bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Xenogeneic Collagen Matrix With Coronally Advanced Flap Compared to Connective Tissue With Coronally Advanced Flap for the Treatment of Dehiscence‐Type Recession Defects
Authors: McGuire Michael K. , Scheyer E. Todd 
Published: March 2010

Background: For root coverage therapy, the connective tissue graft (CTG) plus coronally advanced flap (CAF) is considered the gold standard therapy against which alternative therapies are generally compared. When evaluating these therapies, in addition to traditional measures of root coverage, subject‐reported, qualitative measures of esthetics, pain, and overall preferences for alternative procedures should also be considered. This study determines if a xenogeneic collagen matrix (CM) with CAF might be as effective as CTG+CAF in the treatment of recession defects.Methods: This study was a single‐masked, randomized, controlled, split‐mouth study of dehiscence‐type recession defects in contralateral sites; one defect received CTG+CAF and the other defect received CM+CAF. A total of 25 subjects (8 male, 17 female; mean age: 43.7 ± 12.2 years) were evaluated at 6 months and 1 year. The primary efficacy endpoint was recession depth at 6 months. Secondary endpoints included traditional periodontal measures, such as width of keratinized tissue and percentage of root coverage. Subject‐reported values of pain, discomfort, and esthetic satisfaction were also recorded.Results: At 6 months, recession depth was on average 0.52 mm for test sites and 0.10 mm for control sites. Recession depth change from baseline was statistically significant between test and control, with an average of 2.62 mm gained at test sites and 3.10 mm gained at control sites for a difference of 0.4 mm (P = 0.0062). At 1 year, test percentage of root coverage averaged 88.5%, and controls averaged 99.3% (P = 0.0313). Keratinized tissue width gains were equivalent for both therapies and averaged 1.34 mm for test sites and 1.26 mm for control sites (P = 0.9061). There were no statistically significant differences between subject‐reported values for esthetic satisfaction, and subjects' assessments of pain and discomfort were also equivalent.Conclusion: When balanced with subject‐reported esthetic values and compared to historical root coverage outcomes reported by other investigators, CM+CAF presents a viable alternative to CTG+CAF, without the morbidity of soft tissue graft harvest.
Macrophage Adiponectin Expression Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Protects Against Inflammation and Atherosclerosis
Authors: Luo Nanlan , Liu Jian , Chung B. Hong , Yang Qinglin , Klein Richard L. , Garvey W. Timothy , Fu Yuchang 
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE
Adiponectin is one of several important metabolically active cytokines secreted from adipose tissue. Epidemiologic studies have associated low-circulating levels of this adipokine with multiple metabolic disorders including obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. To investigate adiponectin-mediated changes in metabolism in vivo, we generated transgenic mice that specifically express the gene coding for human adiponectin in mouse macrophages using the human scavenger receptor A-I gene enhancer/promoter.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Using this transgenic mouse model, we found that adiponectin expression was associated with reduced whole-animal body and fat-pad weight and an improved lipid accumulation in macrophages when these transgenic mice were fed with a high-fat diet. Moreover, these macrophage Ad-TG mice exhibit enhanced whole-body glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity with reduced proinflammatory cytokines, MCP-1 and TNF-a (both in the serum and in the metabolic active macrophage), adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle under the high-fat diet condition. Additional studies demonstrated that these macrophage adiponectin transgenic animals exhibit reduced macrophage foam cell formation in the arterial wall when these transgenic mice were crossed with an LDL receptor–deficient mouse model and were fed a high-fat diet.

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that adiponectin expressed in macrophages can physiologically modulate metabolic activities in vivo by improving metabolism in distal tissues. The use of macrophages as carriers for adiponectin, a molecule with antidiabetes, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherogenic properties, provides a novel and unique strategy for studying the mechanisms of adiponectin-mediated alterations in body metabolism in vivo.
Identifying Psychosocial Interventions That Improve Both Physical and Mental Health in Patients With Diabetes
Authors: Harkness Elaine , Macdonald Wendy , Valderas Jose , Coventry Peter , Gask Linda , Bower Peter 
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE
Patients with diabetes suffer high rates of mental health problems, and this combination is associated with poor outcomes. Although effective treatments exist for both diabetes and mental health problems, delivering services for physical and mental health problems separately ignores their interaction and may be inefficient. This systematic review sought to identify psychosocial interventions that could improve both the physical and mental health of patients with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Studies were identified from the following databases: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica (EMBASE), Psychinfo, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). The review included randomized controlled trials in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who received psychosocial interventions and where both mental health and physical health outcomes were reported. Data were extracted on study quality, the content and process of interventions, and outcomes.

RESULTS
Eighty-five eligible comparisons were identified, of which 49 reported sufficient data for analysis. Psychosocial interventions modestly improved A1C (standardized mean difference −0.29 [95% CI −0.37 to −0.21]) and mental health outcomes (−0.16 [−0.25 to −0.07]). However, there was a limited association between the effects on A1C and mental health, and no intervention characteristics predicted benefit on both outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS
Managing physical and mental health in long-term conditions are increasingly important. The review did not identify types of interventions that consistently provide benefits for both physical and mental health. Developing such interventions remains an important challenge. The findings have implications for understanding the interaction between physical and mental health problems and for the coordination of care.
Postoperative Mortality in Cancer Patients With Preexisting Diabetes
Authors: Barone Bethany B. , Yeh Hsin-Chieh , Snyder Claire F. , Peairs Kimberly S. , Stein Kelly B. , Derr Rachel L. , Wolff Antonio C. , Brancati Frederick L. 
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE
Diabetes appears to increase risk for some cancers, but the association between preexisting diabetes and postoperative mortality in cancer patients is less clear. Our objective was to systematically review postoperative mortality in cancer patients with and without preexisting diabetes and summarize results using meta-analysis.

RSEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We searched the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) for articles published on or before 1 July 2009, including references of qualifying articles. We included English language investigations of short-term postoperative mortality after initial cancer treatment. Titles, abstracts, and articles were reviewed by at least two independent readers. Study population and design, results, and quality components were abstracted with standard protocols by one reviewer and checked for accuracy by additional reviewers.

RESULTS
Of 8,828 titles identified in our original search, 20 articles met inclusion criteria for qualitative systematic review. Of these, 15 reported sufficient information to be combined in meta-analysis. Preexisting diabetes was associated with increased odds of postoperative mortality across all cancer types (OR = 1.85 [95% CI 1.40–2.45]). The risk associated with preexisting diabetes was attenuated but remained significant when we restricted the meta-analysis to models that controlled for confounders (1.51 [1.13–2.02]) or when we accounted for publication bias using the trim and fill method (1.52 [1.13–2.04]).

CONCLUSIONS
Compared with their nondiabetic counterparts, cancer patients with preexisting diabetes are ∼50% more likely to die after surgery. Future research should investigate physiologic pathways to mortality risk and determine whether improvements in perioperative diabetes care can reduce postoperative mortality.
Bilateral Quadriceps Tendon Rupture: A Rare Finding in a Healthy Man After Minimal Trauma
Authors: Chiu Michael , Forman Edward S. 
Published: March 2010

Quadriceps tendon rupture is an uncommon injury; the incidence of simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture is extremely rare. Two distinct categories—individuals older than 50 years and between 27 and 54 years—have been described. Bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture is more common in patients older than 50 years and is thought to be the result of tendon weakening due to obesity and arteriosclerosis-induced fibrotic changes, or previous injury.
In younger individuals, bilateral simultaneous quadriceps rupture is less frequent and has been associated with anabolic steroid use, but more frequently with underlying comorbid medical conditions such as chronic renal failure, hyperparathyroidism, endocrine disorder, gout, diabetes and obesity, which predispose the patients to tendon rupture. Our case report is unique because we report the simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture following minor trauma in an otherwise healthy 43-year-old man with no predisposing comorbidity.
A National Survey of the Management of Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction in the United Kingdom
Authors: Puvanachandra Narman , Trikha Sameer , MacEwen Caroline J. , Morris Robert J. , Hodgkins Peter R. 
Published: March 2010

Purpose:
To survey national variation in the management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, particularly the timing of intervention and the use of nasolacrimal intubation, nasal endoscopy, and assistance from an ear, nose, and throat surgeon at different stages of management.

Methods:
A telephone survey was conducted of 100 ophthalmologists in the United Kingdom who were involved in the management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. A sequential management protocol was established for each, including the nature of procedures, their timing, and the use of nasal endoscopy and ear, nose, and throat surgeons.

Results:
Of those surveyed, 49% use the dye disappearance test for diagnosis. Eighty-four percent suggest lacrimal sac massage to parents. No surveyed ophthalmologists perform “office” probing or balloon dilation. Seventy-four percent perform initial probing after 1 year, with 25% using nasal endoscopy. If symptoms persist, 64.5% (60 of 93) repeat the probing, whereas 35.5% (33 of 93) intubate the lacrimal system. The use of nasal endoscopy increases to 50.5% (47 of 93). By the third intervention, 77.6% (45 of 58) perform lacrimal intubation, with 72.4% (42 of 58) using nasal endoscopy. All opt for dacryocystorhinostomy as the fourth intervention and 28.3% (13 of 46) perform this procedure themselves, whereas 71.7% (33 of 46) refer the patient to another practitioner. In total, 65% (65 of 100) use tubes at some stage of management, 58% (58 of 100) make some use of nasal endoscopy, and 33% (33 of 100) involve ear, nose, and throat surgeons.

Conclusion:
Based on the results of this survey, huge variation exists in the management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in the United Kingdom. Most ophthalmologists intervene soon after patients reach 1 year of age. The rate of nasal endoscopy increases with successive interventions, especially to aid with nasal intubation, either alone or with the assistance of ear, nose, and throat surgeons.

[J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2010;47:76–80.]
Major Pediatric Ocular Trauma in Taiwan
Authors: Liu Mei-Ling , Chang Yi-Sheng , Tseng Sung-Huei , Cheng Hon-Chun , Huang Fu-Chin , Shih Min-Hsiu , Hsu Sheng-Min , Kuo Po-Hsiu 
Published: March 2010

Purpose:
To investigate major pediatric ocular trauma in Taiwan.

Methods:
Retrospective review of medical records of all patients 15 years and younger who were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of eye injury at National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan, between June 1988 and May 2006.

Results:
There were 156 children (156 eyes) 1.1 to 15.0 years (mean ± standard deviation, 7.1 ± 0.3 years; boy: girl ratio: 2.1:1). Objects most often causing penetrating injury were scissors (13.5%), pencils/pens (12.2%), broken eyeglasses/spectacles (7.7%), and knives (6.4%). Most blunt trauma occurred in traffic accidents (5.8%). Most injuries occurred at home, followed by on the street, at school, and at sports venues. Injuries were classified as open globe (71.2%), adnexal only (18.6%), or closed globe (10.3%), and included corneal laceration (40.4%), lens damage (27.6%), hyphema (25.6%), and eyelid laceration (23.7%). Most surgical procedures were primary repair (88.5%) or removal of a damaged lens (22.4%). Additional surgery was performed in 19.9% of cases. After treatment, 56.4% of eyes had corneal opacity/scar and 7.1% became phthitic; 52.6% had good visual outcome, whereas 23.1% had poor final vision. Compared with visual acuity measured on admission, final visual acuity was improved in 76.1%, unchanged in 19.7%, and worse in 4.3%. Predictors of worse outcome were open-globe injury and larger wound size, posterior segment involvement, and presence of an intraocular foreign body.

Conclusions:
Most of the children hospitalized for major ocular trauma are younger boys with penetrating injuries suffered at home. Most injuries could have been prevented by increased awareness and reduction of risk factors, and the authors urge better public education for improved safety.

[J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2010;47:88–95.]
Topography-Guided vs Wavefront-Optimized Surface Ablation for Myopia Using the WaveLight Platform: A Contralateral Eye Study
Authors: Falavarjani Khalil Ghasemi , Hashemi Masih , Modarres Mehdi , Sanjari Mostafa Soltan , Darvish Niloufar , Gordiz Arzhang 
Published: March 2010

Purpose:
To compare treatments with wavefront-optimized and topography-guided ablations.

Methods:
This prospective, randomized, contralateral study comprised 40 eyes (20 patients) with low to moderate myopia with or without astigmatism that underwent topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) (ALLEGRO Topolyzer, Alcon Laboratories Inc) in one eye and wavefront-optimized PRK (ALLEGRETTO WAVE software version 2.020 default treatment, Alcon Laboratories Inc) in the fellow eye. Visual acuity, refractive error, contrast sensitivity, and Orbscan (Bausch & Lomb) 3- and 5-mm corneal irregularities were measured preoperatively and 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The results were compared between the two eyes.

Results:

In both groups, preoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (0.03±0.09 logMAR for topography-guided and 0.01±0.06 logMAR for wavefront-optimized [
P
=.1]), 3-month postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) (−0.01±0.03 logMAR for topography-guided and −0.01±0.03 logMAR for wavefront-optimized [
P
=.4]), and 6-month postoperative UDVA (0.01±0.03 logMAR for topography-guided and 0.0±0.01 logMAR for wavefront-optimized [
P
=.3]) were the same. All wavefront-optimized and 18 (90%) topography-guided eyes had UDVA of 20/20 or better. No significant differences were noted between groups in pre- and postoperative spherical and cylindrical refractive errors or corneal irregularity and contrast sensitivity measurements. Six months postoperatively, contrast sensitivity values at 3, 6, 12, and 18 cycles/degree were 5.7±0.7, 6.0±1.5, 6.1±1.3, and 5.5±1.5, respectively, in the topography-guided group, and 6.2±0.6, 6.4±1.2, 6.4±1.1, and 5.8±1.3, respectively, in the wavefront-optimized group (
P
=.3,
P
=.5,
P
=.4, and
P
=.6, respectively).

Conclusions:
Using the WaveLight excimer laser platform for PRK, CDVA and contrast sensitivity outcomes were statistically similar between the wavefront-optimized and topography-guided ablations in eyes with low to moderate myopia with and without astigmatism.
Commercialization of Agriculture and Role of Agricultural Extension
Authors: Mahaliyanaarachchi Rohana P , Bandara RMAS 
Published: March 2010

Today commercialization of agriculture is an inevitable reality throughout the whole world. There are a number of factors affecting the commercialization process in agriculture. Some of them could be named as rapid growth of economies in the both developing and developed countries, introducing of new technologies, market expansion, market liberalization, urbanization, rapid increase of demand for food, decreasing of farming population, liberalized and open economic policies, bilateral and multilateral economic agreements, developed infrastructure facilities in farming areas and government agricultural policies. However, commercialization in agriculture is not a new phenomenon and it is not a surprise to the farming community. Since the nineteen fifties, farmers in most of the countries have moved towards commercial agriculture. Their major objective was surplus production aiming market prospects. Agricultural extension plays a major role in agricultural production. Role of agricultural extension in a commercialized agricultural system is different from such service in subsistence farming system. In the commercialized agriculture the extension service will mainly concentrate on the resourceful big farmers, with favorable environmental conditions and higher socio-economic status. Under the commercialized agriculture the number of farmers is to be reduced and the size of the farm land should be increased. This is a generally accepted concept in commercial agriculture. Do we have to accept this concept under each and every situation? We think the answer is "no". By using improved technologies farmers can move towards commercial agriculture without considering the size of land. Under protected agriculture, farmers follow concepts of the commercial agriculture. Commercial livestock farming does not rely on the farm size except diary farming. However, the role of agricultural extension in the commercialized agricultural system is mainly dependent on the type and way of commercialization in a given society. We have to expect that agricultural extension services are supposed to fulfill many aims, from reducing rural poverty and improved livelihoods for rural households to increasing the overall production and contributing to foreign exchange earnings from exports. But the level and percentage of this contribution may vary from one situation to another. DOI: 10.4038/suslj.v6i1.1686 Sabaragamuwa University Journal, vol 6, no. 1, pp 13-22
Measuring the Risk and Performance in Plantation Sector Using CAPM Based Jensen’s Alpha
Authors: Dayaratne DAI , Dharmaratne DG , Harris SA 
Published: March 2010

This paper evaluates the company performance using the CAPM Based Jensen's Alpha. The CAPM of Sharpe (1964), Lintner (1965) and Mossin is a widely used model in modern Finance to estimate cost of equity and company performance. We carried out our study for ten plantation companies listed on Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). We used cost of equity that is calculated using CAPM to determine the Economic Value Added (EVA).The EVA measures whether the companies have created shareholders' value during the estimating period. We selected the sample period of 2000 to 2005 years and we applied the monthly ending prices of common stocks of each company for the regression. The monthly ending prices of All Share Price Index (ASPI) are used as the market proxy. To estimate the beta, we applied market model. It was found that almost all the companies have created value for their shareholders during the study period. To measure the market performance, we calculated Jensen's alpha for each company and according to Jensen's alpha we found that the market performance is not satisfactory in most plantation companies. These results are important for Corporate Managers undertaking risk calculations, for fund managers making investment decision and, amongst others, for investors who wish to assess value of their investments. DOI: 10.4038/suslj.v6i1.1690 Sabaragamuwa University Journal, vol 6, no. 1, pp 68-81
Managerial Deficiencies in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka: An Empirical Evidence of SMEs in the Ratnapura District
Authors: Priyanath HMS 
Published: March 2010

This paper discuses the basic managerial deficiencies of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka with special reference to the SMEs in Ratnapura District. The study is mainly based on primary data gathered from 57 of SMEs, which were selected from 287 SMEs using stratified random sampling method. Data was gathered using a structured questionnaire and interviewing labourors, officers of various SME supportive organizations and observing SMEs. The study was supplemented with the data collected from secondary sources as well. Data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative techniques. The study found that even basic management functions like planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling are not properly practiced in most of the SMEs. Most SMEs do not have clear plans for future development, production process, marketing, financial activities etc. Owners (entrepreneurs) of most of SMEs act as managers handling all the responsibilities, which are not delegated to others. Therefore, most of the SMEs do not function efficiently due to the delay of decision-making process, poor organization, poor staffing, weak controlling and directing. Financial management of most of the SMEs is found to be very weak. Most SMEs do not calculate total expenses, total revenue, profit etc, for they do not keep any account systematically. Most SMEs do not provide any welfare facilities and retirement benefits like EPF and ETF to encourage labourers. Poor production planning and production process, weak practices of marketing and poor quality of the products are the other deficiencies of SMEs. Performance of many SMEs is very poor due to the deficiencies in management. Poor knowledge in management of entrepreneurs causes the managerial deficiencies. Therefore, SMEs cannot judge problems and barriers coming from internal and external industrial environment. The paper concludes that the growth of SMEs can be accelerated by developing managerial knowledge of entrepreneurs of the SMEs. DOI: 10.4038/suslj.v6i1.1692 Sabaragamuwa University Journal, vol 6, no. 1, pp 93-105
Derivation of Recovery Kinetics From Stress Relaxation Tests
Authors: Bhaumik Sheila , Mohles Volker , Gottstein Günter , Heering Christoph , Hirt Gerhard 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe recovery behavior of a commercial aluminum alloy 3103 was investigated by the means of two alternative experimental methods: stress relaxation (SR) and double tension tests (DT). In case of SR, the stress–time evolution after deformation was recorded, and for DT the yield stress after several recovery times were measured. The DT tests were further sub‐divided into tests with and without external load during recovery. The results revealed that the recovery kinetics is clearly accelerated by the external stress during the SR. However, the difference between the DT and SR stresses is much larger. It is caused by continued dislocation glide after the deformation, which causes continued plastic elongation of the specimens. This is demonstrated quantitatively by appropriate evaluation models for both experiments. In contrast to DT, the SR evaluation accounts for the elastic SR due to plastic elongation, but the recovery parameters are the same ones as for DT. This makes it possible to replace DT by SR experiments, which are materially less laborious.