bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative Efficacy and Safety of New Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Schneeweiss Sebastian , Gagne Joshua J. , Patrick Amanda R. , Choudhry Niteesh K. , Avorn Jerry 
Published: July 2012

Background—
Dabigatran, an oral thrombin inhibitor, and rivaroxaban and apixaban, oral factor Xa inhibitors, have been found to be safe and effective in reducing stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of the 3 new agents based on data from their published warfarin-controlled randomized trials, using the method of adjusted indirect comparisons.

Methods and Results—

We included findings from 44 535 patients enrolled in 3 trials of the efficacy of dabigatran (Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy [RELY]), apixaban (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation [ARISTOTLE]), and rivaroxaban (Rivaroxaban Once Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared With Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation [ROCKET-AF]), each compared with warfarin. The primary efficacy end point was stroke or systemic embolism; the safety end point we studied was major hemorrhage. To address a lack of comparability between trial populations caused by the restriction of ROCKET-AF to high-risk patients, we conducted a subgroup analysis in patients with a CHADS
2
score ≥3. We found no statistically significant efficacy differences among the 3 drugs, although apixaban and dabigatran were numerically superior to rivaroxaban. Apixaban produced significantly fewer major hemorrhages than dabigatran and rivaroxaban.

Conclusions—

An indirect comparison of new anticoagulants based on existing trial data indicates that in patients with a CHADS
2
score ≥3 dabigatran 150 mg, apixaban 5 mg, and rivaroxaban 20 mg resulted in statistically similar rates of stroke and systemic embolism, but apixaban had a lower risk of major hemorrhage compared with dabigatran and rivaroxaban. Until head-to-head trials or large-scale observational studies that reflect routine use of these agents are available, such adjusted indirect comparisons based on trial data are one tool to guide initial therapeutic choices.
Effect of QRS Duration and Morphology on Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Outcomes in Mild Heart Failure
Authors: Gold Michael R. , Thébault Christophe , Linde Cecilia , Abraham William T. , Gerritse Bart , Ghio Stefano , St. John Sutton Martin , Daubert Jean-Claude 
Published: July 2012

Background—
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) decreases mortality, improves functional status, and induces reverse left ventricular remodeling in selected populations with heart failure. We aimed to assess the impact of baseline QRS duration and morphology and the change in QRS duration with pacing on CRT outcomes in mild heart failure.

Methods and Results—

Resynchronization Reverses Remodeling in Systolic Left Ventricular Dysfunction (REVERSE) was a multicenter randomized trial of CRT among 610 patients with mild heart failure. Baseline and CRT-paced QRS durations and baseline QRS morphology were evaluated by blinded core laboratories. The mean baseline QRS duration was 151±23 milliseconds, and 60.5% of subjects had left bundle-branch block (LBBB). Patients with LBBB experienced a 25.3-mL/m
2
mean reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume index (
P
<0.0001), whereas non-LBBB patients had smaller decreases (6.7 mL/m
2
;
P
=0.18). Baseline QRS duration was also a strong predictor of change in left ventricular end-systolic volume index with monotonic increases as QRS duration prolonged. Similarly, the clinical composite score improved with CRT for LBBB subjects (odds ratio, 0.530;
P
=0.0034) but not for non-LBBB subjects (odds ratio, 0.724;
P
=0.21). The association between clinical composite score and QRS duration was highly significant (odds ratio, 0.831 for each 10-millisecond increase in QRS duration;
P
<0.0001), with improved response at longer QRS durations. The change in QRS duration with CRT pacing was not an independent predictor of any outcomes after correction for baseline variables.

Conclusion—
REVERSE demonstrated that LBBB and QRS prolongation are markers of reverse remodeling and clinical benefit with CRT in mild heart failure.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00271154.
Developmental Differences in the Control of Action Selection by Social Information
Authors: Dumontheil Iroise , Hillebrandt Hauke , Apperly Ian A. , Blakemore Sarah-Jayne 
Published: July 2012

AbstractOur everyday actions are often performed in the context of a social interaction. We previously showed that, in adults, selecting an action on the basis of either social or symbolic cues was associated with activations in the fronto-parietal cognitive control network, whereas the presence and use of social versus symbolic cues was in addition associated with activations in the temporal and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) social brain network. Here we investigated developmental changes in these two networks. Fourteen adults (21–30 years of age) and 14 adolescents (11–16 years) followed instructions to move objects in a set of shelves. Interpretation of the instructions was conditional on the point of view of a visible “director” or the meaning of a symbolic cue (Director Present vs. Director Absent) and the number of potential referent objects in the shelves (3-object vs. 1-object). 3-object trials elicited increased fronto-parietal and temporal activations, with greater left lateral prefrontal cortex and parietal activations in adults than adolescents. Social versus symbolic information led to activations in superior dorsal MPFC, precuneus, and along the superior/middle temporal sulci. Both dorsal MPFC and left temporal clusters exhibited a Director × Object interaction, with greater activation when participants needed to consider the directors' viewpoints. This effect differed with age in dorsal MPFC. Adolescents showed greater activation whenever social information was present, whereas adults showed greater activation only when the directors' viewpoints were relevant to task performance. This study thus shows developmental differences in domain-general and domain-specific PFC activations associated with action selection in a social interaction context.
Changing attitude to mental illness among community mental health volunteers in south-western Nigeria
Authors: Abayomi O , Adelufosi AO , Olajide A 
Published: July 2012

Background: Community-based mental health services may be impaired by stigmatization and social distance towards persons with mental illness. Little is known about the impact of education on the attitude of volunteers for mental health programmes. This study aimed to examine the effect of an educational programme on the attitude of community volunteers towards mental illness. Methods: Thirty-one volunteers for a community mental health programme completed the Familiarity with Mental Illness Questionnaire and a modified version of the Bogardus Social Distance Scale (Bogardus, 1925) before and after an educational programme. Results: At the end of the educational session, perceived dangerousness was significantly reduced and attitude (social distance) towards persons with mental illness showed significant improvement. Conclusion: Attitudes of community volunteers towards persons with mental illness improve with educational programmes. This may lead to improved treatment and care of individuals who are mentally ill.
Morning headaches in snorers and their bed partners: A prospective diary study
Authors: Seidel Stefan , Frantal Sophie , Oberhofer Petra , Bauer Thomas , Scheibel Nikolett , Albert Felix , Pacher Juliane , Casjens Tamme , Klösch Gerhard , Zeitlhofer Josef , Wöber Christian 
Published: July 2012

Background: The prevalence and characteristics of morning headaches (MH) in habitual snorers are not well known, with only one retrospective study reporting MH in 23.5% of snorers. The role of MH in bed partners of snorers has not yet been examined. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess MH prospectively in habitual snorers and their bed partners. Methods: We recruited habitual snorers and their bed partners via newspaper articles. The participants completed a semistructured interview, filled in questionnaires about sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, depression and anxiety and kept a 90-day headache and sleep diary. Results: We included a total of 102 snorers and 63 bed partners. Seventy-six snorers (25 female) and 41 bed partners (31 female) completed the study, recording a total of 6690 and 3497 diary days, respectively. MH was present on at least 1 day in 57% of the snorers and in 61% of the bed partners and recorded on 7.2% and 3.6% of the diary days, respectively. Independent predictors of MH in snorers were pre-study headache frequency (p < 0.001), anxiety disorder (p < 0.001), waking up because of pain (p = 0.002) and waking up too early (p < 0.001); and independent predictors in bed partners were migraine (p = 0.02), difficulties breathing during sleep (p < 0.001), waking up because of pain (p = 0.01) and waking up too early (p < 0.001). The analysis of couples only (n = 41) revealed pre-study headache frequency (p < 0.001), waking up too early (p < 0.001) and nocturnal confusion (p < 0.001) as independent predictors of MH in snorers, and migraine (p = 0.02), difficulties breathing during sleep (p < 0.001), waking up because of pain (p = 0.01) and waking up too early (p < 0.001) as independent predictors in bed partners. Discussion: MH shows a 90-day prevalence of around 60% in habitual snorers as well as in their bed partners. Predictors of MH are related to sleep, headache and psychiatric comorbidity.
Hard and Soft Obscurantism in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Authors: Elster Jon 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe paper argues that the contemporary social sciences and humanities are in a deep crisis, due to the prevalence of obscurantist arguments. Whereas many have denounced the “soft obscurantism” derived from what is sometimes called “French theory”, the “hard obscurantism” of many forms of mathematical and statistical social science also deserves to be singled out for criticism. The paper further argues that obscurantism does not merely represent a waste of intellectual effort, but has caused harm to countless individuals, ranging from parents of autistic children to market investors. Finally the paper considers some of the psychological mechanisms that may sustain obscurantism and constitute obstacles to overcoming it.
The Role of the Archaeologist in Present-Day Society
Authors: Djindjian François 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe present paper is aimed to reveal the useful role that the archaeologist, evading from the ivory tower of his erudition of the societies of the past, may play for the change of the societies in the future. From two examples chosen in the XIX° century, we are focalizing on the very deep impact the archaeology may have in the society at a regional scale (the museum of Lubny in Ukraine) and at a worldwide scale (the Universal Exhibitions in Paris) for the evolution of the societies. Resulting from crisis due to internal mechanisms specific to our operation, the contemporary societies may collapse like the societies of the past. Such mechanisms have a systemic and non historical nature, which are involving us to discover the main processes, responsible of collapses. Then, the archaeologist, like the climatologist, may operate the knowledge of the past to forecast the happy or unhappy evolutions of the future. The archaeologist, servicing the contemporaneous society, may be useful, not only in discovering the remains of the past but also in making the inventory of the contemporary cultures as in forecasting the evolutions of the societies.
The Humanities: Their Value, Defence, Crisis, and Future
Authors: Longxi Zhang 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe humanities, particularly literature and the arts, seem always to have to justify their value and legitimacy vis-à-vis some other, more practical, more useful, or more authoritative aspects of human life and activities. In ancient Greece, Plato dismissed poetry as being untrue and irrational, but beginning with Aristotle, there has been a long tradition of defense of poetry in the West. Traditionally the most effective defense was to emphasize the moral values the humanities can teach and the exemplary significance of the classics. In the late nineteenth century, science began to challenge the value of the humanities, and in the twentieth century, that resulted in the “two cultures” debate in the 1960s. In more recent time, however, a real crisis of the humanities arises not from challenges from the outside but from within, as scholars in the humanities—particularly in literary and cultural studies—question the basic values of the humanities and “decanonize” the classics. The utilitarian tendency of modern society makes it difficult for the humanities to prove their practical use and worth. To argue for the value of the humanities, therefore, it is very important to refuse the utilitarian terms of debate, to reclaim the values of the humanities, and to re-emphasize the exemplary significance of the classic in order to work toward a better future not only of the humanities, but of our world at large.
Mercury and arsenic in green tiger shrimp from the Persian Gulf
Authors: Raissy Mehdi , Rahimi Ebrahim , Nadeali Vahid , Ansari Mahsa , Shakerian Amir 
Published: July 2012

Mercury and arsenic pollution has been recognized as a potential environmental and public health problem for over 40 years. The major source of exposure to mercury and arsenic for humans is the ingestion of sea food. Concentrations of mercury and arsenic in the muscle samples of green tiger shrimp ( Penaeus semisulcatus) from the Persian Gulf were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Concentrations of metals in muscle samples were 49–115 µg kg−1 for mercury, 115–131 µg kg−1for arsenic, with means of 82.7 and 251.6 µg kg−1, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference of mercury and arsenic concentration in shrimp muscles between selected stations (Bushehr, Khuzestan, and Hormozgan provinces). No significant difference was found among heavy metal contents of male and female shrimps. The results of this study indicate that the green tiger shrimp from the Persian Gulf have concentrations well below the maximum permissible levels for mercury (500 µg kg−1) and arsenic (6000 µg kg−1), according to international standards, with no health risk of consumers.
Effect of nanosilver on blood parameters in chickens having aflatoxicosis
Authors: Gholami-Ahangaran Majid , Zia-Jahromi Noosha 
Published: July 2012

This experiment is designed to investigate the positive effects of commercial nanosilver compound on blood parameters in experimental aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens. For this, 270 one-day-old broiler chickens were randomly divided into six treatment groups with three replicates. The experimental groups were group A: chickens fed with basal diet; group B: chickens fed with 3 ppm productive aflatoxin in basal diet; groups of C, D, E and F received Mycoad (2.5 g/kg diet), Mycoad (2.5 g/kg diet) + productive aflatoxin (3 ppm), Nanocid (2500 ppm), and Nanocid (2500 ppm) + productive aflatoxin (3 ppm) in basal diet, respectively. Results revealed that some of the blood parameters such as mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration lymphocytes, neutrophils, basophils, monocytes, and eosinophils percentage were not affected in this experiment; whereas, hemoglobin percentage and white blood cell (WBC) count in all the groups fed with 3 ppm aflatoxin except nanocid + aflatoxin decreased significantly ( p < 0.05). There are no significant differences between the groups that received nanocid + aflatoxin and mycoad + aflatoxin in hemoglobin percentage and WBC count parameters. The red blood cell count and hematocrit in chickens received aflatoxin were significantly lower than other groups ( p < 0.05). Therefore, this study suggests that nanocid similar as mycoad can be useful in reducing the adverse effects of aflatoxin on blood parameters in chickens affected with aflatoxicosis.
Effects of bisphenol A on the development of central immune organs of specific-pathogen-free chick embryos
Authors: Tian Jijing , Luo Dongmei , She Ruiping , Liu Tianlong , Ding Ye , Yue Zhuo , Xia Kangkang 
Published: July 2012

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical estrogen widely used in the food packaging industry, especially in baby bottles. Its toxicity for the fetus has become a great concern in recent years. In the present study, the effects of BPA on the development of central immune organs in chick embryos were investigated. A total of 30 specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chick embryos were divided into BPA, control, and vehicle group. Chick embryos were exposed to BPA (250 μg per egg), saline (control), or corn oil (vehicle) on embryonic day 9 (ED9) by injection into the allantoic cavity. Thymuses and bursae of Fabricius were collected on ED22. The microscopic examination of tissue structure and ultrastructure was carried out for histopathological changes of thymus and the bursa of Fabricius morphology under light and scanning electron microscopes (SEM). In the BPA group, the weight index of the bursae of Fabricius was significantly reduced ( p < 0.01); the number of lymphatic follicles in the bursae of Fabricius was remarkably decreased ( p < 0.01); and the thickness of the thymus cortex and medulla was reduced ( p < 0.01). Light microscope and SEM examinations further showed that the lymphatic follicles and epithelial cells of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus were damaged by BPA. Our study confirms a direct toxicity of BPA at a very low-dose level on the development of the central immune organs of SPF chick embryos. However, more studies are necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) and sulfonated poly(1,4-phenylene ether ether sulfone) membranes for vanadium redox flow batteries
Authors: Macksasitorn Suraluck , Changkhamchom Sairung , Sirivat Anuvat , Siemanond Kitipat 
Published: July 2012

Nafion is a currently used as a proton exchange membrane in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs). It is an excellent proton-conducting and fully hydrated membrane, but it is costly. In order to reduce the cost of the membrane used in VRBs and to reduce vanadium permeability across the membrane, sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (S-PEEK) and sulfonated poly(1,4-phenylene ether ether sulfone) (S-PPEES) membranes were fabricated and studied as a function of the sulfonation reaction time. The increase in the degree of sulfonation from 46 to 86% induced increases in the water uptake, ion exchange capacity, proton conductivity, and vanadium permeability. The vanadium permeability coefficients of S-PEEK and S-PPEES membranes are in the range of 0–24.95 × 10–7 cm2 min–1, which are significantly lower than that of Nafion 117, which is 30.84 × 10–7 cm2 min–1. The proton conductivity of S-PEEK in our study is nine times higher than sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) in a previous work and more suitable for using in VRBs.
Investigations on the influence of polytetrafluoroethylene powder as a filler on physico-mechanical and wear characteristics of nylon 66/graphite composites
Authors: Basavaraj E. , Ramaraj B. , Siddaramaiah  
Published: July 2012

The objective of this research article is to evaluate the physico-mechanical and tribological properties of nylon 66 and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder composites in the presence of graphite (Gr) particulate filler. Nylon 66 containing 2 wt% Gr powder was extruded with 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% PTFE powder in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The fabricated nylon 66/Gr/PTFE composites have been evaluated for physico-mechanical properties, such as tensile behaviors, impact strength, water absorption, density and void content. The thermal characteristics of the composites have been studied by using dynamic mechanical analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The effect of PTFE content, loads, sliding velocities and sliding distances on wear characteristics of the composites were evaluated using pin-on-disc equipment. The nylon 66/Gr/PTFE composites showed enhanced impact strength, thermal stability, wear resistance and reduced coefficient of friction. It was found that wear performance was greatly influenced by selected experimental parameters. Worn surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscopy to have better insight into the wear mechanism. It was observed that the PTFE played a main role in the tensile resistant and wear resistant properties of nylon 66 composites.
Trends in out-of-hospital ischaemic heart disease deaths 1992 to 2003 in southern Sweden
Authors: Gerward S. , Persson K. , Midlöv P. , Ekesbo R. , Gullberg B. , Hedblad B. 
Published: July 2012

Aims: In western countries out-of-hospital ischaemic heart disease (IHD) deaths account for approximately 50–70% of all IHD deaths. The objective was to examine the trends in out-of-hospital IHD deaths in the Region of Skåne in southern Sweden, in different sex- and age-groups. Methods: All 14,347 persons (range 24–110 years) in Skåne who died out-of-hospital between 1992 and 2003 from IHD (I410–I414; I20–I25) as the underlying cause of death. Subjects with previous admission for IHD since 1970 were excluded. Data were retrieved from the Swedish National Cause of Death and Patient Register. Age-standardized IHD mortality rates and trends were calculated using Poisson regression analysis. Results: Age-standardized annual out-of-hospital IHD mortality rates from 1992–2003 decreased in men from 177±13 to 103±9/100,000 inhabitants (−4.7%; p<0.001) and in women from 142±11 to 96±9/100,000 (−2.7%; p<0.001). In men, the annual change in age-standardized IHD mortality rates were −5.3 % ( p<0.001), −4.0 % ( p<0.001) and −4.7 % ( p<0.001), respectively, in the age groups 20–64 years, 65–74 years and ≥75 years. Corresponding figures in women were −4.4 % ( p<0.001), −2.4 % ( p=0.003) and −2.5 % ( p<0.001). The proportion of IHD deaths occurring out-of-hospital was in these age groups 50%, 40% and 35% respectively. Conclusions: In Skåne, out-of-hospital mortality in IHD deaths decreased significantly between 1992 and 2003. The decrease is more pronounced in men than women, and at the end of the study period in 2003, rates were almost equal. The proportion of IHD deaths occurring outside hospital was higher in younger people than in older people.