bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of frontline risk‐adapted strategy on the overall survival of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: an analysis of the Singapore multiple myeloma study group
Authors: Tan Daryl , Ong Kiat H. , Koh Liang P. , Wong Siew S. , Khin Myat T. , Lee Lai H. , Goh Yeow T. , Chng Wee J. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIntroductionRisk stratification is vital for prognostication and informing treatment decisions in multiple myeloma (MM). We study the prognostic values of the International Staging System (ISS) and underlying cytogenetics in the bortezomib era and assess the impacts of an upfront risk‐adapted approach in the treatment ofMM.MethodsWe compare the overall survival (OS) of 221 patients withMMdiagnosed from 2006 to 2009 (era 2) where upfront bortezomib combination was approved for high‐riskMMwith theOSof 262 patients diagnosed from 2000 to 2005 (era 1) where bortezomib could only be administered at relapse. High‐riskMMis defined by the presence ofISS IIIdisease with renal impairment or adverse cytogenetics.ResultsBaseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 eras. At median follow‐up of 20 months, 0% and 26% of patients had received frontline bortezomib in eras 1 and 2, respectively. The medianOSwere 4.2 yrs and not reached for eras 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.03). On multivariate analysis stratified by era, the most significant prognostic factor shifts from cytogenetics in era 1 to the quality of response in era 2.ConclusionFrontline use of bortezomib in a risk‐adapted manner may avert early mortality and is better able to overcome adverse risks compared to its sequential use.
A prospective cohort study on patients treated with anticoagulants for cerebral vein thrombosis
Authors: Sartori Maria T. , Zampieri Paolo , Barbar Sofia , Pasetto Laura , Munari Marina , Carollo Carla , Briani Chiara , Ricchieri Gianluigi , Prandoni Paolo 
Published: May 2012

AbstractObjectivesCerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) is a potentially fatal disorder for which treatment guidelines are scanty. To assess the short‐ and long‐term benefit of anticoagulant therapy, we performed a prospective cohort study on CVT patients.MethodsForty‐four consecutive CVT patients received conventional anticoagulation with heparin followed by warfarin for at least 3 months. Patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary embolism (PE) underwent confirmatory objective tests. Acquired or inherited risk factors for thrombosis were investigated in all patients. Thrombotic and hemorrhagic events occurring during treatment, and the long‐term outcome using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were recorded.ResultsCongenital and/or acquired conditions predisposing to thrombosis were detected in 37 patients (84.1%), with a high prevalence of oral contraceptive use (66.7% of females) and thrombophilia (31.8%); more than one risk factor was seen in 31.8% of cases. At referral, six patients (13.6%) presented with symptoms of PE, which was confirmed in all. During the initial treatment period, two patients (4.5%) developed symptomatic progression of CVT, which was fatal in 1, and 2 (4.5%) developed major bleeding complications. A favorable outcome (mRS 0–2) at 6–12 months was recorded in 37 of the 43 patients who survived the acute phase (86%).ConclusionsThe outcome of CVT patients managed with conventional anticoagulation who survive the initial phase is favorable in the vast majority. The prevalence of concomitant PE is considerably high, supporting the need of anticoagulant therapy.
The wound‐healing response and upregulated embryonic mechanisms: brothers‐in‐arms forever
Authors: Aller María‐Angeles , Blanco‐Rivero Javier , Arias Jose‐Ignacio , Balfagon Gloria , Arias Jaime 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe cutaneous wound‐healing reaction occurs in overlapping but inter‐related phases, which ultimately result in fibrosis. The pathophysiological mechanisms involved in fibrotic diseases, including organ‐related and even systemic diseases, such as systemic sclerosis, could represent the successive systemic upregulation of extraembryonic‐like phenotypes, that is, amniotic and vitelline phenotypes. These two extraembryonic‐like phenotypes act on the injured tissue to induce a process similar to gastrulation, which occurs during the early phases of embryo development. The amniotic‐like phenotype plays a leading role in the development of neurogenic responses with significant hydroelectrolytic alterations that essentially represent the development of open microcirculation within the injured tissue. In turn, through the overlapping expression of a vitelline‐like phenotype, a bone marrow‐related response is produced. Interstitial infiltration by molecular and cellular mediators contributed by amniotic‐ and vitelline‐like functions provides the functional and metabolic autonomy needed for inducing new tissue formation through mechanisms similar to those that act in gastrulation during the early phases of embryonic development. Thus, while a new tissue is formed, it quickly evolves into fibrotic tissue because of premature senescence. Mechanisms related to extraembryonic‐like functions have been suggested in the following physiological and pathological processes: embryonic development; wound‐healing reactions occurring during adult life; and senescence. The existence of this sort of basic self‐organizing fractal‐like functional pattern is an essential characteristic of our way of life.
The CEO's Representation of Demands and the Corporation's Response to External Pressures: Do Politically Affiliated Firms Donate More?
Authors: Jia Ming , Zhang Zhe 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis study seeks to explain why firms respond in different ways to similar external administrative pressures, such as government demands for charitable giving, particularly in a transitional economy such as China's. Taking the perspective of the CEO's representation on external demands, the study explores the relationship between political affiliation and corporate giving, stimulated by powerful and politically affiliated CEOs, who are the government's natural constituency and who comply with governmental demands for donation. The study introduces contingent factors that influence the CEO's perception of how to satisfy government demands, and that moderate the relationship between political affiliation and corporate giving. Using firm-level data of corporate contributions following the Sichuan earthquake of May 12, 2008, we find that corporations with CEOs who hold political affiliations have a significantly higher probability of donation and also more cash giving. This relationship is moderated by contingent factors such as government ownership, financial condition, and concentration of voting rights.
VLBI and single-dish monitoring of 3C 84 for the period 2009–2011
Authors: Nagai H. , Orienti M. , Kino M. , Suzuki K. , Giovannini G. , Doi A. , Asada K. , Giroletti M. , Kataoka J. , D'Ammando F. , Inoue M. , Lähteenmäki A. , Tornikoski M. , León-Tavares J. , Kameno S. , Bach U. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT
The radio galaxy 3C 84 is a representative of γ-ray-bright misaligned active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and one of the best laboratories to study the radio properties of the subparsec jet in connection with the γ-ray emission. In order to identify possible radio counterparts of γ-ray emissions in 3C 84, we study the change in structure within the central 1 pc and the light curve of subparsec-sized components C1, C2 and C3. We search for any correlation between changes in the radio components and the γ-ray flares by making use of the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and single-dish data. Throughout the radio monitoring spanning over two GeV γ-ray flares detected by the Fermi Large Area Telescope and the MAGIC Cherenkov Telescope during 2009 April–May and 2010 June–August, the total flux density in the radio band increases on average. This flux increase mostly originates in C3. Although γ-ray flares span the time-scale of days to weeks, no clear correlation with the radio light curve on this time-scale is found. No new prominent components and change in morphology associated with the γ-ray flares are found on VLBI images.
11–12 Gyr old white dwarfs 30 pc away
Authors: Kilic Mukremin , Thorstensen John R. , Kowalski P. M. , Andrews J. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT
We present a detailed model atmosphere analysis of two of the oldest stars known in the solar neighbourhood, the high proper motion white dwarfs SDSS J110217.48+411315.4 (hereafter J1102) and WD 0346+246 (hereafter WD0346). We present trigonometric parallax observations of J1102, which places it at a distance of only 33.7 ± 2.0 pc. Based on the state-of-the-art model atmospheres, optical, near-infrared, mid-infrared photometry and distances, we constrain the temperatures, atmospheric compositions, masses and ages for both stars. J1102 is an 11-Gyr-old (white dwarf plus main-sequence age), 0.62 M⊙ white dwarf with a pure H atmosphere and Teff= 3830 K. WD0346 is an 11.5-Gyr-old, 0.77 M⊙ white dwarf with a mixed H/He atmosphere and Teff= 3650 K. Both stars display halo kinematics and their ages agree remarkably well with the ages of the nearest globular clusters, M4 and NGC 6397. J1102 and WD0346 are the closest examples of the oldest halo stars that we know of.
Behavior and Fate of PFOA and PFOS in Sandy Aquifer Sediment
Authors: Ferrey Mark L. , Wilson John T. , Adair Cherri , Su Chunming , Fine Dennis D. , Liu Xuyang , Washington John W. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractMicrocosms were constructed with sediment from beneath a landfill that received waste containing PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate). The microcosms were amended with PFOA and PFOS, and sampled after 91, 210, 343, 463, 574, and 740 d of incubation. After 740 d, selected microcosms were extracted to determine the mass of PFOA and PFOS remaining. There was no evidence for degradation of PFOA or PFOS. Over time, the aqueous concentrations of PFOA and PFOS increased in the microcosms, indicating that PFOA and PFOS that had originally sorbed to the sediment was desorbing. At the beginning of the experiment, the adsorption coefficient, Kd, averaged 0.27 L/kg for PFOA and 1.2 L/kg for PFOS. After 740 d of incubation, sorption of PFOA was not detectable and the Kd of PFOS was undetectable in two microcosms and was 0.08 L/kg in a third microcosm. During incubation, the pH of the pore water in the microcosms increased from pH 7.2 to pH ranging from 8.1 to 8.8. The zeta potential of the sediment decreased with increasing pH. These observations suggest that the sorption of PFOA and PFOS at near neutral pH was controlled by the electrostatic sorption on ferric oxide minerals, and not by the sorption to organic carbon. Accurate predictions of PFOA and PFOS mobility in ground water should be based on empirical estimates of sorption using affected aquifer sediment.
A model to determine the economic viability of water fluoridation
Authors: Kroon Jeroen , van Wyk Philippus Johannes 
Published: May 2012

AbstractObjectives: In view of concerns expressed by South African local authorities the aim of this study was to develop a model to determine whether water fluoridation is economically viable to reduce dental caries in South Africa.Methods: Microsoft Excel software was used to develop a model to determine economic viability of water fluoridation for 17 water providers from all nine South African provinces. Input variables for this model relate to chemical cost, labor cost, maintenance cost of infrastructure, opportunity cost, and capital depreciation. The following output variables were calculated to evaluate the cost of water fluoridation: per capita cost per year, cost‐effectiveness and cost‐benefit. In this model it is assumed that the introduction of community water fluoridation can reduce caries prevalence by an additional 15 percent and that the savings in cost of treatment will be equal to the average fee for a two surface restoration.Results: Water providers included in the study serve 53.5 percent of the total population of South Africa. For all providers combined chemical cost contributes 64.5 percent to the total cost, per capita cost per year was $0.36, cost‐effectiveness was calculated as $11.41 and cost‐benefit of the implementation of water fluoridation was 0.34.Conclusions: This model confirmed that water fluoridation is an economically viable option to prevent dental caries in South African communities, as well as conclusions over the last 10 years that water fluoridation leads to significant cost savings and remains a cost‐effective measure for reducing dental caries, even when the caries‐preventive effectiveness is modest.
Mainstreaming ecosystem services through reformed European agricultural policies
Authors: Plieninger Tobias , Schleyer Christian , Schaich Harald , Ohnesorge Bettina , Gerdes Holger , Hernández‐Morcillo Mónica , Bieling Claudia 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAgroecosystems are vital for supplying ecosystem services to human society, but most modern farming practices impact detrimentally on the environment. Public agricultural support policies have been critically important in influencing the transformation of the farm sectors; however, few of them have been dedicated to enhancing ecosystem services beyond agricultural commodities. The largest agricultural support system worldwide, the European common agricultural policy (CAP), has now come to a critical point, as major decisions concerning its design and implementation after 2013 are about to be taken. The debate on this reform process presents a unique opportunity to trigger a transition from commodity‐based subsidy policies to policies centered on efficient provision of ecosystem services from agricultural land. To prompt such discussion, we formulate key recommendations informed by a review of ecosystem services literature and address verifiable links to human well‐being, nonmarket valuation for balanced services provision, treatment of ecosystem services bundles, site‐specific and regionalized approaches, matching spatial scales for different ecosystem services, funding permanence for payment schemes, strong monitoring and adaptive approaches to tackling uncertainties, and coherent cross‐sectoral policy design. If these issues were to be considered in formulating and implementing future CAP, it might become an exemplar for redirecting agricultural policies elsewhere in the world toward sustainability.
Dose calculation for photon‐emitting brachytherapy sources with average energy higher than 50 keV: Report of the AAPM and ESTRO
Authors: Perez‐Calatayud Jose , Ballester Facundo , Das Rupak K. , DeWerd Larry A. , Ibbott Geoffrey S. , Meigooni Ali S. , Ouhib Zoubir , Rivard Mark J. , Sloboda Ron S. , Williamson Jeffrey F. 
Published: May 2012

Purpose:Recommendations of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) on dose calculations for high‐energy (average energy higher than 50 keV) photon‐emitting brachytherapy sources are presented, including the physical characteristics of specific192Ir,137Cs, and 60Co source models.Methods:This report has been prepared by the High Energy Brachytherapy Source Dosimetry (HEBD) Working Group. This report includes considerations in the application of the TG‐43U1 formalism to high‐energy photon‐emitting sources with particular attention to phantom size effects, interpolation accuracy dependence on dose calculation grid size, and dosimetry parameter dependence on source active length.Results:Consensus datasets for commercially available high‐energy photon sources are provided, along with recommended methods for evaluating these datasets. Recommendations on dosimetry characterization methods, mainly using experimental procedures and Monte Carlo, are established and discussed. Also included are methodological recommendations on detector choice, detector energy response characterization and phantom materials, and measurement specification methodology. Uncertainty analyses are discussed and recommendations for high‐energy sources without consensus datasets are given.Conclusions:Recommended consensus datasets for high‐energy sources have been derived for sources that were commercially available as of January 2010. Data are presented according to the AAPM TG‐43U1 formalism, with modified interpolation and extrapolation techniques of the AAPM TG‐43U1S1 report for the 2D anisotropy function and radial dose function.
Axillary temperature measurement during hypothermia treatment for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy
Authors: Landry Marc-Antoine , Doyle Lex W , Lee Katherine , Jacobs Susan E 
Published: May 2012

ObjectiveTo determine the accuracy of axillary temperature relative to core rectal temperature during whole-body therapeutic hypothermia for moderate-to-severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.DesignRetrospective audit.SettingSingle tertiary neonatal intensive care unit at The Royal Women's Hospital in Australia.PatientsFifty-eight term newborn infants with moderate-to-severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Forty infants were treated with whole-body hypothermia between February 2001 and May 2010, 16 of whom were enrolled in the Infant Cooling Evaluation (ICE) trial, and 18 control infants randomised to normothermia in the ICE trial.InterventionComparison of simultaneous axillary and rectal temperatures measured between 0 and 84 h post randomisation or induction of cooling.ResultsDuring the initiation of hypothermia (0–<6 h) axillary and rectal temperatures were similar (mean difference rectal-axillary =0.07°C), but with large variability (95% limits of agreement −1.18 to 1.33°C). There was larger variability in measurements between 6 and <72 h in the hypothermic infants (total SD 0.44) than in the normothermic group (total SD 0.24, p<0.001). In the hypothermic infants, the mean difference between the measurements during the rewarming phase (72–<84 h) was −0.19°C (95% limits of agreement −0.95 to 0.57°C).ConclusionAs there is wide variability in the difference between axillary and rectal temperatures at all stages of whole-body cooling, our data do not support the use of axillary temperature as a surrogate for core rectal temperature during therapeutic hypothermia.
Uterotonic drug quality: an assessment of the potency of injectable uterotonic drugs purchased by simulated clients in three districts in Ghana
Authors: Stanton Cynthia , Koski Alissa , Cofie Patience , Mirzabagi Ellie , Grady Breanne L , Brooke Steve 
Published: May 2012

ObjectivesGiven use of uterotonics for postpartum haemorrhage and other obstetric indications, the importance of potent uterotonics is indisputable. This study evaluated access to and potency of injectable uterotonics in Ghana.DesignStudy design involved research assistants simulating clients to purchase oxytocin and ergometrine from different sources. Drug potency was measured via chemical assay by the Ghana Food and Drugs Board.SettingThe study was conducted in three contrasting districts in Ghana.Outcome measureThe per cent of active pharmaceutical ingredient was measured to assess the quality of oxytocin and ergometrine.Results69 formal points of sale were visited, from which 55 ergometrine ampoules and 46 oxytocin ampoules were purchased. None of the ergometrine ampoules were within British Pharmacopoeia specification for active ingredient, none were expired and one showed 0% active ingredient, suggestive of a counterfeit drug. Among oxytocin ampoules purchased, only 11 (26%) were within British Pharmacopoeia specification for active ingredient and two (4%) were expired. The median percentages of active ingredients were 64% and 50% for oxytocin and ergometrine, respectively.ConclusionsThe quality of injectable uterotonics in three contrasting districts in Ghana is a serious problem. Restrictions regarding the sale of unregistered drugs, and of registered drugs from unlicensed shops, are inadequately enforced. These problems likely exist elsewhere but are not assessed, as postmarketing drug quality surveillance is generally restricted to well-funded disease-specific programmes relying on antiretroviral, antimalarial and antibiotic drugs. Maternal health programmes must adopt and fund the same approach to drug quality as is standard in programmes addressing infectious disease.
Innovative strategy for effective critical laboratory result management: end-to-end process using automation and manual call centre
Authors: Ti Lian Kah , Ang Sophia Bee Leng , Saw Sharon , Sethi Sunil Kumar , Yip James W L 
Published: May 2012

BackgroundTimely reporting and acknowledgement are crucial steps in critical laboratory results (CLR) management. The authors previously showed that an automated pathway incorporating short messaging system (SMS) texts, auto-escalation, and manual telephone back-up improved the rate and speed of physician acknowledgement compared with manual telephone calling alone. This study investigated if it also improved the rate and speed of physician intervention to CLR and whether utilising the manual back-up affected intervention rates.MethodsData from seven audits between November 2007 and January 2011 were analysed. These audits were carried out to assess the robustness of CLR reporting process in the authors' institution. Comparisons were made in the rate and speed of acknowledgement and intervention between the audits performed before and after automation. Using the automation audits, the authors compared intervention data between communication with SMS only and when manual intervention was required.Results1680 CLR were reported during the audit periods. Automation improved the rate (100% vs 84.2%; p<0.001) and speed (median 12 min vs 23 min; p<0.001) of CLR acknowledgement. It also improved the rate (93.7% vs 84.0%, p<0.001) and speed (median 21 min vs 109 min; p<0.001) of CLR intervention. From the automation audits, the use of SMS only did not improve physician intervention rates.DiscussionThe automated communication pathway improved physician intervention rate and time in tandem with improved acknowledgement rate and time when compared with manual telephone calling. The use of manual intervention to augment automation did not adversely affect physician intervention rate, implying that an end-to-end pathway was more important than automation alone.