bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost‐effectiveness of ART restorations in elderly adults: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: da Mata Cristiane , Allen Patrick F. , Cronin Michael , O'Mahony Denis , McKenna Gerald , Woods Noel 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundAs the world population ages, the requirement for cost‐effective methods of treating chronic disease conditions increases. In terms of oral health, there is a rapidly increasing number of dentate elderly with a high burden of maintenance. Population surveys indicate that older individuals are keeping their teeth for longer and are a higher caries risk group. Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) could be suitable for patients in nursing homes or house‐bound elderly, but very little research has been done on its use in adults.ObjectivesTo compare the cost‐effectiveness of ART and a conventional technique (CT) for restoring carious lesions as part of a preventive and restorative programme for older adults.MethodsIn this randomized clinical trial, 82 patients with carious lesions were randomly allocated to receive either ART or conventional restorations. Treatment costs were measured based on treatment time, materials and labour. For the ART group, the cost of care provided by a dentist was also compared to the cost of having a hygienist to provide treatment. Effectiveness was measured using percentage of restorations that survived after a year.ResultsEighty‐two patients received 260 restorations, that is, 128 ART and 132 conventional restorations. 91.1% of the restorations were on one surface only. After a year, 252 restorations were assessed in 80 patients. The average cost for ART and conventional restorations was €16.86 and €28.71 respectively; the restoration survival percentages were 91.1% and 97.7%, respectively. This resulted in a cost‐effectiveness ratio of 0.18 (ART) and 0.29 (CT). When the cost of a hygienist to provide ART was inserted in the analysis, the resulting ratio was 0.14.ConclusionsAtraumatic restorative treatment was found to be a more cost‐effective alternative to treat older adults after 1 year, compared to conventional restorations, especially in out of surgery facilities and using alternative workforce such as hygienists. Atraumatic restorative treatment can be a useful tool to provide dental care for frail and fearful individuals who might not access dental treatment routinely.
Dimorphic HLA-B signal peptides differentially influence HLA-E- and natural killer cell-mediated cytolysis of HIV-1-infected target cells
Authors: Merino A M , Sabbaj S , Easlick J , Goepfert P , Kaslow R A , Tang J 
Published: August 2013

SummaryAs a mechanism of self-protection, signal peptides cleaved from human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I products bind to HLA-E before the complex interacts with the natural killer (NK) cell receptor CD94/NKG2A to inhibit NK-mediated cell lysis. Two types of the signal peptides differ in their position 2 (P2) anchor residue, with P2-methionine (P2-M) having higher HLA-E binding affinity than P2-threonine (P2-T). All HLA-A and HLA-C molecules carry P2-M, whereas HLA-B products have either P2-M or P2-T. Epidemiological evidence suggests that P2-M is unfavourable in the context of HIV-1 infection, being associated with accelerated acquisition of HIV-1 infection in two African cohorts. To begin elucidating the functional mechanism, we studied NK-mediated killing of CD4+ T cells and monocyte-derived macrophages infected with two laboratory-adapted HIV-1 strains and two transmitted/founder (T/F) viruses. In the presence of target cells derived from individuals with the three HLA-B P2 genotypes (M/M, M/T and T/T), NK-mediated cytolysis was elevated consistently for P2-T in a dose-dependent manner for all cell and virus combinations tested (P = 0·008–0·03). Treatment of target cells with an anti-HLA-E monoclonal antibody restored NK-mediated cytolysis of cells expressing P2-M. Observations on cell lysis were also substantiated by measurements of HIV-1 p24 antigen in the culture supernatants. Overall, our experiments indicate that the anti-HIV-1 function mediated by NK cells is compromised by P2-M, corroborating the association of HLA-B genotype encoding P2-M with accelerated HIV-1 acquisition.
Locally Injective Mappings
Authors: Schüller Christian , Kavan Ladislav , Panozzo Daniele , Sorkine‐Hornung Olga 
Published: August 2013

AbstractMappings and deformations are ubiquitous in geometry processing, shape modeling, and animation. Numerous deformation energies have been proposed to tackle problems like mesh parameterization and volumetric deformations. We present an algorithm that modifies any deformation energy to guarantee a locally injective mapping, i.e., without inverted elements. Our formulation can be used to compute continuous planar or volumetric piecewise‐linear maps and it uses a barrier term to prevent inverted elements. Differently from previous methods, we carefully design both the barrier term and the associated numerical techniques to be able to provide immediate feedback to the user, enabling interactive manipulation of inversion‐free mappings. Stress tests show that our method robustly handles extreme deformations where previous techniques converge very slowly or even fail. We demonstrate that enforcing local injectivity increases fidelity of the results in applications such as shape deformation and parameterization.
Consolidation of Low‐quality Point Clouds from Outdoor Scenes
Authors: Wang Jun , Xu Kai , Liu Ligang , Cao Junjie , Liu Shengjun , Yu Zeyun , Gu Xianfeng David 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe emergence of laser/LiDAR sensors, reliable multi‐view stereo techniques and more recently consumer depth cameras have brought point clouds to the forefront as a data format useful for a number of applications. Unfortunately, the point data from those channels often incur imperfection, frequently contaminated with severe outliers and noise. This paper presents a robust consolidation algorithm for low‐quality point data from outdoor scenes, which essentially consists of two steps: 1) outliers filtering and 2) noise smoothing. We first design a connectivity‐based scheme to evaluate outlierness and thereby detect sparse outliers. Meanwhile, a clustering method is used to further remove small dense outliers. Both outlier removal methods are insensitive to the choice of the neighborhood size and the levels of outliers. Subsequently, we propose a novel approach to estimate normals for noisy points based on robust partial rankings, which is the basis of noise smoothing. Accordingly, a fast approach is exploited to smooth noise, while preserving sharp features. We evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method on the point clouds from a variety of outdoor scenes.
About nothing
Authors: Brower Andrew V. Z. , de Pinna Mario C. C. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIn light of recent terminological controversy, this article reviews cladistic conceptions of character states coded as absences, symplesiomorphies, and secondary losses. The first section addresses absence as a question of ontology vs. epistemology. The second and third sections address the evidentiary status of symplesiomorphy in cladistics, the fourth contrasts primitive absence with secondary loss, and the fifth clarifies the meaning of “grouping”. While secondary losses (reversals) are often synapomorphies, symplesiomorphies (“absent” or otherwise) have no evidentiary import to cladistic hypotheses of relationship. Thus, we argue that identifying symplesiomorphic character states as “homologous” is conceptually vacuous, because they are either synapomorphies (homologues) of more inclusive taxa, or complementary absences that unite no group.
Evoked pressure curves from the external anal sphincter following transcranial magnetic stimulation in healthy volunteers and patients with faecal incontinence
Authors: Paris G. , Chastan N. , Gourcerol G. , Verin E. , Menard J. F. , Michot F. , Weber J. , Leroi A. M. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimThe hypothesis was tested that evoked pressure curves (EPCs) after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) would provide additional neuropathophysiological information on the descending pathways to the external anal sphincter (EAS) in patients with faecal incontinence (FI).MethodTwenty‐five healthy subjects and 69 patients with FI were investigated. TMS was applied to the vertex, and EPCs were recorded with a probe placed through the EAS. TMS was performed with the EAS at rest and during contraction (facilitated responses). At least three responses were recorded for each modality. Clinical data and anorectal manometric, electrophysiological perineal and transanal ultrasound recordings were compared with respect to the EPC results.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference between the EPCs of healthy subjects and FI patients. Twenty‐three per cent of the FI patients had abnormal EPC latencies, with significantly lower voluntary contraction amplitudes (P = 0.03) and significantly higher rectal sensation (P = 0.04) than the other group. We found no significant difference between FI patients with and without abnormal EPC latencies in terms of clinical characteristics and electrophysiological and endoanal ultrasound parameters. There was no difference in the identified causes of the FI between the two groups.ConclusionAs abnormal EPC latencies were found in 23% of FI patients with no known central neurological disease, abnormal EPC latencies might reveal undetected lesions of descending pathways in patients with FI.
All Giraffes Have Female‐Specific Properties: Influence of Grammatical Gender on Deductive Reasoning About Sex‐Specific Properties in German Speakers
Authors: Imai Mutsumi , Schalk Lennart , Saalbach Henrik , Okada Hiroyuki 
Published: August 2013

AbstractGrammatical gender is independent of biological sex for the majority of animal names (e.g., any giraffe, be it male or female, is grammatically treated as feminine). However, there is apparent semantic motivation for grammatical gender classes, especially in mapping human terms to gender. This research investigated whether this motivation affects deductive inference in native German speakers. We compared German with Japanese speakers (a language without grammatical gender) when making inferences about sex‐specific biological properties. We found that German speakers tended to erroneously draw inferences when the sex in the premise and grammatical gender of the target animal agreed. An over‐generalization of the grammar–semantics mapping was found even when the sex of the target was explicitly indicated. However, these effects occurred only when gender‐marking articles accompanied the nouns. These results suggest that German speakers project sex‐specific biological properties onto gender‐marking articles but not onto conceptual representations of animals per se.
Singular Clues to Causality and Their Use in Human Causal Judgment
Authors: White Peter A. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIt is argued that causal understanding originates in experiences of acting on objects. Such experiences have consistent features that can be used as clues to causal identification and judgment. These are singular clues, meaning that they can be detected in single instances. A catalog of 14 singular clues is proposed. The clues function as heuristics for generating causal judgments under uncertainty and are a pervasive source of bias in causal judgment. More sophisticated clues such as mechanism clues and repeated interventions are derived from the 14. Research on the use of empirical information and conditional probabilities to identify causes has used scenarios in which several of the clues are present, and the use of empirical association information for causal judgment depends on the presence of singular clues. It is the singular clues and their origin that are basic to causal understanding, not multiple instance clues such as empirical association, contingency, and conditional probabilities.
Membrane cut‐off does not influence results regarding the measurement of small molecules – a comparative study between 20‐ and 100‐kDa catheters in hepatic microdialysis
Authors: D'souza Melroy A , Ravn Anna , Jorns Carl , Nowak Greg , Isaksson Bengt 
Published: August 2013

SummaryBackgroundMicrodialysis is a method used to monitor hepatic tissue metabolism. Membranes with a molecular cut‐off of 20 kilodalton (kDa) are currently used to measure the small metabolites glucose, glycerol, lactate and pyruvate. Using membranes with higher cut‐off such as 100 kDa allows the possibility of measuring larger molecules but may affect results regarding small molecules. The aim was to compare microdialysis catheters with a cut‐off of 20 and 100 kDa in the measurement of small molecules in a pig liver model.MethodsFour microdialysis catheters were inserted into the liver of each pig used in the experiment (n = 6). Two catheters with cut‐off of 20 kDa were perfused with Ringer acetate, and two catheters with cut‐off of 100 kDa: one perfused with Ringer acetate and one with hydroxyethyl starch (Voluven) at a flow rate of 0·3 μl min−1. Dialysate samples were collected at 40‐min intervals and analysed for glucose, glycerol, lactate and pyruvate.ResultsCompared to the other catheters, the 100‐kDa catheters perfused with Ringer acetate tended to measure higher dialysate concentrations of the small molecules, the difference reaching statistical significance in the case of pyruvate. Concentrations measured by the 100‐kDa catheters perfused with Voluven were, however, comparable to the 20‐kDa catheters.ConclusionsMicrodialysis catheters with membrane cut‐off of 20 and 100 kDa can be used equally in hepatic microdialysis for the monitoring of glucose, glycerol, lactate and pyruvate, and lactate/pyruvate ratio if a high osmotic solution (Voluven) is used to perfuse the 100‐kDa catheters.
Revisions to the international guidelines on the diagnosis and therapy of chronic urticaria
Authors: Maurer Marcus , Magerl Markus , Metz Martin , Zuberbier Torsten 
Published: August 2013

SummaryAt the end of 2012, more than 300 participants discussed and agreed on the update of the international guidelines on urticaria at the 4th International Consensus Meeting (URTICARIA 2012). Currently, the recommendations are in the final process of international coordination. In preparation for the update, questions were prepared by an expert panel; this was followed by a systematic literature search. The questions and the resulting recommendations were discussed by the participants and decided upon in an open vote. Consensus was defined as at least 75% agreement. The updated guidelines will modify and improve the currently available guidelines in various areas, especially in therapy.For the treatment of chronic urticaria, the new algorithm recommends a three‐step process starting with a standard dose of a non‐sedating H1 antihistamine. If there is an insufficient treatment response, the dosage should be increased up to four times. In, therapy refractory patients, omalizumab, cyclosporine A, or montelukast are advised in the third step. Short‐term corticosteroid treatment for a maximum of 10 days may be considered. H2 antihistamines and dapsone, which were included in the previous version of the guidelines, are absent in the updated and revised version because of changes in the evidence level.
Guidelines for Improving the Power Values of Statistical Tests for Nonresponse Bias Assessment in OM Research
Authors: Clottey Toyin , Benton W. C. 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACTThe assessment of nonresponse bias in survey‐based empirical studies plays an important role in establishing the credibility of research results. Statistical methods that involve the comparison of responses from two groups (e.g., early vs. late respondents) on multiple characteristics, which are relevant to the study, are frequently utilized in the assessment of nonresponse bias. We consider the concepts of individual and complete statistical power used for multiple testing and show their relevance for determining the number of statistical tests to perform when assessing nonresponse bias. Our analysis of factors that influence both individual and complete power levels, yielded recommendations that can be used by operations management (OM) empirical researchers to improve their assessment of nonresponse bias. A power analysis of 61 survey‐based research papers published in three prestigious academic operations management journals, over the last decade, showed the occurrence of very low (<0.4) power levels in some of the statistical tests used for assessing nonresponse bias. Such low power levels can lead to erroneous conclusions about nonresponse bias, and are indicators of the need for more rigor in the assessment of nonresponse bias in OM research.
Comparison of insulin degludec with insulin glargine in insulin‐naive subjects with Type 2 diabetes: a 2‐year randomized, treat‐to‐target trial
Authors: Rodbard H. W. , Cariou B. , Zinman B. , Handelsman Y. , Philis‐Tsimikas A. , Skjøth T. V. , Rana A. , Mathieu C. ,   The BEGIN Once Long Trial Investigators
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to compare long‐term safety and efficacy of the basal insulin analogue degludec with glargine in insulin‐naive subjects with Type 2 diabetes.MethodsThis open‐label trial included a 52‐week core period followed by a 52‐week extension. Participants were randomized 3:1 to once‐daily degludec or glargine, administered with metformin ± dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors. Basal insulin was titrated to target pre‐breakfast plasma glucose 3.9–4.9 mmol/l.ResultsAt end of treatment (104 weeks), mean HbA1c reductions were similar for degludec and glargine; estimated treatment difference between degludec and glargine was 1 mmol/mol (95% CI −1 to 3) [0.07% (95% CI −0.07 to 0.22)], P = 0.339 in the extension trial set (degludec 551, glargine 174), comprising subjects who completed core trial and continued into the extension trial. Overall confirmed hypoglycaemia rates (1.72 vs. 2.05 episodes/patient‐year), rates of adverse events possibly or probably related to trial product (0.19 events/patient‐year), weight gain (2.7 vs. 2.4 kg) and mean daily insulin doses (0.63 U/kg) were similar between treatments in the safety analysis set (degludec 766, glargine 257) comprising all treated subjects. Rates of nocturnal confirmed hypoglycaemia (0.27 vs. 0.46 episodes/patient‐year; P = 0.002) and severe hypoglycaemia (0.006 vs. 0.021 episodes/patient‐year, P = 0.023) were significantly lower with degludec for the safety analysis set (analysis based on intention‐to‐treat full analysis set comprising all randomized subjects).ConclusionsIn Type 2 diabetes, insulin degludec in combination with oral anti‐diabetic drugs, safely and effectively improves long‐term glycaemic control, with a significantly lower risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia as compared with glargine.
Medical and psychological outcomes for young adults with Type 1 diabetes: no improvement despite recent advances in diabetes care
Authors: Johnson B. , Elliott J. , Scott A. , Heller S. , Eiser C. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimTo assess medical and psychological outcomes among young people with Type 1 diabetes and to compare medical outcomes with a previous audit.MethodsAn observational study in two diabetes clinics for young adults (aged 16–21 years) in Sheffield, UK. Young people (n = 96: 81.4% response rate) with Type 1 diabetes (diagnosed > 6 months) completed measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety and disordered eating and consented for their medical records to be consulted.ResultsMean HbA1c (86 ± 23 mmol/mol; 10.0 ± 2.1%); was comparable with that reported previously and considerably higher than recommended (< 58 mmol/mol or 7.5%). Screening rates were improved and non‐attendance was lower than previously reported, but levels of non‐proliferative retinopathy have increased. Microvascular complications are present in 46.9% of those diagnosed more than 7 years. Elevated levels of disordered eating were reported by 35.1%. Those scoring above cut‐off levels for clinical anxiety (26.6%) and depression (10.9%) are comparable with other work with young people with Type 1 diabetes.ConclusionsDespite technological advances and improvements to delivery of care, HbA1c remain above recommended levels in a significant proportion of young people, many of whom already have microvascular complications. We need to learn from European centres who achieve better results, improve transition from paediatric care, integrate mental health support with diabetes care provision and take into account young people's views about clinic.
Patients with Type 1 diabetes consuming alcoholic spirits have an increased risk of microvascular complications
Authors: Harjutsalo V. , Feodoroff M. , Forsblom C. , Groop P.‐H. ,   the FinnDiane Study Group
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimsOur aim was to evaluate the effect of the amount of alcohol consumption and the type of beverage on the risk of diabetic nephropathy and severe diabetic retinopathy.MethodsThe alcohol consumption data were available from 3608 patients with Type 1 diabetes participating in the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study (FinnDiane). We assessed the cross‐sectional association between alcohol consumption and diabetic nephropathy as well as retinopathy. Patients were divided into different groups according to the amount of alcohol and the type of beverage they were consuming.ResultsIn the multivariate analysis, the odds ratio for nephropathy was 1.39 (95% CI 1.05–1.84) for abstainers and 2.44 (95% CI 1.49–3.99) for former users compared with light consumers. The results were similar in retinopathy, with an odds ratio of 1.42 (95% CI 1.11–1.82) for abstainers and 1.73 (95% CI 1.07–2.79) for former users. No difference between light consumers and moderate or heavy consumers was observed. Compared with wine drinkers, men consuming mostly alcoholic spirits had a higher risk of nephropathy with an odds ratio of 2.80 (95% CI 1.15–6.81). In women, there was no difference in the risk of nephropathy between the different beverage types. Alcoholic spirit consumers had a higher risk of retinopathy with an odds ratio of 2.32 (95% CI 1.35–4.00). There was no difference between wine and beer consumers.ConclusionsAlcoholic spirit drinkers carry a higher risk of nephropathy and severe retinopathy compared with wine drinkers. Lifelong abstainers and former users of alcohol have a higher risk of nephropathy and severe retinopathy compared with light consumers.