bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Dynamics of Bone Mineral Density During Intermittent Androgen Deprivation for Men With Nonmetastatic, Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer
Authors: Yu Evan Y. , Kuo Kevin F. , Gulati Roman , Chen Shu , Gambol Teresa E. , Hall Suzanne P. , Jiang Peter Y. , Pitzel Peggy , Higano Celestia S.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

To investigate changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in men who received intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) for nonmetastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

Patients and Methods

Men with prostate cancer who lacked radiographically detectable metastases were treated in a prospective trial of IAD. After 9 months of treatment with leuprolide and flutamide, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was stopped until prostate-specific antigen reached a threshold (1 ng/mL for radical prostatectomy; 4 ng/mL for radiation or primary ADT) for a new cycle. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were performed before starting ADT and subsequently with each change in therapy. At least two consecutive DXA scans were required for this analysis. Computed tomography, bone scintigraphy, and lumbar spine x-rays were performed at the beginning and end of each treatment period.

Results

Fifty-six of 100 patients met criteria for this analysis. The median age at study entry was 64.5 years (range, 49.8 to 80.9 years). The average percentage change in BMD during the first on-treatment period was −3.4% (P < .001) for the spine and −1.2% (P = .001) for the left hip. During the first off-treatment period (median, 37.4 weeks; range, 13.4 weeks to 8.7+ years), BMD recovery at the spine was significant, with an average percentage change of +1.4% (P = .002). Subsequent periods had heterogeneous changes of BMD without significant average changes. After a median of 5.5 years (range, 1.1 to 13.8+) years on trial, one patient (1.8%) had a compression fracture associated with trauma.

Conclusion

Patients experienced the greatest average change in BMD during early treatment periods of IAD with a smaller average change thereafter. Fractures were rare.
Neoadjuvant Treatment Response As an Early Response Indicator for Patients With Rectal Cancer
Authors: Park In Ja , You Y. Nancy , Agarwal Atin , Skibber John M. , Rodriguez-Bigas Miguel A. , Eng Cathy , Feig Barry W. , Das Prajnan , Krishnan Sunil , Crane Christopher H. , Hu Chung-Yuan , Chang George J.
Published: April 2012

Purpose

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer is associated with improved local control and may result in complete tumor response. Associations between tumor response and disease control following radical resection should be established before tumor response is used to evaluate treatment strategies. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare oncologic outcomes associated with the degree of pathologic response after chemoradiotherapy.

Patients and Methods

All patients with locally advanced (cT3-4 or cN+ by endorectal ultrasonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging) rectal carcinoma diagnosed from 1993 to 2008 at our institution and treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy and radical resection were identified, and their records were retrospectively reviewed. The median radiation dose was 50.4 Gy with concurrent chemotherapy. Recurrence-free survival (RFS), distant metastasis (DM), and local recurrence (LR) rates were compared among patients with complete (ypT0N0), intermediate (ypT1-2N0), or poor (ypT3-4 or N+) response by using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

In all, 725 patients were classified by tumor response: complete (131; 18.1%), intermediate (210; 29.0%), and poor (384; 53.0%). Age, sex, cN stage, and tumor location were not related to tumor response. Tumor response (complete v intermediate v poor) was associated with 5-year RFS (90.5% v 78.7% v 58.5%; P < .001), 5-year DM rates (7.0% v 10.1% v 26.5%; P < .001), and 5-year LR only rates (0% v 1.4% v 4.4%; P = .002).

Conclusion

Treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy among patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing radical resection is an early surrogate marker and correlate to oncologic outcomes. These data provide guidance with response-stratified oncologic benchmarks for comparisons of novel treatment strategies.
Preferential Crystallization of Lanthanoid Tris(β-diketonates) with Bridged Bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine Ligands toward Separation Application
Authors: Yano Masafumi , Takemoto Hidehiro , Tatsumi Masakazu , Miyake Hiroyuki , Tsukube Hiroshi
Published: April 2012

A combination of two bridged bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-type ligands offered efficient separation of lanthanoid tris(β-diketonates) complexes. The employed ligands bridged two lanthanoid tris(β-diketonates) to form crystalline ternary complexes. Since the complexes containing larger lanthanoid centers were preferentially precipitated, the bridging ligands selectively recognized the lanthanoid tris(β-diketonates) in the crystallization process, and offered an efficient separation method.
Redox Properties of Fe-Promoted Cu/Al2O3 Catalysts Active for Water–Gas-Shift Reaction
Authors: Sagata Kunimasa , Yahiro Hidenori
Published: April 2012

FeOx-promoted Cu/Al2O3 catalysts active for low-temperature water–gas-shift (LT-WGS) reaction, reported previously (H. Yahiro, K. Sagata, T. Yamamoto, K. Saiki, M. Asamoto, H. Yamaura, Catal. Lett.2008, 124, 233.), were characterized by TPR, TPO, XRD, and XPS measurements. These techniques proved that Fe2O3 was partially reduced by H2 to Fe3O4 at 573 K in the presence of Cu0 and that the obtained Fe3O4 was reoxidized by O2 at the same temperature. The pronounced effect of Fe addition to Cu/Al2O3 on the catalytic activity for WGS reaction was observed at 523–623 K. It is concluded that partially reduced Fe2O3, probably Fe3O4, acts as an active site for LT-WGS reaction in the addition to Cu0, resulting in the improvement of the catalytic activity at 523–623 K.
What Linear Estimators Miss: The Effects of Family Income on Child Outcomes
Authors: Løken Katrine V , Mogstad Magne , Wiswall Matthew
Published: April 2012

We assess the implications of nonlinearity for IV and FE estimation when the estimated model is inappropriately assumed to be linear. Our application is the causal link between family income and child outcomes. Our nonlinear IV and FE estimates show an increasing, concave relationship between family income and children's outcomes. We find that the linear estimators miss the significant effects of family income because they assign little weight to the large marginal effects in the lower part of the income distribution. We also show that the linear IV and FE estimates differ primarily because of different weighting of marginal effects. (JEL C26, D14, J12, J13)
Risk Pooling, Risk Preferences, and Social Networks
Authors: Attanasio Orazio , Barr Abigail , Cardenas Juan Camilo , Genicot Garance , Meghir Costas
Published: April 2012

Using data from an experiment conducted in 70 Colombian communities, we investigate who pools risk with whom when trust is crucial for enforcing risk pooling arrangements. We explore the roles played by risk attitudes and social networks. Both empirically and theoretically, we find that close friends and relatives group assortatively on risk attitudes and are more likely to join the same risk pooling group, while unfamiliar participants group less and rarely assort. These findings indicate that where there are advantages to grouping assortatively on risk attitudes those advantages may be inaccessible when trust is absent or low. (JEL C93, O12, O18, Z13)
Indirect Effects of a Policy Altering Criminal Behavior: Evidence from the Italian Prison Experiment
Authors: Drago Francesco , Galbiati Roberto
Published: April 2012

We exploit the 2006 Italian prison pardon to evaluate peer effects in criminal behavior. The pardon randomly commutes actual sentences to expected sentences for 40 percent of the Italian prison population. Using prison and geographical origin to construct reference groups for former inmates, we find large indirect effects of this policy. In particular, we find that the reduction in the individuals' recidivism due to an increase in their peers' residual sentence is at least as large as their response to an increase in their own residual sentence. From this result we estimate a social multiplier in crime of two. (JEL D12, K42, Z13)
Cash Transfers, Behavioral Changes, and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment
Authors: Macours Karen , Schady Norbert , Vakis Renos
Published: April 2012

Cash transfer programs have become extremely popular in the developing world. A large literature analyzes their effects on schooling, health and nutrition, but relatively little is known about possible impacts on child development. This paper analyzes the impact of a cash transfer program on early childhood cognitive development. Children in households randomly assigned to receive benefits had significantly higher levels of development nine months after the program began. There is no fade-out of program effects two years after the program ended. Additional random variation shows that these impacts are unlikely to result from the cash component of the program alone. (JEL H23, I15, J13, O15)
Castes and Labor Mobility
Authors: Hnatkovska Viktoria , Lahiri Amartya , Paul Sourabh
Published: April 2012

We examine the relative fortunes of the historically disadvantaged scheduled castes and tribes (SC/ST) in India in terms of their education attainment, occupation choices, consumption and wages. We study the period 1983–2005 using household survey data from successive rounds of the National Sample Survey. We find that this period has been characterized by a significant convergence of education, occupation distribution, wages and consumption levels of SC/STs toward non-SC/ST levels. Using various decomposition approaches we find that the improvements in education account for a major part of the wage and consumption convergence. (JEL I24, O15, O17, Z13)
Reexamining the Impact of Family Planning Programs on US Fertility: Evidence from the War on Poverty and the Early Years of Title X
Authors: Bailey Martha J
Published: April 2012

Almost 50 years after domestic US family planning programs began, their effects on childbearing remain controversial. Using the county-level roll-out of these programs from 1964 to 1973, this paper reevaluates their shorter and longer term effects on US fertility rates. I find that the introduction of family planning is associated with significant and persistent reductions in fertility driven both by falling completed childbearing and childbearing delay. Although federally funded family planning accounted for a small portion of the post-baby boom US fertility decline, my estimates imply that they reduced childbearing among poor women by 19 to 30 percent. (JEL I38, J12, J13, J18)
Breast leukemia: an update
Authors: Surov Alexey , Wienke Andreas , Abbas Jasmin
Published: April 2012

Background

Breast leukemia is extremely rare. The published data on this manifestation include predominantly case reports and do not provide any statistical information.

Purpose

To identify clinical signs and radiological features of breast leukemia.

Material and Methods

PubMed and Medline databases between 1980 and 2010 were screened using ‘breast leukemia’ and ‘leukemia of the breast’ as keywords. Secondary references were also reviewed. By this search, a total of 139 patients were identified from the literature.

Results

In most patients ( n = 85, 61.2%) acute myeloid leukemia was diagnosed. Acute lymphatic leukemia occurred in 35 patients (25.2%). Isolated BL before bone marrow infiltration was seen in 24 patients (17.3%). Involvement of the breast during the course of leukemia was diagnosed in 25 cases (18%). Intramammary leukemic relapse after therapy/stem cell transplantation occurred in 59 patients (42.4%). In 71 cases (51.1%) the lesions were solitary and in 57 (41%) multiple. The number of lesions was not reported in 11 patients (7.9%). There was no significant difference between the number of lesions in ML and LL. Clinically, 73% of the patients presented with palpable breast masses. Most of them were painless. Mammography was performed in 39 patients, allowing the identification of the following three mammographic patterns: breast masses (28 patients, 72%), architectural distortion (5 patients, 13%), no abnormalities (6 patients, 15%). On ultrasound, most identified masses were homogeneously hypoechoic with microlobulated or indistinct margins. On MRI, on T2-weighted images breast lesions were hyperintense. After venous administration of contrast medium, BL showed marked inhomogeneous contrast enhancement. Treatment of BL is the same as for other localizations and is based on chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Conclusion

In the present study the clinical and radiological features of BL are described. They are non-specific. However, BL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of breast disorders, especially in patients with leukemia.
Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy by Calibrated Short-Amplicon Melt Profiling
Authors: Dobrowolski Steven F , Pham Ha T , Pouch Downes Frances , Prior Thomas W , Naylor Edwin W , Swoboda Kathy J
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND

The management options for the autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are evolving; however, their efficacy may require presymptom diagnosis and continuous treatment. To identify presymptomatic SMA patients, we created a DNA-based newborn screening assay to identify the homozygous deletions of the SMN1 (survival of motor neuron 1, telomeric) gene observed in 95%–98% of affected patients.

METHODS

We developed primers that amplify a 52-bp PCR product from homologous regions in the SMN1 and SMN2 (survival of motor neuron 2, centromeric) genes that flank a divergent site at site c.840. Post-PCR high-resolution melt profiling assessed the amplification product, and we used a unique means of melt calibration to normalize profiles. Samples that we had previously characterized for the numbers of SMN1 and SMN2 copies established genotypes associated with particular profiles. The system was evaluated with approximately 1000 purified DNA samples, 100 self-created dried blood spots, and >1200 dried blood spots from newborn screening tests.

RESULTS

Homozygous deletion of SMN1 exon 7 produced a distinctive melt profile that identified SMA patients. Samples with different numbers of SMN1 and SMN2 copies were resolved by their profiles. All samples with homozygous deletions were unambiguously recognized, and no normal sample was misidentified as a positive.

CONCLUSIONS

This assay has characteristics suitable for population-based screening. A reliable screening test will facilitate the identification of an SMA-affected cohort to receive early intervention to maximize the benefit from treatment. A prospective screening trial will allow the efficacy of treatment options to be assessed, which may justify the inclusion of SMA as a target for population screening.
Marketing Strategies for Foreign Expansion of Companies Originating in Small and Open Economies: The Consequences of Strategic Fit and Performance
Authors: Gabrielsson Peter , Gabrielsson Mika , Seppälä Tomi
Published: April 2012

This study examines the marketing strategies of companies originating in small and open economies as they expand into foreign markets. It distinguishes two major globalization paths (that of born globals and that of globalizing internationals), contrasts them with traditional internationalizers, and describes their characteristics. It then outlines a framework and hypotheses regarding the marketing strategies used in foreign expansion and examines them empirically in the information and communication technology field. The authors examine two important strategic marketing issues: the breadth of product offering and the standardization of marketing strategies across countries. The empirical results show that foreign expansion path, foreign business experience, and external globalization pressure have an impact on the selection of marketing strategies. The study also finds that the fit between these contextual factors and the standardization of marketing strategy has a positive effect on performance. The novel results regarding the importance of foreign expansion paths in the selection of marketing strategies have important implications for both academicians and practitioners in the field of international marketing.
Transaction Cost Economics in International Marketing: A Review and Suggestions for the Future
Authors: Seggie Steven H.
Published: April 2012

Transaction cost economics (TCE) has received much attention in the international marketing literature over the past 25 years. Many key issues in international marketing have been examined through the lens of TCE, including entry mode choice, the governance of international distribution channels, propensity to franchise, international pricing control, and the governance of international buyer–supplier relationships. The author presents a review and analysis of 43 empirical TCE international marketing studies from 1987 to the present day. The results from this review and analysis indicate that the extant international marketing TCE studies demonstrate some support for the TCE propositions. In addition to these findings, the author also notes some key measurement issues, issues involving the dominance of U.S.-based studies, and some data equivalence issues. He builds on the results of the analysis to lay out important future research directions in the TCE international marketing domain.
Setting the Theoretical Foundations of Importing Research: Past Evaluation and Future Perspectives
Authors: Aykol Bilge , Leonidou Leonidas C. , Zeriti Athina
Published: April 2012

Although prior efforts have been made to review research on importing, an updated, integrated, and chronological assessment of its theoretical evolution is lacking. This study critically investigates the theoretical foundations of importing research using a comprehensive review of 321 importing-related articles published during the 1960–2010 period. The analysis reveals that, although in general this research adopts a certain theoretical perspective, a notable part of it is not theoretically anchored. Of those studies that rely on theories, the most commonly used are the neoclassical micro-economic model, the behavioral model, and transaction cost economics. These theories were mainly associated with international buying behavior, importer–exporter relationships, and strategic aspects of importing. The study also identifies a range of other important topics that could be investigated using extant theories. In addition, the authors propose several other theories not previously employed, such as the institutional, stakeholder, and resource dependence theories, to be used in the study of new research issues. Finally, the authors suggest several actions toward theory advancement, including the need to integrate multiple theoretical paradigms, adjust theory to different environments, combine quantitative and qualitative inputs, cross-fertilize ideas from various disciplines, and periodically assess developments in the importing literature.
New separation method of no-carrier-added 47Sc from titanium targets
Authors: Bartoś Barbara , Majkowska Agnieszka , Krajewski S. , Bilewicz Aleksander
Published: April 2012

Radionuclides with medium energy beta emission and a several day half-life are attractive candidates for radioimmunotherapy. Among the most promising in this category is 47Sc produced by fast neutron irradiation (E
n>1 MeV) of titanium target with high energy neutrons in 47Ti(n,p) 47Sc nuclear reaction. In the previously reported production scheme the dissolution of the TiO2 target in hot concentrated H2SO4 and evaporation of the resulting solution were the most time-consuming steps. The present paper describes new, simple and efficient production method of 47Sc, where the slow dissolution of the target is avoided. After irradiation in fast neutron flux 47TiO2 and Li2
47TiF6 targets were dissolved in HF solutions. Next 47Sc was separated from the target using anion exchange resin Dowex 1 with 0.4 M HF + 0.06 M HNO3 solution as eluent. The eluted 47Sc was adsorbed on cation exchange resin and eluted with 0.5 M of ammonium acetate. The 47Sc separation yield in the proposed procedure is about 90% with the separation time less than 2 h. The obtained no-carrier-added 47Sc was used to label DOTATATE conjugate with 96% labeling yield.
Kinetics of hydrogen peroxide consumption in aqueous phase at different hydrogen partial pressures
Authors: Giménez Javier , Casas Ignasi , Sureda Rosa , de Pablo Joan
Published: April 2012

The reaction between aqueous hydrogen peroxide solutions and hydrogen has been studied at room temperature and in the absence of catalytic products. The concentrations of the hydrogen peroxide solutions used are in the level expected to be obtained by water radiolysis in the vicinity of spent nuclear fuel surface. On the other hand, different hydrogen pressures were used, with a maximum of 48 bars, which mimics the maximum pressure postulated as a result of iron-steel containers anoxic corrosion.

The reaction evolution has been determined by the decrease of hydrogen peroxide concentration with time. A clear effect has been observed, and the rate of reaction is found to be enhanced as the hydrogen pressure is increased.

From the experiments performed, a kinetic constant k=0.029 ± 0.009 dm3 mol−1 s−1 has been determined for the reaction H2O2 + H2(g) → 2H2O based on a second-order overall kinetics reaction (first order with respect to hydrogen peroxide and first order with respect to hydrogen).
Influence of diluent alkyl substitution on the extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) by a 6,6´-bis(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2´-bipyridine ligand dissolved in alkylated cyclohexanone diluents
Authors: Distler P. , Spendlikova I. , John Jan , Harwood L. M. , Hudson M. J. , Lewis F. W.
Published: April 2012

Several alkylated cyclohexanones were investigated as potential diluents for the selective extraction of Am(III) from Eu(III) from nitric acid solutions by the CyMe4-BTBP ligand. No significant extraction of either of the metal ions was observed for these diluents themselves. In the extractions from 1 M HNO3, 3-methylcyclohexanone and 4-methylcyclohexanone gave comparable results to cyclohexanone whereas in the extractions from 4 M HNO3, 2-methylcyclohexanone, 3-methylcyclohexanone and 4-methylcyclohexanone all gave superior results. For the monomethylated diluents, D
Am and SFAm/Eu decreased in the order of alkyl substitution 2 > 4 ∼ 3. However, alkyl substitution of cyclohexanone significantly slows down the extraction kinetics compared to cyclohexanone, and the position of alkyl substitution was found to play an important role in the solvents properties. 3-Methylcyclohexanone was identified as the most promising of the diluents.
Facile solvent extraction separation of Th-227 and Ac-225 based on room-temperature ionic liquids
Authors: Luo H. M. , Boll R. A. , Bell J. R. , Dai Sheng
Published: April 2012

New separation methodologies for radioisotopes are crucial to many medical applications. In this work, the solvent extraction of Th-227 and Ac-225 based on ionic liquids (ILs) was investigated usingN,N,N´,N´-tetraoctyldiglycolamide (TODGA) or di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) as an extractant. Four ILs, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C4mim][NTf2]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(perfluoroethanesulfonyl)imide ([C4mim][BETI]), 1-butyl-2,3-trimethyleneimidazolium (trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([BuI5][NTf2]), and 1-benzyl pyridinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([PhCH2Py][NTf2]) with different cation or anion structural features were used as diluents for the separation of Th-227 and Ac-225. Excellent extraction efficiencies and selectivities were found for Th-227/Ac-225 when HDEHP was used as an extractant in these ILs. The effects of different extractant concentrations in ILs and different aqueous phase acidities on extraction efficiencies and selectivities of Th-227/Ac-225 are also presented. The success in separation of Th-227 and Ac-225 isotopes highlights great potentials of use of ionic liquids in isotope production.
90Nb – a potential PET nuclide: production and labeling of monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Radchenko V. , Hauser H. , Eisenhut M. , Vugts D. J. , van Dongen G. A. M. S. , Roesch Frank
Published: April 2012

Fast progressing immuno-PET gives reasons to develop new potential medium-long and long-lived radioisotopes. One of the promising candidates is 90Nb. It has a half-life of 14.6 h, which allows visualizing and quantifying processes with medium and slow kinetics, such as tumor accumulation of antibodies and antibodies fragments or polymers and other nanoparticles. 90Nb exhibits a high positron branching of 53% and an optimal energy of β
+ emission of E
mean=0.35 MeV only. Consequently, efficient radionuclide production routes and NbV labeling techniques are required.

90Nb was produced by the 90Zr(p,n) 90Nb nuclear reaction on natural zirconium targets. No-carrier-added (n.c.a.) 90Nb was separated from the zirconium target via a multi-step separation procedure including extraction steps and ion-exchange chromatography. Protein labeling was exemplified using the bifunctional chelator desferrioxamine attached to the monoclonal antibody rituximab. Desferrioxamine was coupled to rituximab via two different routes, by the use of N-succinyl-desferrioxamine (N-suc-Df) and by means of the bifunctional derivative p-isothiocyanatobenzyl-desferrioxamine B (Df-Bz-NCS), respectively. Following antibody modification, labeling with 90Nb was performed in HEPES buffer at pH 7 at room temperature. In vitro stability of the radiolabeled conjugates was tested in saline buffer at room temperature and in fetal calf serum (FCS) at 37 ºC.

The selected production route led to a high yield of 145 ± 10 MBq/μA h of 90Nb with high radioisotopic purity of >97%. This yield may allow for large scale production of about 10 GBq 90Nb. The separation procedure resulted in 76–81% yield. The Zr/90Nb decontamination factor reaches 107. Subsequent radiolabeling of the two different conjugates with 90Nb gave high yields; after one hour incubation at room temperature, more than 90% of 90Nb-Df-mAb was formed in both cases. At room temperature in aqueous solution, both 90Nb-Df-mAb constructs were more than 99% stable over a period of 18 d.

The developed production and separation strategy provided 90Nb with purity appropriate for radiolabeling applications. Labeling and stability studies proved the applicability of 90Nb as a potential positron emitter for immuno-PET.
Analyzing Expressive Qualities in Movement and Stillness: Effort-Shape Analyses of Solo Marimbists' Bodily Expression
Authors: Broughton Mary C. , Stevens Catherine J.
Published: April 2012

laban movement analysis, specifically effort-shape analysis, is offered as a system to study musicians' bodily expression. It proposes others' intentions are manifest in expressive bodily activity and understood through shared embodied processes. The present investigation evaluates whether the basic components of Laban analysis are reflected in perceptual judgments of recorded performances and, specifically, evaluates interjudge reliability for effort-shape analysis. Sixteen audio-visual excerpts of marimba pieces performed by two professional solo marimbists' (female and male) served as stimuli. Effort-shape analyses and interjudge reliability thereof were assessed through three different tasks: 1) verification task, 2) independent analysis task, 3) signal detection yes/no task. Professional musicians — two percussionists, a violinist, and a French hornist — acted as participants. High interjudge reliability was observed for transformation drive and shape components, but less so for basic effort action components. Mixed interjudge reliability results for basic effort actions, and differences between frequency observations, point to differences in participant's embodied expertise, task implementation, and training issues. Effort-shape analysis has potential to drive comparative and predictive research into musicians' bodily expression. Effort-shape provides a fine-grain temporal analysis of ecologically valid performance sequences.
Comparative Time Series Analysis of Perceptual Responses to Electroacoustic Music
Authors: Bailes Freya , Dean Roger T.
Published: April 2012

this study investigates the relationship between acoustic patterns in contemporary electroacoustic compositions, and listeners' real-time perceptions of their structure and affective content. Thirty-two participants varying in musical expertise (nonmusicians, classical musicians, expert computer musicians) continuously rated the affect (arousal and valence) and structure (change in sound) they perceived in four compositions of approximately three minutes duration. Time series analyses tested the hypotheses that sound intensity influences listener perceptions of structure and arousal, and spectral flatness influences perceptions of structure and valence. Results suggest that intensity strongly influences perceived change in sound, and to a lesser extent listener perceptions of arousal. Spectral flatness measures were only weakly related to listener perceptions, and valence was not strongly shaped by either acoustic measure. Differences in response by composition and musical expertise suggest that, particularly with respect to the perception of valence, individual experience (familiarity and liking), and meaningful sound associations mediate perception.
Musical Repetition Detection Across Multiple Exposures
Authors: Margulis Elizabeth Hellmuth
Published: April 2012

although music's repetitiveness has been a perennial topic of theoretical and philosophical interest, we know surprisingly little about the psychological processes underlying it. As one step in the larger enterprise of examining the psychology of musical repetition, a preliminary question addresses repetition detection: Which repetitions are listeners able to identify as such, and how does this ability change across repeated exposures of the same work? In this study, participants with minimal formal training heard short excerpts and were instructed to press a button whenever they heard something from earlier in the piece repeat. Additional exposures facilitated repetition detection for long units, but impaired repetition detection for short ones, exposing an attentional shift toward larger temporal spans across multiple hearings.
A Parametric, Temporal Model of Musical Tension
Authors: Farbood Morwaread M.
Published: April 2012

tension in music is a high-level concept that is difficult to formalize due to its complex, multidimensional nature. This paper proposes a quantitative model of musical tension that takes into account the dynamic, temporal aspects of listening. The model is based on data from two experiments. The first was a web-based study that was designed to examine how individual musical parameters contribute directly to a listener's overall perception of tension and how those parameters interact. The second study was an in-lab experiment in which listeners were asked to provide continuous responses to longer, more complex musical stimuli. Both studies took into account a number of musical parameters including harmony, pitch height, melodic expectation, dynamics, onset frequency, tempo, meter, rhythmic regularity, and syncopation. As an initial step, linear and nonlinear models were explored for predicting tension given analytical descriptions of various musical parameters. These models were tested on the continuous-response data from Experiment 2 and shown to be insufficient. An alternate model was proposed based on the notion of a moving perceptual window in time and the concept of trend salience. High correlation with empirical data indicates that this parametric, temporal model accurately predicts tension judgments for complex musical stimuli.
Ploidy and Hybridity Effects on Growth Vigor and Gene Expression inArabidopsis thalianaHybrids and Their Parents
Authors: Miller Marisa , Zhang Changqing , Chen Z Jeffrey
Published: April 2012

Both ploidy and hybridity affect cell size and growth vigor in plants and animals, but the relative effects of genome dosage and hybridization on biomass, fitness, and gene expression changes have not been systematically examined. Here we performed the first comparative analysis of seed, cell, and flower sizes, starch and chlorophyll content, biomass, and gene expression changes in diploid, triploid, and tetraploid hybrids and their respective parents in three Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes: Columbia, C24, and Landsberg erecta (Ler). Ploidy affects many morphological and fitness traits, including stomatal size, flower size, and seed weight, whereas hybridization between the ecotypes leads to altered expression of central circadian clock genes and increased starch and chlorophyll content, biomass, and seed weight. However, varying ploidy levels has subtle effects on biomass, circadian clock gene expression, and chlorophyll and starch content. Interestingly, biomass, starch content, and seed weight are significantly different between the reciprocal hybrids at all ploidy levels tested, with the lowest and highest levels found in the reciprocal triploid hybrids, suggesting parent-of-origin effects on biomass, starch content, and seed weight. These findings provide new insights into molecular events of polyploidy and heterosis, as well as complex agronomic traits that are important to biomass and seed production in hybrid and polyploid crops.
Severe Pulmonary Hypertension With Therapeutic l-Lysine Ibuprofen in 2 Preterm Neonates
Authors: Amendolia Barbara , Lynn Madeline , Bhat Vishwanath , Ritz Steven B. , Aghai Zubair H.
Published: April 2012

Persistently patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), affecting approximately one-third of all very low birth weight infants, can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Recently, ibuprofen has been recommended over indomethacin to close PDAs because of a reduction in risk of necrotizing enterocolitis. Pulmonary hypertension is a rare but potentially fatal complication of ibuprofen administration in preterm infants. We report 2 infants who developed this complication after receiving therapeutic l-lysine ibuprofen preparation for the PDA closure. The first infant, 1 of twins weighing 640 g, was born at 24 weeks’ gestation. The second infant, born at 26 weeks’ gestation, was small for gestational age, weighing 439 g. In both cases, ibuprofen was initiated after echocardiographic confirmation of a moderate-sized to large PDA and an otherwise normal intracardiac anatomy. Both infants had echocardiographic evidence of increased pulmonary vascular resistance but shunting across the PDA was left to right. The infants deteriorated within 48 to 72 hours, and repeat echocardiograms revealed evidence of severe pulmonary hypertension. Both infants died of refractory hypotension and hypoxemia. When considering the use of ibuprofen therapy for PDA closure, clinicians should keep in mind the potential serious complication of pulmonary hypertension, even if a shunt across the PDA is left to right.
Randomized Trial of Probiotics and Calcium on Diarrhea and Respiratory Tract Infections in Indonesian Children
Authors: Agustina Rina , Kok Frans J. , van de Rest Ondine , Fahmida Umi , Firmansyah Agus , Lukito Widjaja , Feskens Edith J. M. , van den Heuvel Ellen G. H. M. , Albers Ruud , Bovee-Oudenhoven Ingeborg M. J.
Published: April 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effects of calcium and probiotics on the incidence and duration of acute diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in low-socioeconomic communities of Jakarta, Indonesia.

METHODS:

We conducted a 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 494 healthy children aged 1 to 6 years who received low-lactose milk with low calcium content (LC; ∼50 mg/day; n = 124), regular calcium content (RC; ∼440 mg/day; n = 126), RC with 5.108 colony-forming units per day of Lactobacillus casei CRL431 (casei; n = 120), or RC with 5.108 colony-forming units per day of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM17938 (reuteri; n = 124). Number and duration of diarrhea and ARTIs episodes were primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.

RESULTS:

Incidence of World Health Organization–defined diarrhea (≥3 loose/liquid stools in 24 hours) was not significantly different between RC and LC (relative risk [RR]: 0.99 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62–1.58]), between casei and RC (RR: 1.21 [95% CI: 0.76–1.92]), or between reuteri and RC (RR: 0.76 [95% CI: 0.46–1.25]) groups. Incidence of all reported diarrhea (≥2 loose/liquid stools in 24 hours) was significantly lower in the reuteri versus RC group (RR: 0.68 [95% CI: 0.46–0.99]). Irrespective of the definition used, reuteri significantly reduced diarrhea incidence in children with lower nutritional status (below-median height-and-weight-for-age z score). None of the interventions affected ARTIs.

CONCLUSIONS:

RC milk, alone or with L casei, did not reduce diarrhea or ARTIs in Indonesian children. L reuteri may prevent diarrhea, especially in children with lower nutritional status.
Supplemental Written Information Improves Prenatal Counseling: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Muthusamy Anbu Durai , Leuthner Steven , Gaebler-Uhing Charlene , Hoffmann Raymond G , Li Shun-Hwa , Basir Mir Abdul
Published: April 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To determine if maternal knowledge of prematurity is improved when verbal gestational age-specific counseling is supplemented with written gestational age-specific information.

METHODS:

Prospective, randomized study of 60 pregnant participants assessed to be at risk for premature delivery between 23 and 34 weeks’ gestation. Counseling in the control group consisted of gestational age–specific verbal information, and counseling in the intervention group consisted of written gestational age–specific information 1 hour before the verbal gestational age–specific information. Both groups completed a Prematurity Knowledge Questionnaire after counseling and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before and after counseling. The Prematurity Knowledge Questionnaire consisted of questions regarding short-term problems (immature lungs, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy, feeding problems, infection, apnea, and jaundice), long-term problems (chronic lung disease, postdischarge respiratory infections, visual impairment, hearing impairment, brain damage, and learning and behavior problems), and numerical outcome data (probabilities of survival, survival without significant morbidity, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, severe retinopathy, and chronic lung disease).

RESULTS:

Knowledge of short-term problems was not statistically different between the intervention (82%) and control groups (67%). Knowledge of long-term problems was better in the intervention (71%) than the control group (45%). Knowledge of numerical data was better in the intervention (48%) than the control group (29%). State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores decreased after counseling in the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Supplementation of face-to-face verbal counseling with written information improved knowledge of long-term problems and knowledge of numerical outcome data, and it also decreased anxiety in women expecting a premature delivery.
Early or Delayed Enteral Feeding for Preterm Growth-Restricted Infants: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Leaf Alison , Dorling Jon , Kempley Stephen , McCormick Kenny , Mannix Paul , Linsell Louise , Juszczak Edmund , Brocklehurst Peter ,   on behalf of the Abnormal Doppler Enteral Prescription Trial Collaborative Group
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND:

Growth-restricted preterm infants are at increased risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and initiation of enteral feeding is frequently delayed. There is no evidence that this delay is beneficial and it might further compromise nutrition and growth.

METHODS:

Infants with gestation below 35 weeks, birth weight below the 10th centile, and abnormal antenatal umbilical artery Doppler waveforms were randomly allocated to commence enteral feeds “early,” on day 2 after birth, or “late,” on day 6. Gradual increase in feeds was guided by a “feeding prescription” with rate of increase the same for both groups. Primary outcomes were time to achieve full enteral feeding sustained for 72 hours and NEC.

RESULTS:

Four hundred four infants were randomly assigned from 54 hospitals in the United Kingdom and Ireland (202 to each group). Median gestation was 31 weeks. Full, sustained, enteral feeding was achieved at an earlier age in the early group: median age was 18 days compared with 21 days (hazard ratio: 1.36 [95% confidence interval: 1.11–1.67]). There was no evidence of a difference in the incidence of NEC: 18% in the early group and 15% in the late group (relative risk: 1.2 [95% confidence interval: 0.77–1.87]). Early feeding resulted in shorter duration of parenteral nutrition and high-dependency care, lower incidence of cholestatic jaundice, and improved SD score for weight at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS:

Early introduction of enteral feeds in growth-restricted preterm infants results in earlier achievement of full enteral feeding and does not appear to increase the risk of NEC.
More Codeine Fatalities After Tonsillectomy in North American Children
Authors: Kelly Lauren E. , Rieder Michael , van den Anker John , Malkin Becky , Ross Colin , Neely Michael N. , Carleton Bruce , Hayden Michael R. , Madadi Parvaz , Koren Gideon
Published: April 2012

In 2009 we reported the fatal case of a toddler who had received codeine after adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The child was an ultra-rapid metabolizer of cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6). We now report 3 additional fatal or life-threatening cases from North America. In the 2 fatal cases, functional gene duplications encoding for CYP2D6 caused a significantly greater production of potent morphine from its parent drug, codeine. A severe case of respiratory depression in an extensive metabolizer is also noted. These cases demonstrate that analgesia with codeine or other opioids that use the CYP2D6 pathway after adenotonsillectomy may not be safe in young children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
Intakes of Alcohol and Folate During Adolescence and Risk of Proliferative Benign Breast Disease
Authors: Liu Ying , Tamimi Rulla M. , Berkey Catherine S. , Willett Walter C. , Collins Laura C. , Schnitt Stuart J. , Connolly James L. , Colditz Graham A.
Published: April 2012

OBJECTIVES:

To examine the combined effect of alcohol and folate intake during adolescence on the risk of proliferative benign breast disease (BBD).

METHODS:

We used data from 29 117 women in the Nurses’ Health Study II who completed both adolescent alcohol consumption questions in 1989 and an adolescent diet questionnaire in 1998. A total of 659 women with proliferative BBD diagnosed between 1991 and 2001 were confirmed by central pathology review. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for established risk factors of breast cancer.

RESULTS:

Adolescent alcohol consumption was dose-dependently associated with an increased risk of proliferative BBD (hazard ratio = 1.15 per 10 g/day consumption; 95% CI, 1.03–1.28). There was no significant association between adolescent folate intake and the risk of proliferative BBD. Stratified analyses showed that each 10-g/day alcohol intake during adolescence was associated with a 21% (95% CI, 1.01–1.45) increase in the risk of proliferative BBD among women with low folate intake during adolescence, which was not significantly different from the alcohol-associated risk among women with moderate and high folate intake during adolescence (P for interaction = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS:

Adolescent alcohol consumption is associated with increased risk of proliferative BBD, which may not be reduced by increased folate intake during adolescence.
Developing the 2011 Integrated Pediatric Guidelines for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
Authors: Gidding Samuel S. , Daniels Stephen R. , Kavey Rae Ellen W. ,   for the Expert Panel on Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Youth
Published: April 2012

This article reviews aspects of development of the recently released “Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents” for pediatric care providers that remain in the area of human judgment. Discussed will be the context in which the guidelines were developed, the formal evidence review process, a consideration of how quality grades were established, key social/ethical issues that the panel confronted, and a critique of the final work with recommendations for future guideline development. Lessons learned are that both a formal evidence review process is essential to developing a credible document, and human judgment is critical to producing a meaningful result. Guideline development is a dynamic process that must be continuously self-critical as new evidence is acquired and sociopolitical and environmental contexts evolve.
Evaluation of the coefficient of thermal expansion of human and bovine dentin by thermomechanical analysis
Authors: Lopes Murilo Baena , Yan Zhuoqun , Consani Simonides , Gonini Júnior Alcides , Aleixo Anderson , McCabe John F.
Published: April 2012

The mismatch of thermal expansion and contraction between restorative materials and tooth may cause stresses at their interface, which may lead to microleakage. The present work compared the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) with the thermomechanical behavior of human and bovine teeth and determined if the CTE is a suitable parameter to describe tooth behavior. Fifteen human third molar and 15 bovine incisor tooth slices (6×5×2 mm) were allocated to 3 groups according to the test environment: G1 - room condition, G2 - 100% humidity, G3 - desiccated and tested in dry condition. Each specimen was weighed, heated from 20 to 70ºC at 10ºC min−1 and reweighed. The CTE was measured between 20 and 50ºC. Fresh dentin (human -0.49% ± 0.27, bovine -0.22% ± 0.16) contracted on heating under dry condition. Under wet conditions, only human teeth (-0.05% ± 0.04) showed contraction (bovine 0.00% ± 0.03) accompanied by a significantly lower (p<0.05) weight loss than in dry specimens (human 0.35% ± 0.15, bovine 0.45% ± 0.20). The desiccated dentin expanded on heating without obvious weight changes (0.00% ± 0.00). The CTE found was, respectively, in dry, wet and dissected conditions in ºC-1: human (-66.03×10-6, -6.82×10-6, 5.52×10-6) and bovine (-33.71×10-6, 5.47×10-6, 4.31×10-6). According to its wet condition, the dentin showed different CTEs. The thermal expansion behavior of human and bovine dentin was similar. A simple evaluation of the thermal expansion behavior of tooth structure by its CTE value may not be appropriate as a meaningful consideration of the effects on the tooth-material interface.