bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous cochlear implant drilling via customized frames: An in vitro study
Authors: Balachandran Ramya , Mitchell Jason E. , Blachon Grégoire , Noble Jack H. , Dawant Benoit M. , Fitzpatrick J. Michael , Labadie Robert F. 
Published: February 2010

ObjectivePercutaneous cochlear implantation (PCI) surgery uses patient‐specific customized microstereotactic frames to achieve a single drill‐pass from the lateral skull to the cochlea, avoiding vital anatomy. We demonstrate the use of a specific microstereotactic frame, called a “microtable,” to perform PCI surgery on cadaveric temporal bone specimens.Study DesignFeasibility study using cadaveric temporal bones.Subjects and MethodsPCI drilling was performed on six cadaveric temporal bone specimens. The main steps involved were 1) placing three bone‐implanted markers surrounding the ear, 2) obtaining a CT scan, 3) planning a safe surgical path to the cochlea avoiding vital anatomy, 4) constructing a microstereotactic frame to constrain the drill to the planned path, and 5) affixing the frame to the markers and using it to drill to the cochlea. The specimens were CT scanned after drilling to show the achieved path. Deviation of the drilled path from the desired path was computed, and the closest distance of the mid‐axis of the drilled path from critical structures was measured.ResultsIn all six specimens, we drilled successfully to the cochlea, preserving the facial nerve and ossicles. In four of six specimens, the chorda tympani was preserved, and in two of six specimens, it was sacrificed. The mean ± standard deviation error at the target was found to be 0.31 ± 0.10 mm. The closest distances of the mid‐axis of the drilled path to structures were 1.28 ± 0.17 mm to the facial nerve, 1.31 ± 0.36 mm to the chorda tympani, and 1.59 ± 0.43 mm to the ossicles.ConclusionIn a cadaveric model, PCI drilling is safe and effective.
Assessment of self‐selection bias in a pediatric unilateral hearing loss study
Authors: Lieu Judith E.C. , Dewan Karuna 
Published: February 2010

ObjectiveTo examine the differences between participants and nonparticipants in a study of children with unilateral hearing loss that might contribute to selection bias.Study DesignCase‐control study.SettingAcademic pediatric otolaryngology practice.Subjects and MethodsComparison of clinical and sociodemographic characteristics between the 81 participants and 78 nonparticipants with unilateral hearing loss in a case‐control study.ResultsCompared with nonparticipants, the study participants were younger but were diagnosed at an older age. Participants were more likely to have been diagnosed through a primary care screen and have normal ear anatomy, and less likely to have an attributed etiology for their unilateral hearing loss or tried assistive hearing devices. No other significant demographic, socioeconomic, or clinical differences were identified.ConclusionSelf‐selection bias may jeopardize both internal and external validity of study results and should be evaluated whenever possible. Methods to minimize self‐selection bias should be considered and implemented during the planning stages of clinical studies.
Deviations from Put-Call Parity and Stock Return Predictability
Authors: Cremers Martijn , Weinbaum David 
Published: February 2010

AbstractDeviations from put-call parity contain information about future stock returns. Using the difference in implied volatility between pairs of call and put options to measure these deviations, we find that stocks with relatively expensive calls outperform stocks with relatively expensive puts by 50 basis points per week. We find both positive abnormal performance in stocks with relatively expensive calls and negative abnormal performance in stocks with relatively expensive puts, which cannot be explained by short sale constraints. Rebate rates from the stock lending market directly confirm that our findings are not driven by stocks that are hard to borrow. The degree of predictability is larger when option liquidity is high and stock liquidity low, while there is little predictability when the opposite is true. Controlling for size, option prices are more likely to deviate from strict put-call parity when underlying stocks face more information risk. The degree of predictability decreases over the sample period. Our results are consistent with mispricing during the earlier years of the study, with a gradual reduction of the mispricing over time.
CAN SOLID BODY DESTRUCTION EXPLAIN ABUNDANCE DISCREPANCIES IN PLANETARY NEBULAE?
Authors: Henney William J. , Stasińska Grażyna 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACT
In planetary nebulae (PNe), abundances of oxygen and other heavy elements derived from optical recombination lines are systematically higher than those derived from collisionally excited lines. We investigate the hypothesis that the destruction of solid bodies may produce pockets of cool, high-metallicity gas that could explain these abundance discrepancies. Under the assumption of maximally efficient radiative ablation, we derive two fundamental constraints that the solid bodies must satisfy in order that their evaporation during the PN phase should generate a high enough gas-phase metallicity. A local constraint implies that the bodies must be larger than tens of meters, while a global constraint implies that the total mass of the solid body reservoir must exceed a few hundredths of a solar mass. This mass greatly exceeds the mass of any population of comets or large debris particles expected to be found orbiting evolved low- to intermediate-mass stars. We therefore conclude that contemporaneous solid body destruction cannot explain the observed abundance discrepancies in PNe. However, similar arguments applied to the sublimation of solid bodies during the preceding asymptotic giant branch phase do not lead to such a clear-cut conclusion. In this case, the required reservoir of volatile solids is only one ten-thousandth of a solar mass, which is comparable to the most massive debris disks observed around solar-type stars, implying that this mechanism may contribute to abundance discrepancies in at least some PNe, so long as mixing of the high-metallicity gas is inefficient.
Accounting for residual effects of previously applied nitrogen fertilizer on intensively managed grasslands
Authors: Vellinga T. V. , André G. , Schils R. L. M. , Kraak T. , Oenema O. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractOnly 0·20–0·70 of the fertilizer‐nitrogen (N) applied to grassland is taken up in herbage in the harvest directly following application. Residual effects at subsequent harvests can be large but are poorly quantified, and rarely taken into account in current management practices. An increased understanding of N‐use efficiency per harvest can improve operational management. This study systematically assessed the residual effects of previously applied N fertilizer on N uptake, dry matter (DM) yield and soil mineral‐N (SMN) during the whole of the growing season. It is based on field experiments conducted on peat and mineral soils in 1991–1994. Statistical models were derived for SMN, N uptake and DM yield as a function of previously and freshly applied N fertilizer. There were clear residual effects of previously applied N in later cuts. They were relatively greater at higher levels of N fertilizer. On peat soils, 0·15–0·25 of the N applied was recovered as SMN. On mineral soils the proportion was maximally 0·08. There was a clear relationship between SMN and N uptake in the subsequent cut on mineral soils but not on peat soils. The value of SMN as a tool to adjust fertilizer‐N application rates was hence found to be limited. There were clear relationships between the amount of previously applied N and the N uptake in subsequent cuts, on both soil types and over the whole of the growing season. It was concluded that the total amount of previously applied N is a useful indicator for adjusting N‐fertilizer application rates.
Cohort variation in offspring growth and survival: prenatal and postnatal factors in a late‐maturing viviparous snake
Authors: Baron Jean‐Pierre , Le Galliard Jean‐François , Tully Thomas , Ferrière Régis 
Published: February 2010

Summary 1. Recruitment to adulthood plays an important role in the population dynamics of late‐maturing organisms as it is usually variable. Compared to birds and mammals, few studies assessing the contributions to this variation of environmental factors, offspring traits and maternal traits have been carried out for late‐maturing snakes. 2. Cohort variation in recruitment through offspring growth and survival in the meadow viper (Vipera ursinii ursinii) was evaluated from 13 years of mark–recapture data collected at Mont Ventoux, France. In this species, females are mature at the age of 4–6 years and adult survival and fecundity rates are high and constant over time. 3. Offspring were difficult to catch during the first 3 years of their lives, but their mean annual probability of survival was reasonably high (0·48 ± 0·11 SE). Mass and body condition at birth (mass residuals) varied significantly between years, decreased with litter size, and increased with maternal length. 4. Cohorts of offspring in better condition at birth grew faster, but offspring growth was not affected by sex, habitat or maternal traits. 5. Survival varied considerably between birth cohorts, some cohorts having a high‐survival rate and others having essentially no survivors. No difference in mass or body condition at birth was found between cohorts with ‘no survival’ and ‘good survival’. However, offspring survival in cohorts with good survival was positively correlated with mass at birth and negatively correlated with body condition at birth. 6. Thus, variation in offspring performance was influenced by direct environmental effects on survival and indirect environmental effects on growth, mediated by body condition at birth. Effects of maternal traits were entirely channelled through offspring traits.
Prevention and treatment of systemic glucocorticoid side effects
Authors: Moghadam‐Kia Siamak , Werth Victoria P. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground  Systemic glucocorticoids are used in dermatologic practice for various diseases including connective tissue disorders, bullous diseases, and many other dermatologic conditions. Patients with these diseases are at times treated with long‐term courses of glucocorticoids, which place them at increased risk for glucocorticoid‐induced side effects. Therefore, dermatologists must be knowledgeable of risks related to glucocorticoid use and be familiar with guidelines to manage them.Objective  To provide an update of recent advances in the prevention and treatment of major glucocorticoid‐induced side effects.Methods  Review of the literature Results Data regarding the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid‐induced side effects are presented.Conclusion  This review should help dermatologists optimally manage and prevent glucocorticoid‐induced side effects.
Utility of percutaneous renal biopsy in chronic kidney disease
Authors: JOSEPH ANTHONY J , COMPTON SUSAN P , HOLMES LEWIS H , ANNAND ANDREW , SELF SALLY E , FITZGIBBON WAYNE R , ULLIAN MICHAEL E 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACTBackground:  We tested the hypothesis that patterns of serum creatinine concentrations (S‐cr) prior to percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) predict the utility of PRB in safely making renal diagnoses, revealing treatable disease, and altering therapy in chronic kidney disease patients.Methods:  PRB specimens (170 patients) were assigned to 1 of 5 groups: S‐cr never greater than 0.11 mM for at least 6 months prior to PRB (Group 1); S‐cr greater than 0.11 mM but less than 0.18 mM during the 6 months prior to PRB (Groups 2); S‐cr less than 0.18 mM during the 6 months prior to PRB but greater than 0.18 mM prior to these 6 months (Group 3); S‐cr greater than 0.18 mM for less than 6 months prior to PRB (Group 4); S‐cr greater than 0.18 mM for more than 6 months prior to PRB (Group 5).Results:  Histopathology chronicity score (0–9) increased with increasing group number: 2.1 (Group 1); 4.4 (Group 2); 4.5 (Group 3); 5.4 (Group 4); 7.0 (Group 5). Post‐PRB bleeding was more common with increasing group number. New therapy was instituted after PRB most frequently in Group 4 (62%) and least frequently in Group 5 (24%).Conclusion:  After more prolonged elevations of S‐cr, PRB may be less safe and less likely to reveal treatable disease and opportunities for therapy.
Statistical aspects of fatigue life and endurance limit
Authors: WALLIN K. 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACTBased on the assumption that the fatigue life and endurance limit is mainly controlled by the materials particle distribution, different possible statistical distributions to describe the fatigue have been assessed. Some distributions lead to high statistical uncertainty or physically non‐realistic size effects. It is shown that, if the maximum particle size distribution is described by a Frechet distribution, both the fatigue life, as well as the endurance limit are described by a Weibull distribution.
Complex state‐dependent games between owls and gerbils
Authors: Berger‐Tal Oded , Mukherjee Shomen , Kotler Burt P. , Brown Joel S. 
Published: February 2010

Ecology Letters(2010) 13: 302–310AbstractPredator–prey interactions are often behaviourally sophisticated games in which the predator and prey are players. Past studies teach us that hungrier prey take higher risks when foraging and that hungrier predators increase their foraging activity and are willing to take higher risks of injury. Yet no study has looked at the simultaneous responses of predator and prey to their own and each other’s hunger levels in a controlled environment. We looked for evidence of a state‐dependent game between predators and their prey by simultaneously manipulating the hunger state of barn owls, and Allenby’s gerbils as prey. The owls significantly increased their activity when hungry. However, they did not appear to respond to changes in the hunger state of the gerbils. The gerbils reacted strongly to the owls’ state, as well as to their own state when the risk was perceived as high. Our study shows that predator–prey interactions give rise to a complex state‐dependent game.
A sociological approach to ageing, technology and health
Authors: Joyce Kelly , Loe Meika 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThis special monograph issue builds on sociology of health and illness scholarship and expands the analytical lens to examine how old people, healthcare professionals, and technology designers create, use, and modify science and technology to negotiate and define health and illness. Far from passive consumers, elders are technogenarians, creatively utilising and adapting technological artefacts such as walking aids and medications to fit their needs. This publication adds theoretical and empirical depth to our understanding of the multiple and overlapping socio‐historical contexts surrounding ageing bodies and ageing enterprises, including the biomedicalisation of ageing that includes the rise of anti‐ageing or longevity medicine; and the rise of gerontechnology industries and professions ‐‐ fields that largely accept the ageing body as a given. This collection sociologically investigates how and where these two trends overlap and diverge in relation to a global context of ageing and ageism, and calls for further scholarship in this area. Combining science and technology studies and sociology of health and illness frameworks together provides an empirical basis from which to analyse technogenarians in action, as well as the stakeholders and institutions involved in the ageing, health, and technology matrix.
Semiparametric Methods for Evaluating the Covariate-Specific Predictiveness of Continuous Markers in Matched Case–Control Studies
Authors: Huang Y. , Pepe M. S. 
Published: February 2010

SummaryTo assess the value of a continuous marker in predicting the risk of a disease, a graphical tool called the predictiveness curve has been proposed. It characterizes the marker’s predictiveness, or capacity to stratify risk for the population, by displaying the distribution of risk endowed by the marker. Methods for making inference about the curve and for comparing curves in a general population have been developed. However, knowledge about a marker’s performance in the general population only is not enough. Since a marker’s effect on the risk model and its distribution can both differ across subpopulations, its predictiveness may vary when applied to different subpopulations. Moreover, information about the predictiveness of a marker conditional on baseline covariates is valuable for individual decision-making about having the marker measured or not. Therefore, to realize the usefulness of a risk prediction marker fully, it is important to study its performance conditional on covariates. We propose semiparametric methods for estimating covariate-specific predictiveness curves for a continuous marker. Unmatched and matched case–control study designs are accommodated. We illustrate application of the methodology by evaluating serum creatinine as a predictor of risk of renal artery stenosis.
Remittances, Business Cycles and Poverty: The Recent Turkish Experience
Authors: Sayan Serdar , Tekin‐Koru Ayça 
Published: February 2010

AbstractWe investigate whether remittances sent to Turkey by Turkish workers living in Germany are countercyclical or procyclical with Turkish and German national outputs and discuss possible reasons underlying the resulting patterns and their implications. We also take up a previously unexplored issue and discuss poverty alleviation potential of remittances at a macroeconomic level by examining the statistical properties of any co‐movements between remittances cycles and cycles in consumption spending on food and durable goods in Turkey. Our results reveal that real remittance flows from Germany to Turkey move procyclically with the real output in Turkey, and are primarily driven by (largely independent of) the developments in the Turkish economy (German economy).We also find that remittances cycles remain procyclical to the consumption cycles throughout our sample period. This direct co‐movement between the two cycles becomes synchronous, however, only after a phase shift occurring around 1992, pointing to the increasing role of the level of economic activity in Turkey as the leading determinant of remittance receipts from Germany and the declining strength of consumption smoothing motive over time. Our results all together point out a low potential for remittances sent from Germany to reduce poverty in Turkey, at least as far as the past fifteen years are concerned.
Understanding loneliness in the lived experiences of Iranian elders
Authors: Heravi‐Karimooi Majideh , Anoosheh Monireh , Foroughan Mahshid , Sheykhi Mohammad Taghi , Hajizadeh Ebrahim 
Published: February 2010

Scand J Caring Sci; 2010; 24; 274–280

Understanding loneliness in the lived experiences of Iranian elders Elderly people are especially vulnerable to loneliness. Loneliness as an important phenomenon is correlated with a variety of emotional, physical and health‐related complications. However, a few studies have investigated the experience of loneliness from the perspectives of elderly people living in communities. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Iranian elders of loneliness. A qualitative study using phenomenological approach was employed with four men and nine women living in their own houses. In‐depth interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using hermeneutic methods. The emerged themes were ‘an aversive emotional state’, ‘isolated from intimate relationships’, ‘being deprived from social and external support systems’ and ‘being abused and neglected’. Our study findings support the view that the experience of loneliness creates an aversive emotional state which is associated with negative and painful feelings. In addition, it was revealed that lack of access to intimate relationships and supportive systems as well as the experience of being abused and neglected were major factors contributing to the feelings of loneliness among Iranian elders. In terms of recommendation for practice, worldwide nurses are expected to be knowledgeable about the factors which increase feelings of loneliness. Alternatively, they should develop coping mechanisms among elders with the cooperation of their family members; also, attract community attention in order to improve social services in both quality and quantity.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Hyperresistinemia – a Novel Feature in Systemic Infection During Human Pregnancy
Authors: Mazaki‐Tovi Shali , Vaisbuch Edi , Romero Roberto , Kusanovic Juan Pedro , Chaiworapongsa Tinnakorn , Kim Sun Kwon , Ogge Giovanna , Yoon Bo Hyun , Dong Zhong , Gonzalez Juan M. , Gervasi Maria Teresa , Hassan Sonia S. 
Published: February 2010

Citation Mazaki‐Tovi S, Vaisbuch E, Romero R, Kusanovic JP, Chaiworapongsa T, Kim SK, Ogge G, Yoon BH, Dong Z, Gonzalez JM, Gervasi MT, Hassan SS. Hyperresistinemia – a novel feature in systemic infection during human pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010Problem  Resistin, originally described as an adipokine, has emerged as a potent pro‐inflammatory protein associated with both acute and chronic inflammation. Moreover, resistin has been proposed as a powerful marker of sepsis severity, as well as a predictor of survival of critically ill non‐pregnant patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether pyelonephritis during pregnancy is associated with changes in maternal plasma resistin concentrations.Methods of study  This cross‐sectional study included the following groups: (i) normal pregnant women (n = 85) and (ii) pregnant women with pyelonephritis (n = 40). Maternal plasma resistin concentrations were determined by ELISA. Non‐parametric statistics was used for analyses.Results  (i) The median maternal plasma resistin concentration was higher in patients with pyelonephritis than in those with a normal pregnancy (P < 0.001); (ii) among patients with pyelonephritis, the median maternal resistin concentration did not differ significantly between those with and without a positive blood culture (P = 0.3); (iii) among patients with pyelonephritis who were diagnosed with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), those who fulfilled ≥3 criteria for SIRS had a significantly higher median maternal plasma resistin concentration than those who met only two criteria; and (iv) maternal WBC count positively correlated with circulating resistin concentration (r = 0.47, P = 0.02).Conclusion  Hyperresistinemia is a feature of acute pyelonephritis during pregnancy. The results of this study support the role of resistin as an acute‐phase protein in the presence of bacterial infection during pregnancy.