bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impacts of In‐Migration and Coastal Amenities on Housing Growth in Coastal North Carolina, United States
Authors: Crawford Thomas W. , Bradley Donald E. , Marcucci Daniel J. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTMigrant preferences for environmental amenities contribute to demand for new housing and associated land use/cover change. Coastal North Carolina has emerged as an important migration destination that is being ‘discovered’ by in‐migrants who may attracted in part by coastal amenities. Investigations of linkages between population and land change are part of a population–environment research paradigm requiring integration of social, natural, environmental, and geographical information science. We contribute to the population–environment literature by addressing two main questions: (1) what factors drive housing growth in an amenity rich coastal region in North Carolina? and (2) how does housing behaviour differ between categories of migrant and non‐migrant households? Regression results revealed in‐migration, prior housing density, and tourism presence to have the largest effects on new housing growth. Ocean proximity failed to act as an environmental amenity attracting growth; however, we found evidence suggesting that the interior estuarine region may act as an outlet for development pressure. Later‐life migration was revealed to be particularly important with later life in‐migrants being more likely to (a) reside in new homes; (b) reside in single family detached homes; (c) be home owners; (d) own homes with greater property values; and (e) have greater household incomes. Themes of our findings for a relatively small region share commonalities with processes occurring in larger scale amenity–migrant regions such as the US Mountain West yet suggest the possibility of other localised growth regions that collectively might contribute significantly to processes of population and land use change. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of laparoscopy and laparotomy for endometrial cancer
Authors: Zhang Hui , Cui Jing , Jia Lin , Hong Shuhui , Kong Beihua , Li Dadong 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopy and laparotomy on clinical outcomes among patients with endometrial cancer.MethodsEligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted between 1966 and June 2010 were analyzed by meta‐analysis.ResultsEight RCTs were included, with 3599 patients in total. No significant difference was observed between laparoscopy and laparotomy in overall (odds ratio [OR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50–1.82; P = 0.892), disease‐free (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.50–1.82; P = 0.892), or cancer‐related (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.27–3.08; P = 0.871) survival. More intraoperative complications (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.03–1.73; P = 0.030), fewer postoperative complications (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.46–0.75; P < 0.001), longer operative time (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.46–1.15; P < 0.001), lower blood loss (SMD, −2.29; 95% CI, −3.67 to − 0.91; P = 0.001), and shorter hospital stay (SMD, −2.60; 95% CI, −3.47 to − 1.72; P < 0.001) were associated with laparoscopy. There was no significant difference between the groups in pelvic (SMD, 0.22; 95% CI, −0.03 to 0.48; P = 0.086) or para‐aortic (SMD, 0.54; 95% CI, −0.04 to 1.11; P = 0.067) lymph node yield.ConclusionLaparoscopy has short‐term advantages and seemingly equivalent long‐term outcomes and, in experienced hands, might be a feasible alternative to laparotomy for endometrial cancer.
Improving maternal mortality at a university teaching hospital in Nnewi, Nigeria
Authors: Igwegbe Anthony O. , Eleje George U. , Ugboaja Joseph O. , Ofiaeli Robinson O. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of the introduction of the Service Compact with all Nigerians (SERVICOM) contract on maternal health at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.MethodsA retrospective and comparative study of maternal deaths between 2004 and 2010 was carried out. The main outcome measures were yearly maternal mortality ratio (MMR), relative risk (RR) of maternal mortality, and presentation–intervention interval. The yearly MMR and the RR of maternal mortality were compared with the figures from 2004, which represented the pre‐SERVICOM era.ResultsThere were 4916 live births and 54 maternal deaths during the study period, giving an MMR of 1098 per 100 000 live births. Pre‐eclampsia/eclampsia was the most common direct cause (25.0%), followed by hemorrhage (18.8%) and sepsis (8.3%). Anemia (12.5%) was the most common indirect cause. There was a progressive reduction in MMR and RR of maternal mortality, with a corresponding increase in live births. The presentation–intervention interval improved significantly from 2006.ConclusionA positive change in the attitude of health workers and the elimination of fee‐for‐service in emergency obstetric care would reduce type 3 delays in public health facilities, and consequently reduce maternal mortality.
The value of adding a universal booking scan to an existing protocol of routine mid‐gestation ultrasound scan
Authors: Poggenpoel Elizabeth J. , Geerts Lutgart T.G.M. , Theron Gerhardus B. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo compare 2 routine obstetric ultrasound protocols regarding number of clinically relevant events detected and total ultrasound workload.MethodsAn interventional before‐and‐after study comparing 2 groups of 750 consecutive low‐risk pregnant women was conducted. The 1st group was routinely offered mid‐trimester ultrasound and selective ultrasound examinations for specific indications; the 2nd group was, in addition to this, offered a scan at 1st prenatal visit.ResultsThe groups were comparable at baseline, and 78% underwent booking scan. The expanded protocol showed no improvement in detection of most clinically relevant findings but did detect twins slightly earlier (P = 0.3) and significantly reduced the number of presumed post‐term deliveries (8.4% vs 13.1%; OR 0.61 [95% CI, 0.41–0.90]). Although more women were scanned at any point or < 24 weeks (P < 0.001), the increase in women receiving a properly timed fetal anomaly scan was small (60.7% vs 52.3%; P = 0.003). Total ultrasound workload increased by 74%, mainly because of more follow‐up scans (323 vs 122) and more women being scanned for the 1st time > 24 weeks (146 vs 51; P < 0.001).ConclusionThe results do not support a policy of routine booking scans and revealed no significant benefit apart from a small reduction in presumed post‐term pregnancies.
Costs and benefits of multidrug, multidose antiretroviral therapy for prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Schmidt Nicole C. , Roman‐Pouriet José , Fernandez Aracelis D. , Beck‐Sagué Consuelo M. , Leonardo‐Guerrero José , Nicholas Stephen W. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether costs of multidose antiretroviral regimens (MD‐ARVs), including highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), for prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV might be offset by savings gained from treating fewer perinatally acquired infections.MethodsRates of MTCT reported in the Dominican Republic among mother‐infant pairs treated with single‐dose nevirapine (SD‐NVP; n = 39) and MD‐ARVs (n = 91) for PMTCT were compared. Annual births to women infected with HIV were estimated from seroprevalence studies. Antiretroviral costs for both PMTCT and for HAART during the first 2 years of life (in cases of perinatal infection) were based on 2008 low‐income country price estimates.ResultsRates of MTCT were 3.3% and 15.4% for the MD‐ARV and SD‐NVP groups, respectively (P= 0.02). Assuming that 5775 of 231 000 annual births (2.5%) were to HIV‐positive women, it was estimated that 191 perinatally acquired infections would occur using MD‐ARVs and 889 using SD‐NVP. High costs of maternal MD‐ARVs (HAART, US$914,760 versus SD‐NVP, $1155) would be offset by lower 2‐year HAART costs ($250,344 versus $1,168,272 for infants in the SD‐NVP group) for the lower number of children with prenatally acquired infection (191 versus 889) associated with the use of MD‐ARVs for PMTCT (net national saving $3168).ConclusionDespite the high costs, use of MD‐ARVs, such as HAART, for PMTCT offer societal savings because fewer perinatally acquired infections are anticipated to require treatment.
A Cost‐Effectiveness Analysis of Screening Methods for Dysphagia After Stroke
Authors: Wilson Richard D. , Howe Evan C. 
Published: December 2011

ObjectiveTo provide a cost‐effectiveness analysis of dysphagia screening in the acute poststroke period with use of a videofluoroscopic swallowing study, a clinical bedside swallowing evaluation, or a combined approach.DesignDecision‐analysis model.MethodsA decision‐analysis model was used with information derived from multiple data sources, including meta‐analyses and other relevant clinical studies. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.Main Outcome MeasuresThe analysis assessed direct medical costs of pneumonia. Strategies were compared on the basis of an incremental cost‐effectiveness analysis, with effectiveness measured in quality‐adjusted life‐years.ResultsThe strategy of having each patient undergo a videofluoroscopic swallowing study for dysphagia was more effective and less costly than the strategies of clinical bedside swallowing evaluation alone or a combined approach. The model was most influenced by the reduction in the risk of pneumonia attributable to the treatment of mild/moderate and severe dysphagia, the effectiveness of treatment with clinical bedside swallowing evaluation, the baseline probability of pneumonia, and the cost of a videofluoroscopic swallowing study.ConclusionsA videofluoroscopic swallowing study is cost‐effective and often saves costs compared with a clinical bedside swallowing evaluation alone or a combined approach. Research aimed at improving the understanding of the effectiveness of treatment for dysphagia in the prevention of aspiration pneumonia and resulting mortality would improve the model.
Glatiramer acetate elevates cell production in the mature retinal pigment epithelium
Authors: SHAHABI GOLNAZ , JEFFERY GLEN 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe retinal-pigmented epithelium (RPE) is critical for visual function. Throughout life, central RPE cells are lost but replenished by peripheral cell production. Glatiramer acetate increases neuronal production in mature brains and is thought to erode age-related deposits in the human retina that are risk factors for macular degeneration. Here, we ask whether this agent also elevates RPE production in mature rat eyes. If so, it may be used to replenish these cells in damaged eyes. Glatiramer acetate was given systemically for 14 days combined with Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to mark cell division. One eye was then processed for the cell cycle marker Ki67 and the other for BrdU. Glatiramer acetate significantly elevated the number of RPE cells in the cell cycle, with more labeled with Ki67. There were also significantly more BrdU-labeled cells over the 14 days, confirming that some cells divided. However, while Ki67 positive cell numbers increased by approximately 100% following examination at one time point, BrdU cell numbers increased by only 3% when averaged per day. Hence, glatiramer acetate induces cells to proliferate, but many may fail either to complete division or to survive. This may have long-term consequences for this tissue.
Residual abilities in age-related macular degeneration to process spatial frequencies during natural scene categorization
Authors: MUSEL BENOIT , HERA RUXANDRA , CHOKRON SYLVIE , ALLEYSSON DAVID , CHIQUET CHRISTOPHE , ROMANET JEAN-PAUL , GUYADER NATHALIE , PEYRIN CAROLE 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by a central vision loss. We explored the relationship between the retinal lesions in AMD patients and the processing of spatial frequencies in natural scene categorization. Since the lesion on the retina is central, we expected preservation of low spatial frequency (LSF) processing and the impairment of high spatial frequency (HSF) processing. We conducted two experiments that differed in the set of scene stimuli used and their exposure duration. Twelve AMD patients and 12 healthy age-matched participants in Experiment 1 and 10 different AMD patients and 10 healthy age-matched participants in Experiment 2 performed categorization tasks of natural scenes (Indoors vs. Outdoors) filtered in LSF and HSF. Experiment 1 revealed that AMD patients made more no-responses to categorize HSF than LSF scenes, irrespective of the scene category. In addition, AMD patients had longer reaction times to categorize HSF than LSF scenes only for indoors. Healthy participants’ performance was not differentially affected by spatial frequency content of the scenes. In Experiment 2, AMD patients demonstrated the same pattern of errors as in Experiment 1. Furthermore, AMD patients had longer reaction times to categorize HSF than LSF scenes, irrespective of the scene category. Again, spatial frequency processing was equivalent for healthy participants. The present findings point to a specific deficit in the processing of HSF information contained in photographs of natural scenes in AMD patients. The processing of LSF information is relatively preserved. Moreover, the fact that the deficit is more important when categorizing HSF indoors, may lead to new perspectives for rehabilitation procedures in AMD.
Understanding target‐like signals in coastal altimetry: Experimentation of a tomographic imaging technique
Authors: Scozzari A. , Gómez‐Enri J. , Vignudelli S. , Soldovieri F. 
Published: December 2011

Usage and availability of Sea Surface Height (SSH) information from satellite radar altimeters undergo known limitations in the coastal zone, where such data are of great importance and usefulness. In fact, coastal regions are a crucial zone to be investigated and monitored, due to the high impact that sea level and circulation changes have on the environmental security and the related economic and societal issues. It is known that radar returns from the sea surface sometimes present target‐like echoes (“bright targets”), especially in correspondence of particular features of the coastal zone, thus entailing a potential interference with the measurement of SSH. Such spiky echoes generate hyperbolic patterns in the radargram domain, which the recent literature has tentatively explained as resulting from flat water areas in the proximity of the coastline, but the physical mechanism that underlies their occurrence still remains unclear. To probe further into this aspect, this work describes a novel application of a microwave tomographic reconstruction approach, applied to the Envisat RA‐2 signals, tested on selected passes over the Pianosa Island (a 10 km2 island in the NW Mediterranean). The aim of this study is the analytical identification of the signal contamination sources in terms of location and extension of their associated electromagnetic anomaly. The obtained results confirm the idea that the origin of such signatures is connected with particular conditions of the sea surface, which are easier to be found in the proximity of coastal closed areas such as gulfs, but presumably not limited to such circumstances.
The role of rheology and slab shape on rapid mantle flow: Three‐dimensional numerical models of the Alaska slab edge
Authors: Jadamec M. A. , Billen M. I. 
Published: December 2011

Away from subduction zones, the surface motion of oceanic plates is well correlated with mantle flow direction, as inferred from seismic anisotropy. However, this correlation breaks down near subduction zones, where shear wave splitting studies suggest the mantle flow direction is spatially variable and commonly non‐parallel to plate motions. This implies local decoupling of mantle flow from surface plate motions, yet the magnitude of this decoupling is poorly constrained. We use 3D numerical models of the eastern Alaska subduction‐transform plate boundary system to further explore this decoupling, in terms of both direction and magnitude. Specifically, we investigate the role of the slab geometry and rheology on the mantle flow velocity at a slab edge. The subducting plate geometry is based on Wadati‐Benioff zone seismicity and tomography, and the 3D thermal structure for both the subducting and overriding plates, is constrained by geologic and geophysical observations. In models using the composite viscosity, a laterally variable mantle viscosity emerges as a consequence of the lateral variations in the mantle flow and strain rate. Spatially variable mantle velocity magnitudes are predicted, with localized fast velocities (greater than 80 cm/yr) close to the slab where the negative buoyancy of the slab drives the flow. The same models produce surface plate motions of less than 10 cm/yr, comparable to observed plate motions. These results show a power law rheology, i.e., one that includes the effects of the dislocation creep deformation mechanism, can explain both observations of seismic anisotropy and decoupling of mantle flow from surface motion.
Co-evolution with lytic phage selects for the mucoid phenotype of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25
Authors: Scanlan Pauline Deirdre , Buckling Angus 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
The effects of co-evolution with lytic phage on bacterial virulence-related traits are largely unknown. In this study we investigate the incidence of the mucoid phenotype of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 in response to co-evolution with the lytic phage phi2 (φ2). The mucoid phenotype of Pseudomonas spp. is due to overproduction of alginate and is a considerable virulence factor contributing to the intractability of infections most notably in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung, but also in pathogenic infections of plants. Our data show that this phenotype can evolve as an adaptive response to phage predation and is favoured under specific abiotic conditions, in particular a homogenous spatial structure and a high rate of nutrient replacement. The mucoid phenotype remains partially sensitive to phage infection, which facilitates ‘apparent competition’ with phage-sensitive competitors, partially offsetting the costs of alginate production. Although P. fluorescens SBW25 is not a pathogen, several key characteristics typical of Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates from CF lung were noted, including loss of motility on mucoid conversion and a high rate of spontaneous reversion to the wild-type phenotype. Although the genetic mechanisms of this phenotype remain unknown, they do not include mutations at many of the commonly reported loci implicated in mucoid conversion, including mucA and algU. These data not only further our understanding of the potential role phage have in the ecology and evolution of bacteria virulence in both natural and clinical settings, but also highlight the need to consider both biotic and abiotic variables if bacteriophages are to be used therapeutically.
Geographical and chronological origin and evolution of Hepatitis C Virus.
Authors: revikumar amjesh , S. Nair Achuthsankar , V.S. Sugunan 
Published: December 2011

AbstractHepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem that leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. World over, more than 270-300 million people are estimated to be infected with the virus. HCV is a positive sense single stranded RNA virus and replicates within the cytoplasm of the hepatocyte using its own RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). RdRp does not have proof reading capacity, and hence generates mutants of the virus, resulting in a chronic infection, which ultimately ends in hepatocellular carcinoma. Such mutations have given rise to several genotypes, subtypes, strains and variants with significant difference in disease outcomes. The mutation rate varies among genotypes, subtypes, strains or even in different sites of the genome. Yet, the extent of heterogeneity is usually moderate, so that estimates of the time of divergence can be computed. The evolution of variants seems to be influenced by the genetic make-up and the immune response of the host and has geographical significance. Here we used phylogenetic analysis and Computational molecular dating techniques to conclude that the ancestral genotype is 7a and that it originated in Canada 363 years ago. Molecular dating was based on the fact that the rate of mutation across all evolutionary lineages is constant over time. Surprisingly, our analyses show that genotype 1d isolated from Canada5 is the most recent with an evolutionary date of just 33 years. It is evident that HCV is still an emerging virus and demographical parameters seem to have a very strong influence in its evolution. We believe that this emphasises the need for developing drugs that are customised to act against strains that evolve and become geographically endemic.
A snake of a different color: physiological color change in Arizona black rattlesnakes
Authors: Amarello Melissa , Smith Jeffrey 
Published: December 2011

AbstractColoration may serve a variety of behavioral (e.g., crypsis, communication) and physiological (e.g., thermoregulation, protection) functions for terrestrial ectotherms. However, optimal coloration for a given function may vary over environments (spatial or temporal) or conflict with other functions. Physiological color change (rapid change due to movement of pigment granules within chromatophores) may be an adaptation to resolve conflicting selective pressures on coloration. The proximate factors related to physiological color change are well known in many animals, but few studies have investigated the ecological or evolutionary implications of this behavior. Here, we present alternative hypotheses for physiological color change and discuss biotic and abiotic factors that may have led to the maintenance and/or loss of this behavior among populations of Arizona black rattlesnakes (Crotalus cerberus). We discuss what is known about this behavior and propose to investigate the function and evolution of coloration and color change in C. cerberus.