bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fiberoptic light source‐induced surgical fires – the contribution of forced‐air warming blankets
Authors: Williams D. M. , Littwin S. , Patterson A. J. , Brock‐Utne J. G. 
Published: February 2006

Background:  Fiberoptic light sources have been identified as a fire ignition mechanism in the operating room. This study attempted to determine whether a forced‐air warming blanket (FAWB) could affect the ignition or spread of fire caused by a fiberoptic light source.Methods:  We exposed surgical drapes to a fiberoptic light source at close range. The results were categorized according to time to first smoke and damage resulting at 1 min. Data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney rank‐sum test.Results:  The sums of the rank values for the components of the drape indicated that there was a greater than 96.8–99.2% chance that the FAWB accelerated the time to first smoke. The FAWB appeared to protect the patient gown from damage during all trials. The presence of an FAWB under a surgical drape accelerated the time to first smoke when exposed to unprotected fiberoptic light sources, yet prevented damage to the underlying patient gown. In an actual surgical setting, it is likely that the FAWB would offer some protection to the patient's skin directly below the surgical drape.Conclusion:  It is likely that the FAWB can offer some protection to the patient should an unprotected fiberoptic light source cause a fire.
Post‐operative unwashed shed blood transfusion does not modify the cellular immune response to surgery for total knee replacement
Authors: Muñoz M. , Cobos A. , Campos A. , Ariza D. , Muñoz E. , Gómez A. 
Published: February 2006

Background:  In patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR), most blood loss occurs post‐operatively, and the return of unwashed filtered shed blood (USB) from post‐operative drainage may represent an alternative to allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT). We evaluated the impact of USB return on the cellular immune response (CIR) after TKR.Patients and methods:  Forty TKR patients, intended to receive post‐operative USB, entered the study. Blood samples were obtained before and 6 h, 24 h, 72 h and 7 days after surgery, and from USB, after it had been passed through a 40‐µm filter. Full blood cell counts, lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) were measured in all samples. A set of clinical data was collected from each patient.Results:  Twenty‐four of the 25 patients received a mean of 1.2 USB units and did not need additional ABT (USB group). Twelve of the 15 remaining patients who received neither USB nor ABT served as a control group for the post‐operative CIR study. All patients showed a post‐operative decrease in T‐cell and natural killer (NK) cell counts, but not B‐cell counts, and there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to CIR parameters, post‐operative infection or hospital stay.Conclusions:  Post‐operative salvage and return of USB after TKR does not seem to increase the post‐operative infection rate or hospital stay, and does not modify CIR induced by surgery. These findings add to the clinical experience that post‐operative USB return, as a source of autologous blood, is safe, and questions the beneficial effect of blood washing.
Fatigue crack growth under variable amplitude loading Part II: analytical and numerical investigations
Authors: SANDER M. , RICHARD H. A. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTIn part I, the effects of variable amplitude loadings on the fatigue crack growths were illustrated by means of experimental results. Within the scope of part II, systematic analytical and numerical investigations are presented. Using different analytical concepts it can be shown that the lifetime depends both on the concept used and on the loading sequence. Also, the influence of the parameters that must be fitted by experimental data for all analytical prediction models has been investigated. By means of detailed elastic–plastic finite element simulations it becomes obvious that not only the crack opening caused by large plastic deformations subsequent to overloads and block loadings, but also the stress field in the ligament is an indicator for the retardation effect. If the σy‐stresses both at maximum and minimum loading are identical with the σy‐stress distribution of an appropriate constant amplitude (CA) loading, one can assume that the interaction effect is annihilated.
The interactive effects of personal traits and guided practices on preservice teachers’ changes in personal teaching efficacy
Authors: Yeh Yu‐Chu 
Published: February 2006

AbstractPersonal teaching efficacy is associated with a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom. To enhance this efficacy in a computer‐simulated training program, both personal traits and guided practices need to be considered concurrently. In this study, it was hypothesised that the interactive effects from the coupling of personal traits with guided practices would be a reliable predictor of the degree of improvement in personal teaching efficacy during computer‐simulated training. One hundred and seventy‐eight preservice teachers completed an interactive teaching experience via the Computer Simulation for Teaching General Critical‐thinking Skills in which guided practices were integrated via specially designed teaching sequences and loops. The findings suggest that intrapersonal intelligence, critical‐thinking dispositions and a judicial thinking style are related to self‐awareness, analytical learning and reflective thinking and that in this study, these personal qualities seemingly interacted with guided practices, which resulted in reflective teaching and mastery experience. This, in turn, may very well have brought about improvement in the preservice teachers’ personal teaching efficacy during the computer‐simulated teaching.
PROPERTY RIGHTS, GENES, AND COMMON GOOD
Authors: Reed Esther D. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTThis paper applies aspects of Hugo Grotius's theologically informed theory of property to contemporary issues concerning access to the human DNA sequence and patenting practices. It argues that Christians who contribute to public debate in these areas might beneficially employ some of the concepts with which he worked—notably “common right,” the “right of necessity,” and “use right.” In the seventeenth century, wars were fought over trading rights and access to the sea. In the twenty‐first century, information and intellectual property are the issues of the day. Grotius's writings serve to correct the overemphasis in modern liberalism on individual rights, and have practical application to the debate concerning the reduction of the human genome to the status of private property.
WISDOM, PESSIMISM, AND “MIRTH” Reflections on the Contribution of Biblical Wisdom Literature to Business Ethics
Authors: Branick Vincent P. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTAncient Israel's wisdom literature dealt explicitly with moral education. Applying this literature to modern challenges of business ethics requires reading the texts in the light of existential structures that bond the ancient with the modern world. Such structures could include the temporal categories of present and future along with the challenging angst of managing the future. By providing conflicting positions the ancient wisdom literature provides an attitude of heart for the modern person, especially the modern business person, whose all‐absorbing attention to the future may well be based on an underlying existential situation behind much unethical behavior in modern business.
KAIROS: BETWEEN COSMIC ORDER AND HUMAN AGENCY  A Comparative Study of Aurelius and Confucius
Authors: Zhu Rui 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTIn nontheistic moral traditions, there is a typical ethical conundrum concerning the relation between cosmic order and human agency. Within those traditions, it is generally recognized that the universe has its own order and history that are independent of human will. A moral discourse has to find space to accommodate human agency in the midst of the iron grid of cosmic law. Both Confucius and Aurelius use the concept of timeliness (kairos) to resolve the difficult issue. But their philosophies take on divergent paths. By studying their resolutions of the issue, we will be able to appreciate the distinctive nature of their nontheistic moral narratives.
WHOSE INTERESTS ARE THEY, ANYWAY?
Authors: Mohrmann Margaret E. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTThis review both praises Richard Miller's book—a thoughtful, judicious, and comprehensive analysis of bioethics for the pediatric age group, notably the first effort worthy of the name—and points out the work still to be done in this area, work firmly based in and illuminated by Miller's ground‐breaking thesis. Specifically, the book rightly compels us to recognize obligations of beneficence as primary and to refocus on the child's basic interests, rather than putative “best” interests. There remains much to be done in defining and discerning basic interests and in distinguishing whose interests are on the table when decisions are being made for seriously ill and dying children.
An extinct species of tooth‐billed pigeon (Didunculus) from the Kingdom of Tonga, and the concept of endemism in insular landbirds
Authors: Steadman D. W. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe tooth‐billed pigeon Didunculus strigirostris lives on three islands in Western (Independent) Samoa. A larger, extinct species, Didunculus placopedetes, is described from bones recovered in late Quaternary cave deposits on 'Eua, Kingdom of Tonga. Also referred to D. placopedetes are bones from archaeological sites on the larger Tongan island of Tongatapu and the smaller, lower islands of Lifuka, Ha'ano, 'Uiha and Ha'afeva. As with so many other landbirds in Polynesia, the extinction of D. placopedetes occurred since the arrival of people and presumably was due to human impact. The peopling of Tonga is why the genus Didunculus is considered to be endemic to Samoa. The biogeographic implications of the new data on Didunculus are not unique; human activities have reduced or eliminated the natural range of nearly every genus and species group of Polynesian landbird. The reduced ranges of surviving taxa have created a situation (herein called ‘pseudo‐endemism’) where a taxon that seems today to be endemic to a restricted area (often one or two islands) was much more widespread at first human arrival. As the prehistoric record of insular birds improves in the Pacific and elsewhere, the list of pseudo‐endemic taxa will continue to grow.
Age at maturity in cavies and guinea‐pigs (Cavia aperea and Cavia aperea f. porcellus): influence of social factors
Authors: Trillmich F. , Laurien‐Kehnen C. , Adrian A. , Linke S. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAge at maturity, a particularly important parameter in the life history of small mammals, contributes greatly to fitness. Social influences on age at maturity have been demonstrated for altricial rodents, in particular, mice. Nothing is known about such effects in precocial small mammals. Wild cavies Cavia aperea are born in a highly precocial state and mature early in life, briefly after weaning. We investigated whether the wild cavy C. aperea and the domestic guinea‐pig Cavia aperea f. porcellus reach maturity earlier in the presence of adults of the opposite sex. Juvenile females kept in pairs without males showed first vaginal opening (=oestrus) when 59 days old in cavies and at about 40 days in the guinea‐pig. However, in the company of adult males, cavy females kept in pairs reached maturity when about 30 days old, and guinea‐pig females when 26 days old. Most cavy females experienced successful pregnancy following first vaginal opening. In cavies, female mass at birth and at first oestrus was not correlated with age at first oestrus. In guinea‐pigs, birth mass predicted age at maturity only when a male was present. The growth rate from birth to first oestrus related to age at first oestrus. In the wild cavy, the presence of a male appeared to influence maturation more between days 25 and 30 than earlier in life. Male C. aperea matured and had fully descended testes when about 65–70 days old. All male cavies produced abundant motile sperm from day 75. First successful copulations occurred at about the same age. Surprisingly, the priming effect of the presence of an adult male on female maturation proved stronger in these highly precocial caviomorphs than in altricial rodents investigated so far.
Conservation implications of midden selection and use in an endangered gazelle (Gazella gazella)
Authors: Attum O. , Eason P. , Wakefield S. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThis study examines midden selection and use by mountain gazelles Gazella gazella in central Saudia Arabia and the implications of middens (dung piles) for the conservation of this species. Specifically, we tested poachers' claims that mountain gazelles are easy to kill because midden use was predictable and conspicuous. We found that midden selection in mountain gazelles is non‐random, with middens typically located at the base of the most conspicuous and largest trees, although the choice of midden sites is also influenced by tree species. Middens clearly have olfactory importance; the majority of mountain gazelles that visited middens were observed sniffing the ground. Mountain gazelles visit middens at night, which corroborates poachers' claims that the animals are easily hunted at night through spotlighting. Although the use of open habitats that are accessible to automobiles makes gazelles vulnerable to hunting and being run down, our data suggest that midden use is also an attribute that makes gazelles susceptible to hunting. Poachers can locate gazelles because of middens' predictable locations, as they are placed at prominent landmarks, are visually conspicuous as large dung piles, and are visited at night, which allows the animals to be found through spotlighting. Other taxa that use predictable and prominent landmarks, or communicate through visually conspicuous methods could also be susceptible to poaching.
Membrane sweeping and prevention of post‐term pregnancy in low‐risk pregnancies: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: De Miranda E , Van Der Bom JG , Bonsel GJ , Bleker OP , Rosendaal FR 
Published: February 2006

Objective  To evaluate the effectiveness of membrane sweeping at 41 weeks for the prevention of post‐term pregnancy.Design  A multicentre randomised controlled trial.Setting  Fifty‐one primary care midwifery practices in the Netherlands.Population  A total of 742 low‐risk pregnant women at 41 weeks of gestation.Methods  Participants were randomly assigned to serial sweeping of the membranes (every 48 hours until labour commenced up to 42 weeks of gestation) or no intervention.Main outcome measures  Post‐term pregnancy (≥42 weeks). Subgroup analyses were performed on nulliparous and parous women. Secondary outcomes included adverse effects.Results  Serial sweeping of the membranes at 41 weeks decreased the risk of post‐term pregnancy (87/375 [23%] versus 149/367 [41%]; relative risk [RR] 0.57, 95% CI 0.46–0.71; number needed to treat [NNT] 6 [95% CI 4–9]). Benefits were also seen in both subgroups (nulliparous: 57/198 [29%] versus 89/192 [46%]; RR 0.62 [95% CI 0.48–0.81]; NNT 6 [95% CI 4–12] and parous: 30/177 [17%] versus 60/175 [34%]; RR 0.49 [95% CI 0.34–0.73]; NNT 6 [95% CI 4–6]). Adverse effects were similar in both the groups except for uncomplicated bleeding, which was reported more frequently in the sweeping group. Other obstetric outcomes and indicators of neonatal morbidity were similar in both groups. There were two perinatal deaths in each group.Conclusions  Membrane sweeping at 41 weeks can substantially reduce the proportion of women with post‐term pregnancy.
Geographic Variation in the Prescription of Schedule II Opioid Analgesics among Outpatients in the United States
Authors: Curtis Lesley H. , Stoddard Jennifer , Radeva Jasmina I. , Hutchison Steve , Dans Peter E. , Wright Alan , Woosley Raymond L. , Schulman Kevin A. 
Published: February 2006

Objective. To measure geographic variation in opioid use in a large, commercially insured, outpatient population in the United States.Data Sources. Outpatient prescription drug claims database of a national pharmaceutical benefit manager for 7,873,337 subjects with at least one prescription drug claim in 2000.Study Design. We measured the period prevalence of claims for opioid analgesics and controlled‐release oxycodone at the state level. We measured geographic variation using the weighted coefficient of variation and systematic component of variation. In county‐level multivariable regression, we explored associations between potential explanatory variables and claims for opioid analgesics and controlled‐release oxycodone.Principal Findings. A total of 567,778 (64.2 per 1,000 total claims) were for oral opioid analgesics. Claim rates by state ranged from <20 to >100 claims per 1,000 total claims. States with long‐standing prescription monitoring programs had among the lowest rates. In the county‐level data, presence of a statewide prescription monitoring program and proportions of the population aged 15–24 and 65 years and older were independently and negatively associated with claim rates for all opioid analgesics. Surgeons per 1,000, proportion of the population reporting illicit drug use, and proportion who were female were independently and positively associated with claim rates for all opioid analgesics. Only the proportion of the population aged 25–34 and number of surgeons per 1,000 were independently and positively associated with claim rates for oxycodone.Conclusions. Claim rates for opioid analgesics vary significantly by state. Presence of a statewide prescription monitoring program is associated with lower claim rates at the county level. Future research should use individual‐level data to assess whether these findings reflect a reduction in abuse and diversion or suboptimal treatment of pain.
Contemporary Art and the Role of Interpretation: Reflections from Tate Modern's Summer Institute for Teachers
Authors: Charman Helen , Ross Michaela 
Published: February 2006

AbstractRecent research indicates that the taught curriculum in art and design secondary school education pays scant attention to meaning‐making in visual art. This article explores possibilities for teaching interpretation through a report on an action‐research project based on Tate Modern's Summer Institute for Teachers. In doing so it argues for the value and necessity of interpretation as a taught skill.
Moving Minds
Authors: Parker Terry , Hiett Sandra , Marley Donna 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThis paper explores and examines a case study based at Ivy Bank Business and Enterprise College, The Imperial War Museum North, and Liverpool John Moores University. This collaboration took place from November 2004 until February 2005 culminating in an exhibition of children's artwork as part of the ‘Moving Minds’ project at the IWM North.This project was built upon a firm foundation of common goals; an investment in educational and curriculum development; learning through an engagement with contemporary art practice; learning within the context of the museum and a belief that working collaboratively can act as an effective antidote to a perceived orthodoxy in art and design education (Steers 2004).Through practitioner enquiry this paper presents three distinct perspectives. The voice of the trainee teacher, the classroom teacher and the university lecturer demonstrate both elements of commonality and difference within the shared experience of this enterprise.
Acute Success and Persistence of Bidirectional Conduction Block in the Cavotricuspid Isthmus One Month Post Cryocatheter Ablation of Common Atrial Flutter
Authors: KUNISS MALTE , KURZIDIM KLAUS , GREISS HARALD , BERKOWITSCH ALEXANDER , SPERZEL JOHANNES , HAMM CHRISTIAN , PITSCHNER HEINZ FRIEDRICH 
Published: February 2006

Introduction: Cryoablation is successful in the treatment of common atrial flutter. Long‐term clinical success is mainly dependent on persistence of bidirectional conduction block (BCB) in the inferior cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI). Only few data on persistence of BCB post cryoablation with the reported technique are available. This prospective study aimed to test efficacy of cryo energy and persistence of BCB in the CTI 1 month post cryoablation.
Methods: Cryoablation of the CTI was performed in 50 consecutive patients (64 ± 12 years, 40 males) with symptomatic common atrial flutter using a novel 9 Fr 8‐mm‐tip catheter. BCB in the CTI 30 minutes following the final cryoapplication was the ablation endpoint. Thirty days post ablation, persistence of BCB was controlled by repeat electrophysiological study (EPS).
Results: In all patients BCB was achieved with a mean of 9 (IQR 7–17.5) cryo applications and a mean cryo time of 2,378 seconds (IQR 1,680–3,474 seconds). In 5 of 50 patients, common atrial flutter recurred within 1 month post cryoablation. In 30 of 32 recurrence‐free patients, persistence of BCB was verified. In 2 patients, resumption of isthmus conduction was detectable. Including relapses, 81.1% of patients (30/37) showed persistence of BCB. No patients reported pain during cryoapplication. No procedural complications were observed.
Conclusions: Cryoablation of the CTI using a large‐tip catheter is feasible and safe in the treatment of common atrial flutter. Acute and short‐term success rates are comparable to those reported for radiofrequency (RF) ablation. Besides short‐term clinical success, the persistence of BCB demonstrates efficacy of the cryoablation technique.
Long‐Term Outcome of Right and Left Atrial Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: BERTAGLIA EMANUELE , STABILE GIUSEPPE , SENATORE GAETANO , TURCO PIETRO , DONNICI GIOVANNI , DE SIMONE ANTONIO , FAZZARI MASSIMO , ZERBO FRANCESCA , PASCOTTO PIETRO 
Published: February 2006

Objectives: To investigate the clinical outcome of right and left atrial radiofrequency ablation after the first 12 months in patients with drug‐refractory persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), and to identify predictors of long‐term success.
Methods: We analyzed the clinical outcome of 74 consecutive patients with a follow‐up >12 months who underwent right and left atrial ablation for persistent AF. Patients who did not present symptomatic or asymptomatic atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT) lasting >30 seconds after the first 3 months of follow‐up were defined responders to pulmonary veins ablation.
Results: After a mean follow‐up of 20.2 ± 6.3 months (12–36), 52/74 (70%) patients were deemed responders. AT relapsed within the first 12 months in 19/74 (26%) patients (17 AF and 2 left atrial flutter). Among those patients who did not relapse within the first 12 months, only 3 patients (5%) presented AF after the first year of follow‐up. At the multivariate analysis presence of early AT relapse and history of AF >7 years inversely correlated with a successful long‐term clinical outcome.
Conclusion: Right and left atrial ablation, alone or in association with antiarrhythmic drugs, prevented AT relapses in 70% of patients with drug‐refractory persistent AF also after the first 12 months. Presence of AT relapse within the first 3 months and history of AF >7 years identified patients with a lower probability of successful long‐term clinical outcome.