bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The content of optometric eye examinations for a presbyopic patient presenting with symptoms of flashing lights
Authors: Shah Rakhee , Edgar David F. , Harle Deacon E. , Weddell Lynne , Austen David P. , Burghardt David , Evans Bruce J. W. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground:  Standardised patients (SPs) are the gold standard methodology for evaluating clinical care. This approach was used to investigate the content of optometric eyecare for a presbyopic patient who presented with recent photopsia.Methods:  A total of 102 community optometrists consented to be visited by an actor for a recorded eye examination. This actor received extensive training to enable accurate reporting of the content of the eye examinations, via an audio recording and a checklist completed for each clinical encounter. The actor presented unannounced (incognito) as a 59‐year‐old patient seeking a private eye examination and complaining of recent onset flashing lights. The results of each clinical encounter were recorded on a pre‐designed checklist based on evidence‐based reviews on photopsia, clinical guidelines and the views of an expert panel.Results:  The presence of the symptom of photopsia was proactively detected in 87% of cases. Although none of the optometrists visited asked all seven gold standard questions relating to the presenting symptoms of flashing lights, 35% asked four of the seven questions. A total of 85% of optometrists asked the patient if he noticed any floaters in his vision and 36% of optometrists asked if he had noticed any shadows in his vision. The proportion of the tests recommended by the expert panel that were carried out varied from 33 to 100% with a mean of 67%. Specifically, 66% recommended dilated fundoscopy to be carried out either by themselves or by another eyecare practitioner, and 29% of optometrists asked the patient to seek a second opinion regarding the photopsia. Of those who referred, 70% asked for the referral to be on the same day or within a week.Conclusion:  SP encounters are an effective way of measuring clinical care within optometry and should be considered for further comparative measurements of quality of care. As in research using SPs in other healthcare disciplines, our study has highlighted substantial differences between different practitioners in the duration and depth of their clinical investigations. This highlights the fact that not all eye examinations are the same but inherently different and that there is no such thing as a ‘standard sight test’. Future optometric continuing education could focus on history taking, examination techniques and referral guidelines for patients presenting with symptoms of posterior vitreous detachment, retinal breaks and secondary retinal detachment.
A new desktop instrument for measuring macular pigment optical density based on a novel technique for setting flicker thresholds
Authors: Van Der Veen Rob L. P. , Berendschot Tos T. J. M. , Hendrikse Fred , Carden David , Makridaki Maria , Murray Ian J. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractA rapid portable technique for estimating macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in large populations is described. The new instrument utilises a novel method for setting flicker thresholds which is undemanding for naïve and elderly observers and easily operated by a non‐technical person. The method has good repeatability (r = 0.97) and the data are comparable with an optical method based on retinal reflectometry (r = 0.78). MPOD spatial profiles are presented for seven normal observers and these are well described (r = 0.99) by a decaying exponential function consistent with previous reports. MPOD values are presented from 5581 (2435 females and 3146 males) individuals measured in 48 optometric practices. The mean MPOD of this population was 0.33 (S.D. ± 0.187) which is similar to previous large scale studies of MP.
The difference between belief and reality for Viktorin’s method of inter‐pupillary distance measurement
Authors: Walsh G. , Pearce E. I. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe variation in the measurement of an inter‐pupillary distance and monocular centration distance by 54 registered practitioners using a ‘pd rule’ was investigated. Their estimate of the repeatability of the measurement was also recorded, as was any correction for their own inter‐pupillary distance. There was found to be considerable variation between practitioners in all measurements, and the practitioners’ estimated repeatability of the measurement was rather better than the reality.
The influence of oblique viewing on axial and peripheral refraction for emmetropes and myopes
Authors: Mathur Ankit , Atchison David A. , Kasthurirangan Sanjeev , Dietz Nadine A. , Luong Suzanna , Chin Shih Pei , Lin Wen Linda , Hoo Sock Whay 
Published: February 2009

AbstractRefraction may be affected by the forces of lids and extraocular muscles when eye direction and head direction are not aligned (oblique viewing) which might potentially influence past findings on peripheral refraction of the eye. We investigated the effect of oblique viewing on axial and peripheral refraction. In a first experiment, cycloplegic axial refractions were determined when subjects’ heads were positioned to look straight‐ahead through an open‐view autorefractor and when the heads were rotated to the right or left by 30° with compensatory eye rotation (oblique viewing). Subjects were 16 young emmetropes (18–35 years), 22 young myopes (19–36 years) and 15 old emmetropes (45–60 years). In a second experiment, cycloplegic peripheral refraction measurements were taken out to ±34° horizontally from fixation while the subjects rotated their heads to match the peripheral refraction angles (eye in primary position with respect to the head) or the eyes were rotated with respect to the head (oblique viewing). Subjects were 10 emmetropes and 10 myopes. We did not find any significant changes in axial or peripheral refraction upon oblique viewing for any of the subject groups. In general for the range of horizontal angles used, it is not critical whether or not the eye is rotated with respect to the head during axial or peripheral refraction.
Tear ferning in contact lens wearers
Authors: Evans Katharine S. E. , North Rachel V. , Purslow Christine 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTear ferning (TF) has shown good sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of dry eye, but is a relatively uncommon test, especially in contact lens wearers. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TF, ocular comfort and tear film stability amongst contact lens (CL) wearers and non‐contact lens (NCL) wearers. Subjects (36 NCL, 24 CL; mean age 23.2 ± 4.8 years) underwent assessment of non‐invasive tear break up time (NIBUT), fluorescein tear break up time (FBUT) and completed the Ocular Comfort Index (OCI) questionnaire. Non‐stimulated tears were collected from the inferior tear meniscus with a glass capillary. Samples of 1.5 μL were air dried, observed by light microscopy and the TF pattern quantified according to Rolando’s grading scale. Significantly higher grades of TF pattern and discomfort (higher OCI scores) were observed in CL wearers compared to NCL wearers (Mann–Whitney U‐test; p < 0.005 and p < 0.05 respectively). Differences in tear film stability were not significant between groups. Even when asymptomatic (low OCI scores) CL and NCL subjects were compared, TF remained significantly different (p < 0.005). In both CL and NCL subjects, TF displayed poor correlation with tear film stability tests and OCI scores. Higher TF grades in CL wearers, even if asymptomatic, indicate an unfavourable ratio of salt to macromolecule concentration within the tear film of such subjects. The lack of significant difference in TF between symptomatic CL and NCL wearers could suggest similar aetiology (tear film hyperosmolarity) in each cohort. The TF technique demonstrates limited sensitivity and specificity for the prediction of ocular surface comfort in both CL and NCL wearers.
Diagnostic accuracy and variability of autorefraction by the Tracey Visual Function Analyzer and the Shin‐Nippon NVision‐K 5001 in relation to subjective refraction
Authors: Cleary G. , Spalton D. J. , Patel P. M. , Lin P.‐F. , Marshall J. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractPurpose:  To determine the accuracy of distance autorefractions obtained by two ‘open field’ devices, the Tracey Visual Function Analyzer and the Shin‐Nippon NVision‐K 5001, by comparison with subjective refraction.Methods:  Both eyes of 50 healthy phakic participants underwent subjective refraction. Autorefractions were then performed on undilated pupils using the Tracey and a modified Shin‐Nippon autorefractor and these were repeated within 50 days. Agreement with subjective refraction was calculated for sphere, mean spherical equivalent (MSE) and cylindrical vectors J0 and J45. Intratest and intertest variability were also evaluated.Results:  The mean age of the participants was 37.4 years. Subjective refraction MSE ranged from −6.25 D to +3.62 D, mean −0.49 D ± 1.79 D. Bias between subjective refraction and Tracey was −0.001 D, +0.045 D, +0.017 D, and −0.015 D for sphere, MSE, J0 and J45 respectively; these were not significant. Bias between subjective refraction and Shin‐Nippon was +0.004 D, +0.033 D, +0.106 D, and −0.021 D; only the J0 vector was significantly different (p < 0.0001) although this difference was small. Intratest variability for Tracey was low, measured at 0.189 D for sphere and 0.178 for MSE, and for the Shin‐Nippon 0.099 D and 0.086 D respectively. Tracey intertest variability revealed small, statistically significant bias for sphere and MSE (+0.071 D and +0.070 D, p = 0.011, 0.013). Shin‐Nippon reproducibility showed no significant bias.Conclusions:  Autorefraction measurements captured by both the Tracey and Shin‐Nippon devices agree well with subjective refraction. The Shin‐Nippon shows lower intratest variability.
Users’ subjective evaluation of electronic vision enhancement systems
Authors: Culham Louise E. , Chabra Anthony , Rubin Gary S. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe aims of this study were (1) to elicit the users’ responses to four electronic head‐mounted devices (Jordy, Flipperport, Maxport and NuVision) and (2) to correlate users’ opinion with performance. Ten patients with early onset macular disease (EOMD) and 10 with age‐related macular disease (AMD) used these electronic vision enhancement systems (EVESs) for a variety of visual tasks. A questionnaire designed in‐house and a modified VF‐14 were used to evaluate the responses. Following initial experience of the devices in the laboratory, every patient took home two of the four devices for 1 week each. Responses were re‐evaluated after this period of home loan. No single EVES stood out as the strong preference for all aspects evaluated. In the laboratory‐based appraisal, Flipperport typically received the best overall ratings and highest score for image quality and ability to magnify, but after home loan there was no significant difference between devices. Comfort of device, although important, was not predictive of rating once magnification had been taken into account. For actual performance, a threshold effect was seen whereby ratings increased as reading speed improved up to 60 words per minute. Newly diagnosed patients responded most positively to EVESs, but otherwise users’ opinion could not be predicted by age, gender, diagnosis or previous CCTV experience. User feedback is essential in our quest to understand the benefits and shortcoming of EVESs. Such information should help guide both prescribing and future development of low vision devices.
Market and Political/Regulatory Perspectives on the Recent Accounting Scandals
Authors: BALL RAY 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTNot surprisingly, the recent accounting scandals look different when viewed from the perspectives of the political/regulatory process and of the market for corporate governance and financial reporting. We do not have the opportunity to observe a world in which either market or political/regulatory processes operate independently, and the events are recent and not well researched, so untangling their separate effects is somewhat conjectural. This paper offers conjectures on issues such as: What caused the scandalous behavior? Why was there such a rash of accounting scandals at one time? Who killed Arthur Andersen—the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the market? Did fraudulent accounting kill Enron, or just keep it alive for too long? What is the social cost of financial reporting fraud? Does the United States in fact operate a “principles‐based” or a “rules‐based” accounting system? Was there market failure? Or was there regulatory failure? Or both? Was the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act a political and regulatory overreaction? Does the United States follow an ineffective regulatory model?
The Future of Securities Regulation
Authors: ZINGALES LUIGI 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTThe U.S. system of securities law was designed more than 70 years ago to regain investors' trust after a major financial crisis. Today we face a similar problem. But while in the 1930s the prevailing perception was that investors had been defrauded by offerings of dubious quality securities, in the new millennium, investors' perception is that they have been defrauded by managers who are not accountable to anyone. For this reason, I propose a series of reforms that center around corporate governance, while shifting the focus from the protection of unsophisticated investors in the purchasing of new securities issues to the investment in mutual funds, pension funds, and other forms of asset management.
The use of vasopressin for treating vasodilatory shock and cardiopulmonary arrest
Authors: Scroggin Richard D. , Quandt Jane 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjective
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To discuss 3 potential mechanisms for loss of peripheral vasomotor tone during vasodilatory shock; review vasopressin physiology; review the available animal experimental and human clinical studies of vasopressin in vasodilatory shock and cardiopulmonary arrest; and make recommendations based on review of the data for the use of vasopressin in vasodilatory shock and cardiopulmonary arrest.Data Sources
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Human clinical studies, veterinary experimental studies, forum proceedings, book chapters, and American Heart Association guidelines.Human and Veterinary Data Synthesis
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Septic shock is the most common form of vasodilatory shock. The exogenous administration of vasopressin in animal models of fluid‐resuscitated septic and hemorrhagic shock significantly increases mean arterial pressure and improves survival. The effect of vasopressin on return to spontaneous circulation, initial cardiac rhythm, and survival compared with epinephrine is mixed. Improved survival in human patients with ventricular fibrillation, pulseless ventricular tachycardia, and nonspecific cardiopulmonary arrest has been observed in 4 small studies of vasopressin versus epinephrine. Three large studies, though, did not find a significant difference between vasopressin and epinephrine in patients with cardiopulmonary arrest regardless of initial cardiac rhythm. No veterinary clinical trials have been performed using vasopressin in cardiopulmonary arrest.Conclusion
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Vasopressin (0.01–0.04 U/min, IV) should be considered in small animal veterinary patients with vasodilatory shock that is unresponsive to fluid resuscitation and catecholamine (dobutamine, dopamine, and norepinephrine) administration. Vasopressin (0.2–0.8 U/kg, IV once) administration during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in small animal veterinary patients with pulseless electrical activity or ventricular asystole may be beneficial for myocardial and cerebral blood flow.
The effect of angiotensin‐blocking agents on liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C
Authors: Corey Kathleen E. , Shah Nirali , Misdraji Joseph , Abu Dayyeh Barham K. , Zheng Hui , Bhan Atul K. , Chung Raymond T. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground: Multiple studies implicate the renin–angiotensin system in hepatic fibrogenesis. Few studies have examined the effects of angiotensin blockade on liver fibrosis via human histology.Aims: We studied the histological effect of angiotensin II blocking agents in chronic hepatitis C patients.Methods: This was a retrospective study of 284 chronic hepatitis C patients from 2001 to 2006 who underwent a liver biopsy. Group I was comprised of 143 hypertensive patients who received angiotensin‐blocking agents. Group II was comprised of 91 hypertensive subjects who received hypertensive agents other than angiotensin blockers. Group III was comprised of 50 non‐hypertensive subjects.Results: The groups were similar in age, sex, hepatitis C genotype, viral load and disease duration. They varied significantly in total diabetic patients (Group I, 43; Group II, 10; Group III, 1; P=0.0001), consistent with recommended use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors in hypertensive diabetics. Non‐hypertensive patients had significantly less fibrosis than hypertensive patients, regardless of antihypertensive medications (Group I, 3.20; Group II, 3.73; Group III, 2.5; P=0.0002). Group I had significantly less fibrosis than Group II (P=0.02). This finding persisted in a non‐diabetic subgroup of Groups I and II (Group I, 3.07; Group II, 3.69; P=0.0129).Conclusion: Patients with hepatitis C and hypertension have increased fibrosis compared with non‐hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients receiving angiotensin‐blocking agents had less fibrosis than hypertensive patients who did not receive angiotensin‐blocking agents. This suggests an association with hypertension, possibly via the renin–angiotensin system in the fibrosis development and suggests a beneficial role of angiotensin II blockade in hepatitis C virus‐related fibrosis.
Heparin‐like effect contributes to the coagulopathy in patients with acute liver failure undergoing liver transplantation
Authors: Senzolo Marco , Agarwal Seema , Zappoli Paola , Vibhakorn Sushang , Mallett Susan , Burroughs Andrew K. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIntroduction: Liver transplantation (LT) in cirrhotics is characterized by severe coagulopathy, associated with a well documented heparin‐like effect (HLE) seen by thromboelastography (TEG™) after reperfusion. The amount of HLE present in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and its role in their bleeding tendency before LT has not been investigated.Aim: To investigate the presence and extent of HLE in patients with ALF undergoing LT and to compare the extent of HLE in this group with a group of cirrhotics undergoing LT.Material and Methods: Ten consecutive ALF and 10 cirrhotic patients undergoing LT were included. TEG™ (with and without heparinase I), surrogate total thrombin generation (TTG) derived by TEG™ and haemodynamic variables were recorded for every stage of the LT. HLE was defined as a correction of r+k times on TEG™ of more than 50% by the addition of heparinase I.Results: Before incision, patients with ALF showed a significantly greater HLE compared with patients with cirrhosis (r+k time: 66 min corrected to 29 vs 45 min corrected to 32 min, P=0.001). After reperfusion, all the patients showed extensive HLE, without any difference between the two groups. Despite the greater HLE, patients with ALF showed similar TTG compared with the cirrhotic group. By the end of the operation, the extent of the HLE was greatly reduced in both the groups.Conclusions: Before transplantation, patients with ALF have a greater HLE than patients with liver cirrhosis. However, this did not affect the thrombin generation calculated by TEG™ and resolved after transplantation.
Experimental modelling of corona textures
Authors: LARIKOVA T. L. , ZARAISKY G. P. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractFormation of corona textures along olivine–plagioclase and orthopyroxene–plagioclase interfaces has been experimentally reproduced at 670 and 700 °C and 5 kbar with either a pure H2O fluid phase or 0.1 and 37 m NaCl–H2O solution fluid. In these experiments, we investigate the interaction of primary olivine and/or orthopyroxene and plagioclase in powders and polished crystals, and in small samples of a natural gabbro. The experiments result in the formation of corona textures with several layers of different assemblages (according to the experimental conditions) consisting of garnet (grossular), clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, amphibole, chlorite and phlogopite. The experiments show major differences in the number of layers, the mineral assemblages and mineral composition, and in the trends of composition of plagioclase in coronas around olivine and orthopyroxene. The fluid phase composition influences the corona assemblages and the composition of the minerals in the experimental coronas; for example, garnet appears in the coronas in the second experiment where the NaCl–H2O ratio is low. Experimental modelling of corona textures confirms a model of simultaneous growth of layers by the mechanism of diffusion metasomatism with participation of a fluid phase through which mass is transferred. Zoning in the experimental coronas shows opposing diffusion of Al and Ca from plagioclase and Mg and Fe from olivine/orthopyroxene; difference in the mobility of the components is inferred from observations in the coronas. The experimental corona textures are compared with natural coronas from the Belomorian belt (Baltic shield), developed at 670–690 °C and 7–8 kbar, and the Marun‐Keu complex (Polar Urals), developed at 670–700 °C and 14–16 kbar, where the corona textures correspond to a transitional stage of the gabbro‐to‐eclogite transformation.
LAURENCIA MARILZAESP. NOV. (CERAMIALES, RHODOPHYTA) FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN, BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR EVIDENCE1
Authors: Gil‐Rodríguez M a Candelaria , Sentíes Abel , Díaz‐Larrea Jhoana , Cassano Valéria , Fujii Mutue Toyota 
Published: February 2009

Laurencia marilzaeGil‐Rodríguez, Sentíes et M.T. Fujii sp. nov. is described based on specimens that have been collected from the Canary Islands. This new species is characterized by distinctive yellow–orange as its natural habitat color, a terete thallus, four pericentral cells per vegetative axial segment, presence of secondary pit‐connections between adjacent cortical cells, markedly projecting cortical cells, and also by the presence ofcorps en cerise(one per cell) present in all cells of the thallus (cortical, medullary, including pericentral and axial cells, and trichoblasts). It also has a procarp‐bearing segment with five pericentral cells and tetrasporangia that are produced from the third and fourth pericentral cells, which are arranged in a parallel manner in relation to fertile branchlets. The phylogenetic position of this taxon was inferred based on chloroplast‐encodedrbcL gene sequence analyses. Within theLaurenciaassemblage,L. marilzaeformed a distinctive lineage sister to all otherLaurenciaspecies analyzed. Previously, a large number of unique diterpenes dactylomelane derivatives were isolated and identified from this taxon.L. marilzaeis morphologically, genetically, and chemically distinct from all other related species of theLaurenciacomplex described.