bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Sporotrichosis: 2007 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Authors: Kauffman Carol A. , Bustamante Beatriz , Chapman Stanley W. , Pappas Peter G. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractGuidelines for the management of patients with sporotrichosis were prepared by an Expert Panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and replace the guidelines published in 2000. The guidelines are intended for use by internists, pediatricians, family practitioners, and dermatologists. They include evidence-based recommendations for the management of patients with lymphocutaneous, cutaneous, pulmonary, osteoarticular, meningeal, and disseminated sporotrichosis. Recommendations are also provided for the treatment of sporotrichosis in pregnant women and in children.
Comparison of the Use of Administrative Data and an Active System for Surveillance of Invasive Aspergillosis
Authors: Chang Douglas C. , Burwell Lauren A. , Lyon G. Marshall , Pappas Peter G. , Chiller Tom M. , Wannemuehler Kathleen A. , Fridkin Scott K. , Park Benjamin J. 
Published: December 2007

Background.Administrative data, such as International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes, are readily available and are an attractive option for surveillance and quality assessment within a single institution or for interinstitutional comparisons. To understand the usefulness of administrative data for the surveillance of invasive aspergillosis, we compared information obtained from a system based on ICD-9 codes with information obtained from an active, prospective surveillance system, which used more extensive case-finding methods (Transplant Associated Infection Surveillance Network).Methods.Patients with suspected inyasive aspergillosis were identified by aspergillosis-related ICD-9 codes assigned to hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and solid organ transplant recipients at a single hospital from April 1, 2001, through January 31, 2005. Suspected cases were classified as proven or probable invasive aspergillosis by medical record review using standard definitions. We calculated the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of identifying invasive aspergillosis by individual ICD-9 codes and by combinations of codes.Results.The sensitivity of code 117.3 was modest (63% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 38%-84%]), as was the PPV (71% [95% CI, 44%-90%]); the sensitivity of code 117.9 was poor (32% [95% CI, 13%-57%]), as was the PPV (15% [95% CI, 6%-31%]). The sensitivity of codes 117.3 and 117.9 combined was 84% (95% CI, 60%-97%); the PPV of the combined codes was 30% (95% CI, 18%-44%). Overall, ICD-9 codes triggered a review of medical records for 64 medical patients, only 16 (25%) of whom had proven or probable invasive aspergillosis.Conclusions.A surveillance system that involved multiple ICD-9 codes was sufficiently sensitive to identify most cases of invasive aspergillosis; however, the poor PPV of ICD-9 codes means that this approach is not adequate as the sole tool used to classify cases. Screening ICD-9 codes to trigger a medical record review might be a useful method of surveillance for invasive aspergillosis and quality assessment, although more investigation is needed.
An Extension of the Trade Restrictiveness Index to Large Economies*
Authors: Dakhlia Sami , Temimi Akram 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe Trade Restrictiveness Index (TRI) introduced by Anderson and Neary (1994) provided the first theoretically satisfying measure of a country’s tariff structure by overcoming the problem of ad hoc specification of indexing weights and the related index number problem. We observe, however, that the TRI may not exist or may not be unique when countries are large. As a remedy, we propose a simple extension.
Multilateralism and Hub‐and‐Spoke Bilateralism*
Authors: Mukunoki Hiroshi , Tachi Kentaro 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThis paper studies sequential negotiations of bilateral free‐trade agreements in an oligopoly model. The expansion of trading blocs through overlapping trade agreements allows the option of hub‐and‐spoke systems and achieves multilateral free trade as the equilibrium path, even if the expansion of trading blocs through the acceptance of new members is not feasible. The results suggest that free‐trade areas (FTAs) tend to expand more than customs unions (CUs). Lobbying by a producer can either promote or undermine the achievement of multilateral free trade through overlapping FTAs.
Passthrough Estimates and the Choice of an Exchange Rate Index*
Authors: Pollard Patricia S. , Coughlin Cletus C. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractWe examine exchange rate passthrough into US import prices for 29 manufacturing industries using eight exchange rate indexes. These indexes vary by the number of currencies included; whether the weight on each currency is based on total trade with the United States or solely imports; and, whether the weights vary by industry. Our results indicate that passthrough is generally incomplete but varies across industries. Moreover, passthrough is sensitive to the exchange rate index. Using bootstrapped J‐tests we show that major currency indexes perform better than their broad currency counterparts. When using a major currency index, industry‐specific exchange rate indexes are preferred to aggregate indexes.
Technology Transfer and Merger Activities with Trade and Tariffs
Authors: Ryan Cillian 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn order to better understand the effects of globalization on merger incentives this paper considers a set of commonly observed mergers whereby a restructured target (with improved managerial or technical capability) continues to supply the market. In contrast to the market‐concentrating merger literature it finds that trade barriers tend to encourage mergers, including potentially welfare‐reducing, tariff‐jumping mergers. Multilateral trade liberalization, however, encourages welfare‐improving mergers. Hence, and despite the skepticism of regulatory authorities towards the existence of cost synergies as a consequence of mergers, this paper suggests that in order to assess the impact of trade liberalization under the WTO on merger incentives, and consequently on prices, quantities, and welfare, accurate information on ex ante cost differences and the transferability of managerial and technical techniques is required.
Heat Conduction in
Multilayered Rectangular Domains
Authors: Geer James , Desai Anand , Sammakia Bahgat 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
This paper presents the results of an analytical study of steady state heat conduction in multiple rectangular domains. Any finite number of domains that are equally sized (in plane) may be considered in the current analysis. The thermal conductivity and thickness of these domains may be different. The entire geometry composed of these connected domains is considered as adiabatic on the lateral surfaces and can be subjected to a wide range of thermal boundary conditions at the top and bottom. For example, the bottom of the stack may be adiabatic, while the top of the stack may be exposed to a uniform heat transfer coefficient. Spatially varying heat generation rates can be applied in each of the domains. The solutions are found to be in agreement with known solutions for simpler geometries. The analytical solution presented here is very general in that it takes into account the interface resistances between the layers. One application of this analytical study relates to the thermal management of three-dimensional stacks of computer devices and interconnect layers. The devices would have spatially nonuniform power dissipation within them, and the interconnect layers would have a significantly lower thermal conductivity than the devices. Interfacial defects, such as delamination or air voids, between the devices and the interconnect layers may be included in the model. Another possible application is to the study of hot spots in a chip stack with nonuniform heat generation. Many other potential applications may also be simulated.
A Systematic Approach
to Predicting Critical Heat Flux for Inclined
Sprays
Authors: Visaria Milan , Mudawar Issam 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
This study provides a new systematic approach to predicting the effects of spray inclination on critical heat flux (CHF). Experiments were performed with three pressure spray nozzles over a broad range of inclination angles at five flow rates and subcoolings of 15°C and 25°C. These experiments also included high-speed video analysis of spray formation, impact, and recoil for a 1.0×1.0cm2 test surface. Inclined sprays produced elliptical impact areas, distorted by lateral liquid flow that provided partial resistance to dryout along the downstream edge of the impact ellipse. These observations are used to determine the locations of CHF commencement along the test surface. A new theoretical model shows that increasing inclination angle away from normal decreases both the spray impact area and the volumetric flux. These trends explain the observed trend of decreasing CHF with increasing inclination angle. Combining the new model with a previous point-based CHF correlation shows great success in predicting the effects of spray inclination on CHF.
Web 2.0 technologies for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education: an online survey
Authors: Sandars J , Schroter S 
Published: December 2007

Abstract

Objectives
To identify the current familiarity and use of Web 2.0 technologies by medical students and qualified medical practitioners, and to identify the barriers to its use for medical education.

Methods
A semi-structured online questionnaire survey of 3000 medical students and 3000 qualified medical practitioners (consultants, general practitioners and doctors in training) on the British Medical Association's membership database.

Results
All groups had high familiarity, but low use, of podcasts. Ownership of digital media players was higher among medical students. There was high familiarity, but low use, of other Web 2.0 technologies except for high use of instant messaging and social networking by medical students. All groups stated that they were interested in using Web 2.0 technologies for education but there was lack of knowledge and skills in how to use these new technologies.

Conclusions
There is an overall high awareness of a range of new Web 2.0 technologies by both medical students and qualified medical practitioners and high interest in its use for medical education. However, the potential of Web 2.0 technologies for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education will only be achieved if there is increased training in how to use this new approach.
Perception versus polysomnographic assessment of sleep in CFS and non-fatigued control subjects: results from a population-based study
Authors: Majer Matthias , Jones James F , Unger Elizabeth R , Youngblood Laura Solomon , Decker Michael J , Gurbaxani Brian , Heim Christine , Reeves William C 
Published: December 2007

AbstractBackgroundComplaints of unrefreshing sleep are a prominent component of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); yet, polysomnographic studies have not consistently documented sleep abnormalities in CFS patients. We conducted this study to determine whether alterations in objective sleep characteristics are associated with subjective measures of poor sleep quality in persons with CFS.MethodsWe examined the relationship between perceived sleep quality and polysomnographic measures of nighttime and daytime sleep in 35 people with CFS and 40 non-fatigued control subjects, identified from the general population of Wichita, Kansas and defined by empiric criteria. Perceived sleep quality and daytime sleepiness were assessed using clinical sleep questionnaires. Objective sleep characteristics were assessed by nocturnal polysomnography and daytime multiple sleep latency testing.ResultsParticipants with CFS reported unrefreshing sleep and problems sleeping during the preceding month significantly more often than did non-fatigued controls. Participants with CFS also rated their quality of sleep during the overnight sleep study as significantly worse than did control subjects. Control subjects reported significantly longer sleep onset latency than latency to fall asleep as measured by PSG and MSLT. There were no significant differences in sleep pathology or architecture between subjects with CFS and control subjects.ConclusionPeople with CFS reported sleep problems significantly more often than control subjects. Yet, when measured these parameters and sleep architecture did not differ between the two subject groups. A unique finding requiring further study is that control, but not CFS subjects, significantly over reported sleep latency suggesting CFS subjects may have an increased appreciation of sleep behaviour that may contribute to their perception of sleep problems.
Prediction of synergistic transcription factors by function conservation
Authors: Hu Zihua , Hu Boyu , Collins James F 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Background
Previous methods employed for the identification of synergistic transcription factors (TFs) are based on either TF enrichment from co-regulated genes or phylogenetic footprinting. Despite the success of these methods, both have limitations.

Results
We propose a new strategy to identify synergistic TFs by function conservation. Rather than aligning the regulatory sequences from orthologous genes and then identifying conserved TF binding sites (TFBSs) in the alignment, we developed computational approaches to implement the novel strategy. These methods include combinatorial TFBS enrichment utilizing distance constraints followed by enrichment of overlapping orthologous genes from human and mouse, whose regulatory sequences contain the enriched TFBS combinations. Subsequently, integration of function conservation from both TFBS and overlapping orthologous genes was achieved by correlation analyses. These techniques have been used for genome-wide promoter analyses, which have led to the identification of 51 homotypic TF combinations; the validity of these approaches has been exemplified by both known TF-TF interactions and function coherence analyses. We further provide computational evidence that our novel methods were able to identify synergistic TFs to a much greater extent than phylogenetic footprinting.

Conclusion
Function conservation based on the concordance of combinatorial TFBS enrichment along with enrichment of overlapping orthologous genes has been proven to be a successful means for the identification of synergistic TFs. This approach avoids the limitations of phylogenetic footprinting as it does not depend upon sequence alignment. It utilizes existing gene annotation data, such as those available in GO, thus providing an alternative method for functional TF discovery and annotation.
Late Recurrences of Cushing’s Disease after Initial Successful Transsphenoidal Surgery
Authors: Patil Chirag G. , Prevedello Daniel M. , Lad Shivanand P. , Vance Mary Lee , Thorner Michael O. , Katznelson Laurence , Laws Edward R. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Context: Few studies have systematically analyzed the long-term recurrence rates of Cushing’s disease after initial successful transsphenoidal surgery.
Setting: This was a retrospective review of patients treated at the University of Virginia Medical Center.
Patients: A total of 215 subjects with Cushing’s disease who underwent initial transsphenoidal surgery for resection of a presumed pituitary microadenoma from 1992–2006 were included.
Main Outcome Measures: Remission and recurrence rates of Cushing’s disease were examined. Recurrence was defined as an elevated 24-h urine free cortisol with clinical symptoms consistent with Cushing’s disease.
Results: Of the 215 patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing’s disease, surgical remission was achieved in 184 (85.6%). The mean length of follow-up was 45 months. Actuarial recurrence rates of Cushing’s disease after initially successful transsphenoidal surgery at 1, 2, 3, and 5 yr were 0.5, 6.7, 10.8, and 25.5%, respectively. Among the 184 patients who achieved remission, 32 (17.4%) patients followed for more than 6 months ultimately had a recurrence of Cushing’s disease. The median time to recurrence was 39 months. Immediate postoperative hypocortisolemia (serum cortisol ≤ 2 μg/dl within 72-h surgery) was achieved in 97 (45.1%) patients. Patients who had postoperative serum cortisol of more than 2 μg/dl were 2.5 times more likely to have a recurrence than patients who had serum cortisol less than or equal to 2 μg/dl (odds ratio = 2.5; 95% confidence interval 1.12–5.52; P = 0.022).
Conclusions: A quarter of the patients with Cushing’s disease who achieve surgical remission after transsphenoidal surgery, recur with long-term follow-up. This finding emphasizes the need for continued biochemical and clinical follow-up to ensure remission after surgery.
Medium- and long-term performance of 11 516 uncemented primary femoral stems from the Norwegian arthroplasty register
Authors: Hallan G. , Lie S. A. , Furnes O. , Engesaeter L. B. , Vollset S. E. , Havelin L. I. 
Published: December 2007

Primary uncemented femoral stems reported to the Norwegian arthroplasty register between 1987 and 2005 were included in this prospective observational study. There were 11 516 hips (9679 patients) and 14 different designs of stem. Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities and Cox regression were used to analyse the data. With aseptic loosening as the end-point, all currently used designs performed excellently with survival of 96% to 100% at ten years. With the end-point as stem revision for any cause, the long-term results of the different designs varied from poor to excellent, with survival at 15 years ranging between 29% and 97%. Follow-up for longer than seven years was needed to identify some of the poorly-performing designs. There were differences between the stems; the Corail, used in 5456 hips, was the most frequently used stem with a survival of 97% at 15 years. Male gender was associated with an increased risk of revision of × 1.3 (95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.52), but age and diagnosis had no influence on the results. Overall, modern uncemented femoral stems performed well. Moderate differences in survival between well-performing stems should be interpreted with caution since the differences may be caused by factors other than the stem itself.
The long-term results of endoprosthetic replacement of the proximal tibia for bone tumours
Authors: Myers G. J. C. , Abudu A. T. , Carter S. R. , Tillman R. M. , Grimer R. J. 
Published: December 2007

We have investigated whether improvements in design have altered the outcome for patients undergoing endoprosthetic replacement of the proximal tibia following resection of a tumour. Survival of the implant and ‘servicing’ procedures have been documented using a prospective database. A total of 194 patients underwent a proximal tibial replacement, with 95 having a fixed-hinge design and 99 a rotating-hinge with a hydroxyapatite collar; their median age was 21.5 years (10 to 74). At a mean follow-up of 14.7 years (5 to 29), 115 patients remain alive. The risk of revision for any reason in the fixed-hinge group was 32% at five years, 61% at ten years and 75% at 15 and 20 years, and in the rotating-hinge group 12% at five years, 25% at ten years and 30% at 15 years. Aseptic loosening was the most common reason for revision in the fixed-hinge knees, fracture of the implant in the early design of rotating hinges and infection in the current version. The risk of revision for aseptic loosening in the fixed-hinge knees was 46% at ten years. This was reduced to 3% in the rotating-hinge knee with a hydroxyapatite collar. The cemented, rotating hinge design currently offers the best chance of long-term survival of the prosthesis.
Utility and Collectivity: Some Suggestions on the Anatomy of Citizen Preferences
Authors: Curry G. David 
Published: December 2007

This paper is an attempt to link certain public choice theories with empirical analysis of citizen preferences. We begin with a reasonably clear, or at least strong, relation: cities with more Irish, Catholic, and foreign-born residents spend more through their municipal budgets. The relation holds across three data sets for American cities: for 51 cities from 1880 to 1968, for 154 cities in 1903, and for 661 citics in 1960. Why? Clark tested and rejected a Downsean interpretation of this relation using data for ten cities and for Boston. His test was based on analysis of questionnaire items concerning preferred spending levels.
This paper presents an alternative conceptualization for some of the same findings, by extending the basic Downsean framework to encompass distinct sectors within a political system. The basic elements of the public choice tradition are well known. We mention only one or two highlights to show how the present paper extends this framework.
Economists concerned with public choice, from Buchanan, Tullock, Downs, and Olsen have largely operated with an assumption of methodological individualism.
Polysaccharide degradation in waterlogged oak wood from the ancient warship Vasa
Authors: Lindfors Eva-Lisa , Lindström Mikael , Iversen Tommy 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
A rather extensive degradation of cellulose and hemicelluloses was found in waterlogged oak wood samples from the ancient warship Vasa by size exclusion chromatography with the solvent system lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc). The degradation has mainly occurred after salvage of the wreck, probably as a consequence of keeping iron contaminated wood in contact with air. The most likely explanation is Fenton type of reactions degrading the wood polymers and oxidising reduced sulphur forms to sulphuric acid. An increased degradation rate of the Vasa wood can be anticipated in the future if the sulphuric acid cannot be neutralised and the oxidative reactions cannot be quenched.
Adhesive penetration of wood cell walls investigated by scanning thermal microscopy (SThM)
Authors: Konnerth Johannes , Harper David , Lee Seung-Hwan , Rials Timothy G. , Gindl Wolfgang 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Cross sections of wood adhesive bonds were studied by scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) with the aim of scrutinizing the distribution of adhesive in the bond line region. The distribution of thermal conductivity, as well as temperature in the bond line area, was measured on the surface by means of a nanofabricated thermal probe offering high spatial and thermal resolution. Both the thermal conductivity and the surface temperature measurements were found suitable to differentiate between materials in the bond region, i.e., adhesive, cell walls and embedding epoxy. Of the two SThM modes available, the surface temperature mode provided images with superior optical contrast. The results clearly demonstrate that the polyurethane adhesive did not cause changes of thermal properties in wood cell walls with adhesive contact. By contrast, cell walls adjacent to a phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde adhesive showed distinctly changed thermal properties, which is attributed to the presence of adhesive in the wood cell wall.