bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome due to influenza virus A/H1N1v in a patient with HIV/HCV co-infection
Authors: Madeddu G , Rezza G , Fois A G , Naitana A G V , Piredda G , Pirina P , Mura M S
Published: April 2011

The clinical severity of human infection with the novel influenza virus A/H1N1v has not been completely defined, especially in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. Although most patients develop mild to moderate symptoms, severe disease may occur in a limited proportion of cases. We report the case of a 44-year-old man infected with HIV and HCV with a high CD4 cell count who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with influenza virus A/H1N1v infection. The patient recovered completely after oseltamivir therapy and mechanical ventilation.
Myiasis arising in condylomata acuminata: an unusual presentation
Authors: Pandhi D , Singal A , Das S
Published: April 2011

Myiasis is infestation of skin, mucosa, orifices or natural cavities of humans or animals by larvae of flying dipterous insects that, at least for a certain period of their life cycle, feed from live or necrotic tissue of the host. The distribution is worldwide with more cases being reported from tropical, subtropical and warm temperate areas. This report describes a rare case of perianal condylomata acuminata complicated with myiasis due to Chrysomya bezziana, seen in the presence of poor hygiene in a tropical country with a high fly population.
Perceptions of superinfection risk among gay men with diagnosed HIV who have unprotected anal intercourse
Authors: Bourne A , Dodds C , Weatherburn P , Keogh P
Published: April 2011

This paper explores how men who have sex with men (MSM) with diagnosed HIV who engage in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) perceive the potential risk of superinfection and how they respond to it. Semistructured interviews were carried out with 42 MSM recruited via community-based agencies throughout England and Wales. The interviews examined sexual risk taking and the ways in which men sought to manage the risks they perceived. All participants had heard of superinfection and one-third considered it a personal risk when they had UAI with men with the same sero-status. The risk of being superinfected with HIV was often situated among a number of other concerns that men felt they needed to manage when having sex. There was significant uncertainty about the likelihood of acquiring an additional strain of HIV, which was exacerbated by competing, and often conflicting, advice from a variety of expert sources. Men frequently drew upon lay and expert understandings of viral load and infectiousness to rationalize engagement in UAI with other diagnosed positive men. HIV health-care providers should seek to find consensus on how to discuss superinfection with MSM, taking account of the array of other physical and social risks associated with sex.
Limbic encephalitis secondary to HIV seroconversion
Authors: Scriven J , Davies S , Banerjee A K , Jenkins N , Watson J
Published: April 2011

We present a case of acute limbic encephalitis secondary to HIV seroconversion. The patient made a gradual neurological recovery following treatment with antiretroviral therapy, steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin.
Anogenital warts in Danish men who have sex with men
Authors: Skaaby S , Kofoed K
Published: April 2011

To determine the prevalence of anogenital warts (AGWs) and concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men who have sex with men (MSM), and their knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV). Attitudes towards the HPV vaccine among MSM are explored. A web-based cross-sectional survey on AGWs, sociodemographic factors and sexual behaviour conducted in August 2009 in Denmark. Overall 25.2% of the 1184 respondents reported a prior or current episode of AGWs. The prevalence of AGW was significantly higher in homosexuals compared with bisexuals, in men with high levels of education and in those with a high number of sexual partners within the last year. MSM with a history of another STI reported a significantly higher prevalence of warts. More than 70% did not know what causes AGWs. If a free HPV vaccine were to be offered, 94.4% would like to receive it. These data suggest a high prevalence of AGWs in Danish MSM. The awareness of HPV is low; however, the acceptance of a HPV vaccine seems high.
Effects of slightly acidic electrolysed drinking water on mice
Authors: Inagaki Hideaki , Shibata Yoshiko , Obata Takahiro , Kawagoe Masami , Ikeda Katsuhisa , Sato Masayoshi , Toida Kazumi , Kushima Hidemi , Matsuda Yukihisa
Published: April 2011

Slightly acidic electrolysed (SAE) water is a sanitizer with strong bactericidal activity due to hypochlorous acid. We assessed the safety of SAE water as drinking water for mice at a 5 ppm total residual chlorine (TRC) concentration to examine the possibility of SAE water as a labour- and energy-saving alternative to sterile water. We provided SAE water or sterile water to mice for 12 weeks, during which time we recorded changes in body weight and weekly water and food intakes. At the end of the experiment, all of the subject animals were sacrificed to assess serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and creatinine levels and to examine the main organs histopathologically under a light microscope. In addition, we investigated the bacteria levels of both types of water. We found no difference in functional and morphological health condition indices between the groups. Compared with sterile water, SAE water had a relatively higher ability to suppress bacterial growth. We suggest that SAE water at 5 ppm TRC is a safe and useful alternative to sterile water for use as drinking water in laboratory animal facilities.
Asphyxial cardiac arrest, resuscitation and neurological outcome in a Landrace/Large-White swine model
Authors: Varvarousi G , Xanthos T , Lappas T , Lekka N , Goulas S , Dontas I , Perrea D , Stefanadis Ch , Papadimitriou L
Published: April 2011

The vast majority of laboratory studies on animals have focused on ventricular fibrillation (VF) and not on cardiac arrest (CA) resulting from asphyxia. The aim of this study was to develop a clinically relevant animal model in Landrace/Large-White swine of asphyxial CA resuscitated using the European Resuscitation Council guidelines. Survival and 24 h neurological outcome in terms of functional deficit were also evaluated. Asphyxial arrest was induced by clamping the endotracheal tube (ETT) in 10 Landrace/Large-White piglets. After 4 min of untreated arrest, resuscitation was initiated by unclamping the ETT, 100% oxygen mechanical ventilation, 2 min chest compressions and epinephrine administration. Advanced Life Support algorithm was followed. In case of restoration of spontaneous circulation, the animals were supported for one hour and then observed for 23 h. Coronary perfusion pressure was significantly higher in surviving animals ( P < 0.001) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. End-tidal CO2 was significantly higher in the animals that survived than in non-surviving animals ( P = 0.001). All of the animals were severely neurologically impaired 24 h after CA. This refined model of asphyxia CA is easily reproducible and may be used for pharmacological studies in CA.
Anticipatory Sorting and Gender Segregation in Temporary Employment
Authors: Fernandez-Mateo Isabel , King Zella
Published: April 2011

We examine the roots of gender segregation in the screening process by using a longitudinal data set of candidates considered for temporary projects at a staffing firm and following their progress through the hiring pipeline. Theories invoked to explain gender segregation across jobs traditionally rely on firm-specific human capital and expectations of future commitment to explain this phenomenon. These do not apply in this setting. Yet we find that the staffing firm is more likely to shortlist women for low-paid projects and less likely to do so for high-paid ones. These effects are due to women being considered for different projects than men, and associated at least partially to the level of competition within vacancies. Although client companies also exhibit some gender-sorting behavior in the later steps of the hiring process, they are more likely to prefer women and less likely to sort them into lower-paid projects. Our findings are consistent with “anticipatory gender-sorting” mechanisms, by which first screeners generate segregation when narrowing down the pool of candidates for later decision makers. We discuss the implications of this case for theories of gender stratification and workplace inequality, especially in mediated labor markets.

This paper was accepted by Jesper Sørensen, organizations.
Trust in Forecast Information Sharing
Authors: Özer Özalp , Zheng Yanchong , Chen Kay-Yut
Published: April 2011

This paper investigates the capacity investment decision of a supplier who solicits private forecast information from a manufacturer. To ensure abundant supply, the manufacturer has an incentive to inflate her forecast in a costless, nonbinding, and nonverifiable type of communication known as “cheap talk.” According to standard game theory, parties do not cooperate and the only equilibrium is uninformative—the manufacturer's report is independent of her forecast and the supplier does not use the report to determine capacity. However, we observe in controlled laboratory experiments that parties cooperate even in the absence of reputation-building mechanisms and complex contracts. We argue that the underlying reason for cooperation is trust and trustworthiness. The extant literature on forecast sharing and supply chain coordination implicitly assumes that supply chain members either absolutely trust each other and cooperate when sharing forecast information, or do not trust each other at all. Contrary to this all-or-nothing view, we determine that a continuum exists between these two extremes. In addition, we determine (i) when trust is important in forecast information sharing, (ii) how trust is affected by changes in the supply chain environment, and (iii) how trust affects related operational decisions. To explain and better understand the observed behavioral regularities, we also develop an analytical model of trust to incorporate both pecuniary and nonpecuniary incentives in the game-theoretic analysis of cheap-talk forecast communication. The model identifies and quantifies how trust and trustworthiness induce effective cheap-talk forecast sharing under the wholesale price contract. We also determine the impact of repeated interactions and information feedback on trust and cooperation in forecast sharing. We conclude with a discussion on the implications of our results for developing effective forecast management policies.

This paper was accepted by Ananth Iyer, operations and supply chain management.
Optimal Preorder Strategy with Endogenous Information Control
Authors: Chu Leon Yang , Zhang Hao
Published: April 2011

In this paper, we investigate the integrated information and pricing strategy for a seller who can take customer preorders before the release of a product. The preorder option enables the seller to sell a product at an early stage when consumers are less certain about their valuations. We find that the optimal pricing strategy may be highly dependent on the amount of information available at preorder and that a small change in the latter may cause a dramatic change in the proportion of consumers who preorder under optimal pricing. Furthermore, the seller's optimal information strategy depends on a key measure, the normalized margin, which is the ratio between the expected profit margin and the standard deviation of consumer valuation. Although the seller may want to release some information or none, she should never release all information. Finally, under the optimal information and pricing strategy, the benefit of preorder is most pronounced when the normalized margin is in a medium range.

This paper was accepted by Martin Lariviere, operations management.
Dynamic Price Competition with Fixed Capacities
Authors: Martínez-de-Albéniz Victor , Talluri Kalyan
Published: April 2011

In this paper, we study price competition for an oligopoly in a dynamic setting, where each of the sellers has a fixed number of units available for sale over a fixed number of periods. Demand is stochastic, and depending on how it evolves, sellers may change their prices at any time. This reflects the fact that firms constantly, and almost costlessly, change their prices, reacting to updates in their estimates of market demand, competitor prices, or inventory levels. In a setting with demand uncertainty, we show that there is a unique subgame-perfect equilibrium for a duopoly, in which all states sellers engage in Bertrand competition and the seller with the lower equilibrium reservation value sells a unit at a price equal to the competitor's equilibrium reservation value. This structure therefore extends the marginal-value concept of bid-price control, used in many revenue management implementations, to a competitive model. We give a closed-form solution to the equilibrium price paths for a duopoly and extend all the results to an n-firm oligopoly. We then study extensions to multiple customer types, uncertain valuations, and differentiated products.

This paper was accepted by Martin Lariviere, operations management.
Mandatory Fair Value Accounting and Information Asymmetry: Evidence from the European Real Estate Industry
Authors: Muller Karl A. , Riedl Edward J. , Sellhorn Thorsten
Published: April 2011

We examine the effects of mandating the provision of fair value information for long-lived tangible assets on firms' information asymmetry. Specifically, we investigate whether European real estate firms' compulsory adoption of International Accounting Standard 40 (IAS 40; Investment Property), which mandated the provision of investment property fair values in 2005, resulted in reduced information asymmetry across market participants. Using as a control group firms that voluntarily provided these fair values prior to the mandatory adoption of IAS 40, we find that mandatory adoption firms exhibit a larger decline in information asymmetry, as reflected in lower bid–ask spreads. However, we also find that mandatory adoption firms continue to have higher information asymmetry than voluntary adoption firms, which appears partially attributable to the lower reliability of fair values reported by the mandatory adoption firms. Together, this evidence adds to the debate on fair value accounting by demonstrating that common adoption of fair value, even for long-lived tangible assets, under a mandatory reporting regime can reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, information asymmetry differences across firms.

This paper was accepted by Stefan Reichelstein, accounting.
Drift Control with Changeover Costs
Authors: Ormeci Matoglu Melda , Vande Vate John
Published: April 2011

We model the problem of managing capacity in a build-to-order environment as a Brownian drift control problem and seek a policy that minimizes the long-term average cost. We assume the controller can, at some cost, shift the processing rate among a finite set of alternatives, for example by adding or removing staff, increasing or reducing the number of shifts, or opening or closing production lines. The controller incurs a cost for capacity per unit time and a delay cost that reflects the opportunity cost of revenue waiting to be recognized or the customer service impacts of delaying delivery of orders. Furthermore, he incurs a cost per unit to reject orders or idle resources as necessary to keep the workload of waiting orders within a prescribed range. We introduce a practical restriction on this problem, called the 𝒮-restricted Brownian control problem, and show how to model it via a structured linear program. We demonstrate that an optimal solution to the 𝒮-restricted problem can be found among a special class of policies called deterministic nonoverlapping control band policies. These results exploit apparently new relationships between complementary dual solutions and relative value functions that allow us to obtain a lower bound on the average cost of any nonanticipating policy for the problem, even without the 𝒮 restriction. Under mild assumptions on the cost parameters, we show that our linear programming approach is asymptotically optimal for the unrestricted Brownian control problem in the sense that by appropriately selecting the 𝒮-restricted problem, we can ensure its solution is within an arbitrary finite tolerance of a lower bound on the average cost of any nonanticipating policy for the unrestricted Brownian control problem.
High failure rates with a large-diameter hybrid metal-on-metal total hip replacement
Authors: Bolland B. J. R. F. , Culliford D. J. , Langton D. J. , Millington J. P. S. , Arden N. K. , Latham J. M.
Published: April 2011

This study reports the mid-term results of a large-bearing hybrid metal-on-metal total hip replacement in 199 hips (185 patients) with a mean follow-up of 62 months (32 to 83).

Two patients died of unrelated causes and 13 were lost to follow-up. In all, 17 hips (8.5%) have undergone revision, and a further 14 are awaiting surgery. All revisions were symptomatic. Of the revision cases, 14 hips showed evidence of adverse reactions to metal debris. The patients revised or awaiting revision had significantly higher whole blood cobalt ion levels (p = 0.001), but no significant difference in acetabular component size or position compared with the unrevised patients. Wear analysis (n = 5) showed increased wear at the trunnion-head interface, normal levels of wear at the articulating surfaces and evidence of corrosion on the surface of the stem.

The cumulative survival rate, with revision for any reason, was 92.4% (95% confidence interval 87.4 to 95.4) at five years. Including those awaiting surgery, the revision rate would be 15.1% with a cumulative survival at five years of 89.6% (95% confidence interval 83.9 to 93.4).

This hybrid metal-on-metal total hip replacement series has shown an unacceptably high rate of failure, with evidence of high wear at the trunnion-head interface and passive corrosion of the stem surface. This raises concerns about the use of large heads on conventional 12/14 tapers.
Pedagogical Positives of the Surface-to-Volume Ratio
Authors: Romesburg H. Charles
Published: April 2011

The surface-to-volume ratio (S/V) is well suited for inquiry-based learning in high school and college biology courses. It has a huge catalogue of biological and physical applications concerning structure and function. It is easy to learn, illustrates scientific methods, and can provide students with their favorite classroom moments, as many of its applications ring bells with their own world.
3-Iodothyronamine metabolism and functional effects in FRTL5 thyroid cells
Authors: Agretti Patrizia , De Marco Giuseppina , Russo Laura , Saba Alessandro , Raffaelli Andrea , Marchini Maja , Chiellini Grazia , Grasso Lucia , Pinchera Aldo , Vitti Paolo , Scanlan Thomas S , Zucchi Riccardo , Tonacchera Massimo
Published: April 2011

3-Iodothyronamine (T1AM), produced from thyroid hormones (TH) through decarboxylation and deiodination, is a potent agonist of trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), a G protein-coupled receptor belonging to the family of TAARs.In vivoT1AM induces functional effects opposite to those produced on a longer time scale by TH and might represent a novel branch of TH signaling. In this study, we investigated the action of T1AM on thyroid and determined its uptake and catabolism using FRTL5 cells. The expression of TAAR1 was determined by PCR and western blot in FRTL5 cells, and cAMP, iodide uptake, and glucose uptake were measured after incubation with increasing concentrations of T1AM for different times. T1AM and its catabolites thyronamine (T0AM), 3-iodothyroacetic acid (TA1), and thyroacetic acid (TA0) were analyzed in FRTL5 cells by HPLC coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The product of amplification ofTAAR1gene and TAAR1 protein was demonstrated in FRTL5 cells. No persistent and dose-dependent response to T1AM was observed after treatment with increasing doses of this substance for different times in terms of cAMP production and iodide uptake. A slight inhibition of glucose uptake was observed in the presence of 100 μM T1AM after 60 and 120 min (28 and 32% respectively), but the effect disappeared after 18 h. T1AM was taken up by FRTL5 cells and catabolized to T0AM, TA1, and TA0confirming the presence of deiodinase and amine oxidase activity in thyroid. In conclusion, T1AM determined a slight inhibition of glucose uptake in FRTL5 cells, but it was taken up and catabolized by these cells.
The diversity of sex steroid action: regulation of metabolism by estrogen signaling
Authors: Faulds Malin Hedengran , Zhao Chunyan , Dahlman-Wright Karin , Gustafsson Jan-Åke
Published: April 2011

The metabolic syndrome is a complex condition characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, decreased high-density lipoproteins, and hypertension associated with high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A major increase in the incidence of developing metabolic syndrome and related diseases is observed worldwide in association with a change toward a less active lifestyle and increased food consumption. Estrogen and the estrogen receptors (ERs) are well-known regulators of several aspects of metabolism, including glucose and lipid metabolism, and impaired estrogen signaling is associated with the development of metabolic diseases. This review will describe the key effects of estrogen signaling in metabolic and glucose sensing tissues, including the liver, pancreatic β cells, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. The impact on metabolic processes of impaired estrogen signaling and knock out of each ER subtype will also be discussed.
Cyclic GMP signaling in rat urinary bladder, prostate, and epididymis: tissue-specific changes with aging and in response to Leydig cell depletion
Authors: Müller Dieter , Mukhopadhyay Amal K , Davidoff Michail S , Middendorff Ralf
Published: April 2011

Aging of the male reproductive system leads to changes in endocrine signaling and is frequently associated with the emergence of prostate hyperplasia and bladder dysfunctions. Recent reports highlight prostate and bladder as promising targets for therapeutic interventions with inhibitors of the cyclic GMP (cGMP)-degrading phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5). However, the cGMP signaling system in these organs is as yet poorly characterized, and the possibility of age-related alterations has not been addressed. This study investigates key proteins of cGMP pathways in bladder, prostate, and epididymis of young (3 months) and old (23–24 months) Wistar rats. Local differences in the abundance of PDE5, soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and particulate guanylyl cyclases (GC-A, GC-B), endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (PRKG1 (cGKI)) revealed pronounced tissue-specific peculiarities. Although cGMP-generating enzymes were not affected by age in all organs, we recognized age-related decreases of PDE5 expression in bladder and a selective diminishment of membrane-associated PRKG1 in epididymis. In disagreement with published data, all cGMP pathway proteins including PDE5 are poorly expressed in prostate. However, prostatic PRKG1 expression increases with aging. Androgen withdrawal during temporary Leydig cell elimination induced a massive (>12-fold) upregulation of PRKG1 in prostate but not in other (penis and epididymis) androgen-dependent organs. These findings identify PRKG1 as a key androgen-sensitive signaling protein in prostate of possible importance for growth regulation. The elucidated effects may have significance for age-associated pathologies in the male lower-urinary tract.
Briefing: ASCE forensic engineering symposium
Authors: Ratay Robert T.
Published: April 2011

This briefing paper describes the 2010 forensic engineering symposium of the New York Met section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Fire-induced structural failure: the World Trade Center, New York
Authors: Torero Jose L.
Published: April 2011

Fire investigation has generally concentrated on determination of the cause and origin of a fire. Methodologies developed for this purpose have thus focused on the dynamics of fire growth and investigation of its effect on different objects within the structure affected by the fire. It is unusual to see a fire investigation emphasising structural damage as a way to obtain information for fire reconstruction. The series of dramatic fire events that occurred on 11 September 2001 within the World Trade Center, New York complex have emphasised the need to introduce structural analysis as a companion to evaluation of a fire timeline. Only a combined analysis is capable of providing a complete reconstruction of the event and therefore a solid determination of causality. This paper presents a methodology to establish, by means of modern structural and fire analysis tools, the sequence of events leading to a structural failure. This analysis will be compared with classic cause and origin techniques, emphasising the importance of a comprehensive study. Specific structural features and fire conditions that lead to unique forms of failure will be discussed, establishing the complexity of linking fire, structure characteristics and failure mode. The collapse of buildings 1 and 2 of the World Trade Center will be used to illustrate different forms of failure and the fires that cause them.
Meta-Analysis of Family-Based and Case-Control Genetic Association Studies that Use the Same Cases
Authors: Bagos Pantelis G , Dimou Niki L , Liakopoulos Theodore D , Nikolopoulos Georgios K
Published: April 2011

In many cases in genetic epidemiology, the investigators in an effort to control for different sources of confounding and simultaneously to increase the power perform a family-based and a population-based case-control study within the same population, using the same or largely overlapping, set of cases. Various methods have been proposed for performing a combined analysis, but they all require access to individual data that are difficult to gather in a meta-analysis. Here, we propose a simple and efficient summary-based method for performing the meta-analysis. The key point, contrary to the methods presented earlier that need individual data, is the calculation of the covariance between the study estimates (log-Odds Ratios), using only data derived from the literature in the form of a 2x2 contingency table. Afterwards, the studies can easily be combined either in a two-step procedure using traditional methods for univariate meta-analysis or in a single-step approach using hierarchical models. In any case, the meta-analysis can be performed using standard software and because of the increased sample size the statistical power of the meta-analysis is increased whereas the procedure allows performing several diagnostics (publication bias, cumulative meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis). The method is evaluated on a dataset of 356 Single Nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which were evaluated for their potential association with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis (RSV) and subsequently is applied in a meta-analysis concerning the association of the 10-Repeat Allele of a VNTR Polymorphism in the 3’-UTR of Dopamine Transporter Gene with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as in a genome-wide association study for Multiple Sclerosis. Implementation of the method is straightforward and in the Appendix, a Stata program is given for implementing the methods presented here.
Should the Government Invest, or Try to Spur Private Investment?
Authors: Cragg Michael , Stiglitz Joseph E.
Published: April 2011

The U.S. economy clearly needs stimulation, but the Obama administrations plan for accelerated depreciation is an old economy approach to stimulating aggregate investment and unlikely to ease the Great Recession, according to Michael Cragg of Brattle Group and Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia University. The authors suggest alternative policies consisting of carefully designed carrots and sticks.
Glycemic Control and Survival in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Duong Uyen , Mehrotra Rajnish , Molnar Miklos Z. , Noori Nazanin , Kovesdy Csaba P. , Nissenson Allen R. , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar
Published: April 2011

Background and objectives

The optimal target for glycemic control has not been established for diabetic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

We examined mortality-predictability of hemoglobin A1c random serum glucose in a contemporary cohort of diabetic PD patients treated in DaVita dialysis clinics July 2001 through June 2006 with follow-up through June 2007.

Results

We identified 2798 diabetic PD patients with A1c data. Serum glucose correlated with A1C (r = 0.51). Adjusted all-cause death hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for baseline A1c increments of 7.0 to 7.9%, 8.0 to 8.9%, 9.0 to 9.9%, and ≥10%, compared with 6.0 to 6.9% (reference), were 1.13 (0.97 to 1.32), 1.05 (0.88 to 1.27), 1.06 (0.84 to 1.34), and 1.48 (1.18 to 1.86); and for time-averaged A1c values were 1.10 (0.96 to 1.27), 1.28 (1.07 to 1.53), 1.34 (1.05 to 1.70), and 1.81 (1.33 to 2.46), respectively. The A1c-mortality association was modified by hemoglobin level such that higher all-cause mortality was evident only in nonanemic patients. Similar but non-significant trends in cardiovascular death risk was found across A1c increments. Adjusted all-cause death HR for time-averaged blood glucose 150 to 199, 200 to 249, 250 to 299, and ≥300 mg/dl, compared with 60 to 99 mg/dl (reference), were 1.02 (0.70 to 1.47), 1.12 (0.77 to 1.63), 1.45 (0.97 to 2.18), and 2.10 (1.37 to 3.20), respectively.

Conclusions

Poor glycemic control appears associated incrementally with higher mortality in PD patients. Moderate to severe hyperglycemia is associated with higher death risk especially in certain subgroups.
GammaPolarSlicer
Authors: Areias Sérgio , da Cruz , Henriques Rangel , Pinto Sousa
Published: April 2011

In software development, it is often desirable to reuse existing software
components. This has been recognized since 1968, when Douglas Mcllroy of
Bell Laboratories proposed basing the software industry on reuse. Despite
the failures in practice, many efforts have been made to make this idea
successful. In this context, we address the problem of reusing annotated
components as a rigorous way of assuring the quality of the application
under construction. We introduce the concept of caller-based slicing as a way
to certify that the integration of an annotated component with a contract
into a legacy system will preserve the behavior of the former. To complement
the efforts done and the benefits of the slicing techniques, there is also a
need to find an efficient way to visualize the annotated components and
their slices. To take full profit of visualization, it is crucial to combine
the visualization of the control/data flow with the textual representation
of source code. To attain this objective, we extend the notion of System
Dependence Graph and slicing criterion.
Complex basilar artery aneurysms treated using surgical basilar occlusion: a modern case series
Authors: Kellner Christopher P. , Haque Raqeeb M. , Meyers Philip M. , Lavine Sean D. , Connolly E. Sander , Solomon Robert A.
Published: April 2011

Object

Complex aneurysms of the basilar artery (BA) apex can be successfully treated using surgical occlusion of the proximal BA. Since the introduction of the Guglielmi detachable coil in 1991, the focus on treating BA aneurysms has been on using endovascular techniques. Outcomes with endovascular techniques have been less than optimal for large and complex aneurysms. The authors therefore report on their current 22-year experience with surgical BA occlusion for complex BA aneurysms and long-term outcome.

Methods

Fifteen patients underwent surgical BA occlusion at Columbia University Medical Center for complex basilar apex aneurysms between 1987 and 2009. The clinical records of each patient were reviewed for details of presentation, hospital course, operative intervention, and outcome.

Results

Postoperatively, all patient encounters were recorded at discharge, at the 1-month and 1-year follow-up evaluations, and at long-term outcome. Twelve (80%) of 15 patients experienced no new postoperative neurological deficits. Three patients presenting with severe neurological impairment (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score > 3) made excellent recoveries (mRS Scores 1–2) at long-term follow-up. One patient died, 1 suffered a stroke during the postoperative angiogram which resulted in hemiparesis, and 1 suffered internuclear ophthalmoplegia which resolved by the 1-month follow-up. Long-term follow-up occurred at an average of 3 ± 4.5 years, ranging from 2 months (for a recently treated patient) to 18 years. The average mRS score at long-term follow-up was 1 ± 1.5. No patient experienced postoperative hemorrhage, rebleeding, or delayed neurological deterioration.

Conclusions

Surgical occlusion of the BA is an effective treatment option offering a high rate of angiographic cure in a single procedure for patients with complex BA aneurysms. The ability to surgically perform point occlusion of the BA without impairment of brainstem perforators, while maintaining collateral blood flow to the posterior circulation branch vessels, may provide an advantage compared with endovascular treatments.
Spinal epidural hematoma following removal of incorrectly placed jugular central venous catheter
Authors: Yokoyama Kunio , Kawanishi Masahiro , Yamada Makoto , Tanaka Hidekazu , Ito Yutaka , Kuroiwa Toshihiko
Published: April 2011

The authors report a rare case of iatrogenic spinal epidural hematoma associated with central venous catheter cannulation via the right internal jugular vein. This 59-year-old man was operated on for stomach cancer while under general anesthesia. A central venous line was inserted via the right internal jugular vein. The operation was completed uneventfully and postoperative fluid replacement was continued without interruption. On postoperative Day 2, marked swelling around the right side of his neck gradually worsened. Cervical CT demonstrated that the catheter tip of the central venous line had penetrated the jugular vein and entered the intervertebral foramen (C5–6), thereby reaching the spinal epidural space. The patient was immediately transported to the operating room and the catheter was carefully extracted under fluoroscopy. Several minutes after catheter removal, the patient complained of sudden severe back pain and over time developed mild paraparesis of both lower extremities. Urgent MR imaging of the spine revealed a large spinal epidural hematoma extending from C-1 to T-8 that was compressing the dorsal spinal cord. The patient underwent emergency surgical removal of the epidural hematoma as well as spinal cord decompression with a T1–4 laminectomy. After surgery, the patient showed full recovery of his lower-extremity motor function.
Antimicrobial Activities of Hexane Extract and Decussatin from Stembark Extract of Ficus congensis
Authors: Alaribe Chinwendum Stephenie , Shode Francis , Coker Herbert A. B. , Ayoola Gloria , Sunday Adesegun , Singh Nisha , Iwuanyanwu Silva
Published: April 2011

Ficus congensis (Moraceae) is used traditionally in the treatment of various diseases including infectious diseases, infertility, and gastrointestinal disorders. Investigation of hexane extract of the stem bark using chromatographic techniques led to isolation of a xanthone, 1-hydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyxanthone (Decussatin). The compound was elucidated based on spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), UV, IR, and mass spectrometry (MS). Decussatin and the hexane extract were screened in vitro for antibacterial and antifungal activities using broth microdilution (MHB) and disc Agar diffusion (DAD) techniques against Escheichia coli, Bacilus substilis, Klebsiela pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans. Hexane extracts showed potent antibacterial activity against E. coli and B. subtilis with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 8 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL, respectively, while Decussatin of the highest concentration (8 mg/mL) used in this study showed no appreciable antimicrobial activity. Only hexane extract was active against C. albicans with a MIC of 1 mg/mL.
Facile and Convenient One-Pot Process for the Synthesis of Spirooxindole Derivatives in High Optical Purity Using (−)-(S)-Brevicolline as an Organocatalyst
Authors: Macaev Fliur , Sucman Natalia , Shepeli Felix , Zveaghintseva Marina , Pogrebnoi Vsevolod
Published: April 2011

The paper presents an application of the asymmetry approach to spirooxindoles via Brevicolline, Cinchonidine or Cinchonine catalyzed one-pot multicomponent synthesis. Brevicolline, in comparison with Cinchonidine or Cinchonine, catalyzes the reaction of isatins, acetylacetone/ethyl 3-oxobutanoate and malononitrile, with the formation of spiro[oxindole-3,4'-4'H-pirane] derivatives in an optically active form in very good to excellent yields.
L'œil du souverain ? Rôle et pouvoirs des représentants du souverain (főispánok) à la tête des comitats hongrois au XVIIIe siècle
Authors: Vajda Marie-Françoise
Published: April 2011

Dans l’organigramme des comitats, le f?ispán est l’homme du souverain, « le roi dans la province ». Mais le f?ispán hongrois dispose de compétences bien plus larges que le gouverneur français. Chef du comitat, il doit en surveiller tout le fonctionnement, et constituer un appui pour le souverain. Mais le f?ispán est un aristocrate, et il peut être originaire du comitat, où il a sa clientèle, et l’ispanat perpétuel bloque le renouvellement d’une partie du groupe. À la fois noble hongrois et représentant du souverain, le f?ispán est pour le comitat à la fois un chef et un médiateur. Lié au roi par la fidélité et les obligations de sa charge, il est aussi attaché au comitat par les relations personnelles, et les vestiges de la traditionnelle familiaritas. Longtemps, les historiens hongrois ont considéré que le f?ispán vivait loin du comitat dont il ne s’occupait guère. En réalité, cependant, les relations entretenues entre les f?ispán et les administrateurs du comitat semblent bien plaider en faveur d’une implication parfois forte du f?ispán dans l’administration locale. Néanmoins, le rôle du f?ispán pose des questions bien plus larges que le simple fonctionnement de l’administration locale. En transformant les f?ispánok de comitat en commissaires ( f?ispánok ) de district, et en les dotant d’instructions qui modifient à la fois le système des comitats et leur rôle à leur tête, Joseph II met fin à cet équilibre certes fragile mais efficace qui fait du f?ispán l’homme du roi et le protecteur du comitat. Or cette situation n’est pas seulement le fruit de la prudence de ses prédécesseurs, on peut en réalité y voir un résumé de l’institution des comitats où convergent pouvoir politique de la noblesse, pouvoir social de l’aristocratie et autorité royale. Plus qu’un représentant de l’autorité, il faut peut-être voir dans le f?ispán l’une des clefs de voûte du système, permettant de moduler la pression et d’atténuer les tensions qui peuvent s’exprimer de part et d’autre. La présence d’un f?ispán n’est pas ressentie par le comitat comme une exposition directe à l’autorité royale – qui éveillerait systématiquement la suspicion et susciterait sinon le rejet du moins de fermes réserves – mais au contraire, comme une instance de médiation, un recours extérieur et influent en cas de problème au sein du comitat ou avec les instances supérieures. Elle permet aussi aux administrateurs de comitat de se décharger d’une partie des responsabilités.
Les catégories d'odeurs en sont-elles vraiment ?
Authors: Candau Joël , Wathelet Olivier
Published: April 2011

Le langage naturel des odeurs est souvent imprécis et profus. À ce titre, il constitue un défi pour l’étude des processus de catégorisation des stimuli olfactifs. Après un rappel de la théorie roschienne de la catégorisation, nous évaluons sa pertinence dans la manière dont la catégorisation des expériences sensibles est exprimée en langue. Si la catégorisation des couleurs s’accorde assez bien avec cette théorie, nos données ethnographiques ruinent l’idée selon laquelle les « catégories » olfactives sont ce qu’elles prétendent être : elles ne sont pas des catégories du point de vue de la théorie classique et encore moins du point de vue de la théorie des prototypes. Cependant, les stimuli olfactifs sont l’objet de jugements perceptifs qui permettent de construire des pseudo-prototypes, i.e. qui se donnent à voir dans le langage comme des prototypes alors qu’ils n’en sont pas du strict point de vue de leur traitement cognitif. Nous concluons par quelques considérations générales sur les causes possibles de ce « relâchement » catégoriel.
Odeurs, exclamation et haut degré
Authors: Tamba Irène
Published: April 2011

Cet article étudie deux types d’exclamatives, ça pue ! et qu’est-ce que ça pue ! qui servent à exprimer une sensation olfactive immédiate. On observe tout d’abord que ces exclamatives servent à intensifier de manière indistincte à la fois le stimulus odorant et la sensation éprouvée, en raison de la qualification hédonique (positive ou négative) qu’impose le sémantisme lexical des verbes olfactifs. Puis, on montre que l’exclamation est un mode d’expression emphatique qui amplifie la réaction immédiate du locuteur face à une odeur tandis que le quantificateur de tête extrait la composante intensive d’une odeur et indique, par son indéfinition, qu’il s’agit d’une intensité exceptionnelle qui échappe à toute gradation.
De la fragilité à la réclusion et de l'assistance au développement territorial. Diversité et territorialité de la pauvreté et de l'exclusion et des réponses sociales en milieu rural en Bourgogne
Authors: Lyet Philippe , Lambert Gérard , Valle Michel
Published: April 2011

Résumé Les territoires ruraux sont faiblement couverts par les politiques publiques et connaissent des difficultés récurrentes en matière de mobilité et d’isolement. L’exclusion y prend une forme particulière que nous avons nommée réclusion, qui se caractérise par une mise à distance des ressources de l’assistance et par une stigmatisation permanente. Les pauvres se retrouvent comme prisonniers de territoires où ils rencontrent de fortes difficultés d’intégration. Ils se replient sur eux-mêmes, ajoutant à cette réclusion externe une réclusion interne, un retrait de la vie sociale qui est une manière pour eux d’échapper à la honte. Sur certains territoires, les relations d’aide de type clinique se développent dans des dispositifs qui répondent à l’isolement et à la faible mobilité, à la faiblesse de l’offre publique et à la stigmatisation. Inscrits dans un projet politique, ces dispositifs proposent des alternatives à l’assistance, dont on sait depuis G. Simmel qu’elle construit la pauvreté.
Loi organique des C.P.A.S. et loi accueil : quels enjeux pour les C.P.A.S. ?
Authors: Soumoy Hubert
Published: April 2011

Résumé La loi accueil et la loi organique des C.P.A.S. reposent sur le même droit créance que l’on retrouve à l’Article 1 de la loi organique : « toute personne a droit à l’aide sociale ; celle-ci a pour but de mener une vie conforme à la dignité humaine » et qui constitue également l’Article 23 de la Constitution belge. Toutefois, la mise en œuvre de cette disposition par l’État ou par les communes (et les C.P.A.S. en particulier) diverge complètement dans ces deux législations tant au niveau de l’interprétation de ce droit créance qu’au niveau des moyens financiers consentis. Le texte se propose d’analyser ces divergences.
Touché par les dettes. Une perspective d'aide durable à la gestion du budget
Authors: Brodala Jan
Published: April 2011

Résumé Les dettes et les problèmes budgétaires ont un impact émotionnel et social élevé sur les familles. L’aide durable à la gestion du budget doit être orientée sur les lignes de force de l’approche sociale durable. La pratique de l’aide ou médiation de dettes doit se baser sur les trois piliers de l’empowerment : l’emprise sur sa vie, la participation et la conscientisation critique. De plus, l’impact écologique et social de notre société de consommation a atteint ses limites.
La relation entre intervenants sociaux et personnes vivant dans la pauvreté. Affronter l'exclusion et la dépendance
Authors: Driessens Kristel
Published: April 2011

Résumé Dans cet article, nous examinons comment les familles pauvres vivent des services sociaux et quelles tensions les travailleurs sociaux éprouvent dans leurs relations avec les clients pauvres. Les succès des relations de prise en charge sont généralement caractérisés par des changements de rôles flexibles adaptés aux besoins et aux attentes du client, par le dialogue avec le client et par l’ouverture et le respect pour leur point de vue, leurs forces, leurs motivations et leur environnement, en prenant en compte le rythme du client et ses possibilités.
Travail social : le développement dans un réseau de pratiques relationnelles
Authors: Cuyvers Guido , De Keyser Nicole
Published: April 2011

Résumé Dans cet article, nous nous centrons d’abord sur la dimension formative de l’enseignement supérieur social. Il nous paraît, avant tout, nécessaire que les étudiants développent des opinions sur les problématiques de fond et les paradigmes sous-jacents des phénomènes du système sociétal. Après avoir abordé le rôle de la formation au travail social en relation avec le travail de terrain, nous formulons un point de vue sur la place que la recherche peut ou doit avoir dans ces formations. En conclusion, nous nous focalisons sur le rôle de la formation dans la société. Tout aussi important est le fait que l’identité du travail social lui-même est en prise avec une réflexion critique.
R&D Organization: Cooperation or Cross-Licensing?
Authors: Cabon-Dhersin Marie-Laure , Lahmandi-Ayed Rim
Published: April 2011

Résumé Dans le système des licences croisées, les firmes ont la possibilité de se céder mutuellement et de manière non-coopérative, les résultats de leurs efforts en R&D. Tout d’abord, le papier propose une modélisation simple de ce système. Ensuite, nous comparons ce système avec le « RJV Cartel », une forme de coopération en R&D considérée comme étant la meilleure. Nous montrons que le système de licences croisées peut être meilleur que le RJV cartel, du point de vue du bien-être social. En termes de politique concurrentielle, pour les firmes, le meilleur mode de coopération est l’exploitation jointe. Les firmes sont tentées par ce type de coopération de la même manière, qu’elles opèrent initialement dans un système de licences croisées ou dans un RJV cartel. Classification JEL : C72, L24, D23.