bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the buffering and acid-resistant properties of eggshell–titanium dioxide composite against erosive acids
Authors: Onwubu Stanley Chibuzor , Mdluli Phumlane Selby , Singh Shenuka 
Published: February 2019

Objective: This paper reports on the buffering and acid-resistant properties of a modified eggshell–titanium composite against citric acid attack. Materials and Methods: Eggshell–titanium EB-TiO2 was prepared by ball-milling eggshell powder and titanium dioxide. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize EB-TiO2. The buffering property against citric acid at pH values of 2, 4, and 5 was measured using a pH meter. Five brands of toothpaste (Colgate, Colgate Sensitive, Aquafresh, Oralwise, and Sensodyne) were used to assess the acid-resistant properties of EB-TiO2. Enamel models were simulated by dissolving each brand of toothpaste with eggshell (control) and EB-TiO2. The samples were exposed to citric acid of pH 2. The average slope (kPa/s) was measured using a pressure sensor. An analysis of variance was used to analyze the kPa/s values (α =.05). Results: The FTIR and XRD analyses suggest the surface modification of EB-TiO2. The TEM image revealed spherical-shaped particles in EB-TiO2. The pH test results showed that the buffering properties of eggshell and EB-TiO2 were comparable. Significant differences were observed in the acid resistance properties of the samples exposed to citric acids ( P < .05). The Colgate toothpaste infused with eggshell powder had the highest mean kPa/s values, whereas Sensodyne infused with EB-TiO2 had the lowest kPa/s values. Conclusion: The salient features of this study indicate that modification of eggshell with titanium dioxide does not affect its carbonate buffering properties. Connecting the kPa/s values to acid-resistant properties, EB-TiO2 effectively reduces erosive attacks when added to toothpaste.
Investigation of load transfer process between external fixator and bone model by experimental and finite element methods
Authors: Zhao Xia , Li Jianfeng , Chen Ying , Tao Chunjing , Ji Run 
Published: February 2019

Introduction: Unilateral external fixators are widely used in orthopedics to stabilize fractured bones and to treat limb deformities. One of the main problems is that it is difficult to detect healing status. In addition, whether load transfer progress between the fixator and bone model are the same under axial, torsional, and bending loads has not been studied. Methods: Therefore the main purpose of this study was to detect the load transfer process between the fixator and a bone model by measuring strains on the fixator–bone system during four healing states using experimental and finite element methods. In the experimental method, 20 strain gauges were used to measure strain on the fixator and bone model under three load conditions. Polyacetal slice models with different material properties were used to simulate the callus model during four growth states. Results: The results indicate that strain on the bone model increased and strain on the fixator parts decreased with maturation of the callus under axial, bending, and torsional loads. Although all curves showed a similar changing trend, they were slightly different under the three loads. Discussion and conclusions: This study provides a useful method to monitor the fracture healing process, and identifies the healing endpoint, detects healing status, and provides useful information for the orthopedist.
Lime-cement textile reinforced mortar (TRM) with modified interphase
Authors: Signorini Cesare , Sola Antonella , Nobili Andrea , Siligardi Cristina 
Published: February 2019

Background: Lack of interphase compatibility between the fabric and the matrix significantly impairs the load-bearing capacity of textile reinforced mortar (TRM). In this study, we consider the application of two inorganic surface coatings for enhancing the interphase bond properties. Methods: Either of two silica-based coatings, namely nano- and micro-silica, were applied to alkali-resistant glass (ARG) and to hybrid carbon–ARG woven fabric. Mechanical performance of TRM reinforced with the uncoated and the coated fabric was compared in uniaxial tensile tests. Results: Mechanical testing provides evidence of a remarkable enhancement in terms of ultimate strength and deformability for the coated specimens. This effect can be ascribed to the improved hydrophilicity of the fibers’ surface and to the activation of pozzolanic reaction at the interphase. In addition, penetration of nano- and microparticles in the bundle of the textile yarns reduces the occurrence of telescopic failure.
The effects of cryotherapy on quadriceps electromyographic activity and isometric strength in patient in the early phases following knee surgery
Authors: Loro William A , Thelen Mark D , Rosenthal Michael D , Stoneman Paul D , Ross Michael D 
Published: February 2019

Purpose: To determine the effects of cryotherapy on quadriceps electromyographic (EMG) activity and isometric strength in early postoperative knee surgery patients. Methods: Twenty-two volunteers with recent knee surgeries were included. EMG readings of the vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus lateralis (VL) from the surgical leg were collected during a maximal voluntary quadriceps setting (QS) activity. Maximum isometric knee extension force measurements were also recorded. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive an ice bag or a sham room-temperature bag to the front of their postsurgical knee for 20 min. After treatment, the subjects repeated the above mentioned maximum QS and isometric knee extension force measurements. The subjects returned 24 h later to conduct the same test protocol but received the treatment (ice or sham) not applied during their first test session. Results: A 38% increase in VM EMG activity during QS and a 30% increase in maximum isometric knee extension strength were found after cryotherapy treatment. No significant differences were found in RF or VL EMG activity during QS after cryotherapy. No significant differences were found in any measurements after the sham treatment. Conclusion: Clinicians should consider applying ice to knee joints prior to exercise for patients following knee surgery with inhibited quadriceps.
Clinical Predictors for Optimal Forward Elevation in Primary Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Sollaccio David R , King Joseph J , Struk Aimee , Farmer Kevin W , Wright Thomas W 
Published: February 2019

Background Few studies in the literature analyze clinical factors associated with superoptimal and suboptimal forward elevation in primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). We investigate the functional outcome stratified by shoulder elevation 12 months after primary RTSA and its correlation with selected clinical patient factors. Methods We analyzed prospectively collected data within a comprehensive surgical database on patients who had undergone primary RTSA between June 2004 and June 2013. Two hundred eighty-six shoulders were stratified into 2 groups: group I for shoulders that had achieved at least 145° of active forward elevation 12 months postoperatively (90th percentile of active forward elevation, 29 shoulders) and group II for shoulders that never achieved at least 90° of active forward elevation 12 months postoperatively (10th percentile of active forward elevation, 28 shoulders). Statistical analysis associated independent clinical variables with postoperative motion using univariate analysis followed by logistic regression. Results Active shoulder elevation of at least 90° was achieved 12 months postoperatively in 259 subjects (90%). Upon comparison with group II (<90° elevation), subjects in group I (≥145° elevation) were found to have improved postoperative active elevation and relatively younger age, lower American Society of Anesthesiologists score, increased preoperative active elevation, increased shoulder strength, increased passive elevation, decreased elevation lag, increased active and passive external rotation, and improved validated outcome scores. When assessing significant preoperative variables, the only independent predictor of improved postoperative forward elevation was preoperative active forward elevation. Conclusion These findings illuminate significant factors in the ability to achieve functional active shoulder elevation after primary RTSA. They may help surgeons appropriately counsel patients about anticipated functional prognosis following primary RTSA.
Mitochondria in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells: new perspectives and opportunities
Authors: Filippi Marie-Dominique , Ghaffari Saghi 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The hematopoietic system produces new blood cells throughout life. Mature blood cells all derived from a pool of rare long-lived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that are mostly quiescent but occasionally divide and self-renew to maintain the stem cell pool and to insure the continuous replenishment of blood cells. Mitochondria have recently emerged as critical not only for HSC differentiation and commitment but also for HSC homeostasis. Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that orchestrate a number of fundamental metabolic and signaling processes, producing most of the cellular energy via oxidative phosphorylation. HSCs have a relatively high amount of mitochondria that are mostly inactive. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the role of mitochondria in HSC homeostasis and discuss, among other topics, how mitochondrial dynamism and quality control might be implicated in HSC fate, self-renewal, and regenerative potential.
Eltrombopag maintains human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells under inflammatory conditions mediated by IFN-γ
Authors: Alvarado Luigi J. , Huntsman Heather D. , Cheng Hai , Townsley Danielle M. , Winkler Thomas , Feng Xingmin , Dunbar Cynthia E. , Young Neal S. , Larochelle Andre 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe proinflammatory cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ) has been implicated in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) depletion in immune-mediated bone marrow failure syndromes. We show that IFN-γ specifically prevents full engagement of thrombopoietin (TPO), a primary positive regulator of HSPC survival, to its receptor (c-MPL) via steric occlusion of the low-affinity binding site, contributing to perturbation of TPO-induced signaling pathways and decreased survival of human HSPCs. Eltrombopag, a synthetic small molecule mimetic of TPO that interacts with c-MPL at a position distinct from the extracellular binding site of TPO, bypasses this inhibition, providing an explanation for its clinical activity in bone marrow failure, despite already elevated endogenous TPO levels. Thus, IFN-γ–mediated perturbation of TPO:c-MPL complex formation and the resulting inhibition of a critical pathway of growth factor cell signaling may represent a general mechanism by which IFN-γ impairs the function of human HSPCs. This understanding could have broad therapeutic implications for various disorders of chronic inflammation.
FoPA: identifying perturbed signaling pathways in clinical conditions using formal methods
Authors: Mansoori Fatemeh , Rahgozar Maseud , Kavousi Kaveh 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundAccurate identification of perturbed signaling pathways based on differentially expressed genes between sample groups is one of the key factors in the understanding of diseases and druggable targets. Most pathway analysis methods prioritize impacted signaling pathways by incorporating pathway topology using simple graph-based models. Despite their relative success, these models are limited in describing all types of dependencies and interactions that exist in biological pathways.ResultsIn this work, we propose a new approach based on the formal modeling of signaling pathways. Signaling pathways are formally modeled, and then model checking tools are applied to find the likelihood of perturbation for each pathway in a given condition. By adopting formal methods, various complex interactions among biological parts are modeled, which can contribute to reducing the false-positive rate of the proposed approach. We have developed a tool named Formal model checking based pathway analysis (FoPA) based on this approach. FoPA is compared with three well-known pathway analysis methods: PADOG, CePa, and SPIA on the benchmark of 36 GEO datasets from various diseases by applying the target pathway technique. This validation technique eliminates the need for possibly biased human assessments of results. In the cases that, there is no apriori knowledge of all relevant pathways, simulated false inputs (permuted class labels and decoy pathways) are chosen as a set of negative controls to test the false positive rate of the methods. Finally, to further evaluate the efficiency of FoPA, it is applied to a list of autism-related genes.ConclusionsThe results obtained by the target pathway technique demonstrate that FoPA is able to prioritize target pathways as well as PADOG but better than CePa and SPIA. Also, the false-positive rate of finding significant pathways using FoPA is lower than other compared methods. Also, FoPA can detect more consistent relevant pathways than other methods. The results of FoPA on autism-related genes highlight the role of “Renin-angiotensin system” pathway. This pathway has been supposed to have a pivotal role in some neurodegenerative diseases, while little attention has been paid to its impact on autism development so far.
An audio attention computational model based on information entropy of two channels and exponential moving average
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhang Cong , Hang Bo , Wang Song , Chao Han-Chieh 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The main down-top attention model usually uses some characteristics of audio signal to extract the auditory saliency map at present. But existing audio attention computational model based image saliency mostly doesn’t consider the continuity and attenuation mechanism of the human brain on paying attention to some occurred events in our real environment. To address these issues, we propose a model based on information entropy of two channels and exponential moving average (EMA) to simulate the processing of sound signals from the basilar membrane to the cochlear nucleus, and get the local information entropy of image and audio channel, finally we use the relevant EMA methods to calculate the auditory attention map. Some experimental results on artificial audio signal and real-world audio signal belonging to a public corpus show that the proposed model not only can detect the attention event, but also reflect the mechanism of human brain, and the experimental results of talk show in real environment are better.
Costume evolution during the development of romantic relationships and its impact on the positions of power in the Star Wars prequel and original trilogies
Authors: King Mary C. , Ridgway Jessica L. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis study explored the costume evolution of the Star Wars film characters Padme Amidala and Leia Organa as romantic relationships were introduced and progressed and how this impacted their positions of power. The study aimed to investigate how female characters have their position of power minimized through the use of costume as their involvement in romantic relationships evolves throughout the films. Objectification theory was used as a theoretical framework under which the study was carried out. The researchers utilized a qualitative content analysis of the audio and visual content of the first six Star Wars films. The results indicated that both characters were objectified through costume. Before romantic relationships were introduced, both women were acknowledged for their positions of power which were emphasized by their costumes. It was observed that as both women progressed in their romantic relationships, their perceived power decreased, and an increase of objectification through greater skin exposure occurred.
Headquarters as hardware and software
Authors: Sharer Kevin 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe article proposes a framework for thinking about the role and elements of a corporate headquarters. The concept is that headquarters is both a physical place with implications for the culture and work processes of the firm and a set of processes and strategies that define how the work actually gets done and the employees and leadership groups interact. The main thesis of the piece is that to properly design and operate headquarters that these elements of both hardware and software of headquarters must be designed and operated together.
Recommendations on the Use of Ultrasound Guidance for Adult Abdominal Paracentesis: A Position Statement of the Society of Hospital Medicine
Authors: Cho Joel , Jensen Trevor P. , Reierson Kreegan , Mathews Benji K. , Bhagra Anjali , Franco‐Sadud Ricardo , Grikis Loretta , Mader Michael , Dancel Ria , Lucas Brian P. ,   Society of Hospital Medicine Point‐of‐care Ultrasound Task Force, Soni Nilam J. 
Published: February 2019

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

We recommend that ultrasound guidance should be used for paracentesis to reduce the risk of serious complications, the most common being bleeding.
We recommend that ultrasound guidance should be used to avoid attempting paracentesis in patients with an insufficient volume of intraperitoneal free fluid to drain.
We recommend that ultrasound guidance should be used with paracentesis to improve the success rates of the overall procedure.
We recommend that ultrasound should be used to assess the volume and location of intraperitoneal free fluid to guide clinical decision making of where paracentesis can be safely performed.
We recommend that ultrasound should be used to identify a needle insertion site based on size of the fluid collection, thickness of the abdominal wall, and proximity to abdominal organs.
We recommend that the needle insertion site should be evaluated using color flow Doppler ultrasound to identify and avoid abdominal wall blood vessels along the anticipated needle trajectory.
We recommend that a needle insertion site should be evaluated in multiple planes to ensure clearance from underlying abdominal organs and detect any abdominal wall blood vessels along the anticipated needle trajectory.
We recommend that a needle insertion site should be marked with ultrasound immediately before performing the procedure, and the patient should remain in the same position between marking the site and performing the procedure.
We recommend that using real‐time ultrasound guidance for paracentesis should be considered when the fluid collection is small or difficult to access.
We recommend that dedicated training sessions, including didactics, supervised practice on patients, and simulation‐based practice, should be used to teach novices how to perform ultrasound‐guided paracentesis.
We recommend that simulation‐based practice should be used, when available, to facilitate acquisition of the required knowledge and skills to perform ultrasound‐ guided paracentesis.
We recommend that competence in performing ultrasound‐guided paracentesis should be demonstrated prior to independently performing the procedure on patients.
Distinguishing Drug from Disease by Use of the Hydrashift 2/4 Daratumumab Assay
Authors: Thoren Katie L , Pianko Matthew J , Maakaroun Youssef , Landgren C Ola , Ramanathan Lakshmi V 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Background
Daratumumab, a monoclonal antibody used to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, can interfere with protein electrophoresis and immunofixation assays. False-positive immunofixation results due to daratumumab can cause uncertainty regarding the status of a patient's disease and lead to potential misclassification of their response to therapy. The Hydrashift 2/4 Daratumumab assay (Sebia) was recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for resolving daratumumab interference on immunofixation. Here, we evaluate the performance of the Hydrashift assay in multiple myeloma patients receiving treatment with daratumumab-based regimens.

Methods
Waste serum samples from multiple myeloma patients (n = 40) receiving daratumumab were analyzed by standard immunofixation and the Hydrashift assay. Results from these tests were compared and were evaluated along with pretreatment serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation results, if available.

Results
The Hydrashift assay shifted the migration of daratumumab in patient samples. In 27 cases, the patient's M protein was distinguishable from daratumumab by standard immunofixation. In these cases, the Hydrashift assay confirmed that the IgGκ band was daratumumab and helped identify the presence of treatment-related oligoclonal bands. There were 11 instances in which the patient's IgGκ M protein comigrated with daratumumab. In all 11 cases, the Hydrashift assay confirmed the presence of residual M protein. Finally, in 2 patients whose pretreatment immunofixation results were not available, the Hydrashift assay confirmed that the IgGκ band visible on immunofixation was due to daratumumab alone.

Conclusions
The Hydrashift 2/4 Daratumumab assay is a useful tool to clarify the source of an IgGκ band on immunofixation and allow a patient's M protein to be viewed without interference.
Effect of structured teaching guidelines on patient's knowledge, practice, and self-efficacy regarding colostomy care
Authors: El-Sayead Shrief Sheren , Mokhtar Mokhtar Islam 
Published: February 2019

Background: nurses are primarily health professional who is engaged in the management of colostomized individuals who go through different physical and psychosocial transformations.Aim: to evaluate the effect of applying structured teaching guidelines on patient's knowledge, practice, and self-efficacy regarding colostomy care.Hypothesis: application of structured teaching guidelines will have a positive impact on patient's knowledge, practice, and self-efficacy regarding colostomy care. Design: pre-post analytic study.Setting: the study was carried out in the surgical department, and outpatient clinic at Beni-Suef University hospital and Aswan oncology Hospital.Sample: A total number of 50 adult patients, both sex, conscious, having a permanent colostomyTools: four tools were utilized in this study; Tool I: A structured interview questionnaire sheet which comprised two parts: Part I: Personal characteristics of the studied patients, Part II: Patients` knowledge about colostomy care; Tool II: Patient's Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale; Tool III: An observation checklist (pre/post /follow â€“ up assessment) and Tool IV: The structured teaching Guidelines.Results: There was a statistically significant distinction between both the study and control group regarding patient's knowledge, practice, and self-efficacy regarding colostomy care.Conclusion: Application of the structured teaching guidelines had a positive impact on patient's knowledge, practice and self-efficacy regarding colostomy care with an obvious statistically significant distinction between pre and post-intervention.Recommendations: Replication of the same study on larger probability sample at different geographical locations for data generalizability, and distribution of the booklet for patients with a colostomy to improve their outcomes.Â Â