bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigating the value of a surveillance scan of the superficial femoral artery at one year post-bare metal stent insertion
Authors: Ralph R , Wolstenhulme S , Nicholls M 
Published: May 2012

Introduction Placing a bare metal stent within the superficial femoral artery (SFA) can prolong vessel patency when compared with balloon angioplasty alone. Subsequent in-stent re-stenosis does occur in some individuals. In our institution, a surveillance programme to identify and treat ‘clinically silent’ stenoses has been running for two years and the purpose of this study was to evaluate this programme. Methods Retrospective review of cases was performed making note of indication for stenting, initial clinical outcome and the results of follow-up diagnostic and interventional radiological procedures. Results In total, 41 patients were included in the study. The majority (76%) had a good clinical outcome maintained during the first year at which stage a surveillance ultrasound was performed. Sixteen of these showed no evidence of significant in-stent stenosis or occlusion. Eleven of the remainder had ‘clinically silent’ in-stent stenosis. Nine of these had successful in-stent angioplasty. Ten (24%) patients became symptomatic within the first year. Ultrasound in seven of these patients revealed two in-stent occlusions, one in-stent re-stenosis and four with no significant findings. One patient went straight to have angiography, revealing in-stent re-stenosis. Conclusion Our surveillance programme has successfully identified and treated clinically silent in-stent stenoses in 22% of patients with an SFA stent who may have progressed to symptomatic stenosis or occlusion. Our results highlight the importance of ultrasound surveillance following stent placement. Based on only one asymptomatic patient experiencing stent occlusion at one year, and symptomatic stent problems occurring anywhere from six to 193 days, we consider that one year surveillance is acceptable.
Young Adults' Contraceptive Knowledge, Norms and Attitudes: Associations with Risk Of Unintended Pregnancy
Authors: Frost Jennifer J. , Lindberg Laura Duberstein , Finer Lawrence B. 
Published: May 2012

CONTEXT: Women aged 18–29 have higher rates of unintended pregnancy than any other age‐group. Information is needed to understand what characteristics are associated with risky contraceptive use practices among this population and to develop new strategies for reducing these women's risk of unintended pregnancy.
METHODS: Data related to unintended pregnancy risk were collected from a nationally representative sample of 1,800 unmarried women and men aged 18–29 surveyed by telephone in 2009. Among those at risk of unintended pregnancy, multiple logistic regression was used to assess associations between contraceptive knowledge, norms and attitudes and selected risky contraceptive behaviors.
RESULTS: More than half of young men and a quarter of young women received low scores on contraceptive knowledge, and six in 10 underestimated the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Among women, for each correct response on a contraceptive knowledge scale, the odds of expecting to have unprotected sex in the next three months decreased by 9%, of currently using a hormonal or long‐acting reversible method increased by 17%, and of using no method decreased by 17%. Fear of side effects, norms and attitudes that favor nonmarital pregnancy or undervalue the importance of contraception, pregnancy ambivalence and mistrust of government's role in promoting contraception were also associated with one or more risky contraceptive use behaviors.
CONCLUSIONS: Programs to increase young adults’ knowledge about contraceptive methods and use are urgently needed. Given the demonstrated link between method knowledge and contraceptive behaviors, such programs may be useful in addressing risky behavior in this population.
STD and HIV Risk Factors Among U.S. Young Adults: Variations by Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Sexual Orientation
Authors: Mojola Sanyu A. , Everett Bethany 
Published: May 2012

CONTEXT:

STDs, including HIV, disproportionately affect individuals who have multiple minority identities. Understanding differences in STD risk factors across racial, ethnic and sexual minority groups, as well as genders, is important for tailoring public health interventions.
METHODS:

Data from Waves 3 (2001–2002) and 4 (2007–2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used to develop population‐based estimates of STD and HIV risk factors among 11,045 young adults (mean age, 29 at Wave 4), by gender, race and ethnicity, and sexual orientation (heterosexual, mixed‐oriented, gay). Regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between risk factors and young adults’ characteristics.
RESULTS:

Overall, sexual‐minority women in each racial or ethnic group had a higher prevalence of sexual risk behaviors—including a history of multiple partners, forced sex and incarceration—than their heterosexual counterparts. Mixed‐oriented women in each racial or ethnic group were more likely than heterosexual white women to have received an STD diagnosis (odds ratios, 1.8–6.4). Black men and sexual‐minority men also appeared to be at heightened risk. Gay men in all racial and ethnic groups were significantly more likely than heterosexual white men to report having received an STD diagnosis (2.3–8.3); compared with heterosexual white men, mixed‐oriented black men had the highest odds of having received such a diagnosis (15.2).
CONCLUSIONS:

Taking account of multiple minority identities should be an important part of future research and intervention efforts for STD and HIV prevention.
Applying an FSK Based Transmission Scheme to Broadband Channels Using Frequency Domain Equalization
Authors: Georgi Dr. Sebastian , Peissig Prof. Dr. Jürgen 
Published: May 2012

AbstractEqualization of broadband signals can be efficiently realized in frequency domain. One prominent example is the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission technique. With the introduction of a cyclic prefix and a modulation onto orthogonal subcarriers the equalization can be performed in frequency domain with one tap only. However the extremely high peak to average power ratio of OFDM modulated transmit signals and the demand of linearity inside the signal transmission chain results in a poor energy efficiency at the power amplifier. This paper claims, that as long as a cyclic prefix exists, any receive signal can be equalized in frequency domain.In this paper a transmission scheme with constant envelope is chosen for energy efficiency reasons. Therefore an FSK modulation and gaussian pulse shaping is used to create the transmit signal. Equalization at the receiver is done in frequency domain as known in OFDM. To simplify the equalization, a cyclic prefix is added to the transmit signal as well.This transmission scheme is introduced and evaluated in terms of spectral efficiency and bit error rate (BER) performance in this paper. The comparison is done with a typical OFDM system. In particular the characteristics of a nonlinear power amplifier are considered. It will be shown, that signals with constant envelope such as FSK modulated signals can also make use of an OFDM like equalization procedure with comparable BER performance and spectral requirements.
Future Data Communication Architectures for Safety Critical Aircraft Cabin Systems
Authors: Berkhahn Sven-Olaf 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe cabin of modern aircraft is subject to increasing demands for fast reconfiguration and hence flexibility. These demands require studies for new network architectures and technologies of the electronic cabin systems, which consider also weight and cost reductions as well as safety constraints.Two major approaches are in consideration to reduce the complex and heavy wiring harness: the usage of a so called hybrid data bus technology, which enables the common usage of the same data bus for several electronic cabin systems with different safety and security requirements and the application of wireless data transfer technologies for electronic cabin systems.
10 Years of Car-2-X Communication – a Success Story?
Authors: Wischhof Lars , Ebner André 
Published: May 2012

AbstractFor more than ten years, car-2-x communication has been a major topic of research in the scientific community and an important development focus for the automotive industry. First, this article takes a retrospective look at the evolution of car-2-x and the two different communication paradigms: decentralized car-2-car communication and centralized cellular solutions. Afterwards, a comparison of their technical advantages and limitations is presented, respectively. The result shows that in order to implement safety-relevant applications, car-2-car communication has strong advantages compared to cellular technologies but requires high market penetration. However, its introduction solely for safety applications is difficult since the required penetration will not be achieved until several years after initial deployment. Therefore, car-2-car communication must provide a benefit to the customer, even in the phase of market introduction. For this purpose, the article outlines an approach called SODAD (Segment-Oriented Data Abstraction and Dissemination). It offers a possibility to introduce decentralized vehicular applications with early customer benefit, in order to enable safety applications based on car-2-car communication on a long term.
Assessment of the early signs of decay of Populus deltoides wafers exposed to Trametes versicolor by near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Green Benny , Jones Paul David , Nicholas Darrel D. , Schimleck Laurence R. , Shmulsky Rubin , Dahlen Joseph 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The use of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to predict levels of white-rot degradation in Populus deltoides (cottonwood) by Trametes versicolor over the couse of 1–8 days was investigated. NIR spectra were collected from cross-sectional faces following laboratory soil block decay tests. Spectra in the range of 1100–2400 nm were calibrated in terms of mass loss, compression strength and exposure period based on data of standard methods. The first and second derivatives of NIR spectra were also included into the calibration, which was done by partial least squares regression. The best calibrations with the strongest R2 values were obtained in terms of exposure period (R2 0.92, second derivative), mass loss (R2 0.89, first derivative) and compression strength (R2 0.51, second derivative). As far as the validation (prediction) statistics are concerned, the following data were obtained: exposure period (R2=0.71; RPDp 1.81, second derivative), mass loss prediction (R2=0.43; RPDp=0.67, first derivative) and compression strength R2=0.28; RPDp=1.14 (second derivative). The weak statistical data can be interpreted only in a way that the data are not robust and thus an early prediction of fungal attack by NIR spectroscopy is not yet reliable.
Impact of image analysis software on quantitation of 1D gel electrophoresis analysis/Einfluss der Bildanalysesoftware auf die Bewertung von 1D Gelelektrophoresen
Authors: Kahlenberg Franka , Sack Ulrich , Boldt Andreas 
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Background: Image analysis of 1D gel electrophoresis can be performed by numerous types of software. The results are used, e.g., to create reference data or for association with diseases. In this study, we analyzed statistical differences between two types of established image analysis software. The aim was to inform customers that different types of software may produce various results which may lead to different data interpretations.

Methods: Automated serum protein electrophoresis (albumin, α1-globulin, α2-globulin, β-globulin and γ-globulin) was performed with sera from 25 patients (randomized). Gel bands were quantitatively analyzed by TotalLab 120 (TL120), LabImage 1D (L340) and Phoresis (reference standard). Finally, the degree of deviation (vs. reference standard) of obtained data was investigated by statistical methods (Bland-Altman, Passing-Bablok, reliability).

Results: Passing-Bablok analysis: in L340 and TL120 linearity of test data vs. reference data was passed (p<0.01; L340: y=0.00+1.00x vs. TL120: y=–0.01+1.02x). Bland-Altman analysis: L340 exhibited a lower deviation and standard deviation to reference (mean: –1.5%; SD: 23.0% to –25.9%) vs. TL120 (mean: –8.2%; SD: 32.6% to –48.6%). Reliability: L340 (k=0.404; 95% CI=0.315–0.493) vs. TL120 (k=0.105; 95% CI=0.105–0.245). Detailed serum protein analysis revealed that most data (except α1-globulin) obtained by L340 were within 5% tolerance range, in contrast to data from TL120 (mean%±SEM%: albumin: 0.68±0.49 vs. 6.26±1.44; α1-globulin: –10.80±3.02 vs. –33.72±4.78; α2-globulin: –2.19±1.75 vs. –16.51±2.13; β-globulin: 0.99±1.67 vs. –9.84±2.78; γ-globulin: –1.44±1.73 vs. 5.00±5.67).

Conclusion: In this study, it was shown that 1D electrophoresis data varied in a wide range depending on the type of image software. Awareness of these facts and sensible choice of 1D electrophoresis image software may help avoid incorrect data analysis.
Autoantikörpernachweis mittels indirekter Immunfluoreszenz an HEp-2-Zellen1)/Autoantibody detection using indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells
Authors: Sack Ulrich , Conrad Karsten , Csernok Elena , Frank Ingrid , Hiepe Falk , Krieger Thorsten , Kromminga Arno , von Landenberg Philipp , Messer Gerald , Witte Torsten , Mierau Rudolf 
Published: May 2012

Zusammenfassung
Der Nachweis von Autoantikörpern ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Diagnostik und Verlaufskontrolle von Patienten mit Autoimmunerkrankungen. In der Labordiagnostik der Kollagenosen und der autoimmunen Lebererkrankungen spielt die indirekte Immunfluoreszenz an HEp-2-Zellen im Rahmen einer Stufendiagnostik eine zentrale Rolle. Trotz hoher Qualität der Diagnostik können die Befunde zwischen verschiedenen Labors jedoch wegen fehlender Standardisierung und subjektiver Faktoren zum Teil erheblich differieren. Die vorliegende Arbeit formuliert Empfehlungen für eine vereinheitlichte Bearbeitung und Interpretation des HEp-2-Zell-Testes zum Nachweis von nicht organspezifischen (v.a. antinukleären) Antikörpern. Dabei werden Anforderungen an die verwendeten Diagnostika, Hinweise für die Abarbeitung und Auswertung im Labor und Empfehlungen für die Interpretation gegeben. Für eine optimale Labordiagnostik sind neben einer aussagefähigen klinischen Verdachtsdiagnose und einem erfahrenen Labordiagnostiker folgende Eckpunkte zu empfehlen: Initiales Screening mittels indirekter Immunfluoreszenz an sorgfältig ausgewählten HEp2-Zellen, beginnend mit einer Serumverdünnung von 1:80 und Auswertung in einem lichtstarken Mikroskop, positive Befundung ab einem Titer von 1:160, laborinterne Qualitätssicherung und vereinheitlichte Befundung. Ziel ist die Verbesserung der Diagnostik und Betreuung von Patienten mit Autoimmunerkrankungen als zentrales Anliegen der „European Autoimmunity Standardization Initiative“ (EASI).
Birkenpollenassoziierte Sojaallergie: diagnostische Möglichkeiten und klinische Relevanz/Birch pollen associated soy allergy: possibilities in diagnostic and clinical relevance
Authors: Beyer Susanne , Sack Ulrich , Treudler Regina 
Published: May 2012

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund: Birkenpollenallergiker leiden oft unter Nahrungsmittelallergien in Form eines oralen Allergiesyndroms beim Verzehr von Kern- und Steinobst. Diese Beschwerden beruhen auf einer immunologischen Kreuzreaktion zwischen Pollen- und Nahrungsmittelallergenen. In den letzten Jahren konnte gezeigt werden, dass auch proteinreiche Sojaprodukte von vielen Birkenpollenallergikern nicht vertragen werden können. Dabei sind zum Teil sehr schwere anaphylaktische Symptome beschrieben worden. Als Ursache dieser Soforttypreaktionen auf Soja wurde ein mit dem Hauptallergen der Birke, dem Bet v 1, kreuzreagierendes Sojaallergen mit dem Namen Gly m 4 identifiziert.

Methoden: Am Beispiel eines Kollektives von 73 Leipziger Birkenpollenallergikern mit begleitender Nahrungsmittelallergie werden Ergebnisse einer Patientenbefragung, eines Prick-zu-Prick-Tests mit Sojadrink, der Bestimmung von spezifischem IgE gegen Gly m 4 und des Basophilenstimulationstests mit Gly m 4 vorgestellt.

Ergebnisse und Schlussfolgerungen: Wir konnten zeigen, dass sich kommerziell erhältliche Prick-Test-Extrakte sowie die Bestimmung von spezifischem IgE gegen Sojabohnenmix/f14 nicht zur Diagnostik der pollenassoziierten Sojaallergie eignen. Deutlich häufiger kann durch einen Prick-zu-Prick-Test mit Sojadrink und die Bestimmung von spezifischem IgE gegen rGly m 4 eine Sojaensibilisierung nachgewiesen werden. So reagierten 79% (55/70) der eingeschlossenen Birkenpollenallergiker positiv im Prick-zu-Prick-Test mit Sojadrink und 89% (65/73) zeigten spezifisches IgE gegen rGly m 4 (CAP-Klasse>1). Obwohl nicht jede Sensibilisierung klinisch relevant zu sein scheint, konnte dennoch bei jedem dritten Patienten mit einer nachgewiesenen Sojasensibilisierung eine klinisch relevante Sojaallergie diagnostiziert werden.
Moderne Komplementanalytik Indikationen – Methodik – Perspektiven/Modern complement analysis: indications, methods and outlook
Authors: Tudoran Ruxandra , Kirschfink Michael 
Published: May 2012

Zusammenfassung
Das Komplementsystem ist eines der Schlüsselsysteme der angeborenen Immunität und der Homöostase. Eine überschießende Komplementaktivierung, aber auch das Fehlen einzelner Komplementkomponenten oder -regulatoren können lebensbedrohliche Zustände verursachen. Die zum Krankheitsverständnis notwendigen Grundlagen, Indikationen für eine Komplementdiagnostik, die Interpretation der Resultate sowie therapeutische Interventionsmöglichkeiten sollen in dieser Übersichtsarbeit detailliert dargestellt werden.
Ex ante Fairness in Criminal Law and Procedure
Authors: Chiao Vincent 
Published: May 2012

In Furman v. Georgia, the United States Supreme Court announced that it would not tolerate a capital sentencing regime that imposed death sentences in a seriously arbitrary fashion. The question I ask in this paper is whether we should in fact object to arbitrariness in punishment. The answer I propose is that under plausibly adverse conditions, we might not object to arbitrary penal outcomes, because under those conditions a fair distribution of punishment would be one that equalizes chances across a class of similarly situated criminals. In particular, fairness may require no more than a rough equalization of ex ante chances under conditions of resource scarcity, an inability to rank claims reliably by comparative desert, and a pressing need for punishment to be imposed. I call this an ex ante theory of fairness.
The central virtue of ex ante fairness is that it is capable of reconciling parsimony in punishment with equity in its distribution, even when claims about who deserves what are deeply contested. Adopting an ex ante standard of fairness means that a concern for fair treatment of the guilty need not blind us to the realities of the severe resource constraints faced by American criminal justice, and vice versa.
After laying out the argument for ex ante fairness in general terms, I proceed to show how several prominent features of American criminal law and procedure—the Supreme Court’s capital jurisprudence, prosecutorial discretion, judicial sentencing discretion, and “strict” criminal liability—all exhibit an implicit commitment to an equalization of chances rather than of outcomes.
Effectiveness and Net Cost of Reminder/Recall for Adolescent Immunizations
Authors: Suh Christina A. , Saville Alison , Daley Matthew F. , Glazner Judith E. , Barrow Jennifer , Stokley Shannon , Dong Fran , Beaty Brenda , Dickinson L. Miriam , Kempe Allison 
Published: May 2012

OBJECTIVE:
To assess the effectiveness of reminder/recall (R/R) for immunizing adolescents in private pediatric practices and to describe the associated costs and revenues.

METHODS:
We conducted a randomized controlled trial in 4 private pediatric practices in metropolitan Denver. In each practice, 400 adolescents aged 11 to 18 years who had not received 1 or more targeted vaccinations (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis, meningococcal conjugate, or first dose of human papillomavirus vaccine for female patients) were randomly selected and randomized to intervention (2 letters and 2 telephone calls) or control (usual care) groups. Primary outcomes were receipt of &gt;1 targeted vaccines and receipt of all targeted vaccines 6 months postintervention. We calculated net additional revenue for each additional adolescent who received at least 1 targeted vaccine and for those who received all targeted vaccines.

RESULTS:
Eight hundred adolescents were randomized to the intervention and 800 to the control group. Baseline rates of having already received tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis, meningococcal conjugate, and first dose of human papillomavirus vaccine before R/R ranged from 33% to 54%. Postintervention, the intervention group had significantly higher proportions of receipt of at least 1 targeted vaccine (47.1% vs 34.6%, P &lt; .0001) and receipt of all targeted vaccines (36.2% vs 25.2%, P &lt; .0001) compared with the control group. Three practices had positive net revenues from R/R; 1 showed net losses.

CONCLUSIONS:
R/R was successful at increasing immunization rates in adolescents and effect sizes were comparable to those in younger children. Practices conducting R/R may benefit financially if they can generate additional well-child care visits and keep supply costs low.
Reduction in Pediatric Identification Band Errors: A Quality Collaborative
Authors: Phillips Shannon Connor , Saysana Michele , Worley Sarah , Hain Paul D. 
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:
Accurate and consistent placement of a patient identification (ID) band is used in health care to reduce errors associated with patient misidentification. Multiple safety organizations have devoted time and energy to improving patient ID, but no multicenter improvement collaboratives have shown scalability of previously successful interventions. We hoped to reduce by half the pediatric patient ID band error rate, defined as absent, illegible, or inaccurate ID band, across a quality improvement learning collaborative of hospitals in 1 year.

METHODS:
On the basis of a previously successful single-site intervention, we conducted a self-selected 6-site collaborative to reduce ID band errors in heterogeneous pediatric hospital settings. The collaborative had 3 phases: preparatory work and employee survey of current practice and barriers, data collection (ID band failure rate), and intervention driven by data and collaborative learning to accelerate change.

RESULTS:
The collaborative audited 11 377 patients for ID band errors between September 2009 and September 2010. The ID band failure rate decreased from 17% to 4.1% (77% relative reduction). Interventions including education of frontline staff regarding correct ID bands as a safety strategy; a change to softer ID bands, including “luggage tag” type ID bands for some patients; and partnering with families and patients through education were applied at all institutions.

CONCLUSIONS:
Over 13 months, a collaborative of pediatric institutions significantly reduced the ID band failure rate. This quality improvement learning collaborative demonstrates that safety improvements tested in a single institution can be disseminated to improve quality of care across large populations of children.