bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Septic osteitis of the axial border of the proximal sesamoid bones in two foals
Authors: Lawrence C. P. , Fraser B. S. L. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryThis case report describes the history, clinical findings, clinical pathology and diagnostic imaging of 2 cases of septic osteitis of the proximal sesamoid bones in foals. Treatment with doxycycline (10 mg/kg bwt per os b.i.d.) was successful in treating both of these cases.
Quality assurance for image‐guided radiation therapy utilizing CT‐based technologies: A report of the AAPM TG‐179
Authors: Bissonnette Jean‐Pierre , Balter Peter A. , Dong Lei , Langen Katja M. , Lovelock D. Michael , Miften Moyed , Moseley Douglas J. , Pouliot Jean , Sonke Jan‐Jakob , Yoo Sua 
Published: March 2012

Purpose:Commercial CT‐based image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT) systems allow widespread management of geometric variations in patient setup and internal organ motion. This document provides consensus recommendations for quality assurance protocols that ensure patient safety and patient treatment fidelity for such systems.Methods:The AAPM TG‐179 reviews clinical implementation and quality assurance aspects for commercially available CT‐based IGRT, each with their unique capabilities and underlying physics. The systems described are kilovolt and megavolt cone‐beam CT, fan‐beam MVCT, and CT‐on‐rails. A summary of the literature describing current clinical usage is also provided.Results:This report proposes a generic quality assurance program for CT‐based IGRT systems in an effort to provide a vendor‐independent program for clinical users. Published data from long‐term, repeated quality control tests form the basis of the proposed test frequencies and tolerances.Conclusion:A program for quality control of CT‐based image‐guidance systems has been produced, with focus on geometry, image quality, image dose, system operation, and safety. Agreement and clarification with respect to reports from the AAPM TG‐101, TG‐104, TG‐142, and TG‐148 has been addressed.
Transforming the Untransformable: Application of Direct Transformation To Manipulate Genetically Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis
Authors: Monk Ian R. , Shah Ishita M. , Xu Min , Tan Man-Wah , Foster Timothy J. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

The strong restriction barrier present in
Staphylococcus aureus
and
Staphylococcus epidermidis
has limited functional genomic analysis to a small subset of strains that are amenable to genetic manipulation. Recently, a conserved type IV restriction system termed SauUSI (which specifically recognizes cytosine methylated DNA) was identified as the major barrier to transformation with foreign DNA. Here we have independently corroborated these findings in a widely used laboratory strain of
S. aureus
. Additionally, we have constructed a DNA cytosine methyltransferase mutant in the high-efficiency
Escherichia coli
cloning strain DH10B (called DC10B). Plasmids isolated from DC10B can be directly transformed into clinical isolates of
S. aureus
and
S. epidermidis
. We also show that the loss of restriction (both type I and IV) in an
S. aureus
USA300 strain does not have an impact on virulence. Circumventing the SauUSI restriction barrier, combined with an improved deletion and transformation protocol, has allowed the genetic manipulation of previously untransformable strains of these important opportunistic pathogens.

IMPORTANCE
Staphylococcal infections place a huge burden on the health care sector due both to their severity and also to the economic impact of treating the infections because of prolonged hospitalization. To improve the understanding of
Staphylococcus aureus
and
Staphylococcus epidermidis
infections, we have developed a series of improved techniques that allow the genetic manipulation of strains that were previously refractory to transformation. These developments will speed up the process of mutant construction and increase our understanding of these species as a whole, rather than just a small subset of strains that could previously be manipulated.
Using quality improvement to accelerate highly active antiretroviral treatment coverage in South Africa
Authors: Webster Patty D , Sibanyoni Maria , Malekutu Dinah , Mate Kedar S , Venter W D Francois , Barker Pierre M , Moleko Winnie 
Published: March 2012

IntroductionThe authors report on a health systems strengthening intervention using quality improvement (QI) methods at the subdistrict level to accelerate highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) initiation in South Africa.MethodsUsing a phased scale-up design between August 2006 and November 2009, 14 primary healthcare clinics, one community health centre, one district hospital and one tertiary hospital in a subdistrict were recruited into a ‘learning network’ using QI methods to facilitate cross-facility learning/mentorship/support. Clinic teams consisting of nurses, counsellors, clerks and/or doctors set collective and individual performance targets, analysed their care systems using ‘real-time’ data feedback, and designed/implemented a set of simple changes to improve HIV testing and HAART initiation rates across the region.Data analysisPrimary clinic data were used to measure HAART initiation rates (primary outcome) and HIV testing (secondary outcome). We analysed data variation/trends using an interrupted time series design. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine trends in HAART initiation during the intervention phases.ResultsClinics in the learning network increased HIV testing by 301.8% from 891/month (SD=94.2) to 3580/month (SD=327.7) (p<0.0001). Monthly HAART initiations increased by 185.5% from 179/month (SD=17.22) to 511/month (SD=44.93) (p<0.0001). During the pilot (phase I), the monthly rate of HAART initiations increased by 3.6 patients. In the prototype collaborative (phase II), there was no acceleration in the rate of increase (3.3/month, p=0.92). Significant acceleration was observed in the rate of increase during the QI scale up (phase III) (10.1/month, p<0.001). The proportion of estimated need for HAART met in the region increased from 35.8% to 72.4% at a time of rapid population growth.ConclusionA QI approach, using learning networks to teach simple data-driven methods for addressing system failures, with increased training and resource inputs, can assist districts to quickly reach universal coverage targets.
Management of distal radius fractures in emergency departments in England and Wales
Authors: Sprot Harry , Metcalfe Andrew , Odutola Adekoyejo , Palan Jeya , White Simon 
Published: March 2012

AimsTo examine variations and consistencies in the emergency management of distal radial fractures across England and Wales.MethodsA survey was conducted of emergency departments (ED) in England and Wales regarding the acute management of patients with distal radius fractures. The study investigated the use of anaesthesia, the person performing both the anaesthetic and the manipulation, the use of resuscitation facilities and monitoring, the cast applied, the follow-up and the management of complex injuries or those in younger patients.ResultsSurveys were conducted in 105 units, giving a response rate of 91% of ED in England and Wales. The most frequent anaesthetic types were haematoma block (50%), intravenous benzodiazepines (20%), Bier's block (17%) and a small minority using other techniques such as brachial plexus blocks (2%). Basic cardiorespiratory monitoring was variable, and 10% of trusts did not routinely monitor patients undergoing Bier's blocks or manipulation with sedatives. Only 50% of ED would manipulate comminuted fractures or fractures in young adult patients.ConclusionThere are significant regional variations. The use of monitoring is highly variable and there are no consistent standards when administering potentially potent anaesthetic medications. The low percentage of units attempting reduction of complex fractures or fractures in young patients will disadvantage training in ED as well as patients. Guidelines are required to improve care, which is highly inconsistent at present.
Preparedness to care for victims of violence and their families in emergency departments
Authors: Linnarsson Josefin Rahmqvist , Benzein Eva , Årestedt Kristofer , Erlingsson Christen 
Published: March 2012

ObjectiveTo describe the preparedness to provide care for victims of violence and their families in emergency departments (EDs) in Sweden.MethodsA web-based questionnaire was sent to all hospital EDs in Sweden (N=66).ResultsA total of 46 out of 66 (70%) heads of EDs completed the questionnaire. The results show that most of the EDs are prepared to care for women and children who are victims of violence. However, there seems to be a lack of preparedness to care for other groups of patients, such as victimised men. Very few EDs have routines to identify victims of violence among patients. Results also indicate that nurses play a key role in the care for victims of violence; however, family members are rarely included in care.ConclusionsA lack of general preparedness in EDs to care for all victims of violence, regardless of gender and age, can lead to many patients not receiving appropriate care and treatment. To correct this there is a need to implement guidelines and routines about the care for victims of violence. Further research can shed more light on which measures are needed to improve quality of care for these patients and their families.
Real-time Raman Spectroscopy for In Vivo Skin Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Lui Harvey , Zhao Jianhua , McLean David , Zeng Haishan 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Raman spectroscopy is a noninvasive optical technique capable of measuring vibrational modes of biomolecules within viable tissues. In this study, we evaluated the application of an integrated real-time system of Raman spectroscopy for in vivo skin cancer diagnosis. Benign and malignant skin lesions (n = 518) from 453 patients were measured within 1 second each, including melanomas, basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, atypical nevi, melanocytic nevi, blue nevi, and seborrheic keratoses. Lesion classification was made using a principal component with general discriminant analysis and partial least-squares in three distinct discrimination tasks: skin cancers and precancers from benign skin lesions [receiver operating characteristic (ROC) = 0.879]; melanomas from nonmelanoma pigmented lesions (ROC = 0.823); and melanomas from seborrheic keratoses (ROC = 0.898). For sensitivities between 95% and 99%, the specificities ranged between 15% and 54%. Our findings establish that real-time Raman spectroscopy can be used to distinguish malignant from benign skin lesions with good diagnostic accuracy comparable with clinical examination and other optical-based methods. Cancer Res; 72(10); 2491–500. ©2012 AACR.
Systemic and Pulmonary Vascular Dysfunction in Children Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Authors: Scherrer Urs , Rimoldi Stefano F. , Rexhaj Emrush , Stuber Thomas , Duplain Hervé , Garcin Sophie , de Marchi Stefano F. , Nicod Pascal , Germond Marc , Allemann Yves , Sartori Claudio 
Published: March 2012

Background—
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) involves the manipulation of early embryos at a time when they may be particularly vulnerable to external disturbances. Environmental influences during the embryonic and fetal development influence the individual's susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, raising concerns about the potential consequences of ART on the long-term health of the offspring.

Methods and Results—

We assessed systemic (flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, pulse-wave velocity, and carotid intima-media thickness) and pulmonary (pulmonary artery pressure at high altitude by Doppler echocardiography) vascular function in 65 healthy children born after ART and 57 control children. Flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery was 25% smaller in ART than in control children (6.7±1.6% versus 8.6±1.7%;
P
<0.0001), whereas endothelium-independent vasodilation was similar in the 2 groups. Carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity was significantly (
P
<0.001) faster and carotid intima-media thickness was significantly (
P
<0.0001) greater in children conceived by ART than in control children. The systolic pulmonary artery pressure at high altitude (3450 m) was 30% higher (
P
<0.001) in ART than in control children. Vascular function was normal in children conceived naturally during hormonal stimulation of ovulation and in siblings of ART children who were conceived naturally.

Conclusions—
Healthy children conceived by ART display generalized vascular dysfunction. This problem does not appear to be related to parental factors but to the ART procedure itself.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00837642.
Anatomy of Synoptic Eddy–NAO Interaction through Eddy Structure Decomposition
Authors: Ren Hong-Li , Jin Fei-Fei , Gao Li 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
A method of eddy structure decomposition is proposed to detect how low-frequency flow associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) organizes systematically synoptic eddy (SE) activity to generate in-phase and upstream feedbacks. In this method, a statistical eddy streamfunction (SES) field, defined by the three-point covariance of synoptic-scale streamfunction, is introduced to characterize spatiotemporal SE flow structures. The SES field is decomposed into basic and anomalous parts to represent the climatological SE flow structure and its departure. These two parts are used to calculate the basic and anomalous eddy velocity, eddy vorticity, and thus eddy vorticity flux fields, in order to elucidate those two SE feedbacks onto the NAO. This method is validated by the fact that the observed anomalous eddy vorticity flux field can be reproduced well by two linear terms: the basic eddy velocity field multiplied by anomalous eddy vorticity field and the anomalous eddy velocity field multiplied by basic eddy vorticity field. With this method, it is found that, in the positive and negative phases, the NAO flow tends to induce two different types of anomalous SE flow structure, which are largely responsible for generating the net meridional and zonal eddy vorticity fluxes that, in return, feed back onto the NAO. The two processes that are related to these two different types dominate in the in-phase and upstream feedbacks, which are delineated conceptually into two kinematic mechanisms associated with zonal-slanting and meridional-shifting changes in the SE structure. The present observational evidence supports the theory of eddy-induced instability for low-frequency variability and also provides insights into the reason for the asymmetry between the SE feedbacks onto the two NAO phases.
Field Testing of Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy Analyzers Measuring Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor
Authors: Richardson Scott J. , Miles Natasha L. , Davis Kenneth J. , Crosson Eric R. , Rella Chris W. , Andrews Arlyn E. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Prevalent methods for making high-accuracy tower-based measurements of the CO2 mixing ratio, notably nondispersive infrared spectroscopy (NDIR), require frequent system calibration and sample drying. Wavelength-scanned cavity ring-down spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) is an emerging laser-based technique with the advantages of improved stability and concurrent water vapor measurements. Results are presented from 30 months of field measurements from WS-CRDS systems at five sites in the upper Midwest of the United States. These systems were deployed in support of the North American Carbon Program’s Mid-Continent Intensive (MCI) from May 2007 to November 2009. Excluding one site, 2σ of quasi-daily magnitudes of the drifts, before applying field calibrations, are less than 0.38 ppm over the entire 30-month field deployment. After applying field calibrations using known tanks sampled every 20 h, residuals from known values are, depending on site, from 0.02 ±0.14 to 0.17 ±0.07 ppm. Eight months of WS-CRDS measurements collocated with a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA)/Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) NDIR system at West Branch, Iowa, show median daytime-only differences of −0.13 ±0.63 ppm on a daily time scale.
Exposure to suicide and suicidality in Korea: Differential effects across men and women?
Authors: Lee Min-Ah , Kim Seokho , Shim Eun-Jung 
Published: March 2012

Background: Little is known about whether exposure to suicide within close social networks is associated with the suicidality in exposed individuals, and potential gender differences regarding this association. Aims: This study examines the effect of exposure to suicide on the suicidality in exposed individuals. Methods: The data were drawn from the 2009 Korean General Social Survey, a nationally representative interview survey. Suicidality was measured by the suicidality module in the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), with exposure to suicide being determined by asking about the experience of a failed or completed suicide attempt by a closely related person. Results: Exposure to the suicide of someone close was significantly associated with higher suicidality in exposed individuals. While the effect of a failed attempt became non-significant after controlling for psychological factors, that of exposure to a completed act of suicide remained significant. A subsample analysis by gender indicated a significant gender difference: with control for demographic and psychological factors, exposure to a completed suicide had a significant effect on the suicidality of females only. The effect of exposure to a failed attempt became non-significant both in males and females after controlling for other factors. Conclusions: Findings suggest the necessity of screening for prior exposure to suicide in suicide risk assessment and the need for gender-tailored suicide-prevention strategies.
Association Between Spirituality and Depression in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Lynch Cheryl P. , Hernandez-Tejada Melba A. , Strom Joni L. , Egede Leonard E. 
Published: March 2012

Purpose The purpose of the study was to examine the association between spirituality and depression among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods This study included 201 adult participants with diabetes from an indigent clinic of an academic medical center. Participants completed validated surveys on spirituality and depression. The Daily Spiritual Experience (DSE) Scale measured a person’s perception of the transcendent (God, the divine) in daily life. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression scale assessed depression. Linear regression analyses examined the association of spirituality as the predictor with depression as the outcome, adjusted for confounding variables. Results Greater spirituality was reported among females, non-Hispanic blacks, those with lower educational levels, and those with lower income. The unadjusted regression model showed greater spirituality was associated with less depression. This association was mildly diminished but still significant in the final adjusted model. Depression scores also increased (greater depression risk) with females and those who were unemployed but decreased with older age and non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity. Conclusions Treatment of depression symptoms may be facilitated by incorporating the spiritual values and beliefs of patients with diabetes. Therefore, faith-based diabetes education is likely to improve self-care behaviors and glycemic control.
Cricopharyngeal Muscle Electromyography Findings in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Alkan Zeynep , Demir Ahmet , Yigit Ozgur , Adatepe Turgut , Kesici Besir , Kocak Ismail , Gor Ayşe Pelin , Taskin Umit , Uzun Nurten 
Published: March 2012

ObjectiveTo analyze the grade of reflux and the behavior of the cricopharyngeal muscle (CPM) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) by means of electromyographic (EMG) analysis of CPM.Study DesignProspective clinical study.SettingIstanbul Training and Research Hospital.Subject and MethodsMotor unit potential (MUP) recordings and kinesiological recordings of CPM were performed using a concentric needle electrode during dry material swallowing and 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐mL water swallowing. Twenty‐four patients with GER were compared with 21 healthy volunteers.ResultsGER was mild in 15 patients and moderate‐to‐severe in 9 patients. MUP recordings were normal in both groups during the preswallowing/postswallowing periods. Kinesiological investigations revealed that the number of patients who did not show a preswallow EMG burst had a positive correlation with the severity of reflux and the amount of liquid swallowed. Rebound bursts were observed in the patient and the control groups. Duration of preswallow and rebound bursts was similar in all groups. Duration of swallowing was shorter in mild GER patients compared with healthy volunteers and moderate‐to‐severe GER patients. Piecemeal deglutition during 10‐mL liquid swallowing was higher in moderate‐to‐severe GER patients. We also found a positive correlation between the number of swallows and the severity of reflux.ConclusionNeedle EMG of the upper esophageal sphincter was normal in GER patients. Kinesiological evaluations showed increased piecemeal deglutition and number of swallows that correlated positively with the severity of GER.
Properties of flame-retardant fillers in polypropylene/ethylene propylene diene monomer composites
Authors: Hamzah MS , Mariatti M 
Published: March 2012

The incorporation of zinc hydroxy stannate (ZHS), calcium borates (CBs), and NP-100 as flame-retardant fillers in polypropylene (PP) ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) blends was investigated. The composites were prepared using an internal mixer and were molded using a compression mold to form test samples. Studies on the effect of filler loading (15, 30, 45, and 60 vol%) on the flame-retardant, thermal stability, and tensile properties were reviewed. A study on flame retardancy and thermal stability of ZHS, CB, and NP-100 fillers found that NP-100 has better flame retardancy compared with ZHS and CB even though NP-100 exhibits lower thermal stability compared with ZHS and CB. The mechanical properties of ZHS are the highest, followed by CB. NP-100 has the lowest mechanical properties. Tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and strain at break of 30 vol% ZHS are slightly higher compared with other loadings. In addition, 30 vol% CB has the highest mechanical properties for PP/EPDM/CB system but has slightly lower mechanical properties compared with 30 vol% ZHS-filled PP/EPDM composites.