bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How frequently are contraindicated or warned against combinations of drugs prescribed to patients receiving long‐term opioid therapy for chronic pain?
Authors: Richarz Ute , Jacobs Adam , Spina Edoardo 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTPurposeTo analyse the proportion of patients treated with an opioid for chronic pain who were prescribed concomitant medications that are warned against or contraindicated in the German summary of product characteristics to determine if warnings on drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are observed.MethodsThis retrospective analysis used longitudinal aggregated patient data from the Intercontinental Marketing Services Disease Analyzer in Germany. Patients with two or more prescriptions of morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone or tramadol from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008 were included; drugs prescribed within 30 days of an opioid prescription were identified as concomitant medications. The frequency of concomitant treatment with drugs warned against or contraindicated in the German opioid summary of product characteristics was determined. Concomitant treatment with drugs metabolised by CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers and CYP2D6 inhibitors was also considered.ResultsThe Intercontinental Marketing Services database contained 13 405 eligible patients; 72% had concomitant diseases which may increase the risk for DDIs (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, renal glomerular disease or renal tubulointerstitial disease). Very few patients received concomitant prescriptions of an opioid with a contraindicated drug. Many patients were prescribed opioids concomitantly with drugs with potential for harmful safety‐related DDIs or DDIs that alter the effectiveness of one or more of the opioids. A large proportion of all concomitant prescriptions with potential for DDIs were given to at‐risk patients aged 65 years and older.ConclusionsMany patients that received an opioid for chronic pain were prescribed concomitant medications with the potential for safety‐related DDIs or interactions that would alter the effectiveness of the opioid. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design principles for light trapping in thin silicon films with embedded dielectric nanoparticles
Authors: Nagel James R. , Scarpulla Michael A. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTWe investigate the light‐trapping effects of dielectric nanoparticles embedded within the active semiconductor layer of a thin‐film solar cell. The baseline model consists of a 1·0 µm slab of crystalline silicon on an aluminum back contact topped with a 75 nm Si3N4 anti‐reflective coating. Using finite‐difference time‐domain simulations, we calculate the absorption gain due to a periodic array of SiO2 nanospheres with characteristic depth, diameter, and pitch. Under optimal conditions, absorption gain due to embedded spheres can reach as high as 23·4% relative to the baseline geometry. Using Au‐core/SiO2‐shell nanoparticles, it is even possible to reach 30%. We then infer a series of design principles from our data that include trade‐offs between broadband scattering efficiency, poor absorption at long wavelengths, and semiconductor displacement. We also find that the optimal spacing between particles is approximately 400 nm. Above this distance, each scatterer acts in near isolation from any neighboring particles, and absorption gain is approximately linear with area coverage. Such gains are also expected for disordered as well as ordered arrays. These results demonstrate the potential of embedded dielectric nanoparticles as a tool for enhancing carrier generation in thin silicon solar cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does pharmacological castration as adjuvant therapy for prostate cancer after radiotherapy affect anxiety and depression levels, cognitive functions and quality of life?
Authors: Wiechno Paweł J. , Sadowska Małgorzata , Kalinowski Tomasz , Michalski Wojciech , Demkow Tomasz 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIntroductionAdjuvant hormonotherapy for prostate cancer patients after radical radiotherapy has a well‐established value. However, the impact of such treatment on the patients' quality of life remains to be elucidated.ObjectiveThe objective is to assess the impact of adjuvant hormonotherapy with luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analogue after radical radiotherapy on anxiety and depression levels, cognitive function, sexual function and quality of life of prostate cancer patients.Material and MethodsTwo groups of patients were tested: men treated with adjuvant hormonotherapy (88 patients) and men without hormonotherapy (61 patients). Anxiety, depression and cognitive functions were evaluated. Patients answered questions addressing problems linked to hormonal equilibrium. The patients rated their mental status, physical status, quality of life and quality of their relationship.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between patients on hormonotherapy and without hormonotherapy in the level of anxiety and depression (p = 0.844 and p = 0.954) as well as in cognitive function (p = 0.661). Satisfactory sexual performance was preserved in 9/65 patients (14%) on hormonotherapy and the same was applied to 19/49 patients (39%) without hormonotherapy. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.003). Hormonotherapy was associated with decreased libido (p = 0.031), hot flushes (p < 0.001) and sweating (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in the self‐rated physical and psychological well‐being (p = 0.476 and p = 0.597), quality of life (p = 0.622) and quality of relationship (p = 0.064).ConclusionsAdjuvant hormonotherapy enhances neither anxiety nor depression, does not impair cognitive function but has a negative effect on the patients' sexual function. It does not worsen self‐rated quality of relationship and quality of life. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RhoC and guanine nucleotide exchange factor Net1 in androgen‐unresponsive mouse mammary carcinoma SC‐4 cells and human prostate cancer after short‐term endocrine therapy
Authors: Kawata Hirotoshi , Shimada Naoki , Kamiakito Tomoko , Komatsu Kenji , Morita Tatsuo , Ota Toshio , Obayashi Masaya , Shitara Kenya , Tanaka Akira 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBACKGROUNDEndocrine resistance is a critical issue in managing patients with prostate cancer. This study is undertaken to search for a potential molecular target connected with this process using a model system of androgen‐dependent and androgen‐unresponsive SC‐3 and SC‐4 cells.METHODSExpression profiles, actin stress fiber organization, and the levels of activated Rho GTPases were compared between SC‐4 and SC‐3 cells using an oligonucleotide microarray, phalloidin staining, and a Rho activation assay. The cell viability was analyzed with a Rho inhibitor or by stable transfection with either a dominant‐negative (DN) form of RhoC or a mutant form of NET1 (mutNET1). The expressions of RhoC, NET1, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were immunohistochemically analyzed in human prostate cancer specimens after short‐term endocrine therapy and in an untreated condition.RESULTSSC‐4 cells exhibited mesenchymal phenotypes with activation of Rho signals. Treatment with a Rho inhibitor suppressed the cell viability in SC‐4 cells, but not in SC‐3 cells. The cell viability of SC‐4 cells stably expressing DN‐RhoC and mutNET1 was also attenuated. In the immunohistochemical analysis, NET1 and the EMT marker of N‐cadherin were expressed at higher levels in prostate cancers after short‐term endocrine therapy than in untreated tumors, and RhoC expression was maintained after short‐term endocrine therapy.CONCLUSIONSRho signaling is involved in the cell survival of SC‐4 cells. The higher expressions of RhoC and NET1 in human prostate cancers after short‐term endocrine therapy suggest that RhoC and NET1 may become therapeutic targets during endocrine therapy. Prostate 72:1071–1079, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of two cloud parametrization schemes using ARM and Cloud‐Net observations
Authors: Morcrette Cyril J. , O'Connor Ewan J. , Petch Jon C. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractGround‐based remote‐sensing observations from Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) and Cloud‐Net sites are used to evaluate the clouds predicted by a weather forecasting and climate model. By evaluating the cloud predictions using separate measures for the errors in frequency of occurrence, amount when present, and timing, we provide a detailed assessment of the model performance, which is relevant to weather and climate time‐scales. Importantly, this methodology will be of great use when attempting to develop a cloud parametrization scheme, as it provides a clearer picture of the current deficiencies in the predicted clouds.Using the Met Office Unified Model, it is shown that when cloud fractions produced by a diagnostic and a prognostic cloud scheme are compared, the prognostic cloud scheme shows improvements to the biases in frequency of occurrence of low, medium and high cloud and to the frequency distributions of cloud amount when cloud is present. The mean cloud profiles are generally improved, although it is shown that in some cases the diagnostic scheme produced misleadingly good mean profiles as a result of compensating errors in frequency of occurrence and amount when present. Some biases remain when using the prognostic scheme, notably the underprediction of mean ice cloud fraction due to the amount when present being too low, and the overprediction of mean liquid cloud fraction due to the frequency of occurrence being too high. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society and British Crown Copyright, the Met Office
Determination of pelvic orientation from sparse ultrasound data for THA operated in the lateral position
Authors: Schumann Steffen , Nolte Lutz‐P. , Zheng Guoyan 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundB‐mode ultrasound imaging has the potential to replace conventional percutaneous digitization of bony landmarks in navigated total hip arthroplasties (THAs). For THAs operated in the lateral position, only one side of the pelvis is freely accessible. This paper presents a new ultrasound to statistical shape model (SSM) registration method for operating the pelvis in the lateral position, based on sparse ultrasound images, which does not interfere with the clinical routine in terms of redraping and repositioning the patient.MethodsIt is proposed to use the mid‐sagittal plane of the pelvis to symmetrically reflect data derived from sparse B‐mode ultrasound images of the ipsilateral patient side to the contralateral side. A SSM of the pelvis is registered to the bilaterally available data without additional information on the pubic tubercle region.ResultsThe feasibility and robustness of the proposed method were evaluated by comprehensive in silico studies and laboratory experiments with plastic and dry cadaveric pelvises, showing a mean error of 3.48 ± 1.10° for anteversion angle and 1.26 ± 1.62° for inclination angle.ConclusionExperimental results demonstrate that the symmetry property of the pelvis could be used for registration in the lateral position without accessing the error‐prone pubic tubercle landmarks. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A model‐based framework for building extensible, high performance stream processing middleware and programming language for IBM InfoSphere Streams
Authors: Gedik Buğra , Andrade Henrique 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYThis work presents an extensive case study on the model‐based design of a commercial‐grade stream processing middleware (IBM's InfoSphere Streams) its runtime and language (SPL) compiler. The model‐based underpinnings are pervasive throughout the whole environment, from describing inter‐process communication interfaces and objects to the design of the extensibility mechanism in the runtime and language. In addition to many software engineering advantages such as consistent, uniform, and self‐documented integration among the different parts of the system, we show intrinsic performance benefits to the platform derived from this design approach. First, we demonstrate how an incremental compilation strategy employed by the SPL compiler and rooted on the model description of the application, extracted by the compiler as part of the application building process, leads to better compile‐time performance. Second, we discuss how the model‐based code generation strategy employed by the SPL compiler also leads to increased runtime performance, by specializing the generated code to particular characteristics of the runtime environment. Finally, we show how the extensibility strategy used in the SPL language leads to automatic syntactic and semantic checks at compile time, while enabling behavioral reasoning and specific optimizations at runtime. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vibration response of a 2.3 MW wind turbine to yaw motion and shut down events
Authors: Bassett Kyle , Carriveau Rupp , Ting David S‐K. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTStructural health monitoring (SHM) is a process of implementing a damage detection strategy for a mechanical system. Wind turbine machinery stands to benefit from SHM significantly as the ability to detect early stages of damage before significant malfunction or structural failure occurs would reduce costs of wind power projects by reducing maintenance costs. Vibration analysis of dynamic structural response is an approach to SHM that has been successfully applied to mechanical and civil systems and shows some promise for wind turbine application. Traditionally, a setback to turbine vibration‐based SHM techniques has been the unavailability of turbine vibration response data. This study begins to address this issue by presenting vibration response for a commercial 2.3 MW turbine to a limited number of operating conditions. A database of acquired vibration response signals detailing turbine response to yaw motion, start‐up, operation and shutdown has been assembled. A Daubechies sixth‐order wavelet was used to perform an eight‐level discrete wavelet decomposition such that general trends and patterns within the signals could be identified. With further development, the presented analysis of vibration response may be integrated into routines to reduce downtime and failure frequency of utility scale wind turbines. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing the effectiveness of environmental enrichment in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Fabienne Delfour , Helen Beyer 
Published: November 2011

AbstractEnvironmental enrichment is often used to improve well‐being and reduce stereotyped behaviors in animals under human care. However, the use of objects to enrich animal environments should not be considered to be effective until its success has been scientifically demonstrated. This study was conducted at Asterix Park in France in April 2009. The study investigated the use of 21 familiar objects with a group of six bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The dolphin trainers introduced four different objects into the dolphin pool every day on a rotating basis. Using a focal‐object sampling method, we collected and analyzed data from twenty‐one 15 min sessions. The results revealed a positive correlation between interest behaviors and interactive behaviors. Some dolphins had “favorite toys”. However, only 50% of objects elicited manipulative behaviors. These findings demonstrate that dolphins do not treat all objects provided to them as “toys”. Behavioral changes in the animals subsequent to the introduction of objects do not necessarily indicate an enrichment effect of the objects; rather, the motivation for the dolphins' behaviors toward the objects must be investigated. The animals' behavior must be considered in light of the social context and of the animals' individual behavioral profiles. The relevance of a constructivist approach to evaluating the effectiveness of enrichment programs is discussed. Zoo Biol 31: 137–150, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Emergency Surgery in Patients Who Have Undergone Recent Radiotherapy is Associated With Increased Complications and Mortality: Review of 536 Patients
Authors: Sullivan Michael C. , Roman Sanziana A. , Sosa Julie A. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundThere is a paucity of data regarding patients undergoing emergency surgery following radiotherapy. This study examines the morbidity and mortality of patients having emergent surgery ≤90 days after irradiation.MethodsWe identified patients ≥18 years of age in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (Radiation group) who underwent irradiation ≤90 days before emergency surgery. Patients receiving concomitant chemotherapy were excluded. Subjects were compared to a Control group that did not have preoperative irradiation but underwent similar emergent procedures (matched 1:1 on age and procedure). Demographic and clinical characteristics, including patient co‐morbidities, functional status, and preoperative laboratory values, were assessed. Primary outcomes included 30‐day postoperative morbidity and mortality. Log‐transformed data, bivariate and multivariate linear and conditional logistic regression were used.ResultsA total of 536 patients were included, 268 per group. Patient demographics and preoperative co‐morbidities were similar between groups. The Radiation group had more mortality [23.9% vs. 11.6%, P < 0.001; odds ratio (OR) 2.4], major complications (45.1% vs. 34.7%, P = 0.014; OR 1.55), and a greater likelihood of sustaining a complication (48.1% vs. 38.1%, P = 0.019; OR 1.51). Days from admission to operation, operating time, likelihood of reoperation, days from operation to death, and length of hospital stay were not statistically different. By conditional logistic regression, death was independently associated with irradiation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), impaired preoperative functional status, and thrombocytopenia; and a major complication was associated with COPD, hypoalbuminemia, and preoperative wound infection.ConclusionsPatients who require emergent surgery ≤90 days after irradiation sustain increased morbidity and mortality. Optimizing the nutritional and functional status of these patients may improve surgical outcomes.
The Importance of Preoperative Laryngeal Examination Before Thyroidectomy and the Usefulness of a Voice Questionnaire in Screening
Authors: Nam Inn‐Chul , Bae Ja‐Sung , Shim Mi‐Ran , Hwang Yeon‐Shin , Kim Min‐Sik , Sun Dong‐Il 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe objectives of this study were to emphasize the importance of preoperative laryngeal examination before thyroidectomy by investigating the incidence of coincident abnormal laryngeal conditions that impair the quality of voice, and evaluate the usefulness of the “thyroidectomy‐related voice questionnaire” as a screening tool.MethodsFive hundred consecutive patients scheduled to undergo thyroidectomy underwent preoperative laryngeal examination and voice analysis and completed the questionnaire. According to the laryngeal examination results, patients were classified into normal and abnormal groups. Acoustic‐analysis results and questionnaire scores were compared between the two groups, and correlations between acoustic parameters and questionnaire scores were evaluated. The cutoff score of the questionnaire that can effectively discriminate between the two groups was also determined.ResultsThe incidence of abnormal laryngeal conditions was 35.8%. The most common finding was laryngopharyngeal reflux (27.2%) followed by vocal nodule (4.8%), vocal polyp (1.8%), vocal cord palsy (1.2%), Reinke’s edema (0.4%), vocal cyst (0.2%), and vocal sulcus (0.2%). The perceptual grade of voice quality (0.33 ± 0.49 for normal group vs. 0.65 ± 0.62 for abnormal group, P = 0.000) and the questionnaire scores (3.21 ± 5.47 for normal group vs. 13.41 ± 11.67 for abnormal group, P = 0.000) of the two groups were significantly different, and there was a significant correlation between objective voice parameters and questionnaire scores. A questionnaire score of 5 showed the best sensitivity (74%) and specificity (71%) in discriminating between the two groups.ConclusionsThe incidence of coincident abnormal laryngeal conditions is relatively high; therefore, voice screening before thyroidectomy is important. The “thyroidectomy‐related voice questionnaire” is a simple and effective screening tool to detect preexisting laryngeal disorders that can affect the quality of voice.
Pulsating electrohydrodynamic cone-jets: from choked jet to oscillating cone
Authors: Bober David B. , Chen Chuan-Hua 
Published: November 2011

AbstractPulsating cone-jets occur in a variety of electrostatic spraying and printing systems. This paper reports an experimental study of the pulsation frequency to reconcile two models based on a choked jet and an oscillating cone, respectively. The two regimes are demarcated by the ratio of the supplied flow rate (${Q}_{s} $) to the minimum flow rate (${Q}_{m} $) required for a steady Taylor cone-jet. When ${Q}_{s} \lesssim {Q}_{m} $, the electrohydrodynamic flow is choked at the nozzle because the intermittent jet, when on, emits mass at the minimum flow rate; the pulsation frequency in the choked jet regime is proportional to ${Q}_{s} / {Q}_{m} $. When ${Q}_{s} \gtrsim {Q}_{m} $, the Taylor cone anchored at the nozzle experiences a capillary oscillation analogous to the Rayleigh mode of a free drop; the pulsation frequency in the oscillating cone regime plateaus to the capillary oscillation frequency, which is independent of ${Q}_{s} / {Q}_{m} $.
New palaeomagnetic, petrographic and 40Ar/39Ar data to test palaeogeographic reconstructions of Caledonide Svalbard
Authors: MICHALSKI KRZYSZTOF , LEWANDOWSKI MAREK , MANBY GEOFF 
Published: November 2011

AbstractNew palaeomagnetic and petrographic data are presented from Cambrian rocks of SW Svalbard to test, for the first time, Palaeozoic reconstructions of the major terranes of Svalbard. In the course of thermal demagnetization three ChRM (characteristic remanent magnetization) components were identified, which were labelled HORNL, HORNM and HORNH, respectively, on the basis of their different unblocking temperatures. The HORNM magnetization is related to the Late Ordovician–Silurian formation of the synmetamorphic S1 foliation. The HORNM palaeopole (Φ = −18.5°, Λ = 359°, Dp/Dm = 5.8°/11.4°, Plat = 6°N) matches exactly the Silurian sectors of the Baltica–Laurentia apparent polar wander paths after the closure of Iapetus (455–415 Ma). The 450 Ma 40Ar–39Ar age determination from mica ages obtained from the broad zone of mylonites along the Billefjorden Fault Zone which separates the Central and Eastern terranes, also suggests that the two terranes were eventually amalgamated by 450 Ma. The HORNMVGP also lies very near the palaeopole derived from the Middle Proterozoic rocks of the Eastern Terrane (Ny Friesland), metamorphosed during Caledonian time, suggesting its close proximity to the study area (Central Terrane). The present study has shown that at least two of the major terranes of Svalbard, as defined by previous authors, occupied similar geographical locations by Silurian time, and the previously proposed large-scale Late Devonian left lateral displacements are not supported.
Semantic holism and the insider–outsider problem
Authors: GARDINER MARK Q. , ENGLER STEVEN 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThis article argues that – despite the value of distinguishing between insiders and outsiders in a contingent and relative sense – there is no fundamental insider–outsiderproblem. We distinguish weak and strong versions of ‘insiderism’ (privileged versus monopolistic access to knowledge) and then sociological and religious versions of the latter. After reviewing critiques of the sociological version, we offer a holistic semantic critique of the religious version (i.e. the view that religious experience and/or language offers sui generis access to knowledge). We argue that all evidence for mental states is overt, public, and observable, and, hence, that there can be no significant difference in the access to knowledge of insiders and outsiders.