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Kinds of Short Terms modified by Short Selected AbstractsNordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2002): a new tool for surveying occupational skin diseases and exposureCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 2 2003P Susitaival Occupational skin diseases are among the most frequent work-related diseases in industrialized countries. Good occupational skin disease statistics exist in few countries. Questionnaire studies are needed to get more data on the epidemiology of occupational skin diseases. The Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire Group has developed a new questionnaire tool , Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2002) , for surveys on work-related skin disease and exposures to environmental factors. The 2 NOSQ-2002 questionnaires have been compiled by using existing questionnaires and experience. NOSQ-2002/SHORT is a ready-to-use 4-page questionnaire for screening and monitoring occupational skin diseases, e.g. in a population or workplace. All the questions in the short questionnaire (NOSQ-2002/SHORT) are included in the long version, NOSQ-2002/LONG, which contains a pool of questions to be chosen according to research needs and tailored to specific populations. The NOSQ-2002 report includes, in addition to the questionnaires, a comprehensive manual for researchers on planning and conducting a questionnaire survey on hand eczema and relevant exposures. NOSQ-2002 questionnaires have been compiled in English and translated into Danish, Swedish, Finnish and Icelandic. The use of NOSQ-2002 will benefit research on occupational skin diseases by providing more standardized data, which can be compared between studies and countries. [source] TWIN SONS OF DIFFERENT MOTHERS: THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF THE TWIN DEFICITS DEBATEECONOMIC INQUIRY, Issue 4 2009KEVIN GRIER Interest in the twin deficits hypothesis fluctuates in tandem with the U.S. current account deficit. Surprisingly though, a statistically robust relationship between budget and trade deficits has been difficult to pin down. We argue that a big part of this difficulty is due to the failure to allow for structural breaks in the series when (either explicitly or implicitly) modeling their time series properties. We show that both series are break stationary (and conditionally heteroskedastic) and argue that while there is no common pattern in the long run, the short-run dynamics reveal a sizeable and fairly persistent positive relationship between budget deficit shocks and current account deficit shocks. (JEL F41, E6, H6) [source] THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF FLAGELLAR LENGTH CONTROLJOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Peter L. Beech No abstract is available for this article. [source] DEMAND POLICIES FOR LONG-RUN GROWTH: BEING KEYNESIAN BOTH IN THE SHORT AND IN THE LONG RUN?METROECONOMICA, Issue 1 2007Article first published online: 8 FEB 200, Marco Missaglia ABSTRACT The idea of demand-led growth is defended by neo-Kaleckians and neo-Keynesians using very specific assumptions. In their models the paradox of costs is always valid in the long run. The central message of this paper is that these specific and strong assumptions are not needed to defend the Kaleckian perspective of a demand-driven long-run growth. What is needed is simply a less demanding theory of flexible mark-ups in an open economy. The formal model developed in this paper shows that long-run growth may be demand driven even when the paradox of costs does not hold in the long run. [source] The Effects of Ambulance Diversion: A Comprehensive ReviewACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2006Julius Cuong Pham MD Objectives To review the current literature on the effects of ambulance diversion (AD). Methods The authors performed a systematic review of AD and its effects. PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane database, societal meeting abstracts, and references from relevant articles were searched. All articles were screened for relevance to AD. Results The authors examined 600 citations and reviewed the 107 articles relevant to AD. AD is a common occurrence that is increasing in frequency. AD is associated with periods of emergency department (ED) crowding (Mondays, mid-afternoon to early evening, influenza season, and when hospitals are at capacity). Interventions that redesign the AD process or that provide additional hospital or ED resources reduce diversion frequency. AD is associated with increased patient transport times and time to thrombolytics but not with mortality. AD is associated with loss of estimated hospital revenues. Short of anecdotal or case reports, no studies measured the effect of AD on ED crowding, morbidity, patient and provider satisfaction, or EMS resource utilization. Conclusions Despite its common use, there is a relative paucity of studies on the effects of AD. Further research into these effects should be performed so that we may understand the role of AD in the health system. [source] Topical tacrolimus in the management of atopic dermatitis in JapanDERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 2 2006Masutaka Furue ABSTRACT:, Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic, relapsing, severely pruritic, eczematous skin disease. Topical steroids are the mainstay of treatment. However, the adverse effects of steroids on hormonal function are the major obstacle for their use as long-term topical therapy. Topical calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus, not only complement existing treatment options but also overcome some of the drawbacks of topical steroid therapy and fulfill the long-term needs of patients in preventing disease progression. Short- and long-term efficacy and safety of topical tacrolimus has been widely recognized and it is also accepted as a first-line treatment for the inflammation of AD. In order to reduce the possible long-term adverse effects, it is important to monitor the clinical dose in daily clinics. [source] Postnatal stress in mice: Does "stressing" the mother have the same effect as "stressing" the pups?DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2004A. Moles Abstract Short- and long-term effects of brief maternal separation, maternal exposure to novel male odor, and standard rearing were compared in NMRI mice. The first condition consisted of 15 min of daily exposure of pups to clean bedding (CB), and the second condition consisted of 15 min of mothers' exposure to the odor of strange males (SM), for 14 days after birth starting from postnatal Day 1. Thus, both conditions entailed the same period of maternal separation. A control mother,offspring group was left undisturbed (nonhandled, N-H). Corticosterone levels of mothers and pups were measured at the end of the last manipulation session. Corticosterone levels were higher in SM mothers, differing from both those of CB and of control dams; CB pups showed the highest corticosterone levels in comparison with the pups belonging to the other groups. Maternal behavior observed as furthest as possible from the daily separation session did not differ among the three groups. The behavioral response to 0.5 mg/kg of apomorphine in 15-day-old pups was enhanced in both CB and SM animals, which suggests an alteration of dopaminergic functioning. Finally, adult CB and SM male mice showed an increase in the percentage of time and entries into the open arms of the plus-maze in comparison to nonhandled males. This study indicates that exposure to ecologically relevant stimuli elicited a stress response in lactating dams. This "social stress" brings about short- and long-term effects in the offspring, even in the absence of any direct manipulation of the pups. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 44: 230,237, 2004. [source] Thoracoscopic enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma: a retrospective study on 40 casesDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 3 2009G. Jiang SUMMARY Esophageal leiomyoma is the most common benign esophageal tumor. Thoracoscopic enucleation is currently a preferred approach to most of these lesions. We present our experiences of enucleation of these tumors using thoracoscopic approach. A retrospective review of 40 patients who underwent enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma from 1997 to 2007 in our institute was conducted. Presenting symptoms, operative approach, tumor size, tumor shape, outcomes, and indication for this approach were analyzed. Forty patients were identified. Postoperative histopathology confirmed the leiomyoma in all patients. The thoracoscopic enucleation was completed in 34 cases, and the operation was converted to open procedure in six cases. Reasons for conversion included too small tumors to be visualized in two cases, thoracic cavity adhesion in one case, and the too large tumors in three cases. The median operating time was 70 min (50 to 210 min). Mean tumor size was 3.7 cm (0.5,10 cm). There were no major postoperative complications. Symptoms especially dysphasia were relieved postoperatively. Short- and long-term follow-up was satisfactory with none of the patients having tumor recurrences or other problems. Thoracoscopic enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma is technically safe and effective. It is currently the best choice for management of esophageal leiomyoma 1 to 5 cm in diameter. It can also be tried on a tumor larger than 5 cm, although the possibility of conversion to thoracotomy increases along with tumor growing and surrounding the esophagus. [source] Short and long term consequences of increases in exotic species richness on water filtration by marine invertebratesECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 8 2009Jarrett Byrnes Abstract Although recent research has considered the consequences of global declines in the number of species, less attention has focused on the aggregate effects of regional increases in species richness as a result of human-mediated introductions. Here we examine several potential ecosystem consequences of increasing exotic species diversity of suspension feeding marine invertebrates. First, we experimentally manipulated native and non-native suspension feeder richness and measured its effect on short-term phytoplankton clearance rates. Multispecies communities all performed similarly, regardless of whether they were dominated by natives, exotics, or an even mix of the two. Individual species varied considerably in filtration rates, but non-native species often filtered less than the most similar native. Second, we determined potential changes in integrated function over time by comparing seasonal patterns of recruitment as a proxy for the ability to quickly recover filtration capacity after a disturbance. We found that exotic species have complementary seasonal phenologies both to native species and each other. Our results suggest that the consequences of local increases in species richness due to invasions may be manifest over long (annual to interannual) time scales, even when short term changes in ecosystem function are negligible. [source] THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF OVERLAPPING JURISDICTIONS AND THE FRENCH/DUTCH REJECTION OF THE EU CONSTITUTIONECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 1 2006Jean-Luc Migué In seeking to protect their failed social model by rejecting the EU constitution, French and Dutch voters ironically contributed to promoting the very ,liberal' order they misunderstand and despise. When, as in federalist politics, functions overlap, two levels of government compete for the same votes in the same territory in the supply of similar services. Not unlike the tragedy of the commons in oil extraction, it is in the interest of both political authorities to seek to gain votes in implementing the programme first. The overall equilibrium supply of public services is excessive and both levels of government have a tendency to invade every field. Short of effective constitutional limits on the powers of the central government, a more decentralised EU offers an opportunity to overcome the common-pool problem of multi-level government. [source] Effects of insecticide exposure on feeding inhibition in mayflies and oligochaetesENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2007Alexa C. Alexander Abstract The present study examined the effects of pulse exposures of the insecticide imidacloprid on the mayfly, Epeorus longimanus Eaton (Family Heptageniidae), and on an aquatic oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus Müller (Family Lumbriculidae). Pulse exposures of imidacloprid are particularly relevant for examination, because this insecticide is relatively soluble (510 mg/L) and is most likely to be at effect concentrations during runoff events. Experiments examined the recovery of organisms after a 24-h pulse exposure to imidacloprid over an environmentally realistic range of concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 ,g/L). Effects on feeding were measured by quantifying the algal biomass consumed by mayflies or foodstuffs egested by oligochaetes. Imidacloprid was highly toxic, with low 24-h median lethal concentrations (LC50s) in early mayfly instars (24-h LC50, 2.1 ± 0.8 ,g/L) and larger, later mayfly instars (24-h LC50, 2.1 ± 0.5 ,g/L; 96-h LC50, 0.65 ± 0.15 ,g/L). Short (24-h) pulses of imidacloprid in excess of 1 ,g/L caused feeding inhibition, whereas recovery (4 d) varied, depending on the number of days after contaminant exposure. In contrast to mayflies, oligochaetes were relatively insensitive to imidacloprid during the short (24-h) pulse; however, immobility of oligochaetes was observed during a 4-d, continuous-exposure experiment, with 96-h median effective concentrations of 6.2 ± 1.4 ,g/L. Overall, imidacloprid reduced the survivorship, feeding, and egestion of mayflies and oligochaetes at concentrations greater than 0.5 but less than 10 ,g/L. Inhibited feeding and egestion indicate physiological and behavioral responses to this insecticide. [source] ICTAL EEG Fast Activity in West Syndrome: From Onset to OutcomeEPILEPSIA, Issue 11 2007Ferruccio Panzica Summary Purpose: To characterize the fast EEG activities associated with infantile spasms in West syndrome, and their value in predicting the recurrence and localization of late seizures. Methods: We selected 23 infants who were followed for at least 2 years. Selected EEG recordings underwent autospectra, coherence, and phase analyses in order to assess the changes during follow-up. Results: Short discharges of fast-rhythms (331 ± 190 ms) with a lateralized onset were detected in 18 of the 23 infants (78.3%). There were no significant differences in the parameters characterizing ICTAL beta-activity (frequency, duration, inter-hemispheric coherence, or transfer time) between the infants with or without seizure recurrence. However, beta-discharges with a consistent location formed part of the ICTAL EEG in all 10 infants with seizure recurrence, but only in eight (61.5%) of those who remained seizure-free (SF) (p < 0.05). In all but one of the infants experiencing seizure recurrence, the ICTAL discharges associated with the late seizures apparently originated from the same hemisphere as that involved at the beginning of the spasm-associated beta-activity, although the precise location varied. Conclusions: Spectral, coherence and phase analyses detected spasm-associated runs of lateralized beta-rhythms in many of our infants with West syndrome. This ICTAL pattern significantly correlated with seizure recurrence. The consistent lateralization of the ICTAL EEG events associated with both the early spasms and late seizures suggests that EEG beta-activities should be considered as indicating local cortical dysfunction in infants who fail to respond to early treatment and often progress toward severe epilepsy. [source] Cooling Abolishes Neuronal Network Synchronization in Rat Hippocampal SlicesEPILEPSIA, Issue 6 2002Sam P. Javedan Summary: ,Purpose: We sought to determine whether cooling brain tissue from 34 to 21°C could abolish tetany-induced neuronal network synchronization (gamma oscillations) without blocking normal synaptic transmission. Methods: Intracellular and extracellular electrodes recorded activity in transverse hippocampal slices (450,500 ,m) from Sprague,Dawley male rats, maintained in an air,fluid interface chamber. Gamma oscillations were evoked by afferent stimulation at 100 Hz for 200 ms. Baseline temperature in the recording chamber was 34°C, reduced to 21°C within 20 min. Results: Suprathreshold tetanic stimuli evoked membrane potential oscillations in the 40-Hz frequency range (n = 21). Gamma oscillations induced by tetanic stimulation were blocked by bicuculline, a ,-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A -receptor antagonist. Cooling from 34 to 21°C reversibly abolished gamma oscillations in all slices tested. Short, low-frequency discharges persisted after cooling in six of 14 slices. Single-pulse,evoked potentials, however, were preserved after cooling in all cases. Latency between stimulus and onset of gamma oscillation was increased with cooling. Frequency of oscillation was correlated with chamber cooling temperature (r = 0.77). Tetanic stimulation at high intensity elicited not only gamma oscillation, but also epileptiform bursts. Cooling dramatically attenuated gamma oscillation and abolished epileptiform bursts in a reversible manner. Conclusions: Tetany-induced neuronal network synchronization by GABAA -sensitive gamma oscillations is abolished reversibly by cooling to temperatures that do not block excitatory synaptic transmission. Cooling also suppresses transition from gamma oscillation to ictal bursting at higher stimulus intensities. These findings suggest that cooling may disrupt network synchrony necessary for epileptiform activity. [source] Haem oxygenase-1 genotype and cardiovascular adverse events in patients with peripheral artery diseaseEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 12 2005P. Dick Abstract Background, A functional GT dinucleotide length polymorphism in the haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene promoter is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Short (< 25) (GT)n repeats are suggested to facilitate enhanced HO-1 up-regulation in response to injury and confer potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. Materials and methods, We investigated the association between the HO-1 GT-polymorphism and cardiovascular outcome in 472 patients with advanced peripheral artery disease. Cardiovascular risk profile and DNA samples for determination of the HO-1 genotype (carrier vs. noncarrier of a short (GT)n repeat allele) were obtained at baseline, and patients were followed for median 21 months for the occurrence of coronary events (myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass graft), cerebrovascular events (stroke or carotid revascularization) and all-cause mortality. Results, Coronary events occurred in 48 patients (9%), cerebrovascular events in 40 patients (9%) and 59 patients (13%) died. In total, 173 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) occurred in 133 patients (28%). Carriers of the short (GT)n repeat allele had a 0·46-fold reduced adjusted hazard ratio for coronary events (P = 0·016) as compared to noncarriers. No significant difference was found for cerebrovascular events, mortality and overall MACE. Conclusion, Apparently, the HO-1 genotype exerts potentially protective effects against coronary adverse events in patients with peripheral artery disease. Homozygous and heterozygous carriers of < 25 (GT)n repeats had lower rates of myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary bypass operations compared to patients with longer (GT)n repeats. [source] Short and Stereoselective Total Synthesis of ,-11,13-Didehydroguaianes and -guaianolides: Synthesis of (±)-Achalensolide and (±)-Pechueloic Acid; Revision of the Structure of (+)-Rupestonic Acid,EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 22 2009Thomas Sainte-Luce Banchelin Abstract (±)-Pechueloic acid (1), (±)-rupestonic acid (3), and (±)-achalensolide (5) (guaian-8,12-olide class) were prepared stereoselectively in only nine steps from the commercially available tropylium cation via central intermediate 6, which is used as a general and efficient precursor to bicyclo[5.3.0]decane sesquiterpenes. The method does not require function protection. It is highly regio- and stereoselective thanks to an efficient C-1 epimerization, a selective C-8,9 hydrogenation, and a stereocontrolled 1,6 conjugate addition of an acrylate equivalent. These ,-11,13-didehydroguaianes and-guaianolides are good Michael acceptors and hence biologically active. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) [source] Short and Efficient Synthesis of Alkyne-Modified Amino Glycoside Building BlocksEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 17 2009Claudine M. Klemm Abstract In the light of recent progress in RNA biology, the need for molecules that bind to RNA and thus may be suited to manipulating RNA-mediated processes is steadily increasing. We present a very short and efficient synthetic route to alkyne-modified neamine and 2-deoxystreptamine derivatives on a half-gram scale. These derivatives are suitable for constructing a library of potential divalent RNA binders by copper-catalysed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to diazides ("click chemistry"). The conjugate dimers thus formed inhibitedDicer-mediated micro-RNA maturation with IC50 values between 0.6 and 15 ,M.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) [source] Short and long germ segmentation: unanswered questions in the evolution of a developmental modeEVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2005Paul Z. Liu Summary The insect body plan is very well conserved, yet the developmental mechanisms of segmentation are surprisingly varied. Less evolutionarily derived insects undergo short germ segmentation where only the anterior segments are specified before gastrulation whereas the remaining posterior segments are formed during a later secondary growth phase. In contrast, derived long germ insects such as Drosophila specify their entire bodies essentially simultaneously. These fundamental embryological differences imply potentially divergent molecular patterning events. Numerous studies have focused on comparing the expression and function of the homologs of Drosophila segmentation genes between Drosophila and different short and long germ insects. Here we review these comparative data with special emphasis on understanding how short germ insects generate segments and how this ancestral mechanism may have been modified in derived long germ insects such as Drosophila. We break down the larger issue of short versus long germ segmentation into its component developmental problems and structure our discussion in order to highlight the unanswered questions in the evolution of insect segmentation. [source] Canadian Provincial Budget Outcomes: A Long,run and Short,run PerspectiveFINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY & MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2002Christopher G. Reddick This paper tests a theory of public budgeting as a long,run and short,run process. In this model, political decision makers strive to achieve budgetary balance over the long,run but are constrained in the short,run and follow incremental decision,making. First, the budget equilibrium theory is elaborated upon and is used to explain the relationship between revenues, expenditures, and debt along with control variables one being provincial general elections. Second, the interaction between these variables is tested with a vector error correction model for each of the Canadian provinces using annual data between 1961 and 2000. The results show that in the long,run the driving force of provincial budgeting was expenditure control initiatives in seven of the ten provinces. In the short,run, incrementalism occurred in all of the provinces and a political business cycle was evident in six provinces. [source] Persistence and the four-factor model in the Australian funds market: a noteACCOUNTING & FINANCE, Issue 1 2010Jacquelyn E. Humphrey G11; G23 Abstract We investigate whether Australian fund managers are able to deliver persistent performance using Carhart's (1997) four-factor model. Short- and long-term persistence is examined and the sample is also divided into unit trusts and superannuation funds. We do not find evidence of persistence in any sample of funds. We find that winner (loser) funds tend to hold past winner (loser) stocks. Winner and loser unit trusts both appear to have positive exposure to small stocks. [source] Tolerability and Safety of Frovatriptan With Short- and Long-term Use for Treatment of Migraine and in Comparison With SumatriptanHEADACHE, Issue 2002Gilles Géraud MD Objective.,To evaluate the tolerability and safety of frovatriptan 2.5 mg in patients with migraine. Background.,Frovatriptan is a new, selective serotonin agonist (triptan) developed for the acute treatment of migraine. Dose range-finding studies identified 2.5 mg as the dose that conferred the optimal combination of efficacy and tolerability. Methods.,The tolerability and safety of frovatriptan 2.5 mg were assessed during controlled, acute migraine treatment studies, including a study that compared frovatriptan 2.5 mg with sumatriptan 100 mg, as well as a 12-month open-label study during which patients could take up to three doses of frovatriptan 2.5 mg within a 24-hour period. Safety and tolerability were assessed through the collection of adverse events, monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure performance of 12-lead electrocardiogram, hematology screen, and blood chemistry studies. Results.,In the short-term studies, 1554 patients took frovatriptan 2.5 mg and 838 took placebo. In the 12-month study, 496 patients treated 13 878 migraine attacks. Frovatriptan was well tolerated in the short- and long-term studies with 1% of patients in the short-term studies and 5% of patients in the long-term study withdrawing due to lack of tolerability. The incidence of adverse events was higher in the frovatriptan-treated patients than in the patients who took placebo (47% versus 34%) and the spectrum of adverse events was similar. When compared to sumatriptan 100 mg, significantly fewer patients taking frovatriptan experienced adverse events (43% versus 36%; P=.03) and the number of adverse events was lower (0.62 versus 0.91), there were also fewer adverse events suggestive of cardiovascular symptoms in the frovatriptan group. Analysis of the entire clinical database (n=2392) demonstrated that frovatriptan was well tolerated by the patients regardless of their age, gender, race, concomitant medication, or the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. No effects of frovatriptan on heart rate, blood pressure, 12-lead electrocardiogram, hematology screen, or blood chemistry were observed. No patient suffered any treatment-related serious adverse event. Conclusions.,Short- and long-term use of frovatriptan 2.5 mg was well tolerated by a wide variety of patients. Frovatriptan treatment produced an adverse events profile similar to that of placebo, and in a direct comparison study was better tolerated than sumatriptan 100 mg. [source] Can a publicly funded home care system successfully allocate service based on perceived need rather than socioeconomic status?HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 2 2007A Canadian experience Abstract The present quantitative study evaluates the degree to which socioeconomic status (SES), as opposed to perceived need, determines utilisation of publicly funded home care in Ontario, Canada. The Registered Persons Data Base of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan was used to identify the age, sex and place of residence for all Ontarians who had coverage for the complete calendar year 1998. Utilisation was characterised in two dimensions: (1) propensity , the probability that an individual received service, which was estimated using a multinomial logit equation; and (2) intensity , the amount of service received, conditional on receipt. Short- and long-term service intensity were modelled separately using ordinary least squares regression. Age, sex and co-morbidity were the best predictors (P < 0.0001) of whether or not an individual received publicly funded home care as well as how much care was received, with sicker individuals having increased utilisation. The propensity and intensity of service receipt increased with lower SES (P < 0.0001), and decreased with the proportion of recent immigrants in the region (P < 0.0001), after controlling for age, sex and co-morbidity. Although the allocation of publicly funded home care service was primarily based on perceived need rather than ability to pay, barriers to utilisation for those from areas with a high proportion of recent immigrants were identified. Future research is needed to assess whether the current mix and level of publicly funded resources are indeed sufficient to offset the added costs associated with the provision of high-quality home care. [source] Short- and Long-Term Mortality after an Acute Illness for Elderly Whites and BlacksHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 4 2008Daniel Polsky Objective. To estimate racial differences in mortality at 30 days and up to 2 years following a hospital admission for the elderly with common medical conditions. Data Sources. The Medicare Provider Analysis and Review File and the VA Patient Treatment File from 1998 to 2002 were used to extract patients 65 or older admitted with a principal diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, hip fracture, gastrointestinal bleeding, congestive heart failure, or pneumonia. Study Design. A retrospective analysis of risk-adjusted mortality after hospital admission for blacks and whites by medical condition and in different hospital settings. Principal Findings. Black Medicare patients had consistently lower adjusted 30-day mortality than white Medicare patients, but the initial survival advantage observed among blacks dissipated beyond 30 days and reversed by 2 years. For VA hospitalizations similar patterns were observed, but the initial survival advantage for blacks dissipated at a slower rate. Conclusions. Racial disparities in health are more likely to be generated in the posthospital phase of the process of care delivery rather than during the hospital stay. The slower rate of increase in relative mortality among black VA patients suggests an integrated health care delivery system like the VA may attenuate racial disparities in health. [source] Fallacies of High-Speed HemodialysisHEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2003Zbylut J. Twardowski Chronic hemodialysis sessions, as developed in Seattle in the 1960s, were long procedures with minimal intra- and interdialytic symptoms. Financial and logistical pressures related to the overwhelming number of patients requiring hemodialysis created an incentive to shorten dialysis time to four, three, and even two hours per session in a thrice weekly schedule. This method spread rapidly, particularly in the United States, after the National Cooperative Dialysis Study suggested that time of dialysis is of minor importance as long as urea clearance multiplied by dialysis time and scaled to total body water (Kt/Vurea) equals 0.95,1.0. This number was later increased to 1.3, but the assumption remained unchanged that hemodialysis time is of minimal importance as long as it is compensated by increased urea clearance. Patients accepted short dialysis as a godsend, believing that it would not be detrimental to their well-being and longevity. However, Kt/Vurea measures only removal of low molecular weight substances and does not consider removal of larger molecules. Besides, it does not correlate with the other important function of hemodialysis, namely ultrafiltration. Whereas patients with substantial residual renal function may tolerate short dialysis sessions, the patients with little or no urine output tolerate short dialyses poorly because the ultrafiltration rate at the same interdialytic weight gain is inversely proportional to dialysis time. Rapid ultrafiltration is associated with cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, hypotensive episodes during dialysis, and hangover after dialysis; patients remain fluid overloaded with subsequent poor blood pressure control, left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and high cardiovascular mortality. Short, high-efficiency dialysis requires high blood flow, which increases demands on blood access. The classic wrist arteriovenous fistula, the access with the best longevity and lowest complication rates, provides "insufficient" blood flow and is replaced with an arteriovenous graft fistula or an intravenous catheter. Moreover, to achieve high blood flows, large diameter intravenous catheters are used; these fit veins "too tightly," so predispose the patient to central-vein thrombosis. Longer hemodialysis sessions (5,8 hrs, thrice weekly), as practiced in some centers, are associated with lower complication rates and better outcomes. Frequent dialyses (four or more sessions per week) provide better clinical results, but are associated with increased cost. It is my strong belief that a wide acceptance of longer, gentler dialysis sessions, even in a thrice weekly schedule, would improve overall hemodialysis results and decrease access complications, hospitalizations, and mortality, particularly in anuric patients. [source] Infliximab efficacy in pediatric ulcerative colitis,INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 3 2005Alexandra P Eidelwein MD Abstract Background: The effects of infliximab, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-,) antibody, have been well established in adult patients with inflammatory and fistulizing Crohn's disease. This study evaluates short- and long-term efficacy of infliximab in children with ulcerative colitis. Methods: All pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis who received infliximab between July 2001 and November 2003 at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center were identified. Short- and long-term outcomes and adverse reactions were evaluated. Results: Twelve pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis received infliximab for treatment of fulminant colitis (3 patients), acute exacerbation of colitis (3), steroid-dependent colitis (5), and steroid-refractory colitis (1). Nine patients had a complete short-term response, and 3 had partial improvement. The mean per patient dose of corticosteroid after the first infliximab infusion decreased from 45 mg/day at the first infusion to 22.2 mg/day at 4 weeks (P = 0.02) and 7.8 mg/day at 8 weeks (P = 0.008). Eight patients were classified as long-term responders with a median follow-up time of 10.4 months. Of the 4 long-term nonresponders, 3 underwent colectomy, and the fourth has ongoing chronic symptoms. Three of 4 long-term nonresponders were steroid-refractory compared with 1 of 8 long-term responders. Patients receiving 6-mercaptopurine had a better response to infliximab. Conclusion: Infliximab should be considered in the treatment of children with symptoms of acute moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. [source] Fracture resistance of incisor teeth restored using fibre-reinforced posts and threaded metal posts: effect of post length, location, pretreatment and cementation of the final restorationINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 5 2010M. Schmitter Schmitter M, Lippenberger S, Rues S, Gilde H, Rammelsberg P. Fracture resistance of incisor teeth restored using fibre-reinforced posts and threaded metal posts: effect of post length, location, pretreatment and cementation of the final restoration. International Endodontic Journal, 43, 436,442, 2010. Abstract Objective, The hypothesis of this study was that the fracture load of incisor teeth restored using short, threaded, parallel-sided posts (TMP) is, under special conditions, not inferior to that of teeth restored using long TMPs or fibre-reinforced posts (FRP). Methodology, Seventy-two maxillary incisors and 72 mandibular incisors were collected. Sixty-four in each group were root filled; in half of these FRPs were cemented, and in the other half TMPs were used. Half of the FRPs were pretreated; the others were not pretreated. In the TMP-group, half of the teeth received a long post (10 mm), the other half a short post (3 mm). Crowns were fabricated and cemented with Ketac-cem or Panavia. Eight maxillary incisors and eight mandibular incisors with intact natural crowns were used as control groups. All specimens were loaded until fracture. Results, Fracture loads were higher for pretreated FRPs than for untreated FRPs. If the FRPs were not pretreated, fracture loads for maxillary incisors after use of short metal posts were significantly higher (248 N compared with 133 N, P = 0.027). Fracture loads for teeth restored using long TMPs were not higher than for teeth restored using short TMPs (277 N compared with 266 N). Fracture loads for mandibular incisors restored using long (10 mm) pretreated FRP were higher than for mandibular incisors restored using short (3 mm) metal posts (436 N compared with 285 N). Cementation of the crowns using an adhesive resin cement did not increase the fracture load for mandibular incisors, whereas for maxillary incisors, this cementation technique tended to increase fracture loads in teeth restored with FRP, although this increase was not significant at the P < 0.05 level (P = 0.06). In both groups, fracture loads were higher for mandibular incisors. Conclusions, Short, threaded, parallel-sided metal posts might be an alternative to fibre- reinforced posts for maxillary incisors, for teeth with short roots or when FRP cannot be pretreated. [source] On the Relationship Between Short- and Long-term Interest Rates,INTERNATIONAL FINANCE, Issue 2 2004Teruyoshi KobayashiArticle first published online: 13 DEC 200 This paper addresses issues regarding the relationship between short- and long-term interest rates. In the real world, an expansionary (contractionary) policy is normally followed by a fall (rise) in long-term rates. However, there exist exceptional cases in which short- and long-term rates move in opposite directions. This paper attempts to provide a formal explanation for such unusual phenomena using a variety of new Keynesian models. It turns out that the simultaneous occurrence of different economic shocks, to which the central bank should react, can explain this behaviour of long rates. [source] Broken symmetry approach and chemical susceptibility of carbon nanotubesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2010Elena F. Sheka Abstract Constituting a part of odd electrons that are excluded from the covalent bonding, effectively unpaired electrons are posed by the singlet instability of the single-determinant broken spin-symmetry unrestricted Hartree,Fock (UBS HF) SCF solution. The correct determination of the total number of effectively unpaired electrons ND and its fraction on each NDÀ atom is well provided by the UBS HF solution. The NDÀ value is offered to be a quantifier of atomic chemical susceptibility (or equivalently, reactivity) thus highlighting targets that are the most favorable for addition reactions of any type. The approach is illustrated for two families involving fragments of arm-chair (n,n) and zigzag (m,0) single-walled nanotubes different by the length and end structure. Short and long tubes as well as tubes with capped end and open end, in the latter case, both hydrogen terminated and empty, are considered. Algorithms of the quantitative description of any length tubes are suggested. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010 [source] Cutting Long Syntheses Short: Access to Non-Natural Tyrosine Derivatives Employing an Engineered Tyrosine Phenol LyaseADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 4 2010Birgit Seisser Abstract The chemical synthesis of 3-substituted tyrosine derivatives requires a minimum of four steps to access optically enriched material starting from commercial precursors. Attempting to short-cut the cumbersome chemical synthesis of 3-substituted tyrosine derivatives, a single step biocatalytic approach was identified employing the tyrosine phenol lyase from Citrobacter freundii. The enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of tyrosine to phenol, pyruvate and ammonium as well as the reverse reaction, thus the formation of tyrosine from phenol, pyruvate and ammonium. Since the wild-type enzyme possessed a very narrow substrate spectrum, structure-guided, site-directed mutagenesis was required to change the substrate specificity of this CC bond forming enzyme. The best variant M379V transformed, for example, o -cresol, o -methoxyphenol and o -chlorophenol efficiently to the corresponding tyrosine derivatives without any detectable side-product. In contrast, all three phenol compounds were non-substrates for the wild-type enzyme. Employing the mutant, various L -tyrosine derivatives (3-Me, 3-OMe, 3-F, 3-Cl) were obtained with complete conversion and excellent enantiomeric excess (>97%) in just a single ,green' step starting from pyruvate and commercially available phenol derivatives. [source] Time-steppers and ,coarse' control of distributed microscopic processesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROBUST AND NONLINEAR CONTROL, Issue 2 2004Antonios Armaou Abstract We present an equation-free multiscale computational framework for the design of ,coarse' controllers for complex spatially distributed processes described by microscopic/mesoscopic evolution rules. We illustrate this framework by designing discrete-time, coarse linear controllers for a Lattice,Boltzmann (LB) scheme modelling a reaction,diffusion process (a kinetic-theory based realization of the FitzHugh,Nagumo equation dynamics in one spatial dimension). Short ,bursts' of appropriately initialized simulation of the LB model are used to extract the stationary states (stable and unstable) and to estimate the information required to design the coarse controller (e.g. the action of the coarse slow Jacobian of the process). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Maize Yields as Affected by Short- and Long-Term Improved Fallows: A Comparative Analysis in the Asian Humid TropicsJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 6 2005R. Schelbert Abstract Improved short- or long-term fallows are considered suitable low external input technologies for maintaining productivity and sustainability of tropical smallholder upland cropping units, although comparisons on the benefits of this technology are not widely reported. A field study evaluated the impact of improved short (6 months) and long-term fallow (18 months) using Crotalaria juncea and Tithonia diversifolia, in relation to a natural fallow of the same durations, on the productivity of maize (Zea mays), the most important upland cereal in tropical Asia, over a minor season. The use of improved fallows, especially Tithonia, increased maize yields over the Crotalaria or natural fallow. While the overall yields of maize after a long fallow were greater, the beneficial impact of the green manures was significantly higher in the short fallows. The causal factors for this trend, including biomass production of the improved fallows and possible impact on soils, along with the greater benefits of short-term fallows for increasing maize yields in the tropics due to lower requirements of unproductive time are presented. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||