bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Codeshare Flight-Profitability System at Delta Air Lines
Authors: O'Neal Jerome W. , Jacob Michael S. , Farmer Adam K. , Martin Kristi G.
Published: October 2007

Delta Air Lines, Inc., forms alliances with other airlines to expand the network of markets it can serve through a process known as codesharing. Codesharing allows an airline to place its marketing code on an alliance partner's flights. A carrier can then sell these flights, although an alliance partner operates them. Alliances can improve the revenue streams of their members; however, the amount of revenue increase depends significantly on which flights are chosen for codeshare. As alliances have evolved, the number of flights being codeshared has grown, and the rules that airlines must follow have become more complex. The authors have built a codeshare flight-profitability system that automates the codeshare flight-selection process. The system chooses a set of codeshare flights that maximizes total system revenue for Delta while satisfying the rules that the alliance, the government, and the airlines' unions have set. The initial impact of this decision-making tool appears to be promising. Codeshared decisions, which Delta previously made without the benefit of optimization technologies, took one to two days to complete. The new system for choosing codeshared flights seeks to increase Delta's operating revenue by up to $50 M per year while reducing the planning cycle to several hours.
Dysregulated BMP Signaling and Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation of Connective Tissue Progenitor Cells From Patients With Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP)
Authors: Billings Paul C , Fiori Jennifer L , Bentwood Jennifer L , O'Connell Michael P , Jiao Xiangyang , Nussbaum Burton , Caron Robert J , Shore Eileen M , Kaplan Frederick S
Published: October 2007

The study of FOP, a disabling genetic disorder of progressive heterotopic ossification, is hampered by the lack of readily available connective tissue progenitor cells. We isolated such cells from discarded primary teeth of patients with FOP and controls and discovered dysregulation of BMP signaling and rapid osteoblast differentiation in FOP cells compared with control cells.

Introduction: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), the most disabling condition of progressive heterotopic ossification in humans, is caused by a recurrent heterozygous missense mutation in activin receptor IA (ACVR1), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptor, in all classically affected individuals. A comprehensive understanding of FOP has been limited, in part, by a lack of readily available connective tissue progenitor cells in which to study the molecular pathology of this disorder.

Materials and Methods: We derived connective tissue progenitor cells from discarded primary teeth (SHED cells) of patients with FOP and controls and examined BMP signaling and osteogenic differentiation in these cells.

Results: SHED cells transmitted BMP signals through both the SMAD and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and responded to BMP4 treatment by inducing BMP responsive genes. FOP cells showed ligand-independent BMP signaling and ligand-dependent hyper-responsiveness to BMP stimulation. Furthermore, FOP cells showed more rapid differentiation to an osteogenic phenotype than control cells.

Conclusions: This is the first study of BMP signaling and osteogenic differentiation in connective tissue progenitor cells from patients with FOP. Our data strongly support both basal and ligand-stimulated dysregulation of BMP signaling consistent with in silico studies of the mutant ACVR1 receptor in this condition. This study substantially extends our understanding of dysregulated BMP signaling in a progenitor cell population relevant to the pathogenesis of this catastrophic disorder of progressive ectopic ossification.
Algorithm-Based Qualitative and Semiquantitative Identification of Prevalent Vertebral Fracture: Agreement Between Different Readers, Imaging Modalities, and Diagnostic Approaches
Authors: Ferrar Lynne , Jiang Guirong , Schousboe John T , DeBold Charles R , Eastell Richard
Published: October 2007

We compared SQ and ABQ diagnosis of VF imaged by radiography and X-ray absorptiometry. Mild ABQ VF had stronger associations with osteoporosis than mild SQ VF. Interobserver agreement (radiographic diagnosis) was better for ABQ.

Introduction: Vertebral fracture (VF) assessment from images acquired by X-ray absorptiometry (VFA) is often based on a semiquantitative approach (SQ); prevalent VF is identified if vertebral height appears reduced by >20%. Algorithm-based qualitative definition of osteoporotic VF (ABQ) requires evidence of endplate depression, and there is no threshold for reduction in vertebral height. The aims of this study were to (1) compare the prevalence of VFs; (2) compare the characteristics of women with and without VFs; (3) compare interobserver agreement; and (4) compare agreement between methods and imaging modalities for ABQ and SQ definitions of VFs.

Materials and Methods: Spine radiographs and absorptiometry images for 203 elderly women were assessed using ABQ (readers ABQ-1 and ABQ-2). These readings were compared with SQ assessments (readers SQ-1 and SQ-2) of the same images performed in a previous study. Agreement between readers and methods was assessed by kappa (κ) statistics.

Results: The prevalence of VF was 15–18% (radiography) and 12–24% (VFA) for ABQ and SQ, respectively. Women with ABQ or SQ fractures were older and had lower BMD than those without fracture (p < 0.01). Mild ABQ (but not SQ) VF was associated with low BMD. κ scores for interobserver agreement for radiography and VFA, respectively, were as follows: ABQ, κ = 0.74 (95% CI, 0.60, 0.87) and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.48, 0.81); SQ, κ = 0.53 (95% CI, 0.46, 0.60) and 0.51 (95% CI, 0.44, 0.58). For agreement between ABQ-1 and SQ-1, κ = 0.55 (95% CI, 0.39, 0.72) for radiography and 0.41 (95% CI, 0.25, 0.58 for VFA.

Conclusions: The prevalence of radiographic VF identified by ABQ and SQ was similar, but on VFA was 50% higher for SQ. Mild ABQ VF was associated with low BMD. Interobserver agreement for radiographic diagnosis was significantly better for ABQ than for SQ. Agreement between ABQ and SQ was moderate.
Regulation of Expression and Function of Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 (DP4), DP8/9, and DP10 in Allergic Responses of the Lung in Rats
Authors: Schade Jutta , Stephan Michael , Schmiedl Andreas , Wagner Leona , Niestroj André J. , Demuth Hans-Ulrich , Frerker Nadine , Klemann Christian , Raber Kerstin A. , Pabst Reinhard , Hörsten Stephan von
Published: October 2007

The expression of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DP4, CD26) affects T-cell recruitment to lungs in an experimental rat asthma model. Furthermore, the gene of the structural homologous DP10 represents a susceptibility locus for asthma in humans, and the functional homologous DP8/9 are expressed in human leukocytes. Thus, although several mechanisms may account for a role of DP4-like peptidases in asthma, detailed information on their anatomical sites of expression and function in lungs is lacking. Therefore, bronchi and lung parenchyma were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and histochemical/enzymatic activity assays, as well as quantitative real-time PCR for this family of peptidases in naïve and asthmatic rat lungs derived from wild-type F344 and DP4-deficient F344 rat strains. Surprisingly, results show not only that the induction of experimental asthma increases DP4 enzymatic activity in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and parenchyma, but also that DP8/9 enzymatic activity is regulated and, as well as the expression of DP10, primarily found in the bronchial epithelium of the airways. This is the first report showing a differential and site-specific DP4-like expression and function in the lungs, suggesting a pathophysiologically significant role in asthma.
Physical Modeling of Landslide Stabilization Methods in an Overconsolidated Clay
Authors: Fioravante V.
Published: October 2007

This paper describes some of the main results of physical modeling tests performed on retaining structures. The modeling arose from the design of stabilizing structures for a landslide with a natural slope angle of 10°, a thickness of about 15 m, a 90 m wide and 600 m long extension, which occurred in overconsolidated clay. The medium plasticity inorganic clay soil was characterized by a shear resistance peak angle, φP′=24.7° and a residual angle φR′=10.5°. Two types of stabilizing structure models fixed into the subsoil, were adopted: the first, consisted of a diaphragm wall and the second of three aligned piers; both models were instrumented with strain gages. The sliding block was mechanically pushed against the structure up to failure, in order to assess the behavior of the structures in displacing ground. This paper presents details of the performed tests, the procedures that were adopted and an analysis of the gathered results according to “empirical-based” and “pressure-based” design methods.
Nonfatal and Fatal Self‐Harm Injuries Among Children Aged 10–14 Years—United States and Oregon, 2001–2003
Authors: Vajani Madhavi , Annest Joseph L. , Crosby Alex E. , Alexander Janice D. , Millet Lisa M.
Published: October 2007

Fatal and nonfatal injuries due to suicidal behavior among younger adolescents are of growing concern for many communities. We examined the incidence and patterns of these injuries among persons aged 10–14 years using three databases, two national and a third from Oregon. Suffocation and firearm gunshot were the leading external causes of suicide; poisoning and cutting/piercing were the leading causes of nonfatal self‐harm injuries. The most common psychosocial factors associated with those treated in emergency departments for self‐harm injuries were psychological conditions; drug/alcohol involvement; and adverse circumstances, including family discord, school problems, and physical/sexual abuse. Analysis of population‐based data from these databases are part of the public health approach and can help direct much needed research and prevention efforts that address self‐harming behavior in these younger adolescents.
Transgender Youth and Life‐Threatening Behaviors
Authors: Grossman Arnold H. , D'Augelli Anthony R.
Published: October 2007

Sexual minority status is a key risk factor for suicide among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth; however, it has not been studied among transgender youth. Fifty‐five transgender youth reported on their life‐threatening behaviors. Nearly half of the sample reported having seriously thought about taking their lives and one quarter reported suicide attempts. Factors significantly related to having made a suicide attempt included suicidal ideation related to transgender identity; experiences of past parental verbal and physical abuse; and lower body esteem, especially weight satisfaction and thoughts of how others evaluate the youths' bodies. Sexual minority status is a key risk factor for life‐threatening behaviors among transgender youth.
Population Size and Suicide in U.S. Cities: A Static and Dynamic Exploration
Authors: McCall Patricia L. , Tittle Charles R.
Published: October 2007

The relationship between city population size and suicide rates rarely has been examined directly, though scholars often assume such a relationship exists based on studies of the association between suicide rates and urbanization (percent of the population living in cities) in various social contexts. In an effort to determine the basic association between suicide rates and city population size, we analyze data for four time points, 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990, using a random sample of U.S. cities with 10,000 or more population in 1960. In addition, we conduct a time series analysis of change in population size and change in suicide rates over a two decade period. Results indicate that an association between population and suicide is atypical, and even when observed is highly sensitive to methodological specifications. The results call into question the notion that larger city population size is conducive to suicide as well as the assumption that studies of suicide and urbanization can substitute for studies of suicide and city population size.
Attitudes Toward Suicide Among Chinese People in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Sing , Tsang Adley , Li Xian‐yun , Phillips Michael Robert , Kleinman Arthur
Published: October 2007

Since suicide in Chinese people exhibits certain distinctive characteristics, it is important to develop indigenous measures to assess Chinese attitudes toward suicide that may be used to inform suicide reduction programs. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods, we developed a Hong Kong version of the Chinese Attitude toward Suicide Questionnaire (CASQ‐HK) which assesses attitudes toward suicide, suicidal inclination under 12 hypothetical scenarios, and prior suicidal experience. A convenience sample of 1,226 people completed the self‐report questionnaire. In keeping with Chinese tradition, respondents revealed both tolerant and condemning attitudes that varied with their sociodemographic characteristics. Generally, they were not strongly inclined to consider suicide in the presence of difficult scenarios. Female gender, older age, and the presence of suicidal ideation were associated with more contemplation of suicide.
Within Sight: Three-Dimensional Perspectives on Women and Banjos in the Late Nineteenth Century
Authors: Hamessley Lydia
Published: October 2007

During the last decades of the nineteenth century, women figured prominently in a marketing campaign by banjo manufacturers who sought to make the banjo a respectable instrument for ladies. Their overarching aim was to "elevate" the banjo's status from its African-American and minstrel-show associations, thereby making the instrument acceptable in white bourgeois society. At the same time, stereoview cards, three-dimensional photographs produced by the millions, were a popular parlor entertainment featuring a variety of contemporary images, including women playing the banjo. Yet, instead of depicting a genteel lady in the parlor playing her beribboned banjo, the stereoviews presented humorous and sometimes risque scenes of banjo-playing women. Further, virtually no stereoviews exist that show the banjo played by a lady in a parlor setting. Through a study of stereoscopic depictions of women in a variety of scenes, I place these unexpected images of women's music-making in a context that explains their significance. In particular I examine the way stereoviews provide insights about the tensions regarding the position and status of women in late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century American culture as revealed in the figure of the New Woman.

Typical of constructions of this threatening figure, stereographic images picture the New Woman wearing bloomers, riding bicycles, attending college, smoking, neglecting her wifely duties and children, and even indulging in lesbian eroticism. Yet, stereoviews are distinctive in that they also show the New Woman playing the banjo, and I argue that the link between the banjo and the New Woman had a decisive and negative impact on the effectiveness of the banjo elevation project. Through an examination of these three-dimensional views, and drawing on late-nineteenth-century writing and poetry about the banjo, I show how the banjo in the hands of the New Woman became a cautionary cultural icon for middle- and upper-class women, subverting the respectable image of the parlor banjo and the bourgeois women who played it. I place this new evidence in the context of Karen Linn's paradigm describing the banjo elevation project as one that sought to shift the banjo from the realm of sentimental values to official values. The figure of the New Woman does not fit within Linn's dichotomy; rather, she falls outside both sets of values. Often viewed as a third sex herself, in a sense mirroring the gender tensions surrounding the banjo, the New Woman helped to shift the banjo into a third realm, that of revolutionary and perhaps even decadent values. This study enhances what we know about the way musical instruments have been used to reconfigure attitudes toward gender roles in the popular imagination and furthers our understanding of the complex role women have played in the history of the banjo. Moreover, this evidence demonstrates how gender and sexuality can affect the reception of music, and musical instruments, through powerful iconographic images.
Global Climate Change and Children's Health
Authors: Shea Katherine M. ,   and the Committee on Environmental Health
Published: October 2007

This Technical Report was revised. See https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-065505.

There is a broad scientific consensus that the global climate is warming, the process is accelerating, and that human activities are very likely (>90% probability) the main cause. This warming will have effects on ecosystems and human health, many of them adverse. Children will experience both the direct and indirect effects of climate change. Actions taken by individuals, communities, businesses, and governments will affect the magnitude and rate of global climate change and resultant health impacts. This technical report reviews the nature of the global problem and anticipated health effects on children and supports the recommendations in the accompanying policy statement on climate change and children's health.
Sunshine and suicide at the tropic of Capricorn, São Paulo, Brazil, 1996-2004
Authors: Nejar Kennedy A. , Benseñor Isabela M , Lotufo Paulo A.
Published: October 2007

Several studies have confirmed seasonal variation in suicide rates according to hours of sunshine. The suicide pattern was assessed in São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, at the tropic of Capricorn from 1996 to 2004. Poisson regression was employed to estimate parameters of seasonality, as well as to verify associations for each day between daylight duration and suicide. During the nine-year study period, there were 3,984 suicides (76.9% in men; median age=38.7 years old). Seasonal averages of suicides were similar, as were monthly averages. Poisson regression did not reveal any association between suicide rates and hours of sunshine (p=0.45) for both sexes. In conclusion, no seasonal pattern was observed for suicides.
Impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the incidence of opportunistic infections, hospitalizations and mortality among children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Authors: Candiani Talitah M. S. , Pinto Jorge , Cardoso Claudete A. Araújo , Carvalho Inácio R. , Dias Arlete C. M. , Carneiro Mariângela , Goulart Eugênio A.
Published: October 2007

The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be evaluated using indicators, such as rates of opportunistic infections, hospitalizations by cause of infection, and associated death. This study aimed to estimate the impact of HAART on the incidence of these indicators, in children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS. It was a hybrid cohort study; 371 patients were followed from 1989 to 2003. In December 2003, 76% of the patients were still being followed, while 12.1% had died, 9.5% had dropped out, and 2.4% had been transferred. The overall rate of opportunistic infections was 18.32 infections/100 persons-year and 2.63 in the pre- and post-HAART periods, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of developing an opportunistic infection was 5.4 times greater and 3.3 times greater for hospitalization risk before HAART. Respiratory causes represented 65% of the hospitalizations and they were reduced by 44.6% with therapeutic intervention. The average hospital stay of 15 days was reduced to 9.There was a post-HAART decline in deaths of 38%. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of HAART in significantly reducing opportunistic infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in this Brazilian cohort.
Rapid tests for diagnosing syphilis: validation in an STD clinic in the Amazon Region, Brazil
Authors: Benzaken Adele Schwartz , Galbán García Enrique , Sardinha José Carlos Gomes , Dutra Junior João Catarino , Peeling Rosanna
Published: October 2007

Correct, early diagnosis and treatment of syphilis are essential for its control. Traditional diagnostic tests depend on specialized equipment, installations, and human resources. In the search for quick, simple tests, a project was conducted on the validation and reproducibility of four different tests, previously assessed by WHO reference laboratories. The study also verified the operational characteristics and acceptance by patients and health professionals. Samples obtained at an STD clinic were from 541 and 248 patients with 51 and 52 positive results according to FTA-Abs (gold standard) in studies 1 and 2, respectively. The sensitivity varied from 84 to 96%, specificity was greater than 98%, and PPV was > 90%. Reproducibility was > 97% and kappa index 0.94, comparing the results obtained by different health workers. The tests took less than 20 minutes to perform, and more than 90% of patients agreed to wait up to two hours for the results. The tests presented the necessary requirements for use in diagnosis of syphilis, thus providing an additional option for controlling this disease.
Dealing with new multilingualism in Europe
Authors: Extra Guus
Published: October 2007

The focus of this paper is on immigrant minority languages in urban Western Europe. Both multidisciplinary and cross-national perspectives will be offered on two major domains in which language transmission occurs, i.e., the domestic domain and the public domain. Prototypical of these two domains are the home and the school, respectively. At home, language transmission occurs between parents and children; at school this occurs between teachers and pupils. Viewed from the perspectives of majority language speakersversusminority language speakers, language transmission becomes a very different issue. In the case of majority language speakers, language transmission at home and at school is commonly taken for granted: at home, parents speak this language usually with their children; at school this language is usually the only or major subject and medium of instruction. In the case of minority language speakers, there is usually a mismatch between the language of the home and the language of the school. Whether parents in such a context continue to transmit their language to their children is strongly dependent on the degree to which these parents conceive of this language as a core value of cultural identity.

After a short introduction, we offerphenomenologicalperspectives on the semantics of our field of study and some central European notions in this field. Next we discuss major agencies and documents onlanguage rightsat the global and European level. We also discuss the utilisation and effects of differentdemographiccriteria for the definition and identification of (school) population groups in a multicultural society. Next we offersociolinguisticperspectives on the distribution and vitality of immigrant minority languages across Europe. In this context the rationale and major outcomes of theMultilingual Cities Project, realised in six major multicultural cities in different European Union nation-states, are presented. Finally we offer comparative perspectives oneducationalpolicies and practices in the domain of immigrant minority languages in the six European Union countries under discussion. We conclude with an overview on how multilingualism can be promoted for all children in an increasingly multicultural Europe.

Immigrants have made this country more American, not less American. (George W. Bush, presidential election campaign 2004)
The Ideology of interculturality in Japanese language-in-education policy
Authors: Liddicoat Anthony J.
Published: October 2007

Language learning is frequently justified as a vehicle for promoting intercultural communication and understanding, and language-in-education policies have increasingly come to reflect this preoccupation in their rhetoric. This paper will examine the ways in which concepts relating to interculturality are constructed in Japanese language policy documents. It will explore in particular the ways in which ideologies of nationalism and Japanese identity have an impact on understandings of the nature and purpose of interculturality and how these are developed discursively in Japanese language-in-education policy documents. Language policies construct a discourse of interculturality which focuses on the development of a nationalistic adherence to a particular conceptualisation of Japanese identity, which is unique, homogenous, and monolithic. These themes will be discussed in the contexts of Japanese policy documents relating to foreign language teaching and Japanese language spread.
Methods for Removing Bacterial Biofilms: In Vitro Study using Clinical Chronic Rhinosinusitis Specimens
Authors: Desrosiers Martin , Myntti Matthew , James Garth
Published: October 2007

Background

Bacterial biofilms may be involved in refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). In vitro, we studied methods for removing biofilms formed by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Methods

Bacterial isolates were obtained from patients with refractory CRS and were plated and treated with either static administration of citric acid/zwitterionic surfactant (CAZS), saline delivered with hydrodynamic force, or CAZS delivered hydrodynamically. Results were assessed by counting colony-forming units (CFUs) and by confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM).

Results

All treatments produced significant reductions in CFU counts (p ≥ 0.002). Hydrodynamic CAZS provided the greatest reduction, decreasing CFU counts from control values by 3.9 ± 0.3 logs and 5.2 ± 0.5 logs for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively (99.9% reduction; p = 0.001). CSLM showed decreases in biofilm coverage.

Conclusion

Hydrodynamic delivery of a soap-like surfactant and a calcium-ion sequestering agent may disrupt biofilms associated with CRS. Our results may be relevant to a new approach to refractory CRS.
Innate and Adaptive Mediators in Cystic Fibrosis and Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Skinner Margaret L. , Schlosser Rodney J. , Lathers Deanne , Neal Jeffrey G. , Woodworth Bradford A. , Hall Jeffrey , Newton Danforth A. , Baatz John E.
Published: October 2007

Background

Surfactant-associated proteins (SP) A and D are both innate immunity mediators and produced in normal and diseased sinus mucosa. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with Th1 adaptive inflammation whereas allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is associated with Th2 adaptive inflammation. The purpose of this study is to show and quantify the presence of SP A, SP D, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, (a Th1 marker), and eotaxin (a Th2 marker) in normal and diseased sinus mucosa.

Methods

Intraoperative sinus mucosal biopsy specimens from human volunteers were obtained during endoscopic sinus surgery for CF (n = 4), AFRS (n = 10), and normal controls (CTLs; n = 4). Specimens were evaluated for presence and quantity of SP A, SP D, and TNF-alpha using Western blot with semiquantitative immunoblot analysis. Eotaxin was quantified using ELISA immunoassay. Results were standardized and reported as picograms of mediator per microgram of total protein.

Results

SP A, SP D, and TNF-alpha levels in CF tissue extracts were 2–10 times higher than levels in AFRS tissue (with SP D and TNF-alpha reaching statistical significance) but CF tissue was not significantly higher than CTL tissue. SP A, SP D, and TNF-alpha were not significantly elevated in AFRS. Eotaxin showed elevated levels in CF and AFRS when compared with CTLs (p = 0.03 and 0.003, respectively).

Conclusion

SP D and TNF-alpha are significantly increased in CF compared with AFRS, suggesting activation of both innate immunity and Th1-mediated inflammation and potential correlation between SPs and downstream adaptive immune responses.
Management of Unexpected Cerebrospinal Fluid Fistulae during Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Authors: Platt Michael P. , Shaye David , Parnes Steven M.
Published: October 2007

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and perioperative management of patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in New York State.

Methods

A questionnaire was mailed to otolaryngologists in New York State who were registered with the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in November 2005. Questions addressed the incidence and perioperative care of patients with successful closure of unexpected CSF fistula during ESS.

Results

Twenty-five percent of respondents have experienced at least one episode of unexpected CSF fistula during ESS over the prior 5 years, with a calculated incidence of 0.16%. Surgeons most often (46%) observed patients for 1–2 days. Antibiotics were used in 93% of patients. A lumbar drain was most commonly not used. Repair techniques most often used an intranasal flap or graft (92%).

Conclusion

The incidence of unexpected CSF fistula during ESS may be lower than previously reported. A majority of surgeons use an intranasal flap or graft in repair with antibiotic use, with no consensus regarding use of lumbar drain or inpatient observation. More study is needed to determine consensus algorithms for management of CSF leaks during ESS.
Cross-Cultural Application of the “Sniffin’ Sticks” Odor Identification Test
Authors: Shu Chih-Hung , Yuan Ben-Chih , Lin Shih-Hsiang , Lin Ching-Zong
Published: October 2007

Background

Odor identification tasks are an important tool for the clinical assessment of olfactory function. However, cultural differences prevent odor identification tests from being used in different countries, because odor identification is strongly dependent on familiarity with these odors. The “Sniffin’ Sticks” olfactory test has been developed in Europe and is used for assessment of olfactory function in many European countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of the “Sniffin’ Sticks” odor identification test in an area with a different culture compared with its place of origin.

Methods

The 16 odors in the “Sniffin’ Stick” odor identification test were kept the same but some descriptors were changed compared with the original version. One odor was presented for 3 seconds. Then, subjects chose an item from a list of four descriptors. Two hundred two subjectively normosmic subjects were tested. Forty-two subjects were retested 1 week after the first test.

Results

Mean odor identification scores of age groups 18–35 years, 36–55 years, and >55 years were 14.8, 14.7, and 13.3, respectively. The score at the 10th percentile was 13.0 in the youngest group of subjects. Age-related decrease of odor identification scores was clearly established. The decrease of the odor identification score was most obvious in subjects aged 63–67 years. The coefficient of correlation between test and retest was 0.76.

Conclusion

After revision of the descriptors, the “Sniffin’ Sticks” odor identification test appears to be suited for assessment of olfactory identification function in an Asian region.
Medical Malpractice and Rhinology
Authors: Dawson Douglas E. , Kraus Eric M.
Published: October 2007

Background

Physicians facing malpractice litigation are in uncharted territory. The language, concepts, rules, and strategies of the legal system are foreign to science-based physicians. Understanding the statistics of rhinology malpractice litigation may aid the physician to cope with the assault of a claim.

Methods

Information from the 2006 Physician Insurers Association of America (PIAA) and the 2006 PIAA Risk Management Report (RMR)–Otorhinolaryngology were searched for claims data referable to the nose, nasal chamber, and paranasal sinuses. The PIAA data sharing report (DSR) is the largest single resource of malpractice claims data containing both settlement and trial judgment information.

Results

The nose, nasal cavity, and paranasal sinuses represent nearly two-thirds of the total indemnity paid for improper performance from otolaryngology head and neck surgery (Oto-HNS) medical malpractice claims between 1985 and 2005 based on claims information. Improper performance accounts for 50.3% of total monies paid ($107.6 million of $213.6 million) to resolve Oto-HNS claims in this period. Of nearly 2400 operative claims closed in the period of 1985–2005, 34.1% involved procedures on the nose and sinuses. In the past 6 years, $103.5 million indemnity has been added to the otolaryngology total.

Conclusion

The area of endoscopic sinus surgery has substantially contributed to Oto-HNS claims in the PIAA DSR. Despite malpractice being a cost of medical practice, every claim is perceived as an assault on the surgeon's competence. Ensuring informed consent and complete documentation may assist the provider in defending their care.
Minitrephination as an Adjunctive Measure in the Endoscopic Management of Complex Frontal Sinus Disease
Authors: Cohen Alen N. , Wang Marilene B.
Published: October 2007

Background

Frontal sinus disease and its surgical management continues to remain an area of controversy among rhinologists. This is evidenced by the multitude of surgical procedures, both external and endoscopic, that have been developed in its management. This study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of frontal sinus minitrephination in combination with endoscopic frontal sinus exploration for the management of complex frontal sinus disease.

Methods

A retrospective chart review identified 13 patients treated with minitrephination, in conjunction with endoscopic frontal sinus exploration, at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center or West Los Angeles VA Medical Center from July 2004 to October 2005.

Results

Thirteen patients with diagnoses of chronic sinusitis (n = 10), nasal polyposis (n = 7), frontal mucocele (n = 4), allergic fungal sinusitis (n = 3), and inverting papilloma (n = 1) underwent either unilateral (n = 9) or bilateral (n = 4) minitrephination during primary or revision functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Median follow-up was 14.2 months. There were no complications attributed to the procedure, and all patients had improvement of their sinus symptoms and displayed no evidence of recurrence of their frontal sinus disease at last follow-up.

Conclusion

Minitrephination is a safe and effective adjunct in the management of complex frontal sinus disease, as it allows identification of the frontal recess and vigorous irrigation of the sinus contents.
Chronic Nasal Obstruction Causes Daytime Sleepiness and Decreased Quality of Life Even in the Absence of Snoring
Authors: Udaka Tsuyoshi , Suzuki Hideaki , Fujimura Takeyuki , Hiraki Nobuaki , Ohkubo Junichi , Shiomori Teruo , Ueda Narihisa , Hashida Koichi , Mori Takanori , Fujino Yoshihisa
Published: October 2007

Background

There has been a growing awareness that nasal obstruction may impair various daily and social activities. We performed a questionnaire survey in a working population to clarify the contribution made by snoring concomitant with nasal obstruction to daytime sleepiness and quality of life (QOL).

Methods

Seven thousand nine hundred eighty daytime workers were asked to complete questionnaires, 7702 responded, and the data from 3442 subjects were finally analyzed. Nasal obstruction and snoring were graded into three and four categories, respectively. Daytime sleepiness and QOL were assessed by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, respectively.

Results

Subjects with chronic nasal obstruction, even if snoring was absent, reported significantly higher ESS scores and lower QOL scores than control subjects, and the presence of habitual snoring had an additive influence on these changes. The ESS and mental QOL scores adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index showed the same tendency.

Conclusion

Induction of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a possible cause of excessive daytime sleepiness and impaired QOL in subjects with nasal obstruction. A variant of SDB such as silent upper respiratory resistance syndrome may participate in this phenomenon in the absence of snoring.
Single-Molecule Luminescence Spectroscopy Induced by Local Electron Tunneling
Authors: Brodard Pierre
Published: October 2007

Chemical identification at the single-molecular scale requires high spatial resolution as well as rich intrinsic information on the nature of the sample. Fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra of individual fullerene molecules excited by the highly localized current of electrons in
a scanning tunneling microscope junction are presented. Pure electronic as well as vibronically induced bands are assigned by comparison with non-local spectroscopy and results of quantum chemical calculations, leading to unambiguous chemical identification of C60 molecules on NaCl-covered
Au(111) substrates. Future developments are discussed.
Ultrafast Excited-State Dynamics in Biological Environments
Authors: Fürstenberg Alexandre , Vauthey Eric
Published: October 2007

We discuss and illustrate by several examples how the ultrafast excited-state dynamics of a chromophore can be altered when changing its environment from a homogenous solution to a biological molecule such as proteins or nucleic acids.
Dual Luminescence and Long-Lived Charge-Separated States in Donor-Acceptor Assemblies Based on Tetrathiafulvalene-Fused Ruthenium(II)-Polypyridine Complexes
Authors: Leiggener Claudia , Dupont Nathalie , Liu Shi-Xia , Goze Christine , Decurtins Silvio , Breitler Elvira , Hauser Andreas
Published: October 2007

The creation of long-lived charge-separated states in donor–acceptor assemblies has been the goal of many studies aimed at mimicking the primary processes in photosynthesis. Here we present such assemblies based on tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) as electron donor and a dipyridophenazine
(dppz) unit as electron acceptor in the form of a fused ligand (TTF-dppz) coordinated to ruthenium(II) via the dipyrido coordination site and with 2,2?-bipyridine (bpy) as auxiliary ligand, namely [Ru(bpy)3?x(TTF-dppz)x]2+ (x = 1?3).
For x = 2, irradiation into the metal to dppz charge transfer transition results in electron transfer from TTF to ruthenium, thus creating a charge-separated state best described by [(TTF+-dppz)Ru(dppz?-TTF)(bpy)]2+ with a lifetime of 2.5 ?s in dichloromethane.
Mechanistic Organic Photochemistry
Authors: Wirz Jakob
Published: October 2007

The photochemistry group in Basel has focused on the identification and characterization of organic reactive intermediates by flash photolysis with optical and infrared detection. In recent years, these techniques have been applied predominantly to determine the release rates of commonly
used photoremovable protecting groups.
Clean and Easy Photochemistry
Authors: Ciana Claire-Lise , Bochet Christian G.
Published: October 2007

In this paper we try to convince you that the usual prejudices against photochemistry are not always well founded, supported by examples from the literature and from our own work. In fact, photochemistry can be a very powerful tool, for example in some elegant total syntheses which
use key photochemical steps. Furthermore, the exploitation of chromatic orthogonality which allows wavelength-selective reactions, and recent strategies opening the possibility of enantioselective catalysis in photochemical reactions, expand the scope of this versatile synthetic tool. Finally,
state-of-art LED-technology has allowed the development of small and easy-to-use photoreactors.
Development of Damage Model to Analyze Stabilized Soil Layers Subjected to Repetitive Aircraft Loadings
Authors: Heymsfield Ernest , Hodo Wayne D. , Wahl Ronald E.
Published: October 2007

The U.S. Army Engineering Research and Development Center is developing methods to construct a contingency airfield within a short time that can support C-17 aircraft loadings. The proposed approach is to construct the runway site surface by chemically stabilizing the in-place top soil layer. To develop an optimal stabilized soil mixture, a suite of soil–chemical mixture combinations was examined. Because of the complexity and expense of full-scale testing, a numerical approach is being developed to predict stabilized soil response at contingency airfields. Results from the numerical approach will then be used to supplement data obtained from full-scale tests. Three stabilized soil mixtures were investigated by using stabilizing agents of 6% cement, 4% cement, and 4% cement plus 1.5-in. (38-mm) polypropylene fibers. These three mixtures were evaluated for strength and durability from unconfined compression and repeated load tests. A total of 33 unconfined compression load tests and 48 unconfined repeated load tests were conducted. A numerical model using damage is presented to predict stabilized soil behavior in response to repetitive loading. The damage model is calibrated by using only two material properties and two damage parameters. Results of this study indicate that stabilized soil exhibits plastic behavior and therefore a numerical model for stabilized soil must consider both damage and plastic behavior.
Get In, Get Out, Come Back!
Authors: Gillespie James S. , McGhee Kevin K.
Published: October 2007

Pavement roughness affects the subjective quality of the ride for the traveler and also affects the cost of operating the vehicle. Less frequent resurfacing will reduce the owner agency's maintenance cost and the motorist's delay cost and will increase the motorist's vehicle operating cost. Analysis of a sample of Virginia Department of Transportation pavements indicates that the roughness of a pavement surface deteriorates—that is, increases—by about 1.23 in. per mile per year from the time it is placed until the time it is resurfaced. Recent reports from the WesTrack facility in Nevada, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the National Center for Asphalt Technology pavement test track in Alabama suggest that a gradual increase in roughness will mean a gradual reduction in fuel economy for the vehicles that use the road. Synthesis of these findings makes it possible to compare the maintenance cost to the owner agency against the travel time and operating costs to the motoring public, for maintenance resurfacing cycles of different lengths and for different initial roughnesses. This cost comparison finds that a decrease in the initial roughness of a new overlay reduces the sum of agency costs and user costs. Although a decrease in initial roughness apparently makes it feasible to prolong the resurfacing cycle, the cycle length that achieves the lowest total annualized cost (resurfacing cost plus delay cost plus fuel expense) remains largely the same: about 10 years. The trade-off between agency costs and user costs that the research findings imply is a caveat to the highway maintenance axiom, “Get in, get out, stay out!”
Development of Pavement Performance Models to Account for Frost Effects and Their Application to Mechanistic–Empirical Design Guide Calibration
Authors: Puccinelli J. , Jackson N.
Published: October 2007

Although it has long been recognized that the presence of frost is a factor in the performance of pavements, little national research has been conducted to study the long-term performance differences caused by frost exposure. To address this concern, a pooled fund study, Effect of Multiple Freeze Cycles and Deep Frost Penetration on Pavement Performance and Cost, was conducted under the direction of the FHWA Long-Term Pavement Performance data analysis program. This study not only explored the effect of frost on pavements but also differentiated between two types of frost exposure: deep frost penetration, remaining present throughout the winter months, and freeze–thaw cycling, occurring multiple times during the frost season. Performance models were developed to evaluate the independent effects of these two freezing conditions on long-term pavement performance. These models were used to make comparisons of predicted fatigue, rutting, and roughness measures in different environmental settings. Predictions revealed that significant differences existed among the various climatic scenarios. An evaluation also was conducted on the application of the models for regional calibration of the NCHRP 1-37A design procedure for locations where measured performance data are not available. An example shows that the models can be used as an effective calibration tool.
Ranking Procedure Based on Statistical Hypothesis Testing
Authors: Weed Richard M. , Schmitt Robert L. , Owusu-Ababio Sam , Nordheim Erik V.
Published: October 2007

A key element in a highway maintenance management system is a means to establish an ordered list of those sections most in need of repair. Developing such a list requires a method of measuring and analyzing existing conditions to judge which system components are in greatest need of treatment. For highway pavement, for example, the challenge is first to survey the system to determine the range of condition, usually according to level of service or other suitable measure, and then to create an ordered ranking of individual segments of the system by need for repair. Toward this end, basic tools of statistical analysis have been used to develop a procedure that produces a logically ordered sequence of highway segments. The procedure can also be used to provide a graphical display of statistical results, which serves as a visual snapshot of the condition of the highway system. The procedure performs the equivalent of multiple hypothesis tests to establish the rankings, but it stops short of providing an optimal sequence of repair strategies based on economic considerations.
Development of an Index for Concrete Bridge Deck Management in Utah
Authors: Guthrie W. Spencer , Linford Ellen T. , Eixenberger David
Published: October 2007

The purpose of this research was to develop a new index for concrete bridge deck management in Utah. Data were collected in the summer of 2005 from 15 concrete bridge decks in Salt Lake City. Decks ranged from 2 to 21 years in age and were all constructed with epoxy-coated rebar. Data collected from visual inspection, sounding, Schmidt hammer testing, half-cell potential testing, and chloride concentration testing were analyzed with statistics, and age, cover, and half-cell potential were ultimately selected for inclusion in a new Utah Bridge Deck Index (UBDI), which was structured around a deduct system using a 100-point scale. Coefficients were selected primarily on the basis of the judgment of the researchers and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) personnel involved in the research. Also, threshold values for maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement (MR&R) options were specified to be the same as those associated with standard sufficiency ratings. The UBDI and corresponding MR&R recommendation were then provided for each of the tested bridge decks. In addition, consideration of the possibility of treatment applications led to required adjustments in the UBDI calculation; the treatment options that were considered include an epoxy seal, a high-performance concrete overlay, and an asphalt membrane overlay. Four case scenarios were developed to demonstrate the response of the revised UBDI equation to these treatments. Finally, as aids for Utah DOT personnel implementing this research, charts were created to facilitate rapid determination of the required number of half-cell potential and cover measurements for different levels of reliability and tolerance.