bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparison of microbiology and demographics among patients with healthcare-associated, hospital-acquired, and ventilator-associated pneumonia: a retrospective analysis of 1184 patients from a large, international study
Authors: Quartin Andrew A , Scerpella Ernesto G , Puttagunta Sailaja , Kett Daniel H 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Acceptance of healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) as an entity and the associated risk of infection by potentially multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter have been debated. We therefore compared patients with HCAP, hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) enrolled in a trial comparing linezolid with vancomycin for treatment of pneumonia.

Methods
The analysis included all patients who received study drug. HCAP was defined as pneumonia occurring < 48 hours into hospitalization and acquired in a long-term care, subacute, or intermediate health care facility; following recent hospitalization; or after chronic dialysis.

Results
Data from 1184 patients (HCAP = 199, HAP = 379, VAP = 606) were analyzed. Compared with HAP and VAP patients, those with HCAP were older, had slightly higher severity scores, and were more likely to have comorbidities. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common gram-negative organism isolated in all pneumonia classes [HCAP, 22/199 (11.1%); HAP, 28/379 (7.4%); VAP, 57/606 (9.4%); p = 0.311]. Acinetobacter spp. were also found with similar frequencies across pneumonia groups. To address potential enrollment bias toward patients with MRSA pneumonia, we grouped patients by presence or absence of MRSA and found little difference in frequencies of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter.

Conclusions
In this population of pneumonia patients, the frequencies of MDR gram-negative pathogens were similar among patients with HCAP, HAP, or VAP. Our data support inclusion of HCAP within nosocomial pneumonia guidelines and the recommendation that empiric antibiotic regimens for HCAP should be similar to those for HAP and VAP.
Circulating microRNA: a novel potential biomarker for early diagnosis of Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture a case control study
Authors: Jin Hengwei , Li Conghui , Ge Huijian , Jiang Yuhua , Li Youxiang 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Objective
To investigate warning effect of serum miRNA for intracranial aneurysm rupture through microarray hybridization.

Methods
24 were selected from 560 patients in our department and divided into group A, B, C and D. They are aneurysms with daughter aneurysms group, aneurysm without daughter aneurysms group, ruptured aneurysms group and angiography negative group. Then a microarray study was carried out using serum miRNA. Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified. Cluster analysis was performed in order to make the results looks more intuitive and potential gene targets were retrieved from miRNA target prediction databases.

Results
Microarray study identified 86 miRNAs with significantly different (p < 0.05) expression levels between three experimental groups and control group. Among them 69 are up-regulated and 17 are down-regulated. All miRNAs in group A are up-regulated, while there are up and down-regulated in group B and C. A total of 8291 predicted target genes are related to these miRNAs. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that several target genes are involved in apoptosis and activation of cells associated with function of vascular wall.

Conclusion
Our gene level approach reveals several different serum miRNAs between normal people and aneurysm patients, as well as among different phases of aneurysm, suggesting that miRNA may participate in the regulation of the occurrence and development of intracranial aneurysm, and also have warning effect for intracranial aneurysm rupture. All differently expressed miRNA in group A are up-regulated, which may suggesting protective function of miRNA for intracranial vascular wall.
Clinical outcomes of locked plating of distal femoral fractures in a retrospective cohort
Authors: Hoffmann Martin F , Jones Clifford B , Sietsema Debra L , Tornetta Paul , Koenig Scott J 
Published: November 2013

AbstractPurposeLocked plating (LP) of distal femoral fractures has become very popular. Despite technique suggestions from anecdotal and some early reports, knowledge about risk factors for failure, nonunion (NU), and revision is limited. The purpose of this study was to analyze the complications and clinical outcomes of LP treatment for distal femoral fractures.Materials and methodsFrom two trauma centers, 243 consecutive surgically treated distal femoral fractures (AO/OTA 33) were retrospectively identified. Of these, 111 fractures in 106 patients (53.8% female) underwent locked plate fixation. They had an average age of 54 years (range 18 to 95 years): 34.2% were obese, 18.9% were smokers, and 18.9% were diabetic. Open fractures were present in 40.5% with 79.5% Gustilo type III. Fixation constructs for plate length, working length, and screw concentration were delineated. Nonunion and/or infection, and implant failure were used as outcome complication variables. Outcome was based on surgical method and addressed according to Pritchett for reduction, range of motion, and pain.ResultsEighty-three (74.8%) of the fractures healed after the index procedure. Twenty (18.0%) of the patients developed a NU. Four of 20 (20%) resulted in a recalcitrant NU. Length of comminution did not correlate to NU (p = 0.180). Closed injuries had a higher tendency to heal after the index procedure than open injuries (p = 0.057). Closed and minimally open (Gustilo/Anderson types I and II) fractures healed at a significantly higher rate after the index procedure compared to type III open fractures (80.0% versus 61.3%,p = 0.041). Eleven fractures (9.9%) developed hardware failure. Fewer nonunions were found in the submuscular group (10.7%) compared to open reduction (32.0%) (p = 0.023). Fractures above total knee arthroplasties had a significantly greater rate of failed hardware (p = 0.040) and worse clinical outcome according to Pritchett (p = 0.040). Loss of fixation was related to pain (F = 3.19,p = 0.046) and a tendency to worse outcome (F = 2.43,p = 0.071). No relationship was found between nonunion and working length.ConclusionDespite modern fixation techniques, distal femoral fractures often result in persistent disability and worse clinical outcomes. Soft tissue management seems to be important. Submuscular plate insertion reduced the nonunion rate. Preexisting total knee arthroplasty increased the risk of hardware failure. Further studies determining factors that improve outcome are warranted.
Subcutaneous emphysema and ultrasound sonography
Authors: Kubodera Toshi , Adachi Yushi U , Hatano Toshiyuki , Ejima Tadashi , Numaguchi Atsushi , Matsuda Naoyuki 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Subcutaneous emphysema is not a rare complication in intensive care unit patients. Recently, ultrasound guidance for central venous puncture is becoming popular; however, the information on imaging for subcutaneous emphysema is limited. We encountered a patient complicated with severe pneumomediastinum and subsequent subcutaneous emphysema. The catheter replacement was attempted, and we examined the visuality of cervical vessels using ultrasound sonography before the intervention. Internal jugular vein itself was observed despite of subcutaneously migrated air bubble; however, the range of ultrasound image was limited, and the relationship between the vessel and the adjacent tissue was unclear.
Pharmacogenomic Testing and Personalized Treatment of Depression
Authors: Perlis Roy H 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDThere is wide variation in antidepressant efficacy and tolerability during the treatment of major depressive disorder, a brain disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality risk. The ability to rapidly identify optimal treatment, thereby shortening the time to symptomatic remission, could reduce these risks and associated costs.CONTENTUp to 42% of variance in antidepressant response is associated with common genetic variation, and there are over 10 psychotropic medications for which the US Food and Drug Administration–approved labeling reflects a genetic test. Most published studies have examined functional variations in genes of the cytochrome p450 system, relevant to metabolism of many antidepressants. However, there are few data supporting the clinical usefulness of specific pharmacogenetic tests. Randomized trials and cost-effectiveness studies are emerging, but larger-scale studies are needed. Specific challenges in translating genetic association results to clinical practice include need for replication to address risk of type I error, overestimation of effect sizes, absence of data from generalizable cohorts, and absence of comparative data that would suggest one specific intervention over another. Several opportunities to accelerate development and validation of new tools for stratification remain, including integration of these tests with clinical data or other biomarkers and application of electronic health records for test development and investigation.SUMMARYAlthough common genetic variation, particularly in genes of the cytochrome p450 system, has been associated with antidepressant response, evidence that this variation may be successfully applied to guide treatment selection is just emerging. Larger-scale studies facilitated by informatics tools will clarify the usefulness of such tests.
Design of freeform optics
Authors: Fang Fengzhou , Cheng Ying , Zhang Xiaodong 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Freeform optics has certain characteristics such as complex surfaces and more degrees to be controlled, so that it is capable of achieving optical mapping relationship, which cannot be achieved by the conventional optical surfaces. There is no applicable method for designing all freeform optics in the optical field until now. The selection of design methods should be based on specific applications. The paper introduces the main optical freeform design methods and their typical applications.
Holographic wavefront sensor for fast defocus measurement
Authors: Zepp Andreas , Gładysz Szymon , Stein Karin 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Atmospheric effects significantly influence the propagation of light. Conventional adaptive optics systems, based on Shack-Hartmann sensors (SHS), work well for vertical-path propagation. However, for more challenging scenarios like horizontal-path imaging or free-space laser communications through extended-volume turbulence and strong scintillation, the bandwidth of SHS is insufficient. A promising alternative is the holographic wavefront sensor (HWFS). Our paper deals with some dependencies and limitations of the HWFS. First, we show that the sensitivity of the HWFS is highly dependent on the detector size. The smaller the detector, the more sensitive is the sensor. This has consequences in the photon-starved regime, which would naturally occur when the sensor is operated at the intended MHz speed. Second, we show that uncorrected (or residual) tip/tilt has a large impact on the accuracy of the measurement. We present experimental results of measuring an important and also easily correctable aberration, defocus, with the HWFS.
Speckle effects in target-in-the-loop laser beam projection systems
Authors: Vorontsov Mikhail A. 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
In target-in-the-loop laser beam projection scenarios typical of remote sensing, directed energy, and adaptive optics applications, a transmitted laser beam propagates through an optically inhomogeneous medium toward a target, scatters off the target’s rough surface, and returns back to the transceiver plane. Coherent beam scattering off the randomly rough surface results in strong speckle modulation in the transceiver plane. This speckle modulation has been a long-standing challenge that limits performance of remote sensing, active imaging, and adaptive optics techniques. Using physics-based models of laser beam scattering off a randomly rough surface, we show that received speckle-field spatial and temporal characteristics can be used to evaluate the intensity distribution of the beam projected onto the target. We derive analytical expressions that directly couple the measured target-return wave statistical characteristics, or ‘speckle metrics’, with characteristics of the laser beam intensity distribution on the target surface. We also show how measured speckle metrics can be utilized for evaluation of laser beam quality at the target surface and for adaptive compensation of atmospheric turbulence-induced phase aberrations.
Silicon photonic devices for mid-infrared applications
Authors: Shankar Raji , Lončar Marko 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe mid-infrared (IR) wavelength region (2–20 µm) is of great interest for a number of applications, including trace gas sensing, thermal imaging, and free-space communications. Recently, there has been significant progress in developing a mid-IR photonics platform in Si, which is highly transparent in the mid-IR, due to the ease of fabrication and CMOS compatibility provided by the Si platform. Here, we discuss our group’s recent contributions to the field of silicon-based mid-IR photonics, including photonic crystal cavities in a Si membrane platform and grating-coupled high-quality factor ring resonators in a silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) platform. Since experimental characterization of microphotonic devices is especially challenging at the mid-IR, we also review our mid-IR characterization techniques in some detail. Additionally, pre- and post-processing techniques for improving device performance, such as resist reflow, Piranha clean/HF dip cycling, and annealing are discussed.
Sámi Media Professionals and the Role of Language and Identity / Sámi Medienprofis und die Rolle von Sprache und Identität / Les professionnels des média sâmes et le rôle de la langue et de l’identité
Authors: Markelin Lia , Husband Charles , Moring Tom 
Published: November 2013

In ihrer Medienlandschaft erweist sich die samische Gemeinschaft als höchst lebendig und entwickelt sich rasant. Sie ist jedoch auch zwischen ihren vielen verschiedenen Sprachgruppen hin und her gerissen sowie zwischen der Notwendigkeit, diese Sprachen kontinuierlich weiter zu entwickeln, um sowohl ihrer Tradition als auch den Veränderungen der Welt gerecht zu werden. Angesichts der globalen Vernetzung der einheimischen Medienlandschaft ist die Medienarbeit, vor allem bei spezifischen Sami- Inhalten, äußerst behutsam und sich dessen bewusst, dass allmählich eine transnationale indigene Medienlandschaft entsteht.Dieser Artikel basiert auf Interviews mit samischen Medienprofis, die für samischsprachige Medien in Norwegen und Schweden arbeiten. Er stellt ihre Sicht der Rolle einheimischer Medien dar und zeigt, wie diese mit den Herausforderungen bezüglich Gemeinschaft, Sprachen, Medien und eigener Identität in einer zunehmend globalisierten Welt zurechtkommen. Aus theoretischer Perspektive untersucht der Artikel ethische Fragen hinsichtlich Identität und Sprache aus dem Blickwinkel der ethno- linguistischen Vitalitätstheorie, bei Unterscheidung objektiver von subjektiven Faktoren. Im Zentrum der Analyse stehen die aktuellen Veränderungen der Medien und sprachlichen Landschaften in Sämiland oder Säpmi.
Investigating and Understanding the Bending Fatigue Response and Fracture Behavior of Two High Strength Steels
Authors: Manigandan K. , Srivatsan T. S. , Quick T. 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
In this paper, the results of a recent study aimed at understanding the bending fatigue response of two carbon steels is presented and discussed. The two carbon steels chosen are the ones preferred and used for a spectrum of industrial applications. Bend test specimens of the two carbon steels were prepared and conformed to specifications used in several earlier studies. The machined test specimens were deformed in bending fatigue over a range of maximum load, at a positive load ratio of 0.1, and the number of cycles to failure was recorded. The specific influence of chemical composition on bending fatigue life of the carbon steels is presented. The fracture surfaces of the deformed and failed specimens were examined in a scanning electron microscope to establish the macroscopic mode of fracture and to concurrently characterize the intrinsic features and establish the microscopic mechanisms governing fracture. The influence of nature of loading and maximum load on bending fatigue life is discussed in light of chemical composition and intrinsic microstructural features of the chosen carbon steel.
Hyperthyroidism and psychiatric morbidity: evidence from a Danish nationwide register study
Authors: Brandt Frans , Thvilum Marianne , Almind Dorthe , Christensen Kaare , Green Anders , Hegedüs Laszlo , Brix Thomas Heiberg 
Published: November 2013

ObjectiveThyroid hormones are essential for the normal development of the fetal brain, while hyperthyroidism in adults is associated with mood symptoms and reduced quality of life. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association and temporal relationship between hyperthyroidism and psychiatric morbidity.DesignRegister-based nationwide cohort study.MethodData on hyperthyroidism and psychiatric morbidity were obtained by record linkage of the Danish National Patient Registry and the Danish National Prescription Registry. A total of 2631 hyperthyroid individuals were identified and matched 1:4 with non-hyperthyroid controls and followed for a mean duration of 6 years (range 0–13). Logistic and Cox regression models were used to assess the risk of psychiatric morbidity before and after the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism respectively.ResultsBefore the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, such individuals had an increased risk of being hospitalized with psychiatric diagnoses (odds ratio (OR): 1.33; 95% CI: 0.98–1.80) and an increased risk of being treated with antipsychotics (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.00–1.38), antidepressants (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01–1.27), or anxiolytics (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.16–1.42). After the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, there was a higher risk of being hospitalized with psychiatric diagnoses (hazard ratio (HR): 1.51; 95% CI: 1.11–2.05) and an increased risk of being treated with antipsychotics (HR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.20–1.79), antidepressants (HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.36–1.74), or anxiolytics (HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.27–1.69).ConclusionsHyperthyroid individuals have an increased risk of being hospitalized with psychiatric diagnoses and being treated with antipsychotics, antidepressants, and anxiolytics, both before and after the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism.
Effect of Genetic Variation in a Drosophila Model of Diabetes-Associated Misfolded Human Proinsulin
Authors: He Bin Z , Ludwig Michael Z , Dickerson Desiree A , Barse Levi , Arun Bharath , Vilhjálmsson Bjarni J , Jiang Pengyao , Park Soo-Young , Tamarina Natalia A , Selleck Scott B , Wittkopp Patricia J , Bell Graeme I , Kreitman Martin 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
The identification and validation of gene–gene interactions is a major challenge in human studies. Here, we explore an approach for studying epistasis in humans using a Drosophila melanogaster model of neonatal diabetes mellitus. Expression of the mutant preproinsulin (hINSC96Y) in the eye imaginal disc mimics the human disease: it activates conserved stress-response pathways and leads to cell death (reduction in eye area). Dominant-acting variants in wild-derived inbred lines from the Drosophila Genetics Reference Panel produce a continuous, highly heritable distribution of eye-degeneration phenotypes in a hINSC96Y background. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 154 sequenced lines identified a sharp peak on chromosome 3L, which mapped to a 400-bp linkage block within an intron of the gene sulfateless (sfl). RNAi knockdown of sfl enhanced the eye-degeneration phenotype in a mutant-hINS-dependent manner. RNAi against two additional genes in the heparan sulfate (HS) biosynthetic pathway (ttv and botv), in which sfl acts, also modified the eye phenotype in a hINSC96Y-dependent manner, strongly suggesting a novel link between HS-modified proteins and cellular responses to misfolded proteins. Finally, we evaluated allele-specific expression difference between the two major sfl-intronic haplotypes in heterozygtes. The results showed significant heterogeneity in marker-associated gene expression, thereby leaving the causal mutation(s) and its mechanism unidentified. In conclusion, the ability to create a model of human genetic disease, map a QTL by GWAS to a specific gene, and validate its contribution to disease with available genetic resources and the potential to experimentally link the variant to a molecular mechanism demonstrate the many advantages Drosophila holds in determining the genetic underpinnings of human disease.
Factors Associated with Influenza Vaccination Decisions among Patients with Mental Illness
Authors: Lorenz Raymond A. , Norris Meghan M. , Norton Leah C. , Westrick Salisa C. 
Published: November 2013

Objective: To determine influenza (flu) vaccination status among the mentally ill population and identify factors associated with vaccination status. Method: A non-interventional, cross-sectional study was conducted. A self-administered survey to investigate the vaccination status and perceptions related to flu vaccine was administered between October 2011-January 2012 in an outpatient psychiatry clinic that served the indigent, severely mentally ill population of Alabama. All statistical analyses were based upon a significance level of 0.05. Results: Of the 736 patients invited, 302 participated (41%). Only 28.4% were vaccinated in 2010–2011 and 24.2% had been vaccinated at the time of the survey for 2011–2012. Respondents who had private health insurance, received a recommendation from healthcare providers, and who perceived a greater degree of vaccine effectiveness were more likely to obtain flu vaccination while respondents who had education beyond high school and were more in agreement that they can get the flu from the vaccine were less likely to obtain flu vaccination. All of the above factors accounted for 26.7% of vaccination decisions. Conclusions: The flu vaccination rate among this study's population was lower than the general population. Interventions targeting the above factors should help increase vaccination rates among the mentally ill population.