bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Proximal Reverse Chevron Metatarsal Osteotomy, Lateral Soft Tissue Release, and Akin Osteotomy Through a Single Medial Incision for Hallux Valgus
Authors: Jung Hong-Geun , Kim Tae-Hoon , Park Jong-Tae , Shin Min-Ho , Lee Sang-Hun 
Published: December 2013

Background: Scarring on the dorsal first web space after lateral soft tissue release can be a major contributor to patient dissatisfaction following hallux valgus surgery. We hypothesized that performing distal soft tissue procedure (DSTP), proximal reverse chevron metatarsal osteotomy (PCMO), and Akin osteotomy through a single medial incision would provide better clinical and radiographic results with improved patient satisfaction compared with bunion corrections performed through 2 incisions. Methods: The study included 117 feet (of 98 patients) with moderate to severe hallux valgus. Clinically, the preoperative and final follow-up visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, the preoperative and final follow-up American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux metatarsophalangeal (MTP)-interphalangeal (IP) scores, first MTP joint range of motion (ROM), and patient satisfaction after the surgery were evaluated. Radiographically, the hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), hallux valgus interphalangeal angle (HIA), medial sesamoid position (MSP), and first to fifth metatarsal width (1-5MTW) were analyzed before and after surgery. Results: The mean AOFAS hallux score improved from 56.3 preoperatively to 90.6 at the final follow-up, and the mean VAS pain score decreased from 6.8 preoperatively to 1.5 at the final follow-up ( P < .001). Ninety-five percent of the patients were satisfied with the surgery. Radiographically, the mean HVA decreased from 36.1 degrees (range, 16.0 to 44.0 degrees) preoperatively to 5.4 degrees (range, –12.4 to 29.7 degrees) at the final follow-up ( P < .001), and the mean IMA decreased from 19.0 degrees (range, 9.0 to 28.0 degrees) preoperatively to 4.5 degrees (range, –5.0 to 14.2 degrees) at the final follow-up ( P < .001). The mean 1-5MTW also decreased by 16% (16 mm) from 97.3 mm (range, 85.0 to 110.0 mm) preoperatively to 81.3 mm (range, 70.0 to 95.0 mm) at the final follow-up ( P < .001). Conclusion: We achieved very favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes with minimal complications in patients with moderate to severe hallux valgus, by treating hallux valgus using DSTP, PCMO, and Akin osteotomy through a single medial incision. The single medial incision scar improved the cosmetic results by avoiding the formation of a disfiguring dorsal first web space scar. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.
Development of an automated model to predict the risk of elderly emergency medical admissions within a month following an index hospital visit: A Hong Kong experience
Authors: Tsui Eva , Au SY , Wong CP , Cheung Alan , Lam Peggo 
Published: December 2013

Objectives: To develop an automated risk prediction model to identify elderly patients at high risk of emergency admission to medical wards within 28 days following an index hospital visit. Methods: A retrospective data analysis of 41 hospitals and 48 specialist outpatient clinics in Hong Kong. The study subjects were elderly patients aged 65 years or above, who had index hospital visit(s) in the year of 2005, which included hospitalizations at medical wards and attendances at the accident and emergency departments or specialist outpatient clinics for medical conditions. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of emergency medical admission in 28 days after an index hospital visit. Model validation was performed against the complete cohort in 2006. Results: Over a million of episodes were included in the derivation cohort. A total of 14 predictor variables included patient socio-demographics, service utilization in the previous year, presence and number of chronic diseases and type of index episode. The model has a good discriminative ability with the area under receiver-operating characteristic curve at 0.819 and 0.824 for the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. The model has a sensitivity of 70.3 per cent, specificity of 78.4 per cent, positive predictive value of 21.7 per cent and negative predictive value of 96.9 per cent. Conclusion: This simple, accurate and objective risk prediction model has been computerized into an automated screening tool to recruit high-risk elderly patients discharged from all public hospitals in Hong Kong into the Community Health Call Centre service with an aim to prevent avoidable hospitalizations.
Efficacy of a Reduced Electroencephalography Electrode Array for Detection of Seizures
Authors: Rubin Mark N. , Jeffery Oliver J. , Fugate Jennifer E. , Britton Jeffery W. , Cascino Gregory D. , Worrell Gregory A. , Hocker Sara E. , Wijdicks Eelco F. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. 
Published: December 2013

Background: The expertise required for proper electroencephalography (EEG) setup can make the 10-20 array unwieldy in the hospital setting. There may be a role for an EEG array with reduced leads to improve the efficiency of inpatient practice. Methods: Clips from 100 EEG records, 50 ictal and 50 non-ictal, in adult inpatients from January 1, 2007, to January 1, 2012, were retrospectively reviewed and selected for digital lead reduction and blind review. Two epileptologists reviewed these tracings and documented the presence of seizures and severe disturbance of background. The reduced array included 7 leads spanning the scalp. Three different montages were available. Sensitivity and specificity of the reduced array were calculated using the formal EEG report as the comparison standard. Results: For the detection of any seizure, the reduced array EEG had a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 96%. Sensitivity for identifying encephalopathic patterns was 62% and specificity was 86%. Focal seizures were more readily identified by the reduced array (20 of 25) than were generalized ictal patterns (13 of 25). Conclusion: The reduced electrode array was insufficiently sensitive to seizure detection. Reducing EEG leads might not be a preferred means of optimizing hospital EEG efficiency.
Do Currency Equivalent Monetary Aggregates Have an Edge over Their Simple Sum Counterparts?
Authors: Paul Sunil , Ramachandran M. 
Published: December 2013

The currency equivalent (CE) monetary aggregates are interpreted as aggregation theoretic money stock measures by Rotemberg et al. ( 1995 ), Barnett ( 1991 ) and Kelly ( 2009 ) and are far more superior to simple sum aggregates as a policy variable. In this context, the components of four official measures of monetary constructs—M1, M2, M3 and L1—are used to construct monthly CE monetary aggregates for the period from April 1993 to June 2009. Quarterly estimates of CE aggregates are also obtained by taking quarterly averages of monthly aggregates. The empirical evidences in terms of information content, velocity behaviour and cyclical behaviour show that there is a potential gain of using CE aggregates as compared to their sum counterparts in applications of policy interest. JEL Classification: C43 E49
A Brief Survey of the Theory of Auction
Authors: Chatterjee Rittwik 
Published: December 2013

This is a brief survey of the theory of auction. We first discuss the types of agents who participate in an auction and their respective objectives. In the next section we briefly explain the concepts of standard auction, revenue equivalence theorem (perhaps the most cited result in auction theory, along with the result of Myerson on optimal auction), optimal auction, interdependent valuations, risk and some other commonly used concepts. Finally we discuss the theory of contest, as contests are essentially auctions where a part of the payment function is exogenously given to the contestants. JEL Classification: D44 (Auctions)
Lyn-mediated procaspase 8 dimerization blocks apoptotic signaling in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Zonta Francesca , Pagano Mario Angelo , Trentin Livio , Tibaldi Elena , Frezzato Federica , Gattazzo Cristina , Martini Veronica , Trimarco Valentina , Mazzorana Marco , Bordin Luciana , Semenzato Gianpietro , Brunati Anna Maria 
Published: December 2013

Key Points
Lyn’s overexpression mediates resistance to apoptosis by promoting phosphorylation and dimerization of procaspase 8 in B-CLL cells.
Hypoglycaemic events in patients with type 2 diabetes in the United Kingdom: associations with patient-reported outcomes and self-reported HbA1c
Authors: Mitchell Beth D , Vietri Jeffrey , Zagar Anthony , Curtis Bradley , Reaney Matthew 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

Background
One possible barrier to effective diabetes self-management is hypoglycaemia associated with diabetes medication. The current study was conducted to characterize hypoglycaemic events among UK patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with antihyperglycaemic medications, and assess the relationship between experience of hypoglycaemic events and health outcomes, including glycaemic control, health-related quality of life, impairment to work and non-work activities, treatment satisfaction, adherence to treatment, fear of hypoglycaemia, and healthcare resource use.

Methods
An online survey of 1,329 T2D patients in UK drawn from an opt-in survey panel was conducted in February of 2012 with monthly follow-up questionnaires for five months. Measures included self-reported HbA1c, EQ-5D, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire, Diabetes Medication Satisfaction Tool, Morisky medication adherence scale, the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey (revised), and self-reported healthcare resource use. Comparisons were conducted using t-tests and chi-square tests for continuous and categorical variables, respectively.

Results
Baseline comparisons showed that worse HbA1c, greater diabetes-related healthcare resource use, greater fear of hypoglycaemia, and impaired health outcomes were associated with experience of hypoglycaemia in the four weeks prior to baseline. Longitudinal results were similar in direction but differences on few measures were significant.

Conclusions
In real-world UK T2D patients, hypoglycaemia is associated with worse self-reported glycaemic control, behaviours that contribute to worse glycaemic control, and impairment in patient-reported outcomes.
Detecting cellular reprogramming determinants by differential stability analysis of gene regulatory networks
Authors: Crespo Isaac , Perumal Thanneer M , Jurkowski Wiktor , del Sol Antonio 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundCellular differentiation and reprogramming are processes that are carefully orchestrated by the activation and repression of specific sets of genes. An increasing amount of experimental results show that despite the large number of genes participating in transcriptional programs of cellular phenotypes, only few key genes, which are coined here as reprogramming determinants, are required to be directly perturbed in order to induce cellular reprogramming. However, identification of reprogramming determinants still remains a combinatorial problem, and the state-of-art methods addressing this issue rests on exhaustive experimentation or prior knowledge to narrow down the list of candidates.ResultsHere we present a computational method, without any preliminary selection of candidate genes, to identify reduced subsets of genes, which when perturbed can induce transitions between cellular phenotypes. The method relies on the expression profiles of two stable cellular phenotypes along with a topological analysis stability elements in the gene regulatory network that are necessary to cause this multi-stability. Since stable cellular phenotypes can be considered as attractors of gene regulatory networks, cell fate and cellular reprogramming involves transition between these attractors, and therefore current method searches for combinations of genes that are able to destabilize a specific initial attractor and stabilize the final one in response to the appropriate perturbations.ConclusionsThe method presented here represents a useful framework to assist researchers in the field of cellular reprogramming to design experimental strategies with potential applications in the regenerative medicine and disease modelling.
C/EBP homologous protein drives pro-catabolic responses in chondrocytes
Authors: Husa Matt , Petursson Freyr , Lotz Martin , Terkeltaub Robert , Liu-Bryan Ru 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Excess C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression is one feature of the unfolded protein response (UPR) to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Here, we focused on CHOP expression and function in chondrocytes.

Methods
We studied human knee osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage, bovine chondrocytes cultured in alginate and subjected to sub-lethal biomechanical injury, and knee chondrocytes of human autopsy donors. We performed siRNA knockdown and transfection.

Results
UPR activation was increased in human knee OA cartilage in situ, and in biomechanically injured cultured chondrocytes in vitro. In normal human chondrocytes, CHOP “gain of function” sensitized chondrocytes to IL-1β induced nitric oxide (NO) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 release without inducing these responses by itself. Excess CHOP expression, by itself, induced superoxide production and apoptosis. Conversely, siRNA knockdown of CHOP and the UPR-specific mediator X-box binding protein (XBP1) inhibited NO release by >80% (P <0.0005) in response to IL-1β, and blunted MMP-3 release, whereas there were only minimal effects of the UPR mediator GRP78 on these responses. The anti-inflammatory metabolic “super-regulator” AMP kinase (AMPK) is known to limit UPR activation in vascular muscle cells. Here, CHOP supported the capacity of IL-1β to suppress AMPK activity in chondrocytes. We also observed that inhibition of AMPK activity promoted an increase in chondrocyte CHOP expression. Conversely, pharmacologic activation of AMPK by 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) blunted chondrocyte CHOP expression in response to biomechanical injury.

Conclusions
Biomechanical injury and IL-1 signaling stimulate UPR activation in chondrocytes. CHOP mediates chondrocyte catabolic and apoptotic responses to IL-1β, and does so partly by inhibiting AMPK activity. Conversely, development of excess CHOP activity is limited by AMPK activity in chondrocytes. Our findings suggest a mechanism for potential chondroprotection by AICAR and other AMPK activators. The work is of translational relevance for OA, since several drugs that activate AMPK are already in the clinic for arthritis (for example, allosteric AMPK activators sodium salicylate and high dose aspirin, and methotrexate, which activates AMPK by generating AICAR).
Uma tal de NI047
Authors: De Abreu Sergio Ricardo C. , De Araujo Maria Valeria Pereira , De Araújo Afranio Galdino 
Published: December 2013

O novo gerente de auditoria de uma distribuidora de combustíveis nota que pequenos valores considerados não relevantes pelos auditores, quando somados, têm relevância no contexto gerencial. Vale a pena comunicar o Conselho de Auditoria? DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c9http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c9
A Novel Modified Starch/Carboxymethyl Cellulose/Montmorillonite Bionanocomposite Film: Structural and Physical Properties
Authors: Ghanbarzadeh Babak , Almasi Hadi , Oleyaei Seyed Amir 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
A novel glycerol-plasticized and citric acid (CA)-modified starch/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/montmorillonite (MMT) bionanocomposite films were prepared from corn starch by casting, to study the effect of the 10% CA, 10% CMC and four different loadings of MMT on the properties of starch films. Atomic force microscopy surface analysis showed that starch/CMC/MMT films had the highest roughness. X-ray diffraction test showed that the clay nanolayers formed an intercalated structure in the bionanocomposites. However, completely exfoliated structure formed only in the pure starch/MMT nanocomposites (without CA and CMC). CA, CMC and MMT improved mechanical properties of starch films. MMT had the greatest effect on the mechanical properties. The MMT addition at content of 7% caused to increase in ultimate tensile strength by more than threefold in comparison to modified starch/CMC films. The water vapor permeability (WVP) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by the addition of CA and CMC. When the MMT content of the starch films reached to 7%, the WVP decreased about 75% in comparison to the neat starch film. However, the hydrophilic character of bionanocomposites increased as the increasing of MMT content.
Maximizing Lyapunov Exponents in a Chaotic Oscillator by Applying Differential Evolution
Authors: Carbajal-Gómez V.H. , Tlelo-Cuautle E. , Fernández F.V. , de la Fraga L.G. , Sánchez-López C. 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
This paper shows the application of the heuristic Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm to maximize the positive Lyapunov exponent in a third-order multi-scroll chaotic oscillator. The case of study is the saturated nonlinear function series-based chaotic oscillator. The positive Lyapunov exponent is computed for a 4-scrolls chaotic oscillator by varying the coefficients of the dynamical system (a, b, c, d
1), in the range [0.001..1.000]. The experiments are performed and compared executing DE and a simple Genetic algorithm. The results show that DE algorithm is quite suitable to maximize the positive Lyapunov exponent of truncated coefficients over the continuous parameter spaces, because statistical studies show a small standard deviation. The comparison of the phase space diagrams of non-optimized and optimized chaotic oscillators show that for a low value of the positive Lyapunov exponent the attractor is well defined, while for its maximum value the attractor is not well appreciated, but the higher value of the exponent increases the unpredictability grade of the chaotic system.
Antiviral activity of interferon-γ involved in impaired immune function in infectious diseases
Authors: Sucher Robert , Kurz Katharina , Margreiter Raimund , Fuchs Dietmar , Brandacher Gerald 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Pro-inflammatory cytokines like interferon-γ (IFN-γ) play dominant roles in pathophysiologic conditions like infections, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders and autoimmune syndromes. As part of its antimicrobial and immunomodulatory armature, the tryptophan-degrading enzyme indoleamine (2,3)-dioxygenase (IDO) is mainly up-regulated in dendritic cells (DCs) and phagocytes by pro-inflammatory stimuli, most notably IFN-γ. By the breakdown of the essential amino acid l-tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway, IDO plays a key role in the inhibition of cell proliferation including that of activated T cells, thereby supporting immune tolerance in mammalian pregnancy, tumor development, allergic inflammation and allotransplantation. IFN-γ-induced tryptophan deprivation also seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of anemia and cachexia when erythroid progenitor cells suffer from insufficient amino acid supply or when protein biosynthesis of the organism is restricted by diminished tryptophan availability. This biochemical cascade seems also to be involved in the production of potentially neurotoxic tryptophan catabolites such as quinolinic acid, which ultimately leads to the development of neuropsychiatric symptoms like cognitive impairment and depression especially in patients suffering from severe and chronic infections.
Failure Analysis on 410 Stainless Square-Head Bolts Failing Wedge Tensile Test
Authors: Chimbli Sri Krishna 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
ASTM A193-12, grade B6 (Gr.B6), 3/4 in. (19.05 mm) in diameter by 4 in. (101.6 mm) in length, square-head bolts were breaking at the head to shank juncture during wedge tensile testing. Specimens from the same lot did meet the requirements of Gr.B6 for tensile strength, hardness, reduction of area, and elongation. Failure analysis was performed on the lot to indicate whether the discrepancy is with integrity of steel, forging or heading process, or the heat treatment. The investigation was carried out by dimensional inspection, visual inspection, chemical analysis, hardness and tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and microstructure evaluation. SEM analysis indicated that the cause of fracture is because of embrittlement. The microstructure evaluation had showed the presence of tempered martensite in the core and needle martensite with retained austenite on the surface. Failure analysis concluded that cause of failure was because of the formation of unstable microstructure during heat treatment. The retained austenite with needle martensite structure had an average Vickers hardness (HV) of 301 at the surface and the tempered martensite structure had an average Vickers hardness of 262 HV at the core that led to a brittle failure on wedge tensile test. The lot was recommended to be re-tempered at 1180°F (637°C) with a holding time of 2.0 h to meet the requirements of wedge tensile testing.
Kompaktes photoakustisches Gasmesssystem mit
Potential zur weiteren Miniaturisierung
Authors: Huber Jochen , Wöllenstein Jürgen 
Published: December 2013

Zusammenfassung
Der photoakustische Effekt kann zur Detektion von IR-aktiven
Gasen genutzt werden. Es wird ein einfaches und kompaktes System
vorgestellt, welches nach theoretischen Vorbetrachtungen
entwickelt wurde. Das System besteht aus einem thermischen
Breitband-IR-Emitter und einer Messkammer mit einem MEMS-Mikrofon
als Detektor. Labormessungen mit den Gasen Kohlendioxid und Methan
zeigen die Eignung als selektives und kostengünstiges
Messsystem. Das Potential zur weiteren Miniaturisierung des
Messsystems wird aufgezeigt.
Surfaces and Interfaces of Nanoscale Silicon Materials
Authors: Wagner Sean R. , Zhang Pengpeng 
Published: December 2013

AbstractSurfaces and interfaces play a critical role in determining properties and functions of nanomaterials, in many cases dominating bulk properties, owing to the large surface- and interface-area-to-volume ratio. Using Si nanomembranes, a well-controlled two-dimensional single-crystalline semiconductor, as a prototype system, we discuss how surfaces and interfaces influence electrical transport properties at the nanoscale. We show that electronic conduction in Si nanomembranes is not determined by bulk dopants but by the interplay of surface and interface electronic structures with the “bulk” band structure of the thin Si membrane. Additionally, we describe our recent experimental results on the control of highly ordered molecular structures on Si surfaces, which is of intense interest for the integration of ordered organic thin films in silicon-based electronics. This could also potentially lead to the rational design of Si nanostructures with controlled properties through regulation of the surface chemistry.
Nonvolatile memory MOS capacitors made of CdSe embedded ZrHfO high-k gate dielectric
Authors: Lin Chi-Chou , Kuo Yue 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTMOS capacitor composed of nc-CdSe embedded ZrHfO high-k gate dielectric stack was fabricated and characterized for nonvolatile memory functions. Detailed material and electrical properties have been investigated. With a large charge trapping capability, this kind of device can trap electrons or holes depending on the polarity and magnitude of the applied gate voltage. For the same stress time, the device trapped more holes than electrons under the same magnitude of gate voltage but different polarity. The negative differential resistance peak was observed at the room temperature due to the Coulomb blockade effect. The charge trapping mechanism was delineated with the constant voltage stress test. After 10 years of storage, about 56% of trapped charges still remain in the device.