bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Nordic maintenance care program: what are the indications for maintenance care in patients with low back pain? A survey of the members of the Danish Chiropractors' Association
Authors: Hansen Signe F , S Laursen Anne L , Jensen Tue S , Leboeuf-Yde Charlotte , Hestbæk Lise 
Published: September 2010

Abstract

Background

Maintenance care (MC) is relatively commonly used among chiropractors. However, factual information is needed on its indications for use.

Objectives

This study had two objectives: 1) to describe which role patients' past history and treatment outcome play in chiropractors' decision to use MC in patients with low back pain, 2) to investigate if the chiropractors' clinical/educational background has an effect on the frequency of using MC and their indications for use of MC.

Method

An anonymous questionnaire was sent to all 413 chiropractors practising in Denmark. Its main part consisted of 3 sets of 4 questions relating to one basic case of low back pain. For each case, the chiropractors were asked if they would use MC as they self-defined the term (no/perhaps/yes). There were questions also on gender, age, educational and clinical background, and on the number of MC patients seen by these chiropractors. Their decision to recommend MC was reported. Associations between the demographic variables and 1) the frequency of MC-use and 2) their indications for use of MC were tested through multivariate analysis.

Results

The response rate was 72%. Non-indications for MC were: 1) a good outcome combined with no previous events, or 2) a past history of LBP and gradual worsening with treatment. Indications for MC were a good outcome combined with a previous history of low back pain between once a month and once a year. The mean proportion of MC patients per week were 22% (SD 19), ranging from 0% to 100%. The use of MC was highest among experienced chiropractors, those who were educated in North America, and clinic owners. However, in Denmark most chiropractors graduated before 1999, are educated abroad, whereas most chiropractors thereafter are educated in Denmark. Therefore, we cannot conclude whether this difference relates to education or years of experience. There were no associations detected between demographic variables and the indications for MC.

Conclusions

There is relatively high consensus on when MC should and should not be used. A history of prior low back pain combined with a positive response to treatment encourages the use of MC, whereas no previous history of back pain or a worsening of symptoms discourages the use of MC. There seems to be a difference in the proportional use of MC between chiropractors with more experience educated in North America and those with less experience educated in Denmark.
Identifying experimental surrogates for Bacillus anthracis spores: a review
Authors: Greenberg David L , Busch Joseph D , Keim Paul , Wagner David M 
Published: September 2010

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is a proven biological weapon. In order to study this threat, a number of experimental surrogates have been used over the past 70 years. However, not all surrogates are appropriate for B. anthracis, especially when investigating transport, fate and survival. Although B. atrophaeus has been widely used as a B. anthracis surrogate, the two species do not always behave identically in transport and survival models. Therefore, we devised a scheme to identify a more appropriate surrogate for B. anthracis. Our selection criteria included risk of use (pathogenicity), phylogenetic relationship, morphology and comparative survivability when challenged with biocides. Although our knowledge of certain parameters remains incomplete, especially with regards to comparisons of spore longevity under natural conditions, we found that B. thuringiensis provided the best overall fit as a non-pathogenic surrogate for B. anthracis. Thus, we suggest focusing on this surrogate in future experiments of spore fate and transport modelling.
E. Virginia Armbrust
Authors: Hoopes Laura L. Mays 
Published: September 2010

Note from the Editor Educator Highlights for CBE-LSE show how professors at different kinds of institutions educate students in life sciences with inspiration and panache. If you have a particularly creative teaching portfolio yourself, or if you want to suggest someone else to be profiled, please e-mail Laura Hoopes at Pomona College, lhoopes@pomona.edu .
Color-Coding Algorithms to the Balanced Path Problem: Computational Issues
Authors: Cappanera Paola , Scutellà Maria Grazia 
Published: September 2010

Given a weighted directed network G, we consider the problem of computing k balanced paths from given source nodes to given destination nodes of G, i.e., k paths such that the difference in cost between the longest path and the shortest path is minimized. Although not yet investigated by the OR scientific community, except for some preliminary theoretical results concerning the special case of acyclic networks, balanced path problems arise in several interesting applications, such as in transportation and in telecommunication settings. In this work, the focus is on the computation of node-disjoint balanced paths in the general case, where the input graph G could have any structure. Starting from some algorithmic ideas proposed for acyclic networks, a general framework based on the color-coding method for computing simple paths is first described. Then the general framework is specialized, and a pool of algorithms is designed that includes both an exact approach as well as alternative heuristics. The algorithms have been tested on a large suite of instances generated from some benchmark telecommunication instances. An additional set of instances, generated from some benchmark crew scheduling instances, has been used to get an idea of the behavior of the algorithms in the context of transportation applications. The obtained computational results are very interesting. For the telecommunication instances, in some cases the exact algorithm produced the optimal solution very rapidly; in the remaining cases, some of the proposed heuristics were able to generate high-quality solutions in a very quick time. As for the crew scheduling instances, which are larger and sometimes appear more difficult than the telecommunication ones, a suitable combination of the proposed color-coding issues allowed us to compute the optimal solutions in very short times.
Viscoelasticity of aspen wood strands during hot pressing: Experimentation and modeling
Authors: Zhou Cheng , Dai Chunping , Smith Gregory D. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract
To improve the fundamental understanding of wood composite consolidation, the viscoelastic behavior of aspen wood strands is experimentally investigated for a range of temperatures (20–200°C) and moisture contents (0–15%). The results show that the strand stress relaxation modulus and time follows a linear relationship in a log-log plot. The strand stress relaxation rate is highly dependent on the imposed strain levels and the environmental conditions. A model for predicting the stress relaxation of wood strands is developed and compared with the experimental results. It will be useful to further predict the stress relaxation response of strand-based wood composite mats during hot pressing.
Vitamin D Status and Periodontal Disease Among Pregnant Women
Authors: Boggess Kim A. , Espinola Janice A. , Moss Kevin , Beck Jim , Offenbacher Steven , Camargo Carlos A. 
Published: September 2010

Background:Maternal periodontal disease is found in ≤40% of pregnant women and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in periodontal disease and tooth loss, and insufficient vitamin D status is common among pregnant women. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between maternal vitamin D status and periodontal disease.Methods:A case‐control study was conducted. Cases were defined as pregnant women with clinical moderate to severe periodontal disease; controls were pregnant women who were periodontally healthy. Maternal data were chart abstracted and serum was collected between 14 and 26 weeks of gestation. Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Median serum 25(OH)D levels and prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (defined as <75 nmol/l) were compared between cases and controls. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for moderate to severe periodontal disease among women with vitamin D insufficiency was calculated using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for maternal race, season of blood draw, and other potential confounders.Results:A total of 117 cases were compared to 118 controls. Cases had lower median 25(OH)D levels than controls (59 versus 100 nmol/l;P<0.001) and were more likely to have vitamin D insufficiency (65% versus 29%;P<0.001). The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for moderate to severe periodontal disease among women with vitamin D insufficiency was 2.1 (0.99 to 4.5).Conclusions:Vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25[OH]D <75 nmol/l) is associated with maternal periodontal disease during pregnancy. Vitamin D supplementation represents a potential therapeutic strategy to improve maternal oral health.
Serum Lipoprotein‐Associated Phospholipase A2 and C‐Reactive Protein Levels in Association With Periodontal Disease and Hyperlipidemia
Authors: Fentoğlu Özlem , Köroğlu Banu Kale , Kara Yusuf , Doğan Burak , Yılmaz Gülin , Sütçü Recep , Ay Zuhal Yetkin , Tonguç Mine Öztürk , Orhan Hikmet , Tamer M. Numan , Kırzıoğlu F. Yeşim 
Published: September 2010

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the levels of serum lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp‐PLA2) and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) in association with periodontal disease and hyperlipidemia.Methods: A total of 123 subjects with hyperlipidemia and 68 systemically healthy controls were included in the study. Subjects with hyperlipidemia were divided into two groups: the suggested‐diet (HD) and prescribed‐statin (HS) groups and then into three subgroups: the healthy (HDh and HSh), gingivitis (HDg and HSg), and periodontitis (HDp and HSp) groups. Periodontal parameters were recorded and included the plaque index, gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP). Fasting venous blood samples were obtained, and serum lipid, Lp‐PLA2, and hsCRP levels were evaluated.Results: Median values for the GI, PD, BOP(%), and CAL in the HSg group were statistically significantly higher than those in the HDg and systemically healthy with gingivitis (Cg) groups. The HSp group had higher percentages of BOP compared to those of the chronic periodontitis and HDp groups. The HDg group had higher serum Lp‐PLA2 and hsCRP levels compared to those of the Cg and HSg groups. The ratio of total cholesterol to high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL) was significantly associated with the GI, PD, and BOP(%) in both groups with hyperlipidemia. Serum Lp‐PLA2 and hsCRP levels were significantly correlated with TC/HDL, the GI, PD, and BOP(%) in the HD group.Conclusions: Serum Lp‐PLA2 and hsCRP levels may play an important role in the association between periodontal disease and hyperlipidemia, and the control of these mediators may affect the inflammatory control of patients with hyperlipidemia and periodontal disease.
In vitro evaluation of a low-modulus mesh canine prosthetic hip stem
Authors: Marcellin-Little Denis J. , Cansizoglu Omer , Harrysson Ola L. A. , Roe Simon C. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract
Objective—To compare an electron beam melting-processed (EBMP) low-modulus titanium alloy mesh stem with a commercial cobalt-chromium (CC) stem in a canine cadaver model.
Sample Population—9 pairs of cadaver femora.
Procedures—EBMP stems of 3 sizes were placed in randomly chosen sides of femora (left or right) and CC stems in opposite sides. Stem impaction distances were recorded. Five strain gauges were attached to the femoral surface to record transverse tensile (hoop) strains in the femur during axial loading. Constructs were axially loaded 4 times to 800 N and 4 times to 1,600 N in a materials testing machine. Axial stiffness of constructs and bone surface strains were compared between EBMP and CC constructs.
Results—Stems were impacted without creating femoral fissures or fractures. Stem impaction distances were larger for EBMP stems than for CC stems. Mean axial stiffness of EBMP constructs was lower than mean axial stiffness of CC constructs. Subsidence did not differ between groups. Bone strains varied among strain gauge positions and were largest at the distal aspect of the stems. At a load of 1,600 N, bones strains were higher in CC constructs than in EBMP constructs for 2 of 4 medial strain gauges.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—EBMP stems were successfully impacted and stable and led to a focal decrease in bone strain; this may represent an acceptable option for conventional or custom joint replacement. (Am J Vet Res 2010;71:1089–1095)
Although cemented hip stems have been used successfully as part of total hip replacements in humans, their success rate has been reportedly lower in younger patients than in older patients.1 The longterm success of hip stems is affected by aseptic implant loosening, implant wear, and stress-mediated bone resorption (stress shielding).2 Cementless hip stems were originally developed in part because polymethylmethacrylate bone cement was considered to be a contributing factor to aseptic loosening of cemented hip stems.3 A portion of a cementless stem is textured or coated with porous surfaces for bone ongrowth and ingrowth.4,5 Stem stability relies on initial press fit and long-term bone ingrowth into the porous portions of the stems. Cementless stems are large and have a high
Evaluation of the relationship between Orthopedic Foundation for Animals' hip joint scores and PennHIP distraction index values in dogs
Authors: Powers Michelle Y. , Karbe Georga T. , Gregor Thomas P. , McKelvie Pamela , Culp William T. N. , Fordyce Hilary H. , Smith Gail K. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract
Objective—To compare 2 screening methods for detecting evidence of hip dysplasia (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals [OFA] and PennHIP) in dogs.
Design—Diagnostic test evaluation study.
Animals—439 dogs ≥ 24 months of age that received routine hip joint screening from June 1987 through July 2008.
Procedures—Dogs were sedated, and PennHIP radiography was performed (hip joint– extended [HE], compression, and distraction radiographic views). The HE radiographic view was submitted for OFA evaluation. A copy of the HE radiographic view plus the compression and distraction radiographic views were submitted for routine PennHIP evaluation, including quantification of hip joint laxity via the distraction index (DI).
Results—14% (60/439) of dogs had hip joints scored as excellent by OFA standards; however, 52% (31/60) of those had a DI ≥ 0.30 (range, 0.14 to 0.61). Eighty-two percent of (183/223) dogs with OFA-rated good hip joints had a DI ≥ 0.30 (range, 0.10 to 0.77), and 94% (79/84) of dogs with OFA-rated fair hip joints had a DI ≥ 0.30 (range, 0.14 to 0.77). Of all dogs with fair to excellent hip joints by OFA standards, 80% (293/367) had a DI ≥ 0.30. All dogs with OFA-rated borderline hip joints or mild, moderate, or severe hip dysplasia had a DI ≥ 0.30 (range, 0.30 to 0.83).
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance—Dogs judged as phenotypically normal by the OFA harbored clinically important passive hip joint laxity as determined via distraction radiography. Results suggested that OFA scoring of HE radiographs underestimated susceptibility to osteoarthritis in dogs, which may impede progress in reducing or eliminating hip dysplasia through breeding.
Regarding the Importance of the Mileage Distribution for Reliability Prognoses in Automotive Industry
Authors: Althaus Dirk , Braasch Andreas , Schlummer Marco , Meyna Arno 
Published: September 2010

Regarding the Importance of the Mileage Distribution for Reliability Prognoses in Automotive IndustryIn automotive industry there are few information about the load of a car in use. Therefore, the available data needs to be used and looked at carefully. Data that is nearly always available is the time in field, given by the date of registration and the date when failure occurred, and the driving distance. The driving distance can be used to describe the load of a car because in most cases the operating time is not known. This data can be used to calculate the mileage distribution of a car, which contains much additional information for safety and reliability analysis. Furthermore, it is useful to adopt testing routines and lifetime distances that are written down in specifications.
Reliability and Safety of Complex Technical Systems an Overall Approach
Authors: Kołowrocki Krzysztof , Soszyńska Joanna 
Published: September 2010

Reliability and Safety of Complex Technical Systems an Overall ApproachThe paper is concerned with the identification, evaluation, prediction and optimization of reliability, availability and safety of technical systems related to their operation processes. The main emphasis is on multi-state systems composed of ageing components and changing during their operation their structures and their components reliability and safety characteristics. The convenient tools suggested for analyzing these complex technical systems are semi-markov modeling of the systems' operation processes and multistate approach to the systems' reliability modeling. The paper describes current theoretical results on the proposed approach to reliability and safety analysis of multi-state systems with ageing components in their operation processes and the possibility of their practical applications to the reliability, safety analysis and optimization of the complex technical port and maritime transportation systems.
Prediction of IC Engine Power System Durability with the Use of Ring Pack Model
Authors: Koszałka Grzegorz , Niewczas Andrzej 
Published: September 2010

Prediction of IC Engine Power System Durability with the Use of Ring Pack ModelThe paper presents the new method of engine life prediction, which bases on the results of wear measurements taken on an investigated engine and simulations carried out with the use of the analytical model of ring pack of the engine. In the contrary to traditional methods the proposed method does not require the prior knowledge of the limit wear value, which is essential for the prediction, however its reliable establishing for new engines is difficult. In the presented method its value is determined with the use of the ring pack model. The example of durability calculation for an automotive diesel engine is also presented.
Predictors of long-term outcome in an elderly group after laminectomy for lumbar stenosis
Authors: Bouras Triantafyllos , Stranjalis George , Loufardaki Maria , Sourtzis Ilias , Stavrinou Lampis C. , Sakas Damianos E. 
Published: September 2010

Object
This is a retrospective long-term outcome study of results after laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis in an elderly group of patients. The study was designed to evaluate possible demographic, comorbidity, and clinical prognosticators for pain reduction and functional improvement in this population. Because the assessment of functional outcome in the elderly is complicated by several specific factors, the use of outcome measurement parameters should be revised and refined. Moreover, despite numerous relevant studies, the results of various techniques remain equivocal, particularly among the elderly, which renders the implementation of focused studies necessary. New data could be used to refine patient selection and choice of technique to improve prognosis.

Methods
During a 5-year period, lumbar laminectomies were performed in 182 elderly patients. Of these 182, 125 patients (68.8%) were followed up for a mean period of 60.8 months. The outcome was assessed by means of pain visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and patient satisfaction questionnaire, and results were correlated to demographic (age, sex), comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index, diabetes, depression, and history of lumbar spine surgery), and clinical (main preoperative complaint, preoperative VAS score, and ODI) factors.

Results
In terms of the VAS score, 106 patients (84.8%) exhibited improvement at follow-up. The corresponding ODI improvement rate was 69.6% (87 patients). The mean VAS and ODI differences were 5.1 and 29.1, respectively. One hundred two patients (81.6%) were satisfied with the results of the operation. Univariate analysis for possible prognostic factors revealed the significant influence of low-back pain on VAS score (p = 0.024) and ODI (p < 0.001) not improving, while the ODI was also affected by sex (females had a poorer outcome [p = 0.019]). In contrast, patient satisfaction was not related to any of the preoperative parameters recorded; nevertheless, it was strongly related to all functional measurements on follow-up.

Conclusions
Considering the methodological issues of such studies, particularly in elderly patients, the authors conclude that the ODI is more sensitive than the VAS score in assessing prognostic value and that patient satisfaction is difficult to prognosticate, underscoring the particularities that this population presents regarding functionality assessment. Considering the prognostic value of preoperative factors, a negative influence of low-back pain and female sex is reported.
Neurosurgical treatment of progressive posthemorrhagic ventricular dilation in preterm infants: a 10-year single-institution study
Authors: Limbrick David D. , Mathur Amit , Johnston James M. , Munro Rebecca , Sagar James , Inder Terrie , Park Tae Sung , Leonard Jeffrey L. , Smyth Matthew D. 
Published: September 2010

Object
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and progressive posthemorrhagic ventricular dilation (PPHVD) may result in significant neurological morbidity in preterm infants. At present, there is no consensus regarding the optimal timing or type of neurosurgical procedure to best treat PPHVD. Conflicting data exist regarding the relative risks and benefits of two commonly used temporizing neurosurgical procedures (TNPs), ventricular access devices ([VADs] or ventricular reservoirs) versus ventriculosubgaleal (VSG) shunts. This study was designed to address this issue.

Methods
This is a single-center, 10-year retrospective review of all preterm infants admitted to the St. Louis Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with Papile Grade III–IV IVH. The development of PPHVD and the requirement for and type of TNP were recorded. Rates of TNP complication, ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt implantation, shunt infection, and mortality rates were used to compare the efficacy and limitations of each TNP type.

Results
Over this 10-year interval, 325 preterm infants with Grade III–IV IVH were identified, with trends showing an increasing number of affected infants annually, and an increasing number of TNPs were required annually. Ninety-five (29.2%) of the 325 infants underwent a TNP for PPHVD (65 VADs, 30 VSG shunts). The rate of permanent VP shunt implantation for all TNPs was 72.6% (69 of 95 infants). Forty-nine (75.4%) of the 65 infants treated with VADs and 20 (66.7%) of the 30 treated with VSG shunts required VP shunts (p = 0.38). There was no statistical difference between VAD or VSG shunt with regard to TNP-related infection (p = 0.57), need for TNP revision (p = 0.16), subsequent shunt infection (p = 0.77), shunt revision rate (p = 0.58), or mortality rate (p = 0.24).

Conclusions
Rates of IVH and PPHVD observed at the authors' center have increased over time. In contrast to recent literature, the results from the current study did not demonstrate a difference in complication rate or requirement for permanent VP shunt placement between VADs and VSG shunts. Definitive conclusions will require a larger, prospective trial.