bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Office based dermatological surgery and Mohs surgery: A prospective audit of surgical procedures and complications in a procedural dermatology practice
Authors: Elliott Timothy G , Thom Graham A , Litterick Kelly A 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBackground/ObjectivesDermatologists commonly perform surgical procedures, including Mohs micrographic surgery, in an outpatient, office‐based setting. Although this may be widely perceived to be safe and effective, formal data on the practice are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the range of surgical procedures and associated complications in an Australian specialist dermatology and Mohs surgery practice.MethodsAll surgical procedures over a 55‐week period were prospectively logged, with data collection on sex, age, type of procedure, body site, diagnosis and complications. All procedures were performed under conditions that were usual for the practice, with a combination of sterile and clean surgical techniques, depending on the procedure.ResultsIn all, 2370 surgical procedures were performed during the study period, including 934 Mohs surgery cases. Most procedures (68%) were performed on head and neck sites. A total of 56 complications were recorded in 51 patients. Bacterial wound infections occurred in 13 cases (0.5%). Bleeding complications occurred in five cases (0.2%). There were no complications requiring hospital admission or i.v. antibiotics.ConclusionsThis study supports the view that dermatological surgery, including significant procedures such as Mohs micrographic surgery, flaps and grafts, can be performed on an ambulatory basis in an office‐based procedure room setting, with low complication rates.
Patient safety and falls: A qualitative study of home care nurses in Norway
Authors: Berland Astrid , Gundersen Doris , Bentsen Signe Berit 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThis study explored patient safety and falls, based on the experiences of home care nurses. Four focus group interviews were conducted with 20 home care nurses. The data were analyzed by content analysis. This study identified the following four themes: (i) patient safety was not viewed as primary prevention; (ii) the lack of investigation into causes of falls; (iii) the frailty of older people who can no longer live at home independently and safely; and (iv) patient autonomy versus patient safety. In this study, we showed that home care nurses felt that healthcare personnel were more concerned with the treatment of falls, rather than fall prevention. In addition, home care nurses rarely focused on falls before they occurred. The patient's autonomy was placed before patient safety. This study illustrates that home care nurses might be more aware of fall prevention in clinical practice. Additional research is recommended to shed more light on this topic.
Preoperative biliary drainage for distal biliary obstruction and post‐operative infectious complications
Authors: Ngu Wee , Jones Michael , Neal Chrisopher P. , Dennison Ashley R. , Metcalfe Matthew S. , Garcea Giuseppe 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBackgroundPreoperative biliary drainage (PBD) for distal bile duct obstruction may increase post‐operative complications. This study examined the effect of PBD on positive bile culture (PBC) rates and complications after biliary bypass or pancreaticoduodenectomy. Bilirubin levels in the non‐PBD cohort were also analysed to determine the impact on outcome.MethodsA retrospective case‐note analysis from 2005 to the present day was undertaken. Statistical analysis was undertaken using Students's t‐test, chi‐squared test, receiver operator characteristics, correlation coefficient and relative risk ratios.ResultsA total of 422 patients were identified undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy or biliary bypass for either benign or malignant distal biliary obstruction. One hundred ninety‐six patients had complete data regarding PBD and bile cultures. PBD resulted in a significantly higher relative risk of both infectious complications and positive bile cultures. Overall complication rate was greater in patients undergoing PBD. The major complication rate was equivalent between the two groups. Bilirubin levels in the non‐PBD cohort did not correlate or predict length of stay, high‐dependency stay, and mortality or complication rate.ConclusionThere seems to be little value in PBD for patients with distal biliary obstruction other than to defer definitive surgery to a non‐emergency setting. For most hepato‐pancreato‐biliary units, avoidance of PBD will prove logistically difficult.
Expression of ERG protein, a prostate cancer specific marker, in high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN): lack of utility to stratify cancer risks associated with HGPIN
Authors: He Huiying , Osunkoya Adeboye O. , Carver Paula , Falzarano Sara , Klein Eric , Magi‐Galluzzi Cristina , Zhou Ming 
Published: October 2012

Study Type – Diagnosis (cohort)Level of Evidence 2bWhat's known on the subject? and What does the study add?High grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia is a pre‐malignant lesion to prostate cancer and is associated with 20%–25% risk of prostate cancer in subsequent repeat biopsies. ERG is a highly prostate‐cancer‐specific marker.Expression of ERG is rare in isolated high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia diagnosed in prostate biopsy and is not associated with cancer risk in subsequent repeat biopsies.OBJECTIVES
To evaluate how often ERG, a highly prostate‐cancer‐specific marker, is expressed in isolated high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) by immunohistochemistry.
To study whether a positive ERG immunostain in HGPIN correlates with prostate cancer (PCa) detection in subsequent repeat biopsies.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients with initial HGPIN in biopsies and at least one follow‐up prostate biopsy were included.
Biopsies with HGPIN were immunostained for ERG.
The ERG staining results were then correlated with the PCa risk in subsequent biopsies.
RESULTS
The mean age of 94 patients was 63 years (range 48–78). A mean of 1.8 (range 1–5) repeat biopsy sessions were carried out at a mean interval of 27.4 months (range 1.5–140). The repeat biopsies showed PCa and non‐cancer lesions (benign, HGPIN, atypical glands suspicious for cancer) in 36 patients (38%) and 58 patients (62%) respectively.
ERG immunostain was positive in five (5.3%) biopsies with HGPIN, in which PCa was found in two (40%) subsequent biopsies. Of 89 biopsies with negative ERG staining, PCa was found in 34 (38%) repeat biopsies. The cancer detection rate was not different between ERG positive and negative cases (P= 0.299).
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to investigate the ERG protein expression in prostate biopsy containing HGPIN only and its use to stratify the cancer risk associated with HGPIN. We found that ERG expression is distinctly uncommon in isolated HGPIN (5.3%).
Positive ERG expression is not associated with increased cancer detection in subsequent repeat biopsies. The use of ERG immunostain in the evaluation and cancer risk stratification of HGPIN is of limited value.
Laparoscopic transvesical excision and reconstruction in the management of mid‐urethral tape mesh erosion and stones around the bladder neck: initial experiences
Authors: Kim Jae Heon , Doo Seung Whan , Yang Won Jae , Song Yun Seob 
Published: October 2012

Study Type – Prevalence (prospective cohort)Level of Evidence 1bWhat's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Managing foreign bodies, including mesh and stones, after anti‐incontinence surgery is important because complete removal is necessary to prevent infection and recurrence of stone formation. Traditionally, surgical management of such complications has involved excision using a transurethral approach, with or without a laparoscopic transvesical procedure.The study shows that mesh complications, including exposure and adherent stones, can be successfully treated and a fast recovery can be achieved using transvesical laparoscopic excision and reconstruction. Transvesical laparoscopy is especially suitable for cases that have a restricted visual field with cystoscopy; the technique allows complete removal of mesh/stones and reconstruction with the help of an excellent visual field.OBJECTIVES
To evaluate laparoscopic transvesical excision and reconstruction for the management of vesical mesh or stones around the bladder neck as complications of anti‐incontinence intervention.
To compare the techniques, outcomes and recurrence rates of laparoscopic transvesical excision and reconstruction with published results from studies using laparoscopic transvesical procedures.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of three patients who underwent laparoscopic transvesical excision and reconstruction for vesical mesh and stones around the bladder neck.
Patients were identified from operating records including recorded video and electronic data records.
We also conducted a literature review of the available evidence on transvesical laparoscopy for lower urinary tract complications of anti‐incontinence procedures.
RESULTS
Between March 2005 and May 2011, three women underwent laparoscopic transvesical excision and reconstruction. All presented with storage symptoms and gross haematuria. The interval between surgery and the diagnosis of presence of a foreign body was 1–3 years.
Two women had previously undergone transobturator tape procedures and one had undergone a retropubic procedure.
Complete excision including the mucosa and muscle layer and reconstruction with intravesical sutures was achieved in all cases.
Storage symptoms were resolved within 3 days and haematuria was not observed.
None of the women had recurrent erosion at follow‐up.
CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic transvesical excision and reconstruction is a technically feasible method.
This procedure offers excellent visualization of mesh materials and stones, especially in cases of location near the anterior bladder neck.
In selected patients, laparoscopic transvesical excision and reconstruction is an acceptable technique for first‐line treatment of complications of anti‐incontinence procedures.
Patterns of synthetic cannabinoid use in Australia
Authors: Barratt Monica J. , Cakic Vince , Lenton Simon 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIntroduction and AimsTo assess the demographic profile, use patterns, market characteristics, reasons for first use and self‐reported harms associated with use of synthetic cannabinoids in Australia.Design and MethodsAn online questionnaire was administered to a purposive sample of 316 Australian synthetic cannabinoid users [96% cannabis users, 77% male, median age 27 years, interquartile range (IQR) 23–34] who self‐reported demographic and drug use characteristics.ResultsThe median duration of synthetic cannabinoid use was 6 months (IQR 2–10), 35% reported use weekly or more often and 7% reported daily use. Reasons for first use included curiosity (50%), legality (39%), availability (23%), recreational effects (20%), therapeutic effects (9%), non‐detection in standard drug screening assays (8%) and to aid the reduction or cessation of cannabis use (5%). Users reported buying a median of 3 g (IQR 3–6) and paying a median of AU$60 (IQR 37–90). Most (68%) reported at least one side‐effect during their last session of use, including decreased motor co‐ordination (39%), fast or irregular heartbeat (33%), dissociation (22%), dizziness (20%), paranoia (18%) and psychosis (4%). 4 respondents reported seeking help. A greater number of side‐effects were reported by males, those aged 18–25 years, water pipe (‘bong’) users and concurrent alcohol drinkers.Discussion and ConclusionsThe sample reported first using synthetic cannabinoids due to curiosity, legality, availability, effects, non‐detection in drug testing and to reduce their cannabis use. Harms were widely reported yet help‐seeking was minimal. Inclusion of questions regarding synthetic cannabinoids in household surveys is warranted.
Scalable Symmetry Detection for Urban Scenes
Authors: Kerber J. , Bokeloh M. , Wand M. , Seidel H.‐P. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIn this paper, we present a novel method for detecting partial symmetries in very large point clouds of 3D city scans. Unlike previous work, which has only been demonstrated on data sets of a few hundred megabytes maximum, our method scales to very large scenes: We map the detection problem to a nearest‐neighbour problem in a low‐dimensional feature space, and follow this with a cascade of tests for geometric clustering of potential matches. Our algorithm robustly handles noisy real‐world scanner data, obtaining a recognition performance comparable to that of state‐of‐the‐art methods. In practice, it scales linearly with scene size and achieves a high absolute throughput, processing half a terabyte of scanner data overnight on a dual socket commodity PC.
Support Vector Machine for Spatial Variation
Authors: Andris Clio , Cowen David , Wittenbach Jason 
Published: October 2012

AbstractLarge, multivariate geographic datasets have been used to characterize geographic space with the help of spatial data mining tools. In our study, we explore the sufficiency of theSupportVectorMachine (SVM), a popular machine‐learning technique for unsupervised classification and clustering, to help recognize hidden patterns in a college admissions dataset. Our college admissions dataset holds over 10,000 students applying to an undisclosed university during one undisclosed year. Students are qualified almost exclusively by their standardized test scores and school records, and a known admissions decision is rendered based on these criteria. Given that the university has a number of political, social and geographic econometric factors in its admissions decisions, we useSVMto find implicit spatial patterns that may favor students from certain geographic regions. We first explore the characteristics of the applicants in the college admissions case study. Next, we explain theSVMtechnique and our unique ‘threshold line’ methodology for both discrete (regional) and continuous (k‐neighbors) space. We then analyze the results of the regional and k‐neighbor tests in order to respond to the methodological and geographic research questions.
Independent Screening for Single-Index Hazard rate Models with Ultrahigh Dimensional Features
Authors: Gorst-Rasmussen Anders , Scheike Thomas 
Published: October 2012

SummaryIn data sets with many more features than observations, independent screening based on all univariate regression models leads to a computationally convenient variable selection method. Recent efforts have shown that, in the case of generalized linear models, independent screening may suffice to capture all relevant features with high probability, even in ultrahigh dimension. It is unclear whether this formal sure screening property is attainable when the response is a right-censored survival time. We propose a computationally very efficient independent screening method for survival data which can be viewed as the natural survival equivalent of correlation screening. We state conditions under which the method admits the sure screening property within a class of single-index hazard rate models with ultrahigh dimensional features and describe the generally detrimental effect of censoring on performance. An iterative variant of the method is also described which combines screening with penalized regression to handle more complex feature covariance structures. The methodology is evaluated through simulation studies and through application to a real gene expression data set.
Doubly Robust and Efficient Estimators for Heteroscedastic Partially Linear Single-Index Models Allowing high Dimensional Covariates
Authors: Ma Yanyuan , Zhu Liping 
Published: October 2012

SummaryWe study the heteroscedastic partially linear single-index model with an unspecified error variance function, which allows for high dimensional covariates in both the linear and the single-index components of the mean function. We propose a class of consistent estimators of the parameters by using a proper weighting strategy. An interesting finding is that the linearity condition which is widely assumed in the dimension reduction literature is not necessary for methodological or theoretical development: it contributes only to the simplification of non-optimal consistent estimation. We also find that the performance of the usual weighted least square type of estimators deteriorates when the non-parametric component is badly estimated. However, estimators in our family automatically provide protection against such deterioration, in that the consistency can be achieved even if the baseline non-parametric function is completely misspecified. We further show that the most efficient estimator is a member of this family and can be easily obtained by using non-parametric estimation. Properties of the estimators proposed are presented through theoretical illustration and numerical simulations. An example on gender discrimination is used to demonstrate and to compare the practical performance of the estimators.
Dimension Reduction and Alleviation of Confounding for Spatial Generalized Linear Mixed Models
Authors: Hughes John , Haran Murali 
Published: October 2012

SummaryNon-Gaussian spatial data are very common in many disciplines. For instance, count data are common in disease mapping, and binary data are common in ecology. When fitting spatial regressions for such data, one needs to account for dependence to ensure reliable inference for the regression coefficients. The spatial generalized linear mixed model offers a very popular and flexible approach to modelling such data, but this model suffers from two major shortcomings: variance inflation due to spatial confounding and high dimensional spatial random effects that make fully Bayesian inference for such models computationally challenging. We propose a new parameterization of the spatial generalized linear mixed model that alleviates spatial confounding and speeds computation by greatly reducing the dimension of the spatial random effects. We illustrate the application of our approach to simulated binary, count and Gaussian spatial data sets, and to a large infant mortality data set.
Residuals and Goodness-of-Fit Tests for Stationary Marked Gibbs Point Processes
Authors: Coeurjolly Jean-François , Lavancier Frédéric 
Published: October 2012

SummaryThe inspection of residuals is a fundamental step for investigating the quality of adjustment of a parametric model to data. For spatial point processes, the concept of residuals has been recently proposed as an empirical counterpart of the Campbell equilibrium equation for marked Gibbs point processes. The paper focuses on stationary marked Gibbs point processes and deals with asymptotic properties of residuals for such processes. In particular, the consistency and the asymptotic normality are obtained for a wide class of residuals including the classical residuals (raw, inverse and Pearson). On the basis of these asymptotic results, we define goodness-of-fit tests with type I error theoretically controlled. One of these tests constitutes an extension of the quadrat counting test that is widely used to test the null hypothesis of a homogeneous Poisson point process.
I123‐FP‐CIT single‐photon emission tomography in patients with long‐standing mixed tremor
Authors: de Verdal M. , Renard D. , Collombier L. , Boudousq V. , Kotzki P. O. , Labauge P. , Castelnovo G. 
Published: October 2012

Background and purposeEssential tremor is an abnormal movement characterized by postural and/or kinetic tremor. In some essential tremor patients, rest tremor (RT) is observed but it is not clear if this RT is a feature of essential tremor or a symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). I123‐FP‐CIT single‐photon emission tomography is used to distinguish essential tremor and PD.ObjectivesTo analyse I123‐FP‐CIT single‐photon emission tomography in a larger series of patients with mixed tremor (i.e. action tremor associated with RT) without PD criteria.MethodsWe studied 33 consecutives patients (18 men and 15 women) with mixed tremor, clinically and by neuroimaging in all cases.ResultsI123‐FP‐CIT single‐photon emission tomography was abnormal in 25 of our patients (75.7%) with mixed tremor, and we noted a reduced uptake mostly in the putamen. In our patients with abnormal imaging, RT was unilateral in 52%.In 15 of these 25 patients, putaminal reduced uptake was bilateral and symmetrical. In the other 10 patients, putaminal reduced uptake was asymmetrical or unilateral. In these 10 cases, six had a unilateral RT corresponding to (crossed) predominant reduced uptake in three cases. In our patients with normal imaging, RT was unilateral in 87.5%.ConclusionsThis study shows that mixed tremor is a heterogeneous entity. The majority of patients with mixed tremor showed nigrostriatal dysfunction on I123‐FP‐CIT single‐photon emission tomography, suggesting that mixed tremor may be a parkinsonian syndrome rather than a clinical variant of essential tremor.
The mirror crack'd: both pigment and structure contribute to the glossy blue appearance of the mirror orchid, Ophrys speculum
Authors: Vignolini Silvia , Davey Matthew P. , Bateman Richard M. , Rudall Paula J. , Moyroud Edwige , Tratt Julia , Malmgren Svante , Steiner Ullrich , Glover Beverley J. 
Published: October 2012

Summary

The Mediterranean orchid genus Ophrys is remarkable for its pseudocopulatory pollination mechanism; naïve male pollinators are attracted to the flowers by olfactory, visual and tactile cues. The most striking visual cue is a highly reflective, blue speculum region at the centre of the labellum, which mimics the corresponding female insect and reaches its strongest development in the mirror orchid, O. speculum.

We explored the structure and properties of the much‐discussed speculum by scanning and transmission electron microscopic examination of its ultrastructure, visible and ultraviolet (UV) angle‐resolved spectrophotometry of the intact tissue, and mass spectrometry of extracted pigments.

The speculum contrasts with the surrounding labellar epidermis in being flat‐celled with a thick, smooth cuticle. The speculum is extremely glossy, reflecting intense white light in a specular direction, but at more oblique angles it predominantly reflects blue and UV light. Pigments in the speculum, dominantly the cyanidin 3‐(3′′‐malonylglucoside), are less diverse than in the surrounding regions of the labellar epidermis and lack quercetin copigments.

Several physical and biochemical processes interact to produce the striking and much‐discussed optical effects in these flowers, but the blue colour is not produced by structural means and is not iridescent.
The N1 effect of temporal attention is independent of sound location and intensity: Implications for possible mechanisms of temporal attention
Authors: Lange Kathrin 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIt has been repeatedly shown that the auditory N1 is enhanced for sounds presented at an attended time point. The present study investigated the underlying mechanisms using a temporal cuing paradigm. In each trial, an auditory cue indicated at which time point a second sound could be relevant for response selection. Crucially, in addition to temporal attention, two physical sound features with known effects on the sensory N1 were manipulated: location and intensity. Positive evidence for conjoint effects of attention and location or attention and intensity would corroborate the notion that the sensory N1 was modulated by temporal attention, thus supporting a gain mechanism. However, the N1 effect of temporal attention was not similarly lateralized as the sensory N1, and, moreover, it was independent of sound intensity. Thus, the present results do not provide compelling evidence that temporal attention involves an increase in sensory gain.