bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is compression bandaging accurate? The routine use of interface pressure measurements in compression bandaging of venous leg ulcers
Authors: Satpathy A , Hayes S , Dodds S 
Published: February 2006

Objective: To test the use of a low-cost, portable, battery-powered sub-bandage pressure monitor as a part of a quality control measure for graduated compression bandaging in the leg ulcer clinics. Methods: A total of 25 healthy volunteers (mean age 40 years) providing 50 limbs were bandaged with a 4-layer compression bandaging system. Interface pressure was measured by placing pressure sensors on the skin at three points (2 cm above the medial malleolus, on the widest part of the calf and on a point midway between them) in supine and standing positions. A further 16 patients (mean age 62 years) providing 22 limb measurements also participated in this study. Bandages were reapplied in patients with the help of the pressure monitors when the target pressure was not achieved in the first attempt. Results: The interface pressures varied with change of position and movement. With the operator blinded, the target pressure of 35–40 mmHg at the ankle was achieved in only 36% of healthy volunteers (mean±95% confidence interval, 32.3±1.6 mmHg [supine]; 38.4±2.4 mmHg [standing position]). With the help of the pressure monitors, the target pressure was achieved in 78% of the patients. Conclusion: This result suggests that it is important to have a tool that is easy to operate, and available as a part of the quality assurance in connection with treatment and also training of care providers, nurses, etc in how to apply a compression bandage.
Acute Tubular Necrosis Associated with Chromium Picolinate–Containing Dietary Supplement
Authors: Wani Sachin , Weskamp Celia , Marple Jeffrey , Spry Leslie 
Published: February 2006

Objective: To report a case of acute tubular necrosis associated with the use of a chromium picolinate–containing dietary supplement. Case Summary: A 24-year-old white male who had been ingesting a dietary supplement (Arsenal X) for 2 weeks during his workout sessions developed acute renal failure. Radiologic investigation showed the presence of a solitary right kidney, and an open renal biopsy confirmed features of acute tubular necrosis. He developed significant renal impairment that required hemodialysis. He was also treated with plasmapheresis and steroids, as a diagnosis of pulmonary-renal syndrome was entertained early in the disease course, which was subsequently ruled out. The patient ultimately recovered and, on outpatient visits, was noted to have normal renal function. Discussion: The use of dietary supplements has become increasingly popular in the US, and these supplements are not subject to stringent premarketing testing or postmarketing surveillance. The main ingredients in the supplement discussed here were chromium picolinate, Sida cordifolia, synephrine, and guarana. An objective causality assessment using the Naranjo probability scale indicated a probable association between the use of this supplement and the development of acute renal failure in this patient. Conclusions: Current information regarding the beneficial effects of trivalent chromium is not very robust; therefore, use of this agent cannot be recommended at this time. This report serves as an important reminder to the public, as well as healthcare providers, of potential nephrotoxic reactions to dietary supplements.
Long-term Experience With Combination Antiretroviral Therapy That Contains Nelfinavir for up to 7 Years in a Pediatric Cohort
Authors: Scherpbier Henriëtte J. , Bekker Vincent , van Leth Frank , Jurriaans Suzanne , Lange Joep M.A. , Kuijpers Taco W. 
Published: February 2006

OBJECTIVE. We sought to provide long-term data on the clinical, immunologic, and virologic response to highly active antiretroviral therapy in infants and children who are naive to protease inhibitors.
METHODS. HIV-1–infected children who were naive to protease inhibitors were treated with a combination of nelfinavir and 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (stavudine and lamivudine) in an observational, prospective, single-center study. Virologic failure-free survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analyses. The increase in CD4+ T cells during follow-up was estimated with a generalized linear model incorporating repeated measurements.
RESULTS. Thirty-nine HIV-1–infected children were included and followed for a median period of 227 weeks (interquartile range: 108–275 weeks). The virologic failure-free survival rate was 74%, 66%, 58%, and 54% after 48, 96, 144, and 240 weeks, respectively. Children who experienced virologic failure in 48 weeks (or 96 weeks) were younger at baseline compared with the responders (0.8 vs 5.3 years). Eighteen children remained on the regimen for &gt;5 years. All children, including the nonresponders, showed a sustained immunologic response. Grades 3 to 4 toxicity was observed in 2 patients only. Eleven developed clinically evident lipodystrophy.
CONCLUSION. Combination therapy can be used safely in infants and children over a long period. Young age is strongly associated with virologic failure. Although the virologic response declined, immunologic parameters and clinical improvement were sustained up to 7 years, at the expense of lipodystrophy.
Measurements of the UVR Protection Provided by Hats Used at School
Authors: Gies Peter , Javorniczky John , Roy Colin , Henderson Stuart 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTThe importance of protection against solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in childhood has lead to SunSmart policies at Australian schools, in particular primary schools, where children are encouraged and in many cases required to wear hats at school. Hat styles change regularly and the UVR protection provided by some of the hat types currently used and recommended for sun protection by the various Australian state cancer councils had not been previously evaluated. The UVR protection of the hats was measured using UVR sensitive polysulphone film badges attached to different facial sites on rotating headforms. The sun protection type hats included in this study were broad‐brimmed hats, “bucket hats” and legionnaires hats. Baseball caps, which are very popular, were also included. The broad‐brimmed hats and bucket hats provided the most UVR protection for the six different sites about the face and head. Legionnaires hats also provided satisfactory UVR protection, but the caps did not provide UVR protection to many of the facial sites. The highest measured UVR protection factors for facial sites other than the forehead were 8 to 10, indicating that, while some hats can be effective, they need to be used in combination with other forms of UVR protection.
Improving Goovaerts' and De Vylder's Stable Recursive Algorithm
Authors: Ramsay Colin M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractGoovaerts and de Vylder (1983) provided a stable recursive algorithm for calculating the probability of ultimate ruin. Their algorithm yielded bounds for this probability. It is shown that in practice their method may be inherently unstable because it is based on the subtraction of nearly equal numbers. An alternative to this type of subtraction is provided. It is proved that their algorithm converges only at a linear rate to the true value. It is suggested that this slow rate of convergence be improved via an application of the Richardson extrapolation technique.
Credit Risk and Prepayment Option
Authors: Artzner Philippe , Delbaen Freddy 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe paper examines a type of insurance contract for which secondary markets do exist: default risk insurance is implicit in corporate bonds and other risky debts. It applies risk neutral martingale measure pricing to evaluate the option for a borrower with default risk, to prepay a fixed rate loan. A simple “matchbox” example is presented with a spreadsheet treatment.
Linear Estimation and Credibility in Continuous Time
Authors: Norberg Ragnar 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe theory of linear filtering of stochastic processes provides continuous time analogues of finite-dimensional linear Bayes estimators known to actuaries as credibility methods. In the present paper a selfcontained theory is built for processes of bounded variation, which are of particular relevance to insurance. Two methods for constructing the optimal estimator and its mean squared error are deviced. Explicit solutions are obtained in a continuous time variation of Hachemeister's regression model and in a homogeneous doubly stochastic generalized Poisson process. The traditional discrete time set-up is compared to the one with continuous time, and some merits of the latter are pointed out.
On Allocation of Excess of Loss Premiums
Authors: Sundt Bjørn 
Published: February 2006

AbstractIn the present paper we study the question of how to allocate the reinsurance premium between the sub-portfolios when an excess of loss treaty is to be shared between several sub-portfolios. Several allocation schemes based on the expected value principle and the standard deviation principle are suggested. The calculations are relatively simple with unlimited free reinstatements. However, with limited and/or paid reinstatements the situation becomes rather tricky, and we therefore suggest a simulation scheme.
A Simulation Procedure for Comparing Different Claims Reserving Methods
Authors: Pentikäinen Teivo , Rantala Jukka 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe estimation of outstanding claims is one of the important aspects in the management of the insurance business. Various methods have been widely dealt with in the actuarial literature. Exploration of the inaccuracies involved is traditionally based on a post-facto comparison of the estimates against the actual outcomes of the settled claims. However, until recent years it has not been usual to consider the inaccuracies inherent in claims reserving in the context of more comprehensive (risk theoretical) models, the purpose of which is to analyse the insurer as a whole. Important parts of the technique which will be outlined in this paper can be incorporated into over-all risk theory models to introduce the uncertainty involved with technical reserves as one of the components in solvency and other analyses (Pentikäinen et al. (1989)).The idea in this paper is to describe a procedure by which one can explore how various reserving methods react to fictitious variations, fluctuations, trends, etc. which might influence the claims process, and, what is most important, how they reflect on the variables indicating the financial position of the insurer. For this purpose, a claims process is first postulated and claims are simulated and ordered to correspond to an actual handling of the observed claims of a fictitious insurer. Next, the simulation program will ‘mime’ an actuary who is calculating the claims reserve on the basis of these ‘observed’ claims data. Finally, the simulation is further continued thus generating the settlement of the reserved claims. The difference between reserved amounts and settled amounts gives the reserving (run-off) error in this particular simulated case. By repeating the simulation numerous times (Monte Carlo method) the distribution of the error can be estimated as well as its effect on the total outcome of the insurer.
On the Convergence Rate of Bonus-Malus Systems
Authors: Bonsdorff Heikki 
Published: February 2006

AbstractUnder certain conditions, a Bonus-Malus system can be interpreted as a Markov chain whose n-step transition probabilities converge to a limit probability distribution. In this paper, the rate of the convergence is studied by means of the eigenvalues of the transition probability matrix of the Markov chain.
Approximations of Ruin Probability by Di-Atomic or Di-Exponential Claims
Authors: Babier Joshua , Chan Beda 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe sensitivity of the ruin probability depending on the claim size distribution has been the topic of several discussion papers in recent ASTIN Bulletins. This discussion was initiated by a question raised by Schmitter at the ASTIN Colloquium 1990 and attempts to make further contributions to this problem. We find the necessary and sufficient conditions for fitting three given moments by diatomic and diexponential distributions. We consider three examples drawn from fire (large spread), individual life (medium spread) and group life (small spread) insurance data, fit them with diatomics and diexponentials whenever the necessary and sufficient conditions are met, and compute the ruin probabilities using well known formulas for discrete and for combination of exponentials claim amounts. We then compare our approximations with the exact values that appeared in the literature. Finally we propose using diatomic and diexponential claim distributions as tools to study the Schmitter problem.
Premium Calculation Without Arbitrage Author's Reply on the Note by P. Albrecht
Authors: Venter G. 
Published: February 2006

Albrecht's interesting discussion raises two major points: is an arbitrage free insurance market a reasonable assumption, and are adjusted distribution principles appropriate?I had assumed an arbitrage free insurance market without really discussing reasons in support of it. Certainly there have been arbitrage profits made through reinsurance, possibly, for example, by selling excess on excess at rates based on regular excess policies, and perhaps in the London Market Excess arena. But even if arbitrage occurs frequently, I feel that an arbitrage free market is still a reasonable assumption for theoretical developments, if we take it to mean that systematic ongoing arbitrage is not possible. Although some arbitrage situations have probably lasted a few years, all I am aware of eventually have disappeared as they became better known. Either entrepreneurs try to outbid each other to take advantage of them, or the sellers lose their willingness to play. A list of insurers that are regularly making arbitrage profits would be an interesting refutation of this assumption.Albrecht gives some examples of the well known and quite true proposition that larger portfolios are more stable. Large insurers can maintain the same security level at a lower price. Our risk theory training leads actuaries to believe that the smaller needed security premium for large insurers will induce them to charge lower prices. This is not necessarily true in the market, however. Larger insurers may in fact charge the market price and make more profits, for example. Also, it would be fairly surprising if small insurers actually do get away with charging more for the same risks. If they do, they should buy prorata reinsurance heavily from the large insurers at the large insurers' risk price and pocket the difference. There are of course transaction costs to buying prorata reinsurance; those may in fact be the limit of what the smaller insurers can demand as the supposed bonus price they get from the market for being small.
A Very Simple Synthesis of Chloroalkenes and Chlorodienes by Selective Suzuki Couplings of 1,1‐ and 1,2‐Dichloroethylene
Authors: Barluenga José , Moriel Patricia , Aznar Fernando , Valdés Carlos 
Published: February 2006

AbstractChloroalkenes, important building blocks for cross‐coupling reactions, are prepared in one step by the Suzuki reaction of 1,1‐dichloroethylene and 1,2‐dichloroethylene with alkenyl‐ and arylboronic acids. Under the proper reaction conditions, it is possible to obtain the monocoupling reaction to provide the corresponding chloroalkenes with good yields. This method represents an excellent route for the preparation of chloroalkenes and chlorodienes from commercially available starting materials.
Highly Enantioselective Copper‐Phosphoramidite‐Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Dialkylzinc Reagents to Acyclic α,β‐Unsaturated Imides
Authors: Pineschi Mauro , Del Moro Federica , Di Bussolo Valeria , Macchia Franco 
Published: February 2006

AbstractA new and practical way to introduce an alkyl fragment in the β‐position of aliphatic carboxylic acid derivatives with high enantioselectivities by the use of a commercially available chiral ligand is reported. N‐Acylpyrrolidinones, as simple derivatives of an α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acid, were found to be the substrates of choice featuring good reactivity and high enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).
A Chemoselective Hydrogenation of the Olefinic Bond of α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds in Aqueous Medium under Microwave Irradiation
Authors: Sharma Anuj , Kumar Vinod , Sinha Arun K. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractA microwave‐assisted mild and ecofriendly catalytic transfer hydrogenation process was developed to reduce various α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds into the corresponding saturated carbonyl compounds in the presence of silica‐supported palladium chloride as catalyst and a combination of MeOH/HCOOH/H2O (1 : 2 : 3) as hydrogen source within 22–55 minutes in moderate to excellent yields with 100% chemoselectivity.
An Efficient Approach to Chiral Ferrocene‐Based Secondary Alcohols via Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Ferrocenyl Ketones
Authors: Lam Wing‐Sze , Kok Stanton H. L. , Au‐Yeung Terry T.‐L. , Wu Jing , Cheung Hong‐Yee , Lam Fuk‐Loi , Yeung Chi‐Hung , Chan Albert S. C. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractP‐Phos‐ruthenium‐DPEN precatalysts have been found to be efficient for the asymmetric hydrogenation of various ferrocenyl ketones. The use of (R)‐xylyl‐P‐PhosRuCl2(R,R)‐DPEN generated chiral ferrocenylethanol in 99.3% e.e. with >99% conversion in a 150‐g scale.
Water gas shift activity of noble metals supported on ceria‐zirconia oxides
Authors: Radhakrishnan Rakesh , Willigan R. R. , Dardas Z. , Vanderspurt T. H. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractFuel processing systems that are used in conjunction with polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells require high activity water gas shift (WGS) catalysts that remove carbon monoxide, a poison for membranes in the fuel cell stacks. WGS activity of various noble metals supported on cubic, nanocrystalline, high surface area, large pore ceria‐zirconia was measured at a space velocity of 312,000 hr−1, under two feed gas compositions that simulated the high temperature shift (HTS) and the low temperature shift (LTS) conditions found in a typical fuel processing system. The (HTS) feed composition was 4.9% CO, 10.5% CO2, 33% H2O, 30.3% H2; and the low temperature gas composition (LTS) was 1.5% CO, 5% CO2, 45% H2O, 25% H2, with the balance of the stream being N2 in both cases. The activity trend under both feed gases over a broad range of temperatures (200°C‐320°C) was Pt > Rh > Ru ∼ Pd > Ir > Au. This trend did not agree with those previously reported in literature or with CO uptake data for these samples. We hypothesize that this reflects the dominance of different reaction mechanisms under different gas compositions and temperatures. The discrepancy in the activities observed in this study and those reported in literature might also be attributed to differences in the synthesis techniques of the oxide supports and metal loading. Our study also found that the turnover rate (TOR) for the Pt catalyst was maximized in the range between 1‐2 wt% loading under both HTS and LTS conditions. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Distribution and density of Callimico goeldii in the Department of Pando, Bolivia
Authors: Porter Leila M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractA survey of the distribution and density of Callimico goeldii was conducted at five sites across northwestern Bolivia, in the Department of Pando. C. goeldii was found at two sites north of the Manuripi River, with high densities at one site located along the Acre River. Estimates of habitat availability at these sites suggest that C. goeldii reaches high densities in areas with low human density and well established and extensive bamboo forests. These results, when reviewed with those of prior studies, indicate that the patchy distribution of C. goeldii in Pando is a result of both riverine barriers and the availability of bamboo habitat. Am. J. Primatol. 68:235–243, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Remarkable similarity in body mass of a secondary hyperparasitoid Lysibia nana and its primary parasitoid host Cotesia glomerata emerging from cocoons of comparable size
Authors: Harvey Jeffrey A. , Vet Louise E.M. , Witjes Leontien M.A. , Bezemer T. Martijn 
Published: February 2006

AbstractLysibia nana is a solitary, secondary idiobiont hyperparasitoid that attacks newly cocooned pre‐pupae and pupae of several closely related gregarious endoparasitoids in the genus Cotesia, including C. glomerata. Prior to oviposition, the female wasp injects paralysing venom into the host, thus preventing further development. Here, host fate, emerging hyperparasitoid mass, and egg‐to‐adult development time was compared in hosts parasitized at different ages over 24‐h intervals. Cocoons of C. glomerata were parasitized by L. nana at 12, 36, 60, 84, and 108 h post‐egression from the secondary host, Pieris brassicae. Hyperparasitoid survival exceeded 80% in hosts parasitized within the first 60 h after pupation, but dropped thereafter, with no hyperparasitoids emerging in hosts aged 108 h. The mass of hyperparasitoids was positively correlated with the mass of the host cocoon, and this relationship remained consistent in hosts up to 60 h old. Within each host age cohort, the mass of male and female wasps was not significantly different. Development time in L. nana was uniform in hosts up to 60 h old, but increased significantly in 84‐h‐old hosts, and male wasps completed their development earlier than female wasps. Regulation of host growth varied with the age of the host at parasitism, with the early growth of older hosts reduced much more dramatically than young hosts. Unlike most parasitoids, pupal hyperparasitoids do not make cocoons but instead pupate within the already prepared cocoon of the host parasitoid. Consequently, for a given mass of cocoon, newly emerged L. nana adults were remarkably similar in size with male and female adults of C. glomerata. This reveals that L. nana is extremely efficient at exploiting its primary parasitoid host. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 61:170–183, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Microplitis demolitor bracovirus inhibits phagocytosis by hemocytes from Pseudoplusia includens
Authors: Strand Michael R. , Beck Markus H. , Lavine Mark D. , Clark Kevin D. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe braconid wasp Microplitis demolitor carries Microplitis demolitor bracovirus (MdBV) and parasitizes the larval stage of several noctuid moths. A key function of MdBV in parasitism is suppression of the host's cellular immune response. Prior studies in the host Pseudoplusia includens indicated that MdBV blocks encapsulation by preventing two types of hemocytes, plasmatocytes and granulocytes, from adhering to foreign targets. The other main immune response mediated by insect hemocytes is phagocytosis. The goal of this study was to determine which hemocyte types were phagocytic in P. includens and to assess whether MdBV infection affects this defense response. Using the bacterium Escherichia coli and inert polystyrene beads as targets, our results indicated that the professional phagocyte in P. includens is granulocytes. The phagocytic responses of granulocytes were very similar to those of High Five cells that prior studies have suggested are a granulocyte‐like cell line. MdBV infection dose‐dependently disrupted phagocytosis in both cell types by inhibiting adhesion of targets to the cell surface. The MdBV glc1.8 gene encodes a cell surface glycoprotein that had previously been implicated in disruption of adhesion and encapsulation responses by immune cells. Knockdown of glc1.8 expression by RNA interference (RNAi) during the current study rescued the ability of MdBV‐infected High Five cells to phagocytize targets. Collectively, these results indicate that glc1.8 is a key virulence determinant in disruption of both adhesion and phagocytosis by insect immune cells. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 61:134–145, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.