bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integrating Paleobiology, Archeology, and History to Inform Biological Conservation
Authors: RICK TORBEN C. , LOCKWOOD ROWAN 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe search for novel approaches to establishing ecological baselines (reference conditions) is constrained by the fact that most ecological studies span the past few decades, at most, and investigate ecosystems that have been substantially altered by human activities for decades, centuries, or more. Paleobiology, archeology, and history provide historical ecological context for biological conservation, remediation, and restoration. We argue that linking historical ecology explicitly with conservation can help unify related disciplines of conservation paleobiology, conservation archeobiology, and environmental history. Differences in the spatial and temporal resolution and extent (scale) of prehistoric, historic, and modern ecological data remain obstacles to integrating historical ecology and conservation biology, but the prolonged temporal extents of historical ecological data can help establish more complete baselines for restoration, document a historical range of ecological variability, and assist in determining desired future conditions. We used the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) fishery of the Chesapeake Bay (U.S.A.) to demonstrate the utility of historical ecological data for elucidating oyster conservation and the need for an approach to conservation that transcends disciplinary boundaries. Historical ecological studies from the Chesapeake have documented dramatic declines (as much as 99%) in oyster abundance since the early to mid‐1800s, changes in oyster size in response to different nutrient levels from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, and substantial reductions in oyster accretion rates (from 10 mm/year to effectively 0 mm/year) from the Late Holocene to modern times. Better integration of different historical ecological data sets and increased collaboration between paleobiologists, geologists, archeologists, environmental historians, and ecologists to create standardized research designs and methodologies will help unify prehistoric, historic, and modern time perspectives on biological conservation.Integración de Paleobiología, Arqueología e Historia para Informar a la Biología de la Conservación
Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial of Bilayer Ceramic and Metal‐Ceramic Crown Performance
Authors: Esquivel‐Upshaw Josephine , Rose William , Oliveira Erica , Yang Mark , Clark Arthur E. , Anusavice Kenneth 
Published: September 2012

AbstractPurpose: Analyzing the clinical performance of restorative materials is important, as there is an expectation that these materials and procedures will restore teeth and do no harm. The objective of this research study was to characterize the clinical performance of metal‐ceramic crowns, core ceramic crowns, and core ceramic/veneer ceramic crowns based on 11 clinical criteria.Materials and Methods: An IRB‐approved, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted as a single‐blind pilot study. The following three types of full crowns were fabricated: (1) metal‐ceramic crown (MC) made from a Pd‐Au‐Ag‐Sn‐In alloy (Argedent 62) and a glass‐ceramic veneer (IPS d.SIGN veneer); (2) non‐veneered (glazed) lithium disilicate glass‐ceramic crown (LDC) (IPS e.max Press core and e.max Ceram Glaze); and (3) veneered lithia disilicate glass‐ceramic crown (LDC/V) with glass‐ceramic veneer (IPS Empress 2 core and IPS Eris). Single‐unit crowns were randomly assigned. Patients were recalled for each of 3 years and were evaluated by two calibrated clinicians. Thirty‐six crowns were placed in 31 patients. A total of 12 crowns of each of the three crown types were studied. Eleven criteria were evaluated: tissue health, marginal integrity, secondary caries, proximal contact, anatomic contour, occlusion, surface texture, cracks/chips (fractures), color match, tooth sensitivity, and wear (of crowns and opposing enamel). Numerical rankings ranged from 1 to 4, with 4 being excellent, and 1 indicating a need for immediate replacement. Statistical analysis of the numerical rankings was performed using a Fisher's exact test.Results: There was no statistically significant difference between performance of the core ceramic crowns and the two veneered crowns at year 1 and year 2 (p > 0.05). All crowns were rated either as excellent or good for each of the clinical criteria; however, between years 2 and 3, gradual roughening of the occlusal surface occurred in some of the ceramic‐ceramic crowns, possibly caused by dissolution and wear of the glaze. Statistically significant differences in surface texture (p= 0.0013) and crown wear (p= 0.0078) were found at year 3 between the metal‐ceramic crowns and the lithium‐disilicate‐based crowns.Conclusion: Based on the 11 criteria, the clinical performance of ceramic‐ceramic crowns was comparable to that of the metal‐ceramic crowns after 2 years; however, gradual roughening occurred between years 2 and 3, which resulted in differences in surface texture and wear.
AN ADAPTIVE MULTIVARIATE APPROACH TO TIME SERIES FORECASTING
Authors: Bretschneider Stuart I. , Carbone Robert , Longini Richard L. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTIn recent years, time series analysts have shifted their interest from univariate to multivariate forecasting approaches. Among them, the Box‐Jenkins transfer function process and the state space method have received the most attention. This paper presents a simplified approach that embodies some desirable features of existing methods. It stresses empirical analysis, has a unified modeling structure, is easily applicable, and is adaptive to changes without necessitating prior information on the evolution of a system under study. The core of the method relies on the Carbone‐Longini adaptive estimation procedure (AEP). Results of a comparative study based on the well‐known Lydia E. Pinkham data and the Box‐Jenkins sales/leading indicator data illustrate the merits of multivariate AEP in improving forecasting accuracy while simplifying the analysis process.Subject Area: Forecasting.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS AND THE ADDITIVE VALUE FUNCTION*
Authors: Kamenetzky Ricardo D. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTThe relationship between the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), a multiple‐criteria decision method based on the properties of the eigenvalues of positive reciprocal matrices, and the additive value function is studied. The AHP is compared with the standard method of building an additive value function. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed and a new method that uses elements of both is proposed. The proposed method relies on the AHP for building the unidimensional value functions and incorporates the systematic use of pairwise comparisons into the standard method of estimating the weights of the additive value function.Subject Area: Decision Processes.
Insider Trading and Corporate Information Transparency
Authors: Gu Feng , Li John Q. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractOur study examines the relation between insider trading and corporate information transparency. We find a negative relation between firms’ information transparency and the economic significance of insider trading, including the amount of insider purchase and sale and the profitability of insider transactions. We also find a negative relation between information transparency and stock price reaction to news of insider trading, which suggests that increases in information transparency preempt insiders’ private information. Our study provides evidence consistent with firms’ transparency‐enhancing activities decreasing information asymmetry between insiders and investors by revealing insiders’ private information to investors in a timely manner.
The Relationship Between Insurance and Economic Development: 85 Empirical Papers for a Review of the Literature
Authors: Outreville J. François 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe objective of this article is to propose a review of 85 empirical papers examining the relationships between insurance and economic development, that is, the insurance‐growth nexus. When looking at the economic importance of the insurance sector, most papers in the past have looked at the demand side (the level of economic development is an explanatory variable among other factors that affect the demand for insurance). Because the role of the insurance sector and its contribution to development is at the agenda of international organizations and because the importance of the relationship between financial development and economic growth has been well recognized and emphasized in the field of economic development, more recent papers have examined the causality links between insurance and economic development and the role of insurance as a significant determinant in the process of economic growth.
Low Recurrence Rate in Treating Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia with Triple Freeze‐Thaw Cycles
Authors: QURESHI MUHAMMAD Y. , RATNASAMY CHRISTOPHER , SOKOLOSKI MARY , YOUNG MING‐LON 
Published: September 2012

BackgroundCryoablation is an alternative to radiofrequency ablation in treating atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). However, its long‐term effectiveness is in question when compared to radiofrequency ablation. We reviewed the results of cryoablation in children with AVNRT at our institute.MethodsWe performed a retrospective single‐center chart review of consecutive patients ≤18 years of age with AVNRT who underwent cryoablation between January 2007 and August 2009. During cryoablation, a 6‐mm‐tip cryocatheter was used with temperature set to −80°C. Test lesions were performed at the presumed slow pathway location based on combined anatomic and electrophysiologic approach. If successful, ablation was then continued with triple freeze‐thaw cycles (FTC) of 4 minutes each.ResultsA total of 53 patients (age range: 6.1–18.4 years, mean: 13.6 years, median: 13.2 years) underwent slow pathway modification with cryoablation. Acute success was achieved in 51 (96.2%) cases. Transient atrioventricular block was seen in 19 cases. The block occurred during FTC in eight patients (15%). The number of FTC was three in 47 (92.2%) patients. Less than three FTC were given in two patients due to transient heart block and four FTC were given in two patients with suspected catheter movement. Procedure duration was 177 ± 56 minutes; fluoroscopic time was 14 ± 11 minutes. Mean follow‐up was 30.7 ± 10 (range 12–52, median 31) months. Recurrence of supraventricular tachycardia was seen in only one (1.96%) patient.ConclusionsTriple FTC cryoablation lesions resulted in a low recurrence rate comparable to RF ablation in treating AVNRT without increased complications.
Significant Reduction of Atrial Defibrillation Threshold and Inducibility by Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: HWANG EUI‐SEOCK , NAM GI BYUNG , JOUNG BOYOUNG , PARK JUNBEOM , LEE JIHEI SARA , SHIM JAEMIN , UHM JAE‐SUN , LEE MOON HYOUNG , PAK HUI‐NAM 
Published: September 2012

Background:

Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) has antiarrhythmic effects by multiple mechanisms. We hypothesized that RFCA curtails atrial defibrillation threshold (A‐DFT) and postablation induction pacing cycle length (iPCL), making critical mass reduction one potential mechanism by which antiarrhythmic effect is achieved.
Methods:

We included 289 patients with AF (male 77.9%, 55.7 ± 10.8 years old; 197 paroxysmal AF: 92 persistent AF) who underwent RFCA. A‐DFT (serial internal cardioversion 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 J) and iPCL (serial 10 mA 10‐second atrial pacing with pacing cycle length 250, 200, 190, 180, 170, 160, and 150 ms) were evaluated before and after RFCA.
Results:

(1) RFCA of AF reduced the A‐DFT from 6.7 ± 3.7 J to 3.0 ± 3.0 J (P < 0.001). (2) AF ablation reduced AF inducibility from 95.4% before the procedure to 56.3% after the procedure (P < 0.001), and the iPCL from 194.8 ± 32.6 to 160.9 ± 26.2 ms (P < 0.001). (3) In patients who underwent a greater number of ablation lines, the post‐RFCA A‐DFT (P < 0.001) was lower, and %ΔA‐DFT (P = 0.003) and proportion of atrial tachycardia (P = 0.022) were higher than those with a lower number of ablation lines.
Conclusion:

AF ablation significantly reduced A‐DFT, AF inducibility, and iPCL, and the degree of their reduction was related to the number of ablation lines. (PACE 2012;35:1428–1435)
Risk Stratification in Wolff‐Parkinson‐White Syndrome: The Correlation Between Noninvasive and Invasive Testing in Pediatric Patients
Authors: WACKEL PHILIP , IRVING CLAIRE , WEBBER STEVEN , BEERMAN LEE , ARORA GAURAV 
Published: September 2012

Background:

In Wolff‐Parkinson‐White (WPW) syndrome, rapid antegrade conduction of atrial tachyarrhythmias can result in ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Antegrade conduction can be assessed through noninvasive testing or invasive electrophysiology study (EPS). We aimed to determine the correlation between noninvasive testing and EPS in a pediatric WPW population.
Methods:

All WPW patients <21 years who underwent EPS over a 10‐year period were identified. Noninvasive testing reviewed included electrocardiogram, Holter, and exercise stress test (EST). Patients were classified as low‐risk if preexcitation was lost during any test. EPS data reviewed included antegrade conduction during atrial pacing and atrial fibrillation. Conduction through the accessory pathway (AP) to a cycle length ≤250 ms was considered rapid, otherwise patients were nonrapid. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of noninvasive testing to correctly identify nonrapid conduction was calculated.
Results:

There were 135 EPS. Twenty‐four patients (18%) were classified low‐risk noninvasively. Two of the 24 (8%) had rapid conduction at baseline EPS. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of low‐risk noninvasive testing to predict nonrapid conduction was 22%, 94%, 92%, and 31%, respectively. Sixteen of the 24 had low‐risk EST and none had rapid conduction at baseline EPS. The specificity and PPV of low‐risk EST were 100%.
Conclusion:

Loss of preexcitation during noninvasive testing had high specificity and PPV for nonrapid antegrade conduction during baseline EPS. Abrupt loss of preexcitation during EST was a highly reliable noninvasive marker of nonrapid AP conduction at baseline in our pediatric WPW patients. (PACE 2012;35:1451–1457)
Prevalence of Acute Lung Injury Among Medical Patients in the Emergency Department
Authors: Goyal Munish , Houseman Daniel , Johnson Nicholas J. , Christie Jason , Mikkelsen Mark E. , Gaieski David F. 
Published: September 2012

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:1011–1018 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractBackground:  Acute lung injury (ALI) affects an estimated 190,000 persons per year in U.S. intensive care units (ICUs), but little is known about its prevalence in the emergency department (ED).Objectives:  The objective was to describe the prevalence of ALI among mechanically ventilated adult nontrauma patients in the ED. The hypothesis was that the prevalence of ALI in adult ED patients would be low.Methods:  This was a retrospective cohort study of admitted nontrauma patients presenting to an academic ED. Two trained investigators abstracted data from patient records using a standardized form. The use of mechanical ventilation in the ED was identified in two phases. First, all ED patients were screened for the current procedural terminology (CPT) code for endotracheal intubation (CPT 31500) from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2006. Second, each patient record was reviewed to verify the use of mechanical ventilation. ALI was defined in accordance with a modified version of the American‐European Consensus Conference criteria as: 1) hypoxemia defined as PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤300 mm Hg on all arterial blood gases (ABGs) in the ED and the first 24 hours of admission, 2) the presence of bilateral infiltrates on chest radiograph, and 3) the absence of left atrial hypertension. Data are presented in absolute numbers and percentages. Interobserver agreement was evaluated using the kappa statistic.Results:  Of the 552 patients who received mechanical ventilation in the ED and were subsequently admitted, a total of 134 (24.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 20.8% to 28.0%) met hypoxemia criteria. Of these, 34 had evidence of left atrial hypertension, 52 did not have chest radiograph findings consistent with ALI, and two did not have a chest radiograph performed; the remaining 46 met ALI criteria. An additional two patients who died in the ED had clinical evidence of ALI. Thus, 48 of 552, or 8.7% (95% CI = 6.6% to 11.3%), met criteria for ALI. The kappa value for determination of ALI was 0.84 (95% CI = 0.54 to 1.0).Conclusions:  The prevalence of ALI was nearly 9% in adult nontrauma patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the ED. Further study is required to determine which types of patients present to the ED with ALI, the extent to which lung protective ventilation is used, and the need for ED ventilator management algorithms.
Hand Ultrasound: A High‐fidelity Simulation of Lung Sliding
Authors: Shokoohi Hamid , Boniface Keith 
Published: September 2012

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:1079–1083 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractSimulation training has been effectively used to integrate didactic knowledge and technical skills in emergency and critical care medicine. In this article, we introduce a novel model of simulating lung ultrasound and the features of lung sliding and pneumothorax by performing a hand ultrasound. The simulation model involves scanning the palmar aspect of the hand to create normal lung sliding in varying modes of scanning and to mimic ultrasound features of pneumothorax, including “stratosphere/barcode sign” and “lung point.” The simple, reproducible, and readily available simulation model we describe demonstrates a high‐fidelity simulation surrogate that can be used to rapidly illustrate the signs of normal and abnormal lung sliding at the bedside.
Practice Patterns in Asthma Discharge Pharmacotherapy in Pediatric Emergency Departments: A Pediatric Emergency Research Canada Study
Authors: Schuh Suzanne , Zemek Roger , Plint Amy , Black Karen J. L. , Freedman Stephen , Porter Robert , Gouin Serge , Johnson David W. 
Published: September 2012

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:1019–1026 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  The objective was to examine utilization of β2 agonists via metered dose inhalers with oral and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) at discharge in children with acute asthma.Methods:  This was a retrospective medical record review at six pediatric emergency departments (EDs) of otherwise healthy children 2 to 17 years of age discharged with acute asthma. Data were extracted on history, disease severity, and pharmacotherapy used in the ED and at discharge. The primary outcome was the proportion of children prescribed “comprehensive therapy,” i.e., albuterol via metered dose inhaler (MDI) with oral and ICS.Results:  The overall rate of comprehensive therapy was 382 of 654 (58%), which varied from 30% to 84% (p < 0.0001). A total of 570 of 575 children discharged on albuterol received MDIs. Although the rates of prescriptions for oral and ICS were both 80%, only 58% of patients without ICS on arrival were offered ICS at discharge. There was significant variation in the rates of all discharge pharmacotherapies across centers. The independent predictors of comprehensive therapy were daytime presentation (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05 to 2.67) and “intensive stabilization” (OR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.29 to 2.67). Seventeen patients (2.6%) were prescribed antibiotics. Children were more likely to receive antibiotics if they had moderate to severe exacerbations (OR = 2.8) or received a chest radiograph (OR = 8.4).Conclusions:  The overwhelming majority of children discharged from Canadian pediatric EDs with acute asthma are prescribed inhaled albuterol via MDIs. Although the corticosteroid use at discharge is higher than previously reported, utilization of new prescriptions for ICS may not be optimal. Children presenting during daytime to EDs receiving intensive stabilization are more likely to receive the albuterol/oral steroid/ICS combination.
Predicting Emergency Department Inpatient Admissions to Improve Same‐day Patient Flow
Authors: Peck Jordan S. , Benneyan James C. , Nightingale Deborah J. , Gaehde Stephan A. 
Published: September 2012

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:1045–1054 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  The objectives were to evaluate three models that use information gathered during triage to predict, in real time, the number of emergency department (ED) patients who subsequently will be admitted to a hospital inpatient unit (IU) and to introduce a new methodology for implementing these predictions in the hospital setting.Methods:  Three simple methods were compared for predicting hospital admission at ED triage: expert opinion, naïve Bayes conditional probability, and a generalized linear regression model with a logit link function (logit‐linear). Two months of data were gathered from the Boston VA Healthcare System‘s 13‐bed ED, which receives approximately 1,100 patients per month. Triage nurses were asked to estimate the likelihood that each of 767 triaged patients from that 2‐month period would be admitted after their ED treatment, by placing them into one of six categories ranging from low to high likelihood. Logit‐linear regression and naïve Bayes models also were developed using retrospective data and used to estimate admission probabilities for each patient who entered the ED within a 2‐month time frame, during triage hours (1,160 patients). Predictors considered included patient age, primary complaint, provider, designation (ED or fast track), arrival mode, and urgency level (emergency severity index assigned at triage).Results:  Of the three methods considered, logit‐linear regression performed the best in predicting total bed need, with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) of 0.887, an R2 of 0.58, an average estimation error of 0.19 beds per day, and on average roughly 3.5 hours before peak demand occurred. Significant predictors were patient age, primary complaint, bed type designation, and arrival mode (p < 0.0001 for all factors). The naïve Bayesian model had similar positive predictive value, with an AUC of 0.841 and an R2 of 0.58, but with average difference in total bed need of approximately 2.08 per day. Triage nurse expert opinion also had some predictive capability, with an R2 of 0.52 and an average difference in total bed need of 1.87 per day.Conclusions:  Simple probability models can reasonably predict ED‐to‐IU patient volumes based on basic data gathered at triage. This predictive information could be used for improved real‐time bed management, patient flow, and discharge processes. Both statistical models were reasonably accurate, using only a minimal number of readily available independent variables.