bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of central venous catheterization techniques in pediatric patients: needle vs angiocath
Authors: Song In‐Kyung , Lee Ji‐Hyun , Kang Joo‐Eun , Oh Hye‐Won , Kim Hee‐Soo , Park Hee‐Pyoung , Kim Jin‐Tae 
Published: August 2015

SummaryBackgroundA needle or an angiocath has been generally used as a route for inserting a guide wire during central venous catheterization. We compared the needle with the angiocath for ultrasound‐guided central venous catheterization in pediatric patients concerning accuracy and easiness.MethodsOne hundred and thirty‐two patients aged between 1 day and 5 years were randomized into the needle and the angiocath groups. The study was separately carried out in two age groups: newborns vs infants and children. The primary outcome was time to successful insertion of the guide wire. Secondary outcomes including other time variables (time to 1st successful puncture of the vein, time between 1st successful puncture of the vein and successful insertion of the guide wire, total time to successful central venous catheterization), frequency variables (number of the puncture attempts, number of the guide wire insertion attempts), success rates (1st successful puncture rate, 1st successful guide wire insertion rate), and complications.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in time and frequency variables, success rates, and complications between both the age groups. Time to 1st successful puncture of the vein (36.8 ± 31.7 vs 19.8 ± 27.1 s; 95% CI of mean difference 2.2–31.8; P = 0.03) and number of puncture attempts (1.6 ± 0.7 vs 1.3 ± 0.8; P = 0.02) were significantly greater in newborns with the needle, whereas with the angiocath, the number of puncture attempts was larger in newborns than in infants and children (1.7 ± 1.2 vs 1.2 ± 0.7; P = 0.02).ConclusionThe angiocath showed no superiority over the needle for ultrasound‐guided central venous catheterization in pediatric patients. Regardless of the needle or the angiocath, puncture of the vein was more difficult in newborns than in infants and children.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its perioperative management
Authors: Taghizadeh Neda , Davidson Andrew , Williams Katrina , Story David 
Published: August 2015

SummaryAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is now diagnosed in more than 1 in 100 children, so it is not surprising that anesthetists are increasingly providing care for children with this diagnosis. The diagnostic classification for ASD has recently changed and our understanding of the causes and management of ASD are also changing rapidly. This review provides a timely update to increase understanding and awareness of the problems that children with ASD experience, and to minimize perioperative problems. Current literature on premedication and the increasing use of alpha‐2 agonists such as clonidine and dexmedetomidine as well as the use of old favorites midazolam and ketamine is reviewed. Some simple strategies that will improve care and decrease anxiety, like social stories, the use of tablet computers, other comfort items or games for distraction, and using favorite drinks to disguise the bitter taste of medications, are described. Remember, the parents are their child's expert and will know what agitates and settles them. Talking to them prior to the day of the procedure is ideal. The importance of staff training and having a clinical practice guideline available at every institution cannot be overstated.
Sources of resistance to Indian pathotypes of Puccinia graminis tritici and P. triticina in durum wheat
Authors: Mishra Akhilesh N. , Shirsekar Gautam S. , Yadav Sitaram , Kaushal Kamini , Dubey Vijay G. , Sai Prasad Sakuru V. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractStem rust and leaf rust are important diseases affecting durum wheat production in India. Inheritance and extent of diversity in resistance were studied in five durum genotypes, viz. ʽB 662', ʽED 2398‐A', ʽHG 110', ʽIWP 5019' and ʽLine 1172ʼ using Pgt pathotypes 40A and 117‐6, and Pt pathotypes 12‐2 and 104‐2. F2 and F3 analyses showed that resistance was conferred by one or two genes in each line. In all, four genes for resistance to 40A, and eight each for pathotypes 117‐6 and 12‐2 were identified among the five genotypes, and three for resistance to 104‐2 among B 662, ED 2398‐A and IWP 5019 were indicated by tests of allelism. Although the gene identities are not known, at least some of them should be different from Sr2, Sr7b, Sr8a, Sr8b, Sr9e, Sr9g, Sr11, Sr12, Sr13, Sr14, Sr17, Sr23 and Sr28; and from Lr3, Lr14a, Lr23 and Lr27 + Lr31. These genotypes enrich the diversity of resistance to stem rust and leaf rust for durum wheat improvement.
Photoisomerization of Trans Ortho‐, Meta‐, Para‐Nitro Diarylbutadienes: A Case of Regioselectivity
Authors: Agnihotri Harsha , Paramasivam Mahalingavelar , Palakollu Veerabhadraiah , Kanvah Sriram 
Published: August 2015

AbstractA series of ortho‐, meta‐ and para‐substituted trans‐nitro aryl (phenyl and pyridyl) butadienes have been synthesized and characterized. The effect of substitution and positional selectivity on their fluorescence and photoisomerization were systematically investigated. Among all dienes, meta‐ and para‐nitro phenyl‐substituted derivatives exhibit remarkable solvatochromic emission shifts due to intramolecular charge transfer. On the other hand, ortho derivatives undergo regioselective isomerization upon photoexcitation in contrast to inefficient isomerization of para and meta nitro‐substituted dienes. Single crystal X‐ray analysis revealed existence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the nitro group and the hydrogen of the proximal double bond. This restricts the rotation of the proximal double bond thereby allowing regioselective isomerization. The observations were also supported by NMR spectroscopic studies.
Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in Adults Born Preterm – The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Kajantie Eero , Osmond Clive , Eriksson Johan G. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundAdults born preterm have increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We studied the cumulative incidence of manifest coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in adults born preterm.MethodsWe studied 19 015 people born in Helsinki, Finland, during 1924–44. Of them, 137 (0.7%) were born early (<34 weeks) and 1006 (5.3%) late preterm (34 to <37 weeks). We ascertained CHD and stroke from the National Hospital Discharge and Death Registers and estimated hazard ratios (HRs) by Cox regression.ResultsA total of 3027 subjects (15.9%) had CHD and 1805 (9.5%) stroke. HRs for CHD were 1.17 (95% confidence interval 0.83, 1.65) for early and 0.99 (0.85, 1.14) for late preterm. For stroke, they were 0.84 (0.50, 1.39) and 0.86 (0.71, 1.06). HRs were little changed when adjusted for childhood and adult socio‐economic position and birthweight for gestation standard deviation score. They were similar for first‐ever events before or after 65 years, for haemorrhagic and thrombotic stroke, and for men and women, except that the HR for CHD for women born early preterm was 1.98 (1.18, 3.30).ConclusionsWe found no increased risk of CHD or stroke up to old age in people born preterm, although women born early preterm had a higher rate of CHD. There is a discrepancy between increased risk factors in younger generations born preterm and little or no increase in manifest disease in older age. Uncovering reasons underlying this discrepancy may give important insights into the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Performance Management Routines That Work? An Early Assessment of the GPRA Modernization Act
Authors: Moynihan Donald P. , Kroll Alexander 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 provided a well‐studied framework for U.S. federal performance management initiatives. In the aftermath of the update of GPRA in 2010 with the GPRA Modernization Act, the authors offer the first systematic scholarly assessment of the new legislation. Managerial use of performance data was an explicit goal of the Modernization Act, an objective that eluded prior federal reforms. The Modernization Act established a new series of performance routines to encourage performance information use. The analysis shows that as federal managers experience those routines, they are more likely to report using performance data to make decisions. Specifically, routines centered on the pursuit of cross‐agency priority goals, the prioritization of a small number of agency goals, and data‐driven reviews are all associated with higher rates of performance information use. The authors also find that managers in better‐run data‐driven reviews report greater use of performance data.
Production goes global, compliance stays local: Private regulation in the global electronics industry
Authors: Distelhorst Greg , Locke Richard M. , Pal Timea , Samel Hiram 
Published: August 2015

AbstractPoor working conditions in global supply chains have led to private initiatives that seek to regulate labor practices in developing countries. But how effective are these regulatory programs? We investigate the effects of transnational private regulation by studying Hewlett‐Packard's (HP) supplier responsibility program. Using analysis of factory audits, interviews with buyer and supplier management, and field research at production facilities across seven countries, we find that national context – not repeated audits, capability building, or supply chain power – is the key predictor of workplace compliance. Quantitative analysis shows that factories in China are markedly less compliant than those in countries with stronger civil society and regulatory institutions. Comparative field research then illustrates how these local institutions complement transnational private regulation. Although these findings imply limits to private regulation in institutionally poor settings, they also highlight opportunities for productive linkages between transnational actors and local state and society.
Temsirolimus targets multiple hallmarks of cancer to impede mesothelioma growth in vivo
Authors: Vazakidou Maria Eleni , Magkouta Sophia , Moschos Charalampos , Psallidas Ioannis , Pappas Apostolos , Psarra Katherina , Kalomenidis Ioannis 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackground and objectiveThe mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) promotes cancer cell proliferation and survival, transduces pro‐angiogenic signals and regulates immune cell differentiation and function. We hypothesized that temsirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, would curtail experimental mesothelioma progression in vivo by limiting tumour cell growth, abrogating tumour angiogenesis and modulating immune/inflammatory tumour milieu.MethodsWe produced flank and pleural syngeneic murine mesotheliomas by delivering AE17 and AB1 murine mesothelioma cells into the right flank or the pleural space of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, respectively. Animals were given five times/week intraperitoneal injections of 20 mg/kg temsirolimus or vehicle and were sacrificed on day 26 (flank) or on day 15 (pleural) post‐tumour cell propagation.ResultsTemsirolimus limited mesothelioma growth in vivo by stimulating tumour cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumour angiogenesis, enhancing tumour lymphocyte abundance and blocking pro‐tumour myeloid cell recruitment. Pleural fluid accumulation was significantly mitigated in AE17 but not in AB1 mesotheliomas. In vitro, temsirolimus hindered mesothelioma cell growth, NF‐kappaB activation and macrophage migration.ConclusionsIn conclusion, temsirolimus apart from inducing tumour cell apoptosis, targets tumour angiogenesis and influences inflammatory tumour microenvironment to halt experimental mesothelioma growth in vivo.
Comparison of Outcome After Use of Extra‐Luminal Rings and Intra‐Luminal Stents for Treatment of Tracheal Collapse in Dogs
Authors: Tinga Selena , Thieman Mankin Kelley M. , Peycke Laura E. , Cohen Noah D. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo report short‐ and long‐term complications and outcomes of dogs treated for tracheal collapse secondary to chondromalacia with extra‐luminal rings (ELR) or intra‐luminal stents (ILS).Study DesignRetrospective cohort.Sample PopulationDogs with naturally occurring tracheal collapse (n = 103).MethodsMedical records (2002–2012) of dogs diagnosed with tracheal collapse that had treatment with ELR (n = 73) or ILS (30) were reviewed. Demographic information, procedural information, complications, survival time, and subjective outcomes were recorded. Follow‐up periods were defined as <730 days (short‐term) and>730 days (long‐term).ResultsNinety‐two percent of dogs undergoing ELR and 100% of dogs undergoing ILS survived to hospital discharge. ELR dogs were significantly younger (P = .009) and significantly fewer had main‐stem bronchial collapse (P < .001). After accounting for effects of age and presence of main‐stem bronchial collapse, there was no significant difference in median survival time between groups. Dogs with main‐stem bronchial collapse (regardless of treatment type) had a shorter survival time than dogs without main‐stem bronchial collapse. Major complications occurred in ELR (42%) and ILS dogs (43%).ConclusionsBoth ELR and ILS are associated with high complication rates. Younger dogs and dogs without main‐stem bronchial collapse had a longer survival time, regardless of treatment.
Psychometric Evaluation of a Self‐Report Evidence‐Based Practice Tool Using Rasch Analysis
Authors: Blackman Ian R. , Giles Tracey 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTAimsThis paper reports if estimates of final year nursing students’ self‐rated abilities in responding to evidence‐based practice (EBP) issues is a psychometrically robust measure.BackgroundEBP as it applies to nursing continues to be heralded as a method to improve clinical patient care. Health professionals such as nurses are well positioned to respond to this demand; however, evidence suggests they are not always able to embrace this important foundation of everyday nursing practice.DesignInstrument development.MethodsThe study was a survey set in a large teaching university in Adelaide, South Australia. The evidence‐based practice survey was made available to a convenience sample of 471 final year nursing students, with a response rate of 79.6% (n = 375). Rasch analysis was used to critique and develop a scale for future learning based on the conjoint estimates of nursing students’ self‐efficacy estimates, when meeting the challenges of various EBP of differing complexities.ResultsOutcomes confirm that final year nursing students’ EBP ability measures can be reliably estimated and a hierarchical scale of learning can be developed for use by beginning registered nurses’ in their staff development.Linking Evidence to ActionAlthough Australian health and nursing authorities acknowledge the desirability of the nursing workforce in adopting EBP for patient management, elements of this approach remains problematic for nurses. Measures to estimate EBP skills difficulty can be reliably generated to inform EBP education and skills development.
Examples of CM curves of genus two defined over the reflex field
Authors: Bouyer Florian , Streng Marco 
Published: August 2015

Van Wamelen [Math. Comp. 68 (1999) no. 225, 307–320] lists 19 curves of genus two over $\mathbf{Q}$ with complex multiplication (CM). However, for each curve, the CM-field turns out to be cyclic Galois over $\mathbf{Q}$, and the generic case of a non-Galois quartic CM-field did not feature in this list. The reason is that the field of definition in that case always contains the real quadratic subfield of the reflex field.We extend Van Wamelen’s list to include curves of genus two defined over this real quadratic field. Our list therefore contains the smallest ‘generic’ examples of CM curves of genus two.We explain our methods for obtaining this list, including a new height-reduction algorithm for arbitrary hyperelliptic curves over totally real number fields. Unlike Van Wamelen, we also give a proof of our list, which is made possible by our implementation of denominator bounds of Lauter and Viray for Igusa class polynomials.
Toward 2D and 3D imaging of magnetic nanoparticles using EPR measurements
Authors: Coene A. , Crevecoeur G. , Leliaert J. , Dupré L. 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are an important asset in many biomedical applications. An effective working of these applications requires an accurate knowledge of the spatial MNP distribution. A promising, noninvasive, and sensitive technique to visualize MNP distributions in vivo is electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Currently only 1D MNP distributions can be reconstructed. In this paper, the authors propose extending 1D EPR toward 2D and 3D using computer simulations to allow accurate imaging of MNP distributions.Methods:To find the MNP distribution belonging to EPR measurements, an inverse problem needs to be solved. The solution of this inverse problem highly depends on the stability of the inverse problem. The authors adapt 1D EPR imaging to realize the imaging of multidimensional MNP distributions. Furthermore, the authors introduce partial volume excitation in which only parts of the volume are imaged to increase stability of the inverse solution and to speed up the measurements. The authors simulate EPR measurements of different 2D and 3D MNP distributions and solve the inverse problem. The stability is evaluated by calculating the condition measure and by comparing the actual MNP distribution to the reconstructed MNP distribution. Based on these simulations, the authors define requirements for the EPR system to cope with the added dimensions. Moreover, the authors investigate how EPR measurements should be conducted to improve the stability of the associated inverse problem and to increase reconstruction quality.Results:The approach used in 1D EPR can only be employed for the reconstruction of small volumes in 2D and 3D EPRs due to numerical instability of the inverse solution. The authors performed EPR measurements of increasing cylindrical volumes and evaluated the condition measure. This showed that a reduction of the inherent symmetry in the EPR methodology is necessary. By reducing the symmetry of the EPR setup, quantitative images of larger volumes can be obtained. The authors found that, by selectively exciting parts of the volume, the authors could increase the reconstruction quality even further while reducing the amount of measurements. Additionally, the inverse solution of this activation method degrades slower for increasing volumes. Finally, the methodology was applied to noisy EPR measurements: using the reduced EPR setup's symmetry and the partial activation method, an increase in reconstruction quality of ≈80% can be seen with a speedup of the measurements with 10%.Conclusions:Applying the aforementioned requirements to the EPR setup and stabilizing the EPR measurements showed a tremendous increase in noise robustness, thereby making EPR a valuable method for quantitative imaging of multidimensional MNP distributions.
Automated pericardium delineation and epicardial fat volume quantification from noncontrast CT
Authors: Ding Xiaowei , Terzopoulos Demetri , Diaz‐Zamudio Mariana , Berman Daniel S. , Slomka Piotr J. , Dey Damini 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:The authors aimed to develop and validate an automated algorithm for epicardial fat volume (EFV) quantification from noncontrast CT.Methods:The authors developed a hybrid algorithm based on initial segmentation with a multiple‐patient CT atlas, followed by automated pericardium delineation using geodesic active contours. A coregistered segmented CT atlas was created from manually segmented CT data and stored offline. The heart and pericardium in test CT data are first initialized by image registration to the CT atlas. The pericardium is then detected by a knowledge‐based algorithm, which extracts only the membrane representing the pericardium. From its initial atlas position, the pericardium is modeled by geodesic active contours, which iteratively deform and lock onto the detected pericardium. EFV is automatically computed using standard fat attenuation range.Results:The authors applied their algorithm on 50 patients undergoing routine coronary calcium assessment by CT. Measurement time was 60 s per‐patient. EFV quantified by the algorithm (83.60 ± 32.89 cm3) and expert readers (81.85 ± 34.28 cm3) showed excellent correlation (r = 0.97, p < 0.0001), with no significant differences by comparison of individual data points (p = 0.15). Voxel overlap by Dice coefficient between the algorithm and expert readers was 0.92 (range 0.88–0.95). The mean surface distance and Hausdorff distance in millimeter between manually drawn contours and the automatically obtained contours were 0.6 ± 0.9 mm and 3.9 ± 1.7 mm, respectively. Mean difference between the algorithm and experts was 9.7% ± 7.4%, similar to interobserver variability between 2 readers (8.0% ± 5.3%, p = 0.3).Conclusions:The authors’ novel automated method based on atlas‐initialized active contours accurately and rapidly quantifies EFV from noncontrast CT.
Validation of clinical acceptability of an atlas‐based segmentation algorithm for the delineation of organs at risk in head and neck cancer
Authors: Hoang Duc Albert K. , Eminowicz Gemma , Mendes Ruheena , Wong Swee‐Ling , McClelland Jamie , Modat Marc , Cardoso M. Jorge , Mendelson Alex F. , Veiga Catarina , Kadir Timor , D'souza Derek , Ourselin Sebastien 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:The aim of this study was to assess whether clinically acceptable segmentations of organs at risk (OARs) in head and neck cancer can be obtained automatically and efficiently using the novel “similarity and truth estimation for propagated segmentations” (STEPS) compared to the traditional “simultaneous truth and performance level estimation” (STAPLE) algorithm.Methods:First, 6 OARs were contoured by 2 radiation oncologists in a dataset of 100 patients with head and neck cancer on planning computed tomography images. Each image in the dataset was then automatically segmented with STAPLE and STEPS using those manual contours. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was then used to compare the accuracy of these automatic methods. Second, in a blind experiment, three separate and distinct trained physicians graded manual and automatic segmentations into one of the following three grades: clinically acceptable as determined by universal delineation guidelines (grade A), reasonably acceptable for clinical practice upon manual editing (grade B), and not acceptable (grade C). Finally, STEPS segmentations graded B were selected and one of the physicians manually edited them to grade A. Editing time was recorded.Results:Significant improvements in DSC can be seen when using the STEPS algorithm on large structures such as the brainstem, spinal canal, and left/right parotid compared to the STAPLE algorithm (all p < 0.001). In addition, across all three trained physicians, manual and STEPS segmentation grades were not significantly different for the brainstem, spinal canal, parotid (right/left), and optic chiasm (all p > 0.100). In contrast, STEPS segmentation grades were lower for the eyes (p < 0.001). Across all OARs and all physicians, STEPS produced segmentations graded as well as manual contouring at a rate of 83%, giving a lower bound on this rate of 80% with 95% confidence. Reduction in manual interaction time was on average 61% and 93% when automatic segmentations did and did not, respectively, require manual editing.Conclusions:The STEPS algorithm showed better performance than the STAPLE algorithm in segmenting OARs for radiotherapy of the head and neck. It can automatically produce clinically acceptable segmentation of OARs, with results as relevant as manual contouring for the brainstem, spinal canal, the parotids (left/right), and optic chiasm. A substantial reduction in manual labor was achieved when using STEPS even when manual editing was necessary.