bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Single-stage osseointegrated reconstruction and rehabilitation of lower limb amputees: the Osseointegration Group of Australia Accelerated Protocol-2 (OGAAP-2) for a prospective cohort study
Authors: Al Muderis Munjed , Lu William , Tetsworth Kevin , Bosley Belinda , Li Jiao Jiao 
Published: March 2017

IntroductionLower limb amputations have detrimental influences on the quality of life, function and body image of the affected patients. Following amputation, prolonged rehabilitation is required for patients to be fitted with traditional socket prostheses, and many patients experience symptomatic socket–residuum interface problems which lead to reduced prosthetic use and quality of life. Osseointegration has recently emerged as a novel approach for the reconstruction of amputated limbs, which overcomes many of the socket-related problems by directly attaching the prosthesis to the skeletal residuum. To date, the vast majority of osseointegration procedures worldwide have been performed in 2 stages, which require at least 4 months and up to 18 months for the completion of reconstruction and rehabilitation from the time of the initial surgery. The current prospective cohort study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a single-stage osseointegration procedure performed under the Osseointegration Group of Australia Accelerated Protocol-2 (OGAAP-2), which dramatically reduces the time of recovery to ∼3–6 weeks.Methods and analysisThe inclusion criteria for osseointegrated reconstruction under the OGAAP-2 procedure are age over 18 years, unilateral transfemoral amputation and experiencing problems or difficulties in using socket prostheses. All patients receive osseointegrated implants which are press-fitted into the residual bone. Functional and quality-of-life outcome measures are recorded preoperatively and at defined postoperative follow-up intervals up to 2 years. Postoperative adverse events are also recorded. The preoperative and postoperative values are compared for each outcome measure, and the benefits and harms of the single-stage OGAAP-2 procedure will be compared with the results obtained using a previously employed 2-stage procedure.Ethics and disseminationThis study has received ethics approval from the University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Australia (014153S). The study outcomes will be disseminated by publications in peer-reviewed academic journals and presentations at relevant clinical and orthopaedic conferences.
Towards personalised intra-arterial treatment of patients with acute ischaemic stroke: a study protocol for development and validation of a clinical decision aid
Authors: Mulder Maxim J H L , Venema Esmee , Roozenbeek Bob , Broderick Joseph P , Yeatts Sharon D , Khatri Pooja , Berkhemer Olvert A , Roos Yvo B W E M , Majoie Charles B L M , van Oostenbrugge Robert J , van Zwam Wim H , van der Lugt Aad , Steyerberg Ewout W , Dippel Diederik W J , Lingsma Hester F 
Published: March 2017

IntroductionOverall, intra-arterial treatment (IAT) proved to be beneficial in patients with acute ischaemic stroke due to a proximal occlusion in the anterior circulation. However, heterogeneity in treatment benefit may be relevant for personalised clinical decision-making. Our aim is to improve selection of patients for IAT by predicting individual treatment benefit or harm.Methods and analysisWe will use data collected in the Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands (MR CLEAN) trial to analyse the effect of baseline characteristics on outcome and treatment effect. A multivariable proportional odds model with interaction terms will be developed to predict the outcome for each individual patient, both with and without IAT. Model performance will be expressed as discrimination and calibration, after bootstrap resampling and shrinkage of regression coefficients, to correct for optimism. External validation will be conducted on data of patients in the Interventional Management of Stroke III trial (IMS III). Primary outcome will be the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days after stroke.Ethics and disseminationThe proposed study will provide an internationally applicable clinical decision aid for IAT. Findings will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and in an online web application tool. Formal ethical approval was not required as primary data were already collected.Trial registration numbersISRCTN10888758; Post-results andNCT00359424; Post-resultsc.
Differences between determinants of in-hospital mortality and hospitalisation costs for patients with acute heart failure: a nationwide observational study from Japan
Authors: Sasaki Noriko , Kunisawa Susumu , Ikai Hiroshi , Imanaka Yuichi 
Published: March 2017

ObjectivesAlthough current case-mix classifications in prospective payment systems were developed to estimate patient resource usage, whether these classifications reflect clinical outcomes remains unknown. The efficient management of acute heart failure (AHF) with high mortality is becoming more important in many countries as its prevalence and associated costs are rapidly increasing. Here, we investigate the determinants of in-hospital mortality and hospitalisation costs to clarify the impact of severity factors on these outcomes in patients with AHF, and examine the level of agreement between the predicted values of mortality and costs.DesignCross-sectional observational study.Setting and participantsA total of 19 926 patients with AHF from 261 acute care hospitals in Japan were analysed using administrative claims data.Main outcome measuresMultivariable logistic regression analysis and linear regression analysis were performed to examine the determinants of in-hospital mortality and hospitalisation costs, respectively. The independent variables were grouped into patient condition on admission, postadmission procedures indicating disease severity (eg, intra-aortic balloon pumping) and other high-cost procedures (eg, single-photon emission CT). These groups of independent variables were cumulatively added to the models, and their effects on the models' abilities to predict the respective outcomes were examined. The level of agreement between the quartiles of predicted mortality and predicted costs was analysed using Cohen's κ coefficient.ResultsIn-hospital mortality was associated with patient's condition on admission and severity-indicating procedures (C-statistics 0.870), whereas hospitalisation costs were associated with severity-indicating procedures and high-cost procedures (R20.32). There were substantial differences in determinants between the outcomes. In addition, there was no consistent relationship observed (κ=0.016, p<0.0001) between the quartiles of in-hospital mortality and hospitalisation costs.ConclusionsThe determinants of mortality and costs for hospitalised patients with AHF were generally different. Our results indicate that the same case-mix classifications should not be used to predict both these outcomes.
Enhancing quality of medical care in low income and middle income countries through simulation-based initiatives: recommendations of the Simnovate Global Health Domain Group
Authors: Puri Lekha , Das Jishnu , Pai Madhukar , Agrawal Priya , Fitzgerald J Edward , Kelley Edward , Kesler Sarah , Mate Kedar , Mohanan Manoj , Okrainec Allan , Aggarwal Rajesh 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundQuality of medical care in low income and middle income countries (LMICs) is variable, resulting in significant medical errors and adverse patient outcomes. Integration of simulation-based training and assessment may be considered to enhance quality of patient care in LMICs. The aim of this study was to consider the role of simulation in LMICs, to directly impact health professions education, measurement and assessment.MethodsThe Simnovate Global Health Domain Group undertook three teleconferences and a direct face-to-face meeting. A scoping review of published studies using simulation in LMICs was performed and, in addition, a detailed survey was sent to the World Directory of Medical Schools and selected known simulation centres in LMICs.ResultsStudies in LMICs employed low-tech manikins, standardised patients and procedural simulation methods. Low-technology manikins were the majority simulation method used in medical education (42%), and focused on knowledge and skills outcomes. Compared to HICs, the majority of studies evaluated baseline adherence to guidelines rather than focusing on improving medical knowledge through educational intervention. There were 46 respondents from the survey, representing 21 countries and 28 simulation centres. Within the 28 simulation centres, teachers and trainees were from across all healthcare professions.DiscussionBroad use of simulation is low in LMICs, and the full potential of simulation-based interventions for improved quality of care has yet to be realised. The use of simulation in LMICs could be a potentially untapped area that, if increased and/or improved, could positively impact patient safety and the quality of care.
Phenomenology of the new physics coming from 2HDMs to the neutrino magnetic dipole moment
Authors: Tarazona Carlos G. , Diaz Rodolfo A. , Morales John , Castillo Andrés 
Published: March 2017

In several frameworks for leptons sectors of Two Higgs Doublet Models, we calculate the magnetic dipole moment for different flavor types of neutrino. Computations are carried out by assuming a normal hierarchy for neutrino masses, and analyzing the process [Formula: see text] with a charged Higgs boson into the loop. The analysis was performed by sweeping the charged Higgs mass and taking into account the experimental constraints for relevant parameters in Two Higgs Doublet Models with and without flavor changing neutral currents; obtaining magnetic dipole moments close to the experimental thresholds for tau neutrinos in type II and lepton-specific cases. In the neutrino-specific scenario, the contribution of new physics could be sizeable to the current measurement for flavor magnetic dipole moment. This fact leads to excluding possible zones in the parameter space of charged Higgs mass and vacuum expectation value of the second doublet.
Thermoelectric properties of Cu2Se/xNi0.85Se hot-pressed from hydrothermal synthesis nanopowders
Authors: Gao Feng , Du Xiaohan , Wu Fang , Li Xinjian , Hu Xing , Song Hongzhang 
Published: March 2017

The [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) nanopowders were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and then were hot-pressed into bulk alloys. The effects of [Formula: see text] secondary phase on the thermoelectric (TE) properties of [Formula: see text] were investigated. For [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], both their electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficients increase. While for [Formula: see text], they decrease instead. The samples for [Formula: see text] have lower thermal conductivity. However, for [Formula: see text], the thermal conductivity rises remarkably. As an overall result, the maximum value of dimensionless TE figure of merit (ZT) reaches 1.52 at 873 K for the sample of [Formula: see text], 36.5% higher than for the sample without [Formula: see text].
Recursive Feature Elimination with Ensemble Learning Using SOM Variants
Authors: Filali Ameni , Jlassi Chiraz , Arous Najet 
Published: March 2017

To uncover an appropriate latent subspace for data representation, we propose in this paper a new extension of the random forests method which leads to the unsupervised feature selection called Feature Selection with Random Forests (RFS) based on SOM variants that evaluates the out-of-bag feature importance from a set of partitions. Every partition is created using a several bootstrap samples and a random features subset. We obtain empirical results on 19 benchmark datasets specifying that RFS, boosted with a recursive feature elimination (RFE) method, can lead to important enhancement in terms of clustering accuracy with a very restricted subset of features. Simulations are performed on nine different benchmarks, including face data, handwritten digit data, and document data. Promising experimental results and theoretical analysis prove the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed method for feature selection in comparison with competitive representative algorithms.
Petroleum geology of the Cygnus gas field, UK North Sea: from discovery to development
Authors: Catto Ross , Taggart Samantha , Poole Gareth 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The Cygnus Field, operated by ENGIE E&P UK Limited, is located in UK Southern North Sea blocks 44/11 and 44/12. The reservoir comprises sandstones of the Permian Leman Sandstone Formation and Carboniferous Ketch Formation.
Cygnus was first drilled in 1988 by well 44/12-1, which encountered gas shows in sandstones in the Leman Sandstone Formation whilst targeting a Carboniferous objective. The initial evaluation indicated the presence of poor-quality reservoir with conventional log analysis indicating high water saturations. Further appraisal activity ceased until 2002 when a group led by ENGIE E&P UK Limited were awarded the licence in the 20th round having recognized the missed pay potential. Through appraisal drilling, a second reservoir (the Carboniferous Ketch Formation) was discovered and the Leman Sandstone Formation was proven to be capable of achieving stabilized flow rates greater than 30 MMscf/d.
The Cygnus discovery now proves that a northern-sourced Leman Sandstone Formation play fairway exists, establishing an extension of the Rotliegend play to the northern feather edge of the Southern Permian Basin. The Cygnus Field's estimated ultimate recoverable volume is forecast to be 760 Bscf, making it the largest field discovered in the UK Southern North Sea in the last 30 years.
Changes in intestinal microbiota composition and metabolism coincide with increased intestinal permeability in young adults under prolonged physiological stress
Authors: Karl J. Philip , Margolis Lee M. , Madslien Elisabeth H. , Murphy Nancy E. , Castellani John W. , Gundersen Yngvar , Hoke Allison V. , Levangie Michael W. , Kumar Raina , Chakraborty Nabarun , Gautam Aarti , Hammamieh Rasha , Martini Svein , Montain Scott J. , Pasiakos Stefan M. 
Published: March 2017

The magnitude, temporal dynamics, and physiological effects of intestinal microbiome responses to physiological stress are poorly characterized. This study used a systems biology approach and a multiple-stressor military training environment to determine the effects of physiological stress on intestinal microbiota composition and metabolic activity, as well as intestinal permeability (IP). Soldiers ( n = 73) were provided three rations per day with or without protein- or carbohydrate-based supplements during a 4-day cross-country ski-march (STRESS). IP was measured before and during STRESS. Blood and stool samples were collected before and after STRESS to measure inflammation, stool microbiota, and stool and plasma global metabolite profiles. IP increased 62 ± 57% (mean ± SD, P < 0.001) during STRESS independent of diet group and was associated with increased inflammation. Intestinal microbiota responses were characterized by increased α-diversity and changes in the relative abundance of >50% of identified genera, including increased abundance of less dominant taxa at the expense of more dominant taxa such as Bacteroides. Changes in intestinal microbiota composition were linked to 23% of metabolites that were significantly altered in stool after STRESS. Together, pre-STRESS Actinobacteria relative abundance and changes in serum IL-6 and stool cysteine concentrations accounted for 84% of the variability in the change in IP. Findings demonstrate that a multiple-stressor military training environment induced increases in IP that were associated with alterations in markers of inflammation and with intestinal microbiota composition and metabolism. Associations between IP, the pre-STRESS microbiota, and microbiota metabolites suggest that targeting the intestinal microbiota could provide novel strategies for preserving IP during physiological stress.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Military training, a unique model for studying temporal dynamics of intestinal barrier and intestinal microbiota responses to stress, resulted in increased intestinal permeability concomitant with changes in intestinal microbiota composition and metabolism. Prestress intestinal microbiota composition and changes in fecal concentrations of metabolites linked to the microbiota were associated with increased intestinal permeability. Findings suggest that targeting the intestinal microbiota could provide novel strategies for mitigating increases in intestinal permeability during stress.
Contribution of two-pore K+ channels to cardiac ventricular action potential revealed using human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
Authors: Chai Sam , Wan Xiaoping , Nassal Drew M. , Liu Haiyan , Moravec Christine S. , Ramirez-Navarro Angelina , Deschênes Isabelle 
Published: March 2017

Two-pore K+ (K2p) channels have been described in modulating background conductance as leak channels in different physiological systems. In the heart, the expression of K2p channels is heterogeneous with equivocation regarding their functional role. Our objective was to determine the K2p expression profile and their physiological and pathophysiological contribution to cardiac electrophysiology. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from humans were differentiated into cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). mRNA was isolated from these cells, commercial iPSC-CM (iCells), control human heart ventricular tissue (cHVT), and ischemic (iHF) and nonischemic heart failure tissues (niHF). We detected 10 K2p channels in the heart. Comparing quantitative PCR expression of K2p channels between human heart tissue and iPSC-CMs revealed K2p1.1, K2p2.1, K2p5.1, and K2p17.1 to be higher expressed in cHVT, whereas K2p3.1 and K2p13.1 were higher in iPSC-CMs. Notably, K2p17.1 was significantly lower in niHF tissues compared with cHVT. Action potential recordings in iCells after K2p small interfering RNA knockdown revealed prolongations in action potential depolarization at 90% repolarization for K2p2.1, K2p3.1, K2p6.1, and K2p17.1. Here, we report the expression level of 10 human K2p channels in iPSC-CMs and how they compared with cHVT. Importantly, our functional electrophysiological data in human iPSC-CMs revealed a prominent role in cardiac ventricular repolarization for four of these channels. Finally, we also identified K2p17.1 as significantly reduced in niHF tissues and K2p4.1 as reduced in niHF compared with iHF. Thus, we advance the notion that K2p channels are emerging as novel players in cardiac ventricular electrophysiology that could also be remodeled in cardiac pathology and therefore contribute to arrhythmias. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Two-pore K+ (K2p) channels are traditionally regarded as merely background leak channels in myriad physiological systems. Here, we describe the expression profile of K2p channels in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and outline a salient role in cardiac repolarization and pathology for multiple K2p channels.
The influence of gravity on regional lung blood flow in humans: SPECT in the upright and head-down posture
Authors: Ax M. , Sanchez-Crespo A. , Lindahl S. G. E. , Mure M. , Petersson J. 
Published: March 2017

Previous studies in humans have shown that gravity has little influence on the distribution of lung blood flow while changing posture from supine to prone. This study aimed to evaluate the maximal influence of posture by comparison of regional lung blood flow in the upright and head-down posture in 8 healthy volunteers, using a tilt table. Regional lung blood flow was marked by intravenous injection of macroaggregates of human albumin labeled with 99mTc or 113mIn, in the upright and head-down posture, respectively, during tidal breathing. Both radiotracers remain fixed in the lung after administration. The distribution of radioactivity was mapped using quantitative single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) corrected for attenuation and scatter. All images were obtained supine during tidal breathing. A shift from upright to the head-down posture caused a clear redistribution of blood flow from basal to apical regions. We conclude that posture plays a role for the distribution of lung blood flow in upright humans, and that the influence of posture, and thereby gravity, is much greater in the upright and head-down posture than in horizontal postures. However, the results of the study demonstrate that lung structure is the main determinant of regional blood flow and gravity is a secondary contributor to the distribution of lung blood flow in the upright and head-down positions. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using a dual-isotope quantitative SPECT method, we demonstrated that although a shift in posture redistributes blood flow in the direction of gravity, the results are also consistent with lung structure being a greater determinant of regional blood flow than gravity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use modern imaging methods to quantify the shift in regional lung blood flow in humans at a change between the upright and head-down postures.
Fluorouracil Enhances Photodynamic Therapy of Squamous Cell Carcinoma via a p53-Independent Mechanism that Increases Protoporphyrin IX levels and Tumor Cell Death
Authors: Anand Sanjay , Rollakanti Kishore R. , Brankov Nikoleta , Brash Douglas E. , Hasan Tayyaba , Maytin Edward V. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT), using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to drive synthesis of protoporphryin IX (PpIX) is a promising, scar-free alternative to surgery for skin cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and SCC precursors called actinic keratoses. In the United States, PDT is only FDA approved for treatment of actinic keratoses; this narrow range of indications could be broadened if PDT efficacy were improved. Toward that goal, we developed a mechanism-based combination approach using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as a neoadjuvant for ALA-based PDT. In mouse models of SCC (orthotopic UV-induced lesions, and subcutaneous A431 and 4T1 tumors), pretreatment with 5-FU for 3 days followed by ALA for 4 hours led to large, tumor-selective increases in PpIX levels, and enhanced cell death upon illumination. Several mechanisms were identified that might explain the relatively improved therapeutic response. First, the expression of key enzymes in the heme synthesis pathway was altered, including upregulated coproporphyrinogen oxidase and downregulated ferrochelatase. Second, a 3- to 6-fold induction of p53 in 5-FU–pretreated tumors was noted. The fact that A431 contains a mutant form p53 did not prevent the development of a neoadjuvantal 5-FU effect. Furthermore, 5-FU pretreatment of 4T1 tumors (cells that completely lack p53), still led to significant beneficial inductions, that is, 2.5-fold for both PpIX and PDT-induced cell death. Thus, neoadjuvantal 5-FU combined with PDT represents a new therapeutic approach that appears useful even for p53-mutant and p53-null tumors. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(6); 1092–101. ©2017 AACR.