bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Retinal Photodamage by Endogenous and Xenobiotic Agents†
Authors: Wielgus Albert R. , Roberts Joan E. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe human eye is constantly exposed to sunlight and artificial lighting. Light transmission through the eye is fundamental to its unique biological functions of directing vision and circadian rhythm and therefore light absorbed by the eye must be benign. However, exposure to the very intense ambient radiation can pose a hazard particularly if the recipient is over 40 years of age. There are age‐related changes in the endogenous (natural) chromophores (lipofuscin, A2E and all‐trans‐retinal derivatives) in the human retina that makes it more susceptible to visible light damage. Intense visible light sources that do not filter short blue visible light (400–440 nm) used for phototherapy of circadian imbalance (i.e. seasonal affective disorder) increase the risk for age‐related light damage to the retina. Moreover, many drugs, dietary supplements, nanoparticles and diagnostic dyes (xenobiotics) absorb ocular light and have the potential to induce photodamage to the retina, leading to transient or permanent blinding disorders. This article will review the underlying reasons why visible light in general and short blue visible light in particular dramatically raises the risk of photodamage to the human retina.
Should the Study of Homo sapiens be Part of Cognitive Science?
Authors: Clark Barrett H. , Stich Stephen , Laurence Stephen 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBeller, Bender, and Medin argue that a reconciliation between anthropology and cognitive science seems unlikely. We disagree. In our view, Beller et al.’s view of the scope of what anthropology can offer cognitive science is too narrow. In focusing on anthropology’s role in elucidating cultural particulars, they downplay the fact that anthropology can reveal both variation and universals in human cognition, and is in a unique position to do so relative to the other subfields of cognitive science. Indeed, without cross‐cultural research, the universality of any aspect of human cognition cannot truly be established. Therefore, if the goal of cognitive science is to understand the cognitive capacities of our species as a whole, then it cannot do without anthropology. We briefly review a growing body of anthropological work aimed at answering questions about human cognition and offer suggestions for future work.
The Original Sin of Cognitive Science
Authors: Levinson Stephen C. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractClassical cognitive science was launched on the premise that the architecture of human cognition is uniform and universal across the species. This premise is biologically impossible and is being actively undermined by, for example, imaging genomics. Anthropology (including archaeology, biological anthropology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology) is, in contrast, largely concerned with the diversification of human culture, language, and biology across time and space—it belongs fundamentally to the evolutionary sciences. The new cognitive sciences that will emerge from the interactions with the biological sciences will focus on variation and diversity, opening the door for rapprochement with anthropology.
Review of Rabies Epidemiology and Control in South, South East and East Asia: Past, Present and Prospects for Elimination
Authors: Tenzin  , Ward M. P. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryRabies is a serious public health problem in Asia. It causes substantial animal welfare, economic and human health impacts, with approximately 39 000 human deaths each year. Domestic dogs are the main reservoir and source of rabies in Asia. Common constraints for the control of rabies in the countries of Asia include inadequate resources; lack of political commitment to control programs; lack of consensus on strategy; weak intersectoral coordination and inadequate management structure; insensitive surveillance systems; limited accessibility to modern rabies vaccine and supply problems; lack of public awareness and public cooperation; and the existence of myths and religious issues. In this review, we summarize the epidemiology of rabies in both human and animals in each South and South East Asian country, the past and current approaches to control and the prospect for rabies elimination. We conclude that defining the cost of rabies to society and communicating this to decision‐makers might be the key to achieving such an advance.
Meta‐analysis of simultaneous versus staged resection for synchronous colorectal liver metastases
Authors: Li Zhi‐qing , Liu Kai , Duan Ji‐cheng , Li Zhe , Su Chang‐qing , Yang Jia‐he 
Published: May 2012

Aim:  There is no clear consensus on the optimal timing of surgical resection for synchronous colorectal liver metastases (SCLM). This study is a meta‐analysis of the available evidence.Methods:  Systematic review and meta‐analysis of trials comparing outcomes following simultaneous resection with staged resection for SCLM published from 1990 to 2010 in PubMed, Embase, Ovid and Medline. Pooled odds ratios (OR) or weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using either the fixed effects or random effects model.Results:  Nineteen non‐randomized controlled trials (NRCT) studies were included in this analysis. These studies included a total of 2724 patients: 1116 underwent simultaneous resection and 1608 underwent staged resection. Meta‐analysis showed that shorter hospital stay (P < 0.001) and lower total complication rate (P < 0.001) were observed in patients undergoing simultaneous resection group. The overall survival rate in the simultaneous resection group did not statistically differ with that in the staged resection group at 1 year (P = 0.13), 3 years (P = 0.26), 5 years (P = 0.38), as well as the 1, 3 and 5 years disease‐free survival rates (respectively, P = 0.55; P = 0.16; P = 0.12). No significant difference was noted between the two groups in terms of mortality (P = 0.16), intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.06) and recurrence (P = 0.47).Conclusion:  Simultaneous resection is safe and efficient in the treatment of patients with SCLM while avoiding a second laparotomy. In selected patients, simultaneous resection might be considered as the preferred approach. However, the findings have to be carefully interpreted due to the lower level of evidence and the existence of heterogeneity.
Automated measurement of uptake in cerebellum, liver, and aortic arch in full‐body FDG PET/CT scans
Authors: Bauer Christian , Sun Shanhui , Sun Wenqing , Otis Justin , Wallace Audrey , Smith Brian J. , Sunderland John J. , Graham Michael M. , Sonka Milan , Buatti John M. , Beichel Reinhard R. 
Published: May 2012

Purpose:The purpose of this work was to develop and validate fully automated methods for uptake measurement of cerebellum, liver, and aortic arch in full‐body PET/CT scans. Such measurements are of interest in the context of uptake normalization for quantitative assessment of metabolic activity and/or automated image quality control.Methods:Cerebellum, liver, and aortic arch regions were segmented with different automated approaches. Cerebella were segmented in PET volumes by means of a robust active shape model (ASM) based method. For liver segmentation, a largest possible hyperellipsoid was fitted to the liver in PET scans. The aortic arch was first segmented in CT images of a PET/CT scan by a tubular structure analysis approach, and the segmented result was then mapped to the corresponding PET scan. For each of the segmented structures, the average standardized uptake value (SUV) was calculated. To generate an independent reference standard for method validation, expert image analysts were asked to segment several cross sections of each of the three structures in 134 F‐18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT scans. For each case, the true average SUV was estimated by utilizing statistical models and served as the independent reference standard.Results:For automated aorta and liver SUV measurements, no statistically significant scale or shift differences were observed between automated results and the independent standard. In the case of the cerebellum, the scale and shift were not significantly different, if measured in the same cross sections that were utilized for generating the reference. In contrast, automated results were scaled 5% lower on average although not shifted, if FDG uptake was calculated from the whole segmented cerebellum volume. The estimated reduction in total SUV measurement error ranged between 54.7% and 99.2%, and the reduction was found to be statistically significant for cerebellum and aortic arch.Conclusions:With the proposed methods, the authors have demonstrated that automated SUV uptake measurements in cerebellum, liver, and aortic arch agree with expert‐defined independent standards. The proposed methods were found to be accurate and showed less intra‐ and interobserver variability, compared to manual analysis. The approach provides an alternative to manual uptake quantification, which is time‐consuming. Such an approach will be important for application of quantitative PET imaging to large scale clinical trials.
Higher volume endovascular stroke centers have faster times to treatment, higher reperfusion rates and higher rates of good clinical outcomes
Authors: Gupta Rishi , Horev Anat , Nguyen Thanh , Gandhi Dheeraj , Wisco Dolora , Glenn Brenda A , Tayal Ashis H , Ludwig Bryan , Terry John B , Gershon Raphael Y , Jovin Tudor , Clemmons Paul F , Frankel Michael R , Cronin Carolyn A , Anderson Aaron M , Hussain Muhammad Shazam , Sheth Kevin N , Belagaje Samir R , Tian Melissa , Nogueira Raul G 
Published: May 2012

Background and purposeTechnological advances have helped to improve the efficiency of treating patients with large vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke. Unfortunately, the sequence of events prior to reperfusion may lead to significant treatment delays. This study sought to determine if high-volume (HV) centers were efficient at delivery of endovascular treatment approaches.MethodsA retrospective review was performed of nine centers to assess a series of time points from obtaining a CT scan to the end of the endovascular procedure. Demographic, radiographic and angiographic variables were assessed by multivariate analysis to determine if HV centers were more efficient at delivery of care.ResultsA total of 442 consecutive patients of mean age 66±14 years and median NIH Stroke Scale score of 18 were studied. HV centers were more likely to treat patients after intravenous administration of tissue plasminogen activator and those transferred from outside hospitals. After adjusting for appropriate variables, HV centers had significantly lower times from CT acquisition to groin puncture (OR 0.991, 95% CI 0.989 to 0.997, p=0.001) and total procedure times (OR 0.991, 95% CI 0.986 to 0.996, p=0.001). Additionally, patients treated at HV centers were more likely to have a good clinical outcome (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.10, p<0.018) and successful reperfusion (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.86, p<0.008).ConclusionsSignificant delays occur in treating patients with endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke, offering opportunities for improvements in systems of care. Ongoing prospective clinical trials can help to assess if HV centers are achieving better clinical outcomes and higher reperfusion rates.
Republished: Simulation training improves ability to manage medical emergencies
Authors: Ruesseler Miriam , Weinlich Michael , Müller Michael P , Byhahn Christian , Marzi Ingo , Walcher Felix 
Published: May 2012

AbstractObjectiveIn the case of an emergency, fast and structured patient management is crucial for a patient's outcome. Every physician and graduate medical student should possess basic knowledge of emergency care and the skills to manage common emergencies. This study determines the effect of a simulation-based curriculum in emergency medicine on students' abilities to manage emergency situations.MethodsA controlled, blinded educational trial of 44 final-year medical students was carried out at Frankfurt Medical School; 22 students completed the former curriculum as the control group and 22 the new curriculum as the intervention group. The intervention consists of simulation-based training with theoretical and simulation-based training sessions in realistic encounters based on the Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and adapted Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training. Further common emergencies were integrated corresponding to the course objectives. All students faced a performance-based assessment in a 10 station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) using checklist rating within a maximum of 4 months after completion of the intervention.ResultsThe intervention group performed significantly better at all of the 10 OSCE stations in the checklist rating (p&lt;0.0001 to p=0.016).ConclusionsThe simulation-based intervention offers a positively evaluated possibility to enhance students' skills in recognising and handling emergencies. Additional studies are required to measure the long-term retention of the acquired skills, as well as the effect of training in healthcare professionals.
Republished: Improving hand hygiene in a paediatric hospital: a multimodal quality improvement approach
Authors: Jamal Ahmed , O'Grady G , Harnett E , Dalton D , Andresen D 
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Background
Effective hand hygiene has long been recognised as an important way to reduce the transmission of bacterial and viral pathogens in healthcare settings. However, many studies have shown that adherence to hand hygiene remains low, and improvement efforts have often not delivered sustainable results. The Children's Hospital at Westmead is the largest tertiary paediatric hospital in Sydney, Australia. The hospital participated in a state-wide ‘Clean hands save lives’ campaign which was initiated in 2006.

Intervention
Strong leadership, good stakeholder engagement, readily accessible alcohol-based hand rub at the point of patient care, a multifaceted education programme, monitoring of staff, adherence to recommended hand hygiene practices and contemporaneous feedback of performance data have significantly improved and maintained compliance with hand hygiene.

Results
Hand hygiene compliance has increased from 23% in 2006 to 87% in 2011 (p&lt;0.001). Sustained improvement in compliance with hand hygiene has been evident in the last 4 years. A decline in a set of hospital-acquired infections (including rotavirus, multiresistant organism transmission, and nosocomial bacteraemia) has also been noted as hand hygiene rates have improved. Monthly usage of alcohol-based hand rub has increased from 16 litres/1000 bed days to 51 litres/1000 bed days during this same period.

Conclusion
This project has delivered sustained improvement in hand hygiene compliance by establishing a framework of multimodal evidence-based strategies.
Republished: Sensitive troponin assays
Authors: Collinson Paul O 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Sensitive troponin assays have been developed to meet the diagnostic goals set by the universal definition of myocardial infarction (MI). The analytical advantages of sensitive troponin assays include improved analytical imprecision at concentrations below the 99th percentile and the ability to define a reference distribution fully. Clinically, the improved sensitivity translates into the ability to diagnosis MI earlier, possibly within 3 h from admission and the ability to use the rate of change of troponin (Δ troponin) for diagnosis. Very sensitive assays may, in appropriately selected populations (perhaps with the addition of Δ troponin), allow diagnosis on hospital admission or within 1–2 h of admission. An elevated troponin level occurring in patients without suspected acute coronary syndromes has, in all studies to date in which outcome has been examined, been shown to indicate an adverse prognosis whatever the underlying clinical diagnosis. Failure of elevation means a good prognosis allowing early, safe hospital discharge, whereas a raised value requires investigation and should help prevent clinically significant pathology being overlooked. Sensitive troponins do present a challenge to the laboratory and the clinician. For the laboratory, the diagnosis of MI requires a change in troponin value. For the clinician, the challenge is to shift from a simplistic yes/no diagnosis of MI based on a single troponin value to a diagnosis that utilises early troponin changes as part of the clinical picture, and to relate the new class of detectable troponin elevation in patients with ischaemic myocardial disease to existing clinical guidelines and trial evidence.
GENERALIZED COVARIATION AND EXTENDED FUKUSHIMA DECOMPOSITION FOR BANACH SPACE-VALUED PROCESSES: APPLICATIONS TO WINDOWS OF DIRICHLET PROCESSES
Authors: DI GIROLAMI CRISTINA , RUSSO FRANCESCO 
Published: May 2012

This paper is concerned with the notion of covariation for Banach space-valued processes. In particular, we introduce a notion of quadratic variation, which is a generalization of the classical restrictive formulation of Métivier and Pellaumail. Our approach is based on the notion of χ-covariation for processes with values in two Banach spaces B1 and B2, where χ is a suitable subspace of the dual of the projective tensor product of B1 and B2. We investigate some C1 type transformations for various classes of stochastic processes admitting a χ-quadratic variation and related properties. If 𝕏1 and 𝕏2 admit a χ-covariation, Fi : Bi → ℝ, i = 1, 2 are of class C1 with some supplementary assumptions, then the covariation of the real processes F1(𝕏1) and F2(𝕏2) exist. A detailed analysis is provided on the so-called window processes. Let X be a real continuous process; the C([-τ, 0])-valued process X(⋅) defined by Xt(y) = Xt+y, where y ∈ [-τ, 0], is called window process. Special attention is given to transformations of window processes associated with Dirichlet and weak Dirichlet processes. Those will constitute a significant Fukushima decomposition for functionals of windows of (weak) Dirichlet processes. As application, we provide a new technique for representing a path-dependent random variable as its expectation plus a stochastic integral with respect to the underlying process.
A Sub-Band Approach to Modification of Musical Transients
Authors: Zaunschirm Markus , Reiss Joshua D. , Klapuri Anssi 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The transient modifier is a type of audio effect that changes the level of the transient parts in a musical signal while leaving the steady-state parts unchanged. This article presents a high-performance algorithm for transient detection and modification, one that is capable of modifying transients in polyphonic or multi-voiced signals, and capable of modifying both hard (percussive) and soft (non-percussive) transients. The detection and modification of transients are performed in the frequency-domain using a sub-band approach. Detection is based on both phase and energy information using an adaptive threshold, and modification is carried out independently at each sub-band. The performance of the proposed sub-band approach was compared with other transient-modification algorithms using subjective listening tests. We show that the sub-band approach with adaptive threshold mostly outperforms other approaches.
Physical Oceanographic Influences on Central Benguela Fish Catch
Authors: Jury Mark R. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Ocean and atmosphere reanalysis fields are used to study environmental conditions and their relation to commercial fish catch in the central Benguela upwelling zone, using both targeted and objective techniques. Composite maps and sections indicate a 10%–20% weakening of southeasterly winds, a 0.5°C warming of sea temperatures over the shelf, and changes in currents and subsurface upwelling associated with higher fish catch. During periods of high fish catch, recirculating gyres form that may aid the retention of eggs and larvae. Offshore winds contribute to poleward Ekman transport in a 50-m-deep layer within 100 km of the coast.
In addition to composite analysis, the natural variability is studied by principal component analysis of wind stress, sea level, temperature, salinity, currents, and vertical motion in the period 1970–2007. Comparison of interannual time scores and fisheries data indicate that anomalous poleward winds and warmer temperatures in the Lüderitz plume, driven by an atmospheric trough in the South Atlantic, are associated with higher catch rates.
The Influence of the QBO on the Propagation of Equatorial Waves into the Stratosphere
Authors: Yang Gui-Ying , Hoskins Brian , Gray Lesley 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The variation of stratospheric equatorial wave characteristics with the phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is investigated using ECMWF Re-Analysis and NOAA outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data. The impact of the QBO phases on the upward propagation of equatorial waves is found to be consistent and significant. In the easterly phase, there is larger Kelvin wave amplitude but smaller westward-moving mixed Rossby–gravity (WMRG) and n = 1 Rossby (R1) wave amplitude due to reduced propagation from the upper troposphere into the lower stratosphere, compared with the westerly phase. Differences in the wave amplitude exist in a deeper layer in summer than in winter, consistent with the seasonality of ambient zonal winds. There is a strong evidence of Kelvin wave amplitude peaking just below the descending westerly phase, suggesting that Kelvin waves act to bring the westerly phase downward. However, the corresponding evidence for WMRG and R1 waves is less clear.
In the lower stratosphere there is zonal variation in equatorial waves. This reflects the zonal asymmetry of wave amplitudes in the upper troposphere, the source for the lower-stratospheric waves. In easterly winters the upper-tropospheric WMRG and R1 waves over the eastern Pacific region appear to be somewhat stronger compared to climatology, perhaps because of the accumulation of waves that are unable to propagate upward into the lower stratosphere. Vertical propagation features of these waves are generally consistent with theory and suggest a mixture of Doppler shifting by ambient flows and filtering. Some lower-stratosphere equatorial waves have a connection with preceding tropical convection, especially for Kelvin and R1 waves in winter.
On the Wind Power Input to the Ocean General Circulation
Authors: Zhai Xiaoming , Johnson Helen L. , Marshall David P. , Wunsch Carl 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The wind power input to the ocean general circulation is usually calculated from the time-averaged wind products. Here, this wind power input is reexamined using available observations, focusing on the role of the synoptically varying wind. Power input to the ocean general circulation is found to increase by over 70% when 6-hourly winds are used instead of monthly winds. Much of the increase occurs in the storm-track regions of the Southern Ocean, Gulf Stream, and Kuroshio Extension. This result holds irrespective of whether the ocean surface velocity is accounted for in the wind stress calculation. Depending on the fate of the high-frequency wind power input, the power input to the ocean general circulation relevant to deep-ocean mixing may be less than previously thought. This study emphasizes the difficulty of choosing appropriate forcing for ocean-only models.