bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysing policy interventions to prohibit over‐the‐counter antibiotic sales in four Latin American countries
Authors: Wirtz V. J. , Herrera‐Patino J. J. , Santa‐Ana‐Tellez Y. , Dreser A. , Elseviers M. , Vander Stichele R. H. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractObjectivesTo describe and evaluate policies implemented in Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico (1995–2009) to prohibit antibiotic OTC sales and explore limitations in available data.MethodsWe searched and analysed legislation, grey literature and peer‐reviewed publications on regulatory interventions and implementation strategies to enforce prohibition of OTC antibiotic sales. We also assessed the impact using private sector retail sales data of antibiotics studying changes in level and consumption trends before and after the policy change using segmented time series analysis. Finally, we assessed the completeness and data quality through an established checklist to test the suitability of the data for analysis of the interventions.ResultsWhereas Chile implemented a comprehensive package of interventions to accompany regulation changes, Colombia's reform was limited to the capital district and Venezuela's limited to only some antibiotics and without awareness campaigns. In Mexico, no enforcement was enacted. The data showed a differential effect of the intervention among the countries studied with a significant change in level of consumption in Chile (−5.56 DID) and in Colombia (−1.00DID). In Venezuela and Mexico, no significant change in level and slope was found. Changes in population coverage were identified as principal limitations of using sales data for evaluating the reform impact.ConclusionRetail sales data can be useful when assessing policy impact but should be supplemented by other data sources such as public sector sales and prescription data. Implementing regulatory enforcement has shown some impact, but a sustainable, concerted approach will be needed to address OTC sales in the future.
Constrained optimization of metabolic cost in human hopping
Authors: Gutmann Anne K. , Bertram John E. A. 
Published: March 2013

New FindingsWhat is the central question of this study?This study evaluates whether constrained optimization of metabolic cost (minimization of metabolic cost within the limitations imposed by constraints) predicts movement selection during vertical human hopping.What is the main finding and its importance?Constrained optimization of metabolic cost/height largely predicts movement selection during hopping in frequency‐, height‐ and speed‐constrained conditions. However, subjects sometimes compromise between minimizing metabolic cost/height and maintaining a comfortably sustainable metabolic cost/time. This illustrates how an internal, physiological constraint can interact with external, physical constraints to produce a given behaviour. The principle of constrained optimization may also be applied to understanding how the man‐made environment affects movement selection and energy expenditure in modern urban life.Constrained optimization of metabolic cost/distance travelled largely predicts the gait parameters selected by humans during walking and running. This study evaluates whether this is also the case for human hopping. Hop frequency (f), height (h) and metabolic energy expenditure were measured in partly constrained (f,hor hop speed,s≡fh, specified), fully constrained (bothfandhspecified) and unconstrained conditions (neitherfnorhspecified) for 4 min trials. Hop frequency and height were also measured in frequency‐constrained (fspecified), fully constrained (maximal height andfspecified) and unconstrained conditions for 15 s trials. Metabolic cost surfaces were constructed from experimental data from the 4 min trials, and the least costly behaviour for each constraint was calculated. Subjects selected the same height–frequency pattern for all three partly constrained conditions because the metabolic cost/height surface for hopping was a slope with no observed minimum. The heights selected for the 15 s frequency‐constrained trials were only slightly lower than maximal, the optimal behaviour predicted by constrained optimization of metabolic cost/height. This supports the hypothesis that constrained optimization of metabolic cost largely predicts movement selection during hopping. However, subjects often chose noticeably lower than optimal heights and higher than optimal frequencies during partly constrained and unconstrained conditions for the 4 min trials. It appears that they selected heights and frequencies that incurred a slightly greater metabolic cost/height in order to reduce metabolic cost/time to a level they could comfortably sustain for 4 min.
An Efficient Numerical Method With a Parallel Computational Strategy
for Solving Arbitrarily Shaped Inclusions in Elastoplastic Contact
Problems
Authors: Wang Zhanjiang , Jin Xiaoqing , Zhou Qinghua , Ai Xiaolan , Keer Leon M. , Wang Qian 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
The plastic zone developed during elastoplastic contact may be effectively modeled as an inclusion in an isotropic half space. This paper proposes a simple but efficient computational method to analyze the stresses caused by near surface inclusions of arbitrary shape. The solution starts by solving a corresponding full space inclusion problem and proceeds to annul the stresses acting normal and tangential to the surface, where the numerical computations are processed by taking advantage of the fast Fourier transform techniques with a parallel computing strategy. The extreme case of a cuboidal inclusion with one facet on the surface of the half space is chosen to validate the method. When the surface truncation domain is extended sufficiently and the grids are dense enough, the results based on the new approach are in good agreement with the exact solutions. When solving a typical elastoplastic contact problem, the present analysis is roughly two times faster than the image inclusion approach and six times faster than the direct method. In addition, the present work demonstrates that a significant enhancement in the computational efficiency can be achieved through the introduction of parallel computation.
Generation of voxelized breast phantoms from surgical mastectomy specimens
Authors: Michael O'Connor J. , Das Mini , Dider Clay S. , Mahd Mufeed , Glick Stephen J. 
Published: March 2013

Purpose:In the research and development of dedicated tomographic breast imaging systems, digital breast object models, also known as digital phantoms, are useful tools. While various digital breast phantoms do exist, the purpose of this study was to develop a realistic high‐resolution model suitable for simulating three‐dimensional (3D) breast imaging modalities. The primary goal was to design a model capable of producing simulations with realistic breast tissue structure.Methods:The methodology for generating an ensemble of digital breast phantoms was based on imaging surgical mastectomy specimens using a benchtop, cone‐beam computed tomography system. This approach allowed low‐noise, high‐resolution projection views of the mastectomy specimens at each angular position. Reconstructions of these projection sets were processed using correction techniques and diffusion filtering prior to segmentation into breast tissue types in order to generate phantoms.Results:Eight compressed digital phantoms and 20 uncompressed phantoms from which an additional 96 pseudocompressed digital phantoms with voxel dimensions of 0.2 mm3 were generated. Two distinct tissue classification models were used in forming breast phantoms. The binary model classified each tissue voxel as either adipose or fibroglandular. A multivalue scaled model classified each tissue voxel as percentage of adipose tissue (range 1%–99%). Power spectral analysis was performed to compare simulated reconstructions using the breast phantoms to the original breast specimen reconstruction, and fits were observed to be similar.Conclusions:The digital breast phantoms developed herein provide a high‐resolution anthropomorphic model of the 3D uncompressed and compressed breast that are suitable for use in evaluating and optimizing tomographic breast imaging modalities. The authors believe that other research groups might find the phantoms useful, and therefore they offer to make them available for wider use.
Development of a fast and feasible spectrum modeling technique for flattening filter free beams
Authors: Cho Woong , Bush Karl , Mok Ed , Xing Lei , Suh Tae‐Suk 
Published: March 2013

Purpose:To develop a fast and robust technique for the determination of optimized photon spectra for flattening filter free (FFF) beams to be applied in convolution/superposition dose calculations.Methods:A two‐step optimization method was developed to derive optimal photon spectra for FFF beams. In the first step, a simple functional form of the photon spectra proposed by Ali [“Functional forms for photon spectra of clinical linacs,” Phys. Med. Biol. 57, – (2011)] 10.1088/0031‐9155/57/1/31 is used to determine generalized shapes of the photon spectra. In this method, the photon spectra were defined for the ranges of field sizes to consider the variations of the contributions of scattered photons with field size. Percent depth doses (PDDs) for each field size were measured and calculated to define a cost function, and a collapsed cone convolution (CCC) algorithm was used to calculate the PDDs. In the second step, the generalized functional form of the photon spectra was fine‐tuned in a process whereby the weights of photon fluence became the optimizing free parameters. A line search method was used for the optimization and first order derivatives with respect to the optimizing parameters were derived from the CCC algorithm to enhance the speed of the optimization. The derived photon spectra were evaluated, and the dose distributions using the optimized spectra were validated.Results:The optimal spectra demonstrate small variations with field size for the 6 MV FFF beam and relatively large variations for the 10 MV FFF beam. The mean energies of the optimized 6 MV FFF spectra were decreased from 1.31 MeV for a 3 × 3 cm2 field to 1.21 MeV for a 40 × 40 cm2 field, and from 2.33 MeV at 3 × 3 cm2 to 2.18 MeV at 40 × 40 cm2 for the 10 MV FFF beam. The developed method could significantly improve the agreement between the calculated and measured PDDs. Root mean square differences on the optimized PDDs were observed to be 0.41% (3 × 3 cm2) down to 0.21% (40 × 40 cm2) for the 6 MV FFF beam, and 0.35% (3 × 3 cm2) down to 0.29% (40 × 40 cm2) for the 10 MV FFF beam. The first order derivatives from the functional form were found to improve the speed of computational time up to 20 times compared to the other techniques.Conclusions:The derived photon spectra resulted in good agreements with measured PDDs over the range of field sizes investigated. The suggested method is easily applicable to commercial radiation treatment planning systems since it only requires measured PDDs as input.
Draft Whole-Genome Sequence of Bacillus sonorensis Strain L12, a Source of Nonribosomal Lipopeptides
Authors: Adimpong David B. , Sørensen Kim I. , Nielsen Dennis S. , Thorsen Line , Rasmussen Thomas B. , Derkx Patrick M. F. , Jespersen Lene 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

The
Bacillus sonorensis
L12 draft genome sequence is approximately 4,647,754 bp in size with a G+C content of 45.2%. Over 86% of the genome contains protein-encoding genes, including several gene clusters for
de novo
biosynthesis of the nonribosomal lipopeptides iturin, bacitracin, and fengycin, which could mean that the strain exhibits antifungal effects.
Draft Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus qingshengii Strain BKS 20-40
Authors: Bala Monu , Kumar Shailesh , Raghava Gajendra Pal Singh , Mayilraj Shanmugam 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

We report the 5.8-Mb genome sequence of
Rhodococcus qingshengii
strain BKS 20-40, isolated from a palm tree rhizosphere soil sample from Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha, India. The strain is capable of degrading cholesterol moiety. The draft genome of strain BKS 20-40 consists of 6,601,618 bp, with 62.4% G+C content.
Assessing clinical reasoning using a script concordance test with electrocardiogram in an emergency medicine clerkship rotation
Authors: Boulouffe Caroline , Doucet Bruno , Muschart Xavier , Charlin Bernard , Vanpee Dominique 
Published: March 2013

ObjectivesScript concordance tests (SCTs) can be used to assess clinical reasoning, especially in situations of uncertainty, by comparing the responses of examinees with those of emergency physicians. The examinee's answers are scored based on the level of agreement with responses provided by a panel of experts. Emergency physicians are frequently uncertain in the interpretation of ECGs. Thus, the aim of this study was to validate an SCT combined with an ECG.MethodsAn SCT-ECG was developed. The test was administered to medical students, residents and emergency physicians. Scoring was based on data from a panel of 12 emergency physicians. The statistical analyses assessed the internal reliability of the SCT (Cronbach's α) and its ability to discriminate between the different groups (ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test).ResultsThe SCT-ECG was administered to 21 medical students, 19 residents and 12 emergency physicians. The internal reliability was satisfactory (Cronbach's α=0.80). Statistically significant differences were found between the groups (F0.271=21.07; p<0.0001). Moreover, significant differences (post hoc test) were detected between students and residents (p<0.001), students and experts (p<0.001), and residents and experts (p=0.017).ConclusionsThis SCT-ECG is a valid tool to assess clinical reasoning in a context of uncertainty due to its high internal reliability and its ability to discriminate between different levels of expertise.
IGFBP-5 overexpression as a poor prognostic factor in patients with urothelial carcinomas of upper urinary tracts and urinary bladder
Authors: Liang Peir-In , Wang Yu-Hui , Wu Ting-Feng , Wu Wen-Ren , Liao Alex C , Shen Kun-Hung , Hsing Chung-Hsi , Shiue Yow-Ling , Huang Hsuan-Ying , Hsu Han-Ping , Chen Li-Tzon , Lin Ching-Yih , Tai Chein , Wu Jui-Yu , Li Chien-Feng 
Published: March 2013

BackgroundUrothelial carcinoma (UC) is prevalent worldwide. Dysregulation of cell growth is a critical event of tumorigenesis and has not been assessed systemically in UC. We thus assessed the published transcriptome of urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma (UBUC) and identifiedinsulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5(IGFBP-5) as the most significantly upregulated gene associated with the regulation of cell growth. Moreover, validated by using public domain data set, IGFBP-5 expression also significantly predicted worse outcome. IGFBP-5 is one of the binding proteins that regulate insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and its significance has not been comprehensively evaluated in UCs.MethodsUsing immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the IGFBP-5 expression status and its associations with clinicopathological features and survival in 340 cases of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and 295 cases of UBUC. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate IGFBP-5 protein expression in human urothelial cell (HUC) lines.ResultsIGFBP-5 overexpression was significantly associated with advanced pT stage (p<0.001), high histological grade (UTUC, p<0.001; UBUC, p=0.035), lymph node metastasis (UTUC, p=0.006; UBUC, p=0.004), vascular invasion (UTUC, p<0.001; UBUC, p=0.003), perineural invasion (UTUC, p=0.034; UBUC, p=0.021) and frequent mitosis (UTUC, p<0.001; UBUC, p=0.023). IGFBP-5 overexpression also independently predicted poor disease-specific survival and metastasis-free survival in both groups of patients. Western blot analysis showed IGFBP-5 protein as overexpressed in human urothelial cancer cell lines and not in normal urothelial cancer cells.ConclusionsIGFBP-5 plays an important role in tumour progression in UC. Its overexpression is associated with advanced tumour stage and conferred poorer clinical outcome.
Clinicopathological significance of HER2/neu genetic heterogeneity in HER2/neu non-amplified invasive breast carcinomas and its concurrent axillary metastasis
Authors: Shafi Hedyeh , Astvatsaturyan Kristine , Chung Fai , Mirocha James , Schmidt Michael , Bose Shikha 
Published: March 2013

BackgroundHER2/neu (HER2) is a significant prognostic marker for breast carcinomas. Recently, new guidelines definingHER2genetic heterogeneity (GH) were published by the College of American Pathologists.AimsTo determine the prevalence ofHER2GH as defined in primary invasive breast carcinoma, to determine its relationship with prognostic variables and to investigate its impact on concurrent axillary metastasis.Methods235 consecutive infiltrating breast carcinomas were evaluated for GH (defined as presence of 5–50% of neoplastic cells withHER2/CEP17 ratio >2.2) using fluorescence in situ hybridisation. Pathological features of carcinomas with GH were compared with those lacking GH. GH was also evaluated in a subset of 37 paired primary carcinomas and its concurrent axillary nodal metastases using dual in situ hybridisation.ResultsHER2GH was noted in 27% ofHER2 negativebreast carcinomas. These carcinomas demonstrated aggressive characteristics (larger size, higher grade and greater incidence of lymph node metastasis) in comparison withHER2negative cases without GH. Higher levels of GH were associated with the equivocalHER2status. GH was maintained in the concurrent lymph node metastases with some variations; however, two cases with clusters ofHER2amplified cells in the primary carcinoma showedHER2amplification in the nodal metastasis.ConclusionsHER2GH is present in 27% of breast carcinomas, portends an aggressive phenotype and contributes to the equivocalHER2status. Evaluation of the HER2 status in nodal metastasis of select primary carcinomas with GH may be beneficial before treatment selection.
The surgical anatomy of the perineum
Authors: Mahadevan V , Chandak P 
Published: March 2013

The anatomy of the perineum and pelvis is complex. Those outside the specialist fields of colorectal surgery, urology and gynaecological surgery often have a less-than-complete understanding of the anatomical details of this region. The recent increase in complicated pelvic and perineal injuries caused by the detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices has brought into sharp focus, the importance of this area of surgical anatomy. The following article describes, in a systematic and detailed manner, the anatomy of the urogenital and anal regions of the perineum. The terminology in relation to the fascial layers and structures encountered in the perineum is elucidated. In addition, the surgical anatomy of the scrotum and its contents and the ligamentous support of the penis are described, with clear illustrations throughout.It is intended that this article will go some way towards clarifying the anatomy underlying the surgical management of complex perineal/pelvic injuries, and benefit both the specialist and non-specialist military surgeon.
The psychological challenge of genital injury
Authors: Frappell-Cooke W , Wink P , Wood A 
Published: March 2013

IntroductionInjuries sustained from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) can have a devastating impact on bodily integrity; physical injuries can be severe and include traumatic amputation of limbs, pelvic fracture, abdominal trauma, extremity fragmentation wounds and genital trauma. Soldiers suffering from genital trauma can experience overwhelming emotions and adjusting to their injuries is a process that occurs over time, that some find easier than others. This paper explores current practice and identifies guidelines for psychological interventions within this arena.MethodsRelevant associated literature has been reviewed to identify the long-term consequences of genital trauma and to ascertain best practice in supporting this patient population. Current practices within the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) and the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Headley Court have been explored.ResultsThere is little published literature in this area. Therefore, in respect of guiding treatment of this patient population, related research on the psychological consequences of prostate and penile cancer, limb amputation, acquired infertility and acquired disability has been used as a base to inform interventions. Current practices at RCDM and DMRC have been found to support interventions within related areas.ConclusionsThere is no published evidence base to guide psychological interventions for genital trauma. Professional multidisciplinary intervention will potentially be beneficial in establishing the long-term needs of this patient population, together with qualitative research exploring the experience of soldiers suffering genital trauma.
Size and anatomic location of ruptured intracranial aneurysms in patients with single and multiple aneurysms: a retrospective study from a single center
Authors: Jagadeesan Bharathi Dasan , Delgado Almandoz Josser E , Kadkhodayan Yasha , Derdeyn Colin P , Cross Dewitte T , Chicoine Michael R , Rich Keith M , Zipfel Gregory J , Dacey Ralph G , Moran Christopher J 
Published: March 2013

Background and purposeThe difference in the relationship between the size of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and their risk of rupture in patients with singe IAs versus those with multiple IAs is unclear. We sought to retrospectively analyze the size of ruptured IAs (RIAs) in patients with single and multiple IAs in order to study this relationship further.MethodsWe retrospectively measured the size and location of RIAs in all patients who presented to our institute with an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2010. The IAs were classified by size into very small IAs or VSAs (≤3 mm), small IAs or SAs (>3 mm but ≤7 mm) and others (>7 mm).Results379 patients (281 with a single IA, Group 1 and 98 with multiple IAs, Group 2) with 419 treated RIAs were included in the study. VSAs and SAs constituted the majority of RIAs in both groups (33.5% and 45.2% in Group 1 and 24.6% and 50.7% in Group 2) and the mean size of the RIAs was not different between the two groups. VSAs constituted almost two-thirds of all RIAs in certain locations whereas IAs > 7 mm in size did not constitute more than a third of the RIAs at any of the arterial locations.ConclusionsThe high incidence of VSAs, particularly in certain locations in both patient subgroups, suggests that current diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic options in the management of IAs should be more tailored towards the management of these difficult-to-treat lesions.