bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Collectivism and Social Influence in the Buying Decision: A Four-Country Study of Inter- and Intra-National Differences
Authors: Kongsompong Kritika , Green Robert T. , Patterson Paul G. 
Published: July 2009

Purpose The paper reports the results of a four-nation study of the relationship between collectivism and social influence in the consumer buying decision, between and within countries. Hypotheses were investigated that revolve around the notion that the more collectivist the person's orientation, the more susceptible the person will be to social influence in the purchase decision. Method A cross-sectional survey employing a student sample was conducted across two Eastern and two Western countries (Thailand, Singapore, USA, and Australia). Findings The findings provide either whole or partial support for the hypotheses. In general, a higher collectivist orientation results in high levels of social influence, especially across nations. There are exceptions, however, which highlight the need to incorporate other factors into understanding the role that cultural orientation plays in purchasing decisions. Managerial implications When devising product, service, and communications strategies in collectivist countries, the findings suggest that the marketer from an individualist country should give overt consideration to, for instance, parental and sales related forces that could influence people's buying decisions. Parental influence in buying decisions is shown to be relatively low in individualist nations like the USA. In Thailand, however, parents exercise considerable influence over what their young adult children purchase. Similarly, the sales force at the retail level occupies elevated importance in collectivist societies. Provision of retailer support associated with sales force training should receive a higher priority in collectivist nations.
Für eine neue Balance von privater und gesetzlicher Krankenversicherung
Authors: Leienbach Volker 
Published: July 2009

Einleitung
In Deutschland existieren zwar zwei Versicherungs-, nicht jedoch zwei Versorgungssysteme: Bisher steht allen Versicherten ein umfassendes Netz von Krankenhäusern und Ärzten offen. Dies ist nicht zuletzt ein Verdienst der Privatversicherten, die für viele medizinische Leistungen höhere Honorare zahlen. Ganz anders sieht es in Ländern aus, in denen zwar auf dem Papier nur eine Versicherungsform besteht, die Praxis aber von Rationierungen sowie parallelen Versorgungsstrukturen für Arm und Reich geprägt ist.
DISENTANGLING THE COMPLEX ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING AND HIV AMONG KENYAN WOMEN
Authors: MASLOVSKAYA OLGA , BROWN JAMES J. , PADMADAS SABU S. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryFemale genital cutting (FGC) is a widespread cultural practice in Africa and the Middle East, with a number of potential adverse health consequences for women. It was hypothesized by Kun (1997) that FGC increases the risk of HIV transmission through a number of different mechanisms. Using the 2003 data from the Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), this study investigates the potential association between FGC and HIV. The 2003 KDHS provides a unique opportunity to link the HIV test results with a large number of demographic, social, economic and behavioural characteristics of women, including women's FGC status. It is hypothesized that FGC increases the risk of HIV infection if HIV/AIDS is present in the community. A multilevel binary logistic regression technique is used to model the HIV status of women, controlling for selected individual characteristics of women and interaction effects. The results demonstrate evidence of a statistically significant association between FGC and HIV, after controlling for the hierarchical structure of the data, potential confounding factors and interaction effects. The results show that women who had had FGC and a younger or the same-age first-union partner have higher odds of being HIV positive than women with a younger or same-age first-union partner but without FGC; whereas women who had had FGC and an older first-union partner have lower odds of being HIV positive than women with an older first-union partner but without FGC. The findings suggest the behavioural pathway of association between FGC and HIV as well as an underlying complex interplay of bio-behavioural and social variables being important in disentangling the association between FGC and HIV.
Use of botulinum toxin in voice restoration after laryngectomy
Authors: Khemani S , Govender R , Arora A , O'Flynn P E , Vaz F M 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground:Following laryngectomy, a distinct population of patients fails to achieve successful tracheoesophageal voice. These patients' voices range from strained and effortful to none at all. Such patients may present with severe hypertonicity or spasm of the pharyngoesophageal segment. Botulinum toxin has been used to chemically denervate the pharyngeal musculature, and is an alternative to invasive surgical procedures. The aim of this article is to review the evidence for using botulinum toxin to achieve an improvement in post-laryngectomy voice.Methods:A Medline literature review (1966 to January 2009) and a search of the Cochrane database were performed. Foreign language articles and those not pertaining to post-laryngectomy voice restoration were excluded.Results:Nine articles reporting a total of 134 patients were identified. Although there were differences in the outcome measures used, objective improvement in voice production occurred in between 70 and 100 per cent of cases.Conclusion:Botulinum toxin can be used as a safe and cost-effective treatment in patients with confirmed pharyngoesophageal segment hypertonicity and/or spasm following laryngectomy, to obtain an improvement in voice quality.
Bell's palsy before Bell: Evert Jan Thomassen à Thuessink and idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis
Authors: van de Graaf R C , IJpma F F A , Nicolai J-P A , Werker P M N 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBell's palsy is the eponym for idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis. It is named after Sir Charles Bell (1774–1842), who, in the first half of the nineteenth century, discovered the function of the facial nerve and attracted the attention of the medical world to facial paralysis. Our knowledge of this condition before Bell's landmark publications is very limited and is based on just a few documents. In 1804 and 1805, Evert Jan Thomassen à Thuessink (1762–1832) published what appears to be the first known extensive study on idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis. His description of this condition was quite accurate. He located several other early descriptions and concluded from this literature that, previously, the condition had usually been confused with other afflictions (such as ‘spasmus cynicus’, central facial paralysis and trigeminal neuralgia). According to Thomassen à Thuessink, idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis and trigeminal neuralgia were related, being different expressions of the same condition. Thomassen à Thuessink believed that idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis was caused by ‘rheumatism’ or exposure to cold. Many aetiological theories have since been proposed. Despite this, the cold hypothesis persists even today.
Paradoxical long-term enhancement of distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitude after repeated exposure to moderate level, wide band noise in awake guinea pigs
Authors: Mei L , Huang Z-W , Tao Z-Z 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective:Hearing sensitivity usually diminishes with noise exposure. In the present study, we examined the effect of 93 dB(A) wide band noise on cochlear micromechanical sensitivity in awake guinea pigs.Methods:Animals were randomly assigned to groups receiving either single or repeated noise exposure. Distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes were recorded before, during and after noise exposure.Results:Ninety-three decibel(A) wide band noise reduced the distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes at all tested frequencies. The distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes for higher frequencies showed a permanent reduction, whereas those for lower frequencies showed a temporary reduction. Distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes for middle frequencies showed prolonged enhancement after repeated noise exposure.Conclusion:Our results suggest that (1) it is likely that there are intermediate stages between permanent threshold shift and temporary threshold shift, and (2) long-term enhancement of distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes may be an indication of tinnitus generation.
Single stage, transmastoid approach for otogenic intracranial abscess
Authors: Morwani K P , Jayashankar N 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the treatment of intracranial abscess of otogenic origin, and to study the outcome measures of single stage treatment of the otogenic focus and drainage of intracranial abscess via a transmastoid approach.Study design:Retrospective case review.Setting:Dr Balabhai Nanavati Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India, an academic tertiary referral centre, and Shri H Bhagwati Municipal General Hospital, Mumbai, India, an academic secondary referral centre.Patients:Seventy-three patients with intracranial abscess secondary to otogenic pathology, confirmed by computed tomographic scanning.Intervention:Single stage treatment of the ear pathology and drainage of intracranial abscess via a transmastoid approach, performed by the senior author (KPM).Results:Of the 73 patients, 12 were lost to follow up and were excluded from the study. Outcomes for the remaining 61 patients were known, and these patients were followed up for at least two years. Adults were more commonly affected by otogenic intracranial abscess than children, with a male preponderance. Otogenic intracranial abscess was associated with both cholesteatomatous (41 per cent) and non-cholesteatomatous ears (59 per cent). All cases were treated with transmastoid drainage of the intracranial abscess and canal wall up or down tympanomastoidectomy, depending on the ear pathology. Two cases developed post-operative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (3 per cent), and another two cases developed meningitis (3 per cent). Five patients had recurrent abscess; two of these patients (3 per cent) died but were included in the study. Three patients had residual abscess, improved with additional management.Conclusion:In this series, the low morbidity and mortality rate, combined with a shorter hospital stay, suggest that single stage, transmastoid drainage of intracranial abscess and concurrent treatment of the otogenic pathology is an effective treatment for otogenic intracranial abscess.
Evaluation of 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography in iodine scan negative, differentiated thyroid cancer recurrence
Authors: Chisholm E J , Tolley N S 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground:Follow up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer is based upon anatomical imaging, thyroglobulin assay and functional imaging in the form of iodine uptake scanning. A significant cohort of such patients have rising thyroglobulin levels but negative iodine scans. In this group, 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans have been commonly employed. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of such investigation.Methods:The sensitivity of 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography for detecting recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer was calculated from a retrospective review of scan results from patients with iodine scan negative recurrence.Results:Eighteen patients with rising thyroglobulin levels underwent 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography scanning. Fourteen patients had negative (and four equivocal) whole body iodine scintigraphy scans. Of these 14, six patients had a positive 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan, giving a sensitivity of 42.9 per cent.Conclusions:When assessed in the clinical setting and restricted to patients with negative iodine scans, the sensitivity of 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography was found to be lower than in previous case series.
Productivity enhancement in hydrofractured oil reservoirs
Authors: Hagan Patrick S. , Cox Robert W. 
Published: July 2009

Low permeability formations are often hydrofractured to increase the production rate of oil and gas. This process creates a thin, but highly permeable, fracture which provides an easy path for oil and gas to flow through the reservoir to the borehole. Here we examine the payoff of hydrofracturing by determining the increased production rate of a hydrofractured well. We find explicit formulas for the steady production rate in the three regimes of small, intermediate, and large (dimensionless) fracture conductivities. Previously, only the formula for the large fracture conductivity case was known.We assume that Darcy flow pertains throughout the reservoir. Then, the steady fluid flow through the reservoir is governed by Laplace's equation with a second-order boundary condition along the fracture. We first analyze this boundary value problem for the case of small fracture conductivities. An explicit formula for the production rate is obtained for this case, essentially by combining singular perturbation methods with spectral methods in a function space which places the second-order boundary condition on the same footing as Laplace's equation. Next, we re-cast Laplace's equation as a variational principle which has the second-order boundary condition as its natural boundary condition. This allows us to use simple trial functions to derive accurate estimates of the production rate in the intermediate conductivity case. Then, an asymptotic analysis is used to find the production rate for the large fracture conductivity case. Finally, the asymptotic and variationally-derived production rate formulasare compared to exact values of the production rate, which have been obtained numerically.It may be feasible to create more than a single fracture about a borehole. So we also develop similar asymptotic and variational formulas for the production rate of a well with multiple fractures.
A nonlinear system for irreversible phase changes
Authors: Blanchard Dominique , Ghidouche Hamid 
Published: July 2009

This paper is concerned with the mathematical study of a nonlinear system modelling an irreversible phase change problem. Uniqueness of the solution is proved using the accretivity of the system in (L1)2. Expressing one of the two unknowns as an explicit functional of the other reduces the system to a single nonlinear evolution equation and ultimately leads to an existence theorem.In this paper the existence and uniqueness of the solution of a nonlinear system modelling some irreversible phase changes is established.
Existence and uniqueness of solutions to a concentrated capacity problem with change of phase
Authors: Andreucci Daniele 
Published: July 2009

A concentrated capacity problem is posed for the heat equation in a multidimensional domain. In the concentrated capacity (i.e. in a portion of the boundary of the domain) a change of phase takes place, and a Stefan-like problem is posed. This scheme has been introduced in the literature as the formal limiting case of a certain class of diffusion problems.Our main result is a theorem of continuous dependence of the solution on the data. It is also used to prove the existence of the solution (in a weak sense), assuming only integrability of the data. The solution is found as the limit of the solutions of the approximating problems.
Homoclinic orbits in the dynamic phase-space analogy of an elastic strut
Authors: Amick C. J. , Toland J. F. 
Published: July 2009

The equationis a possible dimensionless version of a model for the configuration of a very long strut resting on a nonlinear elastic foundation with axial loading P. By seeking to establish the existence of homoclinic orbits connecting the zero equilibrium of (*), now regarded as defining a four dimensional dynamical system, to itself one is pursuing the so-called ‘dynamical phase-space analogy’ for the spatial configuration suggested by the form of the equation. The existence of homoclinic solutions is then interpreted as indicating the presence of spatially localized buckling of the deformed strut.
On the correctness of a phenomenological model of equilibrium phase transitions in a deformable elastic medium
Authors: Meirmanov A. M. , Shemetov N. V. 
Published: July 2009

In this paper we investigate the mathematical model of the equilibrium of a finite volume in ℝn (n = 1,2, 3) of a two-phase continuous medium, under the assumption that each pure phase is an isotropic elastic solid. The main results in this paper are:(i) the existence and uniqueness of a solution of this mathematical model;(ii) a discussion of the stress-strain law associated with the free energy of this two-phase continuous medium, which is multiple-valued due to the non-smoothness of the Gibbs potential (complementary energy);(iii) a description of the structure of solutions in plane strain.
The propagation of turbulent bursts
Authors: Kamin Shoshana , Vazquez Juan Luis 
Published: July 2009

We consider the equation of turbulent burst propagationwith m > 1 and k ≥ 0, or, in an equivalent formulationWe consider initial data u(x, 0) which are radially symmetric and have compact support; x = l(t) = r(T) describes the interface of the solution.
Motif discovery and motif finding from genome-mapped DNase footprint data
Authors: Kulakovskiy Ivan V. , Favorov Alexander V. , Makeev Vsevolod J. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Motivation: Footprint data is an important source of information on transcription factor recognition motifs. However, a footprinting fragment can contain no sequences similar to known protein recognition sites. Inspection of genome fragments nearby can help to identify missing site positions.
Results: Genome fragments containing footprints were supplied to a pipeline that constructed a position weight matrix (PWM) for different motif lengths and selected the optimal PWM. Fragments were aligned with the SeSiMCMC sampler and a new heuristic algorithm, Bigfoot. Footprints with missing hits were found for ∼50% of factors. Adding only 2 bp on both sides of a footprinting fragment recovered most hits. We automatically constructed motifs for 41 Drosophila factors. New motifs can recognize footprints with a greater sensitivity at the same false positive rate than existing models. Also we discuss possible overfitting of constructed motifs.
Availability: Software and the collection of regulatory motifs are freely available at http://line.imb.ac.ru/DMMPMM.
Contact: ivan.kulakovskiy@gmail.com
Supplementary information: http://line.imb.ac.ru/DMMPMM
Probabilistic resolution of multi-mapping reads in massively parallel sequencing data using MuMRescueLite
Authors: Hashimoto Takehiro , de Hoon Michiel J.L. , Grimmond Sean M. , Daub Carsten O. , Hayashizaki Yoshihide , Faulkner Geoffrey J. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Summary: Multi-mapping sequence tags are a significant impediment to short-read sequencing platforms. These tags are routinely omitted from further analysis, leading to experimental bias and reduced coverage. Here, we present MuMRescueLite, a low-resource requirement version of the MuMRescue software that has been used by several next generation sequencing projects to probabilistically reincorporate multi-mapping tags into mapped short read data.
Availability and implementation: MuMRescueLite is written in Python; executables and documentation are available from http://genome.gsc.riken.jp/osc/english/software/.
Contact: geoff.faulkner@roslin.ed.ac.uk
Regional clearance of amino‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide from human plasma
Authors: Palmer Suetonia C. , Yandle Timothy G. , Nicholls M. Gary , Frampton Christopher M. , Richards A. Mark 
Published: July 2009

AimsMechanisms for clearance of circulating amino‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) remain poorly understood and are relevant to the clinical utility of NT‐proBNP as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cardiovascular disorders. We sought to determine site(s) of production and clearance of plasma NT‐proBNP in the human circulation.Methods and resultsIn 120 subjects undergoing clinically indicated cardiac catheterization, blood samples were collected from arterial and multiple venous sites to measure transorgan gradients of plasma NT‐proBNP. Clearance of plasma NT‐proBNP occurred across kidney, liver, musculoskeletal, and head and neck tissues. Proportions of calculated total body NT‐proBNP clearance were 55–65% across the kidney, 20–25% across the liver, 10–15% across musculoskeletal tissue, and 5–10% across the head and neck. Renal fractional extraction of NT‐proBNP was unrelated to estimated glomerular filtration rate. Transorgan gradients, reflecting both renal and extra‐renal NT‐proBNP degradation, were correlated across multiple clearance sites within an individual.ConclusionPlasma NT‐proBNP is cleared by multiple tissues in the human circulation with ~55–65% of total clearance occurring in renal tissue. These data provide the first evidence for extra‐glomerular clearance of NT‐proBNP and suggest a common multisite clearance mechanism subject to generalized regulation. Renal NT‐proBNP extraction was sustained in the face of even moderate levels of kidney dysfunction.
Simultaneous Measurement of Cardiac Troponin I, B-type Natriuretic Peptide, and C-reactive Protein for the Prediction of Long-term Cardiac Outcome after Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Fellahi Jean-Luc , Hanouz Jean-Luc , Le Manach Yannick , Gué Xavier , Monier Emmanuel , Guillou Louis , Riou Bruno 
Published: July 2009

Background
Simultaneous assessment of cardiac troponin I, B-type natriuretic peptide, and C-reactive protein has been found to provide unique prognostic information in acute coronary syndromes. The current study addressed the prognostic implication of a multiple-marker approach in cardiac surgery.

Methods
Two hundred twenty-four patients undergoing cardiac surgery were included and followed up within 12 months after surgery. Serial blood samples were drawn in all patients the day before surgery, at the end of surgery, and 6, 24, and 120 h after surgery. Major adverse cardiac events within 12 months after surgery were chosen as study endpoints and were defined as malignant ventricular arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, the need for myocardial revascularization, and/or death from cardiac cause. Predictive ability of each cardiac biomarker was assessed using logistic regression.

Results
Accuracies of C-reactive protein, cardiac troponin I, and B-type natriuretic peptide, considered as continuous variables, to predict the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events were limited (area under receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.54 [0.47-0.60], P = 0.42; 0.62 [0.55-0.68], P = 0.01; and 0.68 [0.61-0.74], P < 0.001, respectively). When biomarkers were considered as 75% specificity dichotomized variables, elevated C-reactive protein (> 180 mg/l), cardiac troponin I (> 3.5 ng/ml), and B-type natriuretic peptide (> 880 pg/ml) were independent predictors of major adverse cardiac events (odds ratio: 2.14 [1.03-4.49], P = 0.043; 2.37 [1.25-5.64], P = 0.011; and 2.65 [1.16-4.85], P = 0.018, respectively) in a multivariate model including the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score.

Conclusions
Simultaneous measurement of cardiac troponin I, B-type natriuretic peptide, and C-reactive protein improves the risk assessment of long-term adverse cardiac outcome after cardiac surgery.