bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Occupational Therapy Task‐oriented Approach in Upper Extremity Post‐stroke Rehabilitation
Authors: Almhdawi Khader A. , Mathiowetz Virgil G. , White Matthew , delMas Robert C 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThere is a need for more effective rehabilitation methods for individuals post‐stroke. Occupational Therapy Task‐Oriented (TO) approach has not been evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate functional and impairment efficacies of TO approach on the more‐affected Upper Extremity (UE) of persons post‐stroke. A randomized single‐blinded cross‐over trial recruited 20 participants post‐stroke (mean chronicity = 62 months) who demonstrated at least 10° active more‐affected shoulder flexion and abduction and elbow flexion‐extension. Participants were randomized into immediate (n = 10) and delayed intervention (n = 10) groups. Immediate group had 6 weeks of 3 hr/week TO intervention followed by 6 weeks of no‐intervention control. Delayed intervention group underwent the reversed order. Functional measures included Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Motor Activity Log (MAL), and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). Impairment measures included UE Active Range of Motion (AROM) and handheld dynamometry strength. Measurements were obtained at baseline, cross over, and end of the study. TO intervention showed statistically higher functional change scores. COPM performance and satisfaction scores were 2.83 and 3.46 units greater respectively (p < .001), MAL amount of use and quality of use scores were 1.1 and 0.87 units greater, respectively (p < .001), WMFT time was 8.35 seconds faster (p = .009). TO impairment outcomes were not significantly larger than control ones. TO approach appears to be an effective UE post‐stroke rehabilitation approach inducing clinically meaningful functional improvements. More studies are needed with larger samples and specific stroke chronicity and severity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pairwise contact energy statistical potentials can help to find probability of point mutations
Authors: Saravanan K. M. , Suvaithenamudhan S. , Parthasarathy S. , Selvaraj S. 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACTTo adopt a particular fold, a protein requires several interactions between its amino acid residues. The energetic contribution of these residue–residue interactions can be approximated by extracting statistical potentials from known high resolution structures. Several methods based on statistical potentials extracted from unrelated proteins are found to make a better prediction of probability of point mutations. We postulate that the statistical potentials extracted from known structures of similar folds with varying sequence identity can be a powerful tool to examine probability of point mutation. By keeping this in mind, we have derived pairwise residue and atomic contact energy potentials for the different functional families that adopt the (α/β)8 TIM‐Barrel fold. We carried out computational point mutations at various conserved residue positions in yeast Triose phosphate isomerase enzyme for which experimental results are already reported. We have also performed molecular dynamics simulations on a subset of point mutants to make a comparative study. The difference in pairwise residue and atomic contact energy of wildtype and various point mutations reveals probability of mutations at a particular position. Interestingly, we found that our computational prediction agrees with the experimental studies of Silverman et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci 2001;98:3092–3097) and perform better prediction than iMutant and Cologne University Protein Stability Analysis Tool. The present work thus suggests deriving pairwise contact energy potentials and molecular dynamics simulations of functionally important folds could help us to predict probability of point mutations which may ultimately reduce the time and cost of mutation experiments. Proteins 2016; 85:54–64. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A reassessment of temperature variations and trends from global reanalyses and monthly surface climatological datasets
Authors: Simmons A. J. , Berrisford P. , Dee D. P. , Hersbach H. , Hirahara S. , Thépaut J.‐N. 
Published: October 2016

The ERA‐Interim and JRA‐55 reanalyses of synoptic data and several conventional analyses of monthly climatological data provide similar estimates of global‐mean surface warming since 1979. They broadly agree on the character of interannual variability and the extremity of the 2015/2016 warm spell to which a strong El Niño and low Arctic sea‐ice cover contribute. Nevertheless global and regional averages differ on various time‐scales due to differences in data coverage and sea‐surface temperature analyses; averages from those conventional datasets that infill where they lack direct observations agree better with the averages from the reanalyses. The latest warm event is less extreme when viewed in terms of atmospheric energy, which gives more weight to variability in the Tropics, where the thermal signal has greater vertical penetration and latent energy is a larger factor.Surface warming from 1998 to 2012 is larger than indicated by earlier versions of the conventional datasets used to characterize what the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change termed a hiatus in global warming. None of the datasets exhibit net warming over the Antarctic since 1979.Centennial trends from the conventional datasets, HadCRUT4 on the one hand and GISTEMP and NOAAGlobalTemp on the other, differ mainly because sea‐surface temperatures differ. Infilling of values where direct observations are lacking is more questionable for the data‐sparse earlier decades. Change since the eighteenth century is inevitably more uncertain than change over and after a modern baseline period. The latter is arguably best estimated separately for taking stock of actions to limit climate change, exploiting reanalyses and using satellite data to refine the conventional approach. Nevertheless, early in 2016 the global temperature appears to have first touched or briefly breached a level 1.5 °C above that early in the Industrial Revolution, having touched the 1.0 °C level in 1998 during a previous El Niño.
Curvilinear relationships between resource allocation and life domain‐specific interference
Authors: Waldrop Jessica S. , Erb Kaitlyn R. , Grawitch Matthew J. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis study investigated the inherent complexities of the work‐life interface (WLI) by examining the relationship between resource allocation (i.e., time and energy dedicated to a particular domain) and perceived interference of individual life domains. Much of the research on the WLI is based on the assumption that a linear pattern best describes the relationship between resource allocation and the interference caused by various life domains; however, this study examined the possibility that curvilinear relationships may be a more appropriate representation. Results indicated that resource allocation is a meaningful predictor of interference, and for many life domains a curvilinear relationship accounts for more variance than a linear one; a breakdown of the sample also revealed this relationship varies by gender. Overall, findings suggest that the nature of the WLI is more individualized and complex than is currently conceptualized in the field.
Which boundaries? How mobility networks across countries and status groups affect the creative performance of organizations
Authors: Shipilov Andrew , Godart Frédéric C. , Clement Julien 
Published: October 2016

Research summary: Losing key employees to competitors allows an organization to engage in external boundary‐spanning activities. It may benefit the organization through access to external knowledge, but may also increase the risks of leaking knowledge to competitors. We propose that the destination of departed employees is a crucial contingency: benefits or risks only materialize when employees leave for competitors that differ from the focal organization along significant dimensions, such as country or status group. In the context of the global fashion industry, we find that key employees' moves to foreign competitors may increase (albeit at a diminishing rate) their former employers' creative performance. Furthermore, firms may suffer from losing key employees to higher‐ or same‐status competitors, but may benefit from losing them to lower‐status competitors.Managerial summary: Losing key employees to competitors can provide organizations with access to external knowledge, but increase risks of leaking knowledge to competitors. We find that an organization's access to external knowledge and its risks of knowledge leakage through employee mobility may be affected by whether its employees leave for competitors in a foreign country or in a different status group. In the context of the global fashion industry, we show that key employees' moves to foreign competitors increase (up to a point) their former employers' creative performance. Furthermore, firms may suffer from losing key employees to higher‐ or same‐status competitors, but benefit from losing them to lower‐status competitors. Hence, executives in creative industries and possibly beyond could welcome losing employees to competitors in foreign countries or to lower‐status competitors. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Error leakage and wasted time: sensitivity and effort analysis of a requirements consistency checking process
Authors: Li Wenbin , Hayes Jane Huffman , Antoniol Giulio , Guéhéneuc Yann‐Gaël , Adams Bram 
Published: October 2016

AbstractSeveral techniques are used by requirements engineering practitioners to address difficult problems such as specifying precise requirements while using inherently ambiguous natural language text and ensuring the consistency of requirements. Often, these problems are addressed by building processes/tools that combine multiple techniques where the output from 1 technique becomes the input to the next. While powerful, these techniques are not without problems. Inherent errors in each technique may leak into the subsequent step of the process. We model and study 1 such process, for checking the consistency of temporal requirements, and assess error leakage and wasted time. We perform an analysis of the input factors of our model to determine the effect that sources of uncertainty may have on the final accuracy of the consistency checking process. Convinced that error leakage exists and negatively impacts the results of the overall consistency checking process, we perform a second simulation to assess its impact on the analysts' efforts to check requirements consistency. We show that analyst's effort varies depending on the precision and recall of the subprocesses and that the number and capability of analysts affect their effort. We share insights gained and discuss applicability to other processes built of piped techniques.
Ultrasound‐Guided Vascular Access Simulator for Medical Training: Proposal of a Simple, Economic and Effective Model
Authors: Fürst Rafael Vilhena de Carvalho , Polimanti Afonso César , Galego Sidnei José , Bicudo Maria Claudia , Montagna Erik , Corrêa João Antônio 
Published: October 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo present a simple and affordable model able to properly simulate an ultrasound‐guided venous access.DesignThe simulation was made using a latex balloon tube filled with water and dye solution implanted in a thawed chicken breast with bones.ResultsThe presented model allows the simulation of all implant stages of a central catheter. The obtained echogenicity is similar to that observed in human tissue, and the ultrasound identification of the tissues, balloon, needle, wire guide and catheter is feasible and reproducible.ConclusionThe proposed model is simple, economical, easy to manufacture and capable of realistically and effectively simulating an ultrasound‐guided venous access.
The Correlation Between Poverty and Access to Essential Surgical Care in Ghana: A Geospatial Analysis
Authors: Tansley Gavin , Stewart Barclay T. , Gyedu Adam , Boakye Godfred , Lewis Daniel , Hoogerboord Marius , Mock Charles 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBackgroundSurgical disease burden falls disproportionately on individuals in low‐ and middle‐income countries. These populations are also the least likely to have access to surgical care. Understanding the barriers to access in these populations is therefore necessary to meet the global surgical need.MethodsUsing geospatial methods, this study explores the district‐level variation of two access barriers in Ghana: poverty and spatial access to care. National survey data were used to estimate the average total household expenditure (THE) in each district. Estimates of the spatial access to essential surgical care were generated from a cost‐distance model based on a recent surgical capacity assessment. Correlations were analyzed using regression and displayed cartographically.ResultsBoth THE and spatial access to surgical care were found to have statistically significant regional variation in Ghana (p < 0.001). An inverse relationship was identified between THE and spatial access to essential surgical care (β −5.15 USD, p < 0.001). Poverty and poor spatial access to surgical care were found to co‐localize in the northwest of the country.ConclusionsMultiple barriers to accessing surgical care can coexist within populations. A careful understanding of all access barriers is necessary to identify and target strategies to address unmet surgical need within a given population.
Diagnostic value of sepsis biomarkers in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in a condition of high prevalence of gram-negative pathogens
Authors: Stoma Igor , Karpov Igor , Uss Anatoly , Rummo Oleg , Milanovich Natalia , Iskrov Igor 
Published: October 2016

Objective/background:
A decision about the need for antimicrobial therapy in a patient with febrile neutropenia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is often complicated because of the low frequency of culture isolation and reduced clinical manifestation of infection. Usefulness and choice of sepsis biomarkers to distinguish bloodstream infection (BSI) from other causes of febrile episode is still argued in HSCT recipients in modern epidemiological situations characterized by the emergence of highly resistant gram-negative microorganisms. In this study a comparative analysis of diagnostic values of presepsin, procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) was performed as sepsis biomarkers in adult patients after HSCT in a condition of high prevalence of gram-negative pathogens.

Methods:
A prospective observational clinical study was performed at the Center of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation in Minsk, Republic of Belarus. The biomarkers (presepsin, PCT, and CRP) were assessed in a 4-hour period after the onset of febrile neutropenia episode in adult patients after HSCT. Microbiologically-confirmed BSI caused by a gram-negative pathogen was set as a primary outcome.

Results:
Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed in 52 neutropenic patients after HSCT aged 18–79 years. Out of the biomarkers assessed, the best diagnostic value was shown in presepsin (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.889, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.644–0.987, p < .0001) with 75% sensitivity and 100% specificity, then in PCT (AUC: 0.741, 95% CI: 0.573–0.869, p = .0037) with 62% sensitivity and 88% specificity. The optimal cut-off value for CRP was set as 165 mg/L, while it had an average diagnostic value (AUC: 0.707, 95% CI: 0.564–0.825, p = .0049) with low sensitivity (40%) and should not be routinely recommended as a biomarker in adult patients with suspected BSI after HSCT.

Conclusion:
Presepsin may be recommended in adult patients with suspected gram-negative BSI after HSCT as a possible additional supplementary test with a cut-off value of 218 pg/ mL. PCT is inferior to presepsin in terms of sensitivity and specificity, but still shows a good quality of diagnostic value with an optimal cut-off value of 1.5 ng/mL. CRP showed an average diagnostic value with low sensitivity (40%) and should not be routinely recommended as a biomarker in adult patients with suspected BSI after HSCT in a condition of high prevalence of gram-negative pathogens.
Longitudinal and Horizontal Load Testing of Inflatable Penile Implant Cylinders of Two Manufacturers: An Ex Vivo Demonstration of Inflated Rigidity
Authors: Scovell Jason M. , Ge Liehui , Barrera Enrique V. , Wilson Steven K. , Carrion Rafael E. , Hakky Tariq S. 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionSince the inception of the inflatable penile prosthesis, a new era has been ushered in for the management of erectile dysfunction. Despite multiple innovations to improve function and reliability, there are no current data comparing the biomechanical properties of these devices.AimTo compare the resistance of the Coloplast Titan (Minneapolis, MN, USA) with that of the AMS 700 LGX (Minnetonka, MN, USA) penile prosthesis cylinders to longitudinal (penetration) and horizontal (gravity) forces.MethodsWe compared two cylinder sizes from each company: the Coloplast Titan (18 and 22 cm) and the AMS 700 LGX (18 and 21 cm). To evaluate axial rigidity, which simulates forces during penetration, we performed a longitudinal load compression test to determine the load required to cause the cylinder to kink. To test horizontal rigidity, which simulates the horizontal forces exerted by gravity, we performed a modified cantilever test and measured the degrees of bend for each device. All devices were tested at 10, 15, and 20 PSI to simulate in vivo pressures.Main Outcome MeasuresThe main outcome measurement for the longitudinal load test (penetration) was the force required for the inflated cylinder to bend, thereby affecting its rigidity. The main outcome for the horizontal rigidity test (gravity) was the angle of displacement, in which a smaller angle represents a more horizontally rigid device.ResultsLongitudinal column testing (penetration) demonstrated that less force was required for the AMS device to kink compared with the Coloplast implant across all three fill pressures tested. The Coloplast Titan also had a smaller angle of displacement at the modified cantilever test (gravity) compared with the AMS implant across all fill pressures.ConclusionThe Coloplast Titan demonstrated greater resistance to longitudinal (penetration) and horizontal (gravity) forces in this study. The AMS device was very sensitive to fill pressures. In contrast, the Coloplast Titan's ability to resist these forces was less dependent on the device fill pressure.
The Carolina Sandhills: Quaternary eolian sand sheets and dunes along the updip margin of the Atlantic Coastal Plain province, southeastern United States
Authors: Swezey Christopher S. , Fitzwater Bradley A. , Whittecar G. Richard , Mahan Shannon A. , Garrity Christopher P. , Gonzalez Wilma B. Alemán , Dobbs Kerby M. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThe Carolina Sandhills is a physiographic region of the Atlantic Coastal Plain province in the southeastern United States. In Chesterfield County (South Carolina), the surficial sand of this region is the Pinehurst Formation, which is interpreted as eolian sand derived from the underlying Cretaceous Middendorf Formation. This sand has yielded three clusters of optically stimulated luminescence ages: (1) 75 to 37 thousand years ago (ka), coincident with growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet; (2) 28 to 18 ka, coincident with the last glacial maximum (LGM); and (3) 12 to 6 ka, mostly coincident with the Younger Dryas through final collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Relict dune morphologies are consistent with winds from the west or northwest, coincident with modern and inferred LGM January wind directions. Sand sheets are more common than dunes because of effects of coarse grain size (mean range: 0.35-0.59 mm) and vegetation. The coarse grain size would have required LGM wind velocities of at least 4-6 m/sec, accounting for effects of colder air temperatures on eolian sand transport. The eolian interpretation of the Carolina Sandhills is consistent with other evidence for eolian activity in the southeastern United States during the last glaciation.
On the influence of Sommerfeld’s radiation boundary condition on the propagation direction of oblique modes in streamwise corner flow
Authors: Staudenmeyer Jennifer , Schmidt Oliver T. , Rist Ulrich 
Published: October 2016

Linear stability of a laminar boundary-layer flow in a streamwise corner can only be treated with an ansatz that considers two-dimensional eigenfunctions with inhomogeneous boundary conditions in cross-flow directions. It is common practice to use Sommerfeld’s radiation condition with a certain wavenumber $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ at the lateral domains of the integration domain which are at the same time the far-field domains for each wall. So far, this radiation condition has been exclusively used in a ‘symmetrical’ way, i.e. with the same $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ on either far-field boundary plane. This has led to wave patterns that either enter or leave the corner region from the lateral sides for $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}<0$ or $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}>0$ respectively. Here, an ‘asymmetric’ use of Sommerfeld’s radiation condition is suggested, i.e. $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}<0$ on one far side of the corner and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}>0$ on the other. With this modification, waves enter the corner area from one side and leave it through the other, i.e. they travel obliquely through the corner. In contrast to before, their amplification rate is always symmetric with respect to $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}=0$ and there is no amplification-rate increase or decrease due to information that either continuously enters the corner from both sides or continuously leaves it through the far sides. The present analysis also shows that the inviscid corner modes are unaffected by the parameters of the far-field radiation boundary conditions. Nevertheless, superposition of two oppositely running single waves obtained by the modified application of the radiation condition leads to a similar wave pattern to that in the case with $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}<0$ on both sides; however, with a slightly smaller amplification rate and a strictly streamwise propagation direction.
Spheromaks and how plasmas may explain the ultra high energy cosmic ray mystery
Authors: Fowler T. Kenneth , Li Hui 
Published: October 2016

In recent papers, we show how accretion disks around massive black holes could act as dynamos producing magnetic jets similar to the jets that create spheromaks in the laboratory. In this paper, we discuss how these magnetic astrophysical jets might naturally produce runaway ion beams accelerated to $10^{20}$ eV or more, finally ejected as ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) long regarded as one of the mysteries of astrophysics. The acceleration is mainly due to the drift cyclotron loss cone kinetic instability known from plasma research. Experiments and simulations are suggested to verify the acceleration process.