesis that a profile of deficient strategic encoding and retrieval processes would be revealed for visuospatial information (i.e., simple geometric designs), including possible differential effects on source versus item recall.

Method: The sample comprised 114 MA-dependent (MA+) and 110 demographically-matched MA-nondependent comparison participants (MA−) who completed the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test − Revised (BVMT-R), which was scored for standard learning and memory indices, as well as novel item (i.e., figure) and source (i.e., location) memory indices.

Results: Results revealed a profile of impaired immediate and delayed free recall ( p<0.05) in the context of preserved learning slope, retention, and recognition discriminability in the MA+ group. The MA+ group also performed more poorly than MA− participants on Item visual memory ( p<0.05) but not Source visual memory ( p>0.05), and no group by task-type interaction was observed ( p>0.05). Item visual memory demonstrated significant associations with executive dysfunction, deficits in working memory, and shorter length of abstinence from MA use ( p<0.05).

Conclusions: These visual memory findings are commensurate with studies reporting deficient strategic verbal encoding and retrieval in MA users that are posited to reflect the vulnerability of frontostriatal circuits to the neurotoxic effects of MA. Potential clinical implications of these visual memory deficits are discussed.
Social connectedness: A potential aetiological factor in the development of child post-traumatic stress disorder
Authors: McDermott Brett , Berry Helen , Cobham Vanessa
Published: February 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate a new social connectedness factor and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children who experienced a cyclone disaster.

Method: Three months post-disaster school-based screening for PTSD was conducted. 804 children (mean age=10.22 years, SD=1.24) participated. 12.0% of children reported severe or very severe PTSD symptoms.

Results: Low connected children, adjusted for age, gender and independent of cyclone exposure and threat perception, were 3.96 times more likely to experience severe to very severe PTSD. A structural model of child PTSD indicated that connectedness was the most important factor explaining variance in children’s symptomatology. The final model accounted for 60% of the variance of child PTSD scores.

Conclusions: We conclude that child connectedness is a new, significant, independent factor in a model of post-disaster child PTSD. Connectedness may represent a vulnerability factor that can be targeted preventatively in children in disaster-prone regions. Conversely, a pre-disaster intervention that helps children develop high connectedness may have the potential to confer resilience.
Do consistent corporate cultures have better business performance? Exploring the interaction effects
Authors: Kotrba Lindsey M , Gillespie Michael A , Schmidt Aaron M , Smerek Ryan E , Ritchie Samantha A , Denison Daniel R
Published: February 2012

Past research has shown a close connection between organizational culture and effectiveness, but nearly all of this research has examined the direct effects of culture on performance outcomes. In contrast, this article examines the idea that the effects of cultural consistency on organizational performance may differ depending on the levels of other culture traits. Data from 88,879 individuals in 137 public companies using the Denison Organizational Culture Survey were paired with three objective measures of organizational performance and used to examine the interaction effects of consistency with mission, adaptability, and involvement. Consistency shows a significant positive interaction with all three traits in predicting market-to-book ratios and sales growth. Firms that are both consistent and adaptable, for example, are high performers. In contrast, the results show a significant negative interaction when predicting return on assets. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to future culture and effectiveness research.
Nationalism, Myth and Reinterpretation of History: The Neglected Case of Interwar Yugoslavia
Authors: Djokić Dejan
Published: February 2012

This article discusses and challenges some popular myths and perceptions about interwar Yugoslavia in post-socialist (and post-Yugoslav) Serbia. These include discourses that blame ‘others’ – ‘treacherous’ Croats and other non-Serbs, the ‘perfidious’ west, especially Britain – and that are also self-critical, of Serbs’ ‘naivety’ as exemplified in their choosing to create Yugoslavia at the end of the First World War, and of, later, embracing communism. The article also offers a reassessment of the interwar period, often neglected by scholars of former Yugoslavia.
Role of information for rural development in Bangladesh: a sector-wise review
Authors: Hoq Kazi Mostak Gausul
Published: February 2012

Although it is generally agreed that information plays a critical role in development, no sure-success way of applying information for sustainable development has been worked out so far. This article gives an overview of the roles information could play in various socio-politico-economic sectors in the rural areas of Bangladesh. Against a backdrop of the enactment of a Right to Information Act and the government’s recent efforts towards establishing a Digital Bangladesh by the year 2021, the country has been witnessing a revival of information-focused activities in its rural and far-flung areas. Covering diverse areas including agriculture, health, human rights, education, employment, market and finance and disaster management, the article indicates how an informed and knowledge-empowered rural people could carry their way forward towards ensuring socio-economic advancement of the country and thereby recognizing the role of information for sustainable rural development.
Library associations
Authors: Dick Archie L
Published: February 2012

Can a federation of library associations improve LIS education and training in developing countries? How should national library associations engage their governments, and the library schools? The pros and cons are weighed briefly.
Telling the Story of Danisco’s Annual Reports (1935 Through 2007-2008) From a Communicative Perspective
Authors: Ditlevsen Marianne Grove
Published: February 2012

This article documents the evolution of the annual reports of the Danish company Danisco A/S from 1935 through 2007-2008. Compared to previous diachronic studies of annual reports, this study offers a finer grained description from a communicative perspective over a long period of time. Using genre theory as a framework, it analyzes the macrostructure and visual elements of these reports from a communicative standpoint paying equal attention to both of the genre’s subordinate communicative purposes: to give a true and fair view of the state of the company and to provide a positive image of the company. The findings indicate that the annual reports have four distinctive phases (1935 through 1958, 1959 through 1988, 1989-1990 through 2005-2006, and 2006-2007 through 2007-2008) that serve different communicative purposes. The study clearly shows that the annual report is primarily a statutory document and reveals that changes within organizations have a much greater and more immediate impact on changes in the annual reports than do other contextual factors.
Predator–prey interactions paradigm: a new tool for artificial intelligence
Authors: Legreneur Pierre , Laurin Michel , Bels Vincent
Published: February 2012

Predator–prey interactions are probably one of the key mechanisms for explaining the evolution of organisms in their ecosystems. Scientific fields relevant to understanding the mechanisms of these interactions are as diverse as evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, ecomorphology, molecular biology, phylogeny, neurosciences, physiology, biomechanics, and robotics. The difficulty in understanding these mechanisms lies therefore (1) in the multi- and interdisciplinary nature of this issue, and (2) in keeping up with very rapid developments in various scientific fields. This Special Issue provides an interdisciplinary approach to predator–prey interactions to identify how phenotypic traits of both types of organisms interact and how each can act as a selective pressure on the evolution of a population of organisms at the different levels of the trophic chain. Moreover, we show that confronting bodies of knowledge that a priori appear as remote as those of robotics and experimental biology or ecology may seem difficult but can provide reciprocal understanding.
Honor Killings in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Kulczycki Andrzej , Windle Sarah
Published: February 2012

A systematic review of the research literature on honor killings in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) indicates a paucity of studies relative to the presumed magnitude of the problem. Forty articles were reviewed and critically appraised, of which only 9 contained primary data and 11 presented original secondary analyses. Despite a recent increase in published studies, persistent methodological limitations restrict the generalizability of findings. Most studies focus on legal aspects, determinants, and characteristics of victims and perpetrators. Victims are mostly young females murdered by their male kin. Unambiguous evidence of a decline in tolerance of honor killings remains elusive.
Risk stratification for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients treated with natalizumab
Authors: Sørensen Per Soelberg , Bertolotto Antonio , Edan Gilles , Giovannoni Gavin , Gold Ralf , Havrdova Eva , Kappos Ludwig , Kieseier Bernd C , Montalban Xavier , Olsson Tomas
Published: February 2012

Natalizumab is a highly effective immunomodulator in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Treatment with natalizumab has been associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), an infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by a pathogenic form of the normally benign JC virus (JCV). We searched PubMed and used current data from the natalizumab global safety database to assess risk factors and quantify the risk of PML. Natalizumab treatment duration and prior use of immunosuppressive therapies are established risk factors for development of PML in natalizumab-treated patients. With the development of a reliable and validated assay for detection of antibodies in patients with MS directed against JCV, it is now possible to identify persons who are carriers of JCV. The availability of this assay provides an additional option for risk stratification of PML in patients using or considering natalizumab therapy. Recommendations for clinical management of patients with MS and use of natalizumab are provided based on the presence of these three risk factors. The identification of risk factors that increase the likelihood of PML in natalizumab-treated patients can facilitate benefit–risk discussions between health care professionals and patients. Continued research and data collection will further develop our understanding of PML and the mechanisms by which these risk factors contribute to its development.
Sell-off or shut-down? Alliance portfolio diversity and two types of high tech firms’ exit
Authors: Bruyaka Olga , Durand Rodolphe
Published: February 2012

Alliance portfolio diversity (APD) – defined as differences between firms’ types of alliance partners (i.e. horizontal, upstream, and downstream) – is a strategic determinant of firm survival. This article analyzes APD in the context of high tech firms who rely on various partners to access complementary resources and secure their business survival, and argues that APD has different impacts on two main types of exit – sell-off and shut-down – which have been combined in previous research. Findings from a comprehensive study of French biotech firms from 1994 to 2002 show that the relationship between APD and shut-down is positive and linear whereas that between APD and sell-off is an inverted U-shaped. The article also finds evidence that the association between APD and firm exit mode is contingent on a firm’s resources and capabilities. The implications for research and managerial practice are discussed.
Understanding and Preventing Dysfunctional Behavior in Organizations
Authors: MacKenzie Clíodhna , Garavan Thomas N. , Carbery Ronan
Published: February 2012

We review the literature on dysfunctional behavior in organizations and illuminate the potential contribution of human resource development (HRD) to manage such behavior and contribute to strong governance and compliance. The impetus for this article comes from evidence of dysfunctional behavior in banking and financial organizations in many countries in recent times. We define dysfunctional behavior at individual, organizational, and institutional levels of analysis and propose a model of HRD to address dysfunctional behavior at these levels. HRD potentially plays four key roles in the context of managing and/or preventing dysfunctional behavior: development of employee awareness and skills; effective governance of HRD practices, structures, and delivery mechanisms; development of an ethical governance culture and climate and a more far-reaching role than that of organizational governance and agency mediation that minimizes the possibility of dysfunctional organizational behavior. We conclude with a discussion of HRD research and practice implications.
Midterm Results Following Endovascular Repair of Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injuries
Authors: Lioupis Christos , MacKenzie Kent S. , Corriveau Marc-Michel , Obrand Daniel I. , Abraham Cherrie Z. , Steinmetz Oren K.
Published: February 2012

Objective: Previous studies have focused on early outcomes of thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) of blunt thoracic aortic injuries (BTAIs). Late results remain ill-defined. The purpose of this study is to review the midterm results of our experience with endovascular repair of BTAIs. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed reviewing all endovascular repairs of BTAIs from 2002 to present. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative variables were recorded. Clinical end points included aortic-related mortality, stroke and paraplegia, hospital length of stay, procedure-related complications, endoleaks, and reinterventions. Computed tomography data sets were postprocessed for assessing integrity of stent grafts and late complications. Results: A total of 24 cases of BTAIs treated with TEVAR were identified. Thoracic endovascular repair was successful in treating BTAIs in all patients and there were no instances of procedure-related death, stroke, or paraplegia. One access complication occurred, requiring an iliofemoral bypass. Actuarial survival estimates and freedom from reintervention at 5 years were 88.7% and 95.8%, respectively. No late endoleaks, stent fractures, or device migration were identified. One patient required a secondary intervention 1 year following the initial repair to treat a pseudocoarctation syndrome caused by a diaphragm at the distal half of the stented aorta. This was treated successfully with repeated endografting. Conclusions: Thoracic endovascular repair for BTAIs can be performed safely with low periprocedural mortality and morbidity. Midterm follow-up data presented in this report further support the therapeutic role of endoluminal approach for treating BTAIs in anatomically suitable patients.
A New Off-Pump Hybrid Open and Endovascular Repair to Treat Ductus Botalli and Ascendens Aneurysms
Authors: Pecoraro Felice , Pfammatter Thomas , Lachat Mario , Mayer Dieter , Veith Frank , Rancic Zoran
Published: February 2012

To report a combined ascending aorta and aortic arch hybrid repair, we performed off-pump with no aortic graft replacement. A 65-year-old man, developing progressive recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, underwent a computed tomography (CT) angiography detecting nonpatent residual ductus Botalli aneurysm and ascending aorta aneurysm. Due to severe multimorbidities, a less-invasive alternative was elaborated. In a first step, appropriate proximal landing zone for aortic stent grafting was achieved by ascending aorta diameter reduction, with epiaortic wrapping, and debranching the supra-aortic trunks. In the second step, endovascular stent grafts were deployed from proximal ascending aorta to descending aorta, excluding the ductus Botalli aneurysm. Six-month follow-up CT shows ductus Botalli aneurysm exclusion, stable stent graft position, and ascending diameter and patent and stenosis-free supra-aortic grafts. This case supports this alternative treatment to open aortic repair under circulatory arrest and deep hypothermia, especially in those patients considered unfit for such invasive treatment.
Use of an Amplatzer Vascular Plug II for Aortic Sac Occlusion After Failed Surgical Ligation
Authors: Tam Matthew D. B. S. , Morrow Darren , Crawford Michael B.
Published: February 2012

Purpose: To present a case of aortic sac occlusion using an Amplatzer vascular plug II (AVP). Case report: A patient with sigmoid malignancy and an infrarenal aortic aneurysm ultimately required an axillobifemoral graft for acute limb ischemia. The sac was ligated at subsequent laparotomy. Persistent filling of the sac was seen post surgery, and the sac was successfully occluded with placement of an AVP in the neck of the sac in conjunction with coil embolization of lumbar arteries. Sac occlusion was confirmed at follow-up CT. Conclusion: The AVP was successfully used to occlude an aortic sac after failed surgical ligation, another novel indication for this versatile embolic device.
Varying Presentations in Patients With Symptomatic Type IV Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Authors: Dwivedi Amit J. , Hamdallah Omar , Morris Marvin E. , Yancey Andrea E. , Ross Charles B.
Published: February 2012

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) represents a group of inheritable connective tissue disorders. Patients with type IV or vascular EDS, autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, may present with aneurysm formation or arterial dissection. Due to vessel fragility, operative therapy for such disorders has been reserved for compelling indications in which benefit clearly warrants risk, yet assessment of risk is largely clinical with operative decisions guided by factors such as response to previous operations and age at onset of index vascular complications. We present 2 patients with differences in their clinical presentations and outcomes and review the literature with emphasis on operative decision making.
Dispersion and the dissipative characteristics of surface waves in the generalized S-transform domain
Authors: Askari Roohollah , Ferguson Robert J.
Published: February 2012

Wavenumber, group velocity, phase velocity, and frequency-dependent attenuation characterize the propagation of surface waves in dispersive, attenuating media. We use a mathematical model based on the generalized [Formula: see text] transform to simultaneously estimate these characteristic parameters for later use in joint inversion for near-surface shear wave velocity. We use a scaling factor in the generalized S transform to enable the application of the method in a highly dispersive medium. We introduce a cost function in the [Formula: see text]-domain to estimate an optimum value for the scaling factor. We also use the cost function to generalize the application of the method for noisy data, especially data with a low signal-to-noise ratio at low frequencies. In that case, the estimated wavenumber is perturbed. As a solution, we estimate wavenumber perturbation by minimizing the cost function, using Simulated Annealing. We use synthetic and real data to show the efficiency of the method for the estimation of the propagation parameters of highly dispersive and noisy media.
Stable Axial Chirality in Metal Complexes Bearing 4,4′-Substituted BIPHEPs: Application to Catalytic Asymmetric Carbon–Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions
Authors: Aikawa Kohsuke , Miyazaki Yoshitaka , Mikami Koichi
Published: February 2012

Not only electronic but also steric effects of 4,4′-substituents in BIPHEP derivatives and metal (Pd, Pt, and Au) complexes are shown to influence the stability of the biphenyl single bond rotation. While electron-donating or sterically demanding substituents on the 4,4′-positions destabilize the axial chirality of BIPHEP derivatives, electron-withdrawing or sterically less demanding ones on the 4,4′-positions stabilize the axis chirality. Particularly, the axial chirality of palladium dichloride complexes bearing BIPHEP with t-Bu and CF3 substituents on the 4,4′-positions is most labile and stable, respectively (ΔG≠ = 29.22 and 30.49 kcal mol−1 at 300 K; t1/2 = 7 and 56 years at 300 K). These enantiopure dicationic BIPHEP–Pd complexes can be employed for catalytic enantioselective arylation, alkenylation, and ene reactions to give the corresponding products in good-to-excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Significantly, in the carbonyl-ene reaction of trifluoropyruvate with isobutene, the turnover frequency (TOF) reached 58200 h−1. The remarkable effects of 4,4′-substituents in BIPHEP derivatives can be employed as a guiding principle in the design of versatile and efficient ligands.
Viilaita Scale: Goals and Limitations
Authors: Strijkers R H W , Wittens C H A , Kahn S R
Published: February 2012

The post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a common, debilitating complication following deep venous thrombosis. PTS is a syndrome for which it has been difficult to provide a clear definition. PTS was defined as chronic venous signs/symptoms after a deep venous thrombosis. A number of scales are available to diagnose PTS, but there is a strong need for standardization. The Villalta scale was chosen as the standardized PTS scale. The Villalta scale has been validated in several studies and shows good correlation with generic and disease-specific quality of life scales. The inter-observer rate between study nurses and physicians was shown to be very good. Furthermore, the scale shows good discriminative properties among the different severity groups of PTS. The Villalta scale is useful for use in randomized controlled trials and it allows pooling of data from different studies. The Villalta scale should undergo further validation on intra-rater reliability. Ongoing randomized controlled trials will further validate the Villalta scale for use in PTS.
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Can be Treated Operatively with Good Long-term Results
Authors: Monedero J Leal , Ezpeleta S Zubicoa , Petrin M
Published: February 2012

Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is frequent and underestimated as both symptoms and signs are not specific. Furthermore, patients consult general practitioners as well as specialist gynaecologists, urologists, vascular surgeons and phlebologists who are frequently unaware of this condition. Investigation protocol must first eliminate other diseases with similar clinical disorders and then identify which veins are responsible for PCS related to compression or reflux. Selective venography is the more informative investigation but transvaginal ultrasound examination is a valuable screening test. Outcome analyses after endovenous treatment have been reported in several articles, but no randomized controlled trial is available for comparing various operative treatments knowing that most of them were undertaken after failure of medical treatment. In our experience, about two-thirds of patients were symptom-free after vein compression, stenting, or embolization at middle-term assessment.
Incidence and Risk Factors of the Post-thrombotic Syndrome
Authors: De Wolf M A F , Wittens C H A , Kahn S R
Published: February 2012

Annually 1–2 in every 1000 adults will develop a deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity. A third to half of these patients will develop the post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). However, predicting which patients will develop the PTS remains elusive. Ipsilateral thrombosis recurrence seems to be the most important risk factor. Moreover, residual venous occlusion and valvular reflux seem to predict PTS incidence to some degree. Laboratory parameters, including D-dimers and inflammatory markers, have shown promise in predicting development of the PTS in patients and are currently under investigation. Creating a model based on all combined risk factors and patient characteristics might aid in risk stratification in individual patients.
How Does the Pathophysiology Influence the Treatment of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome and is the Result Long-lasting?
Authors: Greiner M , Dadon M , Lemasle P , Cluzel P
Published: February 2012

The objectives of this study are to consider the influence of pathophysiology in the treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) and to determine the criteria which impact on the long-term results. A classification of venous pathology including three types of pathophysiological conditions, independent of the location of the pelvic venous pathology, is developed and illustrated. These types, diagnosed by cross-sectional imaging and confirmed by phlebography, are associated with a specific therapeutic plan. The long-term results are dependent on the quality of the initial Phlebographic mapping that must be selective and complete, the angiographic findings, in particular the study of collaterals feeding the venous anomalies, the treatment of all venous anomalies, the respect of contraindications, the use of appropriate materials and the occurrence of new pregnancies. In conclusion, the feasibility and satisfactory short-term results of endovascular treatment of PCS are admitted. Questions remain regarding the effectiveness of the different embolic agents and the long-term results of this treatment.
The Future of Deep Venous Thrombosis and Post-thrombotic Syndrome in 2020
Authors: Comerota A J
Published: February 2012

This manuscript addresses six major issues involving deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and post-thrombotic syndrome. Prevention will likely see modest advances in pharmacological therapy mainly by extending prophylaxis in high-risk patients. More notable advances will be observed in mechanical means of prophylaxis, focusing on sustained application of devices that can move larger volumes of blood. Silent, large-vein thrombi continue to place patients at risk for fatal pulmonary embolism. Improved imaging techniques will permit us to identify these patients over the next eight years. In many of those patients, vena caval interruption will be required. Elimination of high-risk filters and the production of improved filters placed through low-profile systems with antithrombotic agents bound to their surface will improve the short- and long-term results for inferior vena cava filters. The long-term management of DVT will focus on establishing appropriate duration for the individual patient and will see the evolution towards direct Xa and Ha inhibitors. Patients with extensive DVT will more commonly receive treatment strategies designed to eliminate thrombus and restore patency. This will substantially reduce post-thrombotic morbidity and reduce recurrence. Post-thrombotic syndrome will see greater attention towards treating the intraluminal fibrosis, thereby eliminating post-thrombotic venous obstruction. Unfortunately, neovalves will still be searching for the appropriate application.
Evolution in Quality of Life and Epidemiological Impact after Endovascular Treatment of Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Beelen R , Maene L , Castenmiller P , Decoene V , Degrieck I
Published: February 2012

Background:

We report the outcome of 67 patients after endovascular treatment of chronic Cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Material and methods:

For evaluating outcome, patients were divided into three groups with respective outcome after three, six and twelve months. Assessment of outcome was done by a disease-specific quality-of-life score that reflects the physical health (physical health composite, PHC) and mental health (mental health composite, MHC) by a score.

Results

Improvement in PHC was significant (P < 0.05) in the three- and six-month groups. Improvement in MHC was only significant (P < 0.05) in the three-month group.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, we can state that the result of endovascular treatment seems to decay although the baseline is still higher than preoperative. To confirm this finding, this study needs to be reproduced in a larger patient population.