bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of clinical improvement and quality of life before and after tonsillectomy
Authors: Akgun D , Seymour F K , Qayyum A , Crystal R , Frosh A 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjective:To assess clinical improvement and quality of life measures in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent acute and chronic tonsillitis between March 2004 and March 2005.Method:A retrospective survey of all adults and children who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent acute and chronic tonsillitis. Patients were asked to compare their symptoms for the 12-month period before and after tonsillectomy.Results:A review of 100 patients revealed that, following tonsillectomy: their days off work (or school) due to sore throat reduced by 95.3 per cent (from a mean of 27.6 to 1.3 days; confidence intervals 89.7 and 99.6 per cent); their visits to their general practitioner due to sore throat reduced by 95.6 per cent (from a mean of 7.9 to 0.4 visits; confidence intervals 93.8 and 95.1 per cent); and more than 90 per cent reported improved feelings of well-being, general health and energy.Conclusion:We conclude that tonsillectomy is of benefit for patients with recurrent acute and chronic tonsillitis. Tonsillectomy significantly reduced general practitioner attendances and resulted in an improved feeling of health and well-being.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours of the infraorbital nerve: case report and literature review
Authors: Beegun I , Bottrill I D , Hollowood K 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjective:We report a case of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour seen in our department.Method:We present case reports and a review of the world literature concerning malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour.Results:A 38-year-old Caucasian woman was diagnosed with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the infraorbital nerve. She underwent a wide enbloc resection followed by a course of radiotherapy. A five-year post-operative magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed no evidence of recurrence.Conclusion:Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours are rare in the head and neck. An awareness of their occurrence is important for early diagnosis. Management involves: accurate histological diagnosis; radiological imaging to define tumour extent and plan resection; wide surgical excision with histologically negative margins; reconstruction of the tissue defect; and post-operative radiotherapy.
Familial cholesteatoma in East Anglia, UK
Authors: Prinsley P 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjective:To report a cluster of families affected by cholesteatoma in the East Anglia region of the UK.Setting:Otology service for the population of Norfolk and North Suffolk, East Anglia, UK.Method:Prospective and systematic collection of family history data for patients presenting with cholesteatoma over 10 years.Result:Several families were identified with affected individuals over several generations.Conclusion:There is likely to be a genetic propensity for cholesteatoma in some individuals.
Using the processus cochleariformis as a multipurpose landmark in middle cranial fossa surgery
Authors: Ulug T 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjective:To demonstrate that the anatomical structure known as the processus cochleariformis, with its intimate and constant relationships to inner-ear structures, can be used as a reliable landmark during middle cranial fossa surgery, alone or in conjunction with other landmarks.Study design:An anatomical study using cadaveric temporal bones to define six reproducible measurements that relate the processus cochleariformis to inner-ear structures, and to define 14 other measurements that relate inner-ear structures to adjacent structures within the intact bone.Method:Using 10 cadaver specimens, 20 reproducible measurements were defined. The first six of these defined the relation of the processus cochleariformis to inner-ear structures in the middle cranial fossa approach. The other measurements defined the exact location of the inner-ear structures and adjacent structures within the intact bone.Results:The vertical crest lies at a 20° angle from the processus cochleariformis to the coronal plane, and at a distance of 5 to 6 mm from the processus cochleariformis. The point at which the medial margin of the basal turn of the cochlea crosses the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve lies at a 0° angle from the processus cochleariformis to the coronal plane, and at a distance of 6.5 to 7.5 mm from the processus cochleariformis. The superior semicircular canal lies at a 45° angle from the processus cochleariformis to the coronal plane. The other measurements obtained give important clues about the position of the cochlea, vestibulum, greater superficial petrosal nerve and labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve.Conclusions:If the classical landmarks are indiscernible during middle cranial fossa surgery, then the processus cochleariformis, with its intimate and constant relationships to inner-ear structures, is a safe and constant landmark.
On the effect of baryon loading in magnetized counterstreaming plasmas. II. Particle-in-cell simulations
Authors: TAUTZ R. C. , SAKAI J.-I. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAssuming a non-relativistic three species electron–positron–ion plasma, the counterstreaming instability is investigated for waves propagating parallel and perpendicular to a homogeneous background magnetic field. To support previous analytical investigations (Tautz and Sakai 2007), the instability is investigated by means of self-consistent particle-in-cell simulations. It is shown that the presence of a third particle species is responsible for a variety of new features that cannot be seen either from an electron–ion plasma or for an electron–positron plasma.
Finite entropy for multidimensional cellular automata
Authors: MEYEROVITCH TOM 
Published: May 2008

AbstractLet $X=S^{\mathbb {G}}$ where $\mathbb {G}$ is a countable group and S is a finite set. A cellular automaton (CA) is an endomorphism T:X→X (continuous, commuting with the action of $\mathbb {G}$). Shereshevsky [Expansiveness, entropy and polynomial growth for groups acting on subshifts by automorphisms. Indag. Math. (N.S.)4(2) (1993), 203–210] proved that for $\mathbb {G}=\mathbb {Z}^d$ with d>1 no CA can be forward expansive, raising the following conjecture: for $G=\mathbb {Z}^d$, d>1, the topological entropy of any CA is either zero or infinite. Morris and Ward [Entropy bounds for endomorphisms commuting with K actions. Israel J. Math. 106 (1998), 1–11] proved this for linear CAs, leaving the original conjecture open. We show that this conjecture is false, proving that for any d there exists a d-dimensional CA with finite, non-zero topological entropy. We also discuss a measure-theoretic counterpart of this question for measure-preserving CAs.
Formal classification of unfoldings of parabolic diffeomorphisms
Authors: RIBÓN JAVIER 
Published: May 2008

AbstractWe provide a complete system of invariants for the formal classification of unfoldings φ(x,x1,…,xn)=(f(x,x1,…,xn),x1,…,xn) of complex analytic germs of diffeomorphisms at $({\mathbb C},0)$ that are tangent to the identity. We reduce the formal classification problem to solving a linear differential equation. Then we describe the formal invariants; their nature depends on the position of the fixed points set Fix φ with respect to the regular vector field ∂/∂x. We get invariants specifically attached to higher dimension (n≥3), although generically they are analogous to the one-dimensional ones.
The existence of measures of a given cocycle, II: probability measures
Authors: MILLER BENJAMIN 
Published: May 2008

AbstractGiven a Polish space X, a countable Borel equivalence relation E on X, and a Borel cocycle $\rho : E \rightarrow (0, \infty )$, we characterize the circumstances under which there is a probability measure μ on X such that ρ(ϕ−1(x),x)=[d(ϕ*μ)/dμ](x) μ-almost everywhere, for every Borel injection ϕ whose graph is contained in E.
On the set of the logarithm of the LMO invariant for integral homology 3-spheres
Authors: TAKATA TOSHIE 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe LMO invariant is a very strong invariant such that it is expected to classify integral homology 3-spheres. In this paper we identify the set of the degree ≤ 6 parts of the logarithm of the LMO invariant for integral homology 3-spheres. As an application, we obtain a complete set of relations which characterize the set of Ohtsuki's invariants {λi(M)} fori≤ 6. For any simple Lie algebra$\frak{g}$, we also obtain a complete set of relations which characterize the set of perturbativeP$\frak{g}$invariants {$\lambda^{\frakg}_i$(M)} fori≤ 3.
Census of the Southern Giant Petrel population of the Falkland Islands 2004/2005
Authors: Reid Tim A. , Huin Nic 
Published: May 2008

AbstractA complete census was taken of all colonies of Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus within the Falkland Islands in 2004/05. The breeding population of the islands was estimated to be approximately 19,529 pairs (range 18,420–20,377). Southern Giant Petrels were found to breed in 38 locations around the islands, with colony size varying from one to 10,936. The majority of colonies were concentrated around the south of Falkland Sound, and to the west of West Falkland. Whilst there has been no previous census of the total population of the islands, there is a strong indication that the population has increased since the 1950s. The reasons for such an increase in population remain unclear in light of current knowledge. Development of our understanding of the breeding biology and demography of this species in the Falkland Islands is necessary, as is the need to conduct such a census every five years, with a few key colonies to be monitored every season. From the results obtained here, the conservation status of the Southern Giant Petrel, currently listed as ‘Vulnerable’, could be downgraded to ‘Near Threatened’.
Population abundance and biomass of large-bodied birds in Amazonian flooded and unflooded forests
Authors: Haugaasen Torbjørn , Peres Carlos A. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractLittle is known about the contribution of different forest types to the beta-diversity, abundance and biomass of the avifauna in lowland Amazonia. This paper presents data on the large-bodied bird assemblages of adjacent upland (terra firme) and seasonally flooded (várzea and igapó) forests in the lower Rio Purús region of central-western Brazilian Amazonia. We focus our analysis on 23 large-bodied canopy and terrestrial bird species from 10 families, on the basis of 2,044 bird sightings obtained during line-transect censuses conducted over a two-year period. Large toucans comprised the most numerically abundant large birds in terra firme and igapó forests, whereas macaws were the most abundant in nutrient-rich várzea forests that were seasonally inundated by white-water. The aggregate population density of all bird species in terra firme forest was slightly higher than that in várzea forest. Igapó forest, which was seasonally inundated by black-water, sustained the lowest population densities. Terra firme and várzea forests differed considerably in species composition and abundance whereas igapó forest shared many species with both terra firme and várzea. Our results suggest that Amazonian floodplain forests play a major role in the persistence and community dynamics of the large-bodied forest birds.Pouco se sabe sobre a contribuição de diferentes tipos de florestas aos padrões de beta-diversidade, abundância e biomassa da avifauna na região amazônica. Este artigo apresenta dados à respeito das aves de médio a grande porte em florestas de terra firme e florestas adjacentes sujeitas a inundação sazonal (várzea e igapó) na região do baixo Rio Purús da Amazonia centro-ocidental. Nossa análise, baseada num total de 2,044 observações obtidas durante censos ao longo de transectos, foi direcionada a 23 espécies de aves de médio a grande porte pertencentes a 10 famílias. As aves mais abundantes em florestas de terra firme e igapó foram os tucanos, e as araras as mais abundantes em florestas de várzea. A densidade de população agregada de todas as espécies na terra firme foi ligeiramente mais elevada do que na várzea. A floresta de igapó sustentaram as mais baixas densidades populacionais. Terra firme e várzea diferem consideravelmente na composição e abundância de espécies, visto que a avifauna do igapó é intermediária entre a da terra firme e a da várzea. Os resultados sugerem que as florestas inundáveis tem uma papel muito importante na manutenção das comunidades de aves de grande porte na Amazônia, e pricipalmente aquelas espécies que usam grandes mosaicos de floresta.
Cost, performance and portfolio composition of small pension funds in Australia
Authors: SY WILSON 
Published: May 2008

AbstractCompared with large institutional pension funds, there is relatively little published research on small funds, which are defined in the Australian superannuation legislation as pension funds with less than five members. Small funds account for more than 20% of total pension assets and they are one of the fastest growing sectors and therefore play a significant part in the savings strategy for national retirement income. This paper contributes to the needed research by analysing the more granular audited accounting data collected for the subset of small funds regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) over the last few years. The analysis provides new insights into the operating costs involved in running the funds, the investment performances and portfolio compositions of Small APRA Funds (SAF).
Adrenaline reveals the torsadogenic effect of combined blockade of potassium channels in anaesthetized guinea pigs
Authors: Michael G , Kane K A , Coker S J 
Published: May 2008

Background and purpose:Torsade de pointes (TdP) can be induced in several species by a reduction in cardiac repolarizing capacity. The aim of this study was to assess whether combinedIKrandIKsblockade could induce TdP in anaesthetized guinea pigs and whether short‐term variability (STV) or triangulation of action potentials could predict TdP.Experimental approach:Experiments were performed in open‐chest, pentobarbital‐anaesthetized, adrenaline‐stimulated male Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs, which received three consecutive i.v. infusions of either vehicle, theIKrblocker E‐4031 (3, 10 and 30 nmol kg−1 min−1), theIKsblocker HMR1556 (75, 250, 750 nmol kg−1 min−1) or E‐4031 and HMR1556 combined. Phenylephrine‐stimulated guinea pigs were also treated with the K+channel blockers in combination. Arterial blood pressure, ECGs and epicardial monophasic action potential (MAP) were recorded.Key results:TdP was observed in 75% of adrenaline‐stimulated guinea pigs given the K+channel blockers in combination, but was not observed in guinea pigs treated with eitherIKblocker alone, or in phenylephrine‐stimulated guinea pigs. Salvos and ventricular tachycardia occurred with adrenaline but not with phenylephrine. No changes in STV or triangulation of the MAP signals were observed before TdP.Conclusions and implications:Combined blockade of bothIKrandIKsplus the addition of adrenaline were required to induce TdP in anaesthetized guinea pigs. This suggests that there must be sufficient depletion of repolarization reserve and an appropriate trigger for TdP to occur.British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)154, 1414–1426; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.169; published online 19 May 2008
The selective MMP‐12 inhibitor, AS111793 reduces airway inflammation in mice exposed to cigarette smoke
Authors: Le Quément C , Guénon I , Gillon J‐Y , Valença S , Cayron‐Elizondo V , Lagente V , Boichot E 
Published: May 2008

Background:Macrophage elastase (MMP‐12) is involved in the inflammatory process of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to investigate in mice the effect of MMP‐12 inhibition on the inflammatory process induced by cigarette smoke (CS) or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure of the airways.Experimental approach:C57BL/6 mice were given, orally, either the selective MMP‐12 inhibitor AS111793 (3, 10, 30 and 100 mg kg−1), the PDE‐4 inhibitor roflumilast (3 mg kg−1) or vehicle, then exposed to CS (for 3 days) or to LPS (100 μg mL−1, 30 min). Subsequent to the last smoke or LPS exposure, bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) were performed and lungs were removed and homogenized to analyze various markers of inflammation at appropriate times.Key results:Inhibition of MMP‐12 by AS111793 (10 and 30 mg kg−1) was associated with a reduction of the increase in neutrophil number in BAL fluids after 4 days and of macrophages after 11 days. On day 4, AS111793 also significantly reduced all the inflammation markers that had increased after CS exposure, including soluble TNF receptors I and II, MIP‐1γ, IL‐6 and pro‐MMP‐9 activity in BAL fluids, and KC/CXCL1, fractalkine/CX3CL1, TIMP‐1 and I‐TAC/CXCL11 in lung parenchyma. In contrast, inhibition of MMP‐12 did not reduce neutrophil influx, pro‐MMP‐9 activity or KC/CXCL1 release in BAL fluids of mice exposed to LPS.Conclusion:Inhibition of MMP‐12 with AS111793, reduced the inflammatory process associated with exposure of mice to CS, strongly suggesting a specific involvement of MMP‐12 in lung inflammation following CS exposure.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 1206–1215; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.180; published online 19 May 2008
Predicting drug‐induced changes in QT interval and arrhythmias: QT‐shortening drugs point to gaps in the ICHS7B Guidelines
Authors: Lu H R , Vlaminckx E , Hermans A N , Rohrbacher J , Van Ammel K , Towart R , Pugsley M , Gallacher D J 
Published: May 2008

Background and purpose:The regulatory guidelines (ICHS7B) recommending inhibition of the delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr), carried by human ether‐a‐go‐go‐related gene (hERG) channels in cardiac cells (the hERG test), as a ‘first line’ test for identifying compounds inducing QT prolongation, have limitations, some of which are outlined here.Experimental approach:hERG current was measured in HEK293 cells, stably transfected with hERG channels; action potential duration (APD) and arrhythmogenic effects were measured in isolated Purkinje fibres and perfused hearts from rabbits.Key results:576 compounds were screened in the hERG test: 58% were identified as hERG inhibitors, 39% had no effect and 3% were classified as stimulators. Of the hERG inhibitors, 92 were tested in the APD assay: 55.4% of these prolonged APD, 28.3% had no effect and 16.3% shortened APD. Of the 70 compounds without effect on hERG channels, 54.3% did not affect APD, 25.7% prolonged, while 20% significantly shortened APD. Dofetilide (hERG inhibitor; IC50, 29 nM) prolonged QT and elicited early after‐depolarizations and/or torsade de pointes (TdP) in isolated hearts. Mallotoxin and NS1643 (hERG current stimulators at 3 μM), levcromakalim and nicorandil (no effect on hERG current), all significantly shortened APD and QT, and elicited ventricular fibrillation (VF) in isolated hearts.Conclusion and implications:The hERG assay alone did not adequately identify drugs inducing QT prolongation. It is also important to detect drug‐induced QT shortening, as this effect is associated with a potential risk for ventricular tachycardia and VF, the latter being invariably fatal, whereas TdP has an ∼15–25% incidence of death. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 1427–1438; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.191; published online 19 May 2008
Plant nutrient use efficiency in organic farming - consequences of exclusive use of organic manures and untreated minerals.
Authors: Kirchmann H. , Ryan M. H. , Bergström L. 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
On organic farms, nutrients are applied in organic or sparingly soluble inorganic form, with plants receiving the nutrients they require indirectly through the action of soil microbes. This review examines the implications of exclusive use of organic fertilizers for the sustainability of farming systems, primarily using examples from two contrasting regions, Europe and Australia. In both these regions, mean yields are generally 25-65% lower on organic farms than on conventional farms, primarily because of decreases in plant-available nutrients that cannot be overcome by enhancement of the soil biological community. Overall nutrient inputs are lower on organic farms, although organic farms in Europe are increasingly applying approved commercial fertilizers. However, these inputs simply allow organic farms to acquire nutrients originating from conventional systems. If organic crop production were to be widely adopted, lower yields would require more land (33-100%) to maintain current production levels. In Europe, organic farming increases nitrate leaching, especially if expressed per unit of food produced, because of lower N use efficiency by plants. Despite their aim of maximizing nutrient recycling, organic farming systems recycle only on-farm waste and approved food waste, with most types of municipal waste excluded due to concerns about pollutants. Readily soluble inorganic fertilizers can be extracted from municipal wastes through new nutrient recovery technologies, but current regulations do not allow their use in organic cropping systems. In conclusion, promotion of organic principles does not improve use and cycling of nutrients and does not reduce leaching of nutrients, but excludes other more effective solutions for nutrient use in agricultural systems.
Approaches to TMDL planning and implementation and policy tools for implementation to achieve water quality standards.
Authors: Jesiek J. B. , Benham B. L. , Bosch D. J. , Stephenson K. 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
This review is based primarily on information gathered in the TMDL Knowledgebase Clearinghouse developed by the Center for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Watershed Studies at Virginia Tech. The TMDL programme has received renewed attention since the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published revised guidelines in 1991. Under the TMDL programme, pollutant-specific TMDLs are developed for impaired waters. A TMDL specifies the pollutant load reductions needed to achieve water quality standards. The magnitude and distribution of the load reductions among pollution sources can have implications for watershed stakeholders. Implementing the TMDL load reductions is the responsibility of the individual US states. Adaptive implementation occurs when limited corrective actions designed to improve water quality are implemented using available information and data; and as information and data availability improve implementation adjustments are made, i.e. 'learn while doing'. While several policy tools are available to ensure that corrective actions are implemented, economic incentives are most often used, particularly for non-point source pollution sources. Typically, successful TMDL implementation depends on careful planning and stakeholder engagement. However, meaningful stakeholder engagement requires that stakeholders be empowered to make decisions about outcomes relevant to their goals, which may be problematic given the narrow way the TMDL process is currently enacted. Planning using watershed-scale models to assess plausible load reduction scenarios is most likely to produce credible TMDL pollutant load estimates. Models should be coupled with adaptive implementation so that pollutant load estimates can be revised as better information becomes available. TMDL implementation plans should consider both barriers to and opportunities for implementation.