bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge management for occupational safety, health, and ergonomics
Authors: Sherehiy Bohdana , Karwowski Waldemar 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe critical challenge for occupational safety, health, and ergonomics (OSHE) in contemporary industry is management of the existing individual (personal) knowledge, structural knowledge (i.e., knowledge codified into manuals, reports, databases, and data warehouses), and organizational knowledge (activity of learning within the organization) in the vast domain of practical applications. Therefore, the principles and tools of knowledge management (KM) should be used to facilitate the management of OSHE. The authors discuss the requirements for effective knowledge management, review the existing models of KM and their structures, and introduce a model for KM in OSHE. The proposed model of KM for OSHE is based on a strategy that establishes knowledge as the central resource to achieve the goals of OSHE management. The model includes the systems of organizational knowledge, organizational learning (knowledge creation, distribution, elaboration, and consolidation), development of knowledge workers, KM processes (review, conceptualization, reflection, and acting), and relevant information‐technologies. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 16: 309–319, 2006.
Simulation of microbial mass and its variation in biofilm systems using STELLA
Authors: Nabizadeh Ramin , Mesdaghinia Alireza 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBiofilm systems have been extensively used for treating different types of wastewater. Difficulty in determination of microbial mass in fixed‐film reactors has been always the greatest problem in evaluating effects of loading rates on the microbial population in such reactors. For this reason, the effect of operating parameters such as organic loadings on the available microbial mass in the system and solids retention time (SRT) have not been discussed in detail. In this study an innovative methodology was developed to simulate the quantity of microbial mass in an aerated submerged fixed‐film reactor (ASFFR) reactor. After determination of kinetic parameters, a dynamic model was developed using STELLA, popular dynamic modeling software, to simulate the microbial mass in the reactor at run time. The pilot plant study was performed with two different surface media and at different loading rates from 2.37 to 19.56 g m−2d−1. Furthermore, the effect of different organic loadings on the accumulation of microbial mass and SRT have been studied and the relevant mathematical relationships were presented. This method makes the evaluation of biofilm system simple and practical without taking samples to quantify microbial mass in reactors. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Solar‐light assisted removal of arsenic from natural waters: effect of iron and citrate concentrations
Authors: Lara Frederick , Cornejo Lorena , Yáñez Jorge , Freer Juanita , Mansilla Héctor D 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe optimal conditions to remove arsenic(III) from a solution were fitted using a factorial experimental design in a reaction catalysed by visible light (black light, 360 nm) and an iron‐citrate complex. Experiments were performed by simultaneously modifying the two variables affecting the removal of arsenic, i.e. iron and citrate concentrations. The single polynomial function obtained with the factorial design methodology indicates that the iron concentration was the most critical parameter in the removal of arsenic by precipitation. Mathematically, it was determined that the optimum molar ratio for arsenic, citrate and iron was 1:4.5:18.7, respectively, over 90% of arsenic being eliminated after 4 h of irradiation. The comparison between the As(III) and As(V) co‐precipitation rates indicates that almost 80% of As(III) was removed after 1 h of irradiation with black light, while As(V) required 4 h of irradiation to reach the same value. When natural water containing approximately 1 mg L−1 of arsenic, only as As(V), was irradiated with solar light under optimised conditions, approximately 95% of the arsenic was removed after 1 h of irradiation. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Investigation of gaseous ozone as an anti‐fungal fumigant for stored wheat
Authors: Wu Jiangning , Doan Huu , Cuenca Manuel Alvarez 
Published: May 2006

AbstractIn this study, gaseous ozone was used as a fungicide to preserve stored wheat. The following operating parameters were investigated for their effects on the fungicidal efficacy of ozone: (1) the applied ozone dose; (2) ozonation time; (3) water activity of the wheat; and (4) temperature of the wheat. The effect of ozonation on germination of the wheat was also studied. Experimental results revealed that gaseous ozone was very effective in the inactivation of fungi associated with the wheat. Within 5 min of ozonation, 96.9% of the fungal spores were inactivated by applying 0.33 mg of ozone (g wheat)−1 min−1. It was also found that increases in both water activity and temperature of the wheat enhanced the fungicidal efficacy of ozone. In addition, results of this study indicated that the inactivation processes could be controlled by simply monitoring the ozone exiting from the reactor and, consequently, the time‐consuming microbial examination processes could be avoided. This finding would make the application of ozone in the preservation of cereal grains easier, simpler, and more cost‐effective. It was also found that although the applied ozone doses above certain thresholds may reduce the germination of wheat, the inactivation of fungi could be achieved using applied ozone doses far below those thresholds. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Design and optimization of lentiviral vectors for transfer of GALC expression in Twitcher brain
Authors: Dolcetta D. , Perani L. , Givogri M. I. , Galbiati F. , Amadio S. , Del Carro U. , Finocchiaro G. , Fanzani A. , Marchesini S. , Naldini L. , Roncarolo M. G. , Bongarzone E. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackgroundDemyelination in globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is due to a deficiency of galactocerebrosidase (GALC) activity. Up to now, in vivo brain viral gene transfer of GALC showed modest impact on disease development in Twitcher mice, an animal model for GLD. Lentiviral vectors, which are highly efficient to transfer the expression of therapeutic genes in neurons and glial cells, have not been evaluated for direct cerebral therapy in GLD mice.MethodsLentiviral vectors containing the untagged cDNA or the hemagglutinin (HA)‐tagged cDNA for the full‐length mouse GALC sequence were generated and validated in vitro. In vivo therapeutic efficacy of these vectors was evaluated by histology, biochemistry and electrophysiology after transduction of ependymal or subependymal layers in young Twitcher pups.ResultsBoth GALC lentiviral vectors transduced neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes with efficiencies above 75% and conferred high levels of enzyme activity. GALC accumulated in lysosomes of transduced cells and was also secreted to the extracellular medium. Conditioned GALC medium was able to correct the enzyme deficiency when added to non‐transduced Twitcher glial cultures. Mice that received intraventricular injections of GALC vector showed accumulation of GALC in ependymal cells but no diffusion of the enzyme from the ependymal ventricular tree into the cerebral parenchyma. Significant expression of GALC‐HA was detected in neuroglioblasts when GALC‐HA lentiviral vectors were injected in the subventricular zone of Twitcher mice. Life span and motor conduction in both groups of treated Twitcher mice were not significantly ameliorated.ConclusionsLentiviral vectors showed to be efficient for reconstitution of the GALC expression in Twitcher neural cells. GALC was able to accumulate in lysosomes as well as to enter the secretory pathway of lysosomal enzymes, two fundamental aspects for gene therapy of lysosomal storage diseases. Our in vivo results, while showing the capacity of lentiviral vectors to transfer expression of therapeutic GALC in the Twitcher brain, did not limit progression of disease in Twitchers and highlight the need to evaluate other routes of administration. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the circular chromatic number of circular partitionable graphs
Authors: Pêcher Arnaud , Zhu Xuding 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThis article studies the circular chromatic number of a class of circular partitionable graphs. We prove that an infinite family of circular partitionable graphs G has $\chi_ c (G) = \chi(G)$. A consequence of this result is that we obtain an infinite family of graphs G with the rare property that the deletion of each vertex decreases its circular chromatic number by exactly 1. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory
Enhancing the precision of quantitative water content mapping by optimizing sequence parameters
Authors: Neeb H. , Shah N.J. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThis article describes a methodology for determining the precision of a recently published method for quantitative water content mapping using MRI. A framework for calculating the random error component as a function of sequence parameters is provided and predictions are compared with experimental results obtained in a phantom. The experimental and theoretical results are in good agreement and demonstrate that the precision of quantitative water content mapping can be significantly increased by a proper and objective choice of acquisition parameters. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Parallel Newton two‐stage methods based on ILU factorizations for nonlinear systems
Authors: Arnal J. , Migallón H. , Migallón V. , Penadés J. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractParallel iterative algorithms based on the Newton method and on two of its variants, the Shamanskii method and the Chord method, for solving nonlinear systems are proposed. These algorithms are based on two‐stage multisplitting methods where incomplete LU factorizations are considered as a mean of constructing the inner splittings. Convergence properties of these parallel methods are studied for H‐matrices. Computational results of these methods on two parallel computing systems are discussed. The reported experiments show the effectiveness of these methods. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neurosurgical aspects of trepanations from Neolithic times
Authors: Weber J. , Wahl J. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractTrepanation of the cranial vault is the oldest known surgical procedure and has often been reported in the literature. We present two skulls with trepanations from Neolithic excavations in southwestern Germany. One skull exhibits a healed fracture in association with the trepanation. Both skulls show clear signs of healing without evidence of osteolytic inflammatory reaction. We discuss conditions relating to survival from trepanation in Neolithic times and some potential complications such as intraoperative bleeding and wound infection, in the context of modern neurosurgical knowledge. We conclude that neolithic skull surgery was probably mainly extradural. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rituximab for lymphoproliferative disease prior to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for X‐linked severe combined immunodeficiency
Authors: Trahair Toby N. , Wainstein Brynn , Manton Nicholas , Bourne Anthony J. , Ziegler John B. , Rice Michael , Russell Susan J. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractLymphoproliferative disease (LPD) is a complication of congenital and acquired immunodeficiency states. There are a number of treatment options for LPD arising after haematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplantation including reduction of immunosuppression, targeted therapies, such as the anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, and EBV specific cytotoxic lymphocytes. Treatment of LPD in children with congenital immunodeficiency syndromes remains unsatisfactory and is associated with a high mortality rate. We recently managed an infant found to have polymorphic LPD concurrent with X‐linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) had to be deferred because of progressive LPD. Treatment with rituximab resulted in regression of the LPD following which the patient received a 5/6 HLA matched umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplant. The patient remains well 20 months following transplantation. Rituximab treatment may have a useful role in the control of LPD associated with congenital immunodeficiency prior to HSCT. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:366–369. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diagnostic and prognostic impact of urinary catecholamines in neuroblastoma patients
Authors: Strenger Volker , Kerbl Reinhold , Dornbusch Hans Jürgen , Ladenstein Ruth , Ambros Peter F. , Ambros Inge M. , Urban Christian 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackgroundUrinary catecholamine metabolites are well‐known to be elevated in patients with neuroblastoma. Some investigators have described different patterns in favorable and unfavorable cases. However, extended studies have not been published.ProcedureWe investigated urinary catecholamine patterns and their correlation to stage, biological features, and outcome in 114 consecutively clinically diagnosed neuroblastoma patients.ResultsSensitivity of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and dopamine (DA) was 80.7, 71.9, and 61.3%, respectively. In 91.2% of patients at least one parameter was above normal. High VMA levels were associated with favorable biological features, high DA levels were predominantly found in biologically unfavorable disease. Whereas patients with normal HVA levels had a significant better outcome, the other parameters showed no significant association with prognosis. For disseminated neuroblastoma of infancy, DA/VMA ratio proved to be helpful for the discrimination of stage 4 versus stage 4s.ConclusionUrinary catecholamines appear to be useful to give a first but important hint about the biological behavior and thus the prognosis of the underlying disease. Particularly DA/VMA ratio may serve as a tool for “biological grading”—especially in disseminated disease of infancy. In addition, it may be speculated that HVA negativity and low DA/VMA ratio may be helpful for the decision of a “wait and see” strategy in selected neuroblastoma patients with localized disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;48:504–509. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
β‐thalassemia intermedia due to compound heterozygosity for two β‐globin gene promoter mutations, including a novel TATA box deletion
Authors: Basran Raveen K. , Reiss Ulrike M. , Luo Hong‐yuan , Ware Russell E. , Chui David H.K. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractAn 8‐year‐old African‐American boy had a clinical history consistent with mild β‐thalassemia intermedia with moderate anemia, microcytosis, reticulocytosis, and splenomegaly. He was asymptomatic and did not require transfusion. At age 4 years, hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis showed Hb A = 37.8%, Hb A2 = 5.0%, and Hb F = 56.1%. At age 8 years, he was diagnosed to be a compound heterozygote for two β‐globin gene promoter mutations, the relatively common nucleotide (nt) −88 C → T mutation from the cap site, and a novel two‐nucleotide (AA) deletion between nt −29 and −26 within the TATA box of the β‐globin gene. His mother and 14‐year‐old brother were simple heterozygotes for this novel (AA) deletion. Both heterozygotes had normal Hb level, borderline microcytosis, and elevated Hb A2. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:363–366. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Endogenous semicarbazide‐sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) inhibitor increases 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+)‐induced dopamine efflux by immobilization stress in rat striatum
Authors: Obata Toshio 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe present study examined whether or not immobilization stress (IMMO)‐inducible semicarbazide‐sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) inhibitor by separated gel filtration from 105,000 g supernate in rat brain cytosol contribute to the dopamine (DA) efflux by 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) in the rat striatum. The isoelectric point (pI) value of this inhibitor was determined by isoelectric focusing (IEF)‐gel electrophoresis to about 3.8. The application of IMMO‐induced SSAO inhibitor (3 μg) by IEF‐gel electrophoresis increased DA efflux by MPP+ in rat striatum. These results suggest that IMMO‐inducible endogenous SSAO inhibitor enhances DA efflux by MPP+.
Intratympanic Steroid Treatment in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Control Study
Authors: Xenellis John , Papadimitriou Nikolaos , Nikolopoulos Thomas , Maragoudakis Paulos , Segas John , Tzagaroulakis Antonios , Ferekidis Eleutherios 
Published: May 2006

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEAlthough systemic steroids in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) appears to be the most effective and the most widely accepted treatment today, a significant number of patients do not respond to steroid treatment or they cannot receive steroids for medical reasons. Intratympanic (IT) administration of steroids appears to be an alternative or additional method of management without the side effects of intravenous steroids. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safeness of IT administration of steroids in patients who had not responded to IV treatment and to compare treatment efficacy with controls.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGOur study consisted of 37 patients with SSHL who, at the end of 10 days of therapy with intravenous steroids as a 1st line treatment, had pure‐tone 4‐frequency (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) average (PTA) of worse than 30 dB or worse than 10 dB from the contralateral ear (defined as failed intravenous treatment). They were randomized into 2 groups, treatment and control. The 19 patients of the treatment group received approximately 0.5 mL sterile aqueous suspension of methylprednisolone acetate in a concentration of 80 mg/2 mL by direct injection. The procedure was carried out 4 times within a 15‐day period. An audiogram was performed before each injection and approximately 1.5 months after the last session.RESULTSAll patients tolerated the procedure well. No perforation or infection was noticed in any of the patients at their last visit. With regard to the 19 patients who received intratympanic treatment, in 9 patients, the PTA threshold improved more than 10 db, in 10 patients there was no change greater than 10 db, and no patients deteriorated more than 10 db. In the control group, none of the patients showed any change greater than 10 db. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.002). The treatment group showed an improvement in mean PTA of 14.9 dB, whereas the control group showed a deterioration of 0.8 dB, and this difference also was statistically significant (P = 0.0005). IT treatment (P = 0.0001), better post‐IV PTA (P = 0.0008), and absence of vertigo (P = 0.02) were good predictors of the outcome. In contrast, sex, age, affected ear, days to admission, and pattern of the initial audiogram showed no significant influence on the outcome.CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCEIT steroid administration after failed intravenous steroids is a safe and effective treatment in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
Carbon Dioxide Laser Microsurgery for Early Glottic Carcinoma
Authors: Peppino Ledda Gian , Puxeddu Roberto 
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVESTo define the oncologic efficacy of transoral endoscopic CO2 laser surgery in early glottic carcinoma.METHODSA retrospective study of 103 patients with glottic carcinoma (14 Tis, 68 pT1a, 14 pT1b, and 7 pT2) treated from October 1993 to June 2001. Surgical treatment included endoscopic CO2 laser cordectomies according to the classification of the European Laryngological Society.RESULTSAccording to the Kaplan‐Meier method, the probability of remaining free of local recurrence 5 years after primary surgery alone was 100% for the Tis, 96.05% for the T1, and 100% for the T2. Local control at 5 years after exclusive CO2 laser salvage surgery was 98.03%. The probability of remaining free of local recurrence 5 years after any type of salvage surgery was 100%. Laryngeal preservation was achieved in 100% of the cases.CONCLUSIONSAccording to the present series, endoscopic CO2 laser surgery is an effective treatment for early glottic cancer.
A Clinical Analysis of Psychogenic Sudden Deafness
Authors: Ban Jae‐Ho , Jin Sung Min 
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVESudden deafness, in most cases, has no apparent cause. In some cases viral infection, vascular occlusion, or a cochlear membrane rupture may be responsible for the sudden loss of hearing. In this study, we analyzed etiology, audiologic, psychiatric, and clinical aspects of psychogenic sudden deafness through a retrospective chart review. Patients included were thought to have sudden deafness as a result of psychogenic causes and/or stresses.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGWe reviewed the records of 277 patients who had been admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, from January 1997 to July 2003, with the initial diagnosis of idiopathic sudden hearing loss.RESULTSIn the medical history of 9 patients, there was an association between sudden onset of hearing loss and psychogenic events. There were 4 patients who had a preexisting mental health condition. A psychiatrist provided the classification of psychogenic sudden deafness for 7 patients (2.5%) who had organic causes ruled out. These patients showed discrepancy between pure tone audiometry and ABR. There were 2 males and 5 females; 4 patients were in their 10's, 1 in his 20's, and 2 in their 40's. Three patients had bilateral hearing loss and 4 had unilateral loss. The hearing test scores revealed: 4 patients with severe to profound hearing loss at 71 dB or higher, 2 patients with moderately severe hearing loss ranging from 56 to 70 dB, and 1 patient with moderate hearing loss from 41 to 56 dB. Hearing was restored in all patients, partially or completely, by treatment with steroid injections and psychotherapy.CONCLUSIONSA total of 2.5% of sudden onset hearing loss cases in our study were a result of psychogenic causes. We observed distinctive features for audiologic measures, psychiatric findings, and clinical characteristics. The recovery rate and prognosis were better in patients who had accurate audiometry and were under the care of a psychiatrist.
Endoscopic Placement of Spreader Grafts in the Nasal Valve
Authors: Huang Clark , Manarey Casey R.A. , Anand Vijay K. 
Published: May 2006

OBJECTIVESurgery to the internal nasal valve is presently approached either externally via an open rhinoplasty incision or transnasally. The endoscopic approach has become the preferred method of access to various other sinonasal conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate 1) whether the internal nasal value could be accessed and evaluated endoscopically and 2) whether a spreader graft placed under endoscopic visualization could widen the nasal valve area.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGSingle‐blinded study on 8 cadaveric heads. One side per head was randomly selected to be studied. The contralateral side served as the control. The nasal valve was approached endoscopically via the submucoperichondrial plane of the nasal septum with a 30‐degree endoscope. After fully examining and subsequently separating the internal nasal valve, a spreader graft was placed. A blinded examiner then performed acoustic rhinometry to measure the nasal valve area as well as corroborate the position from an external approach. This data was then statistically analyzed using the paired Student t test.RESULTSThe nasal valve was easily detected endoscopically and the position of the spreader grafts was externally confirmed in all 8 specimens. The mean change of the nasal valve area on the side with the spreader grafts was 0.28 cm2. On the control side, the mean change was 0.026 cm2. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.004).CONCLUSIONThe endoscopic approach is a viable option in accessing the nasal valve. Endoscopic placement of a spreader graft has also been shown to statistically widen the nasal valve area.