bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Capacity, Guidance, and the Implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Authors: Carley Sanya , Nicholson‐Crotty Sean , Fisher Eric J. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractPrograms administered by the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 were designed to spur investment in clean energy and jump‐start the economy. There was considerable variation, however, in the proportion of obligated funds that states spent during each year. A primary goal of the ARRA was to infuse as much money as possible into the struggling economy; however, there was significant variation in the success with which states implemented these programs. This article draws on and extends the literature on intergovernmental implementation to explain such variation. The authors argue that jurisdictional capacity and federal guidance were important determinants of the rate at which states spent ARRA funds and, more important, that these factors interacted with one another in the implementation process. This assertion is tested using a mixed‐methods approach that includes a regression analysis of state ARRA spending between 2009 and 2012, as well as an evaluation of interviews conducted with 46 state agency representatives responsible for spending ARRA energy funds.
New U–Pb zircon ages of the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary strata in South China
Authors: Chen Daizhao , Zhou Xiqiang , Fu Yong , Wang Jianguo , Yan Detian 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe Ediacaran–Cambrian transition is a critical interval marking drastic biological, oceanic and geochemical co‐evolutions in geological history, but it is poorly constrained geochronologically in South China. We here present two new sets of SIMS U–Pb zircon ages from Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary strata (Dengying, Liuchapo and Niutitang formations) deposited in the slope–basin environments of carbonate platforms. Two weighted‐mean U–Pb ages of 542.1 ± 5.0 Ma and 542.6 ± 3.7 Ma in the basal and mid‐upper Liuchapo Formation, respectively, in slope and basinal settings provide the first direct age set for the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary in South China. Another two U–Pb ages of 524.2 ± 5.1 Ma and 522.3 ± 3.7 Ma from the base of the overlying Niutitang Formation indicate that this widespread unit in South China was deposited about 20 Ma after the onset of the Cambrian.
Transnational Spaces ‘From Above’ – The Role of Institutions in Promoting Highly Skilled Labour Migration from India to Sweden
Authors: Hedberg Charlotta , Hermelin Brita , Westermark Kristina 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe global network economy involves intensive interactions and flows between places. In this paper, we define a theoretical framework of labour migration in the global economy in which we propose the importance of transnational spaces ‘from above’ and how formal organisations develop networks for migration processes. This theoretical framework is employed on an empirical study that investigates the increasing flows of highly‐skilled labour migration from India to Sweden within the ICT‐sector. The paper illustrates how transformations and acting in formal institutions in the political and private sectors have a strong impact on the transnational migration of highly‐skilled labour. By integrating theories from migration studies, institutional theory and economic geography the theoretical framework has been able to conceptualise factors that are less visible in migration studies ‘from below’. Thereby this paper contributes to a more multi‐sided understanding of transnational migration processes.
A warm welcome to highly‐skilled migrants: how can municipal administrations play their part?
Authors: Föbker Stefanie , Temme Daniela , Wiegandt Claus‐C. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe global competition for highly‐skilled professionals and their knowledge has grown over the past decades. Cities have increasingly become aware of the importance of highly‐skilled labour for their future development. The aim of our paper is to analyse urban policies towards highly‐skilled migrants. Our paper is based on empirical research in three German university cities, Aachen, Bonn and Cologne. Our results emphasize that there is a growing awareness of local policy‐makers concerning this topic. We found that the cities made efforts to create a welcoming culture in order to attract and retain highly‐skilled migrants. However, there are differences between our cities regarding their approaches to attract highly‐skilled migrants.
The relevance of MRI for patient modeling in head and neck hyperthermia treatment planning: A comparison of CT and CT‐MRI based tissue segmentation on simulated temperature
Authors: Verhaart René F. , Fortunati Valerio , Verduijn Gerda M. , van der Lugt Aad , van Walsum Theo , Veenland Jifke F. , Paulides Margarethus M. 
Published: November 2014

Purpose:In current clinical practice, head and neck (H&N) hyperthermia treatment planning (HTP) is solely based on computed tomography (CT) images. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides superior soft‐tissue contrast over CT. The purpose of the authors’ study is to investigate the relevance of using MRI in addition to CT for patient modeling in H&N HTP.Methods:CT and MRI scans were acquired for 11 patients in an immobilization mask. Three observers manually segmented on CT, MRI T1 weighted (MRI‐T1w), and MRI T2 weighted (MRI‐T2w) images the following thermo‐sensitive tissues: cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, myelum, sclera, lens, vitreous humor, and the optical nerve. For these tissues that are used for patient modeling in H&N HTP, the interobserver variation of manual tissue segmentation in CT and MRI was quantified with the mean surface distance (MSD). Next, the authors compared the impact of CT and CT and MRI based patient models on the predicted temperatures. For each tissue, the modality was selected that led to the lowest observer variation and inserted this in the combined CT and MRI based patient model (CT and MRI), after a deformable image registration. In addition, a patient model with a detailed segmentation of brain tissues (including white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid) was created (CT and MRIdb). To quantify the relevance of MRI based segmentation for H&N HTP, the authors compared the predicted maximum temperatures in the segmented tissues (Tmax) and the corresponding specific absorption rate (SAR) of the patient models based on (1) CT, (2) CT and MRI, and (3) CT and MRIdb.Results:In MRI, a similar or reduced interobserver variation was found compared to CT (maximum of median MSD in CT: 0.93 mm, MRI‐T1w: 0.72 mm, MRI‐T2w: 0.66 mm). Only for the optical nerve the interobserver variation is significantly lower in CT compared to MRI (median MSD in CT: 0.58 mm, MRI‐T1w: 1.27 mm, MRI‐T2w: 1.40 mm). Patient models based on CT (Tmax: 38.0 °C) and CT and MRI (Tmax: 38.1 °C) result in similar simulated temperatures, while CT and MRIdb (Tmax: 38.5 °C) resulted in significantly higher temperatures. The SAR corresponding to these temperatures did not differ significantly.Conclusions:Although MR imaging reduces the interobserver variation in most tissues, it does not affect simulated local tissue temperatures. However, the improved soft‐tissue contrast provided by MRI allows generating a detailed brain segmentation, which has a strong impact on the predicted local temperatures and hence may improve simulation guided hyperthermia.
Size‐specific, scanner‐independent organ dose estimates in contiguous axial and helical head CT examinations
Authors: McMillan Kyle , Bostani Maryam , Cagnon Chris , Zankl Maria , Sepahdari Ali R. , McNitt‐Gray Michael 
Published: November 2014

Purpose:AAPM Task Group 204 introduced size‐specific dose estimates for pediatric and adult patients undergoing body CT examinations. This investigation extends that work to head CT exams by using Monte Carlo simulations to develop size‐specific, scanner‐independent CTDIvol‐to‐organ‐dose conversion coefficients.Methods:Using eight patient models from the GSF family of voxelized phantoms, dose to the brain and lens of the eye was estimated using Monte Carlo simulations of contiguous axial and helical scans for 64‐slice multidetector CT scanners from four major manufacturers. For each patient model and scan mode, scanner‐independent CTDIvol‐to‐organ‐dose conversion coefficients were calculated by normalizing organ dose by scanner‐specific 16 cm CTDIvol values and averaging across all scanners. Head size was measured using both geometric and attenuation‐based size metrics. Head perimeter and effective diameter (ED), both geometric size metrics, were measured directly from the GSF data at the first slice superior to the eyes. Because the GSF models’ pixel data are provided in terms of organ identification numbers instead of CT numbers, an indirect estimate of water equivalent diameter (WED), an attenuation‐based size metric, was determined based on the relationships between WED and both ED and perimeter for a sample of patient data. Correlations between CTDIvol‐to‐organ‐dose conversion coefficients and the various patient size metrics were then explored.Results:The analysis of the patient data revealed a best‐fit linear relationship (R2 of 0.87) between ED and WED across a wide variety of patient sizes. Using this relationship along with ED determined from the GSF data, WED was estimated for each GSF model. An exponential relationship between CTDIvol normalized organ dose and WED was observed for both contiguous axial and helical scanning. For head perimeter and ED measured directly from the GSF data, an exponential relationship between CTDIvol normalized organ dose and patient size was also observed for each scan mode. For all patient size metrics and scan modes, R2 of the exponential fits ranged from 0.92 to 0.93 and 0.73 to 0.85 for the brain and lens of the eye, respectively.Conclusions:For all scan modes, strong correlation exists between CTDIvol normalized brain dose and both geometric and attenuation‐based patient size metrics. A slightly lower correlation between CTDIvol normalized organ dose and patient size was observed for the lens of the eye. This may be due to the combination of the eye lens being a small peripheral organ and the presence of surface dose variation in both contiguous axial and helical scanning. Results indicate that robust estimates of patient‐specific head CT dose may be provided using the size‐specific, scanner‐independent CTDIvol‐to‐organ‐dose conversion coefficients described in this work.
Characterization of Plasmids in Extensively Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter Strains Isolated in India and Pakistan
Authors: Jones Lim S. , Carvalho Maria J. , Toleman Mark A. , White P. Lewis , Connor Thomas R. , Mushtaq Ammara , Weeks Janis L. , Kumarasamy Karthikeyan K. , Raven Katherine E. , Török M. Estée , Peacock Sharon J. , Howe Robin A. , Walsh Timothy R. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

The
bla
NDM-1
gene is associated with extensive drug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. This probably spread to
Enterobacteriaceae
from
Acinetobacter
spp., and we characterized plasmids associated with
bla
NDM-1
in
Acinetobacter
spp. to gain insight into their role in this dissemination. Four clinical NDM-1-producing
Acinetobacter
species strains from India and Pakistan were investigated. A plasmid harboring
bla
NDM-1
, pNDM-40-1, was characterized by whole-genome sequencing of
Acinetobacter bereziniae
CHI-40-1 and comparison with related plasmids. The presence of similar plasmids in strains from Pakistan was sought by PCR and sequencing of amplicons. Conjugation frequency was tested and stability of pNDM-40-1 investigated by real-time PCR of isolates passaged with and without antimicrobial selection pressure.
A. bereziniae
and
Acinetobacter haemolyticus
strains contained plasmids similar to the pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids identified in
Acinetobacter
spp. in China. The backbone of pNDM-40-1 was almost identical to that of pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids, but the transposon harboring
bla
NDM-1
, Tn
125
, contained two short deletions.
Escherichia coli
and
Acinetobacter
pittii
transconjugants were readily obtained. Transconjugants retained pNDM-40-1 after a 14-day passage experiment, although stability was greater with meropenem selection. Fragments of pNDM-BJ01-like plasmid backbones are found near
bla
NDM-1
in some genetic contexts from
Enterobacteriaceae
, suggesting that cross-genus transfer has occurred. pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids have been described in isolates originating from a wide geographical region in southern Asia.
In vitro
data on plasmid transfer and stability suggest that these plasmids could have contributed to the spread of
bla
NDM-1
into
Enterobacteriaceae
.
Frequent Use of Chlorhexidine-Based Body Wash Associated with a Reduction in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Colonization among Military Trainees
Authors: Millar Eugene V. , Chen Wei-Ju , Schlett Carey D. , Cui Tianyuan , Crawford Katrina B. , Lanier Jeffrey B. , Tribble David R. , Ellis Michael W. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

In a field-based trial among military trainees, personal hygiene measures, including chlorhexidine (CHG) body wash, did not prevent overall and methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI). We conducted a secondary analysis of anterior nares cultures obtained during the trial to evaluate the impact of hygiene measures on
Staphylococcus aureus
colonization. A cluster-randomized trial for SSTI prevention was conducted among U.S. Army infantry trainees from May 2010 to January 2012. There were three study groups with incrementally increasing education- and hygiene-based components: standard (S), enhanced standard (ES), and CHG. Anterior nares cultures were obtained from participants to determine the prevalence of
S. aureus
colonization. A total of 1,706 participants (469 S, 597 ES, and 640 CHG) without SSTI were included in the colonization analysis. Of those randomized to the CHG group, 360 (56.3%) reported frequent use of body wash. Frequent use of body wash had no effect on overall
S. aureus
colonization (53.3% versus 56.8% among infrequent/nonusers;
P
= 0.25). MRSA colonization prevalence was marginally lower among frequent users (2.5% versus 4.7%;
P
= 0.07). In multivariable analysis, the odds of MRSA colonization were lower among frequent users (odds ratio [OR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16 to 0.77). This CHG-associated reduction was not observed when comparing colonization with USA300 to that with non-USA300 types (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.06 to 5.76). Frequent use of CHG body wash was associated with a reduction in MRSA nasal colonization among high-risk military trainees. Topical chlorhexidine may contribute to MRSA SSTI prevention by reducing colonization. However, further studies evaluating the pathogenesis of SSTI are needed. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01105767).
Tenofovir Monotherapy versus Tenofovir plus Lamivudine or Telbivudine Combination Therapy in Treatment of Lamivudine-Resistant Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Lee Yun Bin , Jung Eun Uk , Kim Bo Hyun , Lee Jeong-Hoon , Cho Hyeki , Ahn Hongkeun , Choi Won-Mook , Cho Young Youn , Lee Minjong , Yoo Jeong-Ju , Cho Yuri , Lee Dong Hyeon , Cho Eun Ju , Yu Su Jong , Park Sung Jae , Kim Yoon Jun , Park Joong-Won , Lee Youn Jae , Kim Chang-Min , Yoon Jung-Hwan , Kim Chung Yong , Lee Hyo-Suk 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTTenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) monotherapy is a therapeutic option for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants resistant to lamivudine (LAM). We evaluated the antiviral efficacy and safety of TDF alone compared to those of TDF plus LAM or telbivudine (LdT) combination in patients harboring HBV variants with genotypic resistance to LAM. This multicenter retrospective study included consecutive patients who had LAM-resistant HBV variants and were treated with TDF alone (monotherapy group) or TDF combined with LAM or LdT (combination therapy group) for at least 6 months. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) for the entire cohort was applied to control for treatment selection bias. Overall, 153 patients (33 in the monotherapy group and 120 in the combination therapy group) were analyzed. The overall probability of achieving complete virologic suppression at month 12 was 91.6%: 88.6% in the monotherapy group and 92.6% in the combination therapy group. Combination therapy was not superior to monotherapy in viral suppression before and after IPTW (P= 0.562 andP= 0.194, respectively). Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss, biochemical response, and virologic breakthrough did not differ between treatment groups. The probabilities of complete virologic suppression were comparable between treatment groups in the subsets according to HBeAg status and HBV DNA levels at baseline. No patient experienced any significant renal dysfunction during the treatment period. In conclusion, TDF monotherapy has antiviral efficacy comparable to that of TDF plus LAM or LdT combination therapy, with a favorable safety profile in CHB patients with LAM-resistant HBV variants.
Isolation of VIM-2-Producing Pseudomonas monteilii Clinical Strains Disseminated in a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Spain
Authors: Ocampo-Sosa Alain A. , Guzmán-Gómez Laura P. , Fernández-Martínez Marta , Román Elena , Rodríguez Cristina , Marco Francesc , Vila Jordi , Martínez-Martínez Luis 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTWe describe here the occurrence ofblaVIM-2in 10 carbapenem-resistantPseudomonas monteiliistrains isolated from different clinical samples from patients at the University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla in northern Spain. All theblaVIM-2-harboringP. monteiliiisolates possessed a class 1 integron, with the cassette array [intI1_blaVIM-2_aac(6′)-Ib_qacEΔ1_sul1]. Our results show the emergence of VIM-2-producing multidrug-resistant species other thanPseudomonas aeruginosaorPseudomonas putidain a Spanish hospital.P. monteilii, although sporadically isolated, should also be considered an important metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) reservoir.
Dectin-2 Deficiency Promotes Th2 Response and Mucin Production in the Lungs after Pulmonary Infection with Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Nakamura Yuri , Sato Ko , Yamamoto Hideki , Matsumura Kana , Matsumoto Ikumi , Nomura Toshiki , Miyasaka Tomomitsu , Ishii Keiko , Kanno Emi , Tachi Masahiro , Yamasaki Sho , Saijo Shinobu , Iwakura Yoichiro , Kawakami Kazuyoshi 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTDectin-2 is a C-type lectin receptor that recognizes high mannose polysaccharides.Cryptococcus neoformans, a yeast-form fungal pathogen, is rich in polysaccharides in its cell wall and capsule. In the present study, we analyzed the role of Dectin-2 in the host defense againstC. neoformansinfection. In Dectin-2 gene-disrupted (knockout) (Dectin-2KO) mice, the clearance of this fungus and the inflammatory response, as shown by histological analysis and accumulation of leukocytes in infected lungs, were comparable to those in wild-type (WT) mice. The production of type 2 helper T (Th2) cytokines in lungs was higher in Dectin-2KO mice than in WT mice after infection, whereas there was no difference in the levels of production of Th1, Th17, and proinflammatory cytokines between these mice. Mucin production was significantly increased in Dectin-2KO mice, and this increase was reversed by administration of anti-interleukin 4 (IL-4) monoclonal antibody (MAb). The levels of expression of β1-defensin, cathelicidin, surfactant protein A (Sp-A), and Sp-D in infected lungs were comparable between these mice. Inin vitroexperiments, IL-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production and expression of CD86 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages were completely abrogated in Dectin-2KO mice. Finally, the disrupted lysates ofC. neoformans, but not of whole yeast cells, activated Dectin-2-triggered signaling in an assay with nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter cells expressing this receptor. These results suggest that Dectin-2 may oppose the Th2 response and IL-4-dependent mucin production in the lungs after infection withC. neoformans, and it may not be required for the production of Th1, Th17, and proinflammatory cytokines or for clearance of this fungal pathogen.
EQUIPT: protocol of a comparative effectiveness research study evaluating cross-context transferability of economic evidence on tobacco control
Authors: Pokhrel Subhash , Evers Silvia , Leidl Reiner , Trapero-Bertran Marta , Kalo Zoltan , Vries Hein de , Crossfield Andrea , Andrews Fiona , Rutter Ailsa , Coyle Kathryn , Lester-George Adam , West Robert , Owen Lesley , Jones Teresa , Vogl Matthias , Radu-Loghin Cornel , Voko Zoltan , Huic Mirjana , Coyle Doug 
Published: November 2014

IntroductionTobacco smoking claims 700 000 lives every year in Europe and the cost of tobacco smoking in the EU is estimated between €98 and €130 billion annually; direct medical care costs and indirect costs such as workday losses each represent half of this amount. Policymakers all across Europe are in need of bespoke information on the economic and wider returns of investing in evidence-based tobacco control, including smoking cessation agendas. EQUIPT is designed to test the transferability of one such economic evidence base—the English Tobacco Return on Investment (ROI) tool—to other EU member states.Methods and analysisEQUIPT is a multicentre, interdisciplinary comparative effectiveness research study in public health. The Tobacco ROI tool already developed in England by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will be adapted to meet the needs of European decision-makers, following transferability criteria. Stakeholders' needs and intention to use ROI tools in sample countries (Germany, Hungary, Spain and the Netherlands) will be analysed through interviews and surveys and complemented by secondary analysis of the contextual and other factors. Informed by this contextual analysis, the next phase will develop country-specific ROI tools in sample countries using a mix of economic modelling and Visual Basic programming. The results from the country-specific ROI models will then be compared to derive policy proposals that are transferable to other EU states, from which a centralised web tool will be developed. This will then be made available to stakeholders to cater for different decision-making contexts across Europe.Ethics and disseminationThe Brunel University Ethics Committee and relevant authorities in each of the participating countries approved the protocol. EQUIPT has a dedicated work package on dissemination, focusing on stakeholders’ communication needs. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, e-learning resources and policy briefs.