bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
T1ρ mapping of articular cartilage grafts after autologous osteochondral transplantation for osteochondral lesions of the talus: A longitudinal evaluation
Authors: Haraguchi Naoki , Ota Koki , Nishida Naoki , Ozeki Takuma , Yoshida Takashige , Tsutaya Atsushi 
Published: February 2018

BackgroundClinical results of autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) for treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus have been mixed. T1ρ imaging can be used to noninvasively detect early cartilage degeneration.Purpose or HypothesisTo quantitatively assess, by means of T1ρ imaging, changes over time in the biochemical health of grafted cartilage after AOT for osteochondral lesions of the talus.Study TypeRetrosepctive case series.PopulationThe study group comprised nine patients who underwent AOT for an osteochondral lesion of the talus and in whom T1ρ mapping was performed 1 and 2 years postoperatively.Field Strength/Sequence3 Tesla. T1ρ‐weighted turbo field echo.AssessmentThe mean T1ρ value of full‐thickness cartilage at the repair site and that of full‐thickness cartilage elsewhere in the same image (far‐field cartilage) were determined. Clinical assessment was based on the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale. Correlation between the T1ρ ratios (grafted‐to‐far‐field cartilage T1ρ values) and clinical outcomes was examined.Statistical TestsMixed effects model. Pearson correlation analysis.ResultsAt 1 year, a significant difference existed between the mean T1ρ value of the grafted cartilage (57.0 ± 7.7 ms) and that of the far‐field cartilage (41.8 ± 4.6 ms) (P < 0.001). At 2 years, the mean T1ρ value of the grafted cartilage (49.1 ± 6.4 ms) was significantly lower than that at 1 year (P = 0.011). Moderate negative correlation was found between the 1‐year T1ρ ratio and 1‐year AOFAS score (r = −0.60) and between the 2‐year T1ρ ratio and 2‐year AOFAS score (r = −0.50).Data ConclusionOur observation of substantial restoration of the proteoglycan content of the grafted cartilage approximately 2 years after AOT for osteochondral lesions of the talus indicates that the content changes gradually and that the cartilage reparation process is slower than previously believed.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 3J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2018;48:398–403.
Assessment of pulmonary structure–function relationships in young children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis by multivolume proton‐MRI and CT
Authors: Pennati Francesca , Roach David J. , Clancy John P. , Brody Alan S. , Fleck Robert J. , Aliverti Andrea , Woods Jason C. 
Published: February 2018

BackgroundLung disease is the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and there is a shortage of sensitive biomarkers able to regionally monitor disease progression and to assess early responses to therapy.PurposeTo determine the feasibility of noncontrast‐enhanced multivolume MRI, which assesses intensity changes between expiratory and inspiratory breath‐hold images, to detect and quantify regional ventilation abnormalities in CF lung disease, with a focus on the structure–function relationship.Study TypeRetrospective.PopulationTwenty‐nine subjects, including healthy young children (n = 9, 7–37 months), healthy adolescents (n = 4, 14–22 years), young children with CF lung disease (n = 10, 7–47 months), and adolescents with CF lung disease (n = 6, 8–18 years) were studied.Field Strength/Sequence3D spoiled gradient‐recalled sequence at 1.5T.AssessmentSubjects were scanned during breath‐hold at functional residual capacity (FRC) and total lung capacity (TLC) through noncontrast‐enhanced MRI and CT. Expiratory‐inspiratory differences in MR signal‐intensity (Δ1H‐MRI) and CT‐density (ΔHU) were computed to estimate regional ventilation. MR and CT images were also evaluated using a CF‐specific scoring system.Statistical TestsQuadratic regression, Spearman's correlation, one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsΔ1H‐MRI maps were sensitive to ventilation heterogeneity related to gravity dependence in healthy lung and to ventilation impairment in CF lung disease. A high correlation was found between MRI and CT ventilation maps (R2 = 0.79, P < 0.001). Globally, Δ1H‐MRI and ΔHU decrease with increasing morphological score (respectively, R2 = 0.56, P < 0.001 and R2 = 0.31, P < 0.001). Locally, Δ1H‐MRI was higher in healthy regions (median 15%) compared to regions with bronchiectasis, air trapping, consolidation, and to segments fed by airways with bronchial wall thickening (P < 0.001).Data ConclusionMultivolume noncontrast‐enhanced MRI, as a nonionizing imaging modality that can be used on nearly any MRI scanner without specialized equipment or gaseous tracers, may be particularly valuable in CF care, providing a new imaging biomarker to detect early alterations in regional lung structure–function.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 3J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2018;48:531–542.
Domain decomposition approaches for accelerating contour integration eigenvalue solvers for symmetric eigenvalue problems
Authors: Kalantzis Vassilis , Kestyn James , Polizzi Eric , Saad Yousef 
Published: February 2018

SummaryThis paper discusses techniques for computing a few selected eigenvalue–eigenvector pairs of large and sparse symmetric matrices. A recently developed class of techniques to solve this type of problems is based on integrating the matrix resolvent operator along a complex contour that encloses the interval containing the eigenvalues of interest. This paper considers such contour integration techniques from a domain decomposition viewpoint and proposes two schemes. The first scheme can be seen as an extension of domain decomposition linear system solvers in the framework of contour integration methods for eigenvalue problems, such as FEAST. The second scheme focuses on integrating the resolvent operator primarily along the interface region defined by adjacent subdomains. A parallel implementation of the proposed schemes is described, and results on distributed computing environments are reported. These results show that domain decomposition approaches can lead to reduced run times and improved scalability.
Respectively scaled HSS iteration methods for solving discretized spatial fractional diffusion equations
Authors: Bai Zhong‐Zhi 
Published: February 2018

SummaryFor the discrete linear systems resulted from the discretization of the one‐dimensional anisotropic spatial fractional diffusion equations of variable coefficients with the shifted finite‐difference formulas of the Grünwald–Letnikov type, we propose a class of respectively scaled Hermitian and skew‐Hermitian splitting iteration method and establish its asymptotic convergence theory. The corresponding induced matrix splitting preconditioner, through further replacements of the involved Toeplitz matrices with certain circulant matrices, leads to an economic variant that can be executed by fast Fourier transforms. Both theoretical analysis and numerical implementations show that this fast respectively scaled Hermitian and skew‐Hermitian splitting preconditioner can significantly improve the computational efficiency of the Krylov subspace iteration methods employed as effective linear solvers for the target discrete linear systems.
Partitioning of aryl radicals in micellar systems
Authors: Sienkiewicz Andrzej , Losada‐Barreiro Sonia , Bravo‐Díaz Carlos 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDetermining the association constants of radicals to biomimetic systems is not a simple task because of the inherent experimental difficulties associated to their “in‐situ” generation together with their high chemical instability, requiring the use of radical trapping agents in combination with, for example, magnetic (eg, EPR) and/or time‐resolved techniques (eg, frequency comb spectroscopy) to indentify and quantify them. Here, we have exploited the unique electrochemical properties of arenediazonium ions, ArN2+, to estimate the association constant of the electrochemically generated aryl radicals derived from benzenediazonium ions, BD, with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles. When ArN2+ are reduced on an Hg electrode, they acquire an electron yielding the corresponding arenediazenyl radical, ArN2•, which undergoes further decomposition to produce the aryl radical, Ar•. BD partitions between the aqueous and micellar pseudophases, and, upon increasing [SDS], peak currents decrease and the peak potentials are shifted. Results indicate that the association constant of the aryl radical to SDS micelles is 3 times higher than that of the parent substrate as a consequence of its higher hydrophobicity compared with that of the parent molecule. The method is feasible because of the large number of arenediazonium ions that can be prepared and because it does not depend on the reactivity of the electrochemically generated radical.
A theoretical study on the ESPT mechanism for a novel Bis‐HPBT fluorophore
Authors: Lu Xuemei , Zhai Yuchuan , Zhang Meixia , Song Yuzhi 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn this work, based on the density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, the properties of the 2 intramolecular hydrogen bonds (O1‐H2···N3 and O4‐H5···N6) of a new photochemical sensor 4‐(3‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐5‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxybenzyl)‐2‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐6‐tert‐butyl phenol (Bis‐HPBT) have been investigated in detail. The calculated dominating bond lengths and bond angles about these 2 hydrogen bonds (O1‐H2···N3 and O4‐H5···N6) demonstrate that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds should be strengthened in the S1state. In addition, the variations of hydrogen bonds of Bis‐HPBT have been also testified based on infrared vibrational spectra. Our theoretical results reproduced absorption and emission spectra of the experiment, which verifies that the theoretical level we used is reasonable and effective in this work. Further, hydrogen bonding strengthening manifests the tendency of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. Frontier molecular orbitals depict the nature of electronically excited state and support the ESIPT reaction. According to the calculated results of potential energy curves along stepwise and synergetic O1‐H2 and O4‐H5 coordinates, the potential energy barrier of approximately 1.399 kcal/mol is discovered in the S1state, which supports the single ESIPT process along with 1 hydrogen bond of Bis‐HPBT. In other words, the proton transfer reaction can be facilitated based on the electronic excitation effectively. In turn, through the process of radiative transition, the proton‐transfer Bis‐HPBT‐SPT form regresses to the ground state with the fluorescence of 539 nm.
Fresh and shrinkage properties of self‐compacted concrete when using recycled glass as aggregate
Authors: Al‐Kerttani Osamah Mohammed Ghazi 
Published: February 2018

In this experimental study, the shrinkage characteristics of self‐compacting concrete were investigated when using green colored recycled glass (RG) as a replacement of natural aggregates (NAs). For this purpose, fine and/or coarse grade NAs were replaced by RG at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%, by weight. Three SCCs series were designed with a constant slump flow of 700 ± 30 mm, total binder content of 570 kg/m3and at water‐to‐binder (w/b) ratio of 0.35. Moreover, fly ash (FA) was used in concrete mixtures at 20% of total binder content.Fresh properties of mixtures were experimentally investigated in terms of slump flow diameter,T500slump flow time, V‐funnel flow time, and L‐box height ratio.The findings indicated that the flowability is increased by increase of slump flow, but viscosity is increased as well as what decreases workability. While, the results of physical properties of self‐compacting glass concrete concluded that the RG reduces the free shrinkage, weight loss and restrained shrinkage until the age of 50 days.
Fetal Cardiac Anomalies
Authors: Balci Burcin Karamustafaoglu , Goynumer Gokhan , Biliciler-Denktas Gurur , Babaoglu Kadir , Lewis Michael , Uzun Orhan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThis review is intended to give a practical guide to ultrasound recognition of the commonly observed fetal cardiac abnormalities and their key features on standard imaging planes during antenatal anomaly screening examinations. All information provided here, on the diagnosis and management of fetal cardiac anomalies, is based on the personal experiences of the authors and their expert reviews of the selected previously published studies.
Evaluation of outcomes in fissurectomy and V–Y advancement flap for the treatment of chronic anal fissure
Authors: Anaraki Fakhrosadat , Foroughifar Tahereh , Laleh Seyed Hossein , Etemad Omid 
Published: February 2018

AbstractChronic anal fissure is difficult to treat. Surgery is usually recommended in the case of drug therapeutic failure. Fecal incontinence in patients with weaker sphincters (multipara older patients with a history of pelvic surgery etc.) is a major reason for rejecting surgery. Such these patients should be underwent fissurectomy and V–Y advancement flap in which sphincterotomy is not required. In this prospective study, we determined the outcomes and complications of fissurectomy and V–Y advancement flap in both groups of patients with low and high anal sphincter tones.
Anatomia da escápula aplicada à abordagem cirúrgica posterior: Parâmetros de segurança durante acesso ao ângulo lateral
Authors: da Costa Miguel Pereira , Braga André Canal , Geremias Rogério Augusto , Tenor Junior Antonio Carlos , Ribeiro Fabiano Rebouças , Brasil Filho Rômulo 
Published: February 2018

Resumo
Objetivo O presente trabalho teve como objetivo identiﬁcar parâmetros de segurança para a realização da via de acesso cirúrgico posterior da escápula por meio de um estudo transversal em cadáveres.
Métodos Foram dissecados 13 ombros de cadáveres sem história de cirurgia ou disfunção musculoesquelética prévia e em bom estado de conservação, com médias de idade, peso e altura de 70,1 anos, 61,5 kg, 1,64m, respectivamente. Identiﬁcou-se marco anatômico da via estudada (tubérculo infraglenoidal) e sua distância para os nervos axilar e supraescapular foi medida.
Resultados A distância média encontrada entre o tubérculo infraglenoidal (TI) e o nervo axilar (NA) foi de 23,8 mm e distância média do TI ao nervo supraescapular (NSE) foi de 33,2 mm.
Conclusão A via posterior pelo intervalo entre os músculos infraespinal e redondo menor é considerada segura; porém, é preciso atenção e cautela durante o afastamento muscular, devido à curta distância média entre o sítio de fratura e a localização do NSE e do NA. Tais precauções podem evitar maiores complicações pós-operatórias.
Formation of the chemical composition of brackish and brine groundwater in the Tuva depression and surrounding areas
Authors: Guseva N.V. , Kopylova Yu.G. , Oidup Ch.K. , Arakchaa K.D. , Rychkova K.M. , Khvashchevskaya A.A. , Ayunova O.D. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Groundwater with high salinity is widespread in different climatic and geologic environments of the world. The formation of its chemical composition, however, is still debatable. The chemical composition of groundwater has been studied in 19 springs of the Tuva depression. In this area, hydrocarbonate, sulfate, and chloride waters with different cation compositions discharge. Their TDS value varies mainly from 1 to 6 g/L, reaching 315 g/L at only one locality. The chemical composition of the studied waters is reflective of the geostructural, hydrogeologic, landscape, and geochemical conditions. The main processes determining the chemical composition of the waters are their interaction with aluminosilicate minerals, dissolution of gypsum and halite, evaporation, and oxidation of sulfide minerals.
The threat on the end of the phone: the danger of contact centre agents
Authors: Critchley Tim 
Published: February 2018

The rise of the ‘insider’ data security threat has been well-documented. Cases such as Snapchat, where its CEO fell victim to a whaling attack, exposing sensitive employee information, and Sage, where a staff member actively stole banking and salary details for personal gain, have flagged up the variety of dangers. 1, 2 No matter what the source, the result is a costly and reputation-damaging data breach that may well have a negative impact on the business for years to come. The rise of the ‘insider’ data security threat has been well-documented. But one, often overlooked, insider threat is that of the contact centre. The employees on the end of the line to customers can be one of the company's biggest assets. However, many have access to sensitive customer details, which means they can also represent a significant security vulnerability. Tim Critchley of Semafone explains how information security teams must ensure that their policies and technical solutions are up to the job of fending off internal threats.
Dynamic relationships between social norms and pro-environmental behavior: evidence from household recycling
Authors: HUBER JOEL , VISCUSI W. KIP , BELL JASON 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSocial norms are strongly associated with pro-environmental behaviors, but the evolution and dynamic effects of norms are less well understood. This article builds on the distinction of norms being descriptive, characterizing what people actually do, or injunctive, characterizing what people should do. It identifies four categories of norms with the further distinction of whether the norms arise from the personal beliefs and actions or from the behaviors and judgments of others. The analysis uses five years of longitudinal US data that track household recycling and controls for household characteristics as well as differences in state recycling laws. The results extend previous research by showing that personal norms exhibit cascading dynamics in which norms encourage later changes in recycling, while recycling encourages later changes in personal norms. This mutual reinforcement implies that societal actions encouraging change in either personal norms or recycling will support growth in the other. Recognizing this interdependence can assist in the effective utilization of social norms as a behavioral policy instrument.
Financial Incentives to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections Under Alternative Payment Arrangements
Authors: Cohen Catherine Crawford , Liu Jianfang , Cohen Bevin , Larson Elaine L. , Glied Sherry 
Published: February 2018

OBJECTIVEThe financial incentives for hospitals to improve care may be weaker if higher insurer payments for adverse conditions offset a portion of hospital costs. The purpose of this study was to simulate incentives for reducing hospital-acquired infections under various payment configurations by Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers.DESIGNMatched case-control study.SETTINGA large, urban hospital system with 1 community hospital and 2 tertiary-care hospitals.PATIENTSAll patients discharged in 2013 and 2014.METHODSUsing electronic hospital records, we identified hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (BSIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) with a validated algorithm. We assessed excess hospital costs, length of stay, and payments due to infection, and we compared them to those of uninfected patients matched by propensity for infection.RESULTSIn most scenarios, hospitals recovered only a portion of excess HAI costs through increased payments. Patients with UTIs incurred incremental costs of $6,238 (P<.01), while payments increased $1,901 (P<.05) at public diagnosis-related group (DRG) rates. For BSIs, incremental costs were $15,367 (P<.01), while payments increased $7,895 (P<.01). If private payers reimbursed a 200% markup over Medicare DRG rates, hospitals recovered 55% of costs from BSI and UTI among private-pay patients and 54% for BSI and 33% for UTI, respectively, across all patients. Under per-diem payment for private patients with no markup, hospitals recovered 71% of excess costs of BSI and 88% for UTI. At 150% markup and per-diem payments, hospitals profited.CONCLUSIONSHospital incentives for investing in patient safety vary by payer and payment configuration. Higher payments provide resources to improve patient safety, but current payment structures may also reduce the willingness of hospitals to invest in patient safety.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2018;39:509–515
Experimental study of the mean structure and quasi-conical scaling of a swept-compression-ramp interaction at Mach 2
Authors: Vanstone Leon , Musta Mustafa Nail , Seckin Serdar , Clemens Noel 
Published: February 2018

This study investigates the mean flow structure of two shock-wave boundary-layer interactions generated by moderately swept compression ramps in a Mach 2 flow. The ramps have a compression angle of either $19^{\circ }$ or $22.5^{\circ }$ and a sweep angle of $30^{\circ }$. The primary diagnostic methods used for this study are surface-streakline flow visualization and particle image velocimetry. The shock-wave boundary-layer interactions are shown to be quasi-conical, with the intermittent region, separation line and reattachment line all scaling in a self-similar manner outside of the inception region. This is one of the first studies to investigate the flow field of a swept ramp using particle image velocimetry, allowing more sensitive measurements of the velocity flow field than previously possible. It is observed that the streamwise velocity component outside of the separated flow reaches the quasi-conical state at the same time as the bulk surface flow features. However, the streamwise and cross-stream components within the separated flow take longer to recover to the quasi-conical state, which indicates that the inception region for these low-magnitude velocity components is actually larger than was previously assumed. Specific scaling laws reported previously in the literature are also investigated and the results of this study are shown to scale similarly to these related interactions. Certain limiting cases of the scaling laws are explored that have potential implications for the interpretation of cylindrical and quasi-conical scaling.
Feasibility of Delivering Varenicline Through a Telephone Quitline to Promote Smoking Cessation
Authors: Rojewski Alana M. , Hyland Andrew , Mahoney Martin C. , Cooper Louise M. , Zuromski Kelly L. , Celestino Paula , Koutsky James , Toll Benjamin A. 
Published: February 2018

Introduction: Telephone quitlines are an easily accessible and effective means for delivering cessation services including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Varenicline (VAR) may show superior quit rates to NRT, but has not been routinely evaluated in the context of quitlines.Aims: To assess the feasibility of distributing VAR through a quitline, and preliminarily compare cessation rates between participants receiving VAR and NRT.Methods: Participants were recruited through the New York State Smokers’ Quitline. Those randomised to VAR (n = 200) were instructed to obtain a prescription from their primary care physician (PCP) to be filled by mail through the research pharmacy. Those randomised to NRT (n = 100) were mailed NRT using an existing protocol. Outcome measures were number of submitted prescriptions and dispensed medication kits, and self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence at follow-up.Results: The research pharmacy filled 100% of prescriptions through the quitline. However, only 27% of the VAR Arm submitted a prescription. An intent-to-treat analysis revealed that those receiving NRT were more likely to be abstinent at follow-up than the VAR Arm (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.27–4.60; p < 0.01). The per-protocol analysis, which only included those in the VAR Arm who submitted a prescription, showed no difference in quit rates.Conclusions: The present protocol resulted in successful delivery of VAR through the quitline, but a sizable proportion of the VAR Arm did not submit a prescription. Self-reported barriers included being unable to obtain a prescription from a PCP. Future studies should explore alternative methods for delivering VAR through quitlines.