bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Debt Analysts' Views of Debt-Equity Conflicts of Interest
Authors: De Franco Gus , Vasvari Florin P. , Vyas Dushyantkumar , Wittenberg-Moerman Regina 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
We investigate how the tone of sell-side debt analysts' discussions about debt-equity conflict events affects the informativeness of debt analysts' reports in debt markets. Conflict events such as mergers and acquisitions, debt issuance, share repurchases, or dividend payments potentially generate asset substitution or wealth expropriation by equity holders. We document that debt analysts routinely discuss these conflict events in their reports. More importantly, discussions about conflict events that we code as negative are associated with increases in credit spreads and bond trading volume. Consistent with the informational value of debt analysts' discussions in secondary debt markets, we find that negatively coded conflict discussions predict higher bond offering yields in the primary bond market. In additional analyses, we measure the tone of debt analysts' discussions based on their disagreement with the tone of equity analysts' discussions and find that the informativeness of debt analysts' reports is higher when our coding indicates that conflict events are viewed negatively by debt analysts but positively by equity analysts.
JEL Classifications: G12, G14, G32, M49.
Pathways to optical STED microscopy
Authors: Clausen Mathias P. , Galiani Silvia , Serna Jorge Bernardino de la , Fritzsche Marco , Chojnacki Jakub , Gehmlich Katja , Lagerholm B. Christoffer , Eggeling Christian 
Published: October 2013

AbstractOptical far-field microscopy such as confocal fluorescence microscopy is a very popular technique for investigating the living cell. Unfortunately, its spatial resolution is limited to around 200 nm, impeding the imaging of small molecular assemblies. Recent decades have seen the development of optical nanoscopy, optical far-field microscopy with a spatial resolution down to molecular scales. STED microscopy was the first of such nanoscopy techniques. Despite the fact, that it in principle only requires the addition of a strong STED laser to a conventional microscope, STED nanoscopy was for a long time considered as a very complex technique, impossible to be applicable as a turn-key technique in everyday biological research. However, recent years has seen important improvements of the STED nanoscopy approach which have significantly simplified the setup. These developments mainly followed from optimization of fluorescent labels, laser technology and optical simplifications. As a result, STED microscopy setups have got more compact and have been realized on commercial instruments, allowing access to lessexperienced users in open imaging facilities. Here, we give a brief overview of the recent improvements in STED microscopy that made these important developments possible
Targeted reduction in neurosurgical laboratory utilization: resident-led effort at a single academic institution
Authors: Han Seunggu J. , Saigal Rajiv , Rolston John D. , Cheng Jason S. , Lau Catherine Y. , Mistry Rita I. , McDermott Michael W. , Berger Mitchel S. 
Published: October 2013

Object
Given economic limitations and burgeoning health care costs, there is a need to minimize unnecessary diagnostic laboratory tests.

Methods
The authors studied whether a financial incentive program for trainees could lead to fewer unnecessary laboratory tests in neurosurgical patients in a large, 600-bed academic hospital setting. The authors identified 5 laboratory tests that ranked in the top 13 of the most frequently ordered during the 2010–2011 fiscal year, yet were least likely to be abnormal or influence patient management.

Results
In a single year of study, there was a 47% reduction in testing of serum total calcium, ionized calcium, chloride, magnesium, and phosphorus. This reduction led to a savings of $1.7 million in billable charges to health care payers and $75,000 of direct costs to the medical center. In addition, there were no significant negative changes in the quality of care delivered, as recorded in a number of metrics, showing that this cost savings did not negatively impact patient care.

Conclusions
Engaging physician trainees in quality improvement can be successfully achieved by financial incentives. Through the resident-led quality improvement incentive program, neurosurgical trainees successfully reduced unnecessary laboratory tests, resulting in significant cost savings to both the medical center and the health care system. Similar programs that engage trainees could improve the value of care being provided at other academic medical centers.
Ugandan medical and health sciences interns’ infection control knowledge and practices
Authors: Kamulegeya Adriane , Kizito Alex Nninda , Balidawa Hannington 
Published: October 2013

Background: We assessed the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of recent graduates of clinical health sciences who started their one-year internship in Uganda. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional survey responded to by 209 (response rate of 70%) new interns who started their internships in August 2011 in different Ugandan hospitals. Validated self-administered questionnaires with knowledge, attitude, and practices questions were distributed to the participants during a two-day internship orientation organized by the national internship committee. Results: Out of 299 subjects approached, the survey was completed and returned by 209 (70%). More nurses (51.4%) failed the questions on odds of HIV transmission after a needle stick injury compared to 23.0% and 36.4% of medical and dental graduates, respectively(χ2 = 24.06 p = 0.001). There was no difference in proportions of those who re-sheath needles. Respondents who had an encounter with positive tuberculosis history when taking clinical notes while unprotected were not more motivated to use masks (χ2 = 7.06; p = 0.07). Nurses and dentists reported more regular hand washing before and after patient contact compared to medical doctors. Conclusion: Overall, the knowledge of infection control was not impressive and the attitudes and practices appeared to be heavily influenced by the lack of an enabling environment in training hospitals and internship hospitals. There is little likelihood of change due to internship experience except for those who go to missionary hospitals that have stricter infection control protocols. More effort must be made in teaching hospitals to encourage better infection control.
Feasibility and outcome of CT-guided lung biopsy in patients with hematological diseases and suspected fungal pneumonia
Authors: Sharma Sanjeev Kumar , Kumar Suman , Singh Avinash Kumar , Seth Tulika , Mishra Pravas , Mahapatra Manoranjan , Sharma Sanjay , Tyagi Seema , Xess Immaculata , Ray Ruma 
Published: October 2013

Introduction: Fungal pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients with hematological diseases. This study is aimed to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of computed tomography (CT) guided lung biopsy or fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of fungal pneumonia in patients with hematological diseases. Methodology: Seven hundred and seventy six consecutive patients with febrile neutropenia were evaluated prospectively over the period of three years. Patients with suspected fungal pneumonia, based on typical CT scan findings, were considered for lung biopsy. Results: Of the 776 patients evaluated for fever, 235 (30.3%) showed CT scan findings consistent with fungal pneumonia. Of the 235 patients, CT-guided lung biopsy/FNAC was recommended for 178 patients but could be performed in only 34 (19.1%) patients. Fungal pneumonia was proven in 15 (44%) out of 34 patients (aspergillus in 12; mucormycosis in 3 patients). Lung biopsies could not be performed for a number of reasons. These included thrombocytopenia, nodules being too small, infection improving with empiric treatment and patient recovering clinically, and the patient being too sick to undergo intervention. The median absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of patients at the time of lung biopsy was 0.41x109/l in patients whose lung biopsy/FNAC showed fungal pneumonia, compared to 2.10x109/l in patients whose biopsy/FNAC showed necrotizing pneumonitis. Conclusion: CT-guided lung biopsy/FNAC can allow the definitive diagnosis of fungal pneumonia in selected patients with various hematological diseases and should be attempted whenever clinically indicated and radiologically feasible.
Les conditions de possibilité de la mesure
Authors: Barberousse Anouk 
Published: October 2013

Dans quelles circonstances une action sur un système naturel ou artificiel peut-elle être appelée opération de mesure ? Si aujourd’hui certaines opérations de mesure sont perçues comme simples et élémentaires, l’acte de mesurer suppose pourtant une histoire à la fois matérielle et conceptuelle complexe, qu’il est utile de connaître pour comprendre la signification des actes de mesure. Cet article a pour but de présenter les conditions conceptuelles et historiques qui rendent possibles les opérations de mesure.
La réforme du secteur public – une solution aux problèmes ?
Authors: Grindle Merilee S. 
Published: October 2013

La Banque mondiale a publié il y a peu sa stratégie en matière de gestion du secteur public ( Public Sector Management (PSM) Approach ) pour 2011 à 2020. Dans le présent commentaire, nous commencerons par passer en revue les principaux messages de ce document et indiquerons ensuite en quoi il marque une convergence entre les recherches universitaires et la pratique dans son approche et son cadre analytique. Nous présenterons ensuite une « expérience de la pensée » à propos de la façon dont les praticiens peuvent réunir la théorie et la pratique, comme le propose la stratégie en matière de PSM. Reste que la bonne mise en œuvre de cette stratégie sera déterminée par la convergence entre la voie qu’elle dessine pour la pratique et les facteurs qui motivent les représentants de la Banque mondiale dans leurs initiatives visant à améliorer la gestion du secteur public dans les situations du monde réel.
La marchandisation des savoirs culturels – La science occidentale au service des grandes entreprises et les savoirs autochtones du Pacifique
Authors: Ratuva Steven 
Published: October 2013

L’auteur de cet article examine les relations d’exploitation qui existent entre la science utilisée par les grandes entreprises et la sagesse des communautés du Pacifique, et il essaie de déterminer dans quelle mesure ces deux types de savoir s’acceptent ou se nient réciproquement. Il porte une attention particulière à la marchandisation des savoirs traditionnels opérée par la biotechnologie et la bioprospection, ainsi qu’à ses effets sur les sentiments d’identité, de sécurité et de propriété des individus. Quelle influence les exigences mondiales en matière de mondialisation, de libre échange et de marchandisation ont-elles sur les communautés locales du Pacifique confrontées au dilemme consistant à s’adapter à la mondialisation tout en conservant les savoirs et les aspirations traditionnels ? L’auteur se réfère à l’expérience de quelques communautés du Pacifique et à la façon dont elles ont résolu ce dilemme. Il montre comment de grandes entreprises se sont servies de la science occidentale pour extraire et marchandiser certaines connaissances des populations du Pacifique à l’aide d’instruments juridiques comme les brevets.
La politie européenne – Strates de légitimité
Authors: Tamvaki Dionysia 
Published: October 2013

Pour transposer le débat sur la légitimité et l’illégitimité du discours national à l’ordre du jour supranational de l’Union européenne, nous devons réinventer le concept de légitimité en fonction des normes de la politie européenne en expansion continue. Après avoir proposé une typologie de la légitimité, Dionysia Tamvaki analyse les tentatives des chercheurs pour élaborer des outils conceptuels qui facilitent le passage du niveau bien connu des États au niveau mal connu des entités supranationales ; elle examine ainsi les postulats théoriques de l’intergouvernementalisme, du fédéralisme et de la gouvernance à plusieurs niveaux. Évitant la tentation d’appliquer des critères de légitimité d’inspiration étatique à une « politie en formation », elle opte pour un modèle à plusieurs niveaux, utile pour cerner les dilemmes de la légitimité stratifiée posés par l’expansion de l’Union, qui s’étend à de nouveaux territoires, acquiert de nouvelles fonctions et se dote de nouveaux lieux de pouvoir.
Targeting Uptake Receptors on Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Triggers Antigen Cross-Presentation and Robust Type I IFN Secretion
Authors: Tel Jurjen , Sittig Simone P. , Blom Rebecca A. M. , Cruz Luis J. , Schreibelt Gerty , Figdor Carl G. , de Vries I. Jolanda M. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play a crucial role in initiating immune responses by secreting large amounts of type I IFNs. Currently, the role for human pDCs as professional APCs in the cross-presentation of exogenous Ags is being re-evaluated. Human pDCs are equipped with a broad repertoire of Ag uptake receptors and an efficient Ag-processing machinery. In this study, we set out to investigate which receptor can best be deployed to deliver Ag to pDCs for Ag (cross-)presentation. We show that targeting nanoparticles to pDCs via the C-type lectins DEC-205, DC immunoreceptor, blood DC Ag-2, or the FcR CD32 led to uptake, processing, and (cross-) presentation of encapsulated Ag to both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. This makes these receptors good candidates for potential in vivo targeting of pDCs by nanocarriers. Notably, the coencapsulated TLR7 agonist R848 efficiently activated pDCs, resulting in phenotypical maturation as well as robust IFN-α and TNF-α production. Taken together, their cross-presentation capacity and type I IFN production to further activate components of both the innate and adaptive immune system mark pDCs as inducers of potent antitumor responses. These findings pave the way to actively recruit human pDCs for cellular cancer immunotherapy.
Reduced T Cell–Dependent Humoral Immune Response in Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase-1 Null Mice Is Mediated by Nonhematopoietic Cells
Authors: Kojima Fumiaki , Frolov Andrey , Matnani Rahul , Woodward Jerold G. , Crofford Leslie J. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Microsomal PGE synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is an inducible enzyme that specifically catalyzes the conversion of PGH2 to PGE2. We showed that mPGES-1 null mice had a significantly reduced incidence and severity of collagen-induced arthritis compared with wild-type (WT) mice associated with a marked reduction in Abs to type II collagen. In this study, we further elucidated the role of mPGES-1 in the humoral immune response. Basal levels of serum IgM and IgG were significantly reduced in mPGES-1 null mice. Compared with WT mice, mPGES-1 null mice exhibited a significant reduction of hapten-specific serum Abs in response to immunization with the T cell–dependent (TD) Ag DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Immunization with the T cell–independent type 1 Ag trinitrophenyl-LPS or the T cell–independent type 2 Ag DNP-Ficoll revealed minimal differences between strains. Germinal center formation in the spleen of mPGES-1 null and WT mice were similar after immunization with DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin. To determine whether the effect of mPGES-1 and PGE2 was localized to hematopoietic or nonhematopoietic cells, we generated bone marrow chimeras. We demonstrated that mPGES-1 deficiency in nonhematopoietic cells was the critical factor for reduced TD Ab production. We conclude that mPGES-1 and PGE2-dependent phenotypic changes of nonhematopoietic/mesenchymal stromal cells play a key role in TD humoral immune responses in vivo. These findings may have relevance to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune inflammatory diseases associated with autoantibody formation.
Recurrent Challenges for Clinicians: Emergence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin Resistance, and Current Treatment Options
Authors: Tarai Bansidhar , Das Poonam , Kumar Dilip 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTGram-positive pathogens mainly, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, are developing increasing resistance to glycopeptides that pose a problem in treating infections caused by these pathogens. Vancomycin is the treatment of choice in treating methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Community-acquired MRSA is associated with infections in patients without recent history of hospital admission and without the classical risk factors for MRSA carriage (including healthcare personnel). MRSA poses new threats and challenges beyond the hospital with the emergence of community-acquired MRSA. Indiscriminate use of vancomycin leads to the emergence and spread of vancomycin resistance in multidrug resistant strains is of growing concern in the recent years. Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) remains an important determinant in choosing the right antibiotics. Infections caused by MRSA strains with vancomycin MIC > 4 μg/mL leads to the vancomycin treatment failure. The Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute had also lowered the cut-off susceptibility and resistance breakpoints for vancomycin. Despite the availability of newer antimicrobial agents (Linezolid, Daptomycin, Tigecycline) for drug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, clinicians and patients still need options for treatment of MRSA infection. There is a need to reduce the global burden of infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens and its resistant strains (mainly MRSA). Continuous efforts should be made to prevent the spread and the emergence of glycopeptide resistance by early detection of the resistant strains and using the proper infection control measures in the hospital setting.
Role of GenoType® Mycobacterium Common Mycobacteria/Additional Species Assay for Rapid Differentiation between Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex and Different Species of Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria
Authors: Singh Amresh Kumar , Maurya Anand Kumar , Umrao Jyoti , Kant Surya , Kushwaha Ram Awadh Singh , Nag Vijaya Laskshmi , Dhole Tapan N 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) may or may not have same clinical presentations, but the treatment regimens are always different. Laboratory differentiation between MTBC and NTM by routine methods are time consuming and cumbersome to perform. We have evaluated the role of GenoType® Mycobacterium common mycobacteria/additional species (CM/AS) assay for differentiation between MTBC and different species of NTM in clinical isolates from tuberculosis (TB) cases.
Materials and Methods: A total of 1080 clinical specimens were collected from January 2010 to June 2012. Diagnosis was performed by Ziehl-Neelsen staining followed by culture in BacT/ALERT 3D system (bioMerieux, France). A total of 219 culture positive clinical isolates (BacT/ALERT® MP cultures) were selected for differentiation by p-nitrobenzoic acid (PNB) sensitivity test as and BIO-LINE SD Ag MPT64 TB test considering as the gold standard test. Final identification and differentiation between MTBC and different species of NTM were further confirmed by GenoType® Mycobacterium CM/AS assay (Hain Lifescience, Nehren, Germany).
Results: Out of 219 BacT/ALERT® MP culture positive isolates tested by PNB as 153 MTBC (69.9%) and by GenoType® Mycobacterium CM/AS assay as 159 (72.6%) MTBC and remaining 60 (27.4%) were considered as NTM species. The GenoType® Mycobacterium CM/AS assay was proved 99.3% sensitive and 98.3% specific for rapid differentiation of MTBC and NTM. The most common NTM species were; Mycobacterium fortuitum 20 (33.3%) among rapid growing mycobacteria and Mycobacterium intracellulare 11 (18.3%) among slow growing mycobacteria.
Conclusion: The GenoType® Mycobacterium assay makes rapid and accurate identification of NTM species as compared with different phenotypic and molecular diagnostic tool and helps in management of infections caused by different mycobacteria.
Procalcitonin as a Predictor of Sepsis and Outcome in Severe Trauma Patients: A Prospective Study
Authors: Rajkumari Nonika , Mathur Purva , Sharma Satyapriya , Gupta Babita , Bhoi Sanjeev , Misra Mahesh C 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Despite the advances in medical sciences, the morbidity and mortality due to sepsis in severe trauma patients remains high; hence the need for early and accurate diagnosis. Very few prospective studies are available in a country like India, which tried to analyze the prediction of sepsis using serum procalcitonin (PCT) in such a large scale among trauma patients. This study explores the role of the biomarker PCT in early diagnosis of sepsis and prediction of outcomes in severe trauma cases.
Materials and Methods: We studied the patient population prospectively in two different groups. One with acute trauma but no clinical evidence of sepsis and the second group with clinical evidence of sepsis and are followed. Bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal aspirates, pus, urine, body fluids from sterile body sites, etc., were collected including blood for culture and serum for PCT assays. Such assays were done on samples collected on days 1 and 4 and then compared. Additionally, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels were also tested. Antimicrobial sensitivity tests were carried out for all the isolates from the clinical samples and correlated with the clinically suspected cases of sepsis. Outcomes of the patients were noted.
Results: Patients with high initial PCT levels (>2 ng/ml) in severe trauma cases had poor outcomes and risk of developing complications. Its correlation with severe outcomes was better marked as compared with CRP and ESR levels. The difference in PCT levels between days 1 and 4 in group two patients was statistically significant (P = 0.006) but were not statistically significant for CRP (P = 0.646) and ESR (P = 0.935). The study also shows that PCT levels fall in response to appropriate antimicrobial treatment.
Conclusion: PCT is a useful biomarker for early and accurate prediction of sepsis in severe trauma patients. If used in adjunct to clinical findings, it proves to be a good biomarker for early diagnosis, treatment and for monitoring response to therapy in confirmed cases of sepsis. It will prove to be a good supportive indicator of sepsis in early stages for the trauma patients in a low resource country like India.