bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Appropriateness of Patient Transfers for Hand and Microsurgery to a Level I Trauma Center
Authors: Friebe Ilvy , Isaacs Jonathan , Mallu Satya , Kurdin Anton , Mounasamy Varatharaj , Dhindsa Harinder 
Published: June 2013

Background The transfer of patients for hand and microsurgical emergencies to level I trauma centers is a common practice. Many of these transfers do not actually require a hand specialist and could be taken care of at most regional hospitals. In this study, we will evaluate the appropriateness of patient transfers for hand trauma and determine if there is a correlation between inappropriate transfers and undesirable factors, such as insurance status and off-hour's presentation. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed in all patients transferred to a level I trauma center for hand and microsurgical trauma over a 22-month period. Collected data included indication for transfer, mode of transfer, time and day of the week, patient demographics, insurance status, and whether the transferring facilities had surgical coverage available. A synopsis, including treatment details, of each transfer was created, and a survey was sent to a review committee who rated the appropriateness of the transfers. Statistical analysis was performed to determine whether appropriateness of transfers was influenced by nonmedical variables. Results Over a 22-month period, a total of 95 hand or microsurgical patients were transferred to a single tertiary referral center. Of these, 66 % of the transfers were considered inappropriate by the surveyed physicians. Inappropriate transfers were statistically more likely to be under insured or transferred during nonbusiness hours. Conclusion A large percentage of patients are being transferred to tertiary care centers for reasons other than medical necessity, generating a large burden on already strained medical resources.
What are the risks of the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and how can they be minimized?
Authors: Rebar Robert W. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAlthough assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have become established procedures performed around the world, there are still many unanswered questions regarding safety. Possible risks associated with infertility and ART include (1) those inherent to pregnancy, delivery, and childhood; (2) those associated with the infertility itself and its causes; and (3) risks iatrogenic to ART. Although there are many potential risks associated with ART, it has become clear that the major risk is multiple pregnancy and its consequences. Major efforts are warranted to reduce the risk of multiple gestations with IVF, but it is also clear that single‐embryo transfer is not the solution in all cases. Moreover, several studies have now documented that perinatal outcomes are somewhat poorer in IVF singleton infants than in spontaneously conceived singletons, but it is not clear if this increased risk is due to the ART or the infertility. Concerns about the impact of abnormalities in genomic imprinting persist at this time, as do risks associated with the culture conditions and even our environment. Only time will tell if children born following ART are at any increased risk of developing certain chronic diseases as they age. In any case, the risks to IVF children and mothers are likely to remain higher than those for children and mothers conceived spontaneously without medical assistance. However, since there have been over 5 million births after ART worldwide, and the vast majority of pregnancies and children have been essentially “normal”, it is obvious that any excess risk must be relatively small. The normality of most pregnancies mandates that extreme care be exercised in making any changes to current practice.
Mental health literacy about depression and schizophrenia among adolescents in Sweden
Authors: Melas P.A. , Tartani E. , Forsner T. , Edhborg M. , Forsell Y. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundMental health literacy (MHL) refers to an individual's knowledge of mental disorders, including the ability to recognize psychopathology and being aware of help options. Most studies of MHL have focused on adults.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine levels of MHL among adolescents.MethodsMHL was examined using two pre-established vignettes that presented an adolescent with symptoms of either depression or schizophrenia. The respondents were 426 adolescents (age mean = 16). Vignette data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively.ResultsThe data showed that 42.7% and 34.7% of the respondents identified depression and schizophrenia, respectively. Depression was recognized more often by females than males. Professional help was suggested by a minority of the respondents for managing symptoms of depression (22.5%) or schizophrenia (32.6%). Altruistic behaviors, examined through the willingness to help an acquaintance with mental illness symptoms, were apparent among 58.2% of the respondents and to a greater extent in females than males. Answers following the schizophrenia vignette also revealed stigmatizing attitudes in 11.5% of the participants.ConclusionsThere are relatively low levels of MHL among teenagers in Sweden. Awareness campaigns and the implementation of psychoeducation in the school curriculum could increase MHL in this group.
Working memory dysfunction in schizophrenia patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms: An fMRI study
Authors: Bleich-Cohen M. , Hendler T. , Weizman R. , Faragian S. , Weizman A. , Poyurovsky M. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackground:A substantial proportion of schizophrenia patients also meets DSM-IV criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Schizophrenia with OCD (“schizo-obsessive”) patients are characterized by distinct clinical characteristics, treatment response and prognosis. Whether schizo-obsessive patients exhibit a distinct pattern of brain activation is yet unknown. To address this question, the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study explicitly compared alterations in brain activation and functional connectivity (FC) underlying a working memory deficit in schizophrenia patients with and without OCD.Methods:fMRI was applied during the N-back working memory (WM) task in three groups: schizo-obsessive (n = 16), schizophrenia (n = 17) and matched healthy volunteers (n = 20). WM-related activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the right caudate nucleus, brain areas relevant to schizophrenia and OCD, and FC analysis were used for the evaluation.Results:The two schizophrenia groups with and without OCD exhibited a similar reduction in activation in the right DLPFC and right caudate, as well as decreased FC compared to the healthy controls. Notably, reduced regional brain activation was not related to severity of schizophrenic or OCD symptoms.Conclusions:Schizo-obsessive patients do not differ from their non-OCD schizophrenia counterparts in brain activation patterns during the N-back WM task. Cognitive paradigms taping alternative neural networks (e.g., orbitofrontal cortex) particularly relevant to OCD, are warranted in the search for potential distinctive brain activation patterns of the schizo-obsessive subgroup.
Failure to find association between childhood abuse and cognition in first-episode psychosis patients
Authors: Sideli L. , Fisher H.L. , Russo M. , Murray R.M. , Stilo S.A. , Wiffen B.D.R. , O’Connor J.A. , Aurora Falcone M. , Pintore S.M. , Ferraro L. , Mule’ A. , La Barbera D. , Morgan C. , Di Forti M. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis study investigated the relationship between severe childhood abuse and cognitive functions in first-episode psychosis patients and geographically-matched controls. Reports of any abuse were associated with lower scores in the executive function domain in the control group. However, in contrast with our hypothesis, no relationships were found amongst cases.
Social impact and healthcare‐seeking behavior among women with urinary incontinence in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Elbiss Hassan M. , Osman Nawal , Hammad Fayez T. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence and social impact of urinary incontinence (UI) and healthcare‐seeking behaviors among women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).MethodsA study was conducted of 429 women who attended family development foundation centers in Al Ain, UAE, between January 1, 2010, and January 31, 2011. Data on sociodemographics, obstetric and medical history, and factors related to UI were obtained using a questionnaire.ResultsThe prevalence of UI was 42.2% (mean age, 37.8 years). Aspects of daily life (praying, social activities, physical activities, or sexual relationship) were disrupted by UI among 78.0% of the women, with severe effects reported by 8.8%. Independent risk factors for UI were education level, history of “dragging” genital lump, and constipation. In all, 50.5% of the affected women did not seek medical advice, stating the following reasons: hoped for spontaneous resolution of UI (61.9%); embarrassed to visit a male or female clinician (35.9%); believed that UI was a normal occurrence among women (31.5%); embarrassed to visit a male clinician (29.3%); and unaware that treatment was available (23.9%).ConclusionAlthough UI was prevalent in the UAE and affected quality of life, less than half of all women with this condition sought medical advice.
Entrepreneurial risk aversion, net worth effects and real fluctuations
Authors: Pardo Cristian 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis paper examines the combined effect of asymmetric information and private entrepreneurial risk aversion on investment decisions. The standard optimal debt contract becomes modified by the introduction of insurance and a risk premium that entrepreneurs demand due to the uncertainty of their investment returns: the private equity premium. In general equilibrium, the private equity premium may become a mechanism that magnifies the effects of shocks. A structural estimation of the model's parameters using Chilean and U.S. data shows that the entrepreneurial risk aversion assumption has more empirical relevance in an economy where smaller privately‐held businesses are relatively more prevalent than where the corporate sector predominates, like the U.S.
Does smoking reduction make smokers happier? Evidence from a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Beard Emma , Brown Jamie , West Robert 
Published: June 2013

Objectives: Stopping smoking leads to greater happiness and life satisfaction. This raises the question as to whether harm reduction, i.e. smoking reduction (SR) and the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for SR, might lead to a similar benefit. This is of importance, given that the National Institute of Clinical Excellence in the UK is due to release guidance on harm reduction in 2013.Design: Data were collected from 1,532 smokers involved in the Smoking Toolkit Study.Method: Participants were asked if they were cutting down and if they were using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Smokers also rated happiness and life satisfaction.Results: There was no evidence of an association between SR or use of NRT for SR and either reported ‘happiness’ or ‘life satisfaction’. Nor was there an association between measures of ‘happiness’ or ‘life satisfaction’ and cigarette consumption.Conclusion: It appears that SR is not associated with mental health benefits. This suggests that complete cessation may be necessary for benefits to be incurred. Prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Sources of variation in nutrient intake and the number of days to assess usual intake among men and women in the Seoul metropolitan area, Korea
Authors: Kim Dong Woo , Kyung Park Min , Kim Jeongseon , Oh Kyungwon , Joung Hyojee , Lee Jung Eun , Paik Hee Young 
Published: June 2013

Sources of variation in nutrient intake have been examined for Western diets, but little is known about the sources of variation and their differences by age and sex among Koreans. We examined sources of variation in nutrient intake and calculated the number of days needed to estimate usual intake using 12 d of dietary records (DR). To this end, four 3 d DR including two weekdays and one weekend day were collected throughout four seasons of 1 year from 178 male and 236 female adults aged 20–65 years residing in Seoul, Korea. The sources of variation were estimated using the random-effects model, and the variation ratio (within-individual:between-individual) was calculated to determine a desirable number of days. Variations attributable to the day of the week, recording sequence and seasonality were generally small, although the degree of variation differed by sex and age (20–45 years and 46–65 years). The correlation coefficient between the true intake and the observed intake (r) increased with additional DR days, reaching 0·7 at 3–4 d and 0·8 at 6–7 d. However, the degree of increase became attenuated with additional days: r increased by 13·0–26·9 % from 2 to 4 d, by 6·5–16·4 % from 4 to 7 d and by 4·0–11·6 % from 7 to 12 d for energy and fifteen nutrients. In conclusion, the present study suggests that the day of the week, recording sequence and seasonality minimally contribute to the variation in nutrient intake. To measure Korean usual dietary intake using open-ended dietary instruments, 3–4 d may be needed to achieve modest precision (r>0·7) and 6–7 d for high precision (r>0·8).
Material Adverse Change Clauses and Acquisition Dynamics
Authors: Denis David J. , Macias Antonio J. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractMaterial adverse change (MAC) clauses are a ubiquitous feature of acquisitions and exhibit substantial cross-sectional variation in the number and types of events that are excluded from being material adverse events (MAEs). MAEs are the underlying cause of 69% ofacquisition terminations and 80% of renegotiations. These renegotiations lead to substantial changes in the price offered to target shareholders. Acquisitions with fewer MAE exclusions are characterized by wider arbitrage spreads during the acquisition period and are associated with higher offer premiums. We conclude that MAC clauses have an economically important impact on the dynamics of corporate acquisitions.
Progressing the global antimalarial portfolio: finding drugs which target multiple Plasmodium life stages
Authors: SMITH PAUL W. , DIAGANA THIERRY T. , YEUNG BRYAN K. S. 
Published: June 2013

SUMMARYThe number of novel antimalarial candidates entering preclinical development has seen an increase over the last several years. Most of these drug candidates were originally identified as hits coming from screening large chemical libraries specifically targeting the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Indeed, a large proportion of the current antimalarial arsenal has mainly targeted the asexual blood stage which is responsible for clinical symptoms of the disease. However, as part of the eradication agenda and to address resistance, any next-generation antimalarial should have additional activity on at least one other parasite life stage, i.e. gametocytocidal and/or tissue schizonticidal activity. We have applied this approach by screening compounds with intrinsic activity on asexual blood stages in assays against sexual and liver stages and identified two new antimalarial chemotypes with activity on multiple parasite life stages. This strategy can be expanded to identify other chemical classes of molecules with similar activity profiles for the next generation antimalarials. The following review summarizes the discovery of the spiroindolones and imidazolopiperazine classes of antimalarials developed by the NGBS consortium (Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Genomic Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, Biomedical Primate Research Center, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute) currently in clinical trials.
XXI.—The Statistical Theory of Stiff Chains
Authors: Daniels H. E. 
Published: June 2013

SynopsisThe paper is concerned with the distributional properties of Markoff chains in two and three dimensions where the transition probability for the length of a step and its orientation relative to that of the previous step is specified.The discrete two-dimensional chain ofnsteps is first discussed, and by the use of moving axes an equation relating characteristic functions of the end-point distribution for successive values ofnis obtained. The corresponding differential equation for the limiting chain with continuous first derivatives is given and asymptotic solutions for long chains are found.The three-dimensional chain is similarly treated in terms of moving axes, and the limiting continuous chain is again discussed. Finally the same methods are applied to the discrete chain of equal steps to obtain the asymptotic form of the end-point distribution for long chains.
Stimulated Raman backscattering of filamented hollow Gaussian beams
Authors: Singh Ram Kishor , Sharma R.P. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis paper presents a model for excitation of electron plasma wave and resulting stimulated Raman scattering due to presence of a laser beam carrying null intensity in center (hollow Gaussian beam) in a collisionless plasma. We have studied the self-focusing of the hollow Gaussian beam and its effect on back stimulated Raman scattering process in the presence of ponderomotive nonlinearity. To understand the nature of propagation of the hollow Gaussian beam, electron plasma wave and back reflectivity, a paraxial-ray approximation has been invoked. It is predicted that self-focusing and back reflectivity reduces for higher order of hollow Gaussian beam.
Spectral analysis based on fast Fourier transformation (FFT) of surveillance data: the case of scarlet fever in China
Authors: ZHANG T. , YANG M. , XIAO X. , FENG Z. , LI C. , ZHOU Z. , REN Q. , LI X. 
Published: June 2013

SUMMARYMany infectious diseases exhibit repetitive or regular behaviour over time. Time-domain approaches, such as the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model, are often utilized to examine the cyclical behaviour of such diseases. The limitations for time-domain approaches include over-differencing and over-fitting; furthermore, the use of these approaches is inappropriate when the assumption of linearity may not hold. In this study, we implemented a simple and efficient procedure based on the fast Fourier transformation (FFT) approach to evaluate the epidemic dynamic of scarlet fever incidence (2004–2010) in China. This method demonstrated good internal and external validities and overcame some shortcomings of time-domain approaches. The procedure also elucidated the cycling behaviour in terms of environmental factors. We concluded that, under appropriate circumstances of data structure, spectral analysis based on the FFT approach may be applicable for the study of oscillating diseases.
Long Backboard versus Vacuum Mattress Splint to Immobilize Whole Spine in Trauma Victims in the Field: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Mahshidfar Babak , Mofidi Mani , Yari Ali-Reza , Mehrsorosh Saied 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIntroductionPatients with possible spinal injury must be immobilized properly during transport to medical facilities. The aim of this research was comparing spinal immobilization using a long backboard (LBB) with using a vacuum mattress splint (VMS) in trauma victims transported by an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.MethodsIn this randomized clinical trial, 60 trauma victims with possible spinal trauma were divided to two groups, each group immobilized with one of the two instruments. Speed and ease of application, immobilization rate, and the patients’ comfort were recorded.ResultsIn this survey, LBB was faster to apply: 211.66 (SD = 28.53) seconds vs 654.00 (SD = 16.61) seconds. Various measures of immobilization were better by LBB. Also, LBB offered a significant improvement in comfort over a VMS for the patient with possible spinal injury. All of the results were statistically significant.ConclusionThe results of this study showed that immobilization using LBB was easier, faster, and more comfortable for the patient, and provided additional decrease in spinal movement when compared with a VMS.MahshidfarB, MofidiM, YariA, MehrsoroshS. Long backboard versus vacuum mattress splint to immobilize whole spine in trauma victims in the field: a randomized clinical trial. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(5):1-4.
Imaging ofXenopus laevisOocyte Plasma Membrane in Physiological-Like Conditions by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Santacroce Massimo , Daniele Federica , Cremona Andrea , Scaccabarozzi Diletta , Castagna Michela , Orsini Francesco 
Published: June 2013

AbstractXenopus laevisoocytes are an interesting model for the study of many developmental mechanisms because of their dimensions and the ease with which they can be manipulated. In addition, they are widely employed systems for the expression and functional study of heterologous proteins, which can be expressed with high efficiency on their plasma membrane. Here we applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to the study of the plasma membrane ofX. laevisoocytes. In particular, we developed and optimized a new sample preparation protocol, based on the purification of plasma membranes by ultracentrifugation on a sucrose gradient, to perform a high-resolution AFM imaging ofX. laevisoocyte plasma membrane in physiological-like conditions. Reproducible AFM topographs allowed visualization and dimensional characterization of membrane patches, whose height corresponds to a single lipid bilayer, as well as the presence of nanometer structures embedded in the plasma membrane and identified as native membrane proteins. The described method appears to be an applicable tool for performing high-resolution AFM imaging ofX. laevisoocyte plasma membrane in a physiological-like environment, thus opening promising perspectives for studyingin situcloned membrane proteins of relevant biomedical/pharmacological interest expressed in this biological system.
Structural Diversity of Aspergillus (Section Nigri) Spores
Authors: Simões Marta Filipa , Santos Cledir , Lima Nelson 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe taxonomy of fungal species, similar to that of many other microorganisms, suffers frequent revisions due to the discovery of new species and to the development and gathering of characterization data and morphological information. Morpho-taxonomy helps in the identification of many species. This work presents the macro, micro-morphological, and spectral mass analyses for phenotypic characterization of 13 species of Aspergillus section Nigri, showing that the characterization of spores (conidia) by scanning electron microscopy can be used as a tool to discriminate key morphological characteristics and separate closely related fungi. These results were corroborated by colony plates, stereomicroscopy, light microscopy, and spectral mass data.