bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is Côte d'Ivoire a Test Case for R2P? Democratization as Fulfilment of the International Community's Responsibility to Prevent
Authors: Ipinyomi Foluke 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAfter the election deadlock in Côte d'Ivoire, the international community recognized Ouattara as the winner of the elections, while the incumbent president, Gbagbo, also claimed victory. When they were both sworn in, violence ensued. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stated that the international community had a responsibility to protect citizens. Thereafter, the UN, African Union and ECOWAS attempted to quell the violence through mediation and the threat of force. Gbagbo was eventually ousted by Ouattara's forces. This article examines the international community's responsibility to prevent and its actions in that regard. If democratization is a means to prevent mass atrocities, what was the nature of the international community's responsibility to Ivoirians to prevent conflict? What should be the international community's reaction to internal agitations for democracy? Some answers to these questions lie in the framework for the international community's responsibility to prevent the four crimes related to R2P.
GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON BLOOD PRESSURE IN AN URBAN INDIAN POPULATION
Authors: GUPTA SHILPI , KAPOOR SATWANTI 
Published: August 2012

SummaryAggarwal Baniyas were found to have a high prevalence of high blood pressure. Genetic and environmental influences may be implicated for this risk factor of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for common genetic and environmental influences on blood pressure measures (systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP)). The population-based sample was comprised of 309 Aggarwal Baniya families, including 1214 individuals (271 fathers, 307 mothers, 311 sons and 325 daughters) from New Delhi, India. The prevalence of obesity in this community was found to be high (BMI: fathers, 26.1 kg/m2; mothers, 29.4 kg/m2; sons, 16.9–22.4 kg/m2; and daughters, 16.3–22.7 kg/m2). Correlation and heritability were estimated. Most sibling–sibling correlations were larger than the parent–offspring correlations, and all parent–offspring and sibling–sibling correlations were larger than the corresponding spouse correlation (SBP=0.026; DBP=0.029). The maximum heritability was estimated as 44.6% for SBP and 62.8% for DBP. The lack of a significant spouse correlation is consistent with little or no influence of the common familial environment. However, the high heritability estimate for both SBP and DBPs reinforces the importance of the non-shared environmental effect.
An unusual foreign body in the nostril
Authors: Nathan K , Nagala V , Farhat S , Shah A 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackground:Intranasal teeth are uncommon. Causes include trauma, infection, anatomical malformations and genetic factors. They present mainly in children, and many are asymptomatic.Methods:This report describes the finding of a tooth that had been displaced into the nasal cavity in a six-year-old girl. The history, clinical examination, findings and operative treatment are described.Results:The child presented with nasal symptoms. Examination revealed a tooth in the right nasal cavity, confirmed by a lateral cephalogram radiograph. It was extracted under general anaesthesia. At follow up, the child was asymptomatic.Conclusion:This is an unusual case of a child presenting with an intranasal tooth and nasal symptoms following trauma a number of years earlier. The child underwent extraction of the tooth, and recovered well without any complications.
Facial palsy in individuals with thalidomide embryopathy: frequency and characteristics
Authors: Sjögreen L , Kiliaridis S 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackground:Earlier studies have shown that individuals with thalidomide embryopathy can have skeletal deformities, ear and eye aberrations, and facial palsy. This study aimed to survey the frequency and characteristics of facial palsy in this group of individuals.Participants:Thirty-one individuals with thalidomide embryopathy (age range, 45–47 years) and 25 healthy adults (age range, 41–56 years; mean age ± standard deviation, 49 ± 4.2 years).Main outcome measures:Voluntary facial movements, lip force and three-dimensional lip motion analysis.Results and conclusion:Four of the thalidomide embryopathy individuals (13 per cent) had congenital facial palsy. All four had eye aberrations, three had ear anomalies and one had a limb anomaly. Individuals with thalidomide embryopathy without a clinical diagnosis of facial impairment had significantly weaker lips and more restricted lip mobility than healthy controls. This study contributes to the overall knowledge of thalidomide embryopathy by adding a description of how facial expression can be affected in this condition.
Rhabdomyosarcoma of the trachea: first reported case treated with proton beam therapy
Authors: Exley R , Bernstein J M , Brennan B , Rothera M P 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjective:We report a case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the trachea in a 14-month-old child, and we present the first reported use of proton beam therapy for this tumour.Case report:A 14-month-old girl presented acutely with a seven-day history of biphasic stridor. Emergency endoscopic debulking of a posterior tracheal mass was undertaken. Histological examination revealed an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with anaplasia. Multimodality therapy with surgery and chemotherapy was administered in the UK, and proton beam therapy in the USA.Conclusion:Only three cases of rhabdomyosarcoma of the trachea have previously been reported in the world literature. This is the first reported case of treatment of this tumour with proton beam therapy. Compared with conventional radiotherapy, proton beam therapy may confer improved long-term outcome in children, with benefits including reduced irradiation of the spinal cord.
Antiplatelet drugs in elective ENT surgery
Authors: Savage J R , Parmar A , Robinson P J 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIntroduction:Oral antiplatelet drugs are increasingly being encountered in patients scheduled for elective ENT surgery. Their pre-operative cessation can have potentially serious complications in some patients, particularly those with intracoronary stents.Methods:In order to gain an impression of current peri-operative management of patients taking antiplatelet drugs, an online survey was distributed to the Expert Panel of ENT UK, the British Association of Otolaryngologists Head and Neck Surgeons, between 13 January and 15 February 2011.Results:Three hundred and three members were contacted. The response rate was 55 per cent (167 replies); 78 per cent of respondents were consultants. Results are presented in the main text.Conclusion and recommendations:Patients can be categorised as high or low risk, depending on their indication for taking antiplatelet drugs. Recommendations taken from the literature are given on how best to manage these two groups.
Surgical treatment of posterior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome caused by jugular diverticulum
Authors: Lim H W , Park H J , Jung J H , Chung J W 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjective:We report a rare case of posterior semicircular canal dehiscence caused by a jugular diverticulum, and we describe its surgical treatment using a dehiscence resurfacing manoeuvre.Method:The clinical findings, surgical procedure and outcomes are presented.Results:A 66-year-old man presented with disequilibrium, sound-induced vertigo, a reduced ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential threshold, and pressure-induced vertical and torsional nystagmus. Computed tomography revealed a right posterior semicircular canal dehiscence caused by a diverticulum of the jugular bulb. The defect in the posterior semicircular canal was localised and resurfaced with bone paté, temporalis muscle fascia and conchal cartilage, under direct visualisation. Post-operatively, the patient's symptoms disappeared and his ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential threshold normalised.Conclusion:This case illustrates that posterior semicircular canal dehiscence can be surgically managed by resurfacing the defect site via a transmastoid approach.
Achieving flying colours in surgical safety: audit of World Health Organization ‘Surgical Safety Checklist’ compliance
Authors: Sheena Y , Fishman J M , Nortcliff C , Mawby T , Jefferis A F , Bleach N R 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjective:The World Health Organization ‘Surgical Safety Checklist’ has been adopted by UK surgical units following National Patient Safety Agency guidance. Our aim was to assess compliance with our local version of this Checklist.Methods:Otolaryngology trainee doctors prospectively assessed compliance with the local Checklist over a six-week period. A staff educational intervention was implemented and the audit was repeated 12 months later.Results:A total of 72 cases were assessed. The initial audit found that: 44 per cent of procedures were undocumented at ‘Sign in’; ‘Time out’ was inappropriately interrupted in 39 per cent of cases; the procedure started before Checklist completion in 33 per cent of cases; and the ‘Sign out’ was not read out in 94 per cent of cases and was not fully documented in 42 per cent of cases. Following education, re-audit indicated that overall compliance had improved from 63.7 per cent (±8.9 per cent standard error of the mean) to 90.4 per cent (±2.7 per cent standard error of the mean).Conclusion:Our completed audit cycle demonstrated a significant improvement in Checklist compliance following educational intervention. We discuss barriers to compliance, as well as strategies for quality improvement, and we call for other surgeons to similarly publish their Checklist experience and assess its impact on surgical outcomes.
Utilising silk fibroin membranes as scaffolds for the growth of tympanic membrane keratinocytes, and application to myringoplasty surgery
Authors: Levin B , Redmond S L , Rajkhowa R , Eikelboom R H , Atlas M D , Marano R J 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackground:Chronic tympanic membrane perforations can cause significant morbidity. The term myringoplasty describes the operation used to close such perforations. A variety of graft materials are available for use in myringoplasty, but all have limitations and few studies report post-operative hearing outcomes. Recently, the biomedical applications of silk fibroin protein have been studied. This material's biocompatibility, biodegradability and ability to act as a scaffold to support cell growth prompted an investigation of its interaction with human tympanic membrane keratinocytes.Methods and materials:Silk fibroin membranes were prepared and human tympanic membrane keratinocytes cultured. Keratinocytes were seeded onto the membranes and immunostained for a number of relevant protein markers relating to cell proliferation, adhesion and specific epithelial differentiation.Results:The silk fibroin scaffolds successfully supported the growth and adhesion of keratinocytes, whilst also maintaining their cell lineage.Conclusion:The properties of silk fibroin make it an attractive option for further research, as a potential alternative graft in myringoplasty.
Protective effect of klotho protein against cisplatin ototoxicity in an auditory cell line
Authors: Park Se Jin , Park So Hyun , Chang Ji Won , Choi June , Jung Hak Hyun , Im Gi Jung 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjectives:Klotho protein is involved in insulin-signalling and ageing. Klotho mutation causes premature ageing and significantly shortens the lifespan. The anti-neoplastic drug cisplatin promotes ototoxicity at higher doses by inducing apoptosis. This study aimed to clarify the effect of klotho expression on cisplatin ototoxicity, using an auditory cell line.Materials and methods:Expressions of klotho messenger RNA and protein were analysed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Auditory cells (HEI-OC1 line) were pretreated with 2 nM klotho protein for 2 hours; 15 µM cisplatin was then applied. After 48 hours incubation, assessment of cell viability (via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assay), apoptosis (via Hoechst 33258 staining) and reactive oxygen species was performed.Results:Klotho protein expression increased in cisplatin-treated auditory cells. Cells treated with both klotho protein and cisplatin showed a viability of 67.7 per cent, versus 59.4 per cent in cisplatin-treated cells. Klotho significantly attenuated the cisplatin-induced increase in reactive oxygen species, and increased the viability of cells with cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity.Conclusion:Klotho protein is protective against cisplatin-induced auditory cell cytotoxicity; inhibition of reactive oxygen species may be the main mechanism.
Cohabitation patterns among patients with severe psychiatric disorders in the entire Danish population
Authors: Thomsen A. F. , Olsbjerg M. , Andersen P. K. , Kessing L. V. 
Published: August 2012

BackgroundAssortative mating has been demonstrated in mental disorders but the extent of cohabitation between patients with clinically diagnosed psychiatric disease has been poorly explored.MethodWe conducted a register-based study of all Danes between 18 and 70 years of age in a 13-year observational period, linking data on individuals' contacts with psychiatric services with data on individuals' cohabitation status. Two different Poisson regression analyses were performed: the first comparing the rates of commencing cohabitation with a psychiatric patient between individuals, depending on whether the individuals themselves had, or did not have, a psychiatric diagnosis; the second comparing the incidence rates of psychiatric diagnoses for individuals cohabitating with psychiatric patients with the similar rates for individuals living with unaffected cohabitants.ResultsIn total, 159 929 (5.0%) out of 3 204 633 individuals were given a psychiatric diagnosis during the study period. Diagnosed individuals had an overall rate ratio (RR) of commencing cohabitation with a psychiatric patient of 1.95 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.90–2.00] for women and 1.65 (95% CI 1.61–1.69) for men, when compared with unaffected individuals. The overall RR of receiving a psychiatric diagnosis while cohabitating with a psychiatric patient was 2.40 (95% CI 2.31–2.49) for women and 2.91 (95% CI 2.81–3.01) for men, when compared with those cohabitating with unaffected individuals. Individuals with schizophrenia and men with bipolar disorder had the highest RR of commencing cohabitation with a cohabitant with a similar diagnosis.ConclusionsCohabitation among individuals with severe psychiatric disorders is increased. This has implications for research and for the clinical management of patients.
Diffusion along transition chains of invariant tori and Aubry–Mather sets
Authors: GIDEA MARIAN , ROBINSON CLARK 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWe describe a topological mechanism for the existence of diffusing orbits in a dynamical system satisfying the following assumptions: (i) the phase space contains a normally hyperbolic invariant manifold diffeomorphic to a two-dimensional annulus; (ii) the restriction of the dynamics to the annulus is an area preserving monotone twist map; (iii) the annulus contains sequences of invariant one-dimensional tori that form transition chains (i.e., the unstable manifold of each torus has a topologically transverse intersection with the stable manifold of the next torus in the sequence); (iv) the transition chains of tori are interspersed with gaps created by resonances; (v) within each gap there is prescribed a finite collection of Aubry–Mather sets. Under these assumptions, there exist trajectories that follow the transition chains, cross over the gaps, and follow the Aubry–Mather sets within each gap, in any specified order. This mechanism is related to the Arnold diffusion problem in Hamiltonian systems. In particular, we prove the existence of diffusing trajectories in the large gap problem of Hamiltonian systems. The argument is topological and constructive.
Rural dementia carers: formal and informal sources of support
Authors: ORPIN PETER , STIRLING CHRISTINE , HETHERINGTON SHARON , ROBINSON ANDREW 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTPrimary carers provide much of the day-to-day care for community-dwelling people living with dementia (PWD). Maintaining that contribution will require a more in-depth understanding of the primary carer role and the support needs that flow from that role. This study explored patterns of formal and informal support utilisation by people caring for a PWD in a rural-regional context. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 rural primary carers of a PWD and thematically analysed. Participant primary carers' almost total commitment to, and absorption in their role and their assumption of ultimate responsibility for the PWD's wellbeing meant that external social context, such as rurality, became less relevant. Carer networks effectively contracted to those key individuals who were central to supporting them in their caring task. External sources of support were tightly managed with strong boundaries around the provision of direct care to the PWD largely excluding all but professional providers. Primary carers are generally categorised along with other family and friends as informal care. However, in assumingprimaryresponsible for the care and wellbeing for the PWD they effectively become the key care provider, suggesting that it would be productive in both research and practice to treat primary carers as key members of a care partnership alongside professional carers, rather than as adjuncts to formal care and/or another client.
The influence of high-rise residence on physical activity and quality of life among older people with leprosy in a retirement community
Authors: CHENG SHUN PING , WANG TZE FANG , TANG FU IN , CHU NGOK KIU , CHEN I JU 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTThe significant time older people typically spend at home affects both their level of physical activity and quality of life. This prospective cohort study was designed to identify the effects that living in a high-rise residence retirement community has on physical activity and quality of life in older people with leprosy. The relocation group was comprised of study participants who had relocated voluntarily to a high-rise apartment building. The comparison group was comprised of study participants who had chosen not to relocate to that building. Data were collected using a personal information survey, Modified Baecke's Questionnaire, and the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF). The groups were significantly similar in terms of household activities, leisure time activities, total physical activity score, and quality of life physical and social aspects, and significantly different in terms of quality of life overall (F=7.864,p=0.006), psychological (F=5.403,p=0.021) and environmental (F=23.099,p=0.000) aspects. This study indicates that living in a high-rise apartment environment does not decrease physical activity and may promote overall quality of life, and psychological and environmental aspects, in retirement community residents. The findings enhance understanding of the effect of different living environments on physical activity and quality of life. Greater health professional participation in retirement community design to ensure such designs facilitate residents’ health and quality of life is recommended.
Lazy tree splitting
Authors: BERGSTROM LARS , FLUET MATTHEW , RAINEY MIKE , REPPY JOHN , SHAW ADAM 
Published: August 2012

AbstractNested data-parallelism (NDP) is a language mechanism that supports programming irregular parallel applications in a declarative style. In this paper, we describe the implementation of NDP in Parallel ML (PML), which is a part of the Manticore system. One of the main challenges of implementing NDP is managing the parallel decomposition of work. If we have too many small chunks of work, the overhead will be too high, but if we do not have enough chunks of work, processors will be idle. Recently, the technique of Lazy Binary Splitting was proposed to address this problem for nested parallel loops over flat arrays. We have adapted this technique to our implementation of NDP, which uses binary trees to represent parallel arrays. This new technique, which we callLazy Tree Splitting(LTS), has the key advantage ofperformance robustness, i.e., it does not require tuning to get the best performance for each program. We describe the implementation of the standard NDP operations using LTS and present experimental data that demonstrate the scalability of LTS across a range of benchmarks.
The impact of higher-order state and control effects on local relational reasoning
Authors: DREYER DEREK , NEIS GEORG , BIRKEDAL LARS 
Published: August 2012

AbstractReasoning about program equivalence is one of the oldest problems in semantics. In recent years, useful techniques have been developed, based on bisimulations and logical relations, for reasoning about equivalence in the setting of increasingly realistic languages—languages nearly as complex as ML or Haskell. Much of the recent work in this direction has considered the interesting representation independence principles enabled by the use of local state, but it is also important to understand the principles that powerful features like higher-order state and control effects disable. This latter topic has been broached extensively within the framework of game semantics, resulting in what Abramsky dubbed the “semantic cube”: fully abstract game-semantic characterizations of various axes in the design space of ML-like languages. But when it comes to reasoning about many actual examples, game semantics does not yet supply a useful technique for proving equivalences.In this paper, we marry the aspirations of the semantic cube to the powerful proof method of step-indexed Kripke logical relations. Building on recent work of Ahmed et al. (2009), we define the first fully abstract logical relation for an ML-like language with recursive types, abstract types, general references and call/cc. We then show how, under orthogonal restrictions to the expressive power of our language—namely, the restriction to first-order state and/or the removal of call/cc—we can enhance the proving power of our possible-worlds model in correspondingly orthogonal ways, and we demonstrate this proving power on a range of interesting examples. Central to our story is the use of state transition systems to model the way in which properties of local state evolve over time.