bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Critical Analysis and Discussion of Clinical Research Ethics in the Russian Federation and Their Implications for Western Sponsored Trials
Authors: Leintz Christopher 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTGlobalization, political upheavals, and Western economic struggles have caused a geographical reprioritization in the realm of drug development and human clinical research. Regulatory and cost hurdles as well as a saturation of research sites and subjects in Western countries have forced the pharmaceutical industry to place an unprecedented level of importance on emerging markets, injecting Western corporate initiatives into cultures historically and socially isolated from Western‐centric value systems. One of the greatest recipients of this onslaught of Western business and research practices is the Russian Federation. Namely, market forces are dictating a focused research initiative in the traditional emerging markets, but this focus may be at the expense of individual and societal dignity.
Climate Change and Reorganizing Land Use: Flood Control Areas as a Network Effect
Authors: Bruzzone Silvia 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAlthough climate change appears to be a relatively new public issue, it has not emerged onto a tabula rasa; it affects ‘traditional’ policy sectors. How, then, does this ‘new issue’ interact with established organizational processes, and how is climate change ‘operationalized’ in local practice? Since major events linked to climate change include such things as desertification, climatic migrations, floods and landslides, one might assume that one of its main implications would be a substantial change in land use, or at least a transformation in land organization and management. This article explores the implementation of a ‘flood control area’ as an adaptation practice in the face of climate change. What theoretical and empirical tools should analysis adopt to account for the multiple actors, types of knowledge, artefacts, socio‐technical systems and governance configurations engaged in developing such practices? In other words, to what extent does climate change become a reorganizing category? This article adopts a theoretical approach inspired by actor‐network theory and considers adaptation practice not as a standardized top‐down solution, but as the result of specific local connections among actors, materials and discourses. The analysis suggests that climate change is indeed a reorganizing category, but one that depends on the specific local materializations of the adaptation measure.
Alternative Capitalism and Creative Economy: the Case ofChristiania
Authors: Vanolo Alberto 
Published: July 2012

AbstractTheFreeTown ofChristiania is an autonomous community of about 1,000 inhabitants in the centre ofCopenhagen. Built as a squat for a hippy community in the 1970s, it is today a central node in the geography of activism, anarchism and alternative social life. This article analysesChristiania from the specific perspective of creativity and within the context of the ‘creative city’ debate. TheFreeTown is a lively innovative milieu, nurturing the arts, social experimentation, ideas and original architectural solutions. As such, it is becoming a more and more relevant space from the point of view of the market economy and in the promotion of the idea of a ‘creativeCopenhagen’. But I argue that much of its creative potential is connected to place‐specific socioeconomic factors. In this sense, theChristiania experience troubles mainstream conceptions of creativity by revealing that creativity is both fluid and situated.
Children and Families Seeking Asylum in Northern Norway: Living Conditions and Mental Health
Authors: Lauritzen Camilla , Sivertsen Hilde 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe mental health of children seeking asylum and their families is a somewhat neglected area of research. Research on refugee children and children living with adversities suggests that environmental factors are crucial in preventing mental health problems. In this study, we aim to identify central environmental conditions that affect the mental health of children living with their families at governmental asylum processing centres in northern Norway. This study has a qualitative design, and is based on 11 focus group interviews with the staff at asylum processing centres. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed focusing on important risk and protective factors for mental health problems presented by the informants. The results highlighted time spent at asylum centres and the parent's mental health as the most important risk factors. Schooling, activities, general living conditions and poor economy were also seen as crucial. The findings suggest that these children are indeed vulnerable, and at high risk of developing mental health problems. Their rights are, however, open to local interpretations, and they fall between two stools; their right to proper health care, and national and international immigration policies.
Diagnosis and management of melanoma with regional lymph node metastases: a population‐based study in France
Authors: Lévy‐Sitbon C. , Barbe C. , Granel‐Brocard F. , Lipsker D. , Aubin F. , Dalac S. , Truchetet F. , Michel C. , Mitschler A. , Arnoult G. , Le Clainche A. , Dalle S. , Bernard P. , Grange F. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground  Stage III melanoma represents a borderline situation regarding the potential curability of this potentially aggressive cancer and consequently, regional lymph node metastases (RLNM) are a major challenge for melanoma management.Objective  To describe the management of melanoma with RLNM as practised in France in 2008 and compare results with previous data from 2004, considering that new French recommendations were published in 2005.Methods  Retrospective population‐based study in five regions of France totalling 8.3 million inhabitants, targeting all incident cases of RLNM diagnosed in 2008. Questionnaires were mailed to physicians to identify cases and collect data, with verification by cancer registries for cases diagnosed concomitantly with the primary tumour using sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNB).Results  Data were collected for 101 patients in 2008, and compared to 89 cases treated in 2004. Palpation by a dermatologist was the most common circumstance of diagnosis of RLNM in 2008 (36%), followed by SLNB (29%), self‐palpation by the patient (16%) and lymph node ultrasonography (6%), without significant modification from 2004. After lymphadenectomy an adjuvant therapy was proposed in 62% of cases, mainly consisting in high‐dose interferon (HD‐IFN) (80%). Overall, HD‐IFN was proposed in 49% of cases, but effectively started in only 40% of cases after being proposed, and prematurely withdrawn in 28%, showing major changes as compared with 2004 (33%, 77% and 67%, respectively, P < 0.05). Adjuvant chemotherapy was not proposed to any patients in 2008, compared to 29% in 2004. Surveillance procedures included medical imaging less often in 2008 (76%) than in 2004 (92%) (P = 0.004), but more often included FDG‐PET (23% vs. 12%, P = 0.09).Conclusion  Overall, actual practice was in accordance with French recommendations. The main developments from 2004 to 2008 were the disappearance of adjuvant chemotherapies and a more accurate selection of patients for adjuvant interferon.
Perceived vision‐related quality of life and risk of falling among community living elderly people
Authors: Källstrand‐Eriksson Jeanette , Baigi Amir , Buer Nina , Hildingh Cathrine 
Published: July 2012

Scand J Caring Sci; 2013; 27; 433–439

Perceived vision‐related quality of life and risk of falling among community living elderly people
Falls and fall injuries among the elderly population are common, since ageing is a risk factor of falling. Today, this is a major problem because the ageing population is increasing. There are predictive factors of falling and visual impairment is one of them. Usually, only visual acuity is considered when measuring visual impairment, and nothing regarding a person’s functional visual ability is taken into account. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the perceived vision‐related quality of life among the community living elderly using the 25‐item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ‐25) and to investigate whether there was any association among vision‐related quality of life and falls. There were 212 randomly selected elderly people participating in the study. Our study indicated that the participants had an impaired perceived vision‐related health status. General health was the only NEI VFQ‐25 variable significantly associated with falls in both men and women. However, among men, near and distance activities, vision‐specific social functioning, role difficulties and dependency, color and peripheral vision were related to falls.
Real‐time imaging required for optimal echocardiographic assessment of aortic valve calcification
Authors: Yousry Mohamed , Rickenlund Anette , Petrini Johan , Gustavsson Tomas , Prahl Ulrica , Liska Jan , Eriksson Per , Franco‐Cereceda Anders , Eriksson Maria J , Caidahl Kenneth 
Published: July 2012

SummaryIntroductionAortic valve calcification (AVC), even without haemodynamic significance, may be prognostically import as an expression of generalized atherosclerosis, but techniques for echocardiographic assessment are essentially unexplored.MethodsTwo‐dimensional (2D) echocardiographic recordings (Philips IE33) of the aortic valve in short‐axis and long‐axis views were performed in 185 consecutive patients within 1 week before surgery for aortic stenosis (n = 109, AS), aortic regurgitation (n = 61, AR), their combination (n = 8) or dilation of the ascending aorta (n = 7). The grey scale mean (GSMn) of the aortic valve in an end‐diastolic short‐axis still frame was measured. The same frame was scored visually 1–5 as indicating that the aortic valve was normal, thick, or had mild, moderate or severe calcification. The visual echodensity of each leaflet was determined real time applying the same 5‐grade scoring system for each leaflet, and the average for the whole valve was calculated. Finally, a similar calcification score for the whole valve based on inspection and palpation by the surgeon was noted.ResultsVisual assessment of real‐time images using the proposed scoring system showed better correlation with the surgical evaluation of the degree of valve calcification (r = 0·83, P<0·001) compared to evaluation of stop frames by visual assessment (r = 0·66, P<0·001) or the GSMn score (r = 0·64, P<0·001). High inter‐ and intra‐observer correlations were observed for real‐time visual score (both intraclass correlation coefficient = 0·93).ConclusionReal‐time evaluation of the level of AVC is superior to using stop frames assessed either visually or by dedicated computer grey scale measurement software.
Hemoglobin Trends in Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Performed Off‐Pump and With Standard and Mini Circuits
Authors: Rosato Francesco , Bruzzone Dario , Cheema Faisal H. , Capo Antonio , Ardemagni Enrico , Verna Anna , Rosano Silvia , Grossi Claudio , Barili Fabio 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe comparison of hemodilution at the end of surgery is of limited use as it represents only a snapshot of a dynamic phenomenon. This study was undertaken to compare the perioperative hemoglobin curves of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting performed with minimized extracorporeal circulation, traditional cardiopulmonary bypass, and off‐pump technique. The propensity score method was used to select three groups of patients, homogenous regarding preoperative and operative data, who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. A generalized linear mixed model was used for estimating differences in perioperative hemoglobin trends among groups. The three groups were each composed of 50 patients with no differences in demographic data, preoperative risk profile, preoperative hemoglobin, or type of surgery. There was no significant difference in major postoperative complications. The pattern of the hemodilution curves was similar in patients operated with mini‐circuit and off‐pump technique (P > 005). Mini‐circuit led to a 3.1 ± 11.9% hemoglobin reduction, which was similar to the off‐pump group (1.6 ± 8.9%, P = 0.99 at ANOVA) and significantly different from the standard extracorporeal circuit group (16.0 ± 10.3%, P < 0.001 at ANOVA). The generalized linear mixed model determined that the standard circuit was the only independent predictor for increased hemodilution. Its effect on hemodilution was time‐dependent and the slope of the hemoglobin curve was more pronounced between systemic heparinization and the end of surgery. Perioperative hemoglobin trends of patients who underwent myocardial revascularization with mini‐circuit were similar to those of off‐pump surgery and significantly less pronounced than those of standard extracorporeal circulation.
Increasing the Transmitted Flow Pulse in a Rotary Left Ventricular Assist Device
Authors: Gaddum Nicholas Richard , Fraser John F. , Timms Daniel Lee 
Published: July 2012

AbstractLong‐term rotary left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly employed to bridge patients with end‐stage heart failure to transplant or as a destination therapy. Significant recent device development has increased patient support times, shifting further development focus toward physiologically sensitive control of the pump operation. Sensorless control of these devices would benefit from increased observability of the ventricular volume/preload to the pump, in order to regulate flow based on preload, imitating the native Frank‐Starling flow control. Monitoring the transmitted flow pulse through the pump has been used as a surrogate for preload, although means of maximizing its transmission are not clear. However, it is known that a flat hydraulic performance curve of the rotary pump induces high changes in flow for a given change in pressure head. The aim of this study was to determine geometric pump parameters responsible for increasing this flow pulse transmission and to demonstrate this increase in vitro. The sensitivity of the performance gradient to blade angles, blade heights, blade clearance, and channel areas were studied. Resulting pressure head, flow, and hydraulic efficiency were analyzed with respect to textbook designed procedures. Then pumps with comparably “flat” and “steep” performance curves were used to simulate LVAD support in vitro over a range of pump flow rates to observe the transmitted flow pulsatility. It was found that an outlet blade angle of 90°, inlet blade angle between 25 and 45°, and large throat area generated a “flatter” performance curve. The transmitted flow pulsatility through a pump with a flat performance curve was 68% higher than that of a steep performance curve at a flow rate of 5 L/min. Substantial gains in the observability of LVAD preload/resident blood volume in the ventricle exist through the careful selection of specific pump geometries.
Transplantation of Autologous Chondrocytes Seeded on a Fibrin/Hyaluronan Composite Gel Into Tracheal Cartilage Defects in Rabbits: Preliminary Results
Authors: Hong Hyun Jun , Lee Jin Seok , Choi Jae Won , Min Byoung‐Hyun , Lee Han‐Bin , Kim Chul‐Ho 
Published: July 2012

AbstractReconstruction of tracheal defects is one of the most difficult procedures in head and neck surgery. To date, various reconstructing techniques have been used with no consensus on the best approach. This study investigated the feasibility of using a fibrin/hyaluronic acid (HA) composite gel with autologous chondrocytes for tracheal reconstruction. Chondrocytes from autologous rabbit auricular cartilages were expanded and seeded into a culture dish at high density to form stable tracheal cartilages mechanically using a fibrin/HA composite gel. A 1‐cm long by 0.5‐cm wide defect was created by a scalpel on the cervical tracheae of six rabbits. Tissue‐engineered cartilages using fibrin/HA composite were trimmed and fixed to the defect boundaries with tissuecol. Postoperatively, the site was evaluated endoscopically, histologically, radiologically, and functionally. None of the six rabbits showed signs of respiratory distress. Postoperatively, in all cases, rigid telescopic examination showed that the implanted scaffolds were completely covered with regenerated mucosa without granulation or stenosis. Histologically, the grafts showed no signs of inflammatory reaction and were covered with ciliated epithelium. Even when grafts were broken and migrated from their original insertion site, the implanted cartilages were well preserved. However, the grafts did show signs of mechanical failure at the implantation site. The beat frequency of ciliated epithelium on implants was very similar to that of normal respiratory mucosa. In conclusion, implants with autologous chondrocytes cultured with fibrin/HA showed good tracheal luminal contour, functional epithelial regeneration, and preservation of neocartilage without inflammation but lacked adequate mechanical stability.
Prophylactic Use of Intra‐Aortic Balloon Pumps in Open Heart Surgery
Authors: Taguchi Shinichi , Tsutsumi Koji , Okamoto Masahiko , Kashima Ichiro 
Published: July 2012

AbstractDuring a 1‐year period, intra‐aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) were used in open heart surgery on 57 patients. Indications were prophylactic usage for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 52 patients, prophylactic usage for valve replacement in three patients, and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) weaning during valve replacement in two patients. The 52 CABG patients comprised 94.5% of all CABG procedures during the period. Sheathless 8 Fr IABPs were used in all cases. The 57 patients using IABPs were analyzed. The mean duration of IABP use was 41.7 h. Morbidity was not associated with using IABPs. There was one case of balloon rupture. Hemostasis was performed easily after removing IABP catheters by compressing the groin for approximately 15 min. The lowest blood pressure during anastomosis or cardiac arrest was also assessed. The lowest peak pressure was 55.9 ±  17.3 mm Hg for patients with IABP still turned on, and the lowest mean pressure was 34.7 ± 6.5 mm Hg for patients with IABP temporarily turned off. Peak blood pressure after CPB was 73.8 ±  17.8 mm Hg. During open heart surgery under anesthesia with the low blood pressure presented by this series, use of IABPs enabled patients to tolerate the procedure. In conclusion, aggressive use of IABPs is easy, safe, and effective with no related morbidity.
Comparative Analysis of Carbonization Drivers in China's Megacities
Authors: Chong Wang Hei Bruce , Guan Dabo , Guthrie Peter 
Published: July 2012

SummaryThis study investigates the key drivers affecting emission increases in terms of population growth, economic growth, industrial transformation, and energy use in six Chinese megacities: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. The six cities represent the most‐developed regions in China and they have similar per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as many developed countries. There is an urgent need to quantify the magnitude of each factor in driving the emissions changes in those cities so that a potential bottom‐up climate mitigation policy design at the city and sectoral levels can be initiated. We adopt index decomposition analysis and present the results in both additive and multiplicative approaches to reveal the absolute and relative levels of each factor in driving emission changes during 1985–2007. Among all cities, economic effect and energy intensity effect have always been the two dominant factors contributing to the changes in carbon emissions. This study reveals that there are large variations in the ways driving forces contribute to emission levels in different cities and industrial sectors.
Nonparametric Estimation of the Spatial Connectivity Matrix Using Spatial Panel Data
Authors: Beenstock Michael , Felsenstein Daniel 
Published: July 2012

We use moments from the covariance matrix for spatial panel data to estimate the parameters of the spatial autoregression model, including the spatial connectivity matrix W. In the unrestricted spatial autoregression model, the parameters are underidentified by one when W is symmetric. We show that a special case exists in which W is asymmetric and its parameters are exactly identified. If the panel data are stationary and ergodic, spatially and temporally, the estimates of W and the spatial autoregression coefficients are consistent. Spatial panel data for house prices in Israel are used to illustrate this methodology.Los autores usan momentos de una matriz de covarianza para datos panel espaciales para estimar los parámetros del modelo de autoregresión espacial (spatial autoregressive model), incluyendo la matriz de conectividad (o de ponderación) espacial W. En el modelo de autoregresión espacial sin restricciones, los parámetros están sub‐identificados por un valor de uno en los casos que la matriz W es simétrica. Los autores demuestran que existe un caso especial en el cual la matriz W es asimétrica y sus parámetros tienen cálculo exacto. Si los datos panel son estacionarios y ergódicos, espacial y temporalmente, los estimados de W y el coeficiente de autoregresión espacial son consistentes. Para ilustrar la metodología propuesta, los autores usan datos‐panel espaciales de precios de vivienda en Israel.本文通过采用空间面板数据的协方差矩阵对包含空间相关矩阵W的空间自回归模型进行参数的矩估计。在无约束空间自回归模型中，W是对称矩阵时，参数可由其估计得到。本文展示了一种W是对称矩阵且其参数能够被精确估计的特殊情况。如果面板数据在时间与空间特征上具有平稳性和遍历性，那么W和空间自回归参数的估计是一致的。最后，针对以色列住房价格的空间面板数据采用此方法进行实证研究。
Managing Systematic Mortality Risk With Group Self‐Pooling and Annuitization Schemes
Authors: Qiao Chao , Sherris Michael 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTGroup self‐annuitization (GSA) schemes are designed to share uncertain future mortality experience including systematic improvements. Challenges for designing group pooled schemes include decreasing average payments when mortality improves significantly, decreasing numbers in the pool at older ages, and the impact of dependence from systematic mortality improvements across different ages of members in the pool. This article uses a multiple‐factor stochastic mortality model in a simulation study to show how pooling can be made more effective and to quantify the limitations of these pooling schemes arising from the impact of systematic longevity risk.
Deciding Whether to Invest in Mitigation Measures: Evidence From Florida
Authors: Carson James M. , McCullough Kathleen A. , Pooser David M. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractPrior research provides theoretical insight into factors likely to impact the decision to mitigate such as the degree of risk aversion, the cost of market insurance, and the cost of self‐insurance. We provide empirical evidence related to several hypotheses from the self‐insurance literature on the decision to mitigate.