bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Diabetes
Authors: Frisher Martin , White Simon , Varbiro Gabor , Voisey Carolyn , Perumal Dhaya , Crome Ilana , Khideja Nazmeen , Bashford James
Published: December 2010

This paper reviews the role of cannabis in diabetes. Cannabis is by far the most commonly used illicit drug in Britain, though its use may be declining. There are an estimated 50,000–100,000 people with diabetes using cannabis, with an unknown number using the drug for self-medication. The evidence of the effects of cannabis on diabetes is complex, ranging from anecdotal reports of benefits and harms to experimental research on cannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system appears to have a role in the regulation of body weight and food intake, and the development of hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. In experimental models, the main psychoactive constituent of herbal cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, has been shown to interfere with both the action of insulin and its release. The paper also considers the effects of cannabis on complications of diabetes. Experimental work has suggested a mechanism to reduce neuropathy but the only double-blind clinical trial to date of a cannabis-based drug found no difference in the ability of the cannabis-based product to relieve neuropathic pain when compared with placebo. In conclusion, new insights into the role of cannabis and cannabinoids in diabetes are emerging from this developing field of research.
The Financial Vulnerability of Individuals with Diabetes
Authors: Schofield Deborah J , Percival Richard , Passey Megan E , Shrestha Rupendra N , Callander Emily J , Kelly Simon J
Published: December 2010

To quantify the impact of early retirement due to diabetes on the level and type of savings among those aged 45–64 years in Australia, the output dataset of the microsimulation model, Health&WealthMOD was analysed. Compared with those who are in full-time employment with no health condition, those who have retired early due to diabetes have significantly lower odds of owning any wealth (odds ratio 0.03, 95% confidence interval 0.00–0.30). Among those with any accumulated wealth, the value of this wealth is 90% less for people who are out of the labour force due to diabetes relative to those in full-time employment, after adjusting for age, sex and education (p=0.037). Retiring from the labour force early due to diabetes is likely to cause large financial stress in the future as not only have retired individuals lost an income stream from paid employment, but they also have little or no savings to draw upon.
Rosuvastatin Treatment is Associated with a Decrease of Serum Oxidised Low-Density Lipoprotein/Beta2-Glycoprotein I Complex Concentration in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Ames Paul RJ , Ortiz-Cadenas Alfredo , Torre Ignacio Garcia-De La , Nava Arnulfo , Oregon-Miranda Aldo , Batuca Joana R , Kojima Kazuo , Lopez Luis R , Matsuura Eiji
Published: December 2010

Aims

To evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin on oxidised low-density lipoprotein/beta2-glycoprotein I (oxLDL/β2GPI) complex concentration in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

Open label 2:1 assignment of consecutive diabetic patients into oral rosuvastatin (10 mg daily for six weeks) arm or observational arm with measurements of serum oxLDL/|β2GPI complexes, nitric oxide metabolites, asymmetric dimethyl arginine, nitrotyrosine alongside routine biochemistry at baseline and end of study in all patients.

Results

After rosuvastatin treatment the mean serum concentration of oxLDL/β2GPI decreased from 0.79±0.49 units/mL to 0.53±0.36 units/mL (p<0.001). The decrease was statistically independent from the decrements of mean cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride concentrations (p<0.001) but probably dependent on the decrement of nitrate (p<0.001).

Conclusion

In type 2 diabetes, treatment with rosuvastatin was associated with a significant reduction of serum concentrations of oxLDL/β2GPI complexes, which is in further support of the already proposed effects of the drug on the oxidative metabolism of lipids and/or LDL. The oxLDL/β2GPI complex may represent a surrogate marker of oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes.
Cardiovascular Health in the Irish Traveller Community
Authors: Slattery David , Brennan Maria , Canny Caroline , Sweeney Kathleen , Ward Mary , O'shea Paula , Dunne Fidelma
Published: December 2010

Irish Travellers are a minority group exposed to a range of social and health inequalities. Traveller men and women live 9.9 and 11.9 years less, respectively, than men and women in the general population. One of the major causes of death is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Information concerning CVD risk factor assessment in this population is lacking. Our pilot study assesses the point prevalence of diabetes, pre-diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in a sample population of Irish Travellers living along the Irish Atlantic seaboard. To date, 187 Travellers have completed the study. The prevalence of diabetes was found to be 2.7%, pre-diabetes 11.2 % and metabolic syndrome 40% compared with 4.3%, 6.4% and 21.0% respectively in the background population. Targeted screening for glucose abnormalities and traditional CVD risk factors is needed in this minority group. Appropriate culturally sensitive interventions to reduce CVD risk factors are expected to lower morbidity and increase life expectancy.
A Prospective, Observational Study of the Management of Hyperglycaemia in Acute Stroke. What is the Optimum Level of Blood Glucose at which to Intervene?
Authors: Grant Paul S , Ali Khalid
Published: December 2010

Background

It is well known that blood glucose levels are increased in the first 12 hours after the onset of acute stroke. The magnitude of the rise is supposedly related to the severity of the stroke and this is in turn associated with a worse prognosis. Several guidelines advocate the use of insulin sliding scales in the acute stroke setting but these are only implemented with varying degrees of success. There is no clear evidence base as to the glycaemic level at which to intervene and the significance of the intervention on outcomes.

Methods

We prospectively reviewed the treatment of 229 patients admitted to a stroke unit and compared admission blood glucose results with stroke prognostic/neurological deficit score (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) at 30 days. Inter-physician practice variability allowed us to observe the outcomes when different levels for intervention were used (and allowed us to calculate an optimum level of glucose at which insulin sliding scale treatment would lead to most benefit).

Results

We showed that glucose is a modifiable factor that has implications for long-term stroke outcomes.

Conclusion

The suggested level for intervention with insulin (admission blood glucose of ≥ 10.1 mmol/L) is lower than previously thought.
Preliminary Data on Vibratip®, A New Source of Standardised Vibration for Bedside Assessment of Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Levy Andy
Published: December 2010

Testing vibration sense is a recognised component of neuropathy assessment. One hundred consecutive patients attending diabetic annual review and podiatry clinics were enrolled in a study to compare a 10 g Semmes-Weinstein monofilament and a 128Hz tuning fork with VibraTip®, a novel, key-fob-sized source of fixed amplitude vibration for the identification of peripheral neuropathy. Patients were tested sequentially with the three devices in random order on either the left or right foot. Of the 100 patients 55 felt both the vibrating tuning fork and VibraTip, the remaining 45 patients felt neither. Pressure from the 10 g monofilament was perceived by 53 patients of whom 51 also felt VibraTip®. VibraTip® proved a practical, hygienic, simple, rapid and very specific test of the integrity of vibration sense, easily controlled with a null stimulus, that appeared highly engaging for patients. As the utility of testing for neuropathy is no more or less than a strategy to persuade patients to change their behaviour, VibraTip® may be a useful addition to sensory nerve function testing at the clinical interface.
Creating ambidexterity by integrating and balancing structurally separate interorganizational partnerships
Authors: Kauppila Olli-Pekka
Published: December 2010

Recent research indicates that interorganizational partnerships represent a potentially important resource for the development of ambidexterity. However, little is known about how a firm’s ambidexterity evolves from external partnership resources. This article reports an in-depth field investigation of a firm that has successfully created ambidexterity by employing its interorganizational exploration and exploitation partnerships. In particular, the article focuses on three innovation processes within this firm. The findings underscore the importance of a firm’s ambidextrous organizational context, enabling it to reap the distinct benefits of both exploration and exploitation partnerships. Moreover, the findings reveal the specific mechanisms through which the firm integrated and balanced exploration and exploitation within its organization. Overall, this article demonstrates how a firm can build and manage an organizational context that internally balances exploration and exploitation while augmenting both activities through structurally separate interorganizational partnerships.
Keeping both eyes on the competition: Strategic adjustment to multiple targets in the UK mobile phone industry
Authors: Giachetti Claudio , Lampel Joseph
Published: December 2010

Research suggests that firms avoid excessive differentiation or conformity by using industry competitors as reference targets in a process that Snow and Hambrick call ‘strategic adjustment’. To date explanations of strategic adjustment have focused on the influence of one of two sources: (1) firms base targets on the collective strategic decisions of other firms in the industry; and (2) firms base targets on the strategic decisions of the market leader. This article explores how both these sources influence strategic adjustment by looking at the product portfolio strategies of firms in industries where competitive positions depend on periodically launching models with multiple features and functionalities. The authors develop hypotheses on when firms use targets based on collective industry product decisions and/or the market leader product decisions. These hypotheses are tested using data on 570 mobile phone models launched in the UK by 14 firms from 1997 to 2008.
Dyspnea-related anxiety: The Dutch version of the Breathlessness Beliefs Questionnaire
Authors: De Peuter Steven , Janssens Thomas , Van Diest Ilse , Stans Linda , Troosters Thierry , Decramer Marc , Van den Bergh Omer , Vlaeyen Johan WS
Published: December 2010

Dyspnea-related anxiety may lead to reduced quality of life and functional disability through fearful avoidance of dyspnea-evoking activity. We describe the validation of a generic — diagnosis-independent — instrument assessing dyspnea-related anxiety. A total of 187 patients with respiratory diseases completed the Breathlessness Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ), a 17-item questionnaire adapted from the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), a measure of how harmful pain patients think painful movement is and to what extent they think activity should be avoided. Measures of negative and positive affectivity (PANAS), anxiety and depression (HADS), functional status (PFSDQ), and health-related quality of life (CRDQ) were also completed. Principal component analysis and item-total correlations suggested a reliable (reduced) 11-item BBQ (Cronbach’s alpha = .85) with two factors converging with the TSK factors: a ‘somatic focus’ factor assessing the harmfulness of dyspnea and the underlying pathology and an ‘activity avoidance’ factor assessing beliefs that activity should be avoided. Correlational analyses support the construct validity of the BBQ: higher scores on the BBQ are associated with reduced health-related quality of life and functional status. Associations between ‘somatic focus’ and negative affectivity and anxiety and between ‘activity avoidance’ and positive affectivity and depression further supported the validity of the BBQ and its subscales. The BBQ is a valid, short, and useful instrument to assess respiratory patients’ beliefs about the harmfulness of their disease and physical activities. Further research is needed to document to what extent BBQ scores are related to daily life activities and symptoms.
For-Profit Colleges and Universities and the Latina/o Students Who Enroll in Them
Authors: Oseguera Leticia , Malagon Maria C.
Published: December 2010

Although for-profit institutions continue to enroll large numbers of students, less is known about the for-profit institution itself, the reasons for its proliferation, or even students’ impetus for selecting for-profit options over not-for-profit options. This statement is particularly true for the Latina/o student population despite their overrepresentation at for-profit colleges. This article presents an overview of for-profits followed by insights into Latina/o pathways to postsecondary education using data from the Educational Longitudinal Study (ELS) 2002-2006 panel, collected on behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Reciprocity and Need in Posthumous Organ Donation
Authors: Stijnen Mandy M. N. , Dijker Anton J. M.
Published: December 2010

The effects of need and reciprocity on prosocial behavior have been primarily studied in separate research domains. A distinction between helping those in need and reciprocity is also made in current discussions on how to motivate posthumous organ donation, contrasting the help of needing patients with an equal contribution to a common pool of organs and effective measures against free riding. The authors examined the interactive effects of need and reciprocity on moral emotions relevant for helping (e.g., sympathy, guilt, moral anger) in an experiment in which participants imagined donating or not donating their organs to patients who were or were not willing to donate themselves and who differed in the need for an organ. They found that lack of reciprocity reduced the intensity of certain moral emotions (e.g., sympathy, guilt) but only under low need. High need appeared to arouse forgiveness for free riding. Implications for attempts to increase the number of registered organ donors are discussed.
The Shifting Meaning of Happiness
Authors: Mogilner Cassie , Kamvar Sepandar D. , Aaker Jennifer
Published: December 2010

An examination of emotions reported on 12 million personal blogs along with a series of surveys and laboratory experiments shows that the meaning of happiness is not fixed; instead, it systematically shifts over the course of one’s lifetime. Whereas younger people are more likely to associate happiness with excitement, as they get older, they become more likely to associate happiness with peacefulness. This change appears to be driven by a redirection of attention from the future to the present as people age. The dynamic of what happiness means has broad implications, from purchasing behavior to ways to increase one’s happiness.
Fetal Parvovirus B19 Infection Presenting With Nonimmune Hydrops Fetalis
Authors: Reed Maari , Sundberg Brandy
Published: December 2010

Parvovirus B19 is an easily transmitted virus that is common in young children but can infect gravid women if they do not have immunity. If this virus crosses the placenta and becomes a fetal infection, it can be potentially fatal to the fetus. This case report depicts the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of a fetus infected with parvovirus B19.
Naming Systems during Yoruba Wars: A Sociolinguistic Study
Authors: Odebode Idowu
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe various intra-tribal conflagrations which consumed the Yoruba empire of Oyo were fundamentally economic and political. Oyo was renowned as an extraordinary exporter of slaves in the eighteenth century, and also as the seat of government for millions of citizens spanning the whole of South Western Nigeria and parts of the Republic of Benin. The revolt of Afonja in Ilorin against Alaafin Aole marked the beginning of the end of the great empire. The different battles fought by the Yoruba led to the emergence of new names in Yoruba lexicon. This paper treats thirteen major Yoruba wars and their onomastic imports.
Natural killer–cell differentiation by myeloid progenitors
Authors: Grzywacz Bartosz , Kataria Nandini , Kataria Niketa , Blazar Bruce R. , Miller Jeffrey S. , Verneris Michael R.
Published: December 2010

Because lymphoid progenitors can give rise to natural killer (NK) cells, NK ontogeny has been considered to be exclusively lymphoid. Here, we show that rare human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors develop into NK cells in vitro in the presence of cytokines (interleukin-7, interleukin-15, stem cell factor, and fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand). Adding hydrocortisone and stromal cells greatly increases the frequency of progenitor cells that give rise to NK cells through the recruitment of myeloid precursors, including common myeloid progenitors and granulocytic-monocytic precursors to the NK-cell lineage. WNT signaling was involved in this effect. Cells at more advanced stages of myeloid differentiation (with increasing expression of CD13 and macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor [M-CSFR]) could also differentiate into NK cells in the presence of cytokines, stroma, and hydrocortisone. NK cells derived from myeloid precursors (CD56−CD117+M-CSFR+) showed more expression of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors, a fraction of killer immunoglobulin–like receptor-positive–expressing cells that lacked NKG2A, a higher cytotoxicity compared with CD56−CD117+M-CSFR− precursor-derived NK cells and thus resemble the CD56dim subset of NK cells. Collectively, these studies show that NK cells can be derived from the myeloid lineage.
Outcome-Adaptive Randomization: Is It Useful?
Authors: Korn Edward L. , Freidlin Boris
Published: December 2010

Outcome-adaptive randomization is one of the possible elements of an adaptive trial design in which the ratio of patients randomly assigned to the experimental treatment arm versus the control treatment arm changes from 1:1 over time to randomly assigning a higher proportion of patients to the arm that is doing better. Outcome-adaptive randomization has intuitive appeal in that, on average, a higher proportion of patients will be treated on the better treatment arm (if there is one). In both the randomized phase II and phase III settings with a short-term binary outcome, we compare outcome-adaptive randomization with designs that use 1:1 and 2:1 fixed-ratio randomizations (in the latter, twice as many patients are randomly assigned to the experimental treatment arm). The comparisons are done in terms of required sample sizes, the numbers and proportions of patients having an inferior outcome, and we restrict attention to the situation in which one treatment arm is a control treatment (rather than the less common situation of two experimental treatments without a control treatment). With no differential patient accrual rates because of the trial design, we find no benefits to outcome-adaptive randomization over 1:1 randomization, and we recommend the latter. If it is thought that the patient accrual rates will be substantially higher because of the possibility of a higher proportion of patients being randomly assigned to the experimental treatment (because the trial will be more attractive to patients and clinicians), we recommend using a fixed 2:1 randomization instead of an outcome-adaptive randomization.
Identification of Patients With Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Who Benefit From the Addition of Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin: Results of the MRC AML15 Trial
Authors: Burnett Alan K. , Hills Robert K. , Milligan Donald , Kjeldsen Lars , Kell Jonathan , Russell Nigel H. , Yin John A.L. , Hunter Ann , Goldstone Anthony H. , Wheatley Keith
Published: December 2010

Purpose

Antibody-directed chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may permit more treatment to be administered without escalating toxicity. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is an immunoconjugate between CD33 and calicheamicin that is internalized when binding to the epitope. We previously established that it is feasible to combine GO with conventional chemotherapy. We now report a large randomized trial testing the addition of GO to induction and/or consolidation chemotherapy in untreated younger patients.

Patients and Methods

In this open-label trial, 1,113 patients, predominantly younger than age 60 years, were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of GO (3 mg/m2) on day 1 of induction course 1 with one of the following three induction schedules: daunorubicin and cytarabine; cytarabine, daunorubicin, and etoposide; or fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin. In remission, 948 patients were randomly assigned to GO in course 3 in combination with amsacrine, cytarabine, and etoposide or high-dose cytarabine. The primary end points were response rate and survival.

Results

The addition of GO was well tolerated with no significant increase in toxicity. There was no overall difference in response or survival in either induction of consolidation. However, a predefined analysis by cytogenetics showed highly significant interaction with induction GO (P = .001), with significant survival benefit for patients with favorable cytogenetics, no benefit for patients with poor-risk disease, and a trend for benefit in intermediate-risk patients. An internally validated prognostic index identified approximately 70% of patients with a predicted benefit of 10% in 5-year survival.

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of younger patients with AML have improved survival with the addition of GO to induction chemotherapy with little additional toxicity.
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity regulates the proliferative potential of growth plate chondrocytes
Authors: Li Yuwei , Ahrens Molly J. , Wu Amy , Liu Jennifer , Dudley Andrew T.
Published: December 2010

For tissues that develop throughout embryogenesis and into postnatal life, the generation of differentiated cells to promote tissue growth is at odds with the requirement to maintain the stem cell/progenitor cell population to preserve future growth potential. In the growth plate cartilage, this balance is achieved in part by establishing a proliferative phase that amplifies the number of progenitor cells prior to terminal differentiation into hypertrophic chondrocytes. Here, we show that endogenous calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CamkII, also known as Camk2) activity is upregulated prior to hypertrophy and that loss of CamkII function substantially blocks the transition from proliferation to hypertrophy. Wnt signaling and Pthrp-induced phosphatase activity negatively regulate CamkII activity. Release of this repression results in activation of multiple effector pathways, including Runx2- and β-catenin-dependent pathways. We present an integrated model for the regulation of proliferation potential by CamkII activity that has important implications for studies of growth control and adult progenitor/stem cell populations.
Ripply3, a Tbx1 repressor, is required for development of the pharyngeal apparatus and its derivatives in mice
Authors: Okubo Tadashi , Kawamura Akinori , Takahashi Jun , Yagi Hisato , Morishima Masae , Matsuoka Rumiko , Takada Shinji
Published: December 2010

The pharyngeal apparatus is a transient structure that gives rise to the thymus and the parathyroid glands and also contributes to the development of arteries and the cardiac outflow tract. A typical developmental disorder of the pharyngeal apparatus is the 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), for which Tbx1 is responsible. Here, we show that Ripply3 can modulate Tbx1 activity and plays a role in the development of the pharyngeal apparatus. Ripply3 expression is observed in the pharyngeal ectoderm and endoderm and overlaps with strong expression of Tbx1 in the caudal pharyngeal endoderm. Ripply3 suppresses transcriptional activation by Tbx1 in luciferase assays in vitro. Ripply3-deficient mice exhibit abnormal development of pharyngeal derivatives, including ectopic formation of the thymus and the parathyroid gland, as well as cardiovascular malformation. Corresponding with these defects, Ripply3-deficient embryos show hypotrophy of the caudal pharyngeal apparatus. Ripply3 represses Tbx1-induced expression of Pax9 in luciferase assays in vitro, and Ripply3-deficient embryos exhibit upregulated Pax9 expression. Together, our results show that Ripply3 plays a role in pharyngeal development, probably by regulating Tbx1 activity.
The Drosophila Nol12 homologue viriato is a dMyc target that regulates nucleolar architecture and is required for dMyc-stimulated cell growth
Authors: Marinho Joana , Casares Fernando , Pereira Paulo S.
Published: December 2010

The nucleolus is a subnuclear factory, the activity of which is required beyond ribosome biogenesis for the regulation of cell growth, death and proliferation. In both Drosophila and mammalian cells, the activity of the nucleolus is regulated by the proto-oncogene Myc. Myc induces the transcription of genes required for ribosome biogenesis and the synthesis of rRNA by RNA polymerase I, a nucleolar event that is rate limiting for cell growth. Here, we show that the fruit fly Nol12 homologue Viriato is a key determinant of nucleolar architecture that is required for tissue growth and cell survival during Drosophila development. We further show that viriato expression is controlled by Drosophila Myc (dMyc), and that the ability of dMyc to stimulate nucleolar and cellular growth depends on viriato expression. Therefore, viriato acts downstream of dMyc to ensure a coordinated nucleolar response to dMyc-induced growth and, thereby, normal organ development.
The Cdc14B phosphatase contributes to ciliogenesis in zebrafish
Authors: Clément Aurélie , Solnica-Krezel Lilianna , Gould Kathleen L.
Published: December 2010

Progression through the cell cycle relies on oscillation of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) activity. One mechanism for downregulating Cdk signaling is to activate opposing phosphatases. The Cdc14 family of phosphatases counteracts Cdk1 phosphorylation in diverse organisms to allow proper exit from mitosis and cytokinesis. However, the role of the vertebrate CDC14 phosphatases, CDC14A and CDC14B, in re-setting the cell for interphase remains unclear. To understand Cdc14 function in vertebrates, we cloned the zebrafish cdc14b gene and used antisense morpholino oligonucleotides and an insertional mutation to inhibit its function during early development. Loss of Cdc14B function led to an array of phenotypes, including hydrocephaly, curved body, kidney cysts and left-right asymmetry defects, reminiscent of zebrafish mutants with defective cilia. Indeed, we report that motile and primary cilia were shorter in cdc14b-deficient embryos. We also demonstrate that Cdc14B function in ciliogenesis requires its phosphatase activity and can be dissociated from its function in cell cycle control. Finally, we propose that Cdc14B plays a role in the regulation of cilia length in a pathway independent of fibroblast growth factor (FGF). This first study of a loss of function of a Cdc14 family member in a vertebrate organism reveals a new role for Cdc14B in ciliogenesis and consequently in a number of developmental processes.
Tangled localization at the cortical division site of plant cells occurs by several mechanisms
Authors: Rasmussen Carolyn G. , Sun Brian , Smith Laurie G.
Published: December 2010

TANGLED (TAN) is the founding member of a family of plant-specific proteins required for correct orientation of the division plane. Arabidopsis thaliana TAN is localized before prophase until the end of cytokinesis at the cortical division site (CDS), where it appears to help guide the cytokinetic apparatus towards the cortex. We show that TAN is actively recruited to the CDS by distinct mechanisms before and after preprophase band (PPB) disassembly. Colocalization with the PPB is mediated by one region of TAN, whereas another region mediates its recruitment to the CDS during cytokinesis. This second region binds directly to POK1, a kinesin that is required for TAN localization. Although this region of TAN is recruited to the CDS during cytokinesis without first colocalizing with the PPB, pharmacological evidence indicates that the PPB is nevertheless required for both early and late localization of TAN at the CDS. Finally, we show that phosphatase activity is required for maintenance of early but not late TAN localization at the CDS. We propose a new model in which TAN is actively recruited to the CDS by several mechanisms, indicating that the CDS is dynamically modified from prophase through to the completion of cytokinesis.
On the Use of Mixed RP/SP Models in Prediction: Accounting for Systematic and Random Taste Heterogeneity
Authors: Cherchi Elisabetta , Ortúzar Juan de Dios
Published: December 2010

A basic assumption in mixed revealed preference (RP)/stated preference (SP) estimation is that both data sets represent basically the same phenomenon. Thus, we would expect individuals to show the same tastes regardless of the tool used to elicit their preferences. However, different and significant parameters are often found in each case. Although this is not an issue from an estimation standpoint, understanding why differences appear is crucial in forecasting because the model structure used in that case differs from the estimated one. This problem is compounded if differences between both data affect their ability to reproduce systematic or random taste variations because (i) microeconomic conditions on individual behaviour are more difficult to fulfil, and (ii) an erroneous specification may have a major impact on the predicted results. Problems associated with using joint RP/SP models in forecasting have received scant attention and no studies have examined the case where both types of data show different systematic or random heterogeneity. We review the problem from a theoretical viewpoint and suggest analyses that could aid decision taking in this context. Using real data, we provide evidence on the effects of using different joint RP/SP models in forecasting and highlight the importance of performing these analyses.
Time Slot Management in Attended Home Delivery
Authors: Agatz Niels , Campbell Ann , Fleischmann Moritz , Savelsbergh Martin
Published: December 2010

Many e-tailers providing attended home delivery, especially e-grocers, offer narrow delivery time slots to ensure satisfactory customer service. The choice of delivery time slots has to balance marketing and operational considerations, which results in a complex planning problem. We study the problem of selecting the set of time slots to offer in each of the zip codes in a service region. The selection needs to facilitate cost-effective delivery routes, but also needs to ensure an acceptable level of service to the customer. We present a fully automated approach that is capable of producing high-quality delivery time slot offerings in a short amount of time. Computational experiments reveal the value of this approach and the impact of the environment on the underlying trade-offs.
Fleet Management for Vehicle Sharing Operations
Authors: Nair Rahul , Miller-Hooks Elise
Published: December 2010

Astochastic, mixed-integer program (MIP) involving joint chance constraints is developed that generates least-cost vehicle redistribution plans for shared-vehicle systems such that a proportion of all near-term demand scenarios are met. The model aims to correct short-term demand asymmetry in shared-vehicle systems, where flow from one station to another is seldom equal to the flow in the opposing direction. The model accounts for demand stochasticity and generates partial redistribution plans in circumstances when demand outstrips supply. This stochastic MIP has a nonconvex feasible region. A novel divide-and-conquer algorithm for generating p-efficient points, used to transform the problem into a set of disjunctive, convex MIPs and handle dual-bounded chance constraints, is proposed. Assuming independence of random demand across stations, a faster cone-generation method is also presented. In a real-world application for a system in Singapore, the potential of redistribution as a fleet management strategy and the value of accounting for inherent stochasticities are demonstrated.
The Reflexive Possessive sîn in Old Saxon
Authors: Sapp Christopher D.
Published: December 2010

This paper accounts for the distribution of the possessive pronouns sîn and is in Old Saxon. Old Saxon sîn mostly retains its reflexive semantics, but unlike its equivalents in Gothic and Old Norse, it has become limited to masculine singular. The more frequent masc.sg. possessor is, which may be reflexive or non-reflexive, functions as an unstressed variant of sîn in the metrical system of the Heliand.
In erober: vnd plünderung der Statt: Wie die Ellipse von Wortteilen entstand
Authors: Kempf Luise
Published: December 2010

The ellipsis of parts of words (be- und entladen ›load and unload‹) is fairly common in contemporary German. This article takes a diachronic perspective, thus revealing how the phenomenon was even more frequent around 1700. Many of the examples are no longer grammatical, e. g. schwest- und brüderlich ›sist- and brotherly‹. It is shown how the phenomenon originated in two distinct domains: In compounds, the ellipsis arose in the 16th century from constructions like frouwen gelust und list ›women's lust and Ø cunning‹. In the domain of inflection, the earlier data cannot readily be analyzed as ellipsis. The two conjuncts (von feindt vnd freunden ›of enemyØ and friends‹) could be perceived as a unit, thus inflected only once. The crucial step was the merge of the two domains in the early 17th century. This event is likely to have caused the extensive type and token frequency of the phenomenon around 1700.
Frauenraub, Unzucht und Heirat mit Unfreien in der ›Lex Burgundionum‹ und der ›Lex Salica‹
Authors: Seebold Elmar
Published: December 2010

Kidnapping of women and rape are judged in the same way. If the woman consents, the act is classified as marriage. For marriage between free persons and slaves the sentence is death penalty in LB, loss of freedom in LS. – The comparison between the two laws shows that LS 13,8 must be erroneous. – Glosses in LS: scodo ›(partial) penalty‹; antomia ›penalty‹; altheofaltheo ›attack on a housemaid‹; honema ›shame‹, andras theo ›girl of another (man)‹; gange-haldo ›stopping of a procession‹; frio-lasina ›rape of a free woman‹; **ambaht-mundio ›assumption of power over a woman by a servant‹; **abna tho wilendemo ›during the lifetime of the husband‹. LS 15,2 and 25,7 are dark.
Die Strophenformen der Lyrik Heinrichs von Veldeke und Frankreich
Authors: Touber Anton
Published: December 2010

With respect to form and content Heinrich von Veldeke's lyric is permeated with the conventions of the Romance poetry. On the basis of our computer program ›Anastrof‹ we study Veldeke's strophic forms with regard to the troubadours and trouvères.
Breastfeeding Duration and Academic Achievement at 10 Years
Authors: Oddy Wendy H. , Li Jianghong , Whitehouse Andrew J. O. , Zubrick Stephen R. , Malacova Eva
Published: December 2010

INTRODUCTION:

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between duration of breastfeeding and educational outcomes. We hypothesized that longer periods of breastfeeding would predict better educational outcomes in middle childhood.

METHODS:

The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study used a cohort of 2900 women who were enrolled at 18 weeks' gestation; with 2868 live-born children were followed prospectively. At ∼10 years of age, data from 1038 children were linked to standardized mathematics, reading, writing, and spelling scores. Associations between breastfeeding duration and educational outcomes were estimated by using linear models with adjustment for gender, family income, maternal factors, and early stimulation at home through reading.

RESULTS:

Ten-year-old children who were predominantly breastfed for 6 months or longer in infancy had higher academic scores than children who were breastfed for less than 6 months. The effect of breastfeeding on educational outcomes differed according to gender; boys were particularly responsive (in mathematics, spelling, reading, and writing) to a longer duration of breastfeeding.

CONCLUSIONS:

Predominant breastfeeding for 6 months or longer was positively associated with academic achievement in children at 10 years of age. However, the effectiveness of breastfeeding differed according to gender; the benefits were only evident for boys.
Pandemic H1N1 in Children Requiring Intensive Care in Australia and New Zealand During Winter 2009
Authors: Yung Michael , Slater Anthony , Festa Marino , Williams Gary , Erickson Simon , Pettila Ville , Alexander Janet , Howe Belinda D. , Shekerdemian Lara S. ,   on behalf of the Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Influenza Investigators and the Paediatric Study Group and the Clinical Trials Group of the Australia New Zealand Intensive Care Society
Published: December 2010

OBJECTIVE:

To describe in detail the pediatric intensive care experience of influenza A, particularly pandemic H1N1-09, in Australia and New Zealand during the 2009 Southern Hemisphere winter and to compare the pediatric experience with that of adults.

METHOD:

This was an inception-cohort study of all children who were admitted to intensive care with confirmed influenza A during winter 2009 at all general ICUs and PICUs in Australia and New Zealand.

RESULTS:

From June 1 through August 31, 2009, 107 children (20.0 per million [95% confidence interval: 16.1–23.8]) with influenza A, including 83 (15.5 per million [95% confidence interval: 12.1–18.9]) with H1N1-09 were admitted to ICUs. Fifty-two percent (39 of 75) of children with H1N1-09 had 1 or more comorbidity, most commonly neurologic (20%). Most (48 of 83 [58%]) presented with pneumonia. Thirteen of 83 (16%) had neurologic presentations. Eighty percent of the children with H1N1-09 required ventilation. Mortality was lower than in adults: 6 of 83 (7%) vs 114 of 668 (17%) (P = .02). The median length of stay for children with H1N1-09 was 5 days. Children with H1N1-09 occupied 773 bed-days (147 per million children) and 5.8% of specialist PICU beds. Presentation with septic shock or after cardiac arrest and the presence of 1 or more comorbidities were risk factors for severe disease.

CONCLUSIONS:

H1N1-09 caused a substantial burden on pediatric intensive care services in Australia and New Zealand. Compared with adults, children more commonly had nonrespiratory presentations and required ventilation more often but had a lower mortality rate.
Economic Evaluation of Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity
Authors: Dukhovny Dmitry , Lorch Scott A. , Schmidt Barbara , Doyle Lex W. , Kok Joke H. , Roberts Robin S. , Kamholz Karen L. , Wang Na , Mao Wenyang , Zupancic John A. F. ,   for the Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity Trial Group
Published: December 2010

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the cost-effectiveness of treatment with caffeine compared with placebo for apnea of prematurity in infants with birth weights less than 1250 g, from birth through 18 to 21 months' corrected age.

METHODS:

We undertook a retrospective economic evaluation of the cost per survivor without neurodevelopmental impairment by using individual-patient data from the Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity clinical trial (N = 1869). We included direct medical costs either to the insurance payer or the hospital but excluded costs to parents and society, such as lost productivity. We used a price of $0.21/mg of generic caffeine citrate for our base-case analysis. All costs were expressed in 2008 Canadian dollars and discounted at 3%. The time horizon for this analysis extended through 18 to 21 months' corrected age to match the clinical trial.

RESULTS:

The mean cost per infant was $124 466 in the caffeine group and $133 505 in the placebo group (difference: $9039 [−14 749 to −3375]; adjusted P = .014). Cost-effectiveness analysis showed caffeine to be a dominant or “win-win” therapy: in >99% of 1000 bootstrap replications of the analysis, caffeine-treated infants had simultaneously better outcomes and lower mean costs. These results were robust to a 1000% increase in the individual resource items, including the price of caffeine citrate.

CONCLUSIONS:

In comparison with placebo, caffeine therapy for apnea of prematurity in infants weighing less than 1250 g is economically appealing for infants up to 18 to 21 months' corrected age.
Earliest Appropriate Time for Administering Neurobehavioral Assessment in Newborn Infants
Authors: Xu Yingying , Yolton Kimberly , Khoury Jane
Published: December 2010

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the effect of examination time on newborn neurobehavioral examinations administered within 48 hours of delivery and to identify the earliest appropriate time for performing the assessment.

METHODS:

We analyzed data from neurobehavioral examinations on 324 newborns using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS). Trends over examination time and cumulative percentage within published normal ranges were analyzed to identify the earliest appropriate time for administering the examination. Ordinal logistic regression and multivariate regression were used for testing and defining the earliest appropriate time for administering the examination without being influenced by acute effects of labor and delivery while controlling for several potential confounding factors.

RESULTS:

The arousal, excitability, lethargy, quality-of-movement, hypotonicity, and nonoptimal-reflexes scales were sensitive to timing of the examination. Results of ordinal logistic regression showed that 20 hours after delivery seemed to be the earliest appropriate time for administering newborn NNNS examinations. The proportion of NNNS scores within the normal range increased with time significantly when the examination was made less than 20 hours after delivery (n = 148) (odds ratio: 1.12 [95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.23]), but there was no longer significant association with time of examination after 20 hours (n = 176) (odds ratio: 1.04 [95% confidence interval: 0.99–1.09]). This result was confirmed by multivariate regression.

CONCLUSIONS:

We recommend 20 hours after delivery as the earliest appropriate time for administering newborn NNNS examinations to obtain results reflecting outcomes that are a representative assessment of newborn neurobehavior and not contaminated by acute effects of labor and delivery.
Enhanced Monitoring Improves Pediatric Transport Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Stroud Michael H. , Prodhan Parthak , Moss Michele , Fiser Richard , Schexnayder Stephen , Anand Kanwaljeet
Published: December 2010

BACKGROUND:

The “golden-hour” concept has led to emphasis on speed of patient delivery during pediatric interfacility transport. Timely intervention, in addition to enhanced monitoring during transport, is the key to improved outcomes in critically ill patients. Taking the ICU to the patient may be more beneficial than rapid delivery to a tertiary care center.

METHODS:

The Improved Monitoring During Pediatric Interfacility Transport trial was the first randomized controlled trial in the out-of-hospital pediatric transport environment. It was designed to determine the impact of improved blood pressure monitoring during pediatric interfacility transport and the effect on clinical outcomes in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and moderate-to-severe head trauma. Patients in the control group had their blood pressure monitored intermittently with an oscillometric device; those in the intervention group had their blood pressure monitored every 12 to 15 cardiac contractions with a near-continuous, noninvasive device.

RESULTS:

Between May 2006 and June 2007, 1995, consecutive transport patients were screened, and 94 were enrolled (48 control, 46 intervention). Patients in the intervention group received more intravenous fluid (19.8 ± 22.2 vs 9.9 ± 9.9 mL/kg; P = .01), had a shorter hospital stay (6.8 ± 7.8 vs 10.9 ± 13.4 days; P = .04), and had less organ dysfunction (18 of 206 vs 32 of 202 PICU days; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS:

Improved monitoring during pediatric transport has the potential to improve outcomes of critically ill children. Clinical trials, including randomized controlled trials, can be accomplished during pediatric transport. Future studies should evaluate optimal equipment, protocols, procedures, and interventions during pediatric transport, aimed at improving the clinical and functional outcomes of critically ill patients.
Diarrhea-Associated Hospitalizations Among US Children Over 2 Rotavirus Seasons After Vaccine Introduction
Authors: Yen Catherine , Tate Jacqueline E. , Wenk Joshua D. , Harris J. Mitchell , Parashar Umesh D.
Published: December 2010

OBJECTIVE:

After implementation of rotavirus vaccination in 2006, large decreases in rates of severe diarrhea among US children occurred in 2007–2008. We ascertained whether these decreases were sustained in 2008–2009.

METHODS:

We examined hospital discharge data from a national network of pediatric hospitals and compared all-cause diarrhea-related and rotavirus-specific hospitalizations in 3 prevaccine rotavirus seasons (2003–2006) with those in 2 postvaccine seasons (2007–2008 and 2008–2009) among children <5 years of age. We defined rotavirus seasons using data from a national laboratory surveillance network.

RESULTS:

At 62 consistently reporting hospitals, a median of 15 645 diarrhea-related hospitalizations (range: 14 881–16 884 hospitalizations) occurred each rotavirus season among children <5 years of age in 2003–2006. Compared with this median, all-cause diarrhea-related hospitalizations decreased by 50% (n = 7760) in 2007–2008 and by 29% (n = 11 039) in 2008–2009. In 2007–2008, reductions of 47% to 55% were seen for all age groups, including vaccine-ineligible children ≥2 years of age (48%). In 2008–2009, these reductions decreased in magnitude, especially among children ≥2 years of age (17%). Decreases in 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 were similar in the Northeast and West, but decreases were smaller in 2008–2009, compared with 2007–2008, in the Midwest and South.

CONCLUSIONS:

Compared with prevaccine seasons, decreases in diarrhea- and rotavirus-associated hospitalizations seen in 2007–2008 were sustained in 2008–2009 but were somewhat smaller. Given the variability in diarrhea-related hospitalization trends over the 2 postvaccine seasons according to age group and region, continued surveillance is required for full assessment of the impact of rotavirus vaccination.