bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison Between Individually and Group-Based Insulin Pump Initiation by Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing
Authors: Ridderstråle Martin 
Published: January 2017

Background: Depending on available resources, competencies, and pedagogic preference, initiation of insulin pump therapy can be performed on either an individual or a group basis. Here we compared the two models with respect to resources used. Methods: Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) was used to compare initiating insulin pump treatment in groups (GT) to individual treatment (IT). Activities and cost drivers were identified, timed, or estimated at location. Medical quality and patient satisfaction were assumed to be noninferior and were not measured. Results: GT was about 30% less time-consuming and 17% less cost driving per patient and activity compared to IT. As a batch driver (16 patients in one group) GT produced an upward jigsaw-shaped accumulative cost curve compared to the incremental increase incurred by IT. Taking the alternate cost for those not attending into account, and realizing the cost of opportunity gained, suggested that GT was cost neutral already when 5 of 16 patients attended, and that a second group could be initiated at no additional cost as the attendance rate reached 15:1. Conclusions: We found TDABC to be effective in comparing treatment alternatives, improving cost control and decision making. Everything else being equal, if the setup is available, our data suggest that initiating insulin pump treatment in groups is far more cost effective than on an individual basis and that TDABC may be used to find the balance point.
Hormone replacement therapy use in UK general practice: Duration, discontinuation and women’s experience
Authors: Anderson Pippa , O’Leary Caroline , Moffat Margaret , Luo Xuemei 
Published: January 2017

Objective Investigate characteristics of women treated with combined estrogen and progestogen hormone replacement therapy (study-HRT); HRT patterns; reasons and outcomes associated with HRT discontinuation. Study design Retrospective observational study using The Health Improvement Network database examining women’s characteristics and treatment patterns (Database). Postal questionnaire exploring reasons and outcomes associated with HRT discontinuation (Survey). Main outcome measures Database: Demographic and clinical characteristics. HRT patterns, time from diagnosis to treatment, duration of treatment, type of treatment and change of treatment (switch, add-on, re-start and discontinuation). Survey: HRT therapy status, menopause rating scale and reasons for discontinuation. Results Database: 8968 women prescribed study-HRT between January 2006 and January 2010 were matched 1:1 on GP practice and age with women not prescribed HRT. Women prescribed study-HRT were more likely to be a current/past smoker ( p<0.05) and experienced higher levels of co-morbidities related to menopause ( p < 0.05) versus women not prescribed HRT. Treatment duration was approximately 14 months and 95% changed treatment during the study. Survey: 116 respondents. Women on HRT had lower MRS scores ( p < 0.05) than women who discontinued HRT. Main reasons for discontinuation were medical advice, side-effects/potential side-effects. Fear of breast cancer was also stated as a reason. Conclusions Duration of HRT was relatively short, with 95% of women changing treatment. HRT discontinuation was associated with more severe menopause symptoms. Medical advice and concerns about side-effects were major reasons for the discontinuation, suggesting that there was a need for a balanced dialogue with women about risks and benefits of HRT, as emphasised by NICE guidance.
Reproducibility of pulmonary blood flow measurements by phase-contrast MRI using different 1.5 T MR scanners at two institutions
Authors: Iraha Rin , Tsuchiya Nanae , Yamashiro Tsuneo , Iwasawa Tae , Murayama Sadayuki 
Published: January 2017

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be beneficial for diagnosis of disease by offering quantitative information. However, reproducibility can be a major problem when there is a numerical threshold in multi-institution, multi-vendor situations. Purpose To measure pulmonary blood flow with phase-contrast (PC) imaging using two different MR scanners (1.5 T) at different institutions in the same participants and to examine the reproducibility of the measurements. Material and Methods Participants were 10 healthy volunteers (5 men; age range, 27–36 years). The measurements included the mean and maximal blood velocities, the mean blood flow volume, and the acceleration time and volume (AT and AV), derived from the time-flow curve of the PC-MRI. Simultaneously obtained maximal, minimal, and mean areas from regions of interest set in the pulmonary artery were also calculated. In order to calculate the reproducibility of the quantitative variables, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were employed. When an adequate ICC was obtained, Bland–Altman analysis was conducted to identify any systematic bias. Results The ICCs were almost perfect for the mean blood flow volume and the AV (r = 0.82 and 0.80), and were substantial in the mean and maximal areas, and the AT (r = 0.63, 0.74, and 0.64, respectively). However, there was a fixed bias in the area measurement between the two scanners. Also, the AV had a proportional bias. Conclusion Our results reveal that various indices derived from PC-MRI on different MR scanners are promising as common indices for pulmonary flow assessment. Research and clinical use of PC-MRI for the pulmonary artery is expected to extend to multi-institution situations.
ZEE Zindagi: Offering Value through Distinct Approach
Authors: Islam Jamid Ul , Rahman Zillur 
Published: January 2017

The case ‘‘ZEE Zindagi: Offering Value through Distinct Approach’ illustrates the strategic move by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) to launch the channel Zindagi in India. The case describes how Zindagi responded to research findings and audience feedback so as to offer what the existing Indian soap operas were either not offering at all or not offering it the way audience wanted them to. The case also explores how the channel focused on some strategically important factors and mixed those in such a way that it created a paradigm shift in the way serials were shown and viewed in India, thereby, applying blue ocean strategy by breaking and reconstructing industry boundaries. The case scrutinizes the strategic move by Zindagi using ‘eliminate–reduce–raise–create grid’ and ‘strategic canvas’ of blue ocean strategy and discusses the important lessons to be learned from Zindagi experience.
High quality draft genome of Nakamurella lactea type strain, a rock actinobacterium, and emended description of Nakamurella lactea
Authors: Nouioui Imen , Göker Markus , Carro Lorena , Montero-Calasanz Maria del Carmen , Rohde Manfred , Woyke Tanja , Kyrpides Nikos C. , Klenk Hans-Peter 
Published: January 2017

AbstractNakamurella lactea DLS-10T, isolated from rock in Korea, is one of the four type strains of the genus Nakamurella. In this study, we describe the high quality draft genome of N. lactea DLS-10T and its annotation. A summary of phenotypic data collected from previously published studies was also included. The genome of strain DLS-10T presents a size of 5.82 Mpb, 5100 protein coding genes, and a C + G content of 68.9%. Based on the genome analysis, emended description of N. lactea in terms of G + C content was also proposed.
Cellular strain avoidance is mediated by a functional actin cap – observations in an Lmna-deficient cell model
Authors: Tamiello Chiara , Halder Maurice , Kamps Miriam A. F. , Baaijens Frank P. T. , Broers Jos L. V. , Bouten Carlijn V. C. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACT
In adherent cells, the relevance of a physical mechanotransduction pathway provided by the perinuclear actin cap stress fibers has recently emerged. Here, we investigate the impact of a functional actin cap on the cellular adaptive response to topographical cues and uniaxial cyclic strain. Lmna-deficient fibroblasts are used as a model system because they do not develop an intact actin cap, but predominantly form a basal layer of actin stress fibers underneath the nucleus. We observe that topographical cues induce alignment in both normal and Lmna-deficient fibroblasts, suggesting that the topographical signal transmission occurs independently of the integrity of the actin cap. By contrast, in response to cyclic uniaxial strain, Lmna-deficient cells show a compromised strain avoidance response, which is completely abolished when topographical cues and uniaxial strain are applied along the same direction. These findings point to the importance of an intact and functional actin cap in mediating cellular strain avoidance.
Molecular design and synthesis of thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(amide imide)s with high thermal stability and solubility
Authors: Wang Yanbin , Lu Guangming , Wang Wenjie , Cao Meng , Luo Zhonglin , Shao Ningning , Wang Biaobing 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
A series of thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(amide imide)s (PAIs) with well-defined structure were prepared by the Yamazaki-Higashi phosphorylation method. To obtain the target polymers, several diimide diacid monomers (DIDAs) as mesogenic units were synthesized by the dehydration cyclization of aromatic anhydride with aliphatic 11-aminoundecanoic acid (AU). The chemical structure of these DIDAs and PAIs was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy. Thermotropic liquid crystalline characteristics of the DIDAs and PAIs were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing light microscopy (PLM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Encouragingly, all of these liquid crystalline PAIs exhibited good thermal stability, in which the decomposition temperatures are much higher than the melting temperatures of PAIs. Furthermore, the liquid crystalline PAIs can be dissolved into some common solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and m-cresol, which indicates these liquid crystalline PAIs could be processed not only by melting-processing but also by solution spin-coating.
Intermolecular hydrogen bonding H···Cl− in the solid palladium(II)-diaminocarbene complexes
Authors: Kinzhalov Mikhail A. , Novikov Alexander S. , Chernyshev Alexander N. , Suslonov Vitalii V. 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
Weak intermolecular non-covalent H···Cl− interactions in the solid chelated palladium(II)-diaminocarbene complex cis-[PdCl(CNXyl){C(NHXyl)=NHC6H2Me2
NH2}]Cl (3; Xyl=2,6-Me2C6H3) were studied by XRD followed by appropriate DFT calculations. The N–H···Cl contacts for both NH groups in the carbene moiety are different (N1–H···Cl2 3.5258(19), N2–H···Cl2 3.0797(17) Å). The DFT calculations and topological analysis of the electron density distribution within the formalism of Bader’s theory (QTAIM method) were performed for a model cluster of the carbene complex 3. The theoretical data confirmed that the strength of intermolecular HB H···Cl− is different for two NH-protons of the carbene fragment. The influence of crystal packing effects on the formation of hydrogen bonds in the cluster of 3 is noticeable.
Patient-Reported and Objectively Measured Function Before and After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Hurd Wendy J. , Morrow Melissa M. , Miller Emily J. , Adams Robert A. , Sperling John W. , Kaufman Kenton R. 
Published: January 2017

Background and Purpose:
Documenting functional outcomes after reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is critical to advancing patient care. The interplay been self-reported and objectively measured outcome measures has not been widely described. The utilization of wearable devices to document upper extremity limb activity is a new approach for objectively measuring outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in pain, and self-reported function and objectively measured limb activity after RSA. We also assessed the influence of pain on self-reported function and objectively measured limb activity to determine the impact of pain on outcomes after RSA.

Materials:
This study implemented a prospective, repeated-measures design. Fourteen patients undergoing RSA underwent testing before surgery, and 2 and 12 months after surgery. Patient-reported instruments included pain, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and hands (DASH), and physical component summary (PCS) of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Objective limb activity (mean activity value, m/s2/min epoch; inactive time, %; low activity, %; and high activity, %) was captured with triaxial accelerometers worn on the upper and lower arm. A repeated-measures ANOVA tested for differences across time. The Spearman rank-order correlation was calculated to evaluate the influence of pain on DASH, PCS scores, and mean limb activity.

Results:
Patient-reported measures improved after surgery (pain, P < .01; DASH, P < .01; PCS, P = .01). No change in limb activity was found at 1 year compared with preoperative values for mean (forearm, P = 1.00; arm, P = .36), inactivity (forearm, P = .33; arm, P = .22), low (forearm, P = .77; arm, P = .11) or high (forearm, P = 1.00; arm, P = .20) activity. There was a relationship between pain and DASH scores 1 year after surgery (P = .04) but not before surgery (P = .16), or 2 months after surgery (P = .30). There was no relationship between pain and PCS scores at any time point (preoperative, P = .97; 2 months, P = .21; 1 year, P = .08) nor pain and limb activity (forearm: preoperative, P = .36; 2 months, P = .67; 1 year, P = .16; arm: preoperative, P = .97; 2 months, P = .59; 1 year, P = .51).

Conclusions:
RSA reduced pain and enhanced patient-perceived function. Objectively measured upper extremity limb activity is not different 1 year after surgery compared with preoperative levels.

Level of Evidence:
III.
Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Matrix-Borosilicate Glass Hollow-Particle Syntactic Foams
Authors: Zeltmann S. E. , Chen B. , Gupta N. 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
Syntactic foams are particulate composites, which consist of a dispersion of hollow particles in a matrix. These materials are extensively used in the structures of underwater vehicles, but existing studies have shown that the commonly used soda-lime–borosilicate glass hollow particles are susceptible to significant degradation upon exposure to moisture. In this work, epoxy matrix syntactic foams are fabricated using borosilicate glass hollow particles that are not susceptible to degradation in wet environments. Nine compositions are fabricated and tested for quasi-static compressive properties, high-strain-rate compressive properties, and flexural properties. The quasi-static compressive strength and energy absorption are found to increase with composite density and the compressive strength is found to exceed that of similar syntactic foams using soda-lime–borosilicate hollow particles. The syntactic foams were observed to have 70 %–108 % higher peak stress in the high-strain-rate regime compared to the quasi-static values but the strength within the high-strain-rate regime was not dependent on the strain rate. The flexural properties were shown to have strong sensitivity to volume fraction of hollow particles.
Diagnostic challenges and management of a patient with acromegaly due to ectopic growth hormone-releasing hormone secretion from a bronchial carcinoid tumour
Authors: Kyriakakis Nikolaos , Trouillas Jacqueline , Dang Mary N , Lynch Julie , Belchetz Paul , Korbonits Márta , Murray Robert D 
Published: January 2017

Summary
A male patient presented at the age of 30 with classic clinical features of acromegaly and was found to have elevated growth hormone levels, not suppressing during an oral glucose tolerance test. His acromegaly was originally considered to be of pituitary origin, based on a CT scan, which was interpreted as showing a pituitary macroadenoma. Despite two trans-sphenoidal surgeries, cranial radiotherapy and periods of treatment with bromocriptine and octreotide, his acromegaly remained active clinically and biochemically. A lung mass was discovered incidentally on a chest X-ray performed as part of a routine pre-assessment for spinal surgery 5 years following the initial presentation. This was confirmed to be a bronchial carcinoid tumour, which was strongly positive for growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin receptor type 2 by immunohistochemistry. The re-examination of the pituitary specimens asserted the diagnosis of pituitary GH hyperplasia. Complete resolution of the patient’s acromegaly was achieved following right lower and middle lobectomy. Seventeen years following the successful resection of the bronchial carcinoid tumour the patient remains under annual endocrine follow-up for monitoring of the hypopituitarism he developed after the original interventions to his pituitary gland, while there has been no evidence of active acromegaly or recurrence of the carcinoid tumour. Ectopic acromegaly is extremely rare, accounting for <1% of all cases of acromegaly. Our case highlights the diagnostic challenges differentiating between ectopic acromegaly and acromegaly of pituitary origin and emphasises the importance of avoiding unnecessary pituitary surgery and radiotherapy. The role of laboratory investigations, imaging and histology as diagnostic tools is discussed.

Learning points:

Ectopic acromegaly is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cases of acromegaly.

Ectopic acromegaly is almost always due to extra-pituitary GHRH secretion, mainly from neuroendocrine tumours of pancreatic or bronchial origin.

Differentiating between acromegaly of pituitary origin and ectopic acromegaly can cause diagnostic challenges due to similarities in clinical presentation and biochemistry.

Serum GHRH can be a useful diagnostic tool to diagnose ectopic acromegaly.

Pituitary imaging is crucial to differentiate between a pituitary adenoma and pituitary hyperplasia, which is a common finding in ectopic acromegaly.

Diagnosing ectopic acromegaly is pivotal to avoid unnecessary interventions to the pituitary and preserve normal pituitary function.
Influence of External Pressures of Different Symmetry on the Phase Transitions and Thermodynamic of the RbHSO4 Ferroelectrics
Authors: Zachek I.R. , Karkuljevska M.C. , Vdovych A.S. , Levitsky R.R. 
Published: January 2017

We use the four-sublattice model of the RbHSO4 crystal modified by taking into account the piezoelectric coupling to the strains , . Within the mean field approximation we calculate the components of the polarization vector and static dielectric permittivity tensor of mechanically clamped and free crystals, as well as their piezoelectric characteristics. We study the influence of hydrostatic pressure and uniaxial stresses on the phase transition and physical characteristics of the crystal. A good quantitative description of the experimental data is obtained.
Edge Absorption of thin Films –Ga2O3
Authors: Bordun O.M. , Bordun B.O. , Lushchanets V.B. , Kukharskyy I.Yo. 
Published: January 2017

Fundamental absorption edge of b–Ga2O3 thin films, obtained by radio-frequency ion-plasmous sputtering, was investigated, using the method of optical spectroscopy. It was ascertained that the optical band gap Eg increases from 4.60 to 4.65 eV after the heat treatment films in argon atmosphere and to 5.20 eV after the reduction of annealed films in a hydrogen atmosphere. Consolidated effective mass of free charge carriers in b–Ga2O3 films after annealing and after reduction in hydrogen was estimated. It was found that the concentration of charge carriers after heat treatment in argon atmosphere is 7.30´1017 cm–3 and after reduction in hydrogen, is 2.62´1019 cm–3, which is typical for degenerated semiconductors. It was shown that the shift of fundamental absorption edge in thin films b–Ga2O3 after reduction in hydrogen is caused by Burstein-Moss effect.
Investigation of V1-xTixFeSb Semiconductor Solid Solution. II. Peculiarities of Crystal and Electronic Structure
Authors: Romaka V.V. , Rogl P. , Romaka L.P. , Stadnyk Yu.V. , Korzh R.O. , Krayovskyy V.Ya. , Kovbasuk T.M. , Tsygylyk H.V. 
Published: January 2017

The peculiarities of the crystalandelectronicstructureof V1-xTixFeSb, х = 0 – 0,20, semiconductor solid solution wereinvestigated. Themechanismofgenerationofstructuraldefectsofacceptoranddonornatureisdescribed. In particular the nature of donors in n-VFeSb was established (“a priori doping”) as a result of presence of vacancies in Sb atomic site (4b). The obtained result lays in the basis of the technology for obtaining thermoelectric materials based on n-VFeSb with maximal efficiency of thermal to electrical energy conversion.
Self-Organising Processes and Fractal Approach to the Formation of Non-Crystalline States
Authors: Mar’yan M. I. , Yurkovych N. V. 
Published: January 2017

Shows a description of the fractal structure to the non-crystalline state using the system non-linear dynamic equations, which takes into account the flow of negative entropy of the surrounding environment and the fraction of atoms in soft configuratons. Based on the investigation for the study of non-crystalline materials and the transition to non-crystalline state of the possibility fractal approach to describe them.
Effect of Point Defect in Carbon Nanotube (8.0) on the Molecular Electrostatic Potential distribution Near it Edge
Authors: Datsyuk A.M. 
Published: January 2017

The influence of point defect on the electronic and spatial structure of carbon nanotubes (8.0) have been studied depending on the placement vacancies in the structure of nanotubes.
On the basis of quantum-chemical calculations and using semi-empirical and ab initio approaches the maps of the distribution of molecular electrostatic potential were builds in the planes which are perpendicular to the main axis of the nanotubes. It is shown that defects such as vacancy, are placed outside the first hexagonal carbon belt no effect on the topology of the distribution of molecular electrostatic potential in the vicinity of the entrance to the carbon nanotube. Instead, reactivity of port’s atoms such nanotubes may determinated point defects of the vacancy type to be placed in first hexagonal belt.
Electric Stimulation of Charge-Discharge Processes of Electrochemical Capacitors
Authors: Budzulyak I.M. , Rachiy B.I. , Vashchynsky V.M. , Ivanichok N.Ya. , Lutsas А.V. , Nykoliuk M.O. 
Published: January 2017

The research is devoted to study the impact of charge-discharge processes in electrochemical capacitors. Nanoporous carbon material was used like electrode material , which was gotten through carbonization of raw plant material. The supercapacitor model and main mode parameters of operation were chosen for this experiment. Experimental data were gotten, where we make the conclusion, that the long-term processing of electric stimulation enhances capacity properties of electrochemical capacitors.