bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methods to Maximize Retention in Weight Loss Studies
Authors: Greenway Frank L. , Bray George A. , Marlin Robert L. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractGREENWAY, FRANK L., GEORGE A. BRAY, AND ROBERT L. MARLIN. Methods to maximize retention in weight loss studies. Obes Res.Objective: Dropouts from clinical trials decrease quality and increase costs. Free participation, paid participation, and contingency contracting are three study retention methods. Contingency contracting, or depositing a fee to be refunded contingent upon attendance in a clinical trial, has been reported to decrease dropouts without affecting weight loss. These three methods of retention were compared with a commercial weight loss clinic's practice of charging non‐refundable fees.Methods and Procedures: Dropouts were compared in two studies testing mazindol, with one study using free care and the other using contingency contracting; two studies testing phenylpropanolamine, one using free care and the other using contingency contracting; and in studies with phenylpropanolamine on file with Thompson Medical Company using free care, paid participation, and contingency contracting.Results: The dropout rate was 50% at 8 weeks in a trial of mazindol with free care vs. 7% for contingency contracting (p <0. 001). The two phenylpropanolamine studies gave the same weight losses, but the dropouts were 37% at 8 weeks for free care vs. 11 % for contingency contracting (p<0. 001). The studies of phenylpropanolamine on file at the Thompson Medical Company had 28% dropouts at 8 weeks using free care vs. 19% for paid participation (p<0. 001), and 11% for contingency contracting (p<0.005). Dropouts with contingency contracting (11%) were not different from the commercial weight loss program (13%).Discussion: Contingency contracting can decrease dropouts, improve quality, and decrease costs without affecting weight loss in clinical trials for obesity.
Clinical and histologic predictors of voice and disease outcome in patients with early glottic cancer
Authors: Chang Joseph , Fang Tuan‐Jen , Yung Katherine , van Zante Annemieke , Miller Theodore , Al‐Jurf Soha , Schneider Sarah , Courey Mark 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:To determine preliminarily if clinical or histological features of patients with laryngeal dysplasia/early carcinoma correlate with voice and disease outcomes.Study Design:Retrospective case series.Methods:All UCSF Voice Center patients treated with endoscopic surgery for severe dysplasia or early laryngeal cancer between 2004 and 2010 were identified. Preoperative stroboscopy, intraoperative appearance, and histologic characteristics (pattern of invasion, degree of inflammation, and degree of keratinization) of the neoplastic lesions were compared with cordectomy type and the outcomes of voice quality and disease‐free interval.Results:Eighteen patients were evaluated. Increased stromal chronic inflammation correlated with longer disease‐free interval (r(2) = 0.38). Cordectomy type correlated with both preoperative and postoperative voice parameters (r(2) = 0.42–0.68 and 0.33–0.39).Conclusion:Increased stromal chronic inflammation correlates with improved disease outcome. Voice outcome correlates with the amount of tissue removed. The clinical appearance of the lesion did not correlate with disease or voice outcome.
Autophagy in clear cell ovarian cancer, a potential marker for hypoxia and poor prognosis?#
Authors: Gibson Spencer B 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAutophagy contributes to cell survival and is up‐regulated under hypoxia in many different cancers. Ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis and is generally resistant to chemotherapy. Through genetic profiling, it has becoming evident that ovarian cancer has distinct subtypes but the significance of these subtypes in ovarian cancer remains unclear. In this issue, Dr Lum and colleagues have presented evidence that autophagy as measured by LC3A staining occurs in a clear cell ovarian cancer that is correlated with hypoxic regions and poor overall survival. In addition, autophagy under hypoxia appears to be higher in clear cell ovarian cancer cells compared to other subtypes. This indicates that autophagy could be a factor in drug resistance and poor survival in clear cell ovarian cancer patients. This insight could lead to a better understanding of the role of autophagy under hypoxia in human ovarian cancer and could be a valuable biomarker for the development of better therapies for clear cell ovarian cancers. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Localized thermal analysis of carbon fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites
Authors: Yılmaz Hüseyin , Imai Yusuke , Nagata Kenji , Sato Kimiyasu , Hotta Yuji 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe effect of carbon fiber (CF) and annealing temperature on polypropylene (PP) microstructure was studied. The crystalline state of polymer matrix was found to be a strong function of thermal history. The effect of annealing temperature on the microstructure evolution of PP in the presence of CFs was characterized by using X‐ray diffraction, DSC and localized thermal analysis. The melting behavior of CF‐reinforced PP composite was strongly dominated by the thermal history and was weakly influenced by the presence of CFs. The interface between a CF and PP matrix was found to be weak. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Guidelines for Perioperative Care for Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society Recommendations
Authors: Lassen Kristoffer , Coolsen Marielle M. E. , Slim Karem , Carli Francesco , de Aguilar‐Nascimento José E. , Schäfer Markus , Parks Rowan W. , Fearon Kenneth C. H. , Lobo Dileep N. , Demartines Nicolas , Braga Marco , Ljungqvist Olle , Dejong Cornelis H. C. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundProtocols for enhanced recovery provide comprehensive and evidence‐based guidelines for best perioperative care. Protocol implementation may reduce complication rates and enhance functional recovery and, as a result of this, also reduce length‐of‐stay in hospital. There is no comprehensive framework available for pancreaticoduodenectomy.MethodsAn international working group constructed within the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society constructed a comprehensive and evidence‐based framework for best perioperative care for pancreaticoduodenectomy patients. Data were retrieved from standard databases and personal archives. Evidence and recommendations were classified according to the GRADE system and reached through consensus in the group. The quality of evidence was rated “high”, “moderate”, “low” or “very low”. Recommendations were graded as “strong” or “weak”.ResultsComprehensive guidelines are presented. Available evidence is summarised and recommendations given for 27 care items. The quality of evidence varies substantially and further research is needed for many issues to improve the strength of evidence and grade of recommendations.ConclusionsThe present evidence‐based guidelines provide the necessary platform upon which to base a unified protocol for perioperative care for pancreaticoduodenectomy. A unified protocol allows for comparison between centres and across national borders. It facilitates multi‐institutional prospective cohort registries and adequately powered randomised trials.
Gene network-based cancer prognosis analysis with sparse boosting
Authors: MA SHUANGGE , HUANG YUAN , HUANG JIAN , FANG KUANGNAN 
Published: September 2012

SummaryHigh-throughput gene profiling studies have been extensively conducted, searching for markers associated with cancer development and progression. In this study, we analyse cancer prognosis studies with right censored survival responses. With gene expression data, we adopt the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to describe the interplay among genes. In network analysis, nodes represent genes. There are subsets of nodes, called modules, which are tightly connected to each other. Genes within the same modules tend to have co-regulated biological functions. For cancer prognosis data with gene expression measurements, our goal is to identify cancer markers, while properly accounting for the network module structure. A two-step sparse boosting approach, called Network Sparse Boosting (NSBoost), is proposed for marker selection. In the first step, for each module separately, we use a sparse boosting approach for within-module marker selection and construct module-level ‘super markers’. In the second step, we use the super markers to represent the effects of all genes within the same modules and conduct module-level selection using a sparse boosting approach. Simulation study shows that NSBoost can more accurately identify cancer-associated genes and modules than alternatives. In the analysis of breast cancer and lymphoma prognosis studies, NSBoost identifies genes with important biological implications. It outperforms alternatives including the boosting and penalization approaches by identifying a smaller number of genes/modules and/or having better prediction performance.
An analysis of North Saami gradation
Authors: Bals Baal Berit Anne , Odden David , Rice Curt 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis paper gives a moraic analysis of gemination and laryngeal alternations associated with consonant gradation in North Saami. Gradation gives rise to a surface three-way length distinction in consonants, which is essential to understanding length in vowels and diphthongs. It is explained by a system of prosodic rules applying to underlying representations containing only a two-way contrast between geminate and singleton consonants, plus a floating mora present in certain suffixes, which results in surface alternations between extra-long and long or between long and short consonants. An enlightening explanation of quantity alternations is available if one exploits the possibility implicit in moraic theory that the relationship between segments and moras can be surface-contrastive, and we show that recourse to trimoraic syllables is unnecessary, despite the surface three-way length difference. These prosodic alternations also result in shifts in the timing of preaspiration and preglottalisation, as well as loss of these laryngeal specifications.
The impact of models of a physical oracle on computational power
Authors: BEGGS EDWIN J. , COSTA JOSÉ FÉLIX , TUCKER JOHN V. 
Published: September 2012

Using physical experiments as oracles for algorithms, we can characterise the computational power of classes of physical systems. Here we show that two different physical models of the apparatus for a single experiment can have different computational power. The experiment is thescatter machine experiment(SME), which was first presented in Beggs and Tucker (2007b). Our first physical model contained a wedge with a sharp vertex that made the experiment non-deterministic with constant runtime. We showed that Turing machines with polynomial time and an oracle based on a sharp wedge computed the non-uniform complexity classP/poly. Here we reconsider the experiment with a refined physical model where the sharp vertex of the wedge is replaced byanysuitable smooth curve with vertex at the same point. These smooth models of the experimental apparatus are deterministic. We show thatno matter what shape is chosen for the apparatus:(i)the time of detection of the scattered particles increases at least exponentially with the size of the query; and(ii)Turing machines with polynomial time and an oracle based on a smooth wedge compute the non-uniform complexity classP/log* ⫋P/poly.We discuss evidence that many experiments that measure quantities have exponential runtimes and a computational power ofP/log*.
The financial impact of Spanish pension reform: A quick estimate
Authors: DE LA FUENTE ANGEL , DOMÉNECH RAFAEL 
Published: September 2012

AbstractIn this paper, we present a preliminary estimate of the financial impact of the recent reform of the Spanish pension system. After updating the projections of pension expenditure constructed in de la Fuente and Doménech (2010) for the period 2008–2060, we analyze the impact on this variable of raising the retirement age from 65 to 67 years, extending from 15 to 25 years the period over which wages are averaged to calculate the starting pension and increasing from 35 to 37 the number of contribution years required to obtain a ‘full pension.’ Conditional on a series of assumptions about the evolution of employment, productivity and demographics, our estimates suggest that these measures will reduce pension expenditure by up to 1.4 percentage points of GDP once the reforms have been fully implemented in 2027, thereby stabilizing pension expenditure at a bit over 9% of GDP during the transition period and preventing the emergence of a structural deficit in the system before the end of the next decade. On the other hand, the existing uncertainty about the future evolution of the relevant variables suggests that it would be desirable to bring forward in time the introduction of the periodic evaluation of the system (the so-called sustainability factor) so as to have in place a mechanism that can be used to modulate the rhythm and scope of the reform if the system's financial situation requires it before the end of the transitional period.
Zur Lebenszeitprävalenz Affektiver Störungen im Jugendalter
Authors: Petermann Franz , Jaščenoka Julia , Koglin Ute , Karpinski Norbert , Petermann Ulrike , Kullik Angelika 
Published: September 2012

Schon vor einigen Jahren konnte die Bremer Jugendstudie zeigen, dass Affektive Störungen im Jugendalter ein häufiges psychisches Störungsbild darstellen ( Essau, Karpinski, Petermann & Conradt, 1998 ). Aktuell fehlen Studien, die den kategorialen Ansatz zur Messung psychischer Störungen heranziehen und aktuelle Daten für die Verbreitung Affektiver Störungen bei Jugendlichen liefern. Die vorliegende Studie führte mit 333 Jugendlichen zwischen 12 und 17 Jahren vollstandardisierte, klinische Interviews zur Messung von Lebenszeitprävalenzen psychischer Störungen in der Stadt Bremen durch und erhob darüber hinaus mithilfe eines Fragebogenkatalogs umfassende Angaben zum psychischen Funktionsniveau der Jugendlichen. Die ersten Ergebnisse zeigen, dass insgesamt 14.4 % der Jugendlichen von Affektiven Störungen betroffen waren (7.5 % Major Depression, 5.4 % Dysthyme Störung, 1.5 % Bipolare und Hypomane Störungen). Diese Ergebnisse entsprechen Prävalenzschätzungen früherer Studien und betonen die Notwendigkeit einer frühzeitigen Prävention und Behandlung.
Observations of isoprene, methacrolein (MAC) and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) at a mountain site in Hong Kong
Authors: Guo H. , Ling Z. H. , Simpson I. J. , Blake D. R. , Wang D. W. 
Published: September 2012

A field campaign was carried out in September–November 2010 near the summit of Mt. Tai Mo Shan in Hong Kong. Isoprene, methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and methacrolein (MAC) were measured. The average isoprene mixing ratio was 109 pptv, and the average MAC and MVK levels were 68 pptv and 164 pptv, respectively. The average daytime levels of isoprene (149 ± 20 pptv, average ± 95% confidence interval, p < 0.01), MAC (70 ± 9 pptv, p < 0.01) and MVK (169 ± 22 pptv, p < 0.1) were significantly higher than the average nighttime values (20 ± 5 pptv, 49 ± 8 pptv and 139 ± 25 pptv, respectively). The relationship between MVK and MAC indicated that nearby isoprene oxidation dominated their daytime abundances, while NO3 chemistry and regional transport of anthropogenic sources from inland Pearl River Delta region could explain the higher MVK to MAC ratios at night. Correlation analysis of [MVK]/[isoprene] versus [MAC]/[isoprene] found that the isoprene photochemical ages were between 10 and 64 min. Regression analysis of total O3 (O3 + NO2) versus MVK resulted in an estimated contribution of isoprene oxidation to ozone production of 12.5%, consistent with the simulated contribution of 10‐11% by an observation‐based model.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT IN POST-COMMUNIST ECONOMIES
Authors: Karpinska Kasia , Maas Ineke , Jansen Wim 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT
According to the market transition theory the economic success of individuals in post-communist countries is affected by both individual characteristics and structural contexts. We investigate this claim using data on self-employment in four post-communist countries (Bulgaria, Russia, Estonia and Hungary) in 1996 and 2005. We find support for a relationship between context-characteristics and self-employment; especially countries with lower levels of corruption show higher odds of self-employment. Unexpectedly, as the transformation process proceeded, human capital did not become a more important predictor for self-employment.
Rainbow: an integrated tool for efficient clustering and assembling RAD-seq reads
Authors: Chong Zechen , Ruan Jue , Wu Chung-I. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Motivation: The innovation of restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) method takes full advantage of next-generation sequencing technology. By clustering paired-end short reads into groups with their own unique tags, RAD-seq assembly problem is divided into subproblems. Fast and accurately clustering and assembling millions of RAD-seq reads with sequencing errors, different levels of heterozygosity and repetitive sequences is a challenging question.
Results: Rainbow is developed to provide an ultra-fast and memory-efficient solution to clustering and assembling short reads produced by RAD-seq. First, Rainbow clusters reads using a spaced seed method. Then, Rainbow implements a heterozygote calling like strategy to divide potential groups into haplotypes in a top–down manner. And along a guided tree, it iteratively merges sibling leaves in a bottom–up manner if they are similar enough. Here, the similarity is defined by comparing the 2nd reads of a RAD segment. This approach tries to collapse heterozygote while discriminate repetitive sequences. At last, Rainbow uses a greedy algorithm to locally assemble merged reads into contigs. Rainbow not only outputs the optimal but also suboptimal assembly results. Based on simulation and a real guppy RAD-seq data, we show that Rainbow is more competent than the other tools in dealing with RAD-seq data.
Availability: Source code in C, Rainbow is freely available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/bio-rainbow/files/
Contact: ruanjue@gmail.com
First Report of Fire Blight Disease Caused by Erwinia amylovora on Rockspray (Cotoneaster horizontalis) in Turkey
Authors: Bastas K. K. , Sahin F. 
Published: September 2012

In the late summer and early winter of 2008 and 2009, leaf and shoot blight and cankers with reddish and brownish necrotic tissue on mature branches of Cotoneaster horizontalis were investigated in landscape areas of Konya province in Turkey. Disease incidence was estimated at 2%. Bacteria were consistently isolated from the lesions on leaves and shoots on nutrient sucrose agar medium. Twelve representative bacterial strains were isolated and characterized as gram-negative, rod-shaped, mucoid, fermentative, yellow-orange on MS medium, positive for levan formation and acetoin production, no growth at 36°C, positive for gelatin hydrolysis, and negative for indole, urease, oxidase, arginine dehydrolase, reduction of nitrate, and acid production from lactose and inositol (2). Two reference strains of Erwinia amylovora (EaP28 and NCPPB 2791) obtained from the culture collection unit of Selcuk University were used as positive controls. All strains induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum cv. White Burley). All strains were identified as E. amylovora on the basis of amplification of a 1 kb DNA fragment with a species-specific primer set, A/B (1) by PCR, and fatty acid methyl ester profiles determined by Sherlock Microbial Identification System software (TSBA 6 v. 6.00; Microbial ID, Newark, DE) with similarity indices ranging from of 83 to 96%. Pathogenicity tests were performed by injecting 20 μl of a bacterial suspension (108 CFU ml–1) into the shoot tips of 3-year-old C. horizontalis seedlings. Leaf and shoot blighting symptoms were observed within 10 to 15 days, but no symptoms were observed on control plants treated with sterile water. The bacterium was reisolated from the lesions on leaves and shoots and identified as described above. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. amylovora on cotoneaster in Turkey. Control measures are needed to prevent any further spread of the bacterium to new landscape areas. References: (1) S. Bereswill et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:3522, 1992. (2) A. L. Jones and K. Geider. Page 40 in: Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathological Bacteria, 2001.
Design and fabrication of a thin and soft tactile force sensor array based on conductive rubber
Authors: Zhang Xuefeng , Zhao Yulong , Zhang Xuelei 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a thin tactile force sensor array based on conductive rubber and to offer descriptions of the sensor design, fabrication and test.Design/methodology/approachThe sensor array consists of a sandwich structure. Sensing elements are distributed discretely in the sensor. Each sensing element has two electrodes and a piece of conductive rubber with piezoresistive property. The electrodes, as well as the conductive trace for signal transmission, are printed on the substrate layer by the screen printing technique. A scanning circuit based on zero potential method and an experimental set‐up based on balance to characterize the sensor array are designed and implemented in the test of the sensor array.FindingsExperimental results verify the validity of the sensor array in measuring the vertical tactile force between the sensing elements and the object.Research limitations/implicationsIn this paper, all the sensors are tested without calibration procedures and the procedure of the dynamic test is implemented by manual operation.Practical implicationsThe sensor array could be applied to measure the plantar force for gait detection in clinical applications.Originality/valueThe paper presents a tactile force sensor array with discrete sensing elements to essentially restrict the cross‐talk among sensing elements. This paper will provide many practical details that can help others in the field.
Applying metamodeling techniques in the design and optimization of train wheel detector
Authors: Zamani Ali , Mirabadi Ahmad , Schmid Felix 
Published: September 2012

PurposeIn writing this paper, the authors investigated the use of electromagnetic sensors in axle counter applications by means of train wheel detection. The purpose of this paper is to improve the detection capability of train wheel detectors, by installing them in the optimal orientation and position, using finite element modeling (FEM) in combination with metamodeling techniques. The authors compare three common metamodeling techniques for the special case of wheel detector orientation: response surface methodology; multivariate adaptive regression splines; and kriging.Design/methodology/approachAfter analyzing the effective parameters of a train wheel detector, an appropriate method for decreasing the system susceptibility to electromagnetic noises is presented.FindingsThe results were validated using a laboratory‐based system and also the results of field tests carried out on the Iranian railway network. The results of the study suggest that the FEM method and a metamodeling technique can reduce the computational efforts and processing time.Originality/valueIn this paper, combination of FEM and metamodeling approaches are used to optimize the railway axle counter coils orientation, which is more insusceptible to electromagnetic noise than initial arrangement used by some signallers.