bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Italian cultural adaptation of the Memorial Anxiety for Prostate Cancer scale for the population of men on active surveillance
Authors: Alvisi Maria F. , Repetto Claudia , Rancati Tiziana , Badenchini Fabio , Magnani Tiziana , Marenghi Cristina , Villa Silvia , Nicolai Nicola , Salvioni Roberto , Avuzzi Barbara , Valdagni Riccardo , Bellardita Lara ,   The Prostate Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic Working Group
Published: June 2017

Purpose: The Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX-PC) is a self-report questionnaire that was developed in English to assess prostate cancer (PCa)-related anxiety. The aim of this study was to perform a cultural adaptation for the tool to be used in a population of Italian men on active surveillance (AS). Methods: A total of 222 patients with localized PCa who were recruited for the Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance (PRIAS) protocol completed the MAX-PC. Psychometric analysis was performed to assess reliability indexes. A Spearman rank correlation was used to test the association between MAX-PC scales and other questionnaires and was used for longitudinal analysis. Results: Cronbach coefficients and item to total correlation demonstrated good internal consistency. Some items related to the repetition of the PSA test showed a large floor effect and thus were poorly effective in measuring anxiety for PSA testing in patients on AS. Confirmatory factor analysis partly failed to reproduce the structure of the original version. A modified version of MAX-PC, excluding the items with a large floor effect, was thus considered for AS patients. Factor analysis on this version demonstrated considerable consistency with the presence of 3 subscales: anxiety related to PCa, anxiety related to PSA testing, and anxiety related to the fear of tumor progression. Longitudinal analysis showed an acceptable validity over time. The MAX-PC was correlated with the anxious preoccupation subscale of the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale. Conclusions: A slightly modified version of the MAX-PC was developed for use in Italian men on AS. This instrument appears to be a valid and reliable tool that measures anxiety in men with PCa who are enrolled in AS programs.
Ureteroscopy in the Diagnosis of Upper Tract Transitional Cell Cancer: A 10-Year Experience Providing Outcome Data for Informed Consent
Authors: Hanna Luke , Chung Vera , Ali Ahmed , Ritchie Robert , Rogers Ann , Sullivan Mark , Keoghane Stephen 
Published: June 2017

Purpose The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of ureteroscopy and biopsy in the diagnosis and management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Methods We retrospectively collated data from pathology, radiology and operating theatre data sets from two large UK hospitals. During the 10-year period examined, 160 patients underwent ureteroscopy prior to nephro-ureterectomy (NU)/distal ureterectomy (DU). Results Of the 160 patients identified, 140 were ureteroscopically evaluated and biopsied, 104 (74.3%) had positive biopsies, 5 (3.6%) had negative biopsies and 31 (22.1%) had nondiagnostic biopsies. One hundred and forty patients of 160 (88.8%) resulted in positive findings as a result of their ureteroscopy [positive biopsy/positive operative cytology/visible upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) at ureteroscopy)]. A total of 108 patients had cytological samples sent for histological analysis where grade was able to be assessed at DU/NU. Of these samples, 35 had positive cytology, 58 had an abnormal result that was not diagnostic and 15 had negative cytology. Patients with positive biopsies had upstaging (58.4%) and/or upgrading (30.5%) of their initial ureteroscopic histology at NU/DU. The overall success rate of ureteroscopy for cancer diagnosis was 88.8%. Conclusions Upper tract endoscopy and biopsy yielded positive biopsy results in 74.3% of cases and confirmed a cancer diagnosis in 88.8%. Five patients had negative histology at biopsy, all of whom eventually underwent a NU/DU confirming cancer.
Allium stent for the treatment of a malignant ureteral stenosis: A paradigmatic case
Authors: Oderda Marco , Lacquaniti Sergio , Fasolis Giuseppe 
Published: June 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to present a paradigmatic case where the new-generation Allium URS stent was the optimal choice to treat a malignant ureteral stenosis. Methods: We describe in detail all the steps of our surgery, performed on a 69-year-old patient with left hydronephrosis caused by lumbo-aortic nodal metastases compressing the ureter. The patient was intolerant to double-J stent due to strong irritative urinary symptoms. Allium URS stent was positioned under fluoroscopy in replacement of pre-existing double-J stent. Results: Our approach was successful and irritative urinary symptoms disappeared. At 6 months, the Allium URS was correctly positioned and no hydronephrosis was detected on ultrasound. The stent can be left in place for a maximum of 3 years. Conclusions: In complicated scenarios of chronic ureteral stenosis, the new-generation Allium URS can be an interesting option to treat the obstruction while sparing the patient the irritative urinary symptoms and periodic replacements typical of a double-J stent.
Estructura de una política pública para la empresa familiar de Honduras
Authors: Munguia López Rina Patricia 
Published: June 2017

En el mundo, se encuentran las denominadas empresas familiares, las cuales son parte de los actores en la dinámica empresarial, el contenido de este trabajo inicia con el abordaje de la experiencia internacional identificando las iniciativas de cada país como punto de partida para el proceso de la investigación.A pesar de la relevancia de las empresas familiares como generadoras de la estabilidad económica y social de los países, los hallazgos encontrados detectan una similitud: falta políticas públicas que permitan el fomento, mejoramiento y continuidad de las mismas en el tiempo.
Análisis de minería de datos distribuida con Weka Parallel en computadoras con múltiples procesadores físicos y lógicos
Authors: Martínez Jairo Jonathan 
Published: June 2017

Los estudiantes e investigadores cada vez más tienen la necesidad de aplicar de minería de datos. Weka, surge como un proyecto que pone a su disposición una colección de algoritmos que facilitan el descubrimiento de conocimiento en los datos. Sin embargo, no fue diseñado para aprovechar el paralelismo local con multihilo ni los ambientes distribuidos. Ante esta necesidad han surgido algunos proyectos que extienden Weka permitiéndole aprovechar mejor los recursos. Uno de estos es Weka Parallel. En este artículo se analiza el rendimiento de Weka Parallel y la mejor forma de utilizar en una sola computadora que tenga procesador multinúcleo.
Air Conditioning
Authors: Cooper Kenneth W. , Updated by Staff  
Published: June 2017

AbstractAir conditioning may involve heating or cooling air, humidifying or drying it, and the control of chemical impurities to maintain the desired space conditions. The focus of this article is on the design of air conditioning systems for industrial setting.The article begins by introducing the principles that govern all air conditioning processes, then, the fundamentals of air conditioning system design are presented, focusing on performance as well as addressing worker comfort. Process requirements and equipment of typical systems and system control are discussed next. Industrial applications, energy conservation, and economic consideration are also discussed.
Normal faulting and mass movement during ridge subduction inferred from porosity transition and zeolitization in the Costa Rica subduction zone
Authors: Hamahashi Mari , Screaton Elizabeth , Tanikawa Wataru , Hashimoto Yoshitaka , Martin Kylara , Saito Saneatsu , Kimura Gaku 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSubduction of the buoyant Cocos Ridge offshore the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica substantially affects the upper plate structure through a variety of processes, including outer forearc uplift, erosion, and focused fluid flow. To investigate the nature of a major seismic reflector (MSR) developed between slope sediments (late Pliocene‐late Pleistocene silty clay) and underlying higher velocity upper plate materials (late Pliocene‐early Pleistocene clayey siltstone), we infer possible mechanisms of sediment removal by examining the consolidation state, microstructure, and zeolite assemblages of sediments recovered from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 344 Site U1380. Formation of Ca‐type zeolites, laumontite and heulandite, inferred to form in the presence of Ca‐rich fluids, has caused porosity reduction. We adjust measured porosity values for these pore‐filling zeolites and evaluated the new porosity profile to estimate how much material was removed at the MSR. Based on the composite porosity‐depth curve, we infer the past burial depth of the sediments directly below the MSR. The corrected and uncorrected porosity‐depth curves yield values of 800 ± 70 m and 900 ± 70 m, respectively. We argue that deposition and removal of this entire estimated thickness in 0.49 Ma would require unrealistically large sedimentation rates and suggest that normal faulting at the MSR must contribute. The porosity offset could be explained with maximum 250 ± 70 m of normal fault throw, or 350 ± 70 m if the porosity were not corrected. The porosity correction significantly reduces the amount of sediment removal needed for the combination of mass movement and normal faulting that characterize the slope in this margin.
The effect of speleothem surface slope on the remanent magnetic inclination
Authors: Ponte J. M. , Font E. , Veiga‐Pires C. , Hillaire‐Marcel C. , Ghaleb B. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSpeleothems are of interest for high‐resolution reconstruction of the Earth's magnetic field. However, little is known about the influence of speleothem morphologies on their natural remanent magnetization (NRM) record. Here we report on a high‐resolution paleomagnetic study of a dome‐shaped speleothem of middle Holocene age from southern Portugal, with special attention to the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) and anisotropy of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (AARM). To assess the potential influence of the slope of the speleothem surface on the recorded remanent magnetization, we compare magnetic directions and AMS and AARM fabrics from subhorizontal to gradually subvertical calcite growth layers collected in a transversal cross section of the speleothem. A linear correlation is observed between magnetic inclinations, calcite laminae slope, and AARM k1 inclination. The AMS fabric is mostly controlled by calcite crystals, with direction of the minimum axes (k3) perpendicular to laminae growth. Magnetic inclinations recorded in inclined and vertical calcite growth layers are underestimated when compared to a global paleosecular variation (PSV) model. After extrapolating magnetic inclinations to the horizontal, the corrected data better fit the PSV model but are still lower than the predicted magnetic inclinations, suggesting that inclination shallowing affects the entire speleothem. We suggest that speleothem morphology exerts a critical role on the magnetic inclination recording, which is controlled by the Earth's magnetic field but also influenced by particle rolling along the sloping surfaces. These observations open new avenues for reconstructing high‐resolution paleomagnetic secular variation records from speleothems and provide new insights into their NRM acquisition mechanisms.
Physical response of a back‐barrier estuary to a post‐tropical cyclone
Authors: Beudin A. , Ganju N. K. , Defne Z. , Aretxabaleta A. L. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis paper presents a modeling investigation of the hydrodynamic and sediment transport response of Chincoteague Bay (VA/MD, USA) to Hurricane Sandy using the Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere‐Wave‐Sediment‐Transport (COAWST) modeling system. Several simulation scenarios with different combinations of remote and local forces were conducted to identify the dominant physical processes. While 80% of the water level increase in the bay was due to coastal sea level at the peak of the storm, a rich spatial and temporal variability in water surface slope was induced by local winds and waves. Local wind increased vertical mixing, horizontal exchanges, and flushing through the inlets. Remote waves (swell) enhanced southward flow through wave setup gradients between the inlets, and increased locally generated wave heights. Locally generated waves had a negligible effect on water level but reduced the residual flow up to 70% due to enhanced apparent roughness and breaking‐induced forces. Locally generated waves dominated bed shear stress and sediment resuspension in the bay. Sediment transport patterns mirrored the interior coastline shape and generated deposition on inundated areas. The bay served as a source of fine sediment to the inner shelf, and the ocean‐facing barrier island accumulated sand from landward‐directed overwash. Despite the intensity of the storm forcing, the bathymetric changes in the bay were on the order of centimeters. This work demonstrates the spectrum of responses to storm forcing, and highlights the importance of local and remote processes on back‐barrier estuarine function.
Cost efficient environmental survey paths for detecting continuous tracer discharges
Authors: Alendal G. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDesigning monitoring programs for detecting potential tracer discharges from unknown locations is challenging. The high variability of the environment may camouflage the anticipated anisotropic signal from a discharge, and there are a number of discharge scenarios. Monitoring operations may also be costly, constraining the number of measurements taken. By assuming that a discharge is active, and a prior belief on the most likely seep location, a method that uses Bayes' theorem combined with discharge footprint predictions is used to update the probability map. Measurement locations with highest reduction in the overall probability of a discharge to be active can be identified. The relative cost between reallocating and measurements can be taken into account. Three different strategies are suggested to enable cost efficient paths for autonomous vessels.
Birkeland currents during substorms: Statistical evidence for intensification of Regions 1 and 2 currents after onset and a localized signature of auroral dimming
Authors: Coxon John C. , Rae I. Jonathan , Forsyth Colin , Jackman Caitriona M. , Fear Robert C. , Anderson Brian J. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe conduct a superposed epoch analysis of Birkeland current densities from AMPERE (Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment) using isolated substorm expansion phase onsets identified by an independently derived data set. In order to evaluate whether R1 and R2 currents contribute to the substorm current wedge, we rotate global maps of Birkeland currents into a common coordinate system centered on the magnetic local time of substorm onset. When the latitude of substorm is taken into account, it is clear that both R1 and R2 current systems play a role in substorm onset, contrary to previous studies which found that R2 current did not contribute. The latitude of substorm onset is colocated with the interface between R1 and R2 currents, allowing us to infer that R1 current closes just tailward and R2 current closes just earthward of the associated current disruption in the tail. AMPERE is the first data set to give near‐instantaneous measurements of Birkeland current across the whole polar cap, and this study addresses apparent discrepancies in previous studies which have used AMPERE to examine the morphology of the substorm current wedge. Finally, we present evidence for an extremely localized reduction in current density immediately prior to substorm onset, and we interpret this as the first statistical signature of auroral dimming in Birkeland current.
Tsunami and infragravity waves impacting Antarctic ice shelves
Authors: Bromirski P. D. , Chen Z. , Stephen R. A. , Gerstoft P. , Arcas D. , Diez A. , Aster R. C. , Wiens D. A. , Nyblade A. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe responses of the Ross Ice Shelf (RIS) to the 16 September 2015 8.3 (Mw) Chilean earthquake tsunami (>75 s period) and to oceanic infragravity (IG) waves (50–300 s period) were recorded by a broadband seismic array deployed on the RIS from November 2014 to November 2016. Here we show that tsunami and IG‐generated signals within the RIS propagate at gravity wave speeds (∼70 m/s) as water‐ice coupled flexural‐gravity waves. IG band signals show measureable attenuation away from the shelf front. The response of the RIS to Chilean tsunami arrivals is compared with modeled tsunami forcing to assess ice shelf flexural‐gravity wave excitation by very long period (VLP; >300 s) gravity waves. Displacements across the RIS are affected by gravity wave incident direction, bathymetry under and north of the shelf, and water layer and ice shelf thicknesses. Horizontal displacements are typically about 10 times larger than vertical displacements, producing dynamical extensional motions that may facilitate expansion of existing fractures. VLP excitation is continuously observed throughout the year, with horizontal displacements highest during the austral winter with amplitudes exceeding 20 cm. Because VLP flexural‐gravity waves exhibit no discernable attenuation, this energy must propagate to the grounding zone. Both IG and VLP band flexural‐gravity waves excite mechanical perturbations of the RIS that likely promote tabular iceberg calving, consequently affecting ice shelf evolution. Understanding these ocean‐excited mechanical interactions is important to determine their effect on ice shelf stability to reduce uncertainty in the magnitude and rate of global sea level rise.
Coupled retrieval of aerosol properties and land surface reflection using the Airborne Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager
Authors: Xu Feng , van Harten Gerard , Diner David J. , Kalashnikova Olga V. , Seidel Felix C. , Bruegge Carol J. , Dubovik Oleg 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe Airborne Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (AirMSPI) has been flying aboard the NASA ER‐2 high‐altitude aircraft since October 2010. In step‐and‐stare operation mode, AirMSPI acquires radiance and polarization data in bands centered at 355, 380, 445, 470*, 555, 660*, 865*, and 935 nm (* denotes polarimetric bands). The imaged area covers about 10 km by 11 km and is typically observed from nine viewing angles between ±66° off nadir. For a simultaneous retrieval of aerosol properties and surface reflection using AirMSPI, an efficient and flexible retrieval algorithm has been developed. It imposes multiple types of physical constraints on spectral and spatial variations of aerosol properties as well as spectral and temporal variations of surface reflection. Retrieval uncertainty is formulated by accounting for both instrumental errors and physical constraints. A hybrid Markov‐chain/adding‐doubling radiative transfer (RT) model is developed to combine the computational strengths of these two methods in modeling polarized RT in vertically inhomogeneous and homogeneous media, respectively. Our retrieval approach is tested using 27 AirMSPI data sets with low to moderately high aerosol loadings, acquired during four NASA field campaigns plus one AirMSPI preengineering test flight. The retrieval results including aerosol optical depth, single‐scattering albedo, aerosol size and refractive index are compared with Aerosol Robotic Network reference data. We identify the best angular combinations for 2, 3, 5, and 7 angle observations from the retrieval quality assessment of various angular combinations. We also explore the benefits of polarimetric and multiangular measurements and target revisits in constraining aerosol property and surface reflection retrieval.
Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis With Anti–Tumor Necrosis Factor or Tocilizumab Therapy as First Biologic Agent in a Global Comparative Observational Study
Authors: Choy Ernest H. , Bernasconi Corrado , Aassi Maher , Molina Jose Fernando , Epis Oscar Massimiliano 
Published: June 2017

ObjectiveTo compare clinical effectiveness between tocilizumab and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inadequate response to conventional synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs initiating biologic therapy.MethodsPatients prescribed tocilizumab (intravenous) or TNFi were prospectively observed in routine clinical practice for 52 weeks across 158 sites in 26 countries. The primary observation was the change from baseline in Disease Activity Score based on 28 joints using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28‐ESR) at week 24 using analysis of covariance for between‐groups comparison. Secondary end points included Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and patient‐reported outcomes at weeks 24 and 52.ResultsOf 1,216 patients, 35% initiated tocilizumab and 65% initiated TNFi. RA duration was shorter, and disease activity and corticosteroid use were higher in tocilizumab patients. Tocilizumab‐treated patients had greater improvement in DAS28‐ESR at weeks 24 and 52 (week 24 difference [95% confidence interval] in adjusted means: −0.831 [−1.086, −0.576]; P < 0.001). Change from baseline in CDAI was also greater with tocilizumab (adjusted means difference: week 24, −3.48; week 52, −4.60; both P < 0.001). Tocilizumab‐treated patients had more improvement in the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index than TNFi‐treated patients (P < 0.05). The cumulative probability of drug discontinuation at week 52 was lower with tocilizumab (15%) than TNFi (27%; P < 0.001, unadjusted analysis). Unadjusted frequencies (events per 100 patient‐years) for tocilizumab and TNFi were 6.44 and 11.99 for serious adverse events, 1.98 and 5.03 for serious infections, and 0.74 and 0.77 for deaths, respectively.ConclusionPatients initiating tocilizumab experienced greater effectiveness and drug survival than those initiating TNFi in an observational setting.
Single Near‐Infrared Emissive Polymer Nanoparticles as Versatile Phototheranostics
Authors: Guo Liang , Niu Guangle , Zheng Xiuli , Ge Jiechao , Liu Weimin , Jia Qingyan , Zhang Panpan , Zhang Hongyan , Wang Pengfei 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAttaining consistently high performance of diagnostic and therapeutic functions in one single nanoplatform is of great significance for nanomedicine. This study demonstrates the use of donor–acceptor (D–A) structured polymer (TBT) to develop a smart “all‐five‐in‐one” theranostic that conveniently integrates fluorescence/photoacoustic/thermal imaging and photodynamic/photothermal therapy into single nanoparticle. The prepared nanoparticles (TBTPNPs) exhibit near‐infrared emission, high water solubility, excellent light resistance, good pH stability, and negligible toxicity. Additionally, the TBTPNPs exhibit an excellent singlet oxygen (1O2) quantum yield (40%) and high photothermal conversion efficiency (37.1%) under single‐laser irradiation (635 nm). Apart from their two phototherapeutic modalities, fluorescence, photoacoustic signals, and thermal imaging in vivo can be simultaneously achieved because of their enhanced permeability and retention effects. This work demonstrates that the prepared TBTPNPs are “all‐five‐in‐one” phototheranostic agents that can exhibit properties to satisfy the “one‐fits‐all” requirement for future phototheranostic applications. Thus, the prepared TBTPNPs can provide fundamental insights into the development of PNP‐based nanoagents for cancer therapy.