bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental Quantification on the Residual Seismic Capacity of Damaged RC Column Members
Authors: Chiu Chien-Kuo , Sung Hsin-Fang , Chi Kai-Ning , Hsiao Fu-Pei 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
To quantify the post-earthquake residual seismic capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) column members, experimental data for 6 column specimens with flexural, flexural–shear and shear failure modes are used to derive residual seismic capacity of damaged RC column members for specified damage states in this work. Besides of the experiment data, some related researches are also investigated to suggest the reduction factors of strength, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity for damaged RC column members, respectively. According to the damage states of RC columns, their corresponding seismic reduction factors are suggested herein. Taking an RC column with the flexural–shear failure for an example, its reductions factors of strength, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity are 0.5, 0.6 and 0.1, respectively. This work also proposes the seismic performance assessment method for the residual seismic performance of earthquake-damaged RC buildings. In the case study, this work selects one actual earthquake-damaged school building to demonstrate the post-earthquake assessment of seismic performance for a damaged RC building.
Guidelines for reporting non-randomised pilot and feasibility studies
Authors: Lancaster Gillian A. , Thabane Lehana 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
As the number of submissions to Pilot and Feasibility Studies increases, there is a need for good quality reporting guidelines to help researchers tailor their reports in a way that is consistent and helpful to other readers. The publication in 2016 of the CONSORT extension to pilot and feasibility trials filled a much-needed gap, but there still remains some uncertainty as to how to report pilot and feasibility studies that are not randomised. This editorial aims to provide some general guidance on how to report the most common types of non-randomised pilot and feasibility studies that are submitted to the journal. We recommend using the CONSORT extension to pilot and feasibility trials as the main reference document—it includes detailed elaboration and explanation of each item, and in most cases, simple adaptation, or non-use of items that are not applicable, will suffice. Several checklists found on the Equator website may provide helpful supplementary guidance, when used alongside the CONSORT extension, and we give some examples.
Ultrasonic elastography and conventional ultrasound in the diagnosis of thyroid micro-nodules
Authors: Wang Jinming , Wei Wenbing , Guo Rui 
Published: October 2019

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of conventional ultrasound, ultrasound elastography and conventional ultrasound combined with ultrasound elastography in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid micro-nodules.
Methods: Eighty-six patients who were found with thyroid micro-nodules with the maximum diameter no more than 10 mm in the physical examination in our hospital from June 2015 to December 2017 were selected, and 102 nodules were included. All patients were confirmed with thyroid micro-nodules by puncture or surgical pathology and underwent conventional ultrasound and ultrasound elastography. Taking the surgical pathological results as a control, the value of conventional ultrasound, ultrasound elastography and conventional ultrasound combined with ultrasound elastography in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid micro-nodules were compared. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and the area under the ROC curve was calculated.
Results: One hundred and two thyroid nodules were detected by surgical pathology, including 75 benign nodules (73.53%) and 27 malignant nodules (26.47%). The sensitivity and diagnostic accordance rate of ultrasound elastography were significantly higher than those of conventional ultrasound in the diagnosis of thyroid microcarcinoma, and the missed diagnosis rate of ultrasound elastography was significantly lower than that of conventional ultrasound; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). However, the difference between the two methods was not statistically significant in terms of diagnostic specificity and misdiagnosis rate (P>0.05). The areas under the ROC curve in the diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules by conventional ultrasound and ultrasound elastography were 0.735 and 0.743 respectively.
Conclusion: Conventional ultrasound can be used as a routine examination technique in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules, while ultrasound elastography can improve the sensitivity and diagnostic rate in the diagnosis of thyroid micro carcinoma. It can help to reduce the clinical missed diagnosis, which also can be be used as an effective supplement for conventional ultrasound.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.6.777
How to cite this:Wang J, Wei W, Guo R. Ultrasonic elastography and conventional ultrasound in the diagnosis of thyroid micro-nodules. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(6):1526-1531. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.6.777
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
EFEK THRESHOLD INFLASI TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI REGIONAL DI INDONESIA
Authors: Kusumatrisna Adam Luthfi , Sugema Iman , Pasaribu Syamsul Hidayat 
Published: October 2019

Penelitian terbaru menyatakan bahwa hubungan antara inflasi dan pertumbuhan ekonomi tidaklah linier. Ketika inflasi melebihi ambang batas tertentu, akan berdampak negatif terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menyelidiki hubungan linear dan non-linear antara inflasi dan pertumbuhan ekonomi di Indonesia menggunakan data panel provinsi. Hubungan linier diuji menggunakan panel fixed effect model sementara hubungan non-linear menggunakan panel threshold fixed effect model. Saat dilakukan uji secara linear, inflasi di Indonesia memiliki efek negatif pada pertumbuhan ekonomi begitu juga dengan pertumbuhan rasio pengeluaran pemerintah dan pertumbuhan penduduk. Sementara pertumbuhan investasi dan pertumbuhan keterbukaan ekonomi memiliki efek positif terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi. Ketika melakukan uji non-linear, inflasi di Indonesia berdampak negatif terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi hanya ketika melebihi 9,57 dan 9,59 persen. Sementara itu saat inflasi melebihi 5,09 persen, pertumbuhan ekonomi di Indonesia melambat. Kebijakan pengendalian inflasi tetap harus dilakukan untuk mengurangi dampak buruk inflasi, karena inflasi yang tinggi dan berfluktuasi tidak baik bagi perekonomian. Studi ini menyarankan pihak terkait seperti Bank Indonesia (BI) dan Tim Pemantauan dan Pengendalian Inflasi Daerah (TPID) untuk berhati-hati saat inflasi mulai melebihi angka 5,09 persen dan waspada saat inflasi melebihi angka 9,57 persen dan 9,59 persen.
Treatment of diffuse euthyroid goiter in children
Authors: Taranushenko T. E. , Panfilov A. Ya. , Dogadin S. A. 
Published: October 2019

High prevalence of diffuse euthyroid goiter and inefficiency of conservative treatment aimed at normalization of thyroid volume necessitate search for optimal methods of treatment.
Results of thyroxin and potassium iodide (antistrumin) therapy of 110 children with diffuse toxic goiter, living in a region with medium-grave iodine deficiency, are analyzed. The diagnosis was verified by clinical data, ultrasonic examinations, and hormone measurements.
Changes in the volume of the thyroid under the effect of thyroxin and antistrumin therapy could be variously directed: the involved thyroid might enlarge, shrink, or not change at all. Therapeutic effects of thyroxin and antistrumin on the degree of thyroid decrease and incidence of positive results after 6-month therapy were virtually the same.
Thyroxin in a daily dose of 2.0-2.5 \xg/kg promoted a decrease and normalization of the thyroid size. Efficacy of thyroxin significantly increased if it was used longer than for 6 months.
Potassium iodide (antistrumin) in a weekly dose of 2000 pg (equivalent to daily 200 pg iodine) led to decrease of goiter size and normalization of the thyroid volume. The best results were observed after a no more than 6-month course of treatment. A longer course brought about a tendency to a higher incidence of untoward effects (enlargement of the thyroid).
Specific features of steroidogenesis in hormally active and hormonally inactive tumors of the adrenal cortex
Authors: Kolesnikova G. S. , Goncharov N. P. , Katsiya G. V. , Todua T. N. , Malysheva N. M. , Golovkina N. A. , Kuznetsov N. S. 
Published: October 2019

The papers examines the specific features ofsteroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex ofpatients with different types of tumors and analyzes the ratio of ∆4- to ∆5-pathways of corticosteroid biosynthesis, which is a governing factor in the development of adrenal cortical hyperfunction. The levels of all major corticosteroids (cortisol, aldosterone, androgens of the adrenals) and their precursors were studied in the peripheral blood of patients with corticosteroma, aldosteroma, androsteroma, and hormonally inactive tumors (in the morning and in the evening). Based on the calculation of the mean daily concentration of steroids and the ratio of product/substrate of an enzymatic reaction in the biosynthesis of corticosteroids, the authors determined the activity of some enzymes and analyzed the changes found in this activity as compared with the normal values.
The findings indicate that in corticosteroma, the higher activity of 11β-hydroxylase and the lower activity of 17,20-desmolase leads to a biosynthesis shift to ∆4-pathway; in virilizing tumor, the enhanced activity of Зβ-olsteroid dehydrogenase results in the same shift; in aldosteroma, the ratio of biosynthesis pathways does not differ from the normal values. The significant scatter in the individual values when the blood concentrations were determined in patients with hormonally inactive tumors fails to make an unambiguous conclusion about the activity of steroidogenic enzymes and about the direction of biosynthesis in these patients.
Syndrome "empty" Turkish saddle
Authors: Babarina M. B. 
Published: October 2019

The syndrome of the "empty" Turkish saddle (PTS) is one of the poorly studied problems of neuroendocrinology. The urgency of this problem has increased at the present time with the widespread use in the diagnosis of the non-invasive method of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as with the increase in the number of patients exposed to radiation, surgical, combined exposure due to pituitary adenoma.
The term "PTS syndrome" should be understood as the prolapse of the suprasellar tank into the cavity of the Turkish saddle with the pituitary gland spreading along the bottom and walls of the Turkish saddle, accompanied by endocrine, neurological and visual impairment. There are primary (idiopathic) and secondary PTS, which occurs after radiation, surgical and combined methods of treatment of diseases of the chiasm-sellar region. This review will focus mainly on primary PTS syndrome.
The degree of reliability of data obtained using a computer registry of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
Authors: Dreval A. V. , Misnikova I. V. , Redkin Yu. A. 
Published: October 2019

The main problem in analysis of the register of diabetes mellitus is evaluation of the reliability of data and the probability of extrapolating the results to a population of patients in the studied region. Our task was to assess the efficacy of diagnostic methods used in a region. Study of the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy by referent tests revealed poor sensitivity of methods for diagnosis of these complications in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the Mytischi region; hence, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy might be higher than recorded in IDDM register.
Analysis confirmed the usefulness of active detection of early stages of complicated IDDM by screening (examination of the fundus oculi, detection of microalbuminuria and vibration sensitivity) for reflecting the true incidence of complications and timely therapy. Detection of numerous patients with IDDM at the phase of diabetes decompensation necessitates revision of preventive and therapeutic measures. High incidence of hypoglycemic reactions among IDDM patients necessitates their more active prevention, specifically, training IDDM patients to practice automonitoring methods.
Indeks Pencemaran Lingkungan Secara Fisika-Kimia dan Biokonsentrasi Timbal (Pb) pada Kerang Hijau di Perairan Pesisir Semarang Utara
Authors: Khusnia Arsika Zuhrotul , Astorina Nikke , Rahardjo Mursid 
Published: October 2019

The North Semarang ocean are functioned for high activity area also utilization in one site. The entry of waste into the waters or oceans caused the decrease of water quality. Lead (Pb) entered to North Semarang oceans by kind of activities there. The aims of this researc are to describe pollution index and bioconcentration in the study location. This reasearch is descriptive observational with cross sectional study. Sampling location determined beside on zoonation.Twenty four (24) samples were determined purposively besed on location, wind direction and current type. The samples was measured in situ and laboratory test. The average of pH was 8,05 , temperature was 31,38°C, salinity was 28,4 ppt, DO was 4,07 mg/L and lead (Pb) was 0,99 mg/L. The average of dissolved oxygen not in accordance with quality standards (>5 mg/l) also lead (Pb) average is higher than standard (0,008 mg/l). Calculation of pollutan index in North Semarang ocean categorized as moderate polluted and the lead (Pb) bioconcentration on Perna viridis categorized as low accumulative with the value of BCF was 0,62 L/kg (BCF<100). All of samples classified as moderate polluted which caused bioconcentration and low bioacumulation on Perna viridis so that it is harmful for human health.
Assessing the use of multiple-choice translation items in English proficiency tests: The case of the national English proficiency test in Turkey
Authors: Dinçer Betül Hazal , Antonova-Unlu Elena , Kumcu Alper 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The use of translation for language teaching and assessment, by and large, has been abandoned with the adoption of audio-lingual and communicative approaches in language teaching. As a result, nowadays translation items are not commonly used for measuring language proficiency in international language proficiency tests (e. g. TOEFL, IELTS).
However, there are several countries that still use translation items in their national language proficiency tests (e. g. Turkey, Japan, China, Romania among others). The present study aims to examine whether or not multiple-choice translation items are an appropriate tool for measuring proficiency in English. To this end, the perceived level of difficulty and validity of multiple-choice translation items in the National English Proficiency Test (YDS) in Turkey were examined. The findings revealed that the participants did significantly better on the translation items than on the rest of the test items. They also perceived the translation items as the easiest among all the rest items in YDS. Moreover, while YDS as a whole indicated a strong validity based on correlation with TOEFL PBT Reading Sample Test, the translation items indicated moderate validity. Importantly, there was a significant difference between the two correlations. These findings suggest that multiple-choice translation items are likely to lower the overall validity of YDS tests, inflate the scores of test-takers and, thus, might be considered as problematic for the quality of the tests.
Modified energy method and applications for the well-posedness for the higher-order Benjamin–Ono equation and the higher-order intermediate long wave equation
Authors: Guo Boling , Huo Zhaohui 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In this paper, the well-posedness of the higher-order Benjamin–Ono equation

u
t

+

ℋ
⁢

(

u

x
⁢
x

)

+

u

x
⁢
x
⁢
x

=

u
⁢

u
x

-

∂
x

⁡

(

u
⁢
ℋ
⁢

∂
x

⁡
u

+

ℋ
⁢

(

u
⁢

∂
x

⁡
u

)

)

u_{t}+\mathcal{H}(u_{xx})+u_{xxx}=uu_{x}-\partial_{x}(u\mathcal{H}\partial_{x}%
u+\mathcal{H}(u\partial_{x}u))

is considered.
The modified energy method is introduced to consider the equation.
It is shown that the Cauchy problem of the higher-order Benjamin–Ono equation is locally well-posed in

H

3
/
4

{H^{3/4}}

without using the gauge transformation.
Moreover, the well-posedness of the higher-order intermediate long wave equation

u
t

+

𝒢
δ

⁢

(

u

x
⁢
x

)

+

u

x
⁢
x
⁢
x

=

u
⁢

u
x

-

∂
x

⁡

(

u
⁢

𝒢
δ

⁢

∂
x

⁡
u

+

𝒢
δ

⁢

(

u
⁢

∂
x

⁡
u

)

)

,

𝒢
δ

=

ℱ
x

-
1

⁢
i
⁢

(

coth
⁡

(

δ
⁢
ξ

)

)

⁢

ℱ
x

,

u_{t}+\mathcal{G}_{\delta}(u_{xx})+u_{xxx}=uu_{x}-\partial_{x}(u\mathcal{G}_{%
\delta}\partial_{x}u+\mathcal{G}_{\delta}(u\partial_{x}u)),\quad\mathcal{G}_{%
\delta}=\mathcal{F}_{x}^{-1}i(\coth(\delta\xi))\mathcal{F}_{x},

is considered.
It is shown that the Cauchy problem of the higher-order intermediate long wave equation is locally well-posed in

H

3
/
4

{H^{3/4}}

.
Quasilinearization and boundary value problems at resonance
Authors: Alanazi Kareem , Alshammari Meshal , Eloe Paul 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
A quasilinearization algorithm is developed for boundary value problems at resonance.
To do so, a standard monotonicity condition is assumed to obtain the uniqueness of solutions for the boundary value problem at resonance.
Then the method of upper and lower solutions and the shift method are applied to obtain the existence of solutions.
A quasilinearization algorithm is developed and sequences of approximate solutions are constructed, which converge monotonically and quadratically to the unique solution of the boundary value problem at resonance.
Two examples are provided in which explicit upper and lower solutions are exhibited.
Novel box trainer for taTME – prospective evaluation among medical students
Authors: Mann Jakob , Rolinger Jens , Axt Steffen , Kirschniak Andreas , Wilhelm Peter 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundTransanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) has been subject to extensive research and increasing clinical application. It allows further reduction of trauma by accessing via a natural orifice. Manifold platforms and instruments have been introduced and heterogeneity in surgical techniques exists. Because of the technique’s complexity there is a persistent need for dedicated training devices and concepts.Materials and methodsThe key steps of taTME were analyzed and a box trainer with three modules resembling these steps was designed and manufactured. Twenty-one surgically inexperienced medical students performed five repetitions of the three tasks with the new box trainer. Time and error count were analyzed for assessment of a learning curve.ResultsA significant reduction of processing time could be demonstrated for tasks 1–3 (p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p = 0.001). The effect size was high for comparison of repetition 1 and 5 and decreased over the course (task 1: r = 0.88 vs. r = 0.21; task 2: r = 0.86 vs. r = 0.23; task 3: r = 0.74 vs. r = 0.44). Also, a significant reduction of errors was demonstrated for tasks 1 and 2. The decrease of effect size was analogously demonstrated.ConclusionsThe trainer might help to reduce the use of animal models for testing of platforms and instruments as well as gaining first-hand experience in transanal rectal resection.
Trehalose protects against spinal cord injury through regulating heat shock proteins 27 and 70 and caspase-3 genes expression
Authors: Nasouti Roya , Khaksari Mohammad , Mirzaee Moghaddameh , Nazari-Robati Mahdieh 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a class of highly conserved proteins responsible for various functions critical to cell survival. Pharmacological induction of HSPs has been implicated in the regulation of neuronal loss and functional deficits in peripheral and central nervous system injuries. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of trehalose on spinal expression of HSP27, HSP70 and caspase-3 genes following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.

Methods
Male rats weighing 250–300 g underwent laminectomy and were divided into four groups including sham, SCI (received SCI), vehicle (received SCI and phosphate buffer saline intrathecally) and trehalose (received 10 mM trehalose intrathecally following SCI). On days 1, 3 and 7 after injury, HSP27, HSP70 and caspase-3 genes transcripts were quantified in spinal cord tissues via a real-time PCR technique. In addition, locomotor function was assessed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) rating scale.

Results
SCI induced the expression of HSP27, HSP70 and caspase-3 genes and BBB score at all time points. Trehalose treatment upregulated HSP27, HSP70 genes expression at 1 day after SCI. Interestingly, a significant reduction in the expression of HSP27 and HSP70 genes was observed on days 3 and 7 following trauma compared with the vehicle group (p < 0.01). Caspase-3 gene showed a decrease in expression in the trehalose-treated group at all times. In addition, neurological function revealed an improvement after treatment with trehalose.

Conclusion
This study suggests that the neuroprotective effect of trehalose is mediated via regulation of HSP27 and HSP70, which are involved in cytoprotection and functional recovery following SCI.
Subcutaneous fat necrosis, a rare but serious side effect of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and whole-body hypothermia
Authors: Alsaleem Mahdi , Saadeh Lina , Elberson Valerie , Kumar Vasantha H.S. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors in infants with subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) following therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).MethodsA case-control study was performed by a retrospective chart review of infants with moderate or severe HIE admitted to a level IV regional perinatal center and who underwent whole-body cooling.ResultsA total of 14 (8.1%) of 171 infants with moderate or severe HIE who underwent whole-body cooling developed SFN during hospitalization. There were more females [71% (10/14)] and large-for-gestational age (LGA) infants [28% (4/14)] in the SFN group vs. 36% females (57/157) and 8% LGA infants (13/157) in the group without SFN (P-values of 0.009 and 0.015, respectively). The mean lowest platelet count was lower 108 ± 55 109/L vs. 146 ± 62 109/L and the mean highest calcium level was higher 11.3 ± 2.5 vs. 10.6 ± 0.8 mg/dL in infants with SFN vs. infants without SFN, respectively (P-values of 0.0078 and 0.006, respectively). Distribution of skin lesions followed distinctive patterns representing the areas with direct contact with the cooling blanket. One infant developed severe, life-threatening hypercalcemia that required aggressive management, including diuretics, corticosteroids and bisphosphonates.ConclusionAlthough SFN is a rare complication of therapeutic hypothermia, it can be a life-threatening condition if complicated by severe hypercalcemia. Infants who undergo therapeutic hypothermia for HIE need regular skin examinations to evaluate for SFN. If SFN is identified, monitoring of serum calcium levels to prevent life-threatening hypercalcemia is recommended.