bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Large testicular adrenal rest tumours in a patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Authors: Rajkanna J , Oyibo S O 
Published: February 2015

Summary
Testicular adrenal rest tumours (TARTs) are benign ACTH-dependent tumours that occur in males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and if left untreated can destroy testicular tissue. Corticosteroid suppressive treatment could result in the regression of these testicular tumours. We present a patient with bilateral large TARTs as a consequence of poor compliance to treatment and follow-up for his CAH, who consequently had to have bilateral orchidectomies and prosthesis replacement.

Learning points

TARTs are frequently seen in males with CAH, and can be misdiagnosed as primary testicular cancer.

Patient compliance to treatment and follow-up are necessary to reduce the risk of testicular damage as a result of TARTs in patients with CAH.

Boys with CAH should have periodic ultrasonographic screening from before adolescent age for early detection of TARTs.

Regular monitoring of renin, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and androgens levels is required to assess corticosteroid suppressive treatment.

Patients with CAH should be offered psychological support and information concerning CAH support groups.
Functional parathyroid cyst in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report
Authors: Jiang Jingjing , Zhang Mei , He Ronghua , Shen Meiping , Liu Wei 
Published: February 2015

Summary
Functional parathyroid cysts are a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism and are often mistaken for thyroid cysts. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is also a very rare cause of hypercalcemia. We report the case of a 62-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with SLE 30 years ago, presenting with clinical and biochemical features of primary hyperparathyroidism. Laboratory investigation revealed increased serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels; neck ultrasonography (USG) revealed 40×34×26 mm cystic mass in the left lobe of thyroid gland. PTH level in the cysts was >2500 pg/ml, determined by USG-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA). In this case, no evidence for potential pathogenic association between parathyroid cyst and SLE was uncovered. However, the recognition of this association is very important because the therapeutical strategy is completely different. Operative management is usually straightforward and alleviates symptoms and any biochemical abnormalities caused by the cyst.

Learning points

Functional parathyroid cysts are the rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism and are often mistaken for thyroid cysts.

SLE is also a very rare cause of hypercalcemia.

Ultrasound-guided FNA of cystic fluid with assay for PTH level is an accurate method of differentiating parathyroid cyst from thyroid cyst.

Appropriate management of functional parathyroid cysts is surgical excision.
Partial deficiency of 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase caused by a novel missense mutation in the canonical cytochrome heme-interacting motif
Authors: Rubtsov Petr , Nizhnik Alexander , Dedov Ivan , Kalinchenko Natalia , Petrov Vasily , Orekhova Anna , Spirin Pavel , Prassolov Vladimir , Tiulpakov Anatoly 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundDeficiency of 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase is a rare cause of 46,XY disordered sex development.ObjectiveWe characterize in vitro and in vivo effects of two novel CYP17A1 gene mutations identified in a patient with a mild phenotype of CYP17A1 deficiency.Subjects and methodsA 46,XY patient presented with ambiguous genitalia. CYP17A1 deficiency was suspected at 2 months on the basis of steroid analysis performed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Mutational analysis of the CYP17A1 gene was performed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. To characterize the effect of CYP17A1 mutation on 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities in vitro, HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with CYP17A1 expression plasmids, incubated with progesterone or 17-OH-pregnenolone and concentrations of 17-OH-progesterone or DHEA were then measured in the cell culture medium by LC–MS/MS.ResultsClinical and hormonal findings in the patient were consistent with partial combined deficiency of 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase. The sequencing of the CYP17A1 gene in the patient revealed compound heterozygosity for two novel mutations: c.107delT p.R36fsX107 and p.W121R. After 6-h in vitro culture of transfected HEK293 cells in the presence of 1 μM progesterone, 17α-hydroxylase activity of p.W121R mutant was 60.5±16.3%, while 17,20-lyase activity of mutant measured from the amount of DHEA produced in the presence of 1 μM of 17-OH-pregnenolone was 15.8±2.6% compared with the WT.Conclusionsp.W121R substitution, affecting the first residue in the conserved heme-interacting WXXXR motif of CYP17A1, is associated with partial combined deficiency of 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase.
MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Cushing's syndrome causes irreversible effects on the human brain: a systematic review of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies
Authors: Andela Cornelie D , van Haalen Femke M , Ragnarsson Oskar , Papakokkinou Eleni , Johannsson Gudmundur , Santos Alicia , Webb Susan M , Biermasz Nienke R , van der Wee Nic J A , Pereira Alberto M 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundCushing's syndrome (CS) is characterized by excessive exposure to cortisol, and is associated with both metabolic and behavioral abnormalities. Symptoms improve substantially after biochemical cure, but may persist during long-term remission. The causes for persistent morbidity are probably multi-factorial, including a profound effect of cortisol excess on the brain, a major target area for glucocorticoids.ObjectiveTo review publications evaluating brain characteristics in patients with CS using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsSystematic review of literature published in PubMed, Embase, Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane databases.ResultsNineteen studies using MRI in patients with CS were selected, including studies in patients with active disease, patients in long-term remission, and longitudinal studies, covering a total of 339 unique patients. Patients with active disease showed smaller hippocampal volumes, enlarged ventricles, and cerebral atrophy as well as alterations in neurochemical concentrations and functional activity. After abrogation of cortisol excess, the reversibility of structural and neurochemical alterations was incomplete after long-term remission. MRI findings were related to clinical characteristics (i.e., cortisol levels, duration of exposure to hypercortisolism, current age, age at diagnosis, and triglyceride levels) and behavioral outcome (i.e., cognitive and emotional functioning, mood, and quality of life).ConclusionPatients with active CS demonstrate brain abnormalities, which only partly recover after biochemical cure, because these still occur even after long-term remission. CS might be considered as a human model of nature that provides a keyhole perspective of the neurotoxic effects of exogenous glucocorticoids on the brain.
Reactive Molecular Dynamics Study of Oxidation of Aggregated Aluminum Nanoparticles
Authors: Li Ying , Kalia Rajiv K. , Nakano Aiichiro , Vashishta Priya 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTOxidation behavior of aggregated aluminum nanoparticles (Al-NPs), specifically the combustion propagation, is studied, when only part of the aggregated Al-NPs is heated to 1100 K and the rest of the system is kept at 300 K. Here, multi-million atoms molecular dynamics (MD) simulation reveals the sintering/coalescence phenomena for the different diameters (D = 26, 36 and 46 nm) aggregated systems. Various consuming rates of core aluminum are investigated for different layers and different diameters aggregated systems. The formation of Al2O3 fragments outside the shell (the largest covalently bonded aluminum-oxide cluster) structure is confirmed from AlO and AlO2 intermediates. The smaller size of Al-NPs results in faster trend of transition from Al-rich to O-rich for most outside small clusters. However, more core aluminum reacts with shell oxygen leads to faster decreasing of the ratio of O/Al in the shell fragment for larger Al-NPs system.
Polymer-derived Ceramics as Innovative Oxidation Barrier Coatings for Mo-Si-B Alloys
Authors: Krüger Manja , Hasemann Georg , Baumann Torben , Dieck Sebastian , Rannabauer Stefan 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTThree phase Mo-Mo3Si-Mo5SiB2alloys possess excellent mechanical properties over a wide temperature range. The Mo solid solution phase is needed for balanced mechanical properties at room temperature. However, this phase suffers from catastrophic oxidation behavior at high temperatures caused by the formation and evaporation of MoO3. The oxidation resistance of three phase alloys benefits from a high volume fraction of intermetallic phases. In particular Mo5SiB2leads to the formation of a borosilicate protective glassy layer on the material’s surface while exposed to air at elevated temperatures. Hence, it is unlikely to identify alloy compositions that will yield both optimum mechanical and oxidation performance.Different coating systems and techniques, such as pack cementation, magnetron sputtering and plasma spraying are discussed in the literature to control the oxidation properties of Mo-based alloys. A different approach is to apply coating systems based on polymer derived ceramics (PDCs). Our present work introduces PDCs as a new type of promising and innovative oxidation-protective coatings for high temperature Mo-based alloys. After dip-coating with perhydropolysilazane (PHPS) and pyrolysis at 800 °C, dense and well-adhered SiNO ceramic layers could be achieved. These were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Cyclic oxidation tests at 800 °C and 1100 °C were performed to investigate mass changes due to the thermal treatment. Indeed, even thin pyrolyzed PHPS layers with a thickness of around 70 nm to 175 nm protected the Mo-Si-B substrate during the initial stage of oxidation. By increasing the silicon oxide concentration at the material’s surface a first oxidation barrier was provided and thus, the strong initial mass loss could be decreased as compared to uncoated alloys. Furthermore, first results of the ongoing optimization process on PDC-coatings applied to Mo-Si-B alloys will be presented, involving the enhancement of the coating´s thickness or varying pyrolysis atmospheres.
Irradiation-induced ordering in Pt-Cu alloy focusing on Pt7Cu
Authors: Nagase T. , Seno Y. , Yasuda H. , Mori H. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTThe existence of Pt7Cu ordering phase (intermetallic compound) was investigated by ab initio calculations and high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM) focusing on irradiation-induced ordering. The Pt7Cu ordering phase (cF32, prototype Ca7Ge) was predicted at 0 K through density functional theory (DFT), and using cluster expansion (CE) method and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation, the ordering temperature of fcc-based Pt7Cu ordering phase was estimated to be above room temperature. The formation of Pt7Cu ordering phase was confirmed by a short-time irradiation for 3.6×103 s at 600 K. MeV electron irradiation can reduce drastically the annealing time for the ordering in the Pt-Cu alloy system, indicating that the combination of the prediction by ab initio calculations and HVEM can offer the unique opportunity to investigate the existence of ordering phase in alloys.
In situ synchrotron radiation measurements of orthorhombic phase formation in an advanced TiAl alloy with modulated microstructure
Authors: Rackel M. , Stark A. , Gabrisch H. , Schimansky F.-P. , Schell N. , Schreyer A. , Pyczak F. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTNew low aluminium high niobium TiAl alloys exhibit a nano scale modulated microstructure consisting of lamellae with a tweed substructure. These tweed like appearing lamellae are a modulated arrangement of at least two phases. One constituent of the crystallographic modulation in the lamellae is an orthorhombic phase, which is closely related to both the hexagonal α2-Ti3Al phase and the cubic B2 ordered βo-TiAl phase.In this study the nature and formation of this orthorhombic phase has been investigated by high-energy X-ray diffraction.Measurements have shown that the newly formed orthorhombic phase is structurally comparable to the O phase (Ti2AlNb). It forms in the temperature range of 550 °C to 670 °C from the α2 phase by small atomic displacements and chemical reordering. The in situ experiments yielded information about the thermal stability of the orthorhombic phase. After dissolving at temperatures above 700 °C the phase can be re-precipitated by annealing within the temperature range of formation.
Effect of the Microstructure on the Fatigue Strength of a TiAl Intermetallic Alloy Produced by Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Filippini M. , Beretta S. , Içöz C. , Patriarca L. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTIn this work we examine a Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy obtained with an additive manufacturing technique by Electron Beam Melting (EBM) by conducting monotonic and cyclic loading experiments both on tension and compression samples for investigating the influence of the microstructure in strain accumulation process by fatigue loading. The residual strain maps corresponding to different applied stress levels, number of cycles and microstructures are obtained through the use of high-resolution Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The strain maps were overlaid with the images of the microstructure and detailed analyses were performed to investigate the features of the microstructure where high local strain heterogeneities arise. Such experiments, conducted ex-situ at room temperature, allow to characterize the effect of different microstructures on the strain accumulation process, and to clearly identify the role of the microstructural features of this TiAl intermetallic alloy on the fatigue initiation process.
Artificial Physical and Chemical Awareness (Proprioception) from Polymeric Motors
Authors: Otero T.F. , Martínez J.G. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTDesigners and engineers have been dreaming for decades with motors sensing, by themselves, working and surrounding conditions, as biological muscles do originating proprioception. The evolution of the working potential, or that of the consumed electrical energy, of electrochemical artificial muscles based on electroactive materials (intrinsically conducting polymers, redox polymers, carbon nanotubes, fullerene derivatives, grapheme derivatives, porphyrines, phtalocyanines, among others) and driven by constant currents senses, while working, any variation of the mechanical (trailed mass, obstacles, pressure, strain or stress) thermal or chemical conditions. They are linear faradaic polymeric motors: applied currents control movement rates and applied charges control displacements. One physically uniform artificial muscle includes one motor and several sensors working simultaneously under the same driving chemical reaction. Actuating (current and charge) and sensing (potential and energy) magnitudes are present, simultaneously, in the only two connecting wires and can be read by the computer at any time. From basic polymeric, mechanical and electrochemical principles a basic equation is attained for the muscle working potential evolution. It includes and describes, simultaneously, the polymeric motor characteristics (rate of the muscle movement and muscle position) and the working variables (temperature, electrolyte concentration and mechanical conditions). By changing working conditions experimental results overlap theoretical predictions. The ensemble computer-generator-muscle-theoretical equation constitutes and describes artificial mechanical, thermal and chemical proprioception of the system. Proprioceptive tools, zoomorphic or anthropomorphic soft robots can be envisaged.
Damage Identification in Continuum Structures From Vibration Modal Data
Authors: Chen H. P. , Bicanic N. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTA novel procedure for damage identification of continuum structures is proposed, where both the location and the extent of structural damage in continuum structures can be correctly determined using only a limited amount of measurements of incomplete modal data. On the basis of the exact relationship between the changes of structural parameters and modal parameters, a computational technique based on direct iteration and directly using incomplete modal data is developed to determine damage in structure. Structural damage is assumed to be associated ith a proportional (scalar) reduction of the original element stiffness matrices, equivalent to a scalar reduction of the material modulus, which characterises at Gauss point level. Finally, numerical examples for plane stress problem and plate bending problem are utilised to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Chemistry Education Programs Relevant to Materials Science
Authors: Lykos Peter 
Published: February 2015

The larger chemical companies worldwide are in the process of major change from a commodities orientation to “downstream” products. “Value-added products,” “engineered materials,” and “effect chemicals” are terms their leaders are using as they try to explain what is happening to their boards of directors, to their stockholders, to their employees, and to their customers.As these companies go through their reorganizations a major problem has become apparent — many professional chemists are not intellectually equipped by training and experience to be effective in research and development in the design of those new products, and the “pipeline” which is producing their “new hires” has not responded to the changing emphases needed in undergraduate curricula and graduate research programs in chemistry.The driving force behind this new orientation is coming to be known as the science of materials or materials science. The longer descriptor, materials science and engineering, better suggests its inherently broad and interdisciplinary nature as well as bringing out that how the final product is produced affects (and may effect) its properties. Because this new discipline moves across standard science and engineering boundaries, materials science does not lend itself to neat classification. Descriptive classification is nevertheless possible:• Materials science is solid state science, both solid state chemistry and solid state physics.
Las nuevas tic y los métodos educativos tradicionales (met) en la educación para la salud bucal en estudiantes de Básica Primaria
Authors: Bernal-Álvarez Tomás , Santos-Machado Yhinny Paola , Alzate-Yepes Teresita , Morales-Mora María Eugenia , Agudelo-Suárez Andrés A. , Posada-López Adriana , Martínez-Londoño Alejandro 
Published: February 2015

Introducción: se pretende evidenciar los efectos mediadores de las nuevas tic y los métodos educativos tradicionales (met), en el tema del cuidado bucal, por medio de indicadores de higiene bucal, conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas escolares en estudiantes de Básica Primaria de la Institución Educativa Francisco Miranda, Medellín. Métodos: estudio evaluativo a través de elementos de un estudio cuantitativo y descriptivo con datos de tres momentos en el tiempo: primer momento, marzo de 2011 (momento base o línea base); segundo momento, mayo de 2011 (luego de implementar met); tercer momento, noviembre de 2011 (luego de implementar ntic). Se hicieron exámenes clínicos para indicadores de higiene bucal (iho) y encuestas a escolares sobre conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas respecto al cuidado bucal. Resultados: existe una mejoría en conocimientos y prácticas de escolares participantes del estudio, la cual se visibilizó en el segundo momento, al implementar los met. Se presentó un cambio positivo en la higiene bucal, en la clasificación buena, de 10 a 46%, e igualmente positiva en la clasificación regular y mala, de 66 a 44% y de 24 a 10%, respectivamente. El uso de ntic puede arrojar resultados positivos en aprendizajes y conocimientos de hábitos de higiene bucal, siempre y cuando estas sean constantes y motivadoras. Conclusiones: los indicadores observados permitieron evaluar positivamente los resultados del estudio; se invita al fortalecimiento de estrategias de Educación para la Salud (EpS) mediadas por ntic para aprendizajes cognoscitivos significativos y por met para aprendizaje y desarrollo de habilidades prácticas significativas, en proyectos educativos institucionales (pei).
Features of programming of development of force for the girls of junior classes
Authors: Худолій О. М. , Іващенко О. В. , Тітаренко А. А. 
Published: February 2015

Aim of work — to work out technology of programming of developing power flairs for the schoolchildren of junior classes. Research methods. Analysis and generalization of data of scientifically-methodical and special literature, scientific methods of theoretical level, such, as an analogy, analysis, synthesis, abstracting, induction, and also scientific methods of empiric level: supervision, testing, experiment. Research results. The results of the before executed researches allowed to work out the program of development of force on the basis of account of training effects of the power loading. It is set that the use of the first variant of the combined method gives an opportunity to get positive results in power preparedness of schoolchildren of 2—4 classes through 3-9 employments; the second variant of the combined method substantially influences on the dynamics of force of local group of muscles. The use of movable games gives an opportunity at high emotional level to develop power flairs of schoolchildren.Programming of developing power flairs, uses of the programs statistically for certain influences on the increase of relative and speed force for the girls of 2-4 classes (р<0,001).
Systems Thinking and its Implications in Enterprise Risk Management
Authors: Lee Lorraine S. , Green Edmund 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT
This paper develops research opportunities associated with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) using systems thinking as a theoretical foundation. The main objectives of this paper are to advocate incorporating a systems thinking perspective into traditional ERM frameworks and to identify research opportunities associated with systems thinking and ERM. Given the limitations of existing ERM processes, systems thinking represents a possible method for improving ERM.
Assessment of the alveolar bone support of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate: A cone-beam computed tomography study
Authors: Ercan Esra , Celikoglu Mevlut , Buyuk Suleyman Kutalmis , Sekerci Ahmet Ercan 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Objective:
To assess the bone support of the teeth adjacent to a cleft using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Materials and Methods:
The CBCT scans of 31 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) were assessed. The data for teeth neighboring the cleft were compared with those of contralateral noncleft teeth. For each tooth analyzed, the distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and the bone crest (AC) at the buccal side was measured as was the thickness of the buccal bone level at 0, 1, 2, and 4 mm.

Results:
The bone thicknesses of the central teeth at the cleft region at the crest and 2 mm apically were statistically significantly thinner than that of the central incisor at a noncleft region. The CEJ-AC distance for central teeth at the cleft region was higher than that for central teeth in a noncleft region.

Conclusions:
Subjects with UCLP showed reduced bone support at teeth neighboring the cleft compared with controls. This may cause some problems during orthodontic treatment.