bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Length of Stay in Rehabilitation is Associated with Admission Neurologic Deficit and Discharge Destination
Authors: Elwood Douglas , Rashbaum Ira , Bonder Jaclyn , Pantel Austin , Berliner Jeffrey , Yoon Steve , Purvin Mike , Ben‐Roohi Moshe , Bansal Amit 
Published: February 2009

ObjectiveThis study explores the link between neurologic deficit as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and its relationship to length of stay (LOS) and discharge destination.DesignA retrospective chart review was completed of 54 patients admitted for rehabilitation after experiencing a cerebrovascular accident.SettingThe study was completed in an acute inpatient rehabilitation stroke unit in a large urban tertiary care medical center.ParticipantsPatients were included in this analysis if their record contained an NIHSS score on both admission and discharge, if they had neuroimaging documentation of an acute hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke, and if they were not transferred away from the rehabilitation unit during their stay. Of 54 cases reviewed, 47 were ultimately included.Main Outcome MeasurementsIndependent variables included were NIHSS admission and discharge scores, change in score from admission to discharge, discharge destination, age, gender, type of stroke, and use of tissue plasminogen activator. These were examined against the dependent variable, LOS.ResultsGreater admission NIHSS scores predicted longer hospital stays. Mean admission and discharge scores were significantly greater for patients discharged to subacute facilities, and LOS was also longer for these patients compared with those discharged to the community. Surprisingly, age was inversely related to LOS, admission score, and discharge score.ConclusionStroke remains one of the most common reasons for admission to acute care hospitals. The authors know of no studies that have examined the rehabilitation aspect of care incorporating the NIHSS in this manner. This study draws a connection between neurologic impairment by using the NIHSS and LOS and discharge destination in an acute inpatient rehabilitation stroke unit. In the future, multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams may consider using this measure to predict LOS and disposition at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
Seasonality change and the third millennium BP rainforest crisis in southern Cameroon (Central Africa)
Authors: Ngomanda Alfred , Neumann Katharina , Schweizer Astrid , Maley Jean 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe third millennium BP crisis of the central African rainforest is not sufficiently understood. The low resolution of most pollen profiles and a large plateau of the calibration curve aggravate the exact dating of the event, and its causal climatic parameters are debated. We present a high-resolution pollen profile from the swamp site Nyabessan in the southern Cameroonian rainforest, covering the period 3100-2300 cal yr BP. Between 3100 and 2500 cal yr BP, the climate was favourable for a regional evergreen forest with Caesalpiniaceae andLophiraand a localRaphiaswamp forest. Around 2500/2400 cal yr BP, a significant decrease of mature forest and swamp forest taxa and an increase of pioneers indicate that the rain forest was seriously disturbed and replaced by secondary formations. The dominance ofTrema orientalis, a pioneer well adapted to seasonal desiccation, points to a much more accentuated seasonality after 2500 cal yr BP, which seems to be linked to a southwards shift of the ITCZ during the northern hemisphere winter months. We propose that the rain forest crisis between 2500 and 2200 cal BP created favourable conditions for farming and paved the way for a major expansion of Bantu speaking populations.
Cholesteatoma behind an intact tympanic membrane in adult life: congenital or acquired?
Authors: Mills R 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground:Congenital cholesteatoma occurring behind the tympanic membrane is typically located in the anterior middle ear.Objective:To investigate the location, clinical features and treatment of cholesteatomas located behind an intact tympanic membrane in adults.Methods:Review of a series of 265 consecutive, new, adult cases of previously untreated cholesteatoma seen by the author over a 22-year period.Results:Seventeen (6 per cent) cases were located behind an intact tympanic membrane without any evidence of a retraction pocket of the attic or pars tensa. Ten (59 per cent) of these patients had undergone previous ear surgery and therefore the disease could reasonably be considered to be iatrogenic. The most common presentation was conductive deafness with no other symptoms (71 per cent). In all of the cases, the disease was located in the posterior half of the middle-ear space. The most common surgical management was simple excision of the disease via a tympanotomy. Two cases (12 per cent) developed residual disease.Conclusion:The majority of the cases in this series were likely to be acquired cholesteatomas. This type of disease often presents with conductive hearing loss alone.
Relative diagnostic importance of electronystagmography and magnetic resonance imaging in vestibular disorders
Authors: Korres S , Riga M , Papacharalampous G , Chimona T , Danielidis V , Korres G , Xenellis J 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjective:The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of electronystagmography and magnetic resonance imaging to the aetiological diagnosis of vertigo and unsteadiness, in a population in which the history and clinical examination provide no conclusive diagnosis of the origin of the dysfunction (i.e. peripheral or central).Patients and methods:This retrospective study included 102 patients, who underwent full ENT clinical evaluation, history and neurotological assessment (including pure tone audiography, auditory brainstem response testing, electronystagmography and magnetic resonance imaging).Results:Electronystagmography contributed to establishment of a diagnosis in 53/102 patients (52 per cent), whereas magnetic resonance imaging did the same in four of 102 patients (3.9 per cent).Conclusion:Electronystagmography remains the most useful examination for aetiological diagnosis of patients with vertigo and unsteadiness, since the actual number of patients with vertigo and unsteadiness of central origin is small (3.9 per cent), even in a population in which history and clinical examination may indicate an increased probability of central nervous system dysfunction.
God exists at every (modal realist) world: response to Sheehy
Authors: CAMERON ROSS P. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractPaul Sheehy has argued that the modal realist cannot satisfactorily allow for the necessity of God's existence. In this short paper I show that she can, and that Sheehy only sees a problem because he has failed to appreciate all the resources available to the modal realist. God may be an abstract existent outside spacetime or He may not be: but either way, there is no problem for the modal realist to admit that He exists at every concrete possible world.
The Rhetoric of Fragmentation: Fear and Faith in International Law
Authors: MARTINEAU ANNE-CHARLOTTE 
Published: February 2009

AbstractOver the last decade international lawyers have been increasingly concerned with the ‘fragmentation’ of international law. However, given that this expression has been repeatedly used by the profession since the mid-nineteenth century to depict the state of international law, one may wonder about its recent revival in the international legal discourse. Why has it re-emerged? What can we learn from previous invocations? An answer may be sought by contextualizing the fragmentation debate in a historical perspective. This brings out the repetitive and relatively stylized modes in which the profession has narrated legal developments. This essay suggests a correlation between periods of crisis in general and a critical view of fragmentation on the one hand, and periods of scholarly enthusiasm and the prevalence of positive views about fragmentation on the other. This analysis sheds critical light on both the implicit assumptions and political implications of the current debate on fragmentation.
International Law and the Objectivity of Value
Authors: VOYIAKIS EMMANUEL 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe familiar critical claim that propositions of international law cannot be both objective and normative casts a long shadow over international legal theory. The claim relies on the conjunction of two ideas: first, that the truth-conditions of any proposition of international law will include some element of evaluative judgement (about the right or the good) that gives the proposition its normative character, and, second, that evaluative judgements cannot be objectively true or false. International lawyers have two main strategies for defending their discipline against this sceptical challenge. A more modest strategy would accept that legal objectivity and normativity are incompatible and attempt to sidestep the sceptical critique by abandoning the claim to normativity. A second and more ambitious strategy would resist the sceptical challenge by disputing the plausibility of its attack on the objectivity of evaluative judgements. This strategy would rely on the claim that objectivity and normativity are not mutually incompatible and that the aim of producing an account of international law that displays both features is realistic. My aim in this paper is to show that there exists at least one version of this second strategy that can succeed against the sceptical challenge. I argue that scepticism about values is incoherent and, therefore, that the opposition between the objectivity and the normativity of international law is illusory. Setting such scepticism aside will allow international lawyers to concentrate fully on the substantive normative questions that drive theories of international law and on the values that provide the best account of its content.
US Supreme Court, Medellín v. Texas: More than an Assiduous Building Inspector?
Authors: GAMBLE JOHN KING , GIULIANO CHRISTINE M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe US Supreme Court case of José Ernesto Medellín, Petitioner v. Texas, decided on 25 March 2008, has generally been seen as a US refusal to follow unambiguous treaty provisions. There has not been such a strong reaction to US behaviour relative to specific treaty obligations since the 1992 Alvarez-Machain case. The Supreme Court majority (six votes to three) held that ‘neither Avena nor the President's Memorandum constitutes directly enforceable federal law’. The uncomfortable – and to many illogical – conclusion reached by the Court was that even though Avena is an ‘international law obligation on the part of the United States’, it is not binding law within the United States even in the light of an explicit presidential order. While the result may be disappointing, the case should be understood in the context of a legal system that (i) makes treaties part of ‘the supreme Law of the Land’; (ii) has developed a complicated concept of self-executing treaties; and (iii) can be hesitant to direct states (sub-national units) to follow presidential directives even on matters of foreign policy.
The epidemiology of, and risk factors for, mortality from severe sepsis and septic shock in a tertiary-care university hospital setting
Authors: KHWANNIMIT B. , BHURAYANONTACHAI R. 
Published: February 2009

SUMMARYThis study investigated the clinical characteristics of, and outcomes and risk factors for hospital mortality of 390 patients admitted with severe sepsis or septic shock in an intensive care unit (ICU). Prospectively collected data from patients collected between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2006 were analysed. Overall hospital mortality was 49·7% and comorbidities were found in 40·3% of patients, the most common of which was haematological malignancy. The respiratory tract was the most common site of infection (50%). Hospital-acquired infections accounted for 55·6% of patients with Gram-negative bacteria predominant (68%). Multivariate analysis showed that acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary artery catheter placement, comorbidities, hospital-acquired infection, APACHE II score and maximum LOD score, were independent risk factors for hospital mortality. In conclusion, severe sepsis and septic shock are common causes of ICU admission. Patients with risk factors for increased mortality should be carefully monitored and aggressive treatment administered.
Learners’ anxiety in audiographic conferences: a discursive psychology approach to emotion talk
Authors: de los Arcos Beatriz , Coleman James A. , Hampel Regine 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSuccess and failure in language learning are partly determined by the learners’ ability to regulate their emotions. Negative feelings are more likely to frustrate progress, while positive ones make the task of learning a second language (L2) a more effective experience. To date no significant body of research has been carried out into the role of anxiety in the field of computer-assisted language learning (CALL). The present study adopts discursive psychology (DP) as its methodological approach to examine anxiety not as a psychological state, but as a social construct in the context of an audiographic conferencing tool. After interviewing a sample of learners of Spanish at the Open University (OU), our findings reveal a strong connection between emotion and learner beliefs.
Lightweight comparison of RNAs based on exact sequence–structure matches
Authors: Heyne Steffen , Will Sebastian , Beckstette Michael , Backofen Rolf 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Motivation: Specific functions of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules are often associated with different motifs in the RNA structure. The key feature that forms such an RNA motif is the combination of sequence and structure properties. In this article, we introduce a new RNA sequence–structure comparison method which maintains exact matching substructures. Existing common substructures are treated as whole unit while variability is allowed between such structural motifs.
Based on a fast detectable set of overlapping and crossing substructure matches for two nested RNA secondary structures, our method ExpaRNA (exact pattern of alignment of RNA) computes the longest collinear sequence of substructures common to two RNAs in O(H·nm) time and O(nm) space, where H ≪ n·m for real RNA structures. Applied to different RNAs, our method correctly identifies sequence–structure similarities between two RNAs.
Results: We have compared ExpaRNA with two other alignment methods that work with given RNA structures, namely RNAforester and RNA_align. The results are in good agreement, but can be obtained in a fraction of running time, in particular for larger RNAs. We have also used ExpaRNA to speed up state-of-the-art Sankoff-style alignment tools like LocARNA, and observe a tradeoff between quality and speed. However, we get a speedup of 4.25 even in the highest quality setting, where the quality of the produced alignment is comparable to that of LocARNA alone.
Availability: The presented algorithm is implemented in the program ExpaRNA, which is available from our website (http://www.bioinf.uni-freiburg.de/Software).
Contact: {exparna@informatik.uni-freiburg.de,backofen@informatik.uni-freiburg.de}
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Genetic network inference as a series of discrimination tasks
Authors: Kimura Shuhei , Nakayama Satoshi , Hatakeyama Mariko 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Motivation: Genetic network inference methods based on sets of differential equations generally require a great deal of time, as the equations must be solved many times. To reduce the computational cost, researchers have proposed other methods for inferring genetic networks by solving sets of differential equations only a few times, or even without solving them at all. When we try to obtain reasonable network models using these methods, however, we must estimate the time derivatives of the gene expression levels with great precision. In this study, we propose a new method to overcome the drawbacks of inference methods based on sets of differential equations.
Results: Our method infers genetic networks by obtaining classifiers capable of predicting the signs of the derivatives of the gene expression levels. For this purpose, we defined a genetic network inference problem as a series of discrimination tasks, then solved the defined series of discrimination tasks with a linear programming machine. Our experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method is capable of correctly inferring genetic networks, and doing so more than 500 times faster than the other inference methods based on sets of differential equations. Next, we applied our method to actual expression data of the bacterial SOS DNA repair system. And finally, we demonstrated that our approach relates to the inference method based on the S-system model. Though our method provides no estimation of the kinetic parameters, it should be useful for researchers interested only in the network structure of a target system.
Contact: kimura@ike.tottori-u.ac.jp
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Meta-analysis of age-related gene expression profiles identifies common signatures of aging
Authors: de Magalhães João Pedro , Curado João , Church George M. 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Motivation: Numerous microarray studies of aging have been conducted, yet given the noisy nature of gene expression changes with age, elucidating the transcriptional features of aging and how these relate to physiological, biochemical and pathological changes remains a critical problem.
Results: We performed a meta-analysis of age-related gene expression profiles using 27 datasets from mice, rats and humans. Our results reveal several common signatures of aging, including 56 genes consistently overexpressed with age, the most significant of which was APOD, and 17 genes underexpressed with age. We characterized the biological processes associated with these signatures and found that age-related gene expression changes most notably involve an overexpression of inflammation and immune response genes and of genes associated with the lysosome. An underexpression of collagen genes and of genes associated with energy metabolism, particularly mitochondrial genes, as well as alterations in the expression of genes related to apoptosis, cell cycle and cellular senescence biomarkers, were also observed. By employing a new method that emphasizes sensitivity, our work further reveals previously unknown transcriptional changes with age in many genes, processes and functions. We suggest these molecular signatures reflect a combination of degenerative processes but also transcriptional responses to the process of aging. Overall, our results help to understand how transcriptional changes relate to the process of aging and could serve as targets for future studies.
Availability: http://genomics.senescence.info/uarrays/signatures.html
Contact: jp@senescence.info
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Genetic Regulation of Meiotic Cross-Overs between Related Genomes inBrassica napusHaploids and Hybrids
Authors: Nicolas Stéphane D. , Leflon Martine , Monod Hervé , Eber Frédérique , Coriton Olivier , Huteau Virginie , Chèvre Anne-Marie , Jenczewski Eric 
Published: February 2009

AbstractAlthough the genetic regulation of recombination in allopolyploid species plays a pivotal role in evolution and plant breeding, it has received little recent attention, except in wheat (Triticum aestivum). PrBn is the main locus that determines the number of nonhomologous associations during meiosis of microspore cultured Brassica napus haploids (AC; 19 chromosomes). In this study, we examined the role played by PrBn in recombination. We generated two haploid × euploid populations using two B. napus haploids with differing PrBn (and interacting genes) activity. We analyzed molecular marker transmission in these two populations to compare genetic changes, which have arisen during meiosis. We found that cross-over number in these two genotypes was significantly different but that cross-overs between nonhomologous chromosomes showed roughly the same distribution pattern. We then examined genetic recombination along a pair of A chromosomes during meiosis of B. rapa × B. napus AAC and AACC hybrids that were produced with the same two B. napus genotypes. We observed significant genotypic variation in cross-over rates between the two AAC hybrids but no difference between the two AACC hybrids. Overall, our results show that PrBn changes the rate of recombination between nonhomologous chromosomes during meiosis of B. napus haploids and also affects homologous recombination with an effect that depends on plant karyotype.
Curry spice allergy associated with pollen‐food allergy syndrome and latex fruit‐syndrome
Authors: YAGAMI Akiko , NAKAZAWA Yuri , SUZUKI Kayoko , MATSUNAGA Kayoko 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTWe report a 22‐year‐old woman with urticaria, dyspnea and bronchial asthma‐like attacks after eating curried rice. We found the symptoms to be due to an immediate‐type allergy caused by spice antigens contained in curry spices by detailed questioning, skin test and measurement of specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies. This case was complicated with pollen‐food allergy syndrome (PFAS) from melon and latex allergy (LA) to natural rubber latex (NRL) antigen and she had also had atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and pollinosis. Serum specific IgE antibodies to birch profilin (Bet v 2), latex profilin (Hev b 8), and timothy profilin (Phl p 12) were detected. She also showed positive reactions to several Apiaceae families, fruits and latex antigens in skin prick test. Based on these findings, we considered her symptoms to be involved with spice allergy, PFAS and latex‐fruit syndrome.
Lichen amyloidosis induced on the upper back by long‐term friction with a nylon towel
Authors: YOSHIDA Aki , TAKAHASHI Kazuhiro , TAGAMI Hachiro , AKASAKA Toshihide 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTPrimary localized cutaneous amyloidosis can take several clinical forms. In Asia, macular amyloidosis caused by prolonged friction from a rough nylon towel or brush is common, and macular amyloidosis and lichen amyloidosis occasionally occur together, as so‐called biphasic amyloidosis. We report herein the case of an 83‐year‐old Japanese man with lichen amyloidosis caused by prolonged nylon towel friction. This patient presented with unique symmetrical papular lesions on the upper back and shoulders. Lesions comprised slightly shiny, brownish, fine uniform papules approximately 0.5 mm in diameter, showing a partially linear, annular or rippled arrangement. Although this case was caused by prolonged nylon towel friction, no coexisting macular lesions could be found. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case of lichen amyloidosis induced by nylon towel friction in the absence of the macular amyloidosis that is usually observed in such cases. We instructed the patient to stop the habit of nylon towel rubbing and prescribed a topical steroid ointment and cepharanthine. After 6 months of treatment, papular lesions became clearly flatter.
Allergic contact dermatitis from temporary henna tattoo
Authors: JOVANOVIC Dragan L. , SLAVKOVIC‐JOVANOVIC Maja R. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTTemporary henna tattooing has been very popular during recent years. Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a plant from the Lythraceae family. For henna tattooing, henna dye is used. It is a dark green powder, made from the leaves of the plant, used for hair dyeing and body tattooing. Very often, para‐phenylenediamine (PPD) is added to henna dye to make color blacker and to speed up dyeing. PPD may be a very potent contact sensitizer. We report a 9‐year‐old boy with allergic contact dermatitis due to temporary henna tattooing. Patch testing showed a positive reaction to PPD. After the treatment with topical corticosteroid and oral antihistamines, the lesion cleared with discrete residual hypopigmentation.