bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Initial Experience of Single‐port Laparoscopic Surgery for Sigmoid Colon Cancer
Authors: Park Sun Jin , Lee Kil Yeon , Kang Byung Mo , Choi Sung Il , Lee Suk Hwan 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundSingle‐port laparoscopic surgery has attracted attention in the field of minimally invasive colorectal surgery. We hypothesized that an experienced laparoscopic surgeon could perform single‐port surgery for colon cancer eligible for conventional laparoscopic anterior resection. Our aim was to analyze our initial experience and immediate surgical outcomes of single‐port anterior resection.MethodsA total of 37 consecutive patients with presumed sigmoid colonic cancer underwent single‐port anterior resection with standard laparoscopic instruments between May 2009 and June 2010. Each operation was performed by one of two experienced colorectal surgeons. A cohort of patients who had undergone conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) for the same duration a year earlier (August 2007 to September 2008) was used as a historical control. Patient demographics and perioperative outcomes were analyzed and compared with those of CLS.ResultsThere were no significant differences in mean estimated blood loss, mean length of the resection margin, or morbidity between the two groups, but operative time for the single‐port group was significantly shorter (118 ± 41 vs 140 ± 42 min; p = 0.017). Single‐port laparoscopic surgery was successfully performed in 78.4 % (29/37) of the patients treated in 2010, and CLS was successfully completed in all of the patients treated the previous year (p = 0.000). The main causes of single‐port surgery failure were adhesion and tumor location.ConclusionsSingle‐port anterior resection is a feasible and safe procedure with immediate outcomes comparable to those of conventional laparoscopy. Further studies are required to determine the feasibility of single‐port surgery for colonic tumors outside the sigmoid colon and the long‐term outcome.
Qualitative Analysis of the Perspectives of Volunteer Reconstructive Surgeons on Participation in Task‐Shifting Programs for Surgical‐Capacity Building in Low‐Resource Countries
Authors: Aliu Oluseyi , Pannucci Christopher J. , Chung Kevin C. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundExperts agree that the global burden of untreated surgical disease is disproportionately borne by the world’s poorest. This is partly because of a severe shortage of surgical care providers. Several experts have emphasized the need to research solutions for surgical‐capacity building in developing countries. Volunteer surgeons already contribute significantly to directly tackling surgical disease burden in developing countries. We qualitatively evaluated their interest in participating in task‐shifting programs as a surgical capacity‐building strategy.MethodsWe conducted semi‐structured interviews with surgeons familiar with delivery of surgical care in developing countries through their extensive volunteer experiences. The interviews followed a structured guide that centered on task shifting as a model for surgical capacity‐building in developing countries. We analyzed the interview transcripts using established qualitative methods to identify themes relevant to the interest of volunteer surgeons to participate in task‐shifting programs.ResultsMost participants were open to involvement in task‐shifting programs as a feasible way for surgical capacity‐building in low‐resource communities. However, they thought that surgical task shifting would need to be implemented with some important requisites. The most strongly emphasized condition was direct supervision of lower‐skilled providers by fully trained surgeons.ConclusionsThere is a favorable view regarding the involvement of surgeon volunteers in capacity‐building efforts. Additionally, volunteer surgeons view task shifting as a feasible way to accomplish surgical capacity building in developing countries—provided that surgical tasks are assigned appropriately, and lower level providers are adequately supervised.
Adaptation to the infectious disease impacts of climate change
Authors: Ebi Kristie L. , Lindgren Elisabet , Suk Jonathan E. , Semenza Jan C. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Climate change has the potential to increase the challenge of preventing and controlling outbreaks of infectious diseases. An adaptation assessment is an important aspect of designing and implementing policies and measures to avoid, prepare for, and effectively respond to infectious diseases outbreaks. The main steps in conducting an adaptation assessment include: 1) evaluating the effectiveness of policies and measures that address the burden of climate-sensitive infectious diseases; 2) identifying options to manage the health risks of current and projected climate change; 3) evaluating and prioritizing the options; 4) identifying human and financial resources needs, and possible barriers, constraints, and limits to implementation; and 5) developing monitoring and evaluation programs to ensure continued effectiveness of policies and measures in a changing climate. Optimally, relevant stakeholders are optimally included throughout the adaptation assessment. Although the process of conducting an assessment is similar across nations and regions, the context and content will vary depending on local circumstances, socioeconomic conditions, legal and regulatory frameworks, and other factors. The European Centers for Disease Prevention and Control developed guidelines for conducting assessments, with sufficient consistency to facilitate learning lessons across assessments.
Impact of the complete ban on female genital cutting on the attitude of educated women from Upper Egypt toward the practice
Authors: Hassanin Ibrahim M.A. , Shaaban Omar M. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the prevalence of female genital cutting (FGC) before and 5 years after the law completely banned the practice in Egypt, and evaluate the attitude of educated mothers of girls toward FGC in Upper Egypt.MethodsAll women attending 2 outpatient clinics in Upper Egypt were approached from January 1 through November 30, 2011. A trained nurse interviewed those who had daughters, and factors influencing their attitude toward FGC were evaluated. The participants in a previous study done in the same locality acted a historical comparison group.ResultsThe percentage of women who had FGC performed on at least 1 daughter was significantly lower in 2011 than in 2006 (71.6% vs 77.8%, P = 0.04). The main reason for performing FGC, given by 42.6% of the participants, was family pressure. The percentage of FGC procedures practiced by physicians was significantly lower in 2011 than it was in 2006 (34.6% vs 39.3%, P = 0.04).ConclusionThe decrease in prevalence of FGC after its complete ban was small after 5 years, with little change in attitude among educated families in Upper Egypt. In addition to the current law, a change in attitude will be needed to wipe out this custom.
Impact of probiotic feeding during weaning on the serum lipid profile and plasma metabolome in infants
Authors: Chorell Elin , Karlsson Videhult Frida , Hernell Olle , Antti Henrik , West Christina E. 
Published: December 2012

The gut microbiome interacts with the host in the metabolic response to diet, and early microbial aberrancies may be linked to the development of obesity and metabolic disorders later in life. Probiotics have been proposed to affect metabolic programming and blood lipid levels, although studies are lacking in infants. Here, we report on the lipid profile and global metabolic response following daily feeding of probiotics during weaning. A total of 179 healthy, term infants were randomised to daily intake of cereals with (n89) or without (n90) the addition ofLactobacillus paracaseissp.paracaseiF19 (LF19) 108colony-forming units per serving from 4 to 13 months of age. Weight, length and skinfold thickness were monitored. Venous blood was drawn at 5·5 and 13 months of age for analysis of the serum lipid profile. In a subsample, randomly selected from each group, GC-time-of-flight/MS was used to metabolically characterise plasma samples from thirty-seven infants. A combination of multi- and univariate analysis was applied to reveal differences related to LF19 treatment based on 228 putative metabolites, of which ninety-nine were identified or classified. We observed no effects of probiotic feeding on anthropometrics or the serum lipid profile. However, we detected significantly lower levels of palmitoleic acid (16 : 1) (P< 0·05) and significantly higher levels of putrescine (P< 0·01) in LF19-treated infants. Palmitoleic acid is a major MUFA strongly linked to visceral obesity, while putrescine is a polyamine with importance for gut integrity. Whether the observed differences will have long-term health consequences are being followed.
Nutritional risk and gastrointestinal dysautonomia symptoms in Parkinson's disease outpatients hospitalised on a scheduled basis
Authors: Barichella Michela , Cereda Emanuele , Madio Carmen , Iorio Laura , Pusani Chiara , Cancello Raffaella , Caccialanza Riccardo , Pezzoli Gianni , Cassani Erica 
Published: December 2012

Dysautonomia symptoms of nutritional interest may often occur in Parkinson's disease (PD), but the role played in affecting the risk of malnutrition still needs to be clarified. A total of 208 consecutive PD outpatients hospitalised on a scheduled basis were assessed for nutritional risk by the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool. Presence of dysautonomia symptoms (dysphagia, sialorrhoea and constipation) was investigated using clinical rating scales. In our population, prevalence of nutritional risk was 17·2 (95 % CI 12·1, 24·0) % and relied mainly on unintentional weight loss. Sialorrhoea, dysphagia, dysphagia to liquids and constipation were observed in 10·6, 11·0, 14·4 and 59·6 % of the patients, respectively. Nutritional risk was independently associated with the number of dysautonomia symptoms (OR 1·39 (95 % CI 1·00, 1·96); P= 0·048) but not with single symptoms. An independent association was also found with the severity of motor symptoms (Hoehn–Yahr stage, OR 1·48 (95 % CI 1·00, 2·55); P= 0·049) and levodopa dose (OR 1·16 (95 % CI 1·04, 1·31) mg/kg per d; P= 0·009). Nutritional risk in PD outpatients appears to depend mainly on dysautonomic syndrome, disease severity and levodopa dosage. Implications for outcome deserve further investigation. The assessment of nutritional status and of gastrointestinal dysautonomia symptoms should be part of the routine work-up of a PD patient.
The breeding of the scallop, Pecten maximus (L.), in Manx waters
Authors: Mason James 
Published: December 2012

An important fishery for the scallop, Pecten maximus (L.), is carried on during the winter months round the Isle of Man. A knowledge of the breeding of this lamellibranch would be useful should legislation become necessary with regard to the fishery.Regular samples of scallops were dredged, whenever possible, at roughly weekly or fortnightly intervals throughout the period October 1950-October 1952, from a depth of 13–16 fm. off Bradda Head and Bay Fine, near Port Erin. Approximately 8000 scallops of all ages up to 13 years were examined, though very few young ones were caught. Scallops were aged by means of the growth-rings on the shell, of which one is laid down each spring (Mason, 1957).
Descartes's sceptical theism
Authors: ROBINSON THADDEUS S. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractIn the first part of the article I show how Descartes employs the sceptical theist strategy as part of his response to the problem of evil in Meditation Four. However, Descartes's use of this strategy seems to raise a serious challenge to his whole project: if Descartes is ignorant of God's purposes, then how can he be sure that God doesn't have some morally sufficient reason for creating him with unreliable clear and distinct perceptions? Drawing on related objections from Mersenne and Hobbes, I show in the second half of the article how Descartes can sidestep this objection.
Religious naturalism and its rivals
Authors: STENMARK MIKAEL 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe aim of this article is to explore where and why religious naturalism differs from its rivals, and also to consider some of the challenges religious naturalism faces. I argue that religious naturalism is best conceived as a reaction against both theists who are religious and naturalists who are atheists: the best option is taken to be a naturalist who is religious. Nevertheless, it is quite difficult to say more exactly what claims the view contains. In fact, it is argued, three forms of religious naturalism must be distinguished and contrasted with their rivals, which are taken to be non-religious naturalism, scientific naturalism, theism (including panentheism), divine transcendentalism, religious agnosticism, and religious relativism.
The location of international practices: what is human rights practice?
Authors: KARP DAVID JASON 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThis article opens up space to challenge state-centrism about human rights practice. To do so, it presents and critically assesses four methods that can be used to determine who and/or what counts as a part of any international practice: the agreement method, which locates a practice by referring to speech acts that define it; the contextual method, which locates a practice by referring to the actions, meanings, and intentions of practitioners; the value method, which locates a practice by identifying a value or principle that the practice reflects or instantiates; and the purpose method, which locates a practice by constructing an account of the sociopolitical reason(s) for a practice's existence. The purpose method, based on an interpretation of Rawls' constructivism, is developed, in a way that focuses on practitioners' judgement-based reasons to assign responsibility for human rights to any state or non-state actor.
Explaining cooperation between IGOs and NGOs – push factors, pull factors, and the policy cycle
Authors: STEFFEK JENS 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe ever closer collaboration between intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is empirically well described but poorly theorised. In this article I develop a general theoretical framework for analysing emergent patterns of cooperation between IGOs and NGOs, which may be used to generate hypotheses or guide comparatives studies. The starting point is a conception of organisational actors as purposeful but resource-dependent. The article then combines a ‘resource exchange perspective’ from organisational sociology with the model of a policy cycle from comparative politics. The result is a theoretical framework that allows to identify incentives for, as well as obstacles to, IGO-NGO cooperation along all phases of the policy cycle. In a concluding section the limits of this model and the underlying assumptions are discussed.
Impairment of cortical GABAergic synaptic transmission in an environmental rat model of autism
Authors: Banerjee Anwesha , García-Oscos Francisco , Roychowdhury Swagata , Galindo Luis C. , Hall Shawn , Kilgard Michael P. , Atzori Marco 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe biological mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are largely unknown in spite of extensive research. ASD is characterized by altered function of multiple brain areas including the temporal cortex and by an increased synaptic excitation:inhibition ratio. While numerous studies searched for evidence of increased excitation in ASD, fewer have investigated the possibility of reduced inhibition. We characterized the cortical γ-amino butyric acid (GABA)ergic system in the rat temporal cortex of an ASD model [offspring of mothers prenatally injected with valproic acid (VPA)], by monitoring inhibitory post-synaptic currents (IPSCs) with patch-clamp. We found that numerous features of inhibition were severely altered in VPA animals compared to controls. Among them were the frequency of miniature IPSCs, the rise time and decay time of electrically-evoked IPSCs, the slope and saturation of their input/output curves, as well as their modulation by adrenergic and muscarinic agonists and by the synaptic GABAA receptor allosteric modulator zolpidem (but not by the extra-synaptic modulator gaboxadol). Our data suggest that both pre- and post-synaptic, but not extra-synaptic, inhibitory transmission is impaired in the offspring of VPA-injected mothers. We speculate that impairment in the GABAergic system critically contributes to an increase in the ratio between synaptic excitation and inhibition, which in genetically predisposed individuals may alter cortical circuits responsible for emotional, communication and social impairments at the core of ASD.
Bioleaching of ilmenite and basalt in the presence of iron-oxidizing and iron-scavenging bacteria
Authors: Navarrete Jesica U. , Cappelle Ian J. , Schnittker Kimberlin , Borrok David M. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBioleaching has been suggested as an alternative to traditional mining techniques in extraterrestrial environments because it does not require extensive infrastructure and bulky hardware. In situ bioleaching of silicate minerals, such as those found on the moon or Mars, has been proposed as a feasible alternative to traditional extraction techniques that require either extreme heat and/or substantial chemical treatment. In this study, we investigated the biotic and abiotic leaching of basaltic rocks (analogues to those found on the moon and Mars) and the mineral ilmenite (FeTiO3) in aqueous environments under acidic (pH ∼ 2.5) and circumneutral pH conditions. The biological leaching experiments were conducted using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, an iron (Fe)-oxidizing bacteria, and Pseudomonas mendocina, an Fe-scavenging bacteria. We found that both strains were able to grow using the Fe(II) derived from the tested basaltic rocks and ilmenite. Although silica leaching rates were the same or slightly less in the bacterial systems with A. ferrooxidans than in the abiotic control systems, the extent of Fe, Al and Ti released (and re-precipitated in new solid phases) was actually greater in the biotic systems. This is likely because the Fe(II) leached from the basalt was immediately oxidized by A. ferrooxidans, and precipitated into Fe(III) phases which causes a change in the equilibrium of the system, i.e. Le Chatelier's principle. Iron(II) in the abiotic experiment was allowed to build up in solution which led to a decrease in its overall release rate. For example, the percentage of Fe, Al and Ti leached (dissolved + reactive mineral precipitates) from the Mars simulant in the A. ferrooxidans experimental system was 34, 41 and 13% of the total Fe, Al and Ti in the basalt, respectively, while the abiotic experimental system released totals of only 11, 25 and 2%. There was, however, no measurable difference in the amounts of Fe and Ti released from ilmenite in the experiments with A. ferrooxidans versus the abiotic controls. P. mendocina scavenged some Fe from the rock/mineral substrates, but the overall amount of leaching was small (<2% of total Fe in rocks) when compared with the acidophilic systems. Although the mineralogy of the tested basaltic rocks was roughly similar, the surface areas of the lunar and Mars simulants varied greatly and thus were possible factors in the overall amount of metals released. Overall, our results indicate that the presence of bacteria does not increase the overall silica leaching rates of basaltic rocks; however, the presence of A. ferrooxidans does lead to enhanced release of Fe, Al and Ti and subsequent sequestration of Fe (and other metals) in Fe(III)-precipitates.
Early Carboniferous minor intrusions of the Clyde Plateau: new data from the Cumbrae islands
Authors: Caldwell W. G. E. , Young G. M. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT:The Cumbrae islands are unmatched for study of minor intrusions associated with the Early Carboniferous Clyde Lava Plateau. The transitional to subalkaline rock suite is present in a linear swarm of c. 250 ENE to NE dykes – 82 ‘basaltic’ (basalt to hawaiite) and 18 ‘trachytic’ (benmoreite to felsite), with a crustal dilation of 13·3. This swarm provides a unique window on the shallow crustal feeder system of the lava plateau. A ‘trachytic’ secondary swarm, focused on the plateau volcano of Misty Law in the Renfrewshire Hills, is analogous to a similar swarm in the Campsie Fells linked to the Meikle Bin volcano, and a ‘basaltic’ secondary swarm, unusually dense, with crustal dilation of 24·7, may record projection of the Dumbarton–Fintry Volcano–Tectonic lineament from the Campsie and Kilpatrick hills into the Firth of Clyde. Accompanied by bosses, plugs, vents and sheeted structures, the swarms are inferred to overlie fracture systems in the Caledonian basement of the Midland Valley. Internal relationships among extrusive and intrusive rocks of the Early Carboniferous suite and external relationships to dyke suites recording regional tectono-magmatic events of Late Carboniferous and Palaeogene age allow formulation of a new relative chronology for magmatic activity in the western off-shore Midland Valley.
Long range correlations in tree ring chronologies of the USA: Variation within and across species
Authors: Bowers M. C. , Gao J. B. , Tung W. W. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractTree ring width data are among the best proxies for reconstructing past temperature and precipitation records. The discovery of fractal scaling and long‐memory in meteorological and hydrological signals motivates us to investigate such properties in tree ring chronologies. Detrended fluctuation analysis and adaptive fractal analysis are utilized to estimate the Hurst parameter values of 697 tree ring chronologies from the continental United States. We find significant differences in the Hurst parameter values across the 10 species studied in the work. The long‐range scaling relations found here suggest that the behavior of tree ring growth observed in a short calibration period may be similar to the general behavior of tree ring growth in a much longer period, and therefore, the limited calibration period may be more useful than originally thought. The variations of the long‐range correlations within and across species may be further explored in future to better reconstruct paleoclimatic records.
Role of gravity waves in the forcing of quasi two‐day waves in the mesosphere: An observational study
Authors: Ern M. , Preusse P. , Kalisch S. , Kaufmann M. , Riese M. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractAmplitudes of quasi two‐day waves (QTDWs) are derived from temperature observations of the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder and Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) satellite instruments. In particular, a global climatology of QTDW amplitudes is derived from 10 years of SABER data, covering the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. This climatology is compared with geostrophic winds and climatologies of gravity wave (GW) momentum flux and GW drag absolute values derived from the same data set. We find that QTDWs are forced shortly after the maximum of the mesospheric summertime zonal wind jet in regions of jet instability where the meridional gradient of quasi‐geostrophic zonal mean potential vorticity is strongly negative. The jet instability regions are closely linked to enhanced GW drag that likely seeds those instabilities by decelerating the jet and causing the jet curvature responsible for the negative potential vorticity gradient. The vertical phase structure and the Eliassen‐Palm flux of the QTDWs are derived from SABER data and investigated. It is shown that QTDWs propagate upward starting from the jet instability regions. They exert eastward drag in the jet core, and strong westward drag at higher altitudes. Strikingly, the QTDWs are forced in regions where the global distribution of GWs exhibits a characteristic longitudinal structure caused by the GW source patterns in the summer hemisphere. This longitudinal structure might play an important role in the forcing of QTDWs; however, no clear link has been found to the observed QTDW zonal wavenumbers.