bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
One‐dimensional relaxations and LP bounds for orthogonal packing
Authors: Belov G. , Kartak V. , Rohling H. , Scheithauer G. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractWe consider the feasibility problem in d‐dimensional orthogonal packing (d2), called the Orthogonal Packing Problem (OPP): given a set of d‐dimensional rectangular items, decide whether all of them can be orthogonally packed in the given rectangular container without rotation. We review two kinds of one‐dimensional (1D) relaxations of OPP. The first kind is non‐preemptive cumulative‐resource scheduling, equivalently 1D contiguous stock cutting. The second kind is simple (preemptive) 1D stock cutting. In three and more dimensions we distinguish the so‐called bar and slice preemptive relaxations of OPP. We review some models of these problems and compare the strength of their LP relaxations with regard to a certain OPP instance, theoretically and numerically. Both the theory and computational results in 2D and 3D show the advantage of the bar relaxation. We also compare the LP bounds with the commonly used volume bounds from dual‐feasible functions. Moreover, we test the so‐called probing (temporary fixing) of intersection variables of OPP with the aim to strengthen the relaxations.
Aggregate Earnings and Asset Prices
Authors: BALL RAY , SADKA GIL , SADKA RONNIE 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTA principal‐components analysis demonstrates that common earnings factors explain a substantial portion of firm‐level earnings variation, implying earnings shocks have substantial systematic components and are not almost fully diversifiable as prior literature has concluded. Furthermore, the principal components of earnings and returns are highly correlated, implying aggregate earnings risks and return risks are related. In contrast to previous studies, the correlation we report between the systematic components of earnings and returns is stable over time. We also show that the earnings factors are priced, in the sense that the sensitivities of securities' returns to the earnings factors explain a significant portion of the cross‐sectional variation in returns, even controlling for return risk. This suggests earnings performance is an underlying source of priced risk. Our evidence that the information sets of returns and earnings are jointly determined implies cash flow risk and return risk are not fully separable, and raises the possibility that it is the common variation of earnings and returns that is priced.
Efficacy and Safety of Anticoagulation With Heparin Versus Heparin Plus Epoprostenol in Patients Undergoing Extracorporeal Liver Support With Prometheus
Authors: Krisper Peter , Tiran Beate , Fliser Danilo , Haditsch Bernd , Stadlbauer Vanessa , Otto Ronald , Ernst Thomas , Kretschmer Ulrich , Stauber Rudolf E. , Haller Hermann , Holzer Herwig , Manns Michael P. , Rifai Kinan 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAnticoagulation for extracorporeal liver support is delicate due to underlying coagulation disorders in patients with liver failure and to the associated elevated bleeding risk. To date, there has been no detailed report on anticoagulation issues in patients treated with Prometheus, a device based on the principle of fractionated plasma separation and adsorption. We studied 17 patients from two centers treated with Prometheus, comparing standard anticoagulation with heparin (15 treatments) and a combination of heparin and the synthetic prostacyclin epoprostenol (22 treatments). Standard coagulation tests, proteins C and S, and thrombin–antithrombin (TAT) complex were determined, and adverse events were recorded. All but two treatments could be completed as scheduled, although filter exchange due to filter clotting was required in 24% of the treatments. Three out of 17 patients developed severe bleeding complications within 24 h of treatment. There were no overt thrombotic events. Addition of epoprostenol neither reduced coagulation‐related adverse events nor improved standard coagulation parameters. Protein C, but not protein S, showed a significant reduction (23 ± 18%) after Prometheus treatments, but levels rebounded to baseline within 18 h. TAT levels—a measure for activation of coagulation—were only altered by Prometheus in patients where TAT was already elevated before treatment. In conclusion, anticoagulation of Prometheus with heparin is feasible but still associated with a relatively high frequency of filter clotting and a considerable risk of severe bleeding in this high‐risk patient population. As addition of epoprostenol did not prove beneficial, other strategies, such as regional anticoagulation with citrate, should be further evaluated.
Occipital Nerve Blocks: When and What to Inject?
Authors: Tobin Joshua , Flitman Stephen 
Published: August 2009

Introduction.— Occipital nerve block (ONB) is a promising treatment for headaches. Its indications, selection criteria, and best techniques are not clear, however.Objective.— To summarize in narrative format what is known about ONBs and what needs to be learned.Methods.— MD Consult and Google Scholar were searched using the terms occipital, suboccipital, block, and injection to identify relevant articles that were reviewed. This process was repeated for all additional pertinent articles identified from these articles, and so on, until no additional articles were identified.Results.— A total of 21 articles were identified.Conclusions.— Occipital nerve block is an effective treatment for cervicogenic headache, cluster headache, and occipital neuralgia. While a double blinded randomized placebo controlled clinical trial is lacking, multiple open label studies reported favorable results for migraine. Two other possible uses of ONB worthy of further study are use as a rescue treatment and as an adjunctive treatment for medication overuse headache. ONB may be effective for tension headache, but only under very specific circumstances. ONB is either ineffective or only effective under as yet unstudied circumstances for hemicrania continua and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. Some practitioners use occipital nerve (ON) tenderness to palpation (TTP) or reproduction of headache pain with ON pressure (RHPONP) as selection criteria for identifying appropriate patients. While only a clinical trial can produce a definitive answer, current evidence suggests that these selection criteria are not necessary for cervicogenic headache or cluster headache. Occipital neuralgia by definition involves TTP of the ONs. Whether RHPONP or ON TTP predicts success in migraine is unclear, and may relate to whether steroids are used. A single blinded randomized controlled trial evaluating local anesthetic with steroids vs local anesthetic alone for transformed migraine reported slightly worse results with steroids, but there are several alternate explanations for this finding other than steroids being counterproductive. The technique of repetitive ONBs deserves further study.
Paucity of intraepidermal FoxP3‐positive T cells in cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma in contrast with spongiotic and lichenoid dermatitis
Authors: Wada David A. , Wilcox Ryan A. , Weenig Roger H. , Gibson Lawrence E. 
Published: August 2009

Background: FoxP3 is the most specific available marker for regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tumor‐associated FoxP3‐positive Tregs have been identified in various neoplasms, including cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL). FoxP3 expression in CTCL varies across groups; few studies have compared CTCL with inflammatory conditions. Methods: Lesional skin biopsies from 20 patients with CTCL [13 mycosis fungoides (MF); 7 Sézary syndrome (SS)] and 22 with inflammatory dermatoses (11 spongiotic; 11 lichenoid or interface) were examined for FoxP3 expression by immunohistochemistry. Epidermal FoxP3‐positive lymphocytes were counted as a percentage of the total epidermal CD3‐positive T‐cell population. Results: FoxP3‐positive T cells composed the minority of infiltrate in all major categories. Lower numbers of epidermal FoxP3‐positive T cells were observed in CTCL, particularly MF, than in inflammatory dermatoses (P < .001). CTCL neoplastic T cells did not express FoxP3. Conclusion: FoxP3‐positive T cells are less frequently encountered in MF than in inflammatory dermatoses. FoxP3‐positive T cells occur in higher proportions in the dermis than in the epidermis and probably correlate with coexisting inflammatory components. CTCL neoplastic cells do not typically express a Treg phenotype and are associated with low numbers of FoxP3‐positive Tregs in the infiltrate. FoxP3 expression by immunohistochemistry may aid histologic evaluation of these conditions.Wada DA, Wilcox RA, Weenig RH, Gibson LE. Paucity of intraepidermal FoxP3‐positive T cells in cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma in contrast with spongiotic and lichenoid dermatitis.
Morphometric analysis of CD34‐positive vessels in salivary gland adenoid cystic and mucoepidermoid carcinomas
Authors: Luukkaa H. , Laitakari J. , Vahlberg T. , Klemi P. , Stenbäck F. , Grénman R. 
Published: August 2009

Background: Carcinomas of the salivary glands are uncommon and morphologically a diverse group of malignancies. To evaluate the prognostic value of CD34 immunostaining of the vessels in adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), an automated image analysis method was used.Method: In a nationwide study, covering salivary gland cancer (SGC) patients in Finland 1991–1996, 37 AdCC and 18 MEC patients (M 25, F 30, age 25–90, mean 63) were included. In addition to clinical characteristics the size, shape, staining intensity and vessel density in CD34 immunostained histologic samples were measured.Results: Altogether 4433 vessels were measured from AdCC and 2615 from MEC tumor. Of the total tumor vessels measured, 2651 were from patients who deceased with disease (Group I) and 4397 were from specimens derived from those who did not die of disease (Group II) during the 10‐year follow‐up. The staining intensity was significantly higher in MEC than in AdCC tumor (P = 0.0005). In MEC, the Group I patients had a higher staining intensity among high‐grade patients compared with patients with low grade disease, whereas the tumors in Group II had a lower staining intensity among the high‐grade compared with the low grade tumors (P = 0.018). A higher vessel density was found in patients with MEC in group II compared with group I (P = 0.017).Conclusions: The staining intensity of CD34 positive vessels in MEC was higher than in AdCC. In MEC, higher staining intensity of vessels in high‐grade tumors and lower vessel density in all MEC patients, predicted poor survival.
Cholestasis in neonatal intensive care unit: incidence, aetiology and management
Authors: Tufano Maria , Nicastro Emanuele , Giliberti Paolo , Vegnente Angela , Raimondi Francesco , Iorio Raffaele 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAim:  Prevalence, aetiology, management and outcome of cholestasis were evaluated in infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods:  Medical records of all infants admitted to two Italian level III NICUs from January 2005 to August 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. The role of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy was also investigated.Results:  Twenty‐seven of 1289 enrolled infants developed cholestasis. In 25 infants, cholestasis had a multifactorial basis, while in two, no aetiology was found. UDCA did not significantly affect clinical and biochemical course of cholestasis. During a period of 12 months, eight cholestatic infants died, one underwent liver transplantation and 18 fully recovered.Conclusion:  Infants admitted in NICU have a rate of cholestasis higher than that reported in the general population of live births; in most cases, cholestasis is associated to multiple risk factors and shows a favourable outcome. UDCA does not seem to affect clinical course of cholestasis in this setting.
Evaluation of Dimensional Accuracy of Panoramic Cross‐Sectional Tomography, Its Ability to Identify the Inferior Alveolar Canal, and Its Impact on Estimation of Appropriate Implant Dimensions in the Mandibular Posterior Region
Authors: Mehra Anshul , Pai Keerthilatha M. 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTObjectives:  To evaluate the dimensional accuracy of panoramic cross‐sectional tomography, its impact on implant size estimation and its ability in identifying the inferior alveolar canal in the mandibular posterior region.Material and Methods:  Eight partially edentulous mandibles with 18 edentulous sites were obtained. Orthopantomograms and tomograms were made and the mandible's outline and the position of mandibular canals on tomograms were traced on a clear acetate paper. Horizontal and vertical magnification factors were calculated. The mandibular height, distance between mandibular canal and alveolar crest, maximum bucco‐lingual width, distance between buccal cortex and mandibular canal, and cortical thickness at the inferior border of the mandible were measured. Potential implant sites were identified and implant sizes were estimated. Location and visibility of mandibular canals were also evaluated. The mandibles were sectioned at each site and all the above mentioned parameters were assessed which served as gold standard.Results:  Mean horizontal and vertical magnification factors were 1.47 ± 0.048 and 1.53 ± 0.038. Total height and maximum bucco‐lingual width were underestimated by 1.88% and 1.59%. Crest to canal distance, cortical thickness at the inferior border of the mandible and buccal cortex to mandibular canal were overestimated by 0.59%, 5.16%, and 3.64%. Implant sizes were estimated for 11 sites and changes were recorded at 2 sites between record 1 and record 2. However, there was no disagreement between record 2 and record 3. Of the canals, 61.11% were located lingually and the visibility of mandibular canals was poor in 44.44% of cases.Conclusions:  The tomograms were found to be accurate for the measurements in both horizontal and vertical planes and reliable for implant size estimation, taking into consideration proper magnification factors. They were also found to be useful in assessing the location of mandibular canal but were not very effective in discerning it.
Combining Scaffolds and Osteogenic Cells in Regenerative Bone Surgery: A Preliminary Histological Report in Human Maxillary Sinus Augmentation
Authors: Mangano Carlo , Piattelli Adriano , Mangano Alberto , Mangano Francesco , Mangano Alessandro , Iezzi Giovanna , Borges Fábio L. , D'Avila Susana , Shibli Jamil Awad 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTPurpose: The following case series evaluated the maxillary sinus augmentation responses to tissue‐engineered bone graft obtained by a culture of autogenous osteoblasts seeded on polyglycolic–polylactic scaffolds and calcium phosphate.Materials and Methods: Sinus floor augmentation was performed bilaterally in five patients (mean age 58.4 years) with tissue‐engineered bone (test site – Oral Bone®, BioTissue, Freiburg, Germany) or calcium phosphate (control site – Biocoral, Novaxa Spa, Milan, Italy). Biopsies were harvested 6 months after sinus augmentation for histometric evaluation. Volumetric measurements were taken at baseline and 6 months after the surgical procedure.Results: The mean of vertical bone gain was 6.47 ± 1.39 mm and 9.14 ± 1.19 mm to test and control sites, respectively. The histological sections depicted mature bone with compact and cancellous areas. All biopsies contained varying percentages of newly formed bone and marrow spaces. The mean of bone tissue in the grafted area was 37.32 ± 19.59% and 54.65 ± 21.17% for tissue‐engineered bone and calcium phosphate, respectively.Conclusion: Within the limits of the present report, the histological data in humans confirmed that tissue‐engineered bone and calcium phosphate allowed newly formed bone after maxillary sinus augmentation.
Thiel Embalming Technique: A Valuable Method for Teaching Oral Surgery and Implantology
Authors: Hölzle Frank , Franz Eric‐Peter , Lehmbrock Jutta , Weihe Stephan , Teistra Christian , Deppe Herbert , Wolff Klaus‐Dietrich 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTBackground: Because of its high requirements on surgical experience and the need of complete understanding of the anatomy, oral surgery and especially implantology belong to the most demanding procedures in dentistry. Therefore, hands‐on courses for oral surgery and implantology are considered a prerequisite to prepare for clinical practice. To achieve teaching conditions as realistic as possible, we used a novel human cadaver embalming method enabling tissue dissection comparable with the living body.Methods: Thirty cadavers which were offered by the Institute of Anatomy for the purpose of running oral surgery and implantology courses were embalmed in the technique described by Thiel. On each cadaver, dissection of soft and hard tissue and implantological procedures were performed according to a structured protocol by each course participant. The conservation of fine anatomical structures and the suitability of the embalmed tissue for dissecting, drilling, and suturing were observed and photographically documented.Results: By means of the Thiel embalming technique, oral surgery and implantological procedures could be performed under realistic conditions similar to the living body. Due to the conservation procedure, preparations could be carried out without any time limit, always maintaining the same high quality of the tissue. The maxillary sinus membrane, mucosa, bone, and nerves could be exposed and allowed dissecting, drilling, and suturing even after weeks like fresh specimens.Conclusion: The Thiel embalming method is a unique technique which is ideally suited to practice and teach oral surgery and implantology on human material.
Usefulness of the Aesthetic Result as a Success Criterion for Implant Therapy: A Review
Authors: Annibali Susanna , Bignozzi Isabella , La Monaca Gerardo , Cristalli Maria Paola 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTPurpose: The purpose of this study was to review the reported evaluation criteria of the aesthetic result in oral implant rehabilitation.Materials and Methods: A literature search of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Collaboration, and EMBASE was performed to retrieve studies published between January 1990 and December 2008 using the following key words: “dental implants,”“clinical trial,” and “aesthetic index” (and their synonyms). A manual search of the literature published in the same period was also carried out using the following publications: Clinical Oral Implant Research, The International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants, and The International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. The inclusion criteria of the published studies were the following: human clinical trial, oral implant rehabilitation, at least 10 implants, at least 6 months of follow‐up from insertion of the prosthesis, and evaluation of the aesthetic result by means of an index.Results: The literature search revealed 650 relevant bibliographic references, of which 89 were selected for further analysis. A final total of 29 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria; these included 10 retrospective case series, 11 prospective case series, 1 retrospective controlled clinical trial, 1 prospective controlled clinical trial, and 6 randomized controlled clinical trials. In general, evaluations of aesthetic results appear only in the more recent studies and refer mostly to implant rehabilitation in the maxillary anterior zone; the index used, in most cases, was the Papilla Index of Jemt.Conclusions: Although there appears to be a growing interest in aesthetics in dental implantology, there are as yet no universally accepted evaluation criteria of the aesthetic result. Therefore, further research is necessary to establish a common, complete, and reproducible index for the evaluation of aesthetic outcome that can add in the success criteria for implant therapy in the maxillary and mandibular anterior areas.
Nutrition profiling and labelling of healthy or functional meals
Authors: Williams Peter , Colyer Coral 
Published: August 2009

AbstractNutrient profiling is a method of ranking the healthiness of foods based on their nutrient composition. Many existing systems have been developed for regulatory purposes, such as the assessment of the suitability of foods to bear health claims or to be advertised to children, but increasingly profiling is being used to educate consumers via front‐of‐pack labelling. Most of the existing models have been developed for individual foods in retail settings, not for whole meals available in foodservices. To be effective and justifiable, nutrient profiling models must be science‐based, transparent and demonstrate that they are comprehensible and useful to consumers. A case study of a new Heart Foundation Tick programme in Australian foodservices is presented. This paper also reviews existing international profiling systems and discusses some of the issues and challenges for application in meal services, such as compliance with standards, ensuring food safety and credible and effective means of communication.
Examination of the reliability and validity of an instrument for measuring service quality of restaurants
Authors: Kim Hak‐Seon , Joung Hyun‐Woo , Yuan Yi‐Hua Erin , Wu Chihkang , Chen Jau‐Jiin 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThis study was an examination of the reliability and validity of a modified DINESERV instrument to fit the needs of specific establishments. A questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 504 customers in an American‐style restaurant (n = 226) in Taiwan and a casual Italian restaurant (n = 278) in the US. Four dimensions, titled ‘Product/Service’, ‘Reliability’, ‘Greeter’ and ‘Physical Environment’, were identified by exploratory factor analysis. Empirically, these four dimensions of service quality in foodservice operations also were supported by the structural equation model developed in this study.
Loss of Inhibitor of Growth (ING‐4) is Implicated in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Human Astrocytomas
Authors: Klironomos George , Bravou Vasiliki , Papachristou Dionysios J , Gatzounis George , Varakis John , Parassi Ekaterini , Repanti Maria , Papadaki Helen 
Published: August 2009

AbstractInhibitor of growth 4 (ING‐4) is a tumor suppressor gene that interacts with nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) and represses its transcriptional activity. Several lines of evidence suggest that the tumor suppressor gene ING‐4, the transcription factor NF‐κB and its target genes matrix metalloproteases MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and urokinase plasminogen activator (u‐PA) are critically involved in tumor invasion. The aim of the present study was to investigate immunohistochemically the expression pattern of ING‐4, NF‐κB and the NF‐κB downstream targets MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and u‐PA in human astrocytomas from 101 patients. We found that ING‐4 expression was significantly decreased in astrocytomas, and ING‐4 loss was associated with tumor grade progression. Expression of p65, a NF‐κB subunit, was significantly higher in grade IV than in grade III and grade I/II tumors, and a statistical significant negative correlation between expression of ING‐4 and expression of nuclear p65 was noticed. MMP‐9, MMP‐2 and u‐PA were overexpressed in human astrocytomas. Of note, astrocytomas of advanced histologic grades (grade III, IV) displayed significantly higher expression levels of these proteins compared to tumors of lower grades (grade I, II). Collectively, our data suggest an essential role for ING‐4 in human astrocytoma development and progression possibly through regulation of the NF‐κB‐dependent expression of genes involved in tumor invasion.