bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk factors and ultrasonographic profile of posterior fossa haemorrhages in preterm infants
Authors: Sehgal Arvind , El‐Naggar Walid , Glanc Phyllis , Asztalos Elizabeth 
Published: March 2009

Aims:  While preterm infants are known to be at risk of intracranial haemorrhages, advances in ultrasound imaging of preterm babies have facilitated recognition of presence of haemorrhages in the posterior fossa, which include cerebellar and Cisterna Magna haemorrhages. There are limited data on the profile and predisposing risk factors. The objective was to identify antenatal, intrapartum and post‐natal risk factors for and to define the clinical spectrum.The study was designed as a retrospective case‐control study in the setting of a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit. Preterm babies ≤30 weeks gestation age admitted between January 2005 and December 2006, with an ultrasound diagnosis of posterior fossa haemorrhage and an equal number of controls matched for gestation age, gender and month of birth with normal cranial scans were selected. Systematic chart and radiographic review was done. All cranial ultrasounds in both groups were reviewed.Results:  Eighteen babies had documented posterior fossa haemorrhage (13 cerebellar, 5 isolated Cisterna Magna, 10 both), the median time of detection being 2.5 days. Eleven babies had either no or grade I/II supratentorial bleeds, while half of all cerebellar bleeds were bilateral. All haemorrhages were visualised from mastoid view and none from anterior fontanel. On univariate analysis, multiple gestations, lack of antenatal steroids, foetal heart rate abnormalities, need for volume expanders and cardiotrophins and sepsis were associated with a higher risk for having posterior fossa bleeds.Conclusions:  Posterior fossa haemorrhages in preterm babies are being increasingly recognised. Antenatal, intrapartum and post‐natal factors may predispose towards haemorrhages in the cerebellum or Cisterna Magna.
Neurodevelopmental outcomes of premature infants treated with l‐arginine for prevention of necrotising enterocolitis
Authors: Amin Harish J , Soraisham Amuchou S , Sauve Reg S 
Published: March 2009

Aim:  This study aimed to compare the long‐term neurodevelopmental outcomes at 36 months adjusted age in preterm infants (birth weight ≤ 1250 gm) who received supplementation with l‐arginine during the first 28 days of life with controls.Methods:  Surviving infants enrolled in a randomised control study of l‐arginine supplementation were prospectively followed longitudinally to determine their neurodevelopmental outcomes at 36 months of adjusted age. Neurologic examination and neurodevelopmental assessments were performed by examiners who were unaware of the original treatment assignments.Results:  A total of 132 children (95% of survivors) were evaluated at 36 months adjusted age. In the group given l‐arginine, 5 of 61 (8.1%) had major neurodevelopmental disabilities, defined as the presence of one or more of cerebral palsy, cognitive delay (cognitive index <70), bilateral blindness or bilateral hearing loss requiring hearing aids as compared with 9 of 71 (12.6%) in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.64; 95 % confidence interval, 0.22–1.82; P= 0.40).Conclusions:  There is no increase in neurodevelopmental disability in preterm infants who received l‐arginine supplementation.
Therapeutic errors among children in the community setting: nature, causes and outcomes
Authors: McD Taylor David , Robinson Jeffrey , MacLeod Dawson , MacBean Catherine E , Braitberg George 
Published: March 2009

Aim:  This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of therapeutic errors among children in the community setting.Methods:  This was a prospective, observational study of 491 consecutive cases reported to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, between January 2006 and March 2007. A total of 450 (91.7%) parents/carers were followed up by telephone approximately 48 h after the initial call. The main outcome measures were the nature, causes and outcomes of the errors and actions taken or recommendations given to avoid future errors.Results:  The majority of children (334, 68.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 63.7, 72.1) were aged ≤3 years. Incorrect and double dosage accounted for 279 (56.8%, 95% CI 52.3, 61.2) and 128 (26.1%, 95% CI 22.3, 30.2) cases, respectively. Almost all errors occurred in the home (98.2%) and involved a single medication (98.8%) and the oral route (98.4%). Close family members were responsible in 408 (83.1%, 95% CI 79.4, 86.2) cases. Analgesics and cough and cold preparations were taken in error in 259 (52.0%) cases. Human (rushing, distraction, carelessness) and communication factors were reported to be causal factors in 337 (38.4%, 95% CI 35.2, 41.8) and 111 (12.7%, 95% CI 10.6, 15.1) cases, respectively. In almost all cases (474, 96.5%, 95% CI 94.4, 97.9), the caller was advised to observe the child at home, and no child experienced significant morbidity. Preventive strategies included attention to administration care and routine, communication, medication storage, administration devices, packaging and labelling issues.Conclusion:  Very young children are at particular risk, especially from single, over‐the‐counter medication dosing errors, made at home by family members.
COSTLY EVIDENCE AND SYSTEMS OF FACT‐FINDING
Authors: Bull Jesse 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACTThis paper compares the relative merits of adversarial and inquisitorial systems of civil procedure in the presence of evidence suppression. Each party has the incentive to suppress evidence that may damage her case, and to reveal any evidence that strengthens her case. I model the decision of a litigant to suppress evidence. The court conditions its action (transfers between the parties) upon the evidence which is revealed. Enforcement costs, which are the cost of suppression and the cost of requesting evidence, are a loss to the relationship and form the basis for my evaluation of the relative merits of each system. I find that neither system always outperforms the other. The strength of the inquisitorial system is that it allows for randomization over evidence requests, which leads to lower expected enforcement cost. Litigants cannot commit to randomize as they are motivated by the expected award in litigation. The strength of the adversarial system is that it sometimes allows litigants to utilize their information about the level of suppression.
Long‐acting moxidectin for the control of trichostrongylid infections of sheep in south‐eastern Australia
Authors: Larsen JWA , Anderson N , Preshaw AR 
Published: March 2009

Objective  To compare the effectiveness of a single long‐acting injection of moxidectin, given in either summer or winter, with a two‐summer (‘standard’) treatment strategy for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes in spring‐lambing Merino ewes.Design  A replicated study over 2 years in the high winter rainfall environment of western Victoria.Methods  Measures of worm infection were worm egg counts of ewes and total worm counts of tracer lambs. Measures of production were body weight, proportion of pregnant ewes and number of weaned lambs.Results  The egg counts of ewes given the standard strategy followed a characteristic pattern, rising to 300 to 600 eggs per gram before the second summer treatment in February. During this time, ewes given long‐acting moxidectin in December had zero or negligible counts. There were no consistent differences between tracer worm counts or production measures for the two groups treated in summer, but when data from both years were pooled, the total egg output from December to May was significantly lower for ewes treated with long‐acting moxidectin in December. Ewes not treated during summer had lower body weights, and higher worm egg counts and tracer worm counts, showing that this was not a suitable strategy at that time of the year. However, following treatment with long‐acting moxidectin in winter, ewes had rapid compensatory weight gain and lower egg output than ewes treated in summer.Conclusion  A single injection of long‐acting moxidectin in December is an effective treatment strategy for Merino ewes lambing in spring.
Outcomes of Heimlich valve drainage in dogs
Authors: Salci H , Bayram AS , Gorgul OS 
Published: March 2009

Objective and design  Retrospective study of the outcomes of Heimlich valve drainage in dogs.Procedure  Medical records of the past 3 years were retrospectively reviewed. Heimlich valve drainage was used in 34 dogs (median body weight 30 ± 5 kg): lobectomy (n = 15), pneumonectomy (n = 9), intrathoracic oesophageal surgery (n = 2), diaphragmatic hernia repair (n = 1), traumatic open pneumothorax (n = 2), bilobectomy (n = 2), ligation of the thoracic duct (n = 1), and chylothorax and pneumothorax (n = 1 each). Evacuation of air and/or fluid from the pleural cavity was performed with the Heimlich valve following thoracostomy tube insertion. During drainage, the dogs were closely monitored for possible respiratory failure. Termination of Heimlich valve drainage was controlled with underwater seal drainage and assessed with thoracic radiography.Results  Negative intrathoracic pressure was provided in 29 dogs without any complications. Post pneumonectomy respiratory syncope and post lobectomy massive hemothorax, which did not originate from the Heimlich valve, were the only postoperative complications. Dysfunction of the valve diaphragm, open pneumothorax and intrathoracic localisation of an acute gastric dilatation–volvulus syndrome caused by a left‐sided diaphragmatic hernia following pneumonectomy were the Heimlich valve drainage complications.Conclusions  The Heimlich valve can be used as a continuous drainage device in dogs, but the complications reported here should be considered by veterinary practitioners.
Effectiveness of a non‐surgical alternative to the Mules operation in sheep
Authors: Levot GW , Rothwell JT , Sales N , Dawson KL , Lloyd JB 
Published: March 2009

Objective   To measure changes to the perineal bare area, local tissue reaction and healing responses of young sheep, following intradermal administration of cetrimide and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), with and without ethanol, to the breech and tail.Method   A needle‐less injector was used to deposit formulations containing 40 g/L cetrimide and 30 g/L PVP (group 2) or 20 g/L cetrimide, 30 g/L PVP and 15 g/L ethanol (group 3), within the dermis of the tail and the region surrounding the perineal bare breech area of groups (N = 8) of Merino weaner sheep. The dimensions of the perineal bare area (length, width and diagonal distances left and right) and tail width were recorded before and at intervals after treatment for 60 days. Observations of swelling and bruising and scab formation at the treatment sites were recorded for up to 35 days after treatment. Rectal temperatures were monitored for up to 35 days after treatment and bodyweight for up to 60 days after treatment. An untreated control group (group 1) was included.Results   Comparison of day ‐3 and day 35 measurement data showed that both treated groups had significantly (P < 0.05) wider breech bare areas compared to the untreated controls and that group 2 sheep had significantly (P < 0.05) longer breech bare areas compared to group 3 sheep or to the untreated controls, which were not significantly different. At this time scabs were still firmly in place on many treated sheep. At day 35 there was no increase in tail bare area caused by either treatment. By day 60 there was no significant difference between the treated and control groups in either the breech or tail regions indicating that the changes present at day 35, were not permanent.Mean weight gain in the groups throughout the 60‐day interval was unaffected by treatment. Intradermal treatment was associated with a significant elevation in body temperature. This effect lasted for 3 days and was associated with signs of discomfort and depressed appearance in at least some of the treated sheep. Bruising was mild to severe in all treated sheep within two days of treatment but was not evident in any sheep by day 21. Mild to moderate swelling was also associated with treatment but was not uniform across sheep in the groups. The tail of one sheep was severely swollen for several days. Swelling remained obvious in most treated sheep until day 14 but was not present at day 21.Conclusion   Under the conditions of this study intradermal injection of cetrimide had no permanent effect on bare area measurements on the breech or the amount of wool‐bearing skin on the tail. It also caused signs of discomfort and pain that raise welfare concerns.
Extradural haematoma secondary to brown snake (Pseudonaja species) envenomation
Authors: Ong RKC , Lenard ZM , Swindells KL , Raisis AL 
Published: March 2009

A 4‐year‐old Siberian Husky dog was treated with brown snake antivenom by his regular veterinarian after a witnessed episode of brown snake envenomation. The dog was discharged 5 hours post presentation despite an ongoing coagulopathy. The dog was presented to the emergency centre 2 hours later because the owner believed the dog to be in pain. Initial examination revealed an ambulatory but neurologically normal patient with thoracolumbar pain and laboratory evidence of a coagulopathy. Despite correction of the coagulopathy, the signs progressed to bilateral hind limb paresis after approximately 3 hours of hospitalisation, and continued to deteriorate over the next 56 hours to loss of deep pain perception in the right hind limb. Computed tomography imaging identified the presence of an extradural haematoma which was subsequently removed via a hemilaminectomy. Surgical decompression was successful in treating the spinal compression and the dog recovered with minimal complications. To our knowledge this is the first report of extradural haematoma secondary to coagulopathy induced by brown snake envenomation.
Comparative Thinking Styles in Group and Person Perception: One Mechanism – Many Effects
Authors: Corcoran Katja , Mussweiler Thomas 
Published: April 2009

AbstractPerceptions of individuals and groups are inextricably intertwined. An individual is perceived differently depending on the group he or she belongs to, and the perception of the group depends on the characteristics of single group members that are encountered or come to mind. However, this mutual influence is far from uniform. A review of the literature indicates that sometimes the individual is perceived as similar to a group, and sometimes as dissimilar. Likewise, the group can be either assimilated toward or contrasted away from the individual. In the present article, we propose that these diverse effects may be explained by a comparison process between the individual and the group. More specifically, we argue that the comparative thinking style during this comparison (i.e. whether one focuses on similarities or dissimilarities) shapes the direction of the influence.
A Large-Scale Triaxial Apparatus for Prototype Railroad Ballast Testing
Authors: Sevi Adam F. , Ge Louis , Take W. Andy 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
Shear strength and compressibility of large grain-size materials are critical parameters for the geotechnical design of road bases, rock fill embankments, and railroad sub-base. However, due to the correspondingly large scale of triaxial specimens necessary for rock-fill and railroad ballast material testing, the numbers of facilities that are capable of testing these materials are few. In this paper, a cost effective design is documented for a triaxial apparatus capable of testing prototype railroad ballast material containing particle sizes up to 63.5 mm (2.5 in.). Unique to this testing apparatus is the use of vacuum as confinement to allow an unobstructed digital image measurement of specimen volume change during testing. The specimen preparation methodology, manufacture of latex membrane, and instrumentation are also discussed. Finally, the results of a cyclical triaxial test are presented to demonstrate the quality of the testing data from this triaxial apparatus.
Inverse scattering method and soliton double solution family for string effective action
Authors: Gao Ya-Jun 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
A so-called modified Hauser-Ernst-type extended double-complex linear system is established and used to develop a new inverse scattering method for solving the equations of motion of the string effective action describing the coupled gravity, dilaton and Kalb-Ramond fields. The reduction procedures in this inverse scattering method are found to be fairly simple, which makes the application of the inverse scattering method fine and effective. As an application, a concrete family of soliton double solutions for the considered theory is obtained.
Two-gap superconductivity in the Fe-1111 superconductor LaFeAsO1âˆ’x
Fx: A point-contact Andreev-reflection study
Authors: Gonnelli Renato , Tortello Mauro , Daghero Dario , Ummarino Giovanni , Stepanov Valeri , Kim Jun 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Point-contact Andreev-reflection (PCAR) experiments were performed in the Fe-1111 layered superconductor LaFeAsO0.9F0.1 with resistive T
con âˆ¼ 27 K. The observation of two pairs of peaks in the low-temperature Andreev-reflection spectra clearly indicates the presence of two order parameters. The behavior of the two gaps as a function of temperature, obtained by fitting the conductance curves by means of the generalized two-band Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model, shows some anomalies. A theoretical analysis performed within the two-band Eliashberg theory with a generic electron-boson coupling can reproduce the low-temperature value of the two gaps but generally fails in giving a satisfactory fit of their overall temperature dependence, indicating the rich and complex physics of these newly discovered superconductors.
Surface and interface properties of thin pentacene and parylene layers
Authors: Vincze Andrej , Jakabovič Ján , Srnánek Rudolf , Šatka Alexander , Kovac Jaroslav 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
To improve Organic Thin Film Transistor (OTFT) properties we study OTFT semiconductor/dielectric interfacial properties via examination of the gate dielectric using thin Parylene C layer. Structural and morphology properties of pentacene layers deposited on parylene layer and SiO2/Si substrate structure were compared. The surface morphology was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). AFM topography of pentacene layer in non-contact mode confirmed the preferable pentacene grain formation on parylene surface in dependence on layer thickness. The distribution of chemical species on the surfaces and composition depth profiles were measured by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and surface imaging. The depth profiles of the analyzed structures show a homogenous pentacene layer, characterized with C or C2 ions. Relatively sharp interface between pentacene and parylene layers was estimated by characteristic increased intensity of CCl ions peak. For revealing the pentacene phases in the structures the Micro-Raman spectroscopy was utilized. Conformal coatings of parylene and pentacene layers without pinholes resulted from the deposition process as was confirmed by SIMS surface imaging. For the pentacene layers thicker than 20 nm, both thin and bulk pentacene phases were detected by Micro-Raman spectroscopy, while for the pentacene layer thickness of 5 and 10 nm the preferable thin phase was detected. The complete characterisation of pentacene layers deposited on SiO2 and parylene surface revealed that the formation of large grains suggests 3D pentacene growth at parylene layer with small voids between grains and more than one monolayer step growth. The results will be utilized for optimization of the deposition process.
Evolutionary dynamics of imatinib-treated leukemic cells by stochastic approach
Authors: Pizzolato Nicola , Valenti Davide , Adorno Dominique , Spagnolo Bernardo 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
The evolutionary dynamics of a system of cancerous cells in a model of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is investigated by a statistical approach. Cancer progression is explored by applying a Monte Carlo method to simulate the stochastic behavior of cell reproduction and death in a population of blood cells which can experience genetic mutations. In CML front line therapy is represented by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib which strongly affects the reproduction of leukemic cells only. In this work, we analyze the effects of a targeted therapy on the evolutionary dynamics of normal, first-mutant and cancerous cell populations. Several scenarios of the evolutionary dynamics of imatinib-treated leukemic cells are described as a consequence of the efficacy of the different modelled therapies. We show how the patient response to the therapy changes when a high value of the mutation rate from healthy to cancerous cells is present. Our results are in agreement with clinical observations. Unfortunately, development of resistance to imatinib is observed in a fraction of patients, whose blood cells are characterized by an increasing number of genetic alterations. We find that the occurrence of resistance to the therapy can be related to a progressive increase of deleterious mutations.
On the topographic and optical properties of SiC/SiO2 surfaces
Authors: Jureckova Stanislav , Jureckova Maria , Chovanec Ferdinand , Kobayashi Hikaru , Takahashi Masao , Mikula Milan , Pina Emil 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
The roughness of the semiconductor surface substantially influences properties of the whole structure, especially when thin films are created. In our work 3C SiC, 4H SiC and Si/a-SiC:H/SiO2 structures treated by various oxidation a passivation procedures are studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). Surface roughness properties are studied by fractal geometry methods. The complexity of the analysed surface is sensitive to the oxidation and passivation steps and the proposed fractal complexity measure values enable quantification of the fine surface changes. We also determined the optical properties of oxidized and passivated samples by using visual modelling and stochastic optimization.
Optical absorption in PECVD deposited thin hydrogenated silicon in light of ordering effects
Authors: MÃ¼llerovÃ¡ Jarmila , VavruÅˆkovÃ¡ Veronika , Å utta Pavel 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
We report results obtained from measurements of optical transmittance spectra carried out on a series of silicon thin films deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) from silane diluted with hydrogen. Hydrogen dilution of silane results in an inhomogeneous growth during which the material evolves from amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) to microcrystalline hydrogenated silicon (Âµc-Si:H). Spectral refractive indices and absorption coefficients were determined from transmittance spectra. The spectral absorption coefficients were used to determine the Tauc optical band gap energy, the B factor of the Tauc plots, E
04 (energy at which the absorption coefficient is equal to 104 cmâˆ’1), and the Urbach energy as a function of the hydrogen dilution. The results were correlated with microstructure, namely volume fractions of the amorphous and crystalline phase with voids, and with the grain size.
Passivation of defect states in surface and edge regions on pn-junction Si solar cells by use of hydrogen cyanide solutions
Authors: Takahashi Masao , Shishido Takeru , Iwasa Hitoo , Kobayashi Hikaru 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
The local photovoltage of the pn-junction single-crystalline silicon solar cells observed by spot light scanning gradually decreases in the vicinity of edges. The energy conversion efficiency is increased by shadowing the edge regions where the local photovoltage is lower, showing that the defect density is high in the edge regions. From the analysis of the local photovoltage, the spacial distribution of defect states is obtained. The cyanide method, i. e., immersion of solar cells in HCN solutions at room temperature, increases the local photovoltage and increases the energy conversion efficiency.