bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interpretation of Contrast Dispersal Patterns by Experienced and Inexperienced Interventionalists
Authors: Smuck Matthew , Abbott Zachary , Zemper Eric 
Published: November 2008

ObjectiveDetermine how accurately inexperienced interventionalists interpret epidural contrast dispersal patterns compared with experienced interventionalists.DesignProspective comparative study.SettingUniversity spine center.ParticipantsTwo experienced interventionalists and 3 pain fellows in training.MethodsEach participant independently interpreted 100 images showing contrast dispersal patterns from transforaminal epidural injections. All images were obtained by another physician after 0.5 mL of contrast material was injected. The true contrast dispersal pattern was determined under live fluoroscopy during the injection and classified as follows: epidural only, vascular only, or simultaneous epidural and vascular. Participants were told to assume that 0.5 mL of contrast had been injected before each image and were asked to describe the contrast patterns as epidural, vascular, both, or neither.Main Outcome MeasureVariance in agreement with the true contrast patterns between experienced and inexperienced participants.ResultsOverall, the inexperienced participants were in exact agreement with the true pattern in 52% of the images versus 70% for experienced participants (P=.03). Experienced participants correctly identified epidural contrast patterns with greater accuracy than inexperienced participants (94% and 76%, respectively; P=.01). Not surprisingly, the accuracy for all participants was low in the identification of vascular patterns on these static images, with 73% accuracy for the experienced and 68% for the inexperienced (P=.18).ConclusionEven with 6 months of intensive experience, trainees are significantly less accurate than experienced physicians in the interpretation of contrast dispersal patterns from transforaminal epidural injections. The competency of interventional trainees and the amount of experience necessary to safely perform epidural injections deserve further examination.
Inverse Compton backscattering source driven by the multi-10 TW laser installed at Daresbury
Authors: Priebe G. , Laundy D. , Macdonald M.A. , Diakun G.P. , Jamison S.P. , Jones L.B. , Holder D.J. , Smith S.L. , Phillips P.J. , Fell B.D. , Sheehy B. , Naumova N. , Sokolov I.V. , Ter-Avetisyan S. , Spohr K. , Krafft G.A. , Rosenzweig J.B. , Schramm U. , Grüner F. , Hirst G.J. , Collier J. , Chattopadhyay S. , Seddon E.A. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractInverse Compton scattering is a promising method to implement a high brightness, ultra-short, energy tunable X-ray source at accelerator facilities. We have developed an inverse Compton backscattering X-ray source driven by the multi-10 TW laser installed at Daresbury. Hard X-rays, with spectral peaks ranging from 15 to 30 keV, depending on the scattering geometry, will be generated through the interaction of laser pulses with electron bunches delivered by the energy recovery linac machine, initially known as energy recovery linac prototype and subsequently renamed accelerators and lasers in combined experiments. X-ray pulses containing 9 × 107photons per pulse will be created from head-on collisions, with a pulse duration comparable to the incoming electron bunch length. For transverse collisions 8 × 106photons per pulse will be generated, where the laser pulse transit time defines the X-ray pulse duration. The peak spectral brightness is predicted to be ~1021 photons/(s mm2 mrad2 0.1% Δλ/λ).
Submanifolds of codimension two attaining equality in an extrinsic inequality
Authors: DAJCZER MARCOS , TOJEIRO RUY 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWe provide a parametric construction in terms of minimal surfaces of the Euclidean submanifolds of codimension two and arbitrary dimension that attain equality in an inequality due to De Smet, Dillen, Verstraelen and Vrancken. The latter involves the scalar curvature, the norm of the normal curvature tensor and the length of the mean curvature vector.
A TENTATIVE MODEL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF COPPER PRODUCTION IN THE TARASCAN STATE
Authors: Maldonado Blanca E. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAt the time of the Spanish conquest, the main locus of metal production in Mesoamerica was the Tarascan region of western Mexico. Scholars have argued that mining and metallurgy evolved into a state industry, as metal adornments used as insignias of social status and public ritual became closely associated with political control. In spite of its importance, however, Tarascan metallurgy is poorly documented. The extractive processes involved and the organization of the different aspects of this production are virtually unknown. Numerous questions arise from the notion that metal items functioned as wealth finance in the economy of the Tarascan state of Late Postclassic period Michoacan. Foremost among these is whether and how wealth was produced and controlled by the central power. This paper combines archaeological and ethnohistorical data to propose a model for pre-Hispanic copper production among the Tarascans. The goal of this analysis is to gain insights into the nature of metal production and its role in the major state apparatus. This will also provide clues to a better understanding of the development of technology and political economy in ancient Mesoamerica.
TARASCAN CERAMIC PRODUCTION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CERAMIC DISTRIBUTION
Authors: Hirshman Amy J. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractResearch on the emergence of social complexity and state economies tends toward an understanding of either political economies or market economies as the privileged economic form and with producer specialization emerging contemporaneously with the state. Markets and political control need not be seen as oppositional; rather, they are part of the continuum of multiple strategies elites use to create the larger political economy of a state. The Late Postclassic period Tarascan state is known for its strong centralizing tendencies, and an overview of previous research indicates political involvement in various aspects of the larger economic coordination of metal, obsidian, and agricultural production and distribution. Tarascan state ceramics are highly distinctive in form and decoration. Ethnohistoric evidence suggests that they were produced under court control, yet no direct evidence for ceramic production has been found in the Tarascan core, the Lake Patzcuaro Basin. A mix of compositional and statistical analyses of the ceramic assemblage from Urichu, Michoacan, Mexico, indicates that ceramics were not under centralized political control but, instead, were produced at a local level and distributed using the market mechanisms of the larger mixture of economic strategies on the part of the Tarascan political elite.
Cryogenic preservation of embryos ofProchilodus lineatus(Valenciennes, 1836) (Characiforme; Prochilodontidae)
Authors: Ninhaus-Silveira Alexandre , Foresti Fausto , de Azevedo Alexandre , Agostinho Cláudio Ângelo , Veríssimo-Silveira Rosicleire 
Published: November 2008

SummaryWhile the freezing techniques of mammal embryos have been providing promising results, the cryopreservation of teleostean eggs and embryos have remained unsuccessful up to now. Therefore, this work aimed to develop a procedure of cryogenic preservation of embryos ofProchilodus lineatusand to observe, at both structural and ultrastructural levels, the morphological alterations that took place after the application of freezing/thawing techniques. The embryos at the morula stage could not tolerate exposure to the cryoprotectants ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, methanol, dimethyl sulphoxide and propylene glycol, presenting 100% of mortality. Embryos at the 4- to 6-somites stage tolerated exposure to propylene glycol and dimethyl sulphoxide, and the results revealed no significant differences (α = 0.05) regarding survival from both treatments. None of the freezing, thawing and hydration protocols was effective on preserving embryo viability. The ultrastructural analyses of frozen and thawed embryos showed that cells from ectoderm, somites, notochord and endoderm were structurally intact, with well preserved nuclei and mitochondria. The yolk globules were able to tolerate the freezing process, but the yolk syncytial layer was unorganized, displaying an electron-dense and compacted appearance, collapsed reticules, nuclei with modified chromatin and ruptures on the plasmatic membrane at the contact zone with endoderm. It might be concluded that the procedures tested for freezing were unable to avoid the formation of intracellular ice crystals, leading to drastic morphological modifications and makingP. lineatusembryos unviable.
Deforestation and land use under insecure property rights
Authors: AMACHER GREGORY S. , KOSKELA ERKKI , OLLIKAINEN MARKKU 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTWe examine the implications of migration and insecure property rights to land use and deforestation in tropical frontier forests. Three forms of property rights risks are introduced to basic land-use forms. Illegal logging risk is associated with forest plantations, a land expropriation risk affects land in agriculture and plantation forestry, and illegal logging risks threaten native forest land. Public and private landowners can reduce these risks by employing costly enforcement effort. We show how that migration, expropriation, and illegal logging risks lead to deforestation by promoting agricultural expansion, and illegal logging. Higher public enforcement reduces illegal logging, but higher private enforcement may or may not reduce deforestation depending on migration pressures. Higher timber prices have an ambiguous effect on deforestation, but an increasing value of non-timber benefits decreases or leaves deforestation unchanged depending on the incentive structures of illegal loggers.
Extreme climate events and adaptation: an exploratory analysis of drought in Mexico
Authors: BOYD ROY , IBARRARÁN MARIA E. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTClimate change is increasing the intensity of extreme weather events. Mexico is particularly prone to suffer at least two different types of these events: droughts and hurricanes. This paper focuses on the effects of an extended drought on the Mexican economy. Through a computable general equilibrium model, we simulate the impact of a drought that affects primarily agriculture, livestock, forestry, and hydropower generation. We look at the effects on the overall economy. We then simulate the effects of several adaptation strategies in (chiefly) the agricultural, forestry, and power sectors, and we arrive at some tentative yet significant conclusions. We find that the effects of such an event vary substantially by sector with moderate to severe overall impacts. Furthermore, we find that adaptation policies can only effect modest changes to the economic losses to be suffered.
A capital scarcity theory of the environmental Kuznets curve
Authors: CHIMELI ARIASTER B. , BRADEN JOHN B. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTThis paper offers a theory of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) based on the scarcity of capital relative to environmental quality. In a unified treatment of both market and transition economies of the former Soviet Bloc, we characterize a dynamic economy subject to two sources of market failure: a pollution externality and a pure public good ‘environmental quality’. We derive a policy rule to implement the social optimum in market and transition economies and show how, in general, a pollution tax or tradable permits can only implement the social optimum if accompanied by other taxes on consumption or profits.
Checking the quality of clinical guidelines using automated reasoning tools
Authors: HOMMERSOM ARJEN , LUCAS PETER J. F. , VAN BOMMEL PATRICK 
Published: November 2008

AbstractRequirements about the quality of clinical guidelines can be represented by schemata borrowed from the theory of abductive diagnosis, using temporal logic to model the time-oriented aspects expressed in a guideline. Previously, we have shown that these requirements can be verified using interactive theorem proving techniques. In this paper, we investigate how this approach can be mapped to the facilities of a resolution-based theorem prover,otterand a complementary program that searches for finite models of first-order statements,mace-2. It is shown that the reasoning required for checking the quality of a guideline can be mapped to such a fully automated theorem-proving facilities. The medical quality of an actual guideline concerning diabetes mellitus 2 is investigated in this way.
Achieving compositionality of the stable model semantics for
smodels programs
Authors: OIKARINEN EMILIA , JANHUNEN TOMI 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn this paper, a Gaifman–Shapiro-style module architecture is tailored
to the case of smodels programs under the stable model semantics. The
composition of smodels program modules is suitably limited by module
conditions which ensure the compatibility of the module system with stable
models. Hence the semantics of an entire smodels program depends
directly on stable models assigned to its modules. This result is formalized as
a module theorem which truly strengthens V. Lifschitz and H.
Turner's splitting-set theorem (June 1994, Splitting a logic program. In
Logic Programming: Proceedings of the Eleventh International
Conference on Logic Programming, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy, P.
V. Hentenryck, Ed. MIT Press, 23–37) for the class of smodels
programs. To streamline generalizations in the future, the module theorem is
first proved for normal programs and then extended to cover smodels
programs using a translation from the latter class of programs to the former
class. Moreover, the respective notion of module-level equivalence, namely
modular equivalence, is shown to be a proper congruence
relation: it is preserved under substitutions of modules that are modularly
equivalent. Principles for program decomposition are also addressed. The
strongly connected components of the respective dependency graph can be
exploited in order to extract a module structure when there is no explicit
a priori knowledge about the modules of a program. The
paper includes a practical demonstration of tools that have been developed for
automated (de)composition of smodels programs.
Malassezia furfur fingerprints as possible markers for human phylogeography
Authors: Gaitanis George , Velegraki Aristea , Alexopoulos Evangelos C , Kapsanaki-Gotsi Evangelia , Zisova Lilia , Ran Yuping , Zhang Hao , Arsenis George , Bassukas Ioannis D , Faergemann Jan 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Malassezia furfur was the first species described within the cosmopolitan yeast genus Malassezia, which now comprises 13 species. Reported isolation rates of these species from healthy and diseased human skin show geographic variations. PCR-fingerprinting with the wild-type phage M13 primer (5′-GAGGGTGGCGGTTCT-3′) was applied to investigate phylogeographic associations of M. furfur strains isolated from Scandinavians residing permanently in Greece, in comparison to clinical isolates from Greek, Bulgarian and Chinese native residents. Seven M. furfur strains from Scandinavians were compared with the Neotype strain (CBS1878), CBS global collection strains (n=10) and clinical isolates from Greece (n=4), Bulgaria (n=15) and China (n=6). Scandinavian, Greek and Bulgarian M. furfur strains mostly formed distinct group clusters, providing initial evidence for an association with the host's geographical origin and with the underlying skin condition. These initial data address the hypothesis that M. furfur could be a eukaryotic candidate eligible for phylogeographic studies.
Propofol Induction Reduces the Capacity for Neural Information Integration: Implications for the Mechanism of Consciousness and General Anesthesia
Authors: Lee UnCheol , Kim Seunghwan , Noh Gyu-Jeong , Choi Byung-Moon , Mashour George A. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe cognitive unbinding paradigm suggests that the synthesis of cognitive information is attenuated by general anesthesia. Here, we investigated the functional organization of brain activities in the conscious and anesthetized states, based on characteristic functional segregation and integration of electroencephalography (EEG). EEG recordings were obtained from 14 subjects undergoing induction of general anesthesia with propofol. We quantified changes in mean information integration capacity in each band of the EEG. After induction with propofol, mean information integration capacity was reduced most prominently in the gamma band of the EEG (p=0.0001). Furthermore, we demonstrate that loss of consciousness is reflected by the breakdown of the spatiotemporal organization of gamma waves. Induction of general anesthesia with propofol reduces the capacity for information integration in the brain. These data directly support the information integration theory of consciousness and the cognitive unbinding paradigm of general anesthesia.
The Danish anal sphincter rupture questionnaire: Validity and reliability
Authors: DUE ULLA , OTTESEN MARIANNE 
Published: November 2008

AbstractObjective. To revise, validate and test for reliability an anal sphincter rupture questionnaire in relation to construct, content and face validity. Setting and background. Since 1996 women with anal sphincter rupture (ASR) at one of the public university hospitals in Copenhagen, Denmark have been offered pelvic floor muscle examination and instruction by a specialist physiotherapist. In relation to that, a non‐validated questionnaire about anal and urinary incontinence was to be answered six months after childbirth. Method. The original questionnaire was revised and a pilot test was performed among health care personnel, followed by an expert panel discussion. Ten women were interviewed about their understanding and attitude toward answering the questionnaire and it was pre‐tested on 52 women with ASR. The questionnaire was revised five times during the validation process. The final version was test‐retested among 20 women with ASR. Results. The questionnaire revealed typical problems after ASR. The length, use of language, and the way the questionnaire was constructed, was deemed appropriate. The reliability test showed good to very good correlation (Kappa values from 0.733 to 0.923) in all main questions but one. Two questions needed further explanation. Seven women made minor errors. Conclusion. The validated Danish questionnaire has a good construct, content and face validity. It is a well accepted, reliable, simple and clinically relevant screening tool. It reveals physical problems including sexual problems, impact on quality of life and need for treatment among women 6–8 months after ASR.
Three new potential ovarian cancer biomarkers detected in human urine with equalizer bead technology
Authors: PETRI ANETTE LYKKE , SIMONSEN ANJA HVIID , YIP TAI‐TUNG , HOGDALL ESTRID , FUNG ERIC T. , LUNDVALL LENE , HOGDALL CLAUS 
Published: November 2008

AbstractObjective. To examine whether urine can be used to measure specific ovarian cancer proteomic profiles and whether one peak alone or in combination with other peaks or CA125 has the sensitivity and specificity to discriminate between ovarian cancer pelvic mass and benign pelvic mass. Methods. A total of 209 women were admitted for surgery for pelvic mass at the Gynaecological Department at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. Of the women, 156 had benign gynaecological tumors, 13 had borderline tumors and 40 had malignant epithelial ovarian cancer. The prospectively and preoperatively collected urine samples were aliquotted and frozen at −80° until the time of analysis. The urine was fractionated using equalizer bead technology and then analyzed with surface‐enhanced laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Biomarkers were purified and identified using combinations of chromatographic techniques and tandem mass spectrometry. Results. Benign and malignant ovarian cancer cases were compared; 21 significantly different peaks (p<0.001) were visualized using Mann–Whitney analysis, ranging in m/z values from 1,500 to 185,000. The three most significant peaks were purified and identified as fibrinogen alpha fragment (m/z = 2570.21), collagen alpha 1 (III) fragment (m/z = 2707.32) and fibrinogen beta NT fragment (m/z = 4425.09). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC AUC) value for these three peaks in combination was 0.88, and their ROC AUC value in combination with CA125 was 0.96. Conclusion. This result supports the feasibility of using urine as a clinical diagnostic medium, and the ROC AUC value for the three most significant peaks in combination with or without CA125 demonstrates the enhanced prediction performance of combined marker analysis.
Heart rate variability changes in pregnant and non‐pregnant women during standardized psychosocial stress1
Authors: KLINKENBERG ARIADNE V. , NATER URS M. , NIEROP ADA , BRATSIKAS ALIKI , ZIMMERMANN ROLAND , EHLERT ULRIKE 
Published: November 2008

AbstractObjectives. To test the reactivity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) of women in different stages of pregnancy to a psychosocial stressor. Design. Psychosocial stress was induced by a standardized test, the Trier Social Stress Test. Setting. University of Zurich, Switzerland. Population. Fifty‐five healthy pregnant women (28 in the second and 27 in or close to the third trimester) and 24 non‐pregnant women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Methods. Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded before, during and after the test. Subjective stress perception was measured by a visual analog scale. Main outcome measures. Heart rate, HRV components (high frequency, HF; low frequency, LF, and LF/HF ratio), subjective stress ratings. Results. HF significantly decreased and LF/HF ratio increased during psychosocial stress in all three groups. LF values indicated no significant reaction to psychosocial stress, but a trend towards significance with group interaction was seen. There were no significant differences in subjective stress ratings between the groups. Conclusions. ANS activity during psychosocial stress seems to be decreased in proceeding pregnancy, whereas subjective stress perception does not show significant changes. The decline of HF due to stress compared to non‐pregnant women is not attenuated, just on a lower level.
Event‐Tracking Model of Adhesion Identifies Load‐Bearing Bonds in Rolling Leukocytes
Authors: POSPIESZALSKA MARIA K. , ZARBOCK ALEXANDER , PICKARD JOHN E. , LEY KLAUS 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTObjectives: P‐selectin binding to P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand‐1 (PSGL)‐1 mediates leukocyte rolling under conditions of inflammation and injury. The aims of this study were to develop an efficient, high temporal resolution model for direct simulation of leukocyte rolling and conduct a study of load‐bearing bonds using the model.Materials and Methods: A stochastic π‐calculus‐driven event‐tracking model of adhesion (ETMA) was developed and compared with experimental data. Multiple simulations for each case were conducted to obtain high‐confidence numerical characteristics of leukocyte rolling.Results: Leukocyte rolling and the underlying P‐selectin—PSGL‐1 bonds were studied under low wall shear rate (25–50 s−1) conditions from measured parameters of leukocyte rolling and bond properties. For the first time, the location, number, lifetime, history, and kinetics of load‐bearing bonds and their influence on cell rolling were identified and instantaneous cell displacements, translational and rotational velocities, and cell‐substrate distances derived. The model explains the commonly observed “stop‐start” type rolling behavior and reveals that a few load‐bearing bonds are sufficient to support rolling, while a large number of bonds dissociate before becoming load bearing.Conclusions: ETMA provides a method for more precise, direct simulation of leukocyte rolling at low wall shear rates and sets a foundation upon which further refinements can be introduced.