bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Different virulence of porcine and porcine-like bovine rotavirus strains with genetically nearly identical genomes in piglets and calves
Authors: Park Jun-Gyu , Kim Hyun-Jeong , Matthijnssens Jelle , Alfajaro Mia Madel , Kim Deok-Song , Son Kyu-Yeol , Kwon Hyoung-Jun , Hosmillo Myra , Ryu Eun-Hye , Kim Ji-Yun , Cena Rohani B , Lee Ju-Hwan , Kang Mun-Il , Park Sang-Ik , Cho Kyoung-Oh 
Published: October 2013

AbstractDirect interspecies transmissions of group A rotaviruses (RVA) have been reported under natural conditions. However, the pathogenicity of RVA has never been directly compared in homologous and heterologous hosts. The bovine RVA/Cow-tc/KOR/K5/2004/G5P[7] strain, which was shown to possess a typical porcine-like genotype constellation similar to that of the G5P[7] prototype RVA/Pig-tc/USA/OSU/1977/G5P9[7] strain, was examined for its pathogenicity and compared with the porcine G5P[7] RVA/Pig-tc/KOR/K71/2006/G5P[7] strain possessing the same genotype constellation. The bovine K5 strain induced diarrhea and histopathological changes in the small intestine of piglets and calves, whereas the porcine K71 strain caused diarrhea and histopathological changes in the small intestine of piglets, but not in calves. Furthermore, the bovine K5 strain showed extra-intestinal tropisms in both piglets and calves, whereas the porcine K71 strain had extra-intestinal tropisms in piglets, but not in calves. Therefore, we performed comparative genomic analysis of the K71 and K5 RVA strains to determine whether specific mutations could be associated with these distinct clinical and pathological phenotypes. Full-length sequencing analyses for the 11 genomic segments for K71 and K5 revealed that these strains were genetically nearly identical to each other. Two nucleotide mutations were found in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of NSP5 and the 3′ UTR of NSP3, and eight amino acid mutations in VP1-VP4 and NSP2. Some of these mutations may be critical molecular determinants for RVA virulence and/or pathogenicity.
A framework for outcome-level evaluation of in-service training of health care workers
Authors: O’Malley Gabrielle , Perdue Thomas , Petracca Frances 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundIn-service training is a key strategic approach to addressing the severe shortage of health care workers in many countries. However, there is a lack of evidence linking these health care worker trainings to improved health outcomes. In response, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s Human Resources for Health Technical Working Group initiated a project to develop an outcome-focused training evaluation framework. This paper presents the methods and results of that project.MethodsA general inductive methodology was used for the conceptualization and development of the framework. Fifteen key informant interviews were conducted to explore contextual factors, perceived needs, barriers and facilitators affecting the evaluation of training outcomes. In addition, a thematic analysis of 70 published articles reporting health care worker training outcomes identified key themes and categories. These were integrated, synthesized and compared to several existing training evaluation models. This formed an overall typology which was used to draft a new framework. Finally, the framework was refined and validated through an iterative process of feedback, pilot testing and revision.ResultsThe inductive process resulted in identification of themes and categories, as well as relationships among several levels and types of outcomes. The resulting framework includes nine distinct types of outcomes that can be evaluated, which are organized within three nested levels: individual, organizational and health system/population. The outcome types are: (1) individual knowledge, attitudes and skills; (2) individual performance; (3) individual patient health; (4) organizational systems; (5) organizational performance; (6) organizational-level patient health; (7) health systems; (8) population-level performance; and (9) population-level health. The framework also addresses contextual factors which may influence the outcomes of training, as well as the ability of evaluators to determine training outcomes. In addition, a group of user-friendly resources, the Training Evaluation Framework and Tools (TEFT) were created to help evaluators and stakeholders understand and apply the framework.ConclusionsFeedback from pilot users suggests that using the framework and accompanying tools may support outcome evaluation planning. Further assessment will assist in strengthening guidelines and tools for operationalization.
The utility of using fiberoptic rhinoscopy in the diagnosis of nasal polyps
Authors: Cottrill Martha , Ko Ruth , Kim Harold L 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Background
Symtomatology of nasal polyps (NP) is relatively non-specific and other nasal conditions that cause nasal may be mistaken for NP. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy otoscopic (OT) examination in detecting presence of NP by using fiberoptic rhinoscopy (FR) as the gold standard to confirm diagnosis of NP.

Methods
Charts from a single allergy clinic were reviewed for any patient having NP diagnosed by FR. Data collected included gender, age, allergy skin test results, and presence of asthma, aspirin allergy, previous nasal surgeries, intranasal corticosteroid use and leukotriene receptor antagonist use.

Results
The OT examination had 44% sensitivity. In this study, more than half (56%) of patients with NP would have had their NP missed if FR had not been performed in addition to the OT examination.

Conclusions
The standard physical examination procedure is often not sufficient to confirm a diagnosis of NP. FR should be considered in the investigation of patients with rhinitis symptoms.
Progression of Vertebral Fractures Despite Long-Term Biochemical Control of Acromegaly: A Prospective Follow-up Study
Authors: Claessen K. M. J. A. , Kroon H. M. , Pereira A. M. , Appelman-Dijkstra N. M. , Verstegen M. J. , Kloppenburg M. , Hamdy N. A. T. , Biermasz N. R. 
Published: October 2013

Background:
In active acromegaly, pathologically elevated GH and IGF-1 levels are associated with increased bone turnover and a high bone mass, the latter being sustained after normalization of GH values. In a cross-sectional study design, we have previously reported a high prevalence of vertebral fractures (VFs) of about 60% in patients with controlled acromegaly, despite normal mean bone mineral density (BMD) values. Whether these fractures occur during the active acromegaly phase or after remission is achieved is not known.

Objective:
Our objective was to study the natural progression of VFs and contributing risk factors in patients with controlled acromegaly over a 2.5-year follow-up period.

Methods:
Forty-nine patients (mean age 61.3 ± 11.1 years, 37% female) with controlled acromegaly for ≥2 years after surgery, irradiation, and/or medical therapy and not using bisphosphonates were included in the study. Conventional spine radiographs including vertebrae Th4–L4 were assessed for VFs according to the Genant method. VF progression was defined as development of new/incident fractures and/or a minimum 1-point increase in the Genant scoring of preexisting VFs. BMD was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (Hologic 4500).

Results:
Prevalence of baseline VFs was 63%, being highest in men, and fractures were unrelated to baseline BMD. VF progression was documented in 20% of patients, especially in men and in case of ≥2 VFs at baseline. VF progression was not related to BMD values or BMD changes over time.

Conclusion:
Findings from this longitudinal study show that VFs progress in the long term in 20% of patients with biochemically controlled acromegaly in the absence of osteoporosis or osteopenia. These data suggest that an abnormal bone quality persists in these patients after remission, possibly related to pretreatment long-term exposure to high circulating levels of GH.
The Use of Prior Knowledge to Accelerate the Determination of the Permissible Operating Envelope of an Internal Combustion Engine
Authors: Brace C J , Akehurst S , Ward M C 
Published: October 2013

The paper details improvements in the technique used to locate the boundary of the permissible operating envelope (or limit space) of an engine. This process is an important step in the model-based calibration of engines and is currently conducted manually or using cautious automatic search algorithms because of the risks to engine integrity if operating limits are exceeded. To improve this process, prior knowledge was used to mimic the behaviour of an expert calibrator following two strategies. The first was designed to offer a rapid search based on a similar premise to commercially available tools. The second scheme offers a thorough search of the limit space using a scheme that targets the extremes of the operating envelope. Both patterns were enhanced using prior knowledge generated from previous operating points in order to speed up the search. When implemented on the test bed the use of prior knowledge in this way has shown the potential to shorten the search time by up to 25 per cent. The thorough search pattern increased the accuracy of the limit space definition by up to 40 per cent but resulted in a significantly slower search.
The Big Failure: Lehman Brothers’ Effects On Global Markets
Authors: Burkhanov Umar 
Published: October 2013

This research will detail the causes of the Lehman collapse, how it relates to the financial crisis that first emerged in 2008, and how it triggered other countries into global rescission both by looking at the internal happenings of Lehman within the US market as well as the effects of the crisis on global markets. The research will present a series of recommendations and investment strategies that could be used to take advantage of the current situations in global markets and derive lessons from the fall of Lehman brothers.
Comparative Advantage In The Southern Africa Customs Union (Sacu)
Authors: Mzumara Macleans , Nyasulu Betty Mkwinda , Mzumara Margaret , Kaunda Elias 
Published: October 2013

The authors sought to find out whether the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) possesses comparative advantage. They found that South Africa has comparative advantage in the production of 727 product lines, Botswana in 268 product lines, Swaziland 243 product lines, Namibia 213 product lines and Lesotho 85 product lines. They also found that the highest degree of specialization in a particular product was observed in Lesotho in the production of cartridges for rivet with an average RCA index of 19215. The authors concluded that SACU has comparative advantage although such comparative advantage has a narrow base for a customs union (CU). Further it was concluded that due to imposition of the common external tariff (CET) in SACU and a narrow base of the products in which it has comparative advantage, it may be experiencing trade diversion rather than trade creation by replacing low cost producers outside SACU in favour of intra-SACU high cost producers. That South Africa, although not the least producer, is unfairly benefiting due to the imposition of CET which prevents other countries from exporting their products to Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Lesotho under the same conditions. These countries are, therefore, disadvantaged. For this reason, the authors advocate communication at policy level, to facilitate expansion of SACU as means of narrowing trade diversion.
The Albanian Brain Drain phenomena and the Brain Gain strategy
Authors: Musaraj Arta 
Published: October 2013

Qualitative human resources remain one of the main problem of Eastern Europe and in particular Western Balkan countries. After 20 years of deep economic, political and social transformation, those countries are facing the problem of the highly qualified human resources they lost in these two decades, while in most of cases there is no a real measurement of the weight and impact these phenomena of Brain Drain has in the quality of the work force. Most of them are trying to set up and apply Brain Gain strategies at a national level. The paper aims to analyze and evaluate the influence that the missing of a previous qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the Phenomena of Brain Drain in Albania, has in the successful application of the Brain Gain strategy. The research objective will be fulfilled by analyzing the evolution of the Brain Drain phenomena, by an introduction of the Albanian characteristic and shape of Brain Drain from 1990, by analyzing the Brain Gain strategy applied in the country comparing it to a successful application. The paper analyzes factors and variables which may affect the successful application of Brain Gain in Albania while evidences the importance of stakeholder approach in objectives and aims of Brain Gain program and strategy and the use of the Balance Scorecard as a strategic management system in “brain gain” strategy set up and application in the case of Albania and those of other countries of the region as well.
Notch signaling in the pathologic adult brain
Authors: Mathieu Patricia , Adami Pamela V. Martino , Morelli Laura 
Published: October 2013

AbstractAlong the entire lifetime, Notch is actively involved in dynamic changes in the cellular architecture and function of the nervous system. It controls neurogenesis, the growth of axons and dendrites, synaptic plasticity, and ultimately neuronal death. The specific roles of Notch in adult brain plasticity and neurological disorders have begun to be unraveled in recent years, and pieces of experimental evidence suggest that Notch is operative in diverse brain pathologies including tumorigenesis, stroke, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. In this review, we will cover the recent findings of Notch signaling and neural dysfunction in adult human brain and discuss its relevance in the pathogenesis of diseases of the central nervous system.
Interoperability optimization in healthcare collaboration networks
Authors: Alrajeh Nabil A. , Elmir Badr , Bounabat Bouchaïb , El Hami Norelislam 
Published: October 2013

AbstractInteroperability is one of the most challenging concerns that face healthcare information system (HIS) actors. Interoperability implementation in this context may be a data exchange interfacing, a service oriented interaction or even a composition of new composite healthcare processes. In fact, optimizing efforts of interoperability achievement is a key requirement to effectively setup, develop and evolve intra- and interorganizational collaboration. To ensure interoperability project effectiveness, this paper proposes a modeling representation of health processes interoperability evolution. Interoperability degrees of involved automated processes are assessed using a ratio metric, taking into account all significant aspects, such as potentiality, compatibility and operational performance. Then, a particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) is used as a heuristic optimization method to find the best distribution of effort needed to establish an efficient healthcare collaborative network.
Three-dimensional image fusion across PET+MRI modalities based on the approach of characteristic coregistration
Authors: Peng Matthew Jian-qiao , Yin Wei-qiang , Ju Xiangyang , Ayoub Ashraf F. , Khambay Balvinder S. , Chen Chin-Tu , Deng Fang-ge , Han Pei , Bai Bo 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBecause there is no complete three-dimensional (3D) hybrid detector integrated PET+MRI internationally, this study aims to investigate a registration approach for a two-dimensional (2D) hybrid based on characteristic localization to achieve a 3D fusion from the images of PET and MRI as a whole.A cubic-oriented scheme of “9-point and 3-plane” for a coregistration design was verified to be geometrically practical. Through 3D reconstruction and virtual dissection, human internal feature points were sorted to combine with preselected external feature points for matching process. By following the procedure of feature extraction and image mapping, the processes of “picking points to form planes” and “picking planes for segmentation” were executed. Eventually, the image fusion was implemented at the real-time workstation Mimics based on auto-fuse techniques called “information exchange” and “signal overlay”.A complementary 3D image across PET+MRI modalities, which simultaneously present metabolic activities and anatomic structures, was created with a detectable rate of 56%. This is equivalent to the detectable rate of PET+CT or MRI+CT with no statistically significant difference, and it facilitates a 3D vision that is not yet functional for 2D hybrid imaging.This cross-modality fusion is doubtless an essential complement for the existing toolkit of a 2D hybrid device. Thus, it would potentially improve the efficiency of diagnosis and therapy for oncology.
Sparse Optimal Control of the Schlögl and FitzHugh–Nagumo Systems
Authors: Casas Eduardo , Ryll Christopher , Tröltzsch Fredi 
Published: October 2013

Abstract.
We investigate the problem of sparse optimal controls for the so-called Schlögl model and the FitzHugh–Nagumo system. In these reaction–diffusion equations, traveling wave fronts occur that can be controlled in different ways. The L1-norm of the distributed
control is included in the objective functional so that optimal controls exhibit effects of sparsity. We prove the differentiability
of the control-to-state mapping for both dynamical systems, show the well-posedness of the optimal control problems and derive first-order
necessary optimality conditions. Based on them, the sparsity of optimal controls is shown. The theory is illustrated by various numerical
examples, where wave fronts or spiral waves are controlled in a desired way.
Prolonged cultivation of hippocampal neural precursor cells shifts their differentiation potential and selects for aneuploid cells
Authors: Nguyen The Duy , Widera Darius , Greiner Johannes , Müller Janine , Martin Ina , Slotta Carsten , Hauser Stefan , Kaltschmidt Christian , Kaltschmidt Barbara 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Neural precursor cells (NPCs) are lineage-restricted neural stem cells with limited self-renewal, giving rise to a broad range of neural cell types such as neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Despite this developmental potential, the differentiation capacity of NPCs has been controversially discussed concerning the trespassing lineage boundaries, for instance resulting in hematopoietic competence. Assessing their in vitro plasticity, we isolated nestin+/Sox2+, NPCs from the adult murine hippocampus. In vitro-expanded adult NPCs were able to form neurospheres, self-renew, and differentiate into neuronal, astrocytic, and oligodendrocytic cells. Although NPCs cultivated in early passage efficiently gave rise to neuronal cells in a directed differentiation assay, extensively cultivated NPCs revealed reduced potential for ectodermal differentiation. We further observed successful differentiation of long-term cultured NPCs into osteogenic and adipogenic cell types, suggesting that NPCs underwent a fate switch during culture. NPCs cultivated for more than 12 passages were aneuploid (abnormal chromosome numbers such as 70 chromosomes). Furthermore, they showed growth factor-independent proliferation, a hallmark of tumorigenic transformation. In conclusion, our findings substantiate the lineage restriction of NPCs from adult mammalian hippocampus. Prolonged cultivation results, however, in enhanced differentiation potential, which may be attributed to transformation events leading to aneuploid cells.
Vitamin D in Pediatric Inpatients With Respiratory Illnesses
Authors: Iqbal Sabah , Mosenkis Edward V. , Jain Pankaj , Wiles Andrew , Lerner Jennifer , Benton Angela S. , Chamberlain James M. , Freishtat Robert J. , Teach Stephen J. 
Published: October 2013

Background and Objective:
Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels have been associated with increased susceptibility to and severity of respiratory viral infections. Hypovitaminosis D may be a modifiable risk factor in the severity of viral respiratory illnesses. The hypothesis for this study was that children hospitalized for respiratory illnesses would have lower serum 25(OH)D levels than controls and that 25(OH)D levels would be associated with illness severity among cases.

Methods:
A case–control study of a sample of patients aged 6 months through 12 years hospitalized from January to May 2010 at an urban pediatric referral hospital was performed. Cases were children hospitalized for acute respiratory illnesses, and controls were children hospitalized for nonrespiratory illnesses. Illness severity among cases was assessed according to hospital length of stay, ICU admission, peripheral oxygen saturation, and pediatric risk of admission II score. Associations between serum 25(OH)D levels and dependent variables were tested for by using binary logistic and multivariable linear regression while controlling for admission diagnosis, age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Results:
The majority of cases (n = 38) and controls (n = 83) were African American (65.8% and 59.0%, respectively). Of the entire cohort (N = 121), 64.8% had vitamin D insufficiency (25[OH]D level ≤30 ng/mL) and 31.1% had vitamin D deficiency (25[OH]D level ≤20 ng/mL). Mean ± SD 25(OH)D levels did not differ between cases and controls (26.8 ± 11.5 vs 26.1 ± 10.6 ng/mL, respectively; P = .73).

Conclusions:
Hypovitaminosis D was common among cases and controls, but it was not significantly associated with the presence or severity of respiratory illnesses.
Comparison of Administrative Data Versus Infection Control Data in Identifying Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Children’s Hospitals
Authors: Harris J. Mitchell , Gay James C. , Neff John M. , Patrick Stephen W. , Sedman Aileen 
Published: October 2013

Objective:As of July 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services prohibited state Medicaid programs from paying for medical care related to certain provider-preventable conditions. The most prevalent provider-preventable condition in pediatrics is central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), which cause significant morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to compare the uses of administrative data and infection control data in measuring CLABSIs.Methods:Retrospective chart reviews were performed in 3 children’s hospitals to compare CLABSIs identified according to administrative data diagnostic coding versus infections identified by hospital infection control departments. Clinical criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network were used.Results:A total of 166 CLABSIs were identified in 35 698 discharges in the 3 children’s hospitals in 2010. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria as the standard, administrative data had 34.78% sensitivity and 99.92% specificity. The positive predictive value was 63.16% whereas the negative predictive value was 99.75%.Conclusions:Administrative data and National Healthcare Safety Network criteria identify discordant numbers of CLABSIs.