bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predisposing and Enabling Factors Associated with Mammography Use Among Hispanic and Non‐Hispanic White Women Living in a Rural Area
Authors: Tejeda Silvia , Thompson Beti , Coronado Gloria D. , Martin Diane P. , Heagerty Patrick J. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT:
Context: Women who do not receive regular mammograms are more likely than others to have breast cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage. Purpose: To examine predisposing and enabling factors associated with mammography use among Hispanic and non‐Hispanic White women. Methods: Baseline data were used from a larger study on cancer prevention in rural Washington state. In a sample of 20 communities, 537 women formed the sample for this study. The main outcomes were ever having had a mammogram and having had a mammogram within the past 2 years. Findings: Reporting ever having had a mammogram was inversely associated with lack of health insurance (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.16‐0.84), ages under 50 years (OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.12‐0.45), high cost of exams (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.27‐0.87), and lack of mammography knowledge (OR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.07‐0.37), while increasing education levels were positively associated (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.09‐2.70). Reporting mammography use within the past 2 years was inversely associated with ages under 50 years (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27‐0.88) and over 70 years (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.24‐0.94), lack of health insurance (OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.10‐0.50), and high cost of exams (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35‐0.87). Conclusions: Continued resources and programs for cancer screening are needed to improve mammography participation among women without health insurance or low levels of education.
Driving standards in tracheostomy care: a preliminary communication of the St Mary’s ENT‐led multi disciplinary team approach
Authors: Arora A. , Hettige R. , Ifeacho S. , Narula A. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives:  To assess tracheostomy care and improve standards following the introduction of an ENT‐led multidisciplinary tracheostomy ward round service.Design:  Prospective third cycle audit.Setting:  Tertiary academic London hospital serving an inner city population of multi‐ethnic background (St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London).Participants:  Patients with a tracheostomy discharged from ITU to general wards.Implemented actions:  • Establishment of an ENT‐led Tracheostomy Multidisciplinary Team (TMDT).• Weekly TMDT ward round to manage patients with a tracheostomy.• ENT‐led educational and training sessions for allied healthcare professionals.Main outcome measures:  Compliance with local tracheostomy care guidelines (St Mary’s tracheostomy care bundle) and time to tracheostomy tube decannulation.Results:  Preliminary results of 10 patients show improved compliance with tracheostomy care guidelines, established in 2004, rising to 94%. Average time to decannulation was significantly reduced from 21 to 5 days (P‐value = 0.0005, Mann Whitney Wilcoxon Test). The mean total tracheostomy time was reduced from 34 to 24 days although this was not statistically significant (P‐value = 0.13, Mann Whitney Wilcoxon Test).Conclusions:  The introduction of regular ENT‐led multidisciplinary input for patients with a tracheostomy significantly improved compliance with nursing care standards. There was also a reduction in the total length of time tracheostomy tubes remain in situ, with time to decannulation significantly reduced.
The effect of hand dominance on recurrent idiopathic paediatric epistaxis1
Authors: Joice P. , Ross P. , Robertson G. , White P. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives:  No published data exists to support the belief that nose picking contributes to recurrent idiopathic paediatric epistaxis. If nose picking is implicated then there may be a higher incidence of epistaxis on the side of the dominant hand. The objective of the study was to determine whether nose picking has a significant role in paediatric epistaxis by comparing hand dominance and side of epistaxis.Design and setting:  A prospective, consecutive cohort of new epistaxis referrals to a tertiary paediatric centre over a 14‐month period were assessed for hand dominance and reported side of the epistaxis. The presence of septal excoriation, crusting and prominent blood vessels was also recorded.Participants:  One hundred and forty‐eight new epistaxis referrals.Main outcome measures:  Dominant hand, side of epistaxis history and side of positive examination findings.Results:  No statistically significant association between hand dominance and either epistaxis history or examination findings was identified. A statistically significant association between epistaxis history and examination findings was identified P < 0.001, K = 0.614, SE 0.571.Conclusions:  The study does not provide evidence to support the belief that paediatric epistaxis is influenced by nose picking. The study provides evidence that patients’ epistaxis history and positive examination findings are a consistent marker of previous epistaxis.
Towards peptide‐based 2D and 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering in Otolaryngology
Authors: Abelardo E. , Banwell E. , Birchall M. , Woolfson D. 
Published: December 2008

Background.  There is no ideal substitute for the extracellular matrix (ECM) in tissue engineering. We aim to develop peptide‐based fibrous and hydrogel materials as potential scaffolds for 2‐/3‐D culture in vitro and in vivo.Methods.  Unlike other peptide scaffolds, we employed a system using α‐helical units with two complementary peptides, which combine to yield a sticky ended building block for fibre assembly (self‐assembly fibres, SAFs). This allows control over assembly, and brings utility as either peptide can be complemented or replaced by targeted bioactive peptides to alter morphology and/or add function.Results.  Our first designs, standard SAFs, exclusively rendered thickened, lengthened and stiff fibres (dimensions ≅ 50 nm × 10 μm) that settled out of solution. In recent designs (hSAFs), the solvent‐exposed surfaces of the α‐helices were engineered to promote fibre–fibre interactions and gel formation.Conclusions.  We have produced a series of responsive materials with properties of interest in the search for an ideal ECM replacement. These designs give hSAFs great promise for future human application, such as laryngeal nerve repair, tissue engineering support or vocal lamina propria replacement.
Diagnosis of laryngotracheal stenosis during routine spirometry using the ‘Expiratory Disproportion Index’
Authors: Nouraei S.A.R. , Murphy K. , Nouraei S.M. , Patel A. , Cummin A.R. , Howard D.J. , Sandhu G.S. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives.  Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is an under‐recognized cause of dyspnoea and ‘wheeze’. Early treatment improves outcome while diagnostic failure leads to treatment for presumed ‘resistant’ broncho‐pulmonary pathology which increases morbidity and places the patient at ongoing risk of acute‐on‐chronic airway obstruction. The diagnostic challenge of LTS, which is an uncommon cause of a common clinical presentation lies in identifying index cases without having to subject masses of patients to unnecessary and invasive tests. We evaluated the utility of spirometry, particularly the ‘Expiratory Disproportion Index’ (EDI) in differentiating between LTS and other respiratory conditions.Methods.  Diagnostic utility of EDI (FEV1/PEFR) was investigated in 9621 patients, including 3118 volunteers, 3461 patients with COPD, 1650 asthmatics, 920 patients with pulmonary fibroses, 332 patients with rare lung diseases, and 140 patients with LTS. The dataset was randomly spliced. One set was used for diagnostic rule extraction and the second for validation.Results.  Area under the ROC curve for differentiating LTS from other broncho‐pulmonary diagnoses was 0.985 ± 0.011. At a threshold of 9, sensitivity of 93.4% and specificity of 96.8% were achieved. There was a significant correlation between residual tracheal cross‐section and EDI (r = 0.61; P < 0.0001).Conclusions.  EDI is a sensitive and specific spirometric test for LTS and can reliably rule in or rule out this diagnosis. It is based on PEFR‐FEV1 disproportionation, which almost exclusively occurs in patients with supra‐carinal stenosis. We recommend its use for screening defined at‐risk populations like post‐intensive‐care and Wegener's patients, and suggest more general application in evaluating patients with dyspnoea.
Contamination of postoperative head and neck wounds with urogenital microbes
Authors: Anwar M. , Awad Z. , Ghufoor K. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives.  To investigate the impact of mixing surgical subspecialty patients on postoperative wound infections.Method.  A retrospective analysis of postoperative wound infections in head and neck surgery patients before and after mixing them with urology patients. We selected two periods that are identical in duration and seasonal spread. The first was from March 2005 to November 2005 and the second was from March 2006 to November 2006.Results.  1381 patients underwent head and neck surgery at our institute in the two periods; 705 in the first and 676 in the second. The number of patients with positive swabs was 19 (2.7%) in the first group and 28 (4.1%) in the second group. Positive swabs (infective episodes) increased from 93 (13.2%) to 135 (20%) and the monthly breakdown of the two periods showed a statistically significant increase (P = 0.047). Urogenital microorganisms were the main factor contributing to the increase in wound infection rates in the second period (P = 0.008). Other organisms like MRSA, remained statistically unchanged (P = 0.464).Conclusions.  We recommend that head and neck surgery patients are better managed on separate wards. If this is not possible, extra attention should be paid to prevent cross infection. Clinicians must have a low threshold of suspecting relevant microorganisms when other specialty patients are on the same ward.
Developing an Effective Romani Integration Strategy: Experiences of Ethnoculturally Neutral and Specific Policies in the Czech Republic1
Authors: Cashman Laura 
Published: December 2008

AbstractWhile the question of how to integrate Romani communities has increased in political significance since the 1990s, a consensus has yet to be reached on how best to design integration policies for such a heterogeneous group of people. This article examines debates on whether ethnoculturally specific or neutral policies are more appropriate. Using the Czech Romani integration policy as a case study, it identifies as a significant problem the conflation of the Romani ethnic identity with the low socio‐economic status of many (but not all) Roma. This has led to a policy focus on programmes to tackle social deprivation rather than addressing the discrimination which affects all Roma regardless of class. As a consequence of the decentralisation of power in the Czech Republic and the ingrained nature of anti‐Romani prejudice, policies, whether ethnoculturally neutral or specific, will be implemented or rejected at the local level on the basis of local priorities.
Civic and Ethnic Conceptions of Nationhood on the Peruvian–Chilean Frontier, 1880–1930*
Authors: Skuban William E. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractUsing Hans Kohn's classic distinction between the Western, political, or civic model of nationalism, and the Eastern, genealogical, or ethnic model, this article analyses the process of nationalism during perhaps the most contentious border dispute in South American history: the Peruvian–Chilean frontier after the War of the Pacific (1879–1883). This article argues that while Kohn's modular dichotomy remains analytically useful in isolating the principles arbitrarily used by Chilean and Peruvian political elites in their official national projects, it underestimates the ways in which various sectors of local society responded to, rejected, or renegotiated these projects.
Transnationalism and the Development of the Deterritorialised Tongan Nation‐State
Authors: Wallis Joanne 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe Kingdom of Tonga is commonly referred to as a ‘small island developing state’, and is consequently said to experience challenges that hinder its development. Yet significant levels of Tongan migration – and subsequent remittances – have led commentators to challenge this pessimistic view. In particular, Tonga has been characterised as a ‘deterritorialised nation‐state’, whereby the ‘state’ remains the geographically bounded territory of Tonga; while the ‘nation‐state’ consists of all Tongans, including those overseas. This article seeks to build on previous literature to provide a detailed consideration of how the deterritorialised Tongan nation‐state works in relation to the different dimensions of Tongan life.
The Importance of Culture in Civic Nations: Culture and the Republic in France
Authors: Martigny Vincent 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis article discusses Hans Kohn's argument that civic nations pay little attention to cultural claims in their definition and practice of citizenship, by looking at the political system in France and its relation to culture. Contrary to Kohn's analysis, culture has played – and still plays – a fundamental role in the definition and modus vivendi of the civic republic in France, through a form of cultural nationalism implemented by the state. It is also argued that the opposition between civic and ethno‐cultural nations can be misguided. Indeed the French civic nation can be conceived of as ‘cultural’ while rejecting ethnicity in its definition of citizenship. This calls for the redefinition of Kohn's dichotomy and mismatch between culture and ethnicity.
Ethno‐Religious Identity and Sectarian Civil Society: A Case from India
Authors: Sahoo Sarbeswar 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis paper analyses the role of Rajasthan Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad (RVKP), an ethnic Hindu(tva) organisation, among the tribal populations in south Rajasthan. It argues that the RVKP has been able to enhance its legitimacy and expand its socio‐political support base among the tribals through a well‐articulated and planned process of ‘ethnification’. This process has been carried out in four basic ways: (1) utilising development projects as means to spread the ideology of Hindutva, (2) bringing religious awakening and organising mass re‐conversion programmes, (3) redefining indigenous identity and characterising certain communities as ‘the other’, and (4) with the support of the various state institutions. The paper concludes that by ethnicising indigenous identity, the RVKP has not just created a ‘culture of fear and violence’ in the tribal regions but also threatened the secular democratic ethos of Indian society.
Obtaining a Relationship Between Process Parameters and Fracture Characteristics for Hybrid CO2 Laser∕Waterjet Machining of Ceramics
Authors: Kalyanasundaram Dinesh , Shrotriya Pranav , Molian Pal 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
A combined experimental and analytical approach is undertaken to identify the relationship between process parameters and fracture behavior in the cutting of a 1mm thick alumina samples by a hybrid CO2 laser∕waterjet (LWJ) manufacturing process. In LWJ machining, a 200W power laser was used for local heating followed by waterjet quenching of the sample surface leading to thermal shock fracture in the heated zone. Experimental results indicate three characteristic fracture responses: scribing, controlled separation, and uncontrolled fracture. A Green’s function based approach is used to develop an analytical solution for temperatures and stress fields generated in the workpiece during laser heating and subsequent waterjet quenching along the machining path. Temperature distribution was experimentally measured using thermocouples and compared with analytical predictions in order to validate the model assumptions. Computed thermal stress fields are utilized to determine the stress intensity factor and energy release rate for different configurations of cracks that caused scribing or separation of the workpiece. Calculated crack driving forces are compared with fracture toughness and critical energy release rates to predict the equilibrium crack length for scribed samples and the process parameters associated with transition from scribing to separation. Both of these predictions are in good agreement with experimental observations. An empirical parameter is developed to identify the transition from controlled separation to uncontrolled cracking because the equilibrium crack length based analysis is unable to predict this transition. Finally, the analytical model and empirical parameter are utilized to create a map that relates the process parameters to the fracture behavior of alumina samples.
A Novel Insertion Mutation in
Streptomyces coelicolor
Ribosomal S12 Protein Results in Paromomycin Resistance and Antibiotic Overproduction
Authors: Wang Guojun , Inaoka Takashi , Okamoto Susumu , Ochi Kozo 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT

We identified a novel paromomycin resistance-associated mutation in
rpsL
, caused by the insertion of a glycine residue at position 92, in
Streptomyces coelicolor
ribosomal protein S12. This insertion mutation (GI92) resulted in a 20-fold increase in the paromomycin resistance level. In combination with another S12 mutation, K88E, the GI92 mutation markedly enhanced the production of the blue-colored polyketide antibiotic actinorhodin and the red-colored antibiotic undecylprodigiosin. The gene replacement experiments demonstrated that the K88E-GI92 double mutation in the
rpsL
gene was responsible for the marked enhancement of antibiotic production observed. Ribosomes with the K88E-GI92 double mutation were characterized by error restrictiveness (i.e., hyperaccuracy). Using a cell-free translation system, we found that mutant ribosomes harboring the K88E-GI92 double mutation but not ribosomes harboring the GI92 mutation alone displayed sixfold greater translation activity relative to that of the wild-type ribosomes at late growth phase. This resulted in the overproduction of actinorhodin, caused by the transcriptional activation of the pathway-specific regulatory gene
actII-orf4
, possibly due to the increased translation of transcripts encoding activators of
actII-orf4
. The mutant with the K88E-GI92 double mutation accumulated a high level of ribosome recycling factor at late stationary phase, underlying the high level of protein synthesis activity observed.
Oritavancin Kills Stationary-Phase and BiofilmStaphylococcus aureusCells In Vitro
Authors: Belley Adam , Neesham-Grenon Eve , McKay Geoffrey , Arhin Francis F. , Harris Robert , Beveridge Terry , Parr Thomas R. , Moeck Gregory 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTSlow-growing bacteria and biofilms are notoriously tolerant to antibiotics. Oritavancin is a lipoglycopeptide with multiple mechanisms of action that contribute to its bactericidal action against exponentially growing gram-positive pathogens, including the inhibition of cell wall synthesis and perturbation of membrane barrier function. We sought to determine whether oritavancin could eradicate cells known to be tolerant to many antimicrobial agents, that is, stationary-phase and biofilm cultures ofStaphylococcus aureusin vitro. Oritavancin exhibited concentration-dependent bactericidal activity against stationary-phase inocula of methicillin-susceptibleS. aureus(MSSA) ATCC 29213, methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) ATCC 33591, and vancomycin-resistantS. aureus(VRSA) VRS5 inoculated into nutrient-depleted cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth. As has been described for exponential-phase cells, oritavancin induced membrane depolarization, increased membrane permeability, and caused ultrastructural defects including a loss of nascent septal cross walls in stationary-phase MSSA. Furthermore, oritavancin sterilized biofilms of MSSA, MRSA, and VRSA at minimal biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs) of between 0.5 and 8 μg/ml. Importantly, MBECs for oritavancin were within 1 doubling dilution of their respective planktonic broth MICs, highlighting the potency of oritavancin against biofilms. These results demonstrate a significant activity of oritavancin againstS. aureusin phases of growth that exhibit tolerance to other antimicrobial agents.
Antibiotic Resistance in Urinary Isolates of
Escherichia coli
from College Women with Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Olson Ronald P. , Harrell Lizzie J. , Kaye Keith S. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT

Of 176 urine isolates from female students positive for
Escherichia coli
, 29.6% were trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistant and none were nitrofurantoin resistant. Among students with a history of urinary tract infection (UTI) (
n
= 119), resistance to ciprofloxacin was 11.8%, compared to 1.8% among those without prior UTI. Nitrofurantoin should be considered for empirical therapy of lower tract UTI.
Praziquantel Affects the Regulatory Myosin Light Chain of
Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Gnanasekar Munirathinam , Salunkhe Ashok M. , Mallia A. Krishna , He Yi Xun , Kalyanasundaram Ramaswamy 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT

Praziquantel (PZQ) is the drug of choice for schistosomiasis and probably is the only highly effective drug currently available for treating schistosomiasis-infected individuals. The mode of action of PZQ involves increasing the calcium uptake of the parasite, resulting in tegumental damage and death of the parasite. Despite its remarkable function, the target of PZQ has not been identified yet. To begin to understand where PZQ acts, in this study we expressed the cDNA library of
Schistosoma mansoni
on the surface of T7 bacteriophages and screened this library with labeled PZQ. This procedure identified a clone that strongly bound to PZQ. Subsequent DNA analysis of inserts showed that the clone coded for regulatory myosin light chain protein. The gene was then cloned, and recombinant
S. mansoni
myosin light chain (SmMLC) was expressed. Immunoblot analysis using antibodies raised to recombinant SmMLC (rSmMLC) showed that SmMLC is abundantly expressed in schistosomula and adult stages compared to the amount in cercarial stages. In vitro analyses also confirmed that PZQ strongly binds to rSmMLC. Further, peptide mapping studies showed that PZQ binds to amino acids 46 to 76 of SmMLC. Immunoprecipitation analysis confirmed that SmMLC is phosphorylated in vivo upon exposure to PZQ. Interestingly, significant levels of anti-SmMLC antibodies were present in vaccinated mice compared to the amount in infected mice, suggesting that SmMLC may be a potential target for protective immunity in schistosomiasis. These findings suggest that PZQ affects SmMLC function, and this may have a role in PZQ action.