bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does experience in creating a robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) programme in an academic centre impact outcomes or complication rate?
Authors: Krane L. Spencer , Manny Theodore B. , Mufarrij Patrick W. , Hemal Ashok K. 
Published: June 2013

Objective
To evaluate the impact of increased experience in robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) on perioperative and oncological outcomes
To detail the complications encountered in establishing a RAPN programme at a tertiary referral centre and the factors associated with these complications
Patients and Methods
The initial consecutive 233 patients undergoing RAPN between March 2008 and May 2012 at our institution were identified.
Patients were divided into quartiles to evaluate outcomes, and uni‐ and multivariate predictors of complications were calculated
Results
In progressive quartiles, patients tended to have more complex renal tumours as evaluated by R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry (P < 0.01) or preoperative aspects and dimensions used for an anatomical classification (PADUA) scores (P = 0.003), and percentage endophytic (P = 0.01).
Developing technique increased the patients undergoing unclamped PN (P < 0.01).
The mean time in the operating room (from skin incision to closure) decreased significantly from 225 to 183 min (P < 0.01) and warm ischaemia time decreased from 28 to 15 min, when clamping (P < 0.01).
Clavien graded complication rate (P = 0.26) and positive margin rate (P = 0.32) was unchanged by quartile.
Conclusion
We show that increasing experience allows more complex tumours to be removed with similar outcomes in patients undergoing RAPN.
The complication rates and perioperative outcomes were similar in four successive quartiles of an initial experience of RAPN.
Cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 are associated with bladder dysfunction in an experimental diabetic rat model
Authors: Li Yan , Sun Yan , Zhang Zhaocun , Feng Xiaodi , Meng Hui , Li Shun , Zhu Yaofeng , Chen Shouzhen , Wang Yang , Wang Jun , Zhang Deqing , Jiang Xuewen , Li Ning , Shi Benkang 
Published: June 2013

Objective
To investigate diabetes‐associated changes in urinary bladder expression of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2) and the functional role of CB agonists and antagonists in mediating phasic contractions of isolated bladder strips using a streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rat model.
Materials and Methods
The bladder and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were removed from diabetic rats and age‐matched controls 8–10 weeks after diabetes induction.
Expression of CB1 and CB2 mRNA was studied using quantitative real‐time PCR and protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis.
The effect of increasing concentrations (0.1–100 μM) of the mixed CB1/CB2 agonist R(+)‐WIN 55,212–2 (WIN), selective CB1 antagonist (AM251) and selective CB2 antagonist (AM630) on carbachol‐evoked contraction of bladder strips from control and diabetic rats was investigated.
WIN‐induced alterations of bladder strip contraction were then studied after pre‐incubation with AM251 and AM630.
Results
Diabetes induced decreased CB1 protein and mRNA expression in both the bladder and DRG (P < 0.05), while decreased CB2 expression was observed in the bladder (P < 0.05).
WIN decreased the amplitude, but not frequency, of carbachol‐induced phasic contractions of bladder strips in a concentration‐dependent manner and this effect was diminished in the diabetic state.
AM630 and AM251 had no effect on isolated detrusor muscle function. Moreover, pre‐incubation with AM251 partially counteracted the effect of WIN on detrusor muscle contraction.
Conclusion
The results indicate that CB1 and CB2 are responsible for the pathogenesis of bladder dysfunction in diabetes mellitus and represent a viable target for pharmacological treatment of bladder cystopathy.
Impact of immediate loading on early soft tissue healing at two‐piece implants placed in fresh extraction sockets: an experimental study in the beagle dog
Authors: Mareque S. , Liñares A. , Pérez J. , Muñoz F. , Ramos I. , Blanco J. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractObjectivesTo study early soft tissue healing of immediately placed implants with or without immediate loading in the dog.Material and methodsForty‐eight implants were placed in the distal sockets of Pm3 and Pm4 in the lower jaw of 12 beagle dogs immediately after tooth extraction. In the control group, no loading was applied. In the test group, an immediate loading restoration with occlusal contacts was performed. Dogs were sacrificed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks for histological analysis.ResultsAt the end of the study, there was a 100% implant and prosthesis survival. The biological width dimension was similar in both groups at all the studied healing periods. This dimension tended to decrease from week 2 to 8 in both groups, on both the buccal and lingual side. The barrier epithelium tended to stop at the implant–abutment interface in both groups and also decreased in length from week 2 to 8, on the buccal and the lingual side. Soft tissue recession remained low and occurred mainly in the test group.ConclusionsThe characteristics, dimension, and healing pattern of the peri‐implant soft tissues were similar around immediate implants with or without immediate loading.
Foreign Direct Investors as Change Agents: The Swedish Firm Experience
Authors: Fogel Kathy S. , Lee Kevin K. , Lee Wayne Y. , Palmberg Johanna 
Published: June 2013

AbstractManuscript TypeEmpiricalResearch QuestionPrior studies examine corporate governance either at the firm level, with limited attention paid to societal culture and norms, or at the nation‐state level, with limited attention paid to the management practices of firms. In this study we examine the impact on the corporate governance of Swedish firms brought about by foreign investors. We argue that in countries like Sweden with strong culturally embedded norms and control exercised by dominant domestic shareholders, control‐seeking foreign investors can act as agents of change to improve firm performance through more efficient capital utilization and labor productivity.Research FindingsWe find that the entry of foreign equity investors over the years 1992–2008 surrounding Sweden's formal admission to the European Union in 1995 enhanced the financial performance of large publicly traded, domestic owner‐controlled firms in Sweden. The heightened performance of Swedish firms was not simply a result of cross‐border portfolio investments by institutions as the literature on shareholder activism implies. Rather, significant advancements in firm performance occurred only when an increase in voting participation by foreign direct investors was coincident with a decrease in the excess voting power of the largest domestic shareholder, which gave foreign equity investors a critical “voice” in the management of the firm.Theoretical ImplicationsInformal institutions influence corporate governance by aligning corporate goals with socially acceptable outcomes. Corporate governance practices, if culturally embedded, cannot be easily displaced even when the gains in economic efficiency are large. Corporate owners stand to benefit from the maintenance of the status quo and may not welcome radical changes that can lead to a “creative destruction” of their market power and political dominance. Foreign portfolio investors who focus solely on cash flow rights of the firm cannot effectively change decision making in the boardroom. Foreign direct investors, who actively seek voting shares and control rights, will have the utmost potential to effect change in corporate governance by advocating for new corporate priorities and objectives at board meetings.
Novel psychoactive drug use among younger adults involved in US nightlife scenes
Authors: Kelly Brian C. , Wells Brooke E. , Pawson Mark , Leclair Amy , Parsons Jeffrey T. , Golub Sarit A. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIntroduction and AimsThe emergence of novel psychoactive substances has been reported in clinical studies and recent studies of users. The use of these substances in European nightlife scenes is well documented. Little research has been done to identify the prevalence of these drugs among young adults active in other regions. We focus our sample on socially active young adults to gain an indication of the prevalence and understanding of demographic factors associated with past year mephedrone (‘meph’, ‘bath salts’) and synthetic cannabinoid (‘spice’, ‘K2’) use.Design and MethodsThis study reports on the results of a field‐based survey of 1740 patrons at nightlife venues in New York City.ResultsWithin the sample, 8.2% reported use of synthetic cannabinoids and 1.1% reported the use of mephedrone. Gay and bisexual men reported higher prevalence of mephedrone use. Latinos reported higher prevalence of synthetic cannabinoid use. Multivariate analyses indicate that sexual minority identity is associated with mephedrone use and younger age and Latino ethnicity are associated with synthetic cannabinoid use.Discussion and ConclusionThe findings suggest that the use of synthetic cannabinoids and mephedrone among adults in US nightlife scenes remains relatively low in comparison with European nightlife scenes, and is low relative to other drug use among young people within these scenes. [Kelly BC, Wells BE, Pawson M, LeClair A, Parsons JT, Golub SA. Novel psychoactive drug use among younger adults involved in US nightlife scenes. Drug Alcohol Rev 2013;32:588–593]
Integrating biodiversity and drinking water protection goals through geographic analysis
Authors: Wickham James D. , Flather Curtis H. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAimBiodiversity and drinking water share a common interest in land conservation. Our objective was to identify where that common interest occurs geographically to inform conservation planning.LocationThe study focused on 2112 eight‐digit hydrologic units (watersheds) occurring in the conterminous United States.MethodsData on aquatic‐dependent species occurrence, drinking water intakes, protected land status and land cover change were compiled for each watershed. We compared these four datasets after defining ‘hotspots’ based on attribute‐specific thresholds that included (1) the 90th percentile of at‐risk aquatic biodiversity, (2) with and without drinking water intakes, (3) above and below the median percentage of protected land and (4) increase in urban land above and below a 1% threshold between 2001 and 2006. Geographic intersections were used to address a number of questions relevant to conservation planning including the following: What watersheds important to aquatic biodiversity are also important to drinking water? Which watersheds with a shared stake in biodiversity and drinking water protection have inadequate land protection? Which watersheds with potentially inadequate amounts of protected lands are also undergoing relatively rapid urbanization?ResultsOver 60% of the watersheds that were determined to be aquatic biodiversity hotspots also had drinking water intakes, and approximately 50% of these watersheds had less than the United States median amount of protected land. A total of seven watersheds were found to have shared aquatic biodiversity/drinking water values, relatively low proportions of protected lands and a relatively high rate of urbanization. The majority of these watershed occurred in the south‐eastern United States, with secondary occurrences in California.Main conclusionsGeographic analysis of multiple ecosystem services can identify areas of shared land conservation interest. Locations where ecosystem commodities and species conservation overlap has the potential to increase stakeholder buy‐in and leverage scarce resources to conserve land that, in this case study, protects both biodiversity and drinking water.
Higher education is an age‐independent predictor of white matter integrity and cognitive control in late adolescence
Authors: Noble Kimberly G. , Korgaonkar Mayuresh S. , Grieve Stuart M. , Brickman Adam M. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractSocioeconomic status is an important predictor of cognitive development and academic achievement. Late adolescence provides a unique opportunity to study how the attainment of socioeconomic status (in the form of years of education) relates to cognitive and neural development, during a time when age‐related cognitive and neural development is ongoing. During late adolescence it is possible to disambiguate age‐ and education‐related effects on the development of these processes. Here we assessed the degree to which higher educational attainment was related to performance on a cognitive control task, controlling for age. We then used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess the degree to which white matter microstructure might mediate this relationship. When covarying age, significant associations were found between educational attainment and fractional anisotropy (FA) in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and cingulum bundle (CB). Further, when covarying age, FA in these regions was associated with cognitive control. Finally, mediation analyses revealed that the age‐independent association between educational attainment and cognitive control was completely accounted for by FA in these regions. The uncinate fasciculus, a late‐myelinated control region not implicated in cognitive control, did not mediate this effect.
Three‐Dimensional Echocardiographic Assessment of Patent Foramen Ovale in Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia
Authors: Rostamian Armand , Rathod Ankit , Makkar Rajendra R. , Siegel Robert J. 
Published: June 2013

Platypnea‐orthodeoxia is an uncommon syndrome characterized by positional dyspnea and hypoxia when upright that improves with lying down. We present a 75‐year‐old man with platypnea‐orthodeoxia in the setting of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and a 2.1 cm highly mobile atrial septal aneurysm with 2 cm bowing. Prior reports have established the use of three‐dimensional echocardiography to facilitate percutaneous closure of PFO and atrial septal defect, but its use in patients with platypnea‐orthodeoxia is unclear. We document three‐dimensional echocardiographic images that accurately estimated PFO defect size and confirmed placement of the occluder device.
N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide level determined at different times identifies transient ischaemic attack patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Purroy F. , Suárez‐Luis I. , Mauri‐Capdevila G. , Cambray S. , Farré J. , Sanahuja J. , Piñol‐Ripoll G. , Quílez A. , González‐Mingot C. , Begué R. , Gil M. I. , Fernández E. , Benabdelhak I. 
Published: June 2013

Background and purposeThe etiological classification of patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is a difficult endeavor and the use of serum biomarkers could improve the diagnostic accuracy. The aim of this study was to correlate atrial fibrillation, the main cardioembolic etiology (CE), with different serum biomarkers measured in consecutive TIA patients.MethodsThe concentrations of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, neuron‐specific enolase, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, IL‐1‐α and the N‐terminal pro‐B type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) were quantified in the serum of 140 patients with TIA and 44 non‐stroke subjects. Measurements were performed at different times throughout evolution: within 24 h of symptoms onset and at days 7 and 90.ResultsWith the exception of IL‐6, all biomarkers were higher in TIA patients than in controls. NT‐proBNP was significantly related to the presence or new diagnosis of AF at all time points analyzed. Furthermore, the baseline NT‐proBNP level was significantly higher than values at the 7‐day and 90‐day follow‐up. For this reason, different cut‐off values were obtained at different times: 313 pg/ml at baseline [odds ratio (OR) = 18.99, P < 0.001], 181 pg/ml at 7 days (OR = 11.4, P = 0.001) and 174 pg/ml (OR = 8.46, P < 0.001) at 90 days.ConclusionHigh levels of NT‐proBNP determined during the first 3 months after a TIA were associated with AF. Consequently, this biomarker may be useful to reclassify undetermined TIA patients as having disease of CE.
New Urbanism as Sustainable Development?
Authors: Trudeau Dan 
Published: June 2013

AbstractNew urbanism is an urban design movement to create pedestrian‐oriented settlements that also advance social equity and mitigate the environmental impacts of development. Proponents of the movement have suggested it offers a model of sustainable development. This paper investigates this claim by discussing the implications of empirical research on new urbanism for the ways in which the movement contributes to sustainability. The paper uses the concepts of environmental and social sustainability to frame the discussion. The paper traces the origin of new urbanism and the evolution of its interest in sustainable development. Review of scholarly research on new urbanism in practice shows the movement supports in limited ways both environmental and social sustainability. Moreover, this research also shows that some forms of new urbanism development unintentionally counteract environmental sustainability goals while other forms fail to achieve social sustainability goals. Citing the diverse ways in which new urbanism is put into practice, the paper concludes by considering how understanding the heterogeneity of new urbanism as it exists in the world will impart greater clarity to further analysis of the ways in which the movement actually contributes to sustainable development.
What do people appreciate in physicians' communication? An international study with focus groups using videotaped medical consultations
Authors: Mazzi Maria A. , Rimondini Michela , Deveugele Myriam , Zimmermann Christa , Moretti Francesca , van Vliet Liesbeth , Deledda Giuseppe , Fletcher Ian , Bensing Jozien 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe literature shows that the quality of communication is usually determined from a professional perspective. Patients or lay people are seldom involved in the development of quality indicators or communication.ObjectiveTo give voice to the lay people perspective on what constitutes ‘good communication’ by evoking their reactions to variations in physician communication.DesignLay people from four different countries watched the same videotaped standardized medical encounters and discussed their preferences in gender‐specific focus groups who were balanced in age groups.Setting and participantsTwo hundred and fifty‐nine lay people (64 NL, 72 IT, 75 UK and 48 BE) distributed over 35 focus groups of 6–8 persons each.Main variables studiedComments on doctors' behaviours were classified by the GULiVer framework in terms of contents and preferences.ResultsParticipants prevalently discussed ‘task‐oriented expressions’ (39%: competency, self‐confident, providing solutions), ‘affective oriented/emotional expressions' (25%: empathy, listening, reassuring) and ‘process‐oriented expressions' (23%: flexibility, summarizing, verifying). ‘Showing an affective attitude’ was most appreciated (positive percentage within category: 93%, particularly facilitations and inviting attitude), followed by ‘providing solution’ (85%). Among disfavoured behaviour, repetitions (88%), ‘writing and reading’ (54%) and asking permission (42%) were found.ConclusionsAlthough an affective attitude is appreciated by nearly everybody, people may vary widely in their communication needs and preferences: what is ‘good communication’ for one person may be disliked or even a source of irritation for another. A physician should be flexible and capable of adapting the consultation to the different needs of different patients. This challenges the idea of general communication guidelines.
Influence of Maternal Social Communication on Ticklishness in Infants: A Comparison With Being Stroked
Authors: Ikeda Ayaka , Itakura Shoji 
Published: June 2013

The tickle sensation is considered to arise from physiological and social factors. Previous research reports that although infants laugh in response to tactile stimulation in first 6 months of life, they cease laughing to this stimulation as they grow. Because older children often appear to laugh in response to tickling, the current study focused on relationships between infants’ response to tickling and social factors as they grow. Specifically, we examined effects of different maternal social interactions on infants’ reactions to tickling vs. stroking tactile stimulations. Results showed that a tickle stimulus, together with maternal communications, elicits positive reactions in infants. In contrast, a noncommunicative mother and stroking tends to elicit from the child a neutral response, whereas the combination of a noncommunicative mother with tickling evokes negative reactions in infants. These findings suggest that maternal social communication affects infants’ reactions to touch. In addition, the combination of tactile and social stimulations elicits laughter in infants over 6 months of age.
Factors Related to Thickness of Melanoma
Authors: KOPF ALFRED W. , RIGEL DARRELL , BART ROBERT S. , MINTZIS MEDWIN M. , HENNESSEY PATRICK , HARRIS MATTHEW N. , RAGAZ ANNA , TRAU HENRI , FRIEDMAN ROBERT J. , ESRIG BRUCE 
Published: June 2013

Computer analyses to identify correlations between thickness of primary superficial spreading malignant melanoma and eighteen variables previously reported to be related to prognosis were performed on a series of malignant melanomas.The variables that showed statistically significant (≤0.05) direct relationships to thickness were level (Clark), elevation of lesion, age of patient, least and greatest diameters of lesion, history of bleeding, ulceration, clinical and histologic stage, anatomic location, pedunculation, and satellitosis. The variables that did not correlate with thickness were clinical diagnosis of regional lymphadenopathy, in‐transit metastasis, duration of lesion, sex, history of a previous malignant melanoma, and history of a pre‐existing lesion at the site of the development of melanoma.Multiple regression analysis of the factors that showed statistically significant correlation with thickness of the primary lesion revealed a subset of six dominant variables that were most predictive of thickness, namely, level, elevation, largest diameter of lesion, ulceration, histologic stage, and age of the patient.
Skin Metastases from Small‐Cell Carcinoma of the Lung
Authors: FOX JOSHUA L. , BERMAN BRIAN , PRIOLEAU PHILIP G. 
Published: June 2013

Abstract. This paper reports the first case of skin metastases from small‐cell carcinoma of the lung with electron microscopic confirmation. The 2 to 3‐cm cutaneous lesions present on the chest and limbs were hard, nontender, smooth‐surfaced, freely moveable nodules with normal appearing overlying skin. Characteristic dense‐core granules 1562 123 Å (SEM) in diameter were detected by electron microscopy.The detection by electron microscopy of dense‐core granules may assist in confirming the diagnosis of small‐cell carcinoma in cutaneous lesions with equivocal histologic findings.