bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The undivided patient: a retrospective cohort analysis of specialty referrals made from inpatient general medical units comparing regional to metropolitan practice
Authors: Brown M. G. , Campbell D. , Maydom B. W. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundIn an era of growing subspecialisation there has been significant research into the role, determinants and outcomes of outpatient referrals but very little on inpatient specialty referrals from general medical units.AimsThis study aims to describe and compare the rate of specialty referrals from inpatient general medical units in a regional general and a metropolitan tertiary hospital, and review associated outcomes.MethodsRetrospective cohort analysis of general medical admissions over the 10‐week period extending from 28 March to 5 June 2011. Two hospitals were included in the study; West Gippsland Hospital (WGH) and Monash Medical Centre (MMC). For all admissions, details of patient demographics, episode of care and number of inpatient referrals made per admission were extracted from the medical records. Rates and outcomes of inpatient referrals were calculated and compared.ResultsThere were 116 admissions to MMC and 108 (107 available for analysis) to WGH during the study period. There were no significant differences in patient demographics between the two sites. However, there were significantly fewer active conditions (2.87 vs 4.01, P < 0.01), fewer specialty fields represented (2.50 vs 3.51, P < 0.01) and fewer specialty referrals made per admission at WGH compared with MMC (0.69 vs 1.74, P < 0.01). The referral rate per diagnosis and the rate of referrals per specialty field represented were significantly higher at MMC compared with WGH (P < 0.01).ConclusionThis preliminary study suggests that patients admitted to rural hospital general medical units have fewer active conditions with fewer specialty referrals made per admission, compared with a comparator metropolitan hospital general medical unit. Further research is required to investigate the reasons for such differences and implications for policy and practice.
Use of ‘rainy day’ autologous haemopoietic stem cells: a single‐institution experience over 10 years
Authors: Fox L. C. , Ragg S. J. , Lowenthal R. M. , Tegg E. M. , Johnston A. M. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundHigh‐dose chemotherapy and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an important therapeutic modality in the treatment of many haematological malignancies. Generally, stem cells are collected close to the time of the transplant, but an alternative is to collect and cryopreserve cells at an early stage of the illness so they are available for later use (‘rainy day harvesting’). Although this practice has been commonplace in Australia, there is little evidence to document eventual use of cells collected in this manner.MethodsWe conducted an audit of indications for and eventual transplantation of ‘rainy day’ harvests performed at our institution over a 10‐year period.ResultsAlthough there was some variation across different disease groups, we found that only 14% of cells were transplanted. The median delay to transplantation was 19 months.ConclusionTogether with recent advances in stem cell mobilisation techniques, results from this audit suggest that the practice may not be an effective use of limited health resources.
Lack of formyl peptide receptor 1 and 2 leads to more severe inflammation and higher mortality in mice with of pneumococcal meningitis
Authors: Oldekamp Sandra , Pscheidl Sebastian , Kress Eugenia , Soehnlein Oliver , Jansen Sandra , Pufe Thomas , Wang Ji Ming , Tauber Simone C. , Brandenburg Lars‐Ove 
Published: May 2014

SummaryBacterial meningitis is, despite progress in research and the development of new treatment strategies, still a cause of severe neuronal sequelae. The brain is protected from penetrating pathogens by both the blood–brain barrier and the innate immune system. The invading pathogens are recognized by pattern recognition receptors including the G‐protein coupled formyl peptide receptors (FPRs), which are expressed by immune cells of the central nervous system. The expression of FPRs is up‐regulated during bacterial meningitis, but the consequence on the progression of inflammation and impact on mortality are far from clear. Therefore, we used mFPR1 and mFPR2‐deficient mice to investigate the effects on inflammation, bacterial growth and mortality in a mouse model of pneumococcal meningitis. Our results revealed increased bacterial burden, increased neutrophil infiltration and higher mortality in mFPR1/2‐deficient mice in comparison to wild‐type mice. The mFPR1‐ or mFPR2‐deficient mice also showed significantly increased glial cell density, whereas the immune responses including the expression of anti‐inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptides were decreased in bacterial meningitis. Taken together, the results suggest that FPR1 and FPR2 play an important role in the innate immune responses against Streptococcus pneumoniae within the central nervous system and the lack of the receptors leads to a dysregulation of the inflammatory response compared with wild‐type mice.
Comparing Compositional Process in Two Thirteenth‐Century Motets: Pre‐existent Materials in Deus omnium/REGNAT and Ne m'oubliez mie/DOMINO
Authors: Bradley Catherine A. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractScholars of the earliest motets continue to be faced by questions of compositional chronology which cannot readily be resolved by the application of general theories. This article offers a detailed analysis of interactions between pre‐existent and newly created musical and textual materials in two thirteenth‐century motets. The first is Deus omnium/REGNAT, a two‐voice Latin motet created through the addition of a text to the music of a pre‐existing two‐voice clausula and recorded uniquely in the Florence Manuscript. The second is the ‘newly composed’ two‐voice French motet Ne m'oubliez mie/DOMINO, a motet framed by the citation of two widely disseminated vernacular refrains and extant only in the later Montpellier Codex. Such contrasting pieces are typically considered to belong to different subgenres and chronological phases of motet development and are thus rarely compared or examined in conjunction. This article draws attention to fundamental similarities in the approaches to pre‐existing materials in these motets and to the compositional processes and priorities they share, despite surface disparities and differing musical and textual components.
PIN‐driven polar auxin transport in plant developmental plasticity: a key target for environmental and endogenous signals
Authors: Habets Myckel E. J. , Offringa Remko 
Published: May 2014

SummaryPlants master the art of coping with environmental challenges in two ways: on the one hand, through their extensive defense systems, and on the other, by their developmental plasticity. The plant hormone auxin plays an important role in a plant's adaptations to its surroundings, as it specifies organ orientation and positioning by regulating cell growth and division in response to internal and external signals. Important in auxin action is the family of PIN‐FORMED (PIN) auxin transport proteins that generate auxin maxima and minima by driving polar cell‐to‐cell transport of auxin through their asymmetric subcellular distribution. Here, we review how regulatory proteins, the cytoskeleton, and membrane trafficking affect PIN expression and localization. Transcriptional regulation of PIN genes alters protein abundance, provides tissue‐specific expression, and enables feedback based on auxin concentrations and crosstalk with other hormones. Post‐transcriptional modification, for example by PIN phosphorylation or ubiquitination, provides regulation through protein trafficking and degradation, changing the direction and quantity of the auxin flow. Several plant hormones affect PIN abundance, resulting in another means of crosstalk between auxin and these hormones. In conclusion, PIN proteins are instrumental in directing plant developmental responses to environmental and endogenous signals.

Contents

Summary
362

I.
Introduction
362

II.
Auxin action
363

III.
PIN regulation by a complex network of feedback loops
366

IV.
PIN trafficking regulated by environmental signals
369

V.
Regulation of PIN proteins by internal signals
371

VI.
Conclusions/future perspectives
372

Acknowledgements
373

References
373
Predictive value of gelsolin for the outcomes of preterm neonates: A pilot study
Authors: Kose Mehmet , Elmas Tuba , Gokahmetoglu Selma , Ozturk Mehmet Adnan , Ekinci Duygu , Elmali Ferhan , Halis Hulya , Bastug Osman 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundPlasma gelsolin is a circulating actin‐binding protein that has a protective role against tissue injuries. Our aim was to compare the baseline levels of gelsolin in premature infants with neonatal outcomes.MethodsA total of 32 preterm neonates born at 23–32 weeks of gestation were enrolled in the study.ResultsPlasma gelsolin levels at 72 h were significantly lower in patients with respiratory distress syndrome, in patients who were administered surfactant therapy and in patients who developed sepsis (P < 0.05). Plasma gelsolin levels at 28 days were significantly lower in patients who developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity (P < 0.05).ConclusionsLow plasma gelsolin levels in the first postnatal month may be associated with poor outcomes in premature infants.
Arsenic exposure increases maternal but not cord serum IgG in Bangladesh
Authors: Ser Ping Han , Banu Bilkis , Jebunnesa Fatema , Fatema Kaneez , Rosy Nasrin , Yasmin Rabeya , Furusawa Hana , Ali Liaquat , Ahmad Sk Akhtar , Watanabe Chiho 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundThousands of pregnant women are exposed to arsenic (As), which has been shown to lead to a higher risk of maternal and infant morbidity. We hypothesized that As‐induced modifications to the humoral immune system may be partly responsible, and examined the relationship between As and immunoglobulin G (IgG).MethodsPregnant women were recruited in As‐contaminated rural areas in Bangladesh. Blood and urine samples, and questionnaire data were collected. We analyzed data from 202 pregnant women and a subset of 121 mother–infant pairs. Urinary As was measured on inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and adjusted with specific gravity (U‐AsSG). Maternal (IgGmat) and cord (IgGcord) serum total IgG were measured using immunoturbidity assay.ResultsThe geometric mean U‐AsSG (n = 202) was 69 μg/L (range, 3.1–1356 μg/L). Urinary‐AsSG was significantly associated with IgGmat (n = 202; (r = 0.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10–0.36; P < 0.001) and remained so after the inclusion of maternal‐associated variables in a multiple‐regression model (β = 1.26; 95%CI: 0.47–2.05; P < 0.01). U‐AsSG, however, was not significantly associated with IgGcord (n = 121), while IgGmat and IgGcord were also not associated with each other.ConclusionsMaternal As exposure was positively associated with IgGmat but not IgGcord. Elevated IgGmat may have implications as regards maternal morbidity and the placental transfer of specific IgGs. Further studies are required to better understand how As may affect maternal and child health by modifying the humoral immune system.
Systematics and evolution of gall formation in the plant‐associated genera of the wasp subfamily Doryctinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Authors: ZALDÍVAR‐RIVERÓN ALEJANDRO , MARTÍNEZ JUAN J. , BELOKOBYLSKIJ SERGEY A. , PEDRAZA‐LARA CARLOS , SHAW SCOTT R. , HANSON PAUL E. , VARELA‐HERNÁNDEZ FERNANDO 
Published: May 2014

AbstractGall formation is a specialised form of phytophagy that consists of abnormal growth of host plant tissue induced by other organisms, principally insects and mites. In the mainly parasitoid wasp subfamily Doryctinae, gall association, represented by gall inducers, inquilines and their parasitoids, is known for species of seven genera. Previous molecular studies recovered few species of six of these genera as monophyletic despite their disparate morphologies. Here, we reconstructed the evolutionary relationships among 47 species belonging to six gall‐associated doryctine genera based on two mitochondrial and two nuclear gene markers. Most of the Bayesian analyses, performed with different levels of incomplete taxa and characters, supported the monophyly of gall‐associated doryctines, with Heterospilus (Heterospilini) as sister group. Percnobracon Kieffer and Jörgensen and Monitoriella Hedqvist were consistently recovered as monophyletic, and the validity of the monotypic Mononeuron was confirmed with respect to Allorhogas Gahan. A nonmonophyletic Allorhogas was recovered, although without significant support. The relationships obtained and the gathered morphological and biological information led us to erect three new genera originally assigned to Psenobolus: Ficobolus gen.n. (F. paniaguai sp.n. and F. jaliscoi sp.n.), Plesiopsenobolus gen.n. (Pl. mesoamericanus sp.n., Pl. plesiomorphus van Achterberg and Marsh comb.n., and Pl. tico sp.n.), and Sabinita gen.n. (S. mexicana sp.n.). The origin of the gall‐associated doryctine clade was estimated to have occurred during the middle Miocene to early Oligocene, 16.33–30.55 Ma. Our results support the origin of true gall induction in the Doryctinae from parasitoidism of other gall‐forming insects. Moreover, adaptations to attack different gall‐forming taxa on various unrelated plant families probably triggered species diversification in the main Allorhogas clade and may also have promoted the independent origin of gall formation on at least three plant groups. Species diversification in the remaining doryctine taxa was probably a result of host shifts within a particular plant taxon and shifts to different plant organs.This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0021F253‐4ABA‐4EAA‐A7A9‐FC0AD1932EA3
National spatial and temporal patterns of notified dengue cases, Colombia 2007–2010
Authors: Restrepo Angela Cadavid , Baker Peter , Clements Archie C.A. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractObjectivesTo explore the variation in the spatial distribution of notified dengue cases in Colombia from January 2007 to December 2010 and examine associations between the disease and selected environmental risk factors.MethodsData on the number of notified dengue cases in Colombia were obtained from the National Institute of Health (Instituto Nacional de Salud – INS) for the period 1 January 2007 through 31 December 2010. Data on environmental factors were collected from the Worldclim website. A Bayesian spatio‐temporal conditional autoregressive model was used to quantify the relationship between monthly dengue cases and temperature, precipitation and elevation.ResultsMonthly dengue counts decreased by 18% (95% credible interval (CrI): 17–19%) in 2008 and increased by 30% (95% CrI: 28–31%) and 326% (95% CrI: 322–331%) in 2009 and 2010, respectively, compared to 2007. Additionally, there was a significant, nonlinear effect of monthly average precipitation.ConclusionsThe results highlight the role of environmental risk factors in determining the spatial of dengue and show how these factors can be used to develop and refine preventive approaches for dengue in Colombia.
Serum antibodies and DNA indicate a high prevalence of equine papillomavirus 2 (EcPV2) among horses in Switzerland
Authors: Fischer Nina. M. , Favrot Claude , Birkmann Katharina , Jackson Michele , Schwarzwald Colin C. , Müller Martin , Tobler Kurt , Geisseler Marco , Lange Christian E. 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundThe DNA of equine papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) is consistently found in equine papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas, indicating a causal association of EcPV2 in the pathogenesis of these tumours; however, little is known about the prevalence of this virus.Hypothesis/ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the geno‐ and seroprevalence of EcPV2 in clinically healthy horses in Switzerland.AnimalsFifty horses presented to the equine department of the university clinic, displaying no skin or mucous membrane lesions or severe signs of other diseases, were sampled.MethodsCytobrush samples from the penis or vulva and serum samples were collected. To determine the genoprevalence of EcPV2, DNA was extracted from cytobrush samples and tested for viral DNA with a PCR assay amplifying a 338 bp fragment of the E7/E1 region of the viral genome. Seroprevalence was tested using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay aimed to detect antibodies against the major capsid protein (L1) of EcPV2.ResultsIn five of 50 horses (10%), EcPV2‐specific DNA was amplified but no antibodies could be detected, whereas in 14 of 50 horses (28%), antibodies against EcPV2 but no DNA were demonstrated. Both antibodies and viral DNA were detected in four of 50 horses (8%). Neither antibodies nor viral DNA were found in 27 of 50 horses (54%).Conclusions and clinical importanceThe seroprevalence suggests that EcPV2 is prevalent in the Swiss equine population, while the genoprevalence indicates that currently ongoing infections are less common. The discrepancy between geno‐ and seroprevalence probably indicates different stages of infection in the tested cohort.
Cerebral aneurysm coiling: a predictive model of hospitalization cost
Authors: Bekelis Kimon , Missios Symeon , Labropoulos Nicos 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundSeveral initiatives have been put in place to minimize healthcare expenditures. In new and evolving fields such as endovascular aneurysm treatment, there are limited data to support such measures. The objective of the present study was to develop and validate a predictive model of hospitalization cost after cerebral aneurysm coiling (CACo).MethodsWe performed a retrospective study involving CACo patients who were registered in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2005 to 2010. The cohort underwent 1:1 randomization to create derivation and validation subsamples. Regression techniques were used for the creation of a parsimonious predictive model.ResultsOf the 10 928 patients undergoing CACo, 6617 (60.5%) presented with unruptured and 4311 (39.5%) with ruptured aneurysms. Median hospitalization cost was US$35 446 (IQR $13 801–$57 091). Common drivers of cost identified in the multivariate analysis included: length of stay; number of admission diagnoses and procedures; hospital size and region; patient income; hydrocephalus; acute renal failure; and seizures. The model was validated in independent cohorts and demonstrated a final R2value very similar to the initial model. The predicted and observed values in the validation cohort demonstrated good correlation.ConclusionsThis national study identified significant drivers of hospitalization cost after CACo. The presented model can be utilized as an adjunct in the cost containment debate and the creation of data driven policies.
Continuous professional development for GPs: experience from Denmark
Authors: Kjaer N K , Steenstrup A P , Pedersen L B , Halling A 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackground and objectivesContinuous professional development (CPD) for Danish general practitioners (GPs) is voluntary and based on funded accredited activities. There is an ongoing discussion on how to improve this current system by introducing mandatory elements. To inform this debate, we set out to identify GPs’ current use of CPD and to explore the motives behind their choices.MethodsA mixed-methods study with a combined qualitative and quantitative approach was used. In 2012, two focus group interviews were conducted, followed up the same year by an online questionnaire sent to 1079 randomly chosen Danish GPs.ResultsFocus groups: CPD activities are chosen based on personal needs analysis, and in order to be professionally updated, to meet engaged colleagues and to prevent burnout. GPs also attend CPD to assess their own pre-existing level of competence. CPD activities need to be experienced as being both meaningful and relevant in order to have an impact. Questionnaire: The response rate was 686/1079 (63%). GPs spend on average 10.5 days per year on accredited, voluntary CPD activities. Workplace-related CPD activities and practice-based small group learning played a significant role. The main motivation for choice of CPD activities included academic interest, experience of patient-related problems in their own surgeries and medical topics where the GPs felt insufficiently confident.ConclusionsDanish GPs are frequent users of voluntary accredited CPD. Their CPD choices are motivated by topics strengthening their professional capacity and preventing burnout. There would seem to be no need for a mandatory system.
Sharing across Multiple MapReduce Jobs
Authors: Nykiel Tomasz , Potamias Michalis , Mishra Chaitanya , Kollios George , Koudas Nick 
Published: May 2014

Large-scale data analysis lies in the core of modern enterprises and scientific research. With the emergence of cloud computing, the use of an analytical query processing infrastructure can be directly associated with monetary cost. MapReduce has been a popular framework in the context of cloud computing, designed to serve long-running queries (jobs) which can be processed in batch mode. Taking into account that different jobs often perform similar work, there are many opportunities for sharing. In principle, sharing similar work reduces the overall amount of work, which can lead to reducing monetary charges for utilizing the processing infrastructure. In this article we present a sharing framework tailored to MapReduce, namely, <tt>MRShare</tt>.
Our framework, <tt>MRShare</tt>, transforms a batch of queries into a new batch that will be executed more efficiently, by merging jobs into groups and evaluating each group as a single query. Based on our cost model for MapReduce, we define an optimization problem and we provide a solution that derives the optimal grouping of queries. Given the query grouping, we merge jobs appropriately and submit them to MapReduce for processing. A key property of <tt>MRShare</tt> is that it is independent of the MapReduce implementation. Experiments with our prototype, built on top of Hadoop, demonstrate the overall effectiveness of our approach.
<tt>MRShare</tt> is primarily designed for handling I/O-intensive queries. However, with the development of high-level languages operating on top of MapReduce, user queries executed in this model become more complex and CPU intensive. Commonly, executed queries can be modeled as evaluating pipelines of CPU-expensive filters over the input stream. Examples of such filters include, but are not limited to, index probes, or certain types of joins. In this article we adapt some of the standard techniques for filter ordering used in relational and stream databases, propose their extensions, and implement them through <tt>MRAdaptiveFilter</tt>, an extension of <tt>MRShare</tt> for expensive filter ordering tailored to MapReduce, which allows one to handle both single- and batch-query execution modes. We present an experimental evaluation that demonstrates additional benefits of <tt>MRAdaptiveFilter</tt>, when executing CPU-intensive queries in <tt>MRShare</tt>.