bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of resonance metallic stents for ureteral obstruction
Authors: Wang Hung‐Jen , Lee Tze Yu , Luo Hao Lun , Chen Chien‐Hsu , Shen Yuan‐Chi , Chuang Yao‐Chi , Chiang Po Hui 
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of the Resonance ureteral stent and clarify the risk factors that lead to stent failure. In the present study, we review our clinical experiences using Resonance stent in treating malignant and benign ureteral obstruction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Nineteen patients with extrinsic malignant ureteral obstruction (n= 15) and benign stricture (n= 4) were retrospectively evaluated.
All patients had received Resonance stent insertion through antegrade or cystoscopic retrograde approaches. The pre‐insertion and follow‐up interventions included image studies and biochemical tests. The insertion success rate, obstruction patency rate and complications were reviewed.
For categorical variables, the chi‐square test and Fisher’s exact test were carried out to determine associations between variables.

RESULTS

The technical success rate of stent insertion was 84.6%. The mean follow‐up was 5 months (range 1–10.5 months).
Five stents failed to alleviate the obstruction, and the patency rate was 77.3% (17/22).
Patients who had had previous radiation therapy had a lower ureter patency rate in comparison with non‐radiation patients (50% vs 92.3% respectively, P= 0.039).
The 6‐ and 9‐month patency rates were 81.0% with 11 stents and 27.0% with 3 stents, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study demonstrated that malignant or benign ureteral obstruction could be treated safely and sufficiently with the Resonance metallic stent.
Careful patient selection is critical to achieve successful results.
For malignant ureteral obstruction, previous radiation therapy is a risk factor for stent failure.
An empirical analysis of the operational losses of Australian banks
Authors: Moosa Imad , Silvapulle Param 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThis study provides an analysis of 54 operational loss events experienced by eight Australian banks during the period 1990–2007. The results of an event study show that the announcement of operational losses has an adverse effect on the stock price and market value of the announcing bank. Further empirical work reveals no systematic relation between losses and bank characteristics such as size and leverage. The results also show that while the frequency of an event of a certain type is independent from the underlying business line, there is an association between the loss amount and the business line. The decline in market value relative to the loss amount is found to be independent of the type of the underlying loss event.
The Cost of Debt
Authors: Van BINSBERGEN JULES H. , GRAHAM JOHN R. , YANG JIE 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACTWe use exogenous variation in tax benefit functions to estimate firm‐specific cost of debt functions that are conditional on company characteristics such as collateral, size, and book‐to‐market. By integrating the area between the benefit and cost functions, we estimate that the equilibrium net benefit of debt is 3.5% of asset value, resulting from an estimated gross benefit (cost) of debt equal to 10.4% (6.9%) of asset value. We find that the cost of being overlevered is asymmetrically higher than the cost of being underlevered and that expected default costs constitute only half of the total ex ante costs of debt.
Agriculture for development: new paradigm and options for success
Authors: De Janvry Alain 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe role of agriculture as an instrument for industrialization had been rigorously conceptualized in the 1960s and 1970s under the classical paradigm of development economics. After many implementation failures under import substitution industrialization policies and protracted neglect of agriculture under the policies of the Washington Consensus that followed the debt crisis, agriculture has gradually returned in the development agenda, especially with the food crisis. We argue in this article that a new paradigm has started to emerge as to how to use agriculture for development, pursuing a broadened development agenda. We explore the specifications of this paradigm and discuss conditions for successful implementation.
China's agriculture: drivers of change and implications for China and the rest of world
Authors: Huang Jikun , Yang Jun , Rozelle Scott 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe overall goal of this article is to identify major changes in China's agriculture/food economy and their implications for both China itself and, more importantly, to the rest of world. China has become one of the fastest‐growing economies in the world since late 1970s. GDP grew at about 10% annually in the past 30 years. China's experience shows the importance of both domestic and external policies in achieving sustainable growth. The results from this study provide significant policy implications to many countries that are currently China's major trade partners or those seeking greater economic and trade relations with China. The main conclusions on the implications of China's rapid economic growth are that China's growth will provide more opportunities than challenges to the rest of the world, on average. Overall, the rest of the world will gain from China's economic expansion though this general conclusion may not hold for some countries.
The growing importance of the former USSR countries in world agricultural markets
Authors: Liefert William M. , Serova Eugenia , Liefert Olga 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe major countries of the former Soviet Union—specifically Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan—are becoming increasingly important in world agricultural markets. The two main developments are that this region has become a large grain exporter, especially of wheat and barley, and Russia a big agricultural importer, especially of meat. These trends should continue for the next decade. However, policies to expand the livestock sector could mitigate these developments, as increased domestic meat production would reduce both meat imports and surplus feed grain for export. Also, further growth in the region's grain exports will require improvement in the infrastructure for storing and transporting grain.
Information, efficiency, and welfare in agricultural markets
Authors: Jensen Robert T. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractInformation and communications technologies (ICTs) have spread rapidly in the developing world. There has been considerable interest in the potential role ICTs, particularly mobile phones, have begun to play in the marketing of agricultural outputs in these countries. In this article, we discuss the potential impacts ICTs may have on welfare, both in terms of potential efficiency gains (via improved arbitrage), and welfare transfers among agents in the supply chain (via reduced informational asymmetries and market power). We also review the recent empirical evidence for such effects.
Navigating the perfect storm: reflections on the food, energy, and financial crises
Authors: Headey Derek , Malaiyandi Sangeetha , Fan Shenggen 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe closely interlinked food, energy, and financial crises pose a significant new challenge to the global effort to reduce poverty. In 2008, food prices rose sharply in many countries, and global poverty and hunger levels increased quite markedly. The good news is that the agricultural supply response in many countries was also strong. The impacts of the financial crisis on poor countries have yet to fully roll out, but it is clear that more people have fallen into poverty and more are suffering from hunger. Lastly, there are strong indications that the global food system is fundamentally changing in a number of dimensions. Biofuels are here to stay, and energy and food prices appear to have adjusted to a higher equilibrium and will in turn raise the prospects of renewed volatility in agricultural commodity markets. Trade protection has also resurfaced, but so have renewed investments in agriculture. These fundamental shifts bring with them opportunities and risks that require internationally coordinated responses with strong national buy‐in, as well as timely and relevant research.
Toddlers get slimmer while adolescents get fatter – BMI distribution in five birth cohorts from four decades in Finland
Authors: Vuorela Nina , Saha Marja‐Terttu , Salo Matti K 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:  To investigate the trends in the size of Finnish children in five birth cohorts from four decades.Methods:  This is a retrospective longitudinal growth pattern study on children representing five birth cohorts: 1974, 1981, 1991, 1995 and 2001 from the city of Tampere and three rural municipalities. Growth data were collected from birth to 15 years of age, except in birth cohorts 1995 and 2001 until 12 and 5 years. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was calculated. Pearson’s chi‐square test was used in analysis.Results:  The 50th percentile of BMI at birth varied between the 1970′s and 2000′s (boys: p < 0.001, girls: p = 0.02), with increase seen in girls. The 50th BMI percentile remained unchanged in 6‐month‐aged boys, whereas in girls, it varied inconsistent (p = 0.04). At 1 and 2 years of age, the 15th, 50th, 85th and 95th BMI percentiles decreased (p = 0.26 to <0.001). The 50th BMI percentile remained fairly constant at 5 and 7 years of age. In 12‐ and 15‐year‐old boys, the 50th, 85th and 95th percentiles of BMI showed a marked increase (p = 0.01 to <0.001). In 12‐year‐old girls, only the 85th BMI percentile increased (p = 0.03).Conclusions:  During the last three decades, Finnish toddlers have become markedly slimmer. Concurrently, an opposite change has taken place in adolescent boys.
Effect of different periods of preconditioning with saliva on Candida albicans adhesion to a denture base resin by crystal violet staining and XTT assay
Authors: Zamperini Camila Andrade , Schiavinato Patrícia Cristiane dos Santos , Machado Ana Lucia , Giampaolo Eunice Teresinha , Pavarina Ana Claudia , Vergani Carlos Eduardo 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:  The role of saliva on Candida adhesion to biomaterials has not been clearly defined. The present study investigates whether different periods of preconditioning with saliva would influence the adhesion of Candida albicans to a denture base resin.Methods:  Ninety samples of acrylic resin with smooth surfaces were made and then divided into five groups: one control without saliva, and four experimental groups conditioned in saliva for periods of 30 min, 1, 3, or 12 h. Candida adhesion was evaluated by crystal violet staining and 2,3‐bis(2‐methoxy‐4‐nitro‐5‐sulfophenyl)‐5‐([phenylamino] carbonyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium‐hydroxide assay.Results:  The one‐way analysis of variance revealed that there were no significant differences among the mean number of adherent cells or among the mean absorbance for all groups. No significant correlation was found between the two methods used for assessing Candida albicans adhesion.Conclusion:  The different periods of preconditioning with saliva had no significant influence on the adhesion of Candida albicans to the denture base acrylic resin.
Validity of the self‐reported number of natural teeth in Japanese adults
Authors: Ueno Masayuki , Zaitsu Takashi , Shinada Kayoko , Ohara Satoko , Kawaguchi Yoko 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:  The aims of this research were to assess the validity of self‐reporting of the number of teeth by comparing the number with that obtained through clinical dental examinations, and to investigate factors affecting the discordance between the two measures.Methods:  Self‐administered questionnaires and dental examinations were conducted among 1152 dentate community residents in Japan. The validity of the patients’ reports of the number of teeth was assessed by comparing the self‐reported number with that determined at the clinical examination. Factors affecting the absolute value of the difference between the self‐reported number of teeth and the number at clinical examination were investigated using a multivariate analysis.Results:  Overall, 47.5% of participants had perfect agreement in their self‐report with the clinical examination. There was a slight tendency toward underestimation of the number of natural teeth by self‐reporting. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.80, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.78 for all patients. Decayed, filled, sound teeth, and fixed prosthetic pontics were significantly associated with the absolute value of the difference between self‐reports and clinical examinations.Conclusions:  Patients’ reported number of remaining teeth, the data for which were collected via the questionnaire, provided reasonably valid data on the actual number of teeth within a population group.
Evaluation of occlusal splint therapy in temporomandibular joint disorder patients using real‐time ultrasonography
Authors: Telkar Swaroop , Khan Mubeen K. , Shukla Anil Kumar , Dodamani Arun , Yalsangi Shilpa , Telkar Deepti 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of occlusal splint therapy by determining the cross‐sectional dimension of masseter muscle using ultrasound in patients with temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction.Methods:  Twenty‐seven patients aged between 20 and 40 years were included in the study. A detailed history was obtained, and a comprehensive clinical examination was carried out. Subjective assessment with structured pro forma was performed pre‐occlusal and post‐occlusal splint therapy. The objective measurement of the bilateral masseter muscle thickness was recorded using real‐time ultrasonography before and after splint therapy.Results:  The mean ultrasound thickness of the masseter muscle in the pre‐clenching state before splint therapy was 9.45 mm (SD 1.39), and the post‐clenching state was 13.15 mm (SD 2.23). After splint therapy, the mean thickness in the pre‐clenching state was 9.14 mm (SD 1.31), and the post‐clenching state was 12.78 mm (SD 2.23; P < 0.001).Conclusion:  Ultrasonographic measurements of the masseter muscle in patients with temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction can be a useful tool to assess the effectiveness of occlusal splint therapy. Such conservative measures can significantly reduce masticatory muscle tenderness, especially of the temporalis and masseter.
Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption as risk factors for site‐specific intraoral epithelial dysplasia
Authors: Jaber Mohamed Abdullah 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of tobacco and alcohol as possible risk factors for oral epithelial dysplasia in the various oral subsites.Methods:  Data were gathered from 630 patients with oral epithelial dysplasia in the United Arab Emirates between 1997 and 2007. Odds ratios for oral epithelial dysplasia at various oral subsites were estimated using multiple logistic regression for each level of exposure of interest.Results:  The results showed that in males, oral epithelial dysplasia of the labial mucosa and floor of the mouth were strongly associated with tobacco smoking. In females, oral epithelial dysplasia of the floor of the mouth and tongue were the sites associated with tobacco smoking. Alcohol was not a significant determinant of the sites of oral epithelial dysplasia in either sex.Conclusion:  Tobacco smoking has a significant role in determining the oral epithelial dysplasia subsites, but alcohol consumption is not a risk factor for oral epithelial dysplasia sites.
Detection rates of presumptive periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque samples of untreated periodontitis using either four or six pooled samples
Authors: Wohlfeil Martin , Tabakci Orhan , Arndt Rita , Eickholz Peter , Nickles Katrin 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:  A comparison of the detection frequency and number of periodontal pathogens in patients with aggressive or generalized, severe chronic periodontitis using a gene‐probe analysis.Methods:  In 16 aggressive and 34 generalized, severe chronic periodontitis patients, plaque was sampled from the deepest pockets per quadrant (MT4) and per sextant (MT6). After sampling two paper points simultaneously, one paper point from each pocket was pooled with three paper points of the other pockets (MT4). The remaining four paper points were pooled with two paper points from the deepest pockets from the two remaining sextants (MT6). Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponema denticola were detected by 16S rRNA gene probes.Results:  Log‐transformed counts for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were statistically significantly higher with MT6 (aggressive: 3.21 ± 2.94; generalized, severe chronic: 2.22 ± 2.70) than MT4 (aggressive: 2.04 ± 2.74; generalized, severe chronic: 1.50 ± 2.37) (P < 0.05). The detection frequency and mean counts were high for Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponema denticola (>95%/>6.0).Conclusion:  Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was detected in higher numbers for MT6 than MT4. For both MT4 and MT6, Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponema denticola were detected in >95% of all patients and with mean log‐transformed numbers >6.0.
Free radical signalling underlies inhibition of CaV3.2 T‐type calcium channels by nitrous oxide in the pain pathway
Authors: Orestes Peihan , Bojadzic Damir , Lee JeongHan , Leach Emily , Salajegheh Reza , DiGruccio Michael R. , Nelson Michael T. , Todorovic Slobodan M. 
Published: November 2010

Non‐technical summaryNitrous oxide (N2O) has long been used as a pain reliever, but little is known of its targets in the body. We show that N2O indirectly inhibits T‐type calcium channels through free radical reactions. These reactions depend on a histidine residue on the channel that binds metal ions. If we prevent this histidine from binding metals, N2O cannot inhibit T‐currents. Mice that are treated with EUK‐134 to remove free radicals show little pain relief after N2O administration. This report provides new information on how N2O interacts with ion channels, helping our understanding of how this popular pain reliever works.
Temporally resolved cAMP monitoring in endothelial cells uncovers a thrombin‐induced [cAMP] elevation mediated via the Ca2+‐dependent production of prostacyclin
Authors: Werthmann R. C. , Lohse M. J. , Bünemann M. 
Published: November 2010

Non‐technical summaryEndothelial cells form the innermost layer of blood vessels and build a barrier between blood and tissue. The permeability of this barrier is antagonistically controlled by the intracellular signalling molecules Ca2+and cAMP. A rise in Ca2+concentration increases permeability, whereas increased cAMP levels strengthen the endothelial cell barrier. In this study we investigated the impact of the coagulation factor thrombin that is known to increase Ca2+concentrations and endothelial permeability, on cAMP levels. Surprisingly we detected that thrombin also led to a delayed and slow increase of cAMP concentrations. We discovered that this increase is due to the production of prostacyclin and a subsequent stimulation of endothelial prostacyclin receptors that finally induce cAMP production. This thrombin‐mediated increase of cAMP levels might constitute a negative feedback control to protect endothelial barrier function despite a rise of Ca2+concentrations.
Differential Regulation of Kidney and Spleen Cytokine Responses in Mice Challenged with Pathology-Standardized Doses of
Candida albicans
Mannosylation Mutants
Authors: Castillo Luis , MacCallum Donna M. , Brown Alistair J. P. , Gow Neil A. R. , Odds Frank C. 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACT

Cell surface polysaccharides are key determinants of host responses to fungal infection. We determined the effects of alterations in
Candida albicans
cell surface polysaccharide composition and gross changes in the host immune response in groups of mice challenged intravenously with five
C. albicans
strains at doses adjusted to give equal disease progression 3 days later. The five strains used were the parental strain NGY152, two mutants with defective cell wall mannosylation,
pmr1
Δ mutant and
mnt1/2
Δ mutant, and the same two strains with a copy of
PMR1
and
MNT1
reintegrated, respectively. Renal and spleen levels of chemokines and cytokines previously shown to be key components of early host response to
C. albicans
were determined at intervals up to 3 days after challenge. By 12 h after
C. albicans
challenge, the levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), interleukin 6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic peptide 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP-1α), MIP-1β, and MIP-2 were higher in the kidneys of mice challenged with the
pmr1
Δ mutant than in animals challenged with the other strains and were lower by day 3, suggesting an earlier host response to the
pmr1
Δ mutant. The production of these chemokines also diminished earlier than controls in mice infected with the
mnt1
/
2
Δ strain. Although these differences were statistically significant, their magnitude was seldom great, and no unambiguous evidence was obtained for individual responses specific to any cell surface glycosylation change. We conclude that complex, multifactorial local responses offset and obscure any differences resulting from differences in surface mannosylation of
C. albicans
strains when infection results from pathology-standardized challenges.
DATA MINING FOR OCCUPATIONAL INJURY RISK: A CASE STUDY
Authors: BEVILACQUA MAURIZIO , CIARAPICA FILIPPO EMANUELE , GIACCHETTA GIANCARLO 
Published: November 2010

The management of occupational injury is of strategic importance in a company from the organizational, engineering and economic point of view. This work is an attempt to apply data mining techniques to data regarding accidents in a medium-sized refinery. Several techniques were adopted in order to identify the important relationships between risk level and immediate/root causes and corrective actions. As a Data Mining technique were tested: Negative Binomial Regression (NBR), Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID); Exhaustive CHAID; Classification And Regression Trees (CART); Quick, Unbiased, Efficient Statistical Tree (QUEST), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Neuro-Fuzzy Systems (FIS). The comparison carried out in this study shows through a real application the flexibility and advantages of using the neuro-fuzzy network, a typical soft computing tool. Using these innovative techniques to analyse injury data this study aims to: • obtain a classification of input data according to their importance and/or influence on the risk level in injuries; • assess how a variation in one or more pieces of input data can effect occupational injury and subsequently carry out a sensitivity analysis concerning the probability, the consequences and risks of the injurie events; The analyses carried out indicated important relationships between the variables, providing useful decision-making rules which can be followed when adopting measures for improvement.