bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of β2‐adrenoceptor polymorphisms on the response to chronic use of albuterol in asthmatic children
Authors: Giubergia Verónica , Gravina Luis Pablo , Castaños Claudio , Chertkoff Lilien , Grenoville Mario 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackgroundSeveral studies have suggested that after regular use of short acting β2‐agonists the bronchodilator effect of the drug may decline and this condition would be related to polymorphisms of the β2‐adrenergic receptor (β2‐AR).ObjectiveTo assess the frequency of β2‐AR polymorphisms in asthmatic children from Argentina, and to evaluate their influence on bronchodilator desensitization to albuterol over a 4‐week treatment.Methodsβ2‐AR genotypes were determined in 117 children with asthma and 101 of them were under 4 weeks treatment with albuterol. Spirometric changes in FEV1 were recorded at the beginning (day 1) and at the end of the study (day 30) and compared to genotypes at position 16 and 27 of the receptor. The frequency of the polymorphisms was calculated in all population.ResultsThe presence of glutamine at position 27 (Gln27) was significantly more frequent in this Argentinean study population than in other Caucasian populations. The homozygosity for Gln27 polymorphism was associated to a desensitization of the receptor with a decline in the bronchodilator response to albuterol after chronic use.ConclusionGln27 polymorphism might be a marker for adverse clinical outcomes with chronic β2‐agonist exposure in children with asthma from Argentina. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:421–425. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Establishment of a web‐based registry for rare (orphan) pediatric lung diseases in the United Kingdom: The BPOLD registry
Authors: Laverty A. , Jaffé A. , Cunningham S. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackgroundChildren with orphan lung diseases (defined as a prevalence of <1 in 2000) receive suboptimal care due to a lack of understanding of pathophysiology and management.Aim:To develop a low cost, multidisease, web‐based registry for children with rare lung diseases.MethodsThe British Pediatric Orphan Lung Disease (BPOLD) electronic registry was established to provide a web‐based method for recording monthly incidence data on nine rare pediatric respiratory diseases (www.bpold.co.uk). An email reporting system was developed which required clinicians to input a username and password to respond following a monthly email reminder. The initial reporting rate was poor despite many registrants. The method for reporting was subsequently streamlined enabling reporting to be done via email by a single mouse‐click. A follow‐up email, with consent forms as attachments, was automatically sent to positive respondents, with negative responses recorded directly to the database. Non‐responders receive a reminder email after 2 weeks.ResultsInitially 101 respiratory clinicians registered via the BPOLD site, responding 162 times over 17 months. In the 12 months following redevelopment (total 12 monthly group emails) 143 of 222 BPRS members (64%) have provided 1,001 responses. Forty‐eight clinicians (34% of responders) have responded to 10–12 group emails, with the next highest total being those responding to one only. One hundred fifty‐eight cases of orphan lung disease have been identified.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated the successful establishment of a low cost, web‐based registry for children with rare lung diseases. There is an urgent need for European and International collaboration with the establishment of electronic registries for children with rare diseases, if the inequities of health care are to be addressed. A web‐based approach, similar to the one we have developed, will enable this. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:451–456. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diagnosing asthma in children: What is the role for methacholine bronchoprovocation testing?
Authors: Liem Joel J. , Kozyrskyj Anita L. , Cockroft Donald W. , Becker Allan B. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether measurement of airways responsiveness to methacholine can help physicians diagnose asthma in children.MethodsChildren from the 1995 Manitoba birth cohort were assessed by asthma specialists, had skin testing and measurement of airways responsiveness to methacholine (PC20). We selected children with doctor‐diagnosed asthma and healthy children as controls (no asthma, no allergic rhinitis, negative skin tests). Sensitivities and specificities for asthma were calculated. Receiver operating curves were calculated to determine the best fit of the methacholine challenge as a diagnostic test.Results640 children were assessed. Two hundred fifteen children with doctor diagnosed asthma and 197 healthy controls successfully completed a methacholine challenge. Airways hyperresponsiveness was a moderately sensitive and specific measure for the diagnosis of asthma in girls, whether atopic (sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 69% at PC20 ≤ 4.0 mg/ml) or not (sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 53% at PC20 ≤8.0 mg/ml). Airways hyperresponsiveness was also helpful for the diagnosis of asthma in atopic boys (sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 75% at PC20 ≤2.0 mg/ml), but of absolutely no help in the diagnosis of asthma in nonatopic boys.ConclusionMeasurement of airways hyperresponsiveness to methacholine can be useful in children who are atopic and of some value in nonatopic girls. The presence or absence of airways hyperresponsiveness to methacholine is of no help for the diagnosis of asthma in nonatopic boys. Laboratory tests must be placed in context of the clinical assessment of children for asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:481–489. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Workplace safety climate assessment based on behaviors and measurable indicators
Authors: Yu Ming , Sun Linyan , Egri Carolyn 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPrevious conceptualizations of safety climate present snapshots of the state of workplace safety. In reality, the factors of workplace safety climate are complex and need to be analyzed using a systemic approach. In this article, we expand on the customary concept of safety climate, and propose a systemic research framework that integrates four study fields: engineering, ergonomics, operation management, and technology management. In this framework, we define micro and macro safety climate concepts based on the study object and organizational hierarchy.Our model focuses on two safety climate dimensions: behaviors and measurable indicators. First, we propose that the safety process consists of four basic behaviors: perceive, decide, communicate, and act (PDCA). These PDCA behaviors constitute a safety climate sociotechnical system involving the three roles of operator, supervisor, and manager. We then present 12 measurable indicators of PDCA behaviors for each safety climate research field to advance the systematic assessment of both qualitative and quantitative facets of safety climate. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2008
Microstructure and electrical properties of (1–x)(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3–x BiFeO3 piezoelectric ceramics
Authors: Li Xiang , Wu Lang , Xiao Dingquan , Zhu Jianguo , Yu Ping , Jiang Yihang , Wu Jiagang 
Published: March 2008

AbstractLead–free ceramics (1–x)(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3–x BiFeO3 doped with 1 mol% Fe2O3 (KNNBF/x) have been synthesized by pressureless sintering. With the Fe2O3 doping, the KNNBF/x ceramics can be well sintered at 1085–1100 °C and exhibit a pure perovskite structure with x < 0.013. It was found that the crystal structure of the KNNBF/x ceramics changed from orthorhombic to tetragonal and then to pseudocubic phase with the increase of BiFeO3 content. The composition KNNBF/0.013 near the tetragonal symmetry that separates the orthorhombic and pseudocubic phases exhibits improved electrical properties: d33 = 173 pC/N, kp = 0.40, εr = 905, tan δ = 4%, Pr = 26 μC/cm2, and Ec = 11.2 kV/cm, with a high Curie temperature (TC) of about 388 °C. Our results suggest that KNNBF/x are promising lead‐free high temperature piezoelectric ceramics. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Determination of in‐plane thermal conductivity of Nax Co2O4 single crystals via a parallel thermal conductance (PTC) technique
Authors: Tang Xiaofeng , Aaron Kelvin , He Jian , Tritt Terry M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA novel parallel thermal conductance (“PTC”) system was specifically developed to conduct the steady state thermal conductivity measurement on small size samples such as single crystals of Nax Co2O4 as reported here. The accuracy and reproducibility of the PTC system has been confirmed by measuring several standard reference materials. The in‐plane thermal conductivity κ of Nax Co2O4 single crystals grown by a NaCl flux method was measured from 10 K to 300 K and κ was found to be ∼5 W m–1 K–1 at 300 K. The phonon mean free path (MFP) is estimated to be lph ∼ 9 Å at 300 K, which is comparable to the lattice constant but much smaller than the reported MFP of conducting carriers. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Quantum‐size effect and intersubband transitions in zinc blend AlxGa1–xN quantum cubes embedded in AlN matrix
Authors: Feng Shih‐Wei , Chen Kuei‐Hsien , Lai Chih‐Ming 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn this work, we study the quantum‐size effect and intersubband (ISB) transitions in Zinc Blende (ZB) quantum structures by using a series expansion model to calculate the band structures of AlxGa1–xN quantum cubes. Without the quantum confined Stark (QCSE) effect, the quantum size effect and size‐tunable emission properties of ZB AlxGa1–xN quantum cubes can be really explored. Simulations results show the important factors of the composition, cluster size, quantum confined potential, effective mass, and strain in determining the optical properties of ZB AlxGa1–xN quantum cubes. For those quantum cubes with larger sizes and composition contrasts, ISB transitions in the conduction band are suitable to develop devices operating in the telecommunication windows. In addition, AlxGa1–xN quantum cubes can take their advantages of size‐tunable emission properties, ISB transitions, and ISB absorptions in devices such as LEDs, Lasers, telecommunication devices, and photo detectors. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Correlation between the violet luminescence intensity and defect density in AlN epilayers grown by ammonia‐source molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Hoshi Takuya , Koyama Takahiro , Sugawara Mariko , Uedono Akira , Kaeding John F. , Sharma Rajat , Nakamura Shuji , Chichibu Shigefusa F. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIntensity ratios of deep cathodoluminescence (CL) bands at 4.6, 3.8 and 3.1 eV to the near‐band‐edge emission of AlN epilayers grown by NH3‐source molecular beam epitaxy were correlated with the change in S parameter of positron annihilation measurement, which represents the concentration or size of Al vacancies (VAl). The origins of the deep emission bands were assigned to donor‐acceptor pairs associated with VAl and/or VAl‐defect complexes. The VAl concentration was decreased by adjusting the flux ratio of NH3 to Al and growth temperature, resulting in observation of fine excitonic features in the CL spectra. From the energy separation between the ground and first excited states, the binding energy of free A ‐exciton was estimated to be 48 meV. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Robotic‐assisted gynaecological surgery—establishing training criteria; minimizing operative time and blood loss
Authors: Pitter Michael C. , Anderson Patrick , Blissett Amelia , Pemberton Nicola 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackgroundThe objective was an evaluation of operative time and estimated blood loss (EBL) as a function of experience in gynaecological robotic surgery.MethodA retrospective analysis of 40 consecutive cases (approximately one case/week) over a 1 year period using the da Vinci® robotic system was performed, using data from two institutions, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center. Information was obtained from a single surgeon. Among the 40 cases there were 17 hysterectomies and 23 myomectomies. Each patient met the criteria of benign disease. In each institution, a da Vinci® system using three instrument arms and a camera arm was employed for every operation.ResultsTests of differences in means were performed to compare the two groups. In group I (cases 1–20) the mean uterine volume was 863.0 cc and was similar to Group II (cases 21–40) at 632.6 cc. There was no significant difference between the groups when comparing blood loss; means were 86 cc for group I and 62.5 cc for group II. Operative time between groups, however, showed a significant difference (mean of 211.8 min for group 1 compared to 151 min for group 2; p < 0.05) and console time demonstrated a similar trend (mean for group 1 was 159.8 min compared to 90.8 min for group 2; p < 0.05). There were no conversions to laparotomy. Body mass index (BMI) and prior abdominal surgery were not significantly different. Multivariate regressions on operative time and EBL were performed, controlling for uterine weight and volume. The effect of experience on operative time was significant and negative; the coefficient on EBL was not significant.ConclusionThis study demonstrates statistical improvement in operative time after the first 20 cases for a single surgeon. This information could be used to establish criteria for training surgeons. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heteroepitaxial growth of cubic SiC on Si using very‐high‐frequency plasma at atmospheric pressure
Authors: Kakiuchi Hiroaki , Ohmi Hiromasa , Aketa Masatoshi , Nakamura Ryota , Yasutake Kiyoshi 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe heteroepitaxial growth of cubic silicon carbide (3C‐SiC) on Si(001) at a substrate temperature of 800 °C was investigated using atmospheric‐pressure plasma excited by very‐high‐frequency (VHF) power. The carbonization process of the Si surface was first studied using plasma of He, H2 and CH4 mixtures to suppress the undesired influences of the large lattice mismatch between Si and 3C‐SiC. A (001)‐oriented 3C‐SiC layer, with thickness of approximately 3 nm and a root mean square roughness of 0.23 nm, was formed by supplying the optimum VHF power for a H2 concentration of 10% (H2/CH4 ratio of 40). Following the carbonization process, 3C‐SiC films were deposited from a CH3SiH3 single source or CH4 and SiH4 dual sources by varying the atomic concentration ratio (C/Si). The crystal quality of the deposited films was characterized using infrared absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and selected‐area electron diffraction. The results showed that increasing the C/Si ratio was essential to improve both the deposition rate and the crystal quality. The 3C‐SiC film deposited at C/Si = 10 exhibited the (001) 3C‐SiC growth epitaxially aligned to the Si matrix, although it included a high density of planar defects originating from twinned 3C‐SiC. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of propensity scores using generalized additive models
Authors: Woo Mi‐Ja , Reiter Jerome P. , Karr Alan F. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPropensity score matching is often used in observational studies to create treatment and control groups with similar distributions of observed covariates. Typically, propensity scores are estimated using logistic regressions that assume linearity between the logistic link and the predictors. We evaluate the use of generalized additive models (GAMs) for estimating propensity scores. We compare logistic regressions and GAMs in terms of balancing covariates using simulation studies with artificial and genuine data. We find that, when the distributions of covariates in the treatment and control groups overlap sufficiently, using GAMs can improve overall covariate balance, especially for higher‐order moments of distributions. When the distributions in the two groups overlap insufficiently, GAM more clearly reveals this fact than logistic regression does. We also demonstrate via simulation that matching with GAMs can result in larger reductions in bias when estimating treatment effects than matching with logistic regression. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preliminary data on the yellow ochers at the mine of Via Tirapelle in Verona (Italy)
Authors: Cavallo G. , Zorzin R. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe mine of Via Tirapelle in Verona is a paleokarst cave filled with insoluble material coming from the dissolution of the carbonatic formation; the size distribution generally belongs to the class of lime and clay.No more information is available on these natural earths.The analysis carried out in the past on these materials refer that the pigment was limonite.X‐ray diffraction powder (XRD) analysis allows to refer that the yellow ocher is only the orthorhombic goethite. Goethite is locally associated with calcite, quartz and dolomite. Ankerite was found as a constituent of two samples deriving from the replacement of Fe inside the dolomite. X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of major elements shows that the contents of Fe are related to goethite and ankerite, and to the poorly crystalline phases.Inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP‐ES) analysis of trace elements Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn shows a linear correlation between Fe2O3 and Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
XANES study on novel mixed valent A2U4O12(A = K, Rb or Tl) uranates
Authors: Misra Nand Lal , Lahiri Debdutta , Singh Mudher Khush Dev , Olivi Luca , Sharma Surinder M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAlkali metal (Na, K, Rb, and Cs) uranates are likely to form in operating or transient reactor conditions by interaction of coolant/fission products with uranium oxide fuel. The valency of uranium in uranates formed in reactor operating conditions plays an important role in migration of fission products as well as in uranium diffusion in the fuel and thus determines fuel behavior during reactor operation. X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements on uranates K2U4O12, Rb2U4O12, and Tl2U4O12 have been made to determine the valency of uranium in these compounds. XANES analysis reveals that uranium is present in mixed valence state in these compounds, as U(V) and U(VI). The ratio of uranium (V) to (VI) states (determined from XANES analysis), in all the compounds, does not conform to 1:1 as required by their chemical formula. The reason for this mismatch may be the instability of U(V) state during sample preparation in these compounds as well as reference compounds. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The complementary use of PIXE‐α and XRD non‐destructive portable systems for the quantitative analysis of painted surfaces
Authors: Pappalardo L. , Pappalardo G. , Amorini F. , Branciforti M. G. , Romano F. P. , de Sanoit J. , Rizzo F. , Scafiri E. , Taormina A. , Gatto Rotondo G. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThis work presents the results of a non‐destructive analysis carried out using the portable PIXE‐α (particle‐induced x‐ray emission) system developed in collaboration by the INFN/LANDIS (Catania, Italy), the CNR/IBAM (Catania, Italy) and the CEA/LIST (Saclay, France), and the portable XRD (x‐ray diffraction) diffractometer recently upgraded at the INFN/LANDIS.It is shown that using a combination of the two techniques, quantitative analysis is possible in some cases. The results of its application to Roman fresco fragments obtained from different archaeological sites in Catania (Italy) are presented. These results make it possible to identify the quantitative presence of various pigments: coloured earths, ochre, hematite, goethite, cinnabar, and Egyptian blue have been identified and quantified. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
X‐ray fluorescence analysis of lead in tin coating using the theoretical intensity of scattered x‐rays
Authors: Ochi H. , Watanabe S. , Nakamura H. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractQuantitative analysis of lead in tin‐plated electronic components is reported. The fundamental parameter method is used, by using bulk solders as the standard sample. The scattered x‐ray monitor method is additionally used to obtain the measured intensity ratio of fluorescent and scattered x‐rays to correct the results. This is necessary because the electronic components analyzed do not have a large and smooth surface suitable for quantitative analysis. An analytical result of 6.0 µm film thickness and 1430 ppm lead concentration is obtained for a 5.4 µm thickness and 1388 ppm concentration sample using the scattered x‐ray monitor method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Potential for Essential Trauma Care to Empower Communities and Tackle Inequities
Authors: Nakahara Shinji , Ichikawa Masao , Kimura Akio , Yoshida Katsumi 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn an attempt to address rapidly increasing injuries in low‐income and middle‐income countries (LMICs), the Essential Trauma Care Project was started with the goal of standardizing trauma care systems. This project, although part of “vertical” essential health services, has the potential to strengthen the health care system as a whole and to empower communities. Improved diagnosis, triage, referral, communication, and transport benefit the integrated health care systems weakened by vertical approaches. This project mobilizes existing resources, including lay people, to establish a “local model of prehospital care,” which can raise community capability and foster trust in health systems. This article describes how this project can be an intersection between vertical and horizontal approaches.
Staff Competence in Dealing with Traditional Approaches
Authors: Kastrup M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractHealth care and health care systems should be seen and understood in their socio-cultural context. Modern urbanized societies are likely to exhibit health care pluralism, and different therapeutic approaches are available side-by-side. The various models may take their origin in different cultural traditions, but in most societies one type of care is at a given time considered “above” the others. However health care activities in all societies show a degree of interrelation, reflecting societal changes in which normative practices, value systems and structures change over time. In the current Western health systems evidence-based biomedical care is the prevailing system taught to all professionals.The present paper outlines the prevailing health paradigms, and the advantages and shortcomings of the various approaches and their relation to modern care will be discussed. With increased multicultural backgrounds of patients there is a need for mental health professionals to recognize the existence of traditional approaches and be aware of the parallel systems of care. Competent treatment of such patients requires that mental health professionals are aware of this and exhibit a willingness and ability to bridge between the more traditional and the Western approaches to treatment. The delineations and various aspects of the concept cultural competence and its dimensions will be discussed from a clinical perspective.Comparative studies of the various Western and the traditional approaches respectively will be reviewed.