bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Oral Anticoagulation in Stroke Prevention among Sinus-Rhythm Patients Who Lack Left Atrial Mechanical Contraction after Cryoablation
Authors: Martínez-Comendador José , Gualis Javier , Marcos-Vidal José Miguel , Buber Jonnatan , Martín Carlos Esteban , Gomez-Plana Jesús , Rodríguez Miguel Angel , Iglesias-Garriz Ignacio , Alonso David , Soria Carlos , Miguélez Eva Higuera , Castaño Mario 
Published: October 2015

The customary recommendation is that oral anticoagulation be withdrawn a few months after cryoablation for atrial fibrillation, independently of left atrial mechanical contraction in patients in sinus rhythm. Recently, a 5-fold increase in stroke has been described in sinus-rhythm patients who lack atrial mechanical contraction. One aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral anticoagulation in preventing postoperative stroke in such patients.
This prospective study divided 154 sinus-rhythm patients into 2 groups, depending on the presence (108 patients) or absence (46 patients) of left atrial mechanical contraction at 6 months after surgery, and monitored them annually for 5 years. Those without left atrial contraction were maintained on acenocumarol. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of ischemic stroke.
The median follow-up period was 29 ± 16 months; 4 patients (2.5%), all belonging to the group with preserved atrial contraction, had ischemic stroke; the group of patients without left atrial contraction had no episodes of stroke during follow-up. Logistic binary regression analyses showed no evidence of factors independently predictive of stroke.
Among anticoagulated patients in sinus rhythm without left atrial contraction, we found the incidence of stroke to be zero. In a small, nonrandomized group such as this, we cannot discount the element of chance, yet we suggest that maintaining anticoagulation might lower the incidence of stroke in this population.
A situation-based multi-agent architecture for handling misunderstandings in interactions
Authors: Pham Thao Phuong , Rabah Mourad , Estraillier Pascal 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
During interactions, system actors may face up misunderstandings when their local states contain inconsistent data about the same fact. Misunderstandings in interactions are likely to reduce interactivity performances (deviation or deadlock) or even affect overall system behavior. In this paper, we characterize misunderstandings in interactions between system actors (that may be human users or system agents) in interactive adaptive systems. To deal with such misunderstandings and ensure state consistency, we present an agent-based architecture and a scenario structuring approach. The system includes several agents devoted to scenario unfolding, plot adaptation and consistency management. Scenario structuring is based on the notion of a situation that is an elementary building block dividing the interactions between systems’ actors into contextual scenes. This pattern supports not only scenario execution but consistency management as well. In order to organize and control interactions, the situation contextualizes interactions and activity of the system’s actors. It also includes prevention and tolerance agent-based mechanisms to deal with the misunderstandings and their causes. We validate our consistency management mechanisms using Uppaal simulation and provide some experimental results to show the effectiveness of our approach on an online distance learning case study
A belief revision approach for argumentation-based negotiation agents
Authors: Pilotti Pablo , Casali Ana , Chesñevar Carlos 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Negotiation is an interaction that happens in multi-agent systems when agents have conflicting objectives and must look for an acceptable agreement. A typical negotiating situation involves two agents that cannot reach their goals by themselves because they do not have some resources they need or they do not know how to use them to reach their goals. Therefore, they must start a negotiation dialogue, taking also into account that they might have incomplete or wrong beliefs about the other agent’s goals and resources. This article presents a negotiating agent model based on argumentation, which is used by the agents to reason on how to exchange resources and knowledge in order to achieve their goals. Agents that negotiate have incomplete beliefs about the others, so that the exchange of arguments gives them information that makes it possible to update their beliefs. In order to formalize their proposals in a negotiation setting, the agents must be able to generate, select and evaluate arguments associated with such offers, updating their mental state accordingly. In our approach, we will focus on an argumentation-based negotiation model between two cooperative agents. The arguments generation and interpretation process is based on belief change operations (expansions, contractions and revisions), and the selection process is a based on a strategy. This approach is presented through a high-level algorithm implemented in logic programming. We show various theoretical properties associated with this approach, which have been formalized and proved using Coq, a formal proof management system. We also illustrate, through a case study, the applicability of our approach in order to solve a slightly modified version of the well-known home improvement agents problem. Moreover, we present various simulations that allow assessing the impact of belief revision on the negotiation process.
A symbolic shortest path algorithm for computing subgame-perfect Nash equilibria
Authors: Góngora Pedro A. , Rosenblueth David A. 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Consider games where players wish to minimize the cost to reach some state. A subgame-perfect Nash equilibrium can be regarded as a collection of optimal paths on such games. Similarly, the well-known state-labeling algorithm used in model checking can be viewed as computing optimal paths on a Kripke structure, where each path has a minimum number of transitions. We exploit these similarities in a common generalization of extensive games and Kripke structures that we name “graph games”. By extending the Bellman-Ford algorithm for computing shortest paths, we obtain a model-checking algorithm for graph games with respect to formulas in an appropriate logic. Hence, when given a certain formula, our model-checking algorithm computes the subgame-perfect Nash equilibrium (as opposed to simply determining whether or not a given collection of paths is a Nash equilibrium). Next, we develop a symbolic version of our model checker allowing us to handle larger graph games. We illustrate our formalism on the critical-path method as well as games with perfect information. Finally, we report on the execution time of benchmarks of an implementation of our algorithms
Signature verification: A comprehensive study of the hidden signature method
Authors: Putz-Leszczyńska Joanna 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Many handwritten signature verification algorithms have been developed in order to distinguish between genuine signatures and forgeries. An important group of these methods is based on dynamic time warping (DTW). Traditional use of DTW for signature verification consists in forming a misalignment score between the verified signature and a set of template signatures. The right selection of template signatures has a big impact on that verification. In this article, we describe our proposition for replacing the template signatures with the hidden signature-an artificial signature which is created by minimizing the mean misalignment between itself and the signatures from the enrollment set. We present a few hidden signature estimation methods together with their comprehensive comparison. The hidden signature opens a number of new possibilities for signature analysis. We apply statistical properties of the hidden signature to normalize the error signal of the verified signature and to use the misalignment on the normalized errors as a verification basis. A result, we achieve satisfying error rates that allow creating an on-line system, ready for operating in a real-world environment
Boundary value problem with fractional p-Laplacian operator
Authors: Torres Ledesma César 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to obtain the existence of solution for the fractional p-Laplacian Dirichlet problem with mixed derivatives

t

D

T

α(|0
D

t

α
u(t)|
p-2
0
D

t

α
u(t)) = f(t,u(t)), t ∈ [0,T],
u(0) = u(T) = 0,
where 1/p < α < 1, 1 < p < ∞ and
f : [0,T] × ℝ → ℝ is a Carathéodory function which satisfies some growth conditions. We obtain the existence of nontrivial solutions by using the direct method in variational methods and mountain pass theorem.
Croatian laboratories have a good knowledge of the proper detection and management of hemolyzed, icteric and lipemic samples
Authors: Nikolac Nora , Celap Ivana , Filipi Petra , Hemar Marina , Kocijancic Marija , Miler Marijana , Simundic Ana-Maria , Smolcic Vesna Supak , Vrtaric Alen 
Published: October 2015

AbstractEndogenous interferences are an important source of biased laboratory results. Hemolysis, lipemia and icteria are the main source of endogenous interference in laboratory medicine. Accreditation according to ISO 15189 improves the overall quality of the laboratory procedures. The aim of our study was i) to assess the level of knowledge of Croatian medical biochemists about the proper detection and management of hemolysis, lipemia and icteria; and ii) to identify possible differences in the level of knowledge respective to the laboratory accreditation status.An on-line self-report survey was carried out by the Working Group for Preanalytical Phase of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine during April to May 2015. Survey included 14 statements (Q1–Q14) about procedures for samples with interferences and participants were asked to assess the degree of agreement with the statement using a 4-point Likert scale.The lowest level of knowledge was observed for statements Q10 (dealing with icteric sample; 40.9% participants agreed with the correct procedure), Q12 (allowable error for interference; 47.2%) and Q11 (dealing with lipemic sample; 60.1%). Almost all participants (97.4%) agreed that laboratories in Croatia should have a harmonized protocol for management of samples with interferences. Participants from accredited laboratories showed higher knowledge of hemolysis detection (p=0.031), rejection of hemolyzed sample (p<0.001), management of icteric samples (p=0.038) and allowable error for interferences (p=0.040).Croatian laboratories have a good knowledge of the proper detection and management of hemolyzed, icteric and lipemic samples. Accreditation is associated with higher knowledge about management of samples with interferences.
A rapid LC-MS/MS method for determination of urinary EtG and application to a cut-off limit study
Authors: Anilanmert Beril , Özdemir Ali Acar , Aydin Muhammet , Akgül Meral , Cengiz Salih 
Published: October 2015

AbstractEthyl glucuronide (EtG) is a metabolite and a specific marker of alcohol consumption that can be detected days after the complete elimination of alcohol after drinking. A rapid, simple, and sensitive LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the determination of urinary ethyl glucuronide was developed and fully validated in accordance with analytical standards, using the C
Preparation, characterization and ion adsorption properties of functionalized polystyrene modified with 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate and diethylenetriamine
Authors: Dardouri Mokhtar , Amor Abir ben Hadj , Meganem Faouzi 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIn the present work, linear polystyrene (PS) was functionalized by a sulfonation reaction providing sulfonated polystyrene (PSS). Then, the PSS polymer chains were cross-linked with the 1,4- phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI) group in tetrahydrofuran (THF), which led to a PSS-PPDI polymer. The PSS-PPDI was grafted by diethylenetriamine (DETA) in a solution of THF to obtain polymer PSS-PPDI-DETA. Their structures were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), elemental analysis (EA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravemetric (TGA), thermodynamic (DTA) and differential thermogravimetric (DTG) analysis. Subsequently, the obtained polymers were tested for their ability to remove some metal ions from aqueous media such as Zn
Effect of rapid batch decompression on hydrolysate quality after hydrothermal pretreatment of wheat straw
Authors: Krátký Lukáš , Jirout Tomáš 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe subject of this paper was to study the effect of rapid batch decompression on hydrolysate quality and on biogas yield after the hydrothermal pretreatment of wheat straw. An aqueous batch containing 5 mass % total solids of wheat straw was thermally and thermally-expansionary treated in parallel at the process temperature of 170-200°C and the residence time of 0-60 min. An analysis of the thermal and thermal-expansionary hydrolysate provided identical results in the dependences and values of chemical oxygen demand, acidities, and glucose yields of both treatments based on severity factors including the combined effects of temperature and residence time. Increases in the methane content of 33 % for thermally and of 34 % for thermally-expansionary treated wheat straw were reached in comparison to the methane yield from an untreated sample. This means that the polysaccharide cell wall was dissolved because of the high process temperature and residence time. From this it follows that all its nutrients were subsequently washed out of the cell into liquid where they caused changes in its chemical oxygen demand, glucose content, and acidities. There was therefore no rapid decompression effect on the hydrothermally treated wheat straw.
Portable device design for in-vitro muscle
tissue monitoring
Authors: Bouchaala Dhouha , Guermazi Mahdi , Kanoun Olfa , Derbel Nabil 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Experimental investigations
were carried out in order to identify the portable device requirements for
in-vitro muscle tissue monitoring over
time. Based on these investigations,
specifications for the measurement system were defined considering the type
and amplitude of excitation signals (500 mV), frequency
range (1 kHz–10 MHz) and impedance range (10 Ω–4 kΩ). For these
requirements, a portable device structure is proposed
based on the magnitude ratio and phase difference detection using a gain
phase detector. To fulfill the requirements of the gain
phase detector circuit's inputs, an interface circuit is
proposed with an error lower than 0.09% from 2 mV up
to 200 mV.
Increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome in patients with primary aldosteronism of the German Conn's Registry
Authors: Hanslik Gregor , Wallaschofski Henri , Dietz Anna , Riester Anna , Reincke Martin , Allolio Bruno , Lang Katharina , Quack Ivo , Rump Lars C , Willenberg Holger S , Beuschlein Felix , Quinkler Marcus , Hannemann Anke , _ _ 
Published: October 2015

DesignAbnormalities in glucose homeostasis have been described in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) but most studies show inconsistent results. Therefore, we aimed to compare the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in newly diagnosed PA patients to a matched control cohort of the background population.MethodsIn total, 305 PA patients of the prospective German Conn's Registry were compared to the population-based Study of Health In Pomerania (SHIP1;n=2454). A 1:1 match regarding sex, age, and BMI resulted in 269 matched pairs regarding type 2 diabetes and 183 matched pairs regarding MetS. Of the total, 153 PA patients underwent oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) at diagnosis and 38 PA patients were reevaluated at follow-up.ResultsType 2 diabetes and MetS were significantly more frequent in PA patients than in the control population (17.2% vs 10.4%,P=0.03; 56.8% vs 44.8%,P=0.02 respectively). Also, HbA1c levels were higher in PA patients than in controls (P<0.01). Of the total, 35.3% of non-diabetic PA patients showed an abnormal OGTT (¼ newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and ¾ impaired glucose tolerance). PA patients with an abnormal OGTT at baseline presented with significantly improved 2 h OGTT glucose (P=0.01) at follow-up. We detected a negative correlation between 2 h OGTT glucose levels and serum potassium (P<0.01).ConclusionsType 2 diabetes and MetS are more prevalent in patients with PA than in controls matched for sex, age, BMI, and blood pressure. This may explain in part the increased cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in PA patients.
Beihilfenrechtliche Probleme des EG-Emissionsrechtehandels
Authors: Koenig Christian , Braun Daniel , Pfromm Rene 
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung
Das sich derzeit im Rechtsetzungsverfahren befindliche System eines EG-Emissionsrechtehandels gilt als Grundpfeiler einer kosteneffektiven Umsetzung der Kyoto-Verpflichtung. N ach dem Gemeinsamen Standpunkt des Rates vom 18. März 2003 werden die Emissionsrechte in einem gestaffelten Verfahren vergeben. Sollte dieser Kompromiss - wie erwartet - vom Europäischen Parlament bestätigt werden, erfolgt die Allokation von Emissionsrechten bis zum Jahre 2007 unentgeltlich. Ab dem Jahre 2008 sollen maximal 10 % der Emissionsrechte von den Mitgliedstaaten entgeltlich vergeben werden können. Der Gemeinsame Standpunkt des Rates über ein System für den Handel mit Treibhausgasemissionsberechtigungen in der EG (GS) sieht dabei vor, dass die Zuteilung und die Vergabe im Einklang mit dem EG-Vertrag und insbesondere den beihilfen-rechtlichen Vorschriften der Art. 87, 88 EG stehen müssen (Art. 11 Abs. 3 GS). Da mit einer Verabschiedung der Richtlinie bis Ende des laufenden Jahres zu rechnen ist, haben in den Mitgliedstaaten die Überlegungen hinsichtlich der Erstellung der nationalen Allokationspläne bereits begonnen. Welchen beihilfen-rechtlichen Anforderungen des EG-Vertrages die Mitgliedstaaten und die Kommission bei der Aufstellung bzw. Genehmigung der nationalen Allokationspläne genügen müssen, ist Gegenstand des folgenden Beitrags. Als Beispiel dient dabei die Allokation von Berechtigungen an ein Braunkohlekraftwerk.
Vergaberechtlicher Rechtsschutz unterhalb der Schwellenwerte
Authors: Broß Siegfried 
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung
Die Problematik des Rechtsschutzes bei der Vergabe öffentlicher Aufträge wird regelmäßig mit der Frage nach dem Erreichen der Schwellenwerte des § 100 Abs. 1 GWB verbunden. Der folgende Beitrag widmet sich dem Rechtsschutz in Fällen, in denen diese Schwellenwerte nicht erreicht werden. Dabei steht insbesondere der Primärrechtsschutz im Vordergrund.
Wettbewerb in der Telekommunikation: Brauchen wir die ex-ante-Regulierung noch?
Authors: Klotz Robert 
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung
Am 25. Juli 2003 ist die Umsetzungsfrist für die neuen EG-Richtlinien im Bereich der elektronischen Kommunikation abgelaufen . Die Regulierung der Telekommunikationsmärkte folgt nunmehr kartellrechtlichen Kriterien. Daher stellt sich verstärkt die Frage nach dem Verhältnis zwischen Regulierung und Kartellrecht in diesem Sektor. Vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen Debatte über den , richtigen Weg" zu dauerhaftem Wettbewerb zeigt der Beitrag die neuen Regulierungsvorgaben für die Schaffung und Erhaltung von Wettbewerb in der Telekommunikation auf und beleuchtet anhand von aktuellen Beispielen aus der Fallpraxis die Effizienz des allgemeinen Kartellrechts und der sektorspezifischen Regulierung. Anhand eines Vergleiches beider Regelungsbereiche wird dargelegt, dass ein zu früh vollzogener Übergang von der sektorspezifischen Regulierung zum allgemeinen Wettbewerbsrecht sowohl für die neuen Marktteilnehmer als auch für die regulierten Unternehmen beträchtliche Risiken birgt. Vielmehr pladiert der Verfasser im Interesse eines dauerhaften Wettbewerbs für die strikt e und vor allem konsistente Anwendung von Regulierung und Kartellrecht.
Erfüllen Kartellabsprachen den Tatbestand des Betrugs?
Authors: Lange Knut Werner 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Since the BGH passed the two “Rheinausbau”-Decisions, price-fixing agreements within award procedures which run counter to antitrust law may from his 2nd penal senate's point of view complete the corpus delicti of fraud. By two decisions of the y ears 2000 and 2001, also the 1st penal senate came to this opinion, since he again confirmed and at the same time facilitated the sanction of antitrust agreements by penal law. This adjudication deserves attention in particular with respect to the determination of the financial loss. According to this adjudication the financial/ass of price-fixing agreements contrary to antitrust law does also contain the surcharges resulting from the agreement. From the orderer’s point of view the attainable price for the placed order would have been the attained price less the surcharges resulting from the agreements. Payments of bribes and adjustment payments to the companies participating at the trust or option money to the outside brokers are deemend by the BGH as almost compulsive signs of evidence for the fact that the price attainable without the price-fixing agreement would have been lower than the actual agreed price. According to this the judge may assume a financial/ass at least up to the amount of the bribes and the adjustment payments. The critical analysis of the decision shows that the BGH is led in particular concerning the determination of the financial/ass by assumptions which can not convince both legally and economically.
Triage of Intermediate-Care Patients in Pediatric Hospitals
Authors: Russ Christiana M. , Agus Michael 
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND:
Hospitalized children have a wide range of acuity and risk of decompensation. The objective of this study was to determine where pediatric patients are triaged when they present to pediatric hospitals needing intense monitoring and nursing care, but do not require invasive monitoring or technology.

METHODS:
We completed a telephone survey of pediatric hospitals in the United States with at least 2 non-neonatal pediatric wards and at least 50 acute inpatient beds. The survey consisted of a brief scripted portrayal of 6 hypothetical patients who may be admitted to a hospital's general floor, ICU, or an intermediate care unit (IMCU). The scenarios included severe asthma, bronchiolitis, croup, diabetic ketoacidosis, and patients dependent on home ventilation via noninvasive interface or tracheostomy. The hospital bed coordinator or emergency department charge nurse was asked where each hypothetical patient would be admitted in their hospital.

RESULTS:
A total192 hospitals met inclusion criteria and 164 hospitals (85%) responded. For all of the scenarios, most of the institutions triaged them to the PICU. Twenty-eight (17%) of the responding institutions triaged at least 1 of the patient scenarios to an IMCU. The presence of an IMCU decreased triage to the ICU for all scenarios when comparing hospitals with and without an IMCU (P &lt; .001).

CONCLUSIONS:
Inpatient triage practices among pediatric hospitals vary widely for patients who require intense nursing or frequent monitoring due to specific acute illnesses or respiratory technologies. Institutions that have an IMCU available are less likely to send these patients to the ICU.