bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Closed-Wedge Osteotomy of the Distal Humerus for Treating Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Capitellum in Young Patients
Authors: Ueki Masato , Moriya Koji , Yoshizu Takae , Tsubokawa Naoto , Kouda Hisao , Endo Naoto 
Published: October 2019

Background: Even in patients with an open capitellar physis, nonsurgical treatment for advanced-stage osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum often yields poor outcomes. However, surgical methods for such patients are controversial. At our institution, we have consistently performed closed-wedge osteotomy of the distal humerus to treat advanced-stage OCD of the capitellum, regardless of the OCD grade or condition of the capitellar physis. Purpose: To clarify the clinical and radiological results and determine the influence of the capitellar physis on closed-wedge osteotomy for advanced-stage OCD of the capitellum in young patients. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 32 patients with OCD of the humeral capitellum were treated surgically with closed-wedge osteotomy. Of these, 17 patients with more than 2-year follow-up were available for an evaluation. The mean patient age was 11.8 years (range, 11-12 years), and the mean follow-up period was 70.1 months (range, 25-184 months). The clinical assessment included range of motion, elbow pain, and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and Timmerman-Andrews scores. The radiological assessment at the final examination included cross-bridging of the physis, size and fishtail deformity of the distal part of the humerus, size of the radial head, healing of the OCD lesion, and osteoarthritis. Results: The mean range of motion and JOA and Timmerman-Andrews scores improved significantly after surgery; 13 patients were completely pain free. In 11 patients with an open capitellar physis, metaphyseal-epiphyseal, cross-bridging was observed in 1 patient. A fishtail deformity of the distal part of the humerus was not observed. Healing of the OCD lesion was defined as excellent in 9 patients, good in 3, fair in 3, and poor in 2. In 3 of the 5 patients in whom healing was described as fair or poor, there was a lesion of the lateral widespread type with osteoarthritis before surgery. Moderate osteoarthritic changes were evident in 2 patients. Conclusion: Closed-wedge osteotomy for the treatment of advanced-stage OCD of the capitellum in young patients can provide satisfactory clinical and radiological results. However, fair and poor outcomes were found in lateral widespread–type cases with osteoarthritis before surgery. We believe that patients in whom osteoarthritic changes have not yet appeared are eligible for closed-wedge osteotomy.
Point Shear Wave Elastography of the Spleen in Predicting the Presence of Esophageal Varices in Cirrhosis: Liver Stiffness vs. Spleen Stiffness
Authors: Sindhu Nadella , Koteshwar Prakashini , Shetty Shiran 
Published: October 2019

Objective: To determine the diagnostic ability of the spleen and liver stiffness in predicting the presence of esophageal varices (EVs). Methods: A sample of cirrhotic patients, diagnosed with sonography, was recruited. The cohorts’ liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS) were measured with the Philips’ Elast PQ technique. Platelet count and spleen size were also documented. The endoscopic report was used as the diagnostic gold standard. Singular and combined parameters were assessed to determine the presence of EV using an independent variable t test, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and multilogistic regression analysis statistical tests. Results: In predicting the presence of EV, there was a statistically significant difference in means of SS (2.13 ± 0.69 m/s vs. 3.23 ± 1.32 m/s) and LS (2.33 ± 1.20 m/s vs. 3.05 ± 1.4 m/s), as well as discriminating between groups of patients, with and without EV. The ability to diagnostically classify EV with SS and LS was fair while the remaining parameters were deemed poor, using a SS cutoff value of 1.99 m/s. Conclusion: Despite the difference in means, none of the assessed parameters demonstrated a better classification ability than endoscopy. LS and SS were equal in the prediction of EV in these patients. The LS estimate of fibrosis would have grossly predicted the presence of varices. However, the addition of SS, for the estimation of varices, provided no significant benefit.
Defective interaction of mutant calreticulin and SOCE in megakaryocytes from patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms
Authors: Di Buduo Christian A. , Abbonante Vittorio , Marty Caroline , Moccia Francesco , Rumi Elisa , Pietra Daniela , Soprano Paolo M. , Lim Dmitry , Cattaneo Daniele , Iurlo Alessandra , Gianelli Umberto , Barosi Giovanni , Rosti Vittorio , Plo Isabelle , Cazzola Mario , Balduini Alessandra 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Approximately one-fourth of patients with essential thrombocythemia or primary myelofibrosis carry a somatic mutation of the calreticulin gene (CALR), the gene encoding for calreticulin. A 52-bp deletion (type I mutation) and a 5-bp insertion (type II mutation) are the most frequent genetic lesions. The mechanism(s) by which a CALR mutation leads to a myeloproliferative phenotype has been clarified only in part. We studied the interaction between calreticulin and store-operated calcium (Ca2+) entry (SOCE) machinery in megakaryocytes (Mks) from healthy individuals and from patients with CALR-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). In Mks from healthy subjects, binding of recombinant human thrombopoietin to c-Mpl induced the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, AKT, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, determining inositol triphosphate–dependent Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This resulted in the dissociation of the ER protein 57 (ERp57)-mediated complex between calreticulin and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), a protein of the SOCE machinery that leads to Ca2+ mobilization. In Mks from patients with CALR-mutated MPNs, defective interactions between mutant calreticulin, ERp57, and STIM1 activated SOCE and generated spontaneous cytosolic Ca2+ flows. In turn, this resulted in abnormal Mk proliferation that was reverted using a specific SOCE inhibitor. In summary, the abnormal SOCE regulation of Ca2+ flows in Mks contributes to the pathophysiology of CALR-mutated MPNs. In perspective, SOCE may represent a new therapeutic target to counteract Mk proliferation and its clinical consequences in MPNs.
Clonal hematopoiesis in elderly twins: concordance, discordance, and mortality
Authors: Hansen Jakob Werner , Pedersen Dorthe Almind , Larsen Lisbeth Aagaard , Husby Simon , Clemmensen Signe Bedsted , Hjelmborg Jacob , Favero Francesco , Weischenfeldt Joachim , Christensen Kaare , Grønbæk Kirsten 
Published: October 2019

AbstractClonal hematopoiesis (CH) of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is defined by mutations in myeloid cancer–associated genes with a variant allele frequency of at least 2%. Recent studies have suggested a possible genetic predisposition to CH. To further explore this phenomenon, we conducted a population-based study of 594 twins from 299 pairs aged 73 to 94 years, all with &gt;20 years’ follow-up. We sequenced DNA from peripheral blood with a customized 21-gene panel at a median coverage of 6179X. The casewise concordance rates for mutations were calculated to assess genetic predisposition. Mutations were identified in 214 (36%) of the twins. Whereas 20 twin pairs had mutations within the same genes, the exact same mutation was only observed in 2 twin pairs. No significant difference in casewise concordance between monozygotic and dizygotic twins was found for any specific gene, subgroup, or CHIP mutations overall, and no significant heritability could be detected. In pairs discordant for CHIP mutations, we tested if the affected twin died before the unaffected twin, as a direct measurement of the association of having CH when controlling for familial factors. A total of 127 twin pairs were discordant for carrying a mutation, and in 61 (48%) cases, the affected twin died first (P = .72). Overall, we did not find a genetic predisposition to CHIP mutations in this twin study. The previously described negative association of CHIP mutations on survival could not be confirmed in a direct comparison among twin pairs that were discordant for CHIP mutations.
The innervation of the male copulatory organ of spiders (Araneae) – a comparative analysis
Authors: Dederichs Tim M. , Müller Carsten H. G. , Sentenská Lenka , Lipke Elisabeth , Uhl Gabriele , Michalik Peter 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Nervous tissue is an inherent component of the many specialized genital structures for transferring sperm directly into the female’s body. However, the male copulatory organ of spiders was considered a puzzling exception. Based on the recent discovery of nervous tissue in the pedipalps of two distantly related spider species, we investigated representatives of all major groups across the spider tree of life for the presence of palpal nerves. We used a correlative approach that combined histology, micro-computed tomography and electron microscopy.

Results
We show that the copulatory organ is innervated in all species investigated. There is a sensory organ at the base of the sperm transferring sclerite in several taxa and nervous tissue occurs close to the glandular tissue of the spermophor, where sperm are stored before transfer.

Conclusions
The innervation of the copulatory organ by the bulb nerve and associated efferent fibers is part of the ground pattern of spiders. Our findings pave the way for unraveling the sensory interaction of genitalia during mating and for the still enigmatic mode of uptake and release of sperm from the male copulatory organ.
Nivolumab-related severe thrombocytopenia in a patient with relapsed lung adenocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Hasegawa Takeo , Ozaki Yuki , Inoue Takuya , Watanabe Yuzuru , Fukuhara Mitsuro , Yamaura Takumi , Muto Satoshi , Okabe Naoyuki , Higuchi Mitsunori , Shio Yutaka , Suzuki Hiroyuki 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has changed the standard drug therapy for relapsed or advanced non-small cell lung cancer; its efficacy is well-recognized by pulmonary physicians, oncologists, and thoracic surgeons. Nivolumab, one of the anti-programmed cell death 1 antibodies, was the first immune checkpoint inhibitor to be approved and is used as a standard second-line regimen for patients with non-small cell lung cancer irrespective of the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1. Programmed cell death 1 antibodies have been generally confirmed to be less toxic than conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, although unusual immune-related adverse events such as type I diabetes mellitus, adrenal failure, and myasthenia gravis may occur with a very low incidence. A case of severe grade V immune-related thrombocytopenia after two courses of nivolumab as second-line therapy for relapsed non-small cell lung cancer is reported.

Case presentation
An 82-year-old Japanese woman with relapsed lung adenocarcinoma was treated with nivolumab as second-line systemic therapy at our institute. Her laboratory data indicated thrombocytopenia suspected to be an immune-related adverse event following two courses of nivolumab. Subsequently, she developed a massive pulmonary hemorrhage and left cerebral infarction despite intensive treatment including systemic steroid therapy. Although there have been a few reports of thrombocytopenia caused by nivolumab, this is the first report of grade V thrombocytopenia following administration of nivolumab for relapsed non-small cell lung cancer.

Conclusion
A very difficult case of grade V immune-related thrombocytopenia after the administration of nivolumab as second-line therapy for relapsed lung adenocarcinoma was described. Immune-related thrombocytopenia is a rare adverse event, but it must be considered a possible complication because it may become critical once it has occurred.
Invest in Information or Wing It? A Model of Dynamic Pricing with Seller Learning
Authors: Huang Guofang , Luo Hong , Xia Jing 
Published: October 2019

Pricing products such as used cars, houses, and artwork is often challenging, because each item is unique, and the seller, ex ante, lacks information about the demand for individual items. This paper develops a dynamic pricing model for products with significant item-specific demand uncertainty, in which a forward-looking seller learns about the item-specific demand through an initial assessment, as well as during the selling process. The model demonstrates how seller learning, through several mechanisms, can lead to the commonly observed downward trend in the prices of individual items. These mechanisms include the seller’s optimal adjustment of prices over time to account for the dynamic adverse selection of unsold items and the diminishing option value in future learning. The model is estimated using novel panel data of a leading used-car dealership. Counterfactual experiments show that the value of learning in the selling process is $203 per car. Conditional on subsequent learning in the selling process, the initial assessment further improves profit per car by $139. With the dealer’s net profit per car being about $1,150, these estimates suggest a potentially high return to taking an information-based approach toward pricing products with item-specific demand uncertainty. This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.
Distributionally Robust Mechanism Design
Authors: Koçyiğit Çağıl , Iyengar Garud , Kuhn Daniel , Wiesemann Wolfram 
Published: October 2019

We study a mechanism design problem in which an indivisible good is auctioned to multiple bidders for each of whom it has a private value that is unknown to the seller and the other bidders. The agents perceive the ensemble of all bidder values as a random vector governed by an ambiguous probability distribution, which belongs to a commonly known ambiguity set. The seller aims to design a revenue-maximizing mechanism that is not only immunized against the ambiguity of the bidder values, but also against the uncertainty about the bidders’ attitude toward ambiguity. We argue that the seller achieves this goal by maximizing the worst-case expected revenue across all value distributions in the ambiguity set and by positing that the bidders have Knightian preferences. For ambiguity sets containing all distributions supported on a hypercube, we show that the Vickrey auction is the unique mechanism that is optimal, efficient, and Pareto robustly optimal. If the bidders’ values are additionally known to be independent, then the revenue of the (unknown) optimal mechanism does not exceed that of a second-price auction with only one additional bidder. For ambiguity sets under which the bidders’ values are dependent and characterized through moment bounds, on the other hand, we provide a new class of randomized mechanisms, the highest-bidder lotteries, whose revenues cannot be matched by any second-price auction with a constant number of additional bidders. Moreover, we show that the optimal highest-bidder lottery is a 2-approximation of the (unknown) optimal mechanism, whereas the best second-price auction fails to provide any constant-factor approximation guarantee. This paper was accepted by Yinyu Ye, optimization.
Market Discipline and Systemic Risk
Authors: Morrison Alan D. , Walther Ansgar 
Published: October 2019

We analyze a general equilibrium model in which financial institutions generate endogenous systemic risk. Banks optimally select correlated investments and thereby expose themselves to fire-sale risk so as to sharpen their incentives. Systemic risk is therefore a natural consequence of banks’ fundamental role as delegated monitors. Our model sheds light on recent and historical trends in measured systemic risk. Technological innovations and government-directed lending can cause surges in systemic risk. Strict capital requirements and well-designed government-asset purchase programs can combat systemic risk. This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
Growth Options, Incentives, and Pay for Performance: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Gryglewicz Sebastian , Hartman-Glaser Barney , Zheng Geoffery 
Published: October 2019

Pay–performance sensitivity is a common proxy for the strength of incentives. We show that growth options create a wedge between expected-pay–effort sensitivity, which determines actual incentives, and pay–performance sensitivity, which is the ratio of expected-pay–effort to performance–effort sensitivity. An increase in growth option intensity can increase performance–effort sensitivity more than expected-pay–effort sensitivity so that, as incentives increase, pay–performance sensitivity decreases. We document empirical evidence consistent with this finding. Pay–performance sensitivity, measured by dollar changes in manager wealth over dollar changes in firm value, decreases with proxies for growth option intensity and increases with proxies for growth option exercise. This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
Using Charity Performance Metrics as an Excuse Not to Give
Authors: Exley Christine L. 
Published: October 2019

There is an increasing pressure to give more wisely and effectively. There is, relatedly, an increasing focus on charity performance metrics. Through a series of experiments, this paper provides a caution to such a focus. Although information on charity performance metrics may facilitate more effective giving, it may also facilitate the development of excuses not to give. Managers of nonprofit organizations should carefully assess this tension when determining whether and how to provide information on their performance metrics. This paper was accepted by Axel Ockenfels, behavioral economics.
Nostalgia de los militares: las peticiones de la vuelta al poder de las Fuerzas Armadas en Brasil
Authors: De Angelo Vitor 
Published: October 2019

El artículo discute las peticiones de intervención de las Fuerzas Armadas en el contexto de las manifestaciones de derecha ocurridas en Brasil en 2015. Para ello, se utilizan, principalmente, datos disponibles en surveys realizados en aquel año junto a manifestantes de capitales de estados de la región Sudeste. Las consideraciones presentes en el artículo se organizan en torno a dos puntos. Por un lado, la reflexión acerca de la construcción de una memoria positiva sobre el período de la dictadura. Desde esa perspectiva, los años comprendidos entre 1964 y 1985 podrían ser vistos como un período cuya herencia, perdida en el presente, sólo podría ser restablecida por los mismos actores políticos que dejaron tal legado - en este caso, los militares. Por otro lado, la reflexión acerca del papel salvacionista de las Fuerzas Armadas. Desde ese punto de vista, los militares podrían ser considerados como los únicos capaces de extirpar los problemas creados o alimentados exclusiva o casi exclusivamente por la élite política entonces establecida en el poder.
Functional and radiographic evaluation of an interspinous device as an adjunct for lumbar interbody fusion procedures
Authors: Spicher Anna , Schmoelz Werner , Schmid Rene , Stofferin Hannes , Craig Niall J.A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIn the last decades, several interspinous process devices were designed as a minimally invasive treatment option for spinal stenosis. In order to minimise surgical trauma, interspinous process devices were recently discussed as an alternative posterior fixation in vertebral interbody fusions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a newly designed interspinous device with polyester bands (PBs) on range of motion (RoM) and centre of rotation (CoR) of a treated motion segment in comparison with an established interspinous device with spikes (SC) as well as with pedicle screw instrumentation in lumbar fusion procedures. Flexibility tests with an applied pure moment load of 7.5 Nm were performed in six monosegmental thoracolumbar functional spinal units (FSUs) in the following states: (a) native, (b) native with PB device, (c) intervertebral cage with PB device, (d) cage with SC and (e) cage with internal fixator. The resulting RoM was normalised to the native RoM. The CoR was determined of X-ray images taken in maximal flexion and extension during testing. In flexion and extension, the PB device without and with the cage reduced the RoM of the native state to 58% [standard deviation (SD) 17.8] and 53% (SD 15.7), respectively. The SC device further reduced the RoM to 27% (SD 16.8), while the pedicle screw instrumentation had the most reducing effect to 17% (SD 17.2) (p < 0.01). In lateral bending and axial rotation, the interspinous devices had the least effect on the RoM. Compared to the native state, for all instrumentations the CoR showed a small shift towards cranial. In the anterior-posterior direction, the SC device and the pedicle screw instrumentation shifted the CoR towards the posterior wall. The interspinous devices significantly reduced the RoM in flexion/extension, while in axial rotation and lateral bending only the internal fixator had a significant effect on the RoM.
Performance Evaluation of Bidirectional Wavelength Division Multiple Access Broadband Optical Passive Elastic Networks Operation Efficiency
Authors: Sivaranjani S. , Sampathkumar A. , Rashed Ahmed Nabih Zaki , Sundararajan T.V.P. , Amiri Iraj S. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The study has outlined the performance evaluation of bidirectional wavelength division multiple access broadband optical passive elastic networks operation efficiency. Signal power level, Q coefficient parameter, and minimum data error rates are measured numerically in both downstream and upstream directions based on broadband passive optical networks (BPONs). The transmission data rate available in the downstream direction is 10 Gb/s, while its value in the upstream direction is 2 Gb/s. The suitable operating wavelength is selected in the near-infrared region around 1550 nm for minimum losses. The bits sequence length of the optical transmitter is taken in to account for testing the optical network performance efficiency. The proposed model has presented better performance than the previous model by 25.76 % in downstream direction and by 12.28 % in upstream direction. As well as the bidirectional wavelength division multiple access broadband passive optical elastic networks performance efficiency is measured.
Charcoal Prepared from Bougainvillea spectabilis Leaves as Low Cost Adsorbent: Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies for Removal of Iron from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Nazir Arif , Zahra Farwa , Sabri Muhammad Usman , Ghaffar Abdul , Ather Abdul Qayyum , Khan Muhammad Iftikhar , Iqbal Munawar 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Biosorption is one of the effective technique for removal of metals from aqueous solutions/industrial effluents. Present work is aimed to use low cost and ecofriendly material to remove the iron metal from aqueous solution which could possibly be used at industrial level. For this purpose, Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves were used for the production of charcoal. This charcoal was activated using HCl and HNO3. The AC shows promising efficiency for the adsorption of Fe II as a function of medium pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and temperature. Maximum adsorption was observed with 0.5–0.9 g adsorbent dose, 30 min contact time and at pH 3. Adsorption showed independence of temperature in the range of 30–70 °C. Among, Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms, the adsorbate followed Langmuir isothermal model. Among kinetics models, adsorbate followed pseudo second order kinetic model with R2 values of 0.9985 and 0.9996 for HCl treated and HNO3 treated AC, respectively. These data suggest that AC synthesized from Bougainvillea leaves proved to be an excellent adsorbent for the removal of iron metal from aqueous solution.