bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mortality and Readmission of Patients With Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, or Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery
Authors: van Diepen Sean , Bakal Jeffrey A. , McAlister Finlay A. , Ezekowitz Justin A. 
Published: June 2011

Background—
The postoperative risks for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing noncardiac surgery are well described. However, the risks of noncardiac surgery in patients with heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are less well known. The purpose of this study is to compare the postoperative mortality of patients with HF, AF, or CAD undergoing major and minor noncardiac surgery.

Methods and Results—

Population-based data were used to create 4 cohorts of consecutive patients with either nonischemic HF (NIHF; n=7700), ischemic HF (IHF; n=12 249), CAD (n=13 786), or AF (n=4312) who underwent noncardiac surgery between April 1, 1999, and September 31, 2006, in Alberta, Canada. The main outcome was 30-day postoperative mortality. The unadjusted 30-day postoperative mortality was 9.3% in NIHF, 9.2% in IHF, 2.9% in CAD, and 6.4% in AF (each versus CAD,
P
<0.0001). Among patients undergoing minor surgical procedures, the 30-day postoperative mortality was 8.5% in NIHF, 8.1% in IHF, 2.3% in CAD, and 5.7% in AF (
P
<0.0001). After multivariable adjustment, postoperative mortality remained higher in NIHF, IHF, and AF patients than in those with CAD (NIHF versus CAD: odds ratio 2.92; 95% confidence interval 2.44 to 3.48; IHF versus CAD: odds ratio 1.98; 95% confidence interval 1.70 to 2.31; AF versus CAD: odds ratio 1.69; 95% confidence interval 1.34 to 2.14).

Conclusions—
Although current perioperative risk prediction models place greater emphasis on CAD than HF or AF, patients with HF or AF have a significantly higher risk of postoperative mortality than patients with CAD, and even minor procedures carry a risk higher than previously appreciated.
Utility of Absolute and Relative Changes in Cardiac Troponin Concentrations in the Early Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Reichlin Tobias , Irfan Affan , Twerenbold Raphael , Reiter Miriam , Hochholzer Willibald , Burkhalter Hanna , Bassetti Stefano , Steuer Stephan , Winkler Katrin , Peter Federico , Meissner Julia , Haaf Philip , Potocki Mihael , Drexler Beatrice , Osswald Stefan , Mueller Christian 
Published: June 2011

Background—
Current guidelines for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), among other criteria, also require a rise and/or fall in cardiac troponin (cTn) levels. It is unknown whether absolute or relative changes in cTn have higher diagnostic accuracy and should therefore be preferred.

Methods and Results—

In a prospective, observational, multicenter study, we analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of absolute (Δ) and relative (Δ%) changes in cTn in 836 patients presenting to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of AMI. Blood samples for the determination of high-sensitive cTn T and cTn I ultra were collected at presentation and after 1 and 2 hours in a blinded fashion. The final diagnosis was adjudicated by 2 independent cardiologists. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for diagnosing AMI was significantly higher for 2-hour absolute (Δ) versus 2-hour relative (Δ%) cTn changes (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [95% confidence interval], high-sensitivity cTn T: 0.95 [0.92 to 0.98] versus 0.76 [0.70 to 0.83],
P
<0.001; cTn I ultra: 0.95 [0.91 to 0.99] versus 0.72 [0.66 to 0.79],
P
<0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve–derived cutoff value for 2-hour absolute (Δ) change was 0.007 μg/L for high-sensitivity cTn T and 0.020 μg/L for cTn I ultra (both cutoff levels are half of the 99th percentile of the respective cTn assay). Absolute changes were superior to relative changes in patients with both low and elevated baseline cTn levels.

Conclusions—
Absolute changes of cTn levels have a significantly higher diagnostic accuracy for AMI than relative changes, and seem therefore to be the preferred criteria to distinguish AMI from other causes of cTn elevations.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00470587.
A medieval book and early-modern law: Bracton 's authority and application in the common law c. 1550–1640
Authors: Williams Ian 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThis article considers the place of the thirteenth-century book known as Bracton in the earlymodern common law. e article examines both the uses made of Bracton and the evidence to be found in the surviving copies of the first printed edition. It addresses the impediments to the use of Bracton, the printing of the first edition, the text's readership and place in the early-modern common-law canon and material in Bracton which seem to have been of particular interest.Bracton was a recognised source for criminal law and there is some evidence of impact on the law of evidence, servitudes and a little for contract law. An examination of the early-modern law of treason shows that Bracton had an important role in changing the concept of treason from a crime against the monarch to something like the classical crimen laesae maiestatis.
Carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of the Midwestern United States: a review and synthesis of recent research
Authors: Lundgren Jonathan , McCravy Kenneth 
Published: June 2011

AbstractCarabid beetles comprise a diverse and ubiquitous family of insects. Carabids are important in conservation biology and often have close associations with particular habitat types, making them useful biomonitoring organisms. Many carabids are also important biological control agents due to their predatory habits, but feeding habits within the family are quite diverse, and seed-eating or granivorous carabids can play an important role in shaping plant diversity and distributions. These qualities have particular relevance in the highly cultivated and fragmented landscape of the Midwestern U.S., and this region has become a very active one for carabid research in a variety of areas. In this paper, we review the state of carabid research in the Midwestern U.S., focusing on work published since the mid-1990s in carabid biogeography, conservation biology, biological control/pest management, feeding ecology and parasitism/health. Potentially productive directions for future research are discussed.
Molecular Perspectives on the Bantu Expansion: A Synthesis
Authors: Pakendorf Brigitte , de Filippo Cesare , Bostoen Koen 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe expansion of Bantu-speaking peoples over large parts of sub-Saharan Africa is still a matter of debate—not only with respect to the propelling force behind it and the route(s) taken, but, also, in terms of the question whether there actually was a demographic expansion of peoples, rather than just a cultural expansion involving the spread of languages and technologies. In this paper, we provide a critical review of the extant linguistic and molecular anthropological data on Africa and discuss the insights they provide concerning the expansion itself as well as the demographic processes involved in it. Contrary to some assumptions by historians and cultural anthropologists, the genetic data speak in favor of an actual movement of peoples during the expansion of the Bantu languages over Africa, rather than a spread through language and culture shift. Furthermore, the molecular data indicate that sociocultural practices such as patrilocality and possibly even polygyny played a role in shaping the genetic diversity of Bantu-speaking peoples. These sociocultural practices might explain why, in Africa, there is a correlation between Y-chromosomal (i.e., paternal) lineages and linguistic affiliation, but not between mtDNA (maternal) lineages and language.
A Pipeline for Computational Historical Linguistics
Authors: Steiner Lydia , Cysouw Michael , Stadler Peter 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThere are many parallels between historical linguistics and molecular phylogenetics. In this paper we describe an algorithmic pipeline that mimics, as closely as possible, the traditional workflow of language reconstruction known as the comparative method. The pipeline consists of suitably modified algorithms based on recent research in bioinformatics, which are adapted to the specifics of linguistic data. This approach can alleviate much of the laborious research needed to establish proof of historical relationships between languages. Equally important to our proposal is that each step in the workflow of the comparative method is implemented independently, so language specialists have the possibility to scrutinize intermediate results. We have used our pipeline to investigate two groups of languages, the Tsezic languages of the Caucasus and the Mataco-Guaicuruan languages of South America, based on the lexical data from the Intercontinental Dictionary Series (IDS). The results of these tests show that the current approach is a viable and useful extension to historical linguistic research.
Mechanization of the Collection of Household Refuse and Data Processing Follow-Up in the City of Paris
Authors: Burelle J. , Monterrat C. 
Published: June 2011

The Paris Municipality decided in 1979 to introduce mechanized collection from wheeled containers. This consists in providing blocks of flats with containers with a capacity varying from 120 to 1100 1, depending on the expected refuse production and the layout of the premises and means of access. The containers are collected by means of tipper trucks with an open hopper equipped with raising arms, capable of manipulating any type of container. Mechanization of emptying operations has reduced the number of workers per truck from three to two. The containers are rented by the City of Paris to two firms which are in charge of their maintenance and regular washing. The Paris municipal services also have the objective of optimizing the means necessary for collecting the 1 million tonnes of annual refuse.With this view in mind they have carried out plans to minimize personnel numbers and amounts of equipment and have determined around 6500 collection itineraries per year, taking into account the capacity of the vehicles and local constraints. Recourse to data processing is possible thanks to the ROMA program (BETURE study) which, based on the data of the Urban Geographical Repertory available in Paris and a vehicles' file which enables the determination of optimal collection circuits.
Florida Amnesty Days: a Hazardous Waste Success Story
Authors: Jordan Barry H. , Kirkpatrick George 
Published: June 2011

Emotional public reaction and media sensationalism resulting from inadequate waste disposal practices of the past have made hazardous waste one of the hottest political issues in the U.S.A. Everyone wants the hazardous waste problem solved, but no one wants a hazardous waste facility in their "backyard"—the NIMBY (not in my backyard) syndrome. The State of Florida has taken a major step to try to reverse this attitude by educating the public as to what hazardous waste is and demonstrating that hazardous waste can be safely managed. The program, entitled Amnesty Days, was established by the Water Quality Assurance Act of 1983. The Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, working with a contractor, GSX Services, has established a system to collect hazardous waste from households and small businesses. The program is designed to bring a unique, fully-equipped mobile facility to various locations around the State. The program will reach every county over a three year period. The two phases, conducted in May, June, October and November, 1984 was extremely successful with over 6400 participants bringing in almost 600,000 1b of a wide range of chemicals, including DDT and PCB. Florida officials hope that the success of Amnesty Days will raise the awareness of citizens and ease the task of siting permanent facilities to provide long-term solutions.
Conductivity of Compacted Clay Soils To Water and Organic Liquids
Authors: Anderson D.C. , Brown K.W. , Thomas J.C. 
Published: June 2011

Four clay soils, selected to represent a range of mineralogies, were permeated with water and seven selected organic liquids in fixed wall permeameters. The conductivity of each soil/water followed by the chosen organic liquid was measured. The tested organic liquids included an acid and a base, and both polar and non-polar solvents. All four compacted soils had conductivities to water of less than 1 x 10-7 cm s-1. Acetic acid initially decreased the conductivity; however, after sufficient acid had permeated the soils, the conductivity generally increased to approximately the values measured with water. Soils treated with aniline exhibited conductivities of one to two orders of magnitude greater than values measured with water. Organic solvents, i.e. methanol, acetone, ethylene glycol, heptane and xylene, had conductivities of two to three orders of magnitude greater than their respective conductivities to water. While the miscible organics may undergo dilution by water in a field situation, the water immiscible solvents heptane and xylene would not be diluted by leachate and may reach a clay liner at or very near full strength. Conductivities of the soils to the organic solvents were much greater than could be explained by the densities and viscosities of the liquids. Visual observation of the soils permeated with organic solvents indicated the presence of cracks and voids in the centre of the soil mass which were not observed after the soils were permeated with water.
Suicide in Fiji: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Morris P. , Maniam T. 
Published: June 2011

Clinical experience, public perceptions and research have indicated that the Indian community have been overrepresented in suicide statistics in Fiji. A computerised Medline search of the literature back to 1966 on suicide and ethnicity in Fiji using the search words SUICIDE and FIJI was performed supplemented by other relevant research and published material. A consistent pattern of higher suicide rates for the Indian population in Fiji compared to the indigenous Fijian population was found. Factors including religious and cultural beliefs, higher suicide risk in rural areas, use of toxic biocides as a method of suicide and relatively high suicide rates in young Indian women are discussed. Evidence for Indian vulnerability to suicide in Fiji has to date been based upon uncontrolled, descriptive observations. Helpful directions for future research include studying postulated vulnerability variables for suicide in the Indian community. Asia Pac J Public Health 2000;12(1):46-49
Health Beliefs and Pap Smears Among Thai Women in Brisbane, Australia
Authors: Jirojwong Sansnee , Maclennan Robert , Manderson Lenore 
Published: June 2011

Although a number of studies have assessed the use of Pap smear among Thai women in Thailand, little is known about factors influencing the use of this cervical cancer screening among potentially high risk Thai migrant women. We related health belief model (HBM) factors and sociodemographic variables to the use of Pap smears among migrant Thai women in Brisbane, Australia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A snowball sampling method was used to recruit 145 women. Thirty-nine percent reported regular Pap smears. Summary HBM index and self-efficacy index were positively associated with Pap smears. Barriers to screening were negatively associated. The HBM appears to be a useful framework for planning cervical cancer prevention. Strategies that reduce barriers to the screening and increase the confidence of women and their self-efficacy are likely to increase their participation. Asia Pac J Public Health 2001;13(1):20-23
Towards a Comparative Analysis of Health Systems Reforms in the Asia-Pacific Region
Authors: Hong Kai , cum laude A.M. , Huibin Amelia 
Published: June 2011

The paper will review a representative selection of health systems reforms throughout the Asia-Pacific region to summarise the regional experience, identify the key lessons learnt from innovative health reforms and propose policy recommendations for sustainable health systems development. Broad descriptive trends of health systems reforms will be compared across the Asia-Pacific region within the context of rapid demographic, health and socio-economic development. More specifically, the study will address the following questions: 1. What are the main features of innovative health systems reforms? 2. How have these reforms affected the health systems? 3. Are there lessons and other implications from these reforms? A common conceptual framework to compare health systems reforms is adopted, using a standardised format to report data of national health systems. A classification of health systems is constructed by categorising them according to the level of development of their respective economies: 1) Developed 2 )High Performing 3) Newly Industrialising 4) Transitional, and 5) Developing. A typology of common issues, challenges and responses are generalised for these health systems at different stages of socio-economic development of individual countries. Evaluative criteria are proposed to compare the long term effects of these reforms on national health systems in terms of efficiency, equity, quality and sustainability. Asia Pac J Public Health 2002; 14(1): 9 -16
The Determinants of Long-Term Care Utilization and Equity of Access to Care among Older Adults in Dong-Ku of Incheon Metropolitan City, South Korea
Authors: Park J.M. 
Published: June 2011

Under the current health care system, around three percent of the elderly remain uninsured. Based on the 2003 Dong-Ku Health Status Survey and the Aday and Andersen Access Framework, the present study examined the social and behavioral determinants of long-term care utilization and the extent to which equity in the use of long-term care services for the elderly has been achieved. The results indicate that universal health insurance system has not yielded a fully equitable distribution of services. Type of coverage and resource availability do not remain predictors of long-term care utilization. The data suggest that a universal health insurance system exists in South Korea with significant access problems for the population without insurance. Access differences also arise from obstacles in expanding the scope and level of plan benefits due to financial disparity among insurers. Health policy reforms must continue to concentrate on extending insurance coverage to the uninsured and establishing long-term insurance system for the elderly. Asia Pac J Public Health 2005; 17(2): 104-109.
Epidemiological Studies of Hypertension Among Elderly Japanese and Japanese Americans
Authors: Reed D , Yano K 
Published: June 2011

A prospective international study of cardiovascular disease among Japanese men living in Japan, Hawaii and California in 1965 provided the opportunity of comparing the levels of blood pressure and hypertension among men aged 45 to 68 years, and of examining the factors which accounted for the differences. In addition, within the group of 8, 006 men from Hawaii, a subsample of men were examined 15 years later when they were aged 60 to 80 to study the influence of migration, the stressful aspects of culture change, diet, life-style, Type A behaviour and biological characteristics for association with blood pressure and as predictors of hypertension. At the initial examination, the men in California had the highest levels of blood pressure and hypertension, the men in Japan had the lowest levels, and the men born in Hawaii had intermediate levels. When blood pressure was adjusted for relative weight, the differences among the groups disappeared. Within the Hawaii cohort, bivariate and multivariate analyses of more than 50 variables indicated that age, obesity, alcohol intake, serum glucose and parental history of hypertension were the major variables independently associated with cross-sectional levels of blood pressure and, except for alcohol intake, with longitudinal changes in blood pressure. Reported dietary intake of calcium, magnesium, potassium, protein and other nutrients were all inversely associated with blood pressure levels. The intake of those nutrients was so highly correlated with each other that it was not possible to identify the independent association of any single dietary factor. The results suggested that the foods which are major sources of the nutrients (vegetables, fruits, whole grains and low fat dairy products) may be protective against hypertension. Blood pressure was not associated with salt, or salty Japanese foods, either in the international comparisons or in the group from Hawaii. Among the psychosocial factors, there was no evidence that measures of theoretically stressful social situations, social support or the Jenkins measure of Type A personality were associated with blood pressure within the Hawaiian group. From the perspective of prevention of hypertension in the elderly, these data suggest that obesity, alcohol intake and low intake of minerals found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are the factors which should receive primary consideration.
A Microcomputer Program for Significance Testing of the Difference Between Statistically Adjusted Rates Obtained by Direct Standardisation
Authors: Koh D , Lee J 
Published: June 2011

Direct standardisation is a method that is commonly employed for the statistical removal of confounding bias in the comparison of occurrence rates. The procedure is useful in clinical and epidemiological research. This paper presents a microcomputer program written in BASIC for the significance testing of the difference between statistically adjusted rates obtained by the direct standardisation method.
Impact of a School Milk Programme on the Nutritional Status of School Children
Authors: Chen ST 
Published: June 2011

From the start of the school milk feeding programme in February 1985 to October 1986, a total of 2, 766 children aged six to nine years from 12 primary schools in Ulu Selangor were followed-up for about two years. The children's weight and height were monitored at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the study. The study shows that there is a reduction in the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition in terms of underweight (15.3% to 8.6%), stunting (16.3% to 8.3%) and wasting (2.6% to 1.7%) from the start of the school feeding programme to two years later. Associated with this there was an improvement in the attendance rate of the children during the same period. As there was no major developmental change in Ulu Selangor during that period, it is likely that the reduction in the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition and the improvement of the attendance rate among the children are due to the impact of the school milk feeding programme.