bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Monitoring electrical skin conductance: a tool for the assessment of postoperative pain in children?
Authors: Hullett B. , Chambers N. , Preuss J , Zamudio I. , Lange J. , Pascoe E. , Ledowski T. 
Published: April 2009

Funding:  Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, Perth, AustraliaThe manuscript has been written and checked according to the STROBE consensus.Objectives:  To test whether changes in electrical skin conductance are a suitable tool for the assessment of postoperative pain in paediatric patients.Design:  Prospective, blinded observational study.Setting:  Recovery room Department of Anaesthesia, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Australia.Participants:  A total of 180 postoperative paediatric patients aged 1–16 years.Main Outcome Measures:  Area under the curve (ROC) for the skin conductance parameter ‘number of fluctuation per second’ (NFSC) to distinguish between no or mild vs moderate or severe postoperative pain (obtained by standard pain scores).Results:  Postoperative pain was assessed in 165 children (1–16 years) by standard validated clinical pain assessment tools (Revised Faces Scale, FLACC Scale, Visual Analogue Scale) at various time points during their stay in the recovery room. NFSC was recorded simultaneously. Fifteen patients were excluded due to technical problems with monitoring NFSC. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting moderate to severe pain from NFSC was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.79–0.85). Over all age groups, a NFSC cut‐off value of 0.13 was found to distinguish between no or mild vs moderate or severe pain with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 64% (positive predictive value 35%, negative predictive value 97%).Conclusion:  NFSC accurately predicts moderate to severe pain in postoperative paediatric patients. In this group of patients, the measurement of NFSC may therefore be a useful addition to the presently used, clinical pain assessment tools.Trial Registration:  Australian Clinical Trials Register (ACTRN12607000474459)
State of the Art in Ray Tracing Animated Scenes
Authors: Wald Ingo , Mark William R. , Günther Johannes , Boulos Solomon , Ize Thiago , Hunt Warren , Parker Steven G. , Shirley Peter 
Published: April 2009

Abstract Ray tracing has long been a method of choice for off‐line rendering, but traditionally was too slow for interactive use. With faster hardware and algorithmic improvements this has recently changed, and real‐time ray tracing is finally within reach. However, real‐time capability also opens up new problems that do not exist in an off‐line environment. In particular real‐time ray tracing offers the opportunity to interactively ray trace moving/animated scene content. This presents a challenge to the data structures that have been developed for ray tracing over the past few decades. Spatial data structures crucial for fast ray tracing must be rebuilt or updated as the scene changes, and this can become a bottleneck for the speed of ray tracing. This bottleneck has recently received much attention by researchers and that has resulted in a multitude of different algorithms, data structures and strategies for handling animated scenes. The effectiveness of techniques for ray tracing dynamic scenes vary dramatically depending on details such as scene complexity, model structure, type of motion and the coherency of the rays. Consequently, there is so far no approach that is best in all cases, and determining the best technique for a particular problem can be a challenge. In this State of the Art Report (STAR), we aim to survey the different approaches to ray tracing animated scenes, discussing their strengths and weaknesses, and their relationship to other approaches. The overall goal is to help the reader choose the best approach depending on the situation, and to expose promising areas where there is potential for algorithmic improvements.
A Time Model for Time‐Varying Visualization
Authors: Wolter M. , Assenmacher I. , Hentschel B. , Schirski M. , Kuhlen T. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe analysis of unsteady phenomena is an important topic for scientific visualization. Several time‐dependent visualization techniques exist, as well as solutions for dealing with the enormous size of time‐varying data in interactive visualization. Many current visualization toolkits support displaying time‐varying data sets. However, for the interactive exploration of time‐varying data in scientific visualization, no common time model that describes the temporal properties which occur in the visualization process has been established. In this work, we propose a general time model which classifies the time frames of simulation phenomena and the connections between different time scales in the analysis process. This model is designed for intuitive interaction with time in visualization applications for the domain expert as well as for the developer of visualization tools. We demonstrate the benefits of our model by applying it to two use cases with different temporal properties.
JUSTICE AS INHERENT RIGHTS: A RESPONSE TO MY COMMENTATORS
Authors: Wolterstorff Nicholas 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTThe critical comments by my fellow symposiasts on my book, Justice: Rights and Wrongs, have provided me with the opportunity to clarify parts of my argument and to correct some misunderstandings; they have also helped me see more clearly than I did before the import of some parts of my argument. In his comments, Paul Weithman points out features of the right order conception of justice that I had not noticed. They have also prodded me to clarify in what way rights are trumps; and both his comments and Bernstein's have prodded me to clarify certain aspects of the theistic account of human rights that I offered. Attridge's comments lead me to see that I was perhaps over‐zealous in emphasizing the objective aspects of the semantic range of dikaiosunê as used in the New Testament and downplaying the subjective aspects. And O'Donovan's comments have provided me with the opportunity to make clear that my account of rights is not an immunities account that presupposes nominalism, and to emphasize the ways in which it is not an asocial individualistic account.
Stop Bombing Villages
Authors: KARZAI HAMID 
Published: April 2009

President Barack Obama pledged in his first TV interview—with the Arab satellite channel Al Arabiya—that America under his watch would “listen with respect and not dictate” to the world. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has further announced that this country will no longer just throw around its military might but will pursue a “smart power” approach by tempering the use of hard weaponry with the “soft power” of persuasion and cultural attraction. Or, as Madame Secretary's husband Bill has put it, America will now lead through the power of example instead of the example of power.The first exceedingly complex test of Obama's smart power strategy will be how to end George W. Bush's misguided “war on terror” in Afghanistan and Pakistan, keeping al‐Qaida at bay without being swallowed by the quagmire of tribal politics. An array of experts from New Delhi to Paris offers their views in this section.
China's Dilemma: Invest at Home or in US Stimulus
Authors: KUANGDI XU 
Published: April 2009

As the global financial crisis emanating from the United States shuts down world markets, can globalization survive? Will the resurgent intrusion of the state—and thus politics—into the market lead to protectionism and collapse, as was the case in the early 20th century? Or will the new interconnectivity of climate change and mutual economic dependence—especially between China and the US—deepen global links?The former mayor of Shanghai, legendary Nobel economist Paul Samuelson and Third Way guru Anthony Giddens ponder those questions in this section.
Acquired genetic and functional alterations associated with transforming growth factor β type I resistance in Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line
Authors: Zimonjic Drazen B. , Zhou Xiaoling , Lee Ju‐Seog , Ullmannova‐Benson Veronika , Tripathi Veenu , Thorgeirsson Snorri S. , Popescu Nicholas C. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractDuring the neoplastic process tumour cells frequently acquire resistance to the antiproliferative signals of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β). Here we examined a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep3B‐TS) sensitive to TGF‐β signalling, and a derivative line (Hep3B‐TR) rendered resistant to TGF‐β by stepwise exposure to TGF‐β1. Comprehensive molecular cytogenetic analysis revealed that the acquisition of TGF‐β‐resistance by Hep3B‐TR cells was due to loss of TGF‐β receptor 2 (TGFβRII) gene. As demonstrated by spectral karyotyping and array‐based comparative genomic hybridization, and in difference to Hep3B‐TS cells, which have three rearranged and two normal copies of chromosome 3 that harbour the TGFβRII gene, Hep3B‐TR cells have four rearranged and one apparently normal chromosome 3, which nonetheless underwent a critical microdeletion at the site of TGFβRII gene. Gene expression analysis using an oligonucleotide microarray of 21,397 genes showed that Hep3B‐TR differentially expressed 307 genes, out of which 197 and 110 were up‐ and down‐regulated, respectively, compared to Hep3B‐TS. Six of differentially expressed genes were identified as downstream targets of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) gene, suggesting that loss of TGFβRII triggered activation of the TNF pathway known to be regulated by TGF‐β1 network. On the functional level, the TGF‐β‐resistant Hep3B‐TR cells displayed significantly enhanced capacity for anchorage independent growth and cell migration in vitro, and also increased tumorigenicity in vivo and in vitro and in vivo tumorigenicity compared with parental sensitive cells.
Bone morphogenetic protein‐2 enhances bone formation when delivered by a synthetic matrix containing hydroxyapatite/tricalciumphosphate
Authors: Jung Ronald E. , Weber Franz E. , Thoma Daniel S. , Ehrbar Martin , Cochran David L. , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractPurpose: The aim of the present study was to test whether or not a synthetic matrix consisting of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel containing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (rhBMP‐2) combined with grafting materials enhances bone regeneration compared with grafting alone or empty control sites.Material and methods: In each of 10 rabbits, four titanium cylinders were screwed in perforated slits made in the external cortical bones of the calvaria. The following four treatment modalities were randomly allocated: (1) empty control, (2) a combination of a PEG matrix and hydroxyapatite/tricalciumphosphate (HA/TCP) granules and a combination of a PEG matrix containing either 10 μg/ml (3) or 30 μg/ml (4) of BMP‐2 and HA/TCP granules. After 8 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and ground sections were obtained for histological analysis. For statistical analysis repeated measures ANOVA and subsequent pairwise Student's t‐test were applied (P<0.01).Results: Histomorphometric analysis showed an average area fraction of newly formed bone of 13.96±5.98% for the empty control, 15.16±7.95% for the PEG and HA/TCP group, 26.32±8.56% for the group containing 10 μg rhBMP‐2/ml, and 30.15±7.63% for the group containing 30 μg rhBMP‐2/ml. Statistical analysis revealed significantly more newly formed bone in the two rhBMP‐2 groups compared with the PEG and HA/TCP group and with the empty control. Regarding the surface fraction of the HA/TCP graft particles covered with newly formed bone the addition of rhBMP‐2 revealed a more than two‐fold increase compared with cylinders containing HA/TCP granules without rhBMP‐2. This difference reached statistical significance.Conclusions: It is concluded that rhBMP‐2 significantly enhances bone regeneration in rabbits when delivered by a synthetic matrix containing HA/TCP. This synthetic PEG matrix containing HA/TCP granules apparently fulfills a number of criteria required for an ideal carrier system for rhBMP‐2.
Treatment of basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Wetzig Tino , Maschke Jan , Kendler Michael , Simon Jan C. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryBasal cell carcinoma is the most common tumor in Central Europe, the U.S. and Australia. The increasing incidence of basal cell carcinoma presents the health care system, especially dermatology, with great challenges. In recent years new options for treating basal cell carcinoma have become available, enriching our therapeutic options. We review the current status of each of these treatment approaches.
Weight gain in childhood and blood lipids in adolescence
Authors: Horta Bernardo L , Victora Cesar G , Lima Rosângela C. , Post Paulo 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAim: To assess the effect of weight gain in childhood on blood lipid levels in adolescence.Methods: A population‐based birth cohort carried out in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. All newborns in the city's hospitals were enrolled in 1982. The subjects have been followed up for several times in childhood. At age 18, 79% of all males were followed, and 2083 blood samples were available. Adjusted analyses controlled for household assets index, family income, parental schooling at birth, maternal smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding duration.Results: Birth weight for gestational age and weight gain in the first 20 months was not associated with blood lipid levels in adolescence. On the other hand, those subjects whose weight gain from 20 to 42 months of age was faster than that predicted from birth weight and weight‐for‐age z‐score at the mean age of 20 months had lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) cholesterol [−0.78 (95% confidence interval: −1.28; −0.29)] and higher very low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL)/HDL ratio in adolescence. After controlling for current body mass index (BMI), the regression coefficient for HDL cholesterol decreased from −0.78 mg/dL to −0.29 mg/dL (95% confidence interval: −1.00 to 0.05).Conclusion: Weight gain from 2 to 4 years is related to an atherogenic lipid profile in adolescence and this association is mediated by current BMI.
Early iron supplementation in very low birth weight infants – a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sankar Mari Jeeva , Saxena Renu , Mani Kalaivani , Agarwal Ramesh , Deorari Ashok K , Paul Vinod K 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAim: To evaluate if supplementing iron at 2 weeks of age improves serum ferritin and/or haematological parameters at 2 months of life in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.Methods: Preterm VLBW infants who received at least 100 mL/kg/day of oral feeds by day 14 of life were randomized to either ‘early iron’ (3–4 mg/kg/day orally from 2 weeks) or ‘control’ (no iron until 60 days) groups. Infants were followed up fortnightly and all morbidities were prospectively recorded. Serum ferritin was measured at 60 days by enzyme immunoassay method.Results: Forty‐six infants were included in the study; primary outcome was available for 42 infants. There was no difference in either serum ferritin (mean: 50.8 vs. 45.3 μg/L; adjusted difference in means: 5.8, 95% CI: −3.0, 14.6; p = 0.19) or haematocrit (32.5 ± 5.3 vs. 30.8 ± 6.3%; p = 0.35) at 60 days between the early iron and control groups. The magnitude of fall in serum ferritin from baseline to the end of study period was also not different between the groups (4.9 vs. 13.8 μg/L; difference in means: 8.8; 95% CI: −0.3, 17.9; p = 0.06). The requirement of blood transfusions (9.5 vs. 13%; p = 0.63) and a composite outcome of common neonatal morbidities (19% vs. 21.7%; p = 0.55) were also not different between the two groups.Conclusion: Supplementing iron at 2 weeks of age in preterm VLBW infants did not improve either serum ferritin or the haematological parameters at 2 months when compared to the standard practice of starting iron from 8 weeks of age.
Breastfeeding duration and exclusivity associated with infants’ health and growth: data from a prospective cohort study in Bavaria, Germany
Authors: Rebhan Barbara , Kohlhuber Martina , Schwegler Ursula , Fromme Hermann , Abou‐Dakn Michael , Koletzko Berthold V 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAim: To investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and infant health and to describe growth in the first 9 months.Methods: Mothers delivering a baby in April 2005 were recruited throughout Bavaria, Germany, for a prospective birth cohort study. These mothers reported breastfeeding data, health and growth data of 1901 infants assessed by a physician in questionnaires on day 2–6, and in months 2, 4, 6 and 9. Subjects were healthy term infants with a birth weight ≥2500 g. We compared 475 infants breastfed exclusively for ≥6 months (group A), 870 infants breastfed fully/exclusively ≥4 months, but not exclusively ≥6 months (group B) and 619 infants not breastfed/breastfed <4 months (group C).Results: In multivariate analysis ≥6 months of exclusive breastfeeding reduced significantly the risk for ≥1 episode of gastrointestinal infection(s) during months 1–9 compared to no/<4 months breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44–0.82). The application of the World Health Organization (WHO) – child growth standards showed lower weight‐for‐length z‐scores in first days of life in group C versus groups A and B, whereas in months 6/7 group C showed the highest scores.Conclusion: Differences in child growth depending on breastfeeding duration should be investigated further. Concerning health outcomes our findings support the recommendation for ≥6 months of exclusive breastfeeding.
New tobacco trends: Waterpipe (hookah) smoking and implications for healthcare providers
Authors: Noonan Devon , Kulbok Pamela A. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractPurpose: To inform healthcare providers about waterpipe smoking, a new trend in tobacco use that is gaining popularity among adolescents and young adults.Data sources: American Lung Association Tobacco Policy Alert on Waterpipe Smoking, World Health Organization Tobacco Regulation Advisory Note on Waterpipe Smoking, and pertinent publications available in the literature.Conclusions: Waterpipe smoking is a new trend in tobacco use that is associated with multiple health problems, including addiction. Healthcare providers should be aware of new tobacco trends that may affect patients, such as waterpipe smoking, that are potential gateways to nicotine addiction.Implications for practice: Tobacco comes in many forms, all of which are addicting. Healthcare providers must be knowledgeable about new forms of tobacco to address all types of tobacco use with patients. Healthcare providers also have a responsibility to educate patients about the health risks inherent in these products to help prevent the long‐lasting problem of nicotine addiction.
Influence of angiotensin‐converting enzyme I/D gene polymorphism on clinical and histological correlates of chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Fabris Carlo , Smirne Carlo , Fangazio Stefano , Toniutto Pierluigi , Burlone Michela , Minisini Rosalba , Bitetto Davide , Falleti Edmondo , Cerutti Andrea , Pirisi Mario 
Published: April 2009

Aim:  This study aimed to verify the relationship between the insertion–deletion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) and clinical and histological correlates of chronic hepatitis C.Methods:  Two‐hundred and fifty‐eight, treatment naive, unselected hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA‐positive patients and 210 controls were studied. ACE allelic variants were determined by polymerase chain reaction.Results:  Mean staging scores adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI) and alcohol consumption were: men, D/* = 2.283; men, I/I = 2.092; women, D/* = 2.241; and women, I/I = 3.283 (P = 0.028). Age‐adjusted mean BMI were: men, D/* = 25.01; men, I/I = 24.87; women, D/* = 23.73; and women, I/I = 22.50 (P = 0.006). Age and BMI‐adjusted mean low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)/ high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratios were: men, D/* = 2.344; men, I/I = 2.283; women, D/* = 1.916; and women, I/I = 1.903 (P = 0.004). Histological grading correlated positively with triglycerides and negatively with HDL and LDL cholesterol (P < 0.0001).Conclusion:  Female ACE I/I homozygotes have higher liver fibrosis scores in comparison to D/* women and to men; moreover, they are leaner and have a lower LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio. These observations suggest a possible mutual influence between ACE polymorphism, serum lipid concentrations and outcome of chronic HCV infection.
Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Biliary Factors Enhance Invasion ofSalmonella enteritidisin a Rat Model
Authors: Islam Abul F. M. W. , Moss Nathan D. , Dai Yung , Smith Murray S. R. , Collins Andrew M. , Jackson Graham D. F. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTIn this study, the role of the hepatobiliary system in the early pathogenesis ofSalmonella enteritidisinfection was investigated in a rat model. Intravenous (i.v.) challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has previously been shown to enhance the translocation of normal gut flora. We first confirmed that LPS can similarly promote the invasion ofS. enteritidis. Oral infection of outbred Australian Albino Wistar rats with 106to 107CFU ofS. enteritidisled to widespread tissue invasion after days. If animals were similarly challenged after intravenous administration ofS. enteritidisLPS (3 to 900 μg/kg of body weight), significant invasion of the livers and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) occurred within 24 h, with invasion of the liver increasing in a dose-dependent fashion (P< 0.01). If bile was prevented from reaching the intestine by bile duct ligation or cannulation, bacterial invasion of the liver and MLN was almost totally abrogated (P< 0.001). As i.v. challenge with LPS could induce the delivery of inflammatory mediators into the bile, biliary tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations were measured by bioassay. Biliary concentrations of TNF-α rose shortly after LPS challenge, peaked with a mean concentration of 27.0 ng/ml at around 1 h postchallenge, and returned to baseline levels (3.1 ng/ml) after 2.5 h. Although TNF-α cannot be directly implicated in the invasion process, we conclude that the invasiveness of the enteric pathogenS. enteritidisis enhanced by the presence of LPS in the blood and that this enhanced invasion is at least in part a consequence of the delivery of inflammatory mediators to the gastrointestinal tract by the hepatobiliary system.
Strain-Specific Restriction of the Antiphagocytic Property of Group A Streptococcal M Proteins
Authors: Kotarsky Heike , Thern Anette , Lindahl Gunnar , Sjöbring Ulf 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTGroup A streptococcal M proteins are type-specific virulence factors that inhibit phagocytosis. We used two M proteins, M5 and Emm22, to analyze the influence of genetic background on the properties of M proteins. Mutant strains, engineered to lack these M proteins, were complemented with genes encoding the homologous or heterologous M protein, and the complemented strains were analyzed for phagocytosis resistance. Neither the M5 nor the Emm22 protein conferred phagocytosis resistance in the heterologous background, but they did do so in the homologous background. This was not due to lack of surface expression in the heterologous background. Moreover, the M5 and Emm22 proteins expressed in heterologous background appeared to have normal structure, since they were not affected in their ability to bind different human plasma proteins. In particular, M5 or Emm22 had normal ability to bind human complement inhibitors, a property that has been implicated in phagocytosis resistance. Results similar to those obtained with M5 and Emm22 were obtained in experiments with the M6 and Emm4 proteins. Together, these data suggest that the surface expression of M protein alone may not be sufficient to confer phagocytosis resistance and consequently that strain-specific factors other than M and Emm proteins may contribute to the ability of group A streptococci to resist phagocytosis.