bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Laboratory Testing for Clostridium difficile Infection
Authors: Peterson Lance R. , Mehta Maitry S. , Patel Parul A. , Hacek Donna M. , Harazin Maureen , Nagwekar Payal P. , Thomson Richard B. , Robicsek Ari 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is changing as evidenced by increasing virulence, rising incidence, unresponsiveness to metronidazole therapy, and worse outcomes. Thus, it is critical that CDI diagnosis be accurate so ongoing epidemiology, disease prevention, and treatment remain satisfactory. We tested 10 diagnostic assays, including 1 commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test for the laboratory detection of toxigenic C difficile on 1,000 stool samples. Sensitive culture for toxigenic C difficile using 2 types of media with broth enrichment defined the reference standard. For the study, 1,000 tests were performed on samples from 919 patients. Of the samples, 146 contained evidence for toxigenic C difficile and represented the true-positive results. Only the US Food and Drug Administration–cleared qPCR assay (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ) and 1 glutamate dehydrogenase test (TechLab, Blacksburg, VA) were not statistically inferior to culture in sensitivity. The common enzyme immunoassay tests all had sensitivity values less than 50%. Clinical laboratory professionals need to seriously consider their diagnostic testing and use the assays that perform best for the detection of CDI.
Impact of Subclinical Atherosclerosis on Cardiovascular Disease Events in Individuals With Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes
Authors: Malik Shaista , Budoff Matthew J. , Katz Ronit , Blumenthal Roger S. , Bertoni Alain G. , Nasir Khurram , Szklo Moyses , Barr R. Graham , Wong Nathan D. 
Published: August 2011

OBJECTIVE
While metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes confer greater cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, recent evidence suggests that individuals with these conditions have a wide range of risk. We evaluated whether screening for coronary artery calcium (CAC) and carotid intimal-medial thickness (CIMT) can improve CVD risk stratification over traditional risk factors (RFs) in people with MetS and diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We assessed CAC and CIMT in 6,603 people aged 45–84 years in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Cox regression examined the association of CAC and CIMT with coronary heart disease (CHD) and CVD over 6.4 years in MetS and diabetes.

RESULTS
Of the subjects, 1,686 (25%) had MetS but no diabetes and 881 (13%) had diabetes. Annual CHD event rates were 1.0% among MetS and 1.5% for diabetes. Ethnicity and RF-adjusted hazard ratios for CHD for CAC 1–99 to ≥400 vs. 0 in subjects with neither MetS nor diabetes ranged from 2.6 to 9.5; in those with MetS, they ranged from 3.9 to 11.9; and in those with diabetes, they ranged from 2.9 to 6.2 (all P &lt; 0.05 to P &lt; 0.001). Findings were similar for CVD. CAC increased the C-statistic for events (P &lt; 0.001) over RFs and CIMT in each group while CIMT added negligibly to prediction over RFs.

CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with MetS or diabetes have low risks for CHD when CAC or CIMT is not increased. Prediction of CHD and CVD events is improved by CAC more than by CIMT. Screening for CAC or CIMT can stratify risk in people with MetS and diabetes and support the latest recommendations regarding CAC screening in those with diabetes.
Pulmonary Hypertension Assessment and Recognition of Outcomes in Scleroderma (PHAROS): Baseline Characteristics and Description of Study Population
Authors: HINCHCLIFF MONIQUE , FISCHER ARYEH , SCHIOPU ELENA , STEEN VIRGINIA D. 
Published: August 2011

Objective.Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) increases mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The multicenter PHAROS registry (Pulmonary Hypertension Assessment and Recognition of Outcomes in Scleroderma) prospectively follows subjects with SSc at high risk for or with incident pulmonary hypertension (PH). We describe the registry design and baseline characteristics of subjects enrolled during the first 18 months since the start of the study.Methods.High-risk subjects are enrolled and classified as Pre-PAH if they have (1) carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) < 55% predicted; (2) percentage of predicted forced vital capacity/DLCO ratio ≥ 1.6; or (3) an estimated right ventricular systolic pressure > 35 mm Hg on echocardiography. Subjects with right heart catheterization (RHC)-confirmed incident PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥ 25 mm Hg within previous 6 months) are subclassified into PAH, pulmonary venous hypertension secondary to left-side heart disease (PVH), and PH due to interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). Baseline and biannual demographic, clinical, and laboratory data and patient-reported health questionnaires are collected.Results.There are 237 subjects enrolled in PHAROS. The majority are white (73%) and women (87%). There are 166 Pre-PAH and 71 Definite PH subjects (49 PAH, 7 PVH, and 15 PH-ILD).Conclusion.PHAROS is the largest US and Canadian cohort of subjects with SSc at high risk for or with incident PAH. PAH-specific therapies are approved for 49/71 subjects with RHC-confirmed PAH. Analyses of PHAROS registry data will permit identification of risk factors for development of PAH among SSc patients at high risk for PAH and enhance understanding of the course of SSc-PAH.
Synthesis and characterization of soybean‐oil‐based polyurethane composites containing industrial and agricultural residual wastes as fillers
Authors: Costa Ana Paula O. , Silva Rafael B. , Gerbase Annelise E. , Petzhold Cesar L. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThermosetting composites were prepared from soybean‐oil‐based polyols (hydroxyl number = 190 mg of KOH/g, [OH]/[NCO] for 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate = 0.9) and fillers (10 wt %) from industrial and agricultural residual wastes. Different types of inexpensive residual wastes were used: black rice husk ash, coconut husk ash, calcined retorted oil shale, and retorted oil shale. The fillers were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and measurements of particle size distribution, specific surface area, and pore size distribution. The fillers were microporous materials with different chemical compositions, with average particle diameters varying from 5.6 to 76.6 μm, specific surface areas varying between 6 and 165 m2/g, and thermal stability at the polyurethane cure temperature (65°C). All composites were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis, flexural tests, Shore A hardness tests, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Coconut husk ash, rice husk ash, and retorted oil shale presented better mechanical properties; nevertheless, coconut husk ash and rice husk ash had higher particle sizes, which caused bad dispersion of the filler in the matrix and resulted in nonhomogeneous composites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Studies of particle dispersion in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride)/montmorillonite nanocomposites
Authors: Saad A. L. G. , Dimitry O. I. H. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractPoly(vinyl chloride)(PVC) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) were mixed with 5 and 10 wt % of Cloisite Na+, Cloisite 30B or Cloisite 93A. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized by thermal analysis using a thermogravimetric analyzer which showed that addition of 5 wt % of nanoclay to PVC increased its thermal stability in the sequence: Cloisite Na+< Cloisite 93A< Cloisite 30B. The electrical conductivity of these composites was studied as a function of temperatures and showed that the conductivity of PVC was enhanced upon using 5 wt % of nanoclay in the sequence: Cloisite Na+< Cloisite 30B < Cloisite 93A. The activation energy of interaction of PVC with nanoclay was found to be lowest for the composite containing 5 wt % of nanoclay in the same sequence. The tensile strength, elongation (%), and Young's modulus were considerably enhanced upon increasing the clay content to 5 wt % in the sequence: Cloisite Na+< Cloisite 93A < Cloisite 30B. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study these nanocomposite structures, and it was found that the organoclay layers are homogeneously dispersed in the PVC matrix when 5 wt % of Cloisite 30B or Cloisite 93A was used. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Compatibilizer in waste tire powder and low‐density polyethylene blends and the blends modified asphalt
Authors: Ouyang Chunfa , Gao Qun , Shi Yutao , Shan Xiaoqian 
Published: August 2011

AbstractWith the increasing ratio of waste tire powder (WTP) to low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), the hardness and tensile strength of the WTP/LDPE blends decreased while the elongation at break increased. Five kinds of compatibilizers, such as maleic anhydride‐grafted polyethylene (PE‐g‐MA), maleic anhydride‐grafted ethylene‐octene copolymer (POE‐g‐MA), maleic anhydride‐grafted linear LDPE, maleic anhydride‐grafted ethylene vinyl‐acetate copolymer, and maleic anhydride‐grafted styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene, were incorporated to prepare WTP/LDPE blends, respectively. PE‐g‐MA and POE‐g‐MA reinforced the tensile stress and toughness of the blends. The toughness value of POE‐g‐MA incorporating blends was the highest, reached to 2032.3 MJ/m3, while that of the control was only 1402.9 MJ/m3. Therefore, POE‐g‐MA was selected as asphalt modifier. The toughness value reached to the highest level when the content of POE‐g‐MA was about 8%. Besides that the softening point of the modified asphalt would be higher than 60°C, whereas the content of WTP/LDPE blend was more than 5%, and the blends were mixed by stirring under the shearing speed of 3000 rpm for 20 min. Especially, when the blend content was 8.5%, the softening point arrived at 82°C, contributing to asphalt strength and elastic properties in a wide range of temperature. In addition, the swelling property of POE‐g‐MA/WTP/LDPE blend was better than that of the other compalibitizers, which indicated that POE‐g‐MA /WTP/LDPE blend was much compatible with asphalt. Also, the excellent compatibility would result in the good mechanical and processing properties of the modified asphalt. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
A validated enantioselective HPLC assay of dexibuprofen in dexibuprofen tablet formulations
Authors: Awad Hanan , Aboul‐Enein Hassan Y. , Lashin Sherif 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTA high‐performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector (HPLC‐DAD) method was developed and validated for the quantitation of dexibuprofen in dexibuprofen tablets using ovomucoid chiral stationary phase (Ultron ES‐OVM). The mobile phase was composed of 0.025  m potassium phosphate dibasic (pH 4.5)–methanol–ethanol (85:10:5 v/v/v). The method was validated for specificity, linearity, range, accuracy, precision and robustness. The method was enantiomer‐specific for the determination of dexibuprofen [S‐(+)‐isomer ibuprofen] in the presence of R‐(−)‐isomer ibuprofen in bulk drug, pharmaceutical dosage form and under stress degradation. The method was linear over the range 15–35 µg/mL with r2 = 0.9995; accuracy and precision were acceptable with %RSD < 2.0%. The method was found to be specific, precise, accurate, robust and stability‐indicating, and can be successfully applied for the routine analysis of dexibuprofen in bulk drug and pharmaceutical dosage form. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhanced schwann cell adhesion and elongation on a topographically and chemically modified poly(L‐lactic acid) film surface
Authors: Huang Wei‐Chin , Yao Chih‐Kai , Liao Jiunn‐Der , Lin Chou‐Ching K. , Ju Ming‐Shaung 
Published: August 2011

AbstractA dense poly‐L‐lactic acid (PLLA) film was employed as the primary material and hot‐embossed with the formation of microgrooves (g‐PLLA). A thin layer of Au was then deposited on the film to obtain a morphologically modified substrate (Au/g‐PLLA). The Au/g‐PLLA film surface was then chemically modified by imprinting octadecanethiolate (ODT) self‐assembled monolayers on the upper surface (ODT/Au/g‐PLLA), followed by Arg‐Gly‐Asp (RGD) peptide sequences on the microgrooves (RGD_ODT/Au/g‐PLLA). The surface chemistry of the as‐prepared RGD_ODT/Au/g‐PLLA samples was examined. The bioactivity and spreading function of Schwann cells cultured on the morphologically and chemically modified surfaces were assessed. The results demonstrate that Schwann cells adhered to the RGD/Au/g‐PLLA surface and proliferated along the microgrooves without crossing over the ODT/Au/PLLA surface. The proposed film surface can be used for manipulating the outgrowth of axons by modifying and arranging a selected region to induce cell growth and to prevent cells from spreading out nondirectionally. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2011.
High‐output cardiac failure in a fetus with thanatophoric dysplasia associated with large placental chorioangioma: Case report
Authors: Akercan Fuat , Oncul Seyfettinoglu Sevtap , Zeybek Burak , Cirpan Teksin 
Published: August 2011

AbstractPlacental chorioangioma is an angioma arising from chorionic tissue. Fetal thanatophoric dysplasia is a lethal skeletal dysplasia due to mutation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene. These two conditions are rare and their coexistence in a given fetus is even rarer. We present a case of a fetus with thanatophoric dysplasia having high‐output cardiac failure due to a large placental chorioangioma. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011
An arteriovenous malformation within the internal acoustic meatus and cerebellopontine angle cistern
Authors: Patel P N , Connor S , Brew S , Gleeson M J 
Published: August 2011

AbstractObjectives:We report a case of an arteriovenous malformation within the internal auditory meatus and cerebellopontine angle, and we discuss its imaging appearances and management.Case report:A 50-year-old man presented with a two-year history of vertigo. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated a lesion consisting of multiple ‘high flow’ vessels within the left internal auditory meatus and cerebellopontine angle. Transarterial embolisation was performed, with obliteration of the arteriovenous malformation.Conclusion:Arteriovenous malformations of the internal auditory meatus and cerebellopontine angle are exceedingly rare. It is important that a pre-treatment diagnosis is made, as the management of arteriovenous malformation differs from that of other, more common lesions at this site.
Assessment of set-up discrepancies using daily portal imaging during radiotherapy treatment for patients with spine and bone metastases
Authors: Young L. , Blyth C.M. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractIt is well established that patients with bone metastases get good pain relief from radiotherapy. The aim of treatment is to achieve maximum pain relief with minimum morbidity. Accuracy and reproducibility of the patient’s position are fundamental to the successful delivery of radiation therapy. It has been recognised for many years, that the accuracy of patient positioning will improve the success of radiation treatment. A previous study carried out in the department showed that the use of only a single tattoo for the set-up of palliative patients resulted in poor accuracy. The aim of this study was to assess if the addition of extra skin marks improved the set-up accuracy of palliative patients being treated for spine and bone metastases. A protocol was implemented detailing the extra skin marks to be used. Daily portal images were acquired and analysed retrospectively using anatomy matching. The results obtained were then compared with those of the previous study. The use of extra skin marks resulted in a total of 45% of images within 5 mm tolerance compared with 36% of images in patients treated with a single centre tattoo. Also, the number of images with deviations greater than 15 mm was reduced by more than 50% with the addition of extra skin marks. This study has shown that extra skin marks do increase the set-up accuracy in palliative patients treated for spine and bone metastases. Therefore, the practice of using extra skin marks has become standard protocol for all palliative patients within the department.
Open the door to more of the same? The development of interest group representation at the WTO
Authors: HANEGRAAFF MARCEL , BEYERS JAN , BRAUN CAELESTA 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe openness of the World Trade Organization (WTO) towards non-state actors has led to much debate among scholars and practitioners. The objective of this paper is to add empirical knowledge to this ongoing debate. In particular, we examine the effects of allowing interest groups to participate at WTO Ministerial Conferences (MCs) during 1996–2009 by analyzing a novel dataset of 1992 interest organizations that attended seven MCs. The data we present demonstrate that, in contrast to what many expected, the WTO did not attract a more diverse population of interest groups since these organizations were allowed to participate at MCs. Moreover, we observe an increasing overrepresentation of some specific issue-related interests, especially agriculture, and a strong presence of Northern American and European interest organizations attending MCs. Another important observation is that MCs are not particularly dominated by business interests at the expense of NGOs (non-governmental organization), who are also consistently well represented at the WTO meetings. Yet, the high levels of volatility observed at the level of individual organizations suggests that, although it is rather easy to start lobbying at WTO MCs, only a relatively small number of interest organizations keep a long lobbying presence at this level.
Postoperative morbidity after fast‐track laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer
Authors: Stottmeier S. , Harling H. , Wille‐Jørgensen P. , Balleby L. , Kehlet H. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAim  Analysis was carried out of the nature and chronological order of early complications after fast‐track laparoscopic rectal surgery with a view to optimizing the short‐time outcome of rectal cancer surgery.Method  A total of 102 consecutive patients who underwent elective fast‐track laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery were analysed prospectively from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Database supplemented by data from the medical records. We studied in detail the nature and chronological order of postoperative morbidity and reason for prolonged stay (> 5 days).Results  Twenty‐five patients (25%) had one or more complications. Surgical complications occurred in 19 patients, while six patients had medical complications as the primary event. Fifteen patients underwent reoperation, three died, and eight were readmitted within 30 days. The median length of stay was 5 days (range 2–42).Conclusion  Postoperative morbidity remains a significant problem in the fast‐track era, even in experienced surgical hands. Our results suggest that besides improvement of surgical technique further improvement of outcome lies in early recognition and proper treatment of complications and the perioperative optimization of organ function.
Modelling relationships between species spatial abundance patterns and climate
Authors: Huntley Brian , Altwegg Res , Barnard Phoebe , Collingham Yvonne C. , Hole David G. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTAim  To move towards modelling spatial abundance patterns and to evaluate the relative impacts of climatic change upon species abundances as opposed to range extents.Location  Southern Africa, including Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.Methods  Quantitative response surface models were fitted for 78 bird species, mostly endemic (68) or near‐endemic to the region, to model relationships between species reporting rates (i.e. the proportion of checklists reporting a species for a particular grid cell), as recorded by the Southern African Bird Atlas Project, and four bioclimatic variables derived from climatic data for the period 1961–90. With caution, reporting rates can be used as a proxy for abundance. Models were used to project potential impacts of a series of projected climatic change scenarios upon species abundance patterns and range extents.Results  Most models obtained were robust with good predictive power. Projections of potential future abundance patterns indicate that the magnitude of impacts upon a proxy for abundance are greater than those upon range extent for the majority of species (82% by 2071–2100). For most species (74%) both abundance and range extent are projected to decrease by 2100. Impacts are especially severe if species are unable to realize projected range changes; when only the area of a species' simulated present range is considered, overall abundance decreases of more than 80% are projected for 19 (24%) of species examined.Main conclusions  Our results indicate that projected climatic changes are likely to elicit greater relative changes in species abundances than range extents. For most species examined changes were decreases, suggesting the impacts upon biodiversity are likely generally to be negative. These results also suggest that previous estimates of the proportion of species at increased risk of extinction as a result of climatic change may, in some cases, be under‐estimates.
Melanocytic naevi and basal cell carcinoma: is there an association?
Authors: Richmond‐Sinclair N.M. , van der Pols J.C. , Green A.C. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractBackground  Melanoma and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) affect similar body sites and share a complex relationship with sun exposure.Objective  To establish the existence and magnitude of association between melanocytic naevi, the strongest predictors of melanoma, and BCC to give possible insights into shared pathways of solar ultraviolet tumourigenesis.Methods  In a community‐based longitudinal Australian study, detailed information was collected about sun sensitivity, and dermatologists assessed skin colour and counted naevi on the forearms (1986) and back (1992). The BCC frequency and sites were prospectively monitored until 2007. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association of naevi on the forearms or on the back with the development of BCC, adjusting for other risk factors.Results  Of 1621 study participants in 1992, 1339 (average age 49) had complete follow‐up and 401 (30%) of these had 1202 histologically confirmed BCCs until 2007. After adjustment for age, gender, skin colour, naevi on the back and sun exposure, overall BCC risk increased significantly in those with forearm naevi (odds ratio: 1.5; 95% confidence intervals: 1.1–1.9). Risk of BCC specifically on the back was doubled in those with many (11 or more) forearm naevi compared with no forearm naevi (odds ratio: 2.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.1–4.8). Naevi on the back were not associated with subsequent basal cell carcinoma.Conclusions  High naevus prevalence on the arms is associated with future BCC development.