bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact on clinical events and healthcare costs of adding telemedicine to multidisciplinary disease management programmes for heart failure: Results of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Comín-Colet Josep , Enjuanes Cristina , Verdú-Rotellar José M , Linas Anna , Ruiz-Rodriguez Pilar , González-Robledo Gina , Farré Núria , Moliner-Borja Pedro , Ruiz-Bustillo Sonia , Bruguera Jordi 
Published: September 2015

Background The role of telemedicine in the management of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) has not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that multidisciplinary comprehensive HF care could achieve better results when it is delivered using telemedicine. Methods and results In this study, 178 eligible patients with HF were randomized to either structured follow-up on the basis of face-to-face encounters (control group, 97 patients) or delivering health care using telemedicine (81 patients). Telemedicine included daily signs and symptoms based on telemonitoring and structured follow-up by means of video or audio-conference. The primary end-point was non-fatal HF events after six months of follow-up. The median age of the patients was 77 years, 41% were female, and 25% were frail patients. The hazard ratio for the primary end-point was 0.35 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.20–0.59; p-value < 0.001) in favour of telemedicine. HF readmission (hazard ratio 0.39 (0.19–0.77); p-value=0.007) and cardiovascular readmission (hazard ratio 0.43 (0.23–0.80); p-value=0.008) were also reduced in the telemedicine group. Mortality was similar in both groups (telemedicine: 6.2% vs control: 12.4%, p-value > 0.05). The telemedicine group experienced a significant mean net reduction in direct hospital costs of €3546 per patient per six months of follow-up. Conclusions Among patients managed in the setting of a comprehensive HF programme, the addition of telemedicine may result in better outcomes and reduction of costs.
Glucosamine Hydrochloride but Not Chondroitin Sulfate Prevents Cartilage Degradation and Inflammation Induced by Interleukin-1α in Bovine Cartilage Explants
Authors: Bascoul-Colombo Cécile , Garaiova Iveta , Plummer Sue F. , Harwood John L. , Caterson Bruce , Hughes Clare E 
Published: September 2015

Objective Glucosamine hydrochloride (GH) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) are commonly used for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to assess their effects, alone and in combination, on preventing aggrecan degradation and inflammation in an in vitro model of OA. Design To test the effects of GH and/or CS as a preventative treatment, cartilage explants were pretreated with the compound(s) using concentrations that showed no detrimental effect on chondrocyte viability. Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) was added to induce cartilage degradation, supernatant and explants were analyzed for proteoglycan degradation products, aggrecanase mRNA expression and activity, and for the release of inflammatory markers. Results Following treatment with IL-1α, 2 mg/mL dose of GH pretreatment was associated with a reduction of glycosaminoglycan release, reduced generation of the pathological interglobular domain aggrecan catabolites, decreased mRNA levels of ADAMTS-4 and -5 and reduced activity of ADAMTS-4. In contrast, CS alone did not have a significant effect on IL-1α-induced cartilage degradation and the addition of 0.4 mg/mL CS to 2 mg/mL GH did not further inhibit IL-1α-induced activity. Pretreatment with 2 mg/mL GH also reduced the release of inflammatory markers, prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide induced by IL-1α while CS did not have a significant effect. Conclusions The results suggest that GH prevents cartilage degradation mediated by aggrecanases ADAMTS-4 and -5, and may also reduce inflammation. This could be part of the mechanisms by which GH is effective in maintaining joint integrity and function, and preventing or delaying early symptoms of OA.
The reproducibility and responsiveness of the lung clearance index in bronchiectasis
Authors: Grillo Lizzie , Irving Samantha , Hansell David M. , Nair Arjun , Annan Bertrand , Ward Simon , Bilton Diana , Main Eleanor , Davies Jane , Bush Andrew , Wilson Robert , Loebinger Michael R. 
Published: September 2015

Lung clearance index (LCI) is a potential clinical outcome marker in bronchiectasis. Its responsiveness to therapeutic intervention has not been determined. This study evaluates its responsiveness to a session of physiotherapy and intravenous antibiotic treatment of an exacerbation.32 stable and 32 exacerbating bronchiectasis patients and 26 healthy controls were recruited. Patients had LCI and lung function performed before and after physiotherapy on two separate occasions in the stable patients and at the beginning and end of an intravenous antibiotic course in the exacerbating patients.LCI was reproducible between visits in 25 stable patients, with an intraclass correlation of 0.978 (0.948, 0.991; p<0.001). There was no significant difference in LCI (mean±sd) between stable 11.91±3.39 and exacerbating patients 12.76±3.47, but LCI was significantly higher in both bronchiectasis groups compared with healthy controls (7.36±0.99) (p<0.001). Forced expiratory volume in 1 s improved after physiotherapy, as did alveolar volume after intravenous antibiotics, but LCI did not change significantly.LCI is reproducible in stable bronchiectasis but unlike conventional lung function tests, is unresponsive to two short-term interventions and hence is unlikely to be a useful clinical tool for short-term acute assessment in these patients. Further evaluation is required to establish its role in milder disease and in the evaluation of long-term interventions.
Modified TIME-H: a simplified scoring system for chronic wound management
Authors: Lim K. , Free B. , Sinha S. 
Published: September 2015

Objective: Chronic wound assessment requires a systematic approach in order to guide management and improve prognostication. Following a pilot study using the original TIME-H scoring system in chronic wound management, modifications were suggested leading to the development of the Modified TIME-H scoring system. This study investigates the feasibility and reliability of chronic wound prognostication applying the Modified TIME-H score. Method: Patients referred to the hospital's outpatient wound clinic over a 9-month period were categorised into one of three predicted outcome categories based on their Modified TIME-H score. Results: This study shows a higher proportion of patients in the certain healing category achieved healed wounds, with a higher rate of reduction in wound size, when compared with the other categories. The three categories defined in this study are certain healing, uncertain healing and difficult healing. Conclusion: The Modified TIME-H score could be a useful tool for assessment, patient-centred management and prognostication of chronic wounds in clinical practice and requires further validation from other institutions. Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
Cost analysis of one of the first outpatient wound clinics in the Netherlands
Authors: Rondas A.A.L.M. , Schols J.M.G. , Halfens R.J.G. , Hull H.R. , Stobberingh E.E. , Evers S.M.A.A 
Published: September 2015

Objective:To perform, from an insurance perspective, a cost analysis of one of the outpatient community wound care clinics in the Netherlands, the Knowledge Centre in Wound Care (KCWC) at Venray.Method:This study involved a cost analysis based on an observational cohort study with a one-year pre-admission and a one-year post-admission comparison of costs. Patients were included when they first consulted the outpatient wound care clinic. Participants were all insured by the same health insurance company, Coöperatie Volksgezondheidszorg (VGZ). A standard six-step procedure for performing cost studies was used to calculate the costs. Given the skewed cost data, non-parametric bootstrapping was used to test for statistical differences.Results:There were 172 patients included in this study. The difference in costs related to wound care between the year before and the year after initial admission to the wound clinic amounted to an average reduction of €2621 (£1873) per patient in the base case analysis. The categories ‘general practitioner’, ‘hospital care’, ‘mental health care’ and ‘transport’ scored lower, indicating lower costs, in the year after admission to the wound clinic.Conclusion:In this study, only the reimbursement data of patients of one health insurance company, and specifically only those made under the 2006 Dutch Health Insurance Act, were available. Because of the observational design, definitive conclusions cannot be made regarding a demonstrated reduction of costs in the year post admission. Nevertheless, this study is a first attempt of a cost analysis of an equipped outpatient wound clinic as an innovative way of responding to the increasing number of chronic wounds in the Netherlands. The calculations show that savings in wound care are possible.Declaration of interest:A possible conflict of interest should be mentioned. First author AALM Rondas, PhD student at Maastricht University, is working at the KCWC wound clinic at Venray in the Netherlands as a physician. However, the research data were provided externally by Coöperatie Volksgezondheidszorg (VGZ) and checked by the academic co-authors, none of whom have a conflict of interest. The authors have no financial or commercial interest to declare.
Modification of Montmorillonite with Alkyl Silanes and Fluorosurfactant for Clay/fluoroelastomer (FKM) Nanocomposites
Authors: Khajehpour Maryam , Gelves Genaro A. , Sundararaj Uttandaraman 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe main objective of the present work was to functionalize nanoclays with organosilanes and surfactant in order to facilitate the dispersion of the nanofillers in the host fluoroelastomer (FKM) polymer matrix. Better dispersion was achieved by improving interaction between the clay polymer nanocomposite (CPN) constituents. The first part of this study investigated modification of montmorillonite (Mnt) using different saturated and unsaturated alkyl silanes and an alkyl hydrocarbon ammonium quaternary surfactant. Silicon magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the silane-grafted clays. Results indicated that the amount of silane grafted depended on the specific structure of the silane. Silane-grafted Mnt was also modified with ionic surfactants intercalated between the clay layers. A 169% increase in the clay basal spacing (from initial spacing of 10.0 Å to 26.9 Å) was achieved. The second part of the study successfully synthesized FKM nanocomposites containing custom-functionalized Mnt, with the aim of producing reinforced high-performance materials. The effects of clay modification on the morphology and thermal properties of the CPN were studied using XRD, TGA, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The CPN made with the modified clay exhibited greater thermal stability than the CPN of the commercially available modified Mnt, with a degradation onset point ~ 40°C higher.
Revisiting the Infrared Spectrum of the Water—Smectite Interface
Authors: Kuligiewicz Artur , Derkowski Arkadiusz , Szczerba Marek , Gionis Vassilis , Chryssikos Georgios D. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAn overlap of bands produced by the O−H stretching vibrations of H2O (O–Hw) and structural OH (O−Hs) in smectite hampers the study by infrared spectroscopy (IR) of both their layer and interlayer structure. The present study re-evaluated the D2O saturation of smectite as a tool to enable separation of the overlapping bands at ambient conditions. Real-time monitoring by Attenuated Total Reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) was employed during in situ sample drying and H2O or D2O saturation at ambient temperature. Six dioctahedral and one trioctahedral pure smectites in Ca2+-, Na+-, and Cs+-cationic forms were studied to explore variability in total layer charge, charge location, and interlayer cation. The IR data showed the interlayer O−Dw signature at 2700–2200 cm−1 as a proxy for the O−Hw signature in the 3700–3000 cm−1 region. In addition to the expected liquid-like bands of D2O in the interlayer, these O−Dw spectra exhibited an additional sharp stretching feature in the 2695–2680 cm−1 range. No significant cation dependence of the sharp band position was observed between pairs of Ca- and Na-smectites for relative humidity (RH) between 60 and 80%, despite the large difference in the ionic potential between these interlayer cations. The intensity of the sharp band was found to be almost insensitive to changes in water content within the range 60–80% RH. The sharp band frequency decreased linearly with increasing total charge of the 2:1 layer (and can be used as a proxy for it), but no effect of charge location could be discerned. In agreement with early studies, this band was attributed to D2O located on the surface of the interlayer, pointing one O−D group toward the siloxane surface. Based on its high frequency, this band was indicative of free O−D oscillators, with very little or no involvement in hydrogen bonding (“dangling OD”). By analogy to the spectra of D2O-smectites, the spectrum of H2O-smectites also involves a sharp O−Hw analog at ~3630 cm−1 overlapping with typical OHs bands (e.g. Al2OH). As a result of this overlap, the sharp 3630 cm−1 O−Hw contribution was often missed or attributed solely to O−Hs.
Interaction of Corroding Iron with Bentonite in the ABM1 Experiment at Äspö, Sweden: A Microscopic Approach
Authors: Wersin Paul , Jenni Andreas , Mäder Urs K. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBentonite and iron metals are common materials proposed for use in deep-seated geological repositories for radioactive waste. The inevitable corrosion of iron leads to interaction processes with the clay which may affect the sealing properties of the bentonite backfill. The objective of the present study was to improve our understanding of this process by studying the interface between iron and compacted bentonite in a geological repository-type setting. Samples of MX-80 bentonite samples which had been exposed to an iron source and elevated temperatures (up to 115°C) for 2.5 y in an in situ experiment (termed ABM1) at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory, Sweden, were investigated by microscopic means, including scanning electron microscopy, μ-Raman spectroscopy, spatially resolved X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence.The corrosion process led to the formation of a ~100 μm thick corrosion layer containing siderite, magnetite, some goethite, and lepidocrocite mixed with the montmorillonitic clay. Most of the corroded Fe occurred within a 10 mm-thick clay layer adjacent to the corrosion layer. An average corrosion depth of the steel of 22–35 μm and an average Fe2+ diffusivity of 1–2 × 10−13 m2/s were estimated based on the properties of the Fe-enriched clay layer. In that layer, the corrosion-derived Fe occurred predominantly in the clay matrix. The nature of this Fe could not be identified. No indications of clay transformation or newly formed clay phases were found. A slight enrichment of Mg close to the Fe—clay contact was observed. The formation of anhydrite and gypsum, and the dissolution of some SiO2 resulting from the temperature gradient in the in situ test, were also identified.
The (be)coming of the book: The transformation of a text medium in the late age of print
Authors: Leckner Sara 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Digitalization has changed the preconditions for most media in recent decades, offering a rare opportunity to develop and change traditional media and the media market. The book medium is no exception. What is to be considered a book is being challenged, or, for some, threatened. As the e-book market grows there is, as with other media, still ambiguity in the direction of the development and the normalization of the e-book concept. This article discusses the extent to which physical form, genre and utilization are important when defining the book medium in the late age of print, contributing to the debate regarding the future of the book. The article is based on interviews with four prominent scholars in the research area of the digitization of text media. The findings show that, despite good arguments for how the e-book should be defined, its definition is highly context-dependent. However, as the e-book moves towards more enhanced digital versions and away from digitized ones, genre will grow increasingly important for the definition of a ‘book’ in the digital environment. This means that, in moving towards a more converging understanding of the future of the book, its definitions will diverge.
The tensions of e-book creation and distribution in a small-language culture
Authors: Nilsson Skans Kersti , Maceviciute Elena , Wilson Tom , Bergström Annika , Höglund Lars 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
We report on research in progress on the e-book phenomenon in Sweden, the aim of which is to explore the impact of the e-book at every stage, from authorship, through publishing, library lending and bookselling to readership. Here two aspects of the research are covered, the attitudes of authors and publishers towards e-books, to demonstrate the ‘early adoption’ stage of the e-book in the Swedish market. Interviews with authors reveal that most regard e-books favourably, although most of those who have a contract with publishers see it as a by-product of print publishing. Most authors do not have much experience in e-book publishing or self-publishing. The survey of publishers reveals ambivalence towards e-books and in their relationships with libraries and booksellers. The main ‘drivers’ in the uptake of e-books are consumers’ demands for portable, convenient formats and the search for more economic solutions to the provision of textbooks.
Active and stable platinum/ionic liquid/carbon nanotube electrocatalysts for oxidation of methanol
Authors: Lin Guan-Lin , Periasamy Arun Prakash , Shih Zih-Yu , Chang Huan-Tsung 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been prepared from PtCl6
2− ions through a facile ionic liquid (IL)-assisted method and used for methanol oxidation. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIM) with four different counter ions (PF6
−, Cl−, Br−, and I−) has been tested for the preparation of Pt/IL/CNT nanohybrids, showing the counter ions of ILs play an important role in the formation of small sizes of Pt NPs. Only [BMIM][PF6] and [BMIM][Cl] allow reproducible preparation of Pt/IL/CNT nanohybrids. The electroactive surface areas of Pt/[BMIM][PF6]/CNT, Pt/[BMIM][Cl]/CNT, Pt/CNT, and commercial Pt/C electrodes are 62.8, 101.5, 78.3, and 87.4 m2 g−1, respectively. The Pt/[BMIM][Cl]/CNT nanohybrid-modified electrodes provide higher catalytic activity (251.0 A g−1) at a negative onset potential of −0.60 V than commercial Pt/C-modified ones do (133.5 A g−1) at −0.46 V. The Pt/[BMIM][Cl]/CNT electrode provides the highest ratio (4.52) of forward/reverse oxidation current peak, revealing a little accumulation of carbonaceous residues.
Rigorous geoid-from-quasigeoid correction using
gravity disturbances
Authors: Sjöberg Lars 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
We present rigorous solutions for the geoid-fromquasigeoid
correction (GQC) using Taylor expansions of
surface gravity disturbances along the vertical from the
Earth’s surface to the geoid. One solution takes advantage
of the topographic potential bias at the geoid, which can
be expressed by a simple formula. This implies that the accurate
GQC does not need a terrain correction.
Noise behavior in CGPS position time series: the
eastern North America case study
Authors: Goudarzi M. A. , Cocard M. , Santerre R. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
We analyzed the noise characteristics of 112 continuously
operating GPS stations in eastern North America
using the Spectral Analysis and the Maximum Likelihood
Estimation (MLE) methods. Results of both methods
show that the combination ofwhite plus flicker noise is the
best model for describing the stochastic part of the position
time series. We explored this further using the MLE
in the time domain by testing noise models of (a) powerlaw,
(b)white, (c)white plus flicker, (d)white plus randomwalk,
and (e) white plus flicker plus random-walk. The results
show that amplitudes of all noise models are smallest
in the north direction and largest in the vertical direction.
While amplitudes of white noise model in (c–e) are
almost equal across the study area, they are prevailed by
the flicker and Random-walk noise for all directions. Assuming
flicker noise model increases uncertainties of the
estimated velocities by a factor of 5–38 compared to the
white noise model.
Changes in cellular immune responses of Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) due to pyriproxyfen treatment
Authors: Mirhaghparast Seyyedeh Kimia , Zibaee Arash , Hoda Hassan , Sendi Jalal Jalali 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The effects of pyriproxyfen were determined on the cellular immunity and phenoloxidase activity in the 4th instar larvae of Chilo suppressalis Walker. The bioassay results revealed the effective concentrations of: 10L : 18C, 30L : 72C and 50L : 190C μg · ml−1. The sole effect of 18 and 72 μg · ml−1 concentrations at intervals of 1–3 h caused a higher number of total hemocytes in the treated larvae than the control, but the reverse results were observed after 6–24 h. The number of plasmatocytes was lower than that of the control for intervals of 3–24 h but the number of granulocytes was higher than the control after 1–3 h although no significant differences were observed at the other times. In the treated larvae, the activities of phenoloxidase were higher and lower than those of the control after 1–3 h and 6–24 h, respectively. The combined effects of pyriproxyfen and the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana isolate B3 caused higher numbers of total hemocytes, plasmatocytes, and granulocytes in the treated larvae by use of the three concentrations of pyriproxyfen, at intervals of 6 and 12 h. Although the numbers of nodules in the larvae treated with concentrations of 18 μg · ml−1 were higher than those of other treatments, the overall numbers were lower than those of the control. Finally, the activity of phenoloxidase in the treated larvae was higher than that of the control, at intervals of 6 and 12 h post-treatment. Findings of the current study indicate an intervening role of pyriproxyfen in the cellular immunity of C. suppressalis to entomopathogenic objects.