bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiation dose reduction during neurointerventional procedures by modification of default settings on biplane angiography equipment
Authors: Kahn Elyne N , Gemmete Joseph J , Chaudhary Neeraj , Thompson Byron Gregory , Chen Kevin , Christodoulou Emmanuel G , Pandey Aditya S 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundNeurointerventional procedures represent a significant source of ionizing radiation. We sought to assess the effect during neurointerventional procedures of varying default rates of radiation dose in fluoroscopy (F) and image acquisition (IA) modes, and frame rates during cine acquisition (CINE) on total X-ray dose, acquisition exposures, fluoroscopy time, and complications.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed procedures performed with two radiation dose and CINE settings: a factory setting dose cohort (30 patients, F 45 nGy/pulse, IA 3.6 μGy/pulse, factory CINE frame rate) and a reduced dose cohort (30 patients, F 32 nGy/pulse, IA 1.2 μGy/pulse, with a decreased CINE frame rate). Total radiation dose, dose area product, number of acquisition exposures, fluoroscopy time, and complications were compared between the groups. Means comparisons (t tests) were employed to evaluate differences in the outcome variables between the two groups. p Value <0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe reduced dose cohort had a significant reduction in mean radiation dose (factory, 3650 mGy; reduced, 1650 mGy; p=0.005) and dose area product (factory, 34 700 μGy×m2; reduced, 15 000 μGy×m2; p=0.02). There were no significant differences between cohorts in acquisition exposure (p=0.73), fluoroscopy time (p=0.45), or complications.ConclusionsSignificant reductions in radiation dose delivered by neurointerventional procedures can be achieved through simple modifications of default radiation dose in F and IA and frame rate during CINE without an increase in procedural complexity (fluoroscopy time) or rate of complications.
Biocatalysis: A Status Report
Authors: Bommarius Andreas S. 
Published: August 2015

This review describes the status of the fields of biocatalysts and enzymes, as well as existing drawbacks, and recent advances in the areas deemed to represent drawbacks. Although biocatalysts are often highly active and extremely selective, there are still drawbacks associated with biocatalysis as a generally applicable technique: the lack of designability of biocatalysts; their limits of stability; and the insufficient number of well-characterized, ready-to-use biocatalysts.There has been significant progress on the following fronts: (a) novel protein engineering tools, both experimental and computational, have significantly enhanced the toolbox for biocatalyst development. (b) The deactivation of biocatalysts under various stresses can be described quantitatively via rational models. There are several cases of spectacular leaps of stabilization after accumulating all stabilizing mutations found in earlier rounds. The concept that stabilization against one type of stress commonly also stabilizes against other types of stress is now experimentally considerably better founded than a few years ago. (c) A host of developments of novel biocatalysts in the past few years, in part fueled by improved designability and improved methods of stabilization, has considerably broadened the toolbox for synthetic chemistry.
Clean Water for Developing Countries
Authors: Pandit Aniruddha B. , Kumar Jyoti Kishen 
Published: August 2015

Availability of safe drinking water, a vital natural resource, is still a distant dream to many around the world, especially in developing countries. Increasing human activity and industrialization have led to a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological pollutants entering water bodies and affecting human lives. Efforts to develop efficient, economical, and technologically sound methods to produce clean water for developing countries have increased worldwide. We focus on solar disinfection, filtration, hybrid filtration methods, treatment of harvested rainwater, herbal water disinfection, and arsenic removal technologies. Simple, yet innovative water treatment devices ranging from use of plant xylem as filters, terafilters, and hand pumps to tippy taps designed indigenously are methods mentioned here. By describing the technical aspects of major water disinfection methods relevant for developing countries on medium to small scales and emphasizing their merits, demerits, economics, and scalability, we highlight the current scenario and pave the way for further research and development and scaling up of these processes. This review focuses on clean drinking water, especially for rural populations in developing countries. It describes various water disinfection techniques that are not only economically viable and energy efficient but also employ simple methodologies that are effective in reducing the physical, chemical, and biological pollutants found in drinking water to acceptable limits.
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G polymorphism, factor V Leiden, prothrombin mutations and the risk of VTE recurrence
Authors: Sundquist Kristina , Wang Xiao , Svensson Peter J. , Sundquist Jan , Hedelius Anna , Lönn Sara Larsson , Zöller Bengt , Memon Ashfaque A. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryPlasminogen-activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 is an important inhibitor of the plasminogen/plasmin system. PAI-1 levels are influenced by the 4G/5G polymorphism in the PAI-1 promoter. We investigated the relationship between the PAI-1 polymorphism and VTE recurrence, and its possible modification by factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin (PTM) mutations. Patients (n=1,069) from the Malmö Thrombophilia Study were followed from discontinuation of anticoagulant treatment until diagnosis of VTE recurrence or the end of the study (maximum follow-up 9.8 years). One hundred twenty-seven patients (11.9 %) had VTE recurrence. PAI-1 was genotyped by TaqMan PCR. Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and acquired risk factors of VTE showed no evidence of an association between PAI-1 genotype and risk of VTE recurrence in the study population as a whole. However, by including an interaction term in the analysis we showed that FVL but not PTM modified the effect of PAI-1 genotype: patients with the 4G allele plus FVL had a higher risk of VTE recurrence [hazard ratio (HR) =2.3, 95 % confidence interval (CI) =1.5–3.3] compared to patients with the 4G allele but no FVL (reference group) or FVL irrespective of PAI-1 genotype (HR=1.8, 95 % CI=1.3–2.5). Compared to reference group, 5G allele irrespective of FVL was associated with lower risk of VTE recurrence only when compared with 4G allele together with FVL. In conclusion, FVL has a modifying effect on PAI-1 polymorphism in relation to risk of VTE recurrence. The role of PAI-1 polymorphism as a risk factor of recurrent VTE may be FVL dependent.
Prognostic effect of mean platelet volume in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Sansanayudh Nakarin , Muntham Dittapol , Yamwong Sukit , McEvoy Mark , Attia John , Sritara Piyamitr , Thakkinstian Ammarin , Numthavaj Pawin 
Published: August 2015

SummaryLarge platelets with high haemostatic activity may lead to increased platelet aggregation.. Mean platelet volume (MPV), an indicator of platelet reactivity, may emerge as a prognostic marker in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). It was the objective of this study to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess prognostic effects of MPV on cardiovascular events (CVE) in CAD patients. We searched MEDLINE and SCOPUS from inception to January 2, 2014. All studies that reported MPV and the incidence of cardiovascular events in CAD patients were included. Two reviewers independently extracted the data. A random-effects model was applied for pooling the mean difference of MPV between patients with vs without CVE. Among 30 eligible studies, eight studies reported mean difference of MPV between CVE groups, 11 studies reported MPV dichotomous into high vs low MPV groups, and 11 studies reported both. The pooled mean difference was 0.69 fL (95 %CI = 0.36, 1.01), i. e. patients with CVE had a MPV about 0.69 fL higher than non-CVE. Patients with higher MPV were about 12 % more likely to die than patients with lower MPV (RR 1.12; 95 %CI = 1.02–1.24). However, pooling these effects was based on high heterogeneity and the source of heterogeneity could not be identified. This might be explained by many differences among included studies (e. g. study population, outcomes of interest, analysate, time between blood collection and MPV analysis, etc). These findings suggest that MPV may be a useful prognostic marker in patients with CAD.
Molecular and clinical profile of von Willebrand disease in Spain (PCM–EVW–ES): Proposal for a new diagnostic paradigm
Authors: Batlle Javier , Pérez-Rodríguez Almudena , Corrales Irene , López-Fernández María Fernanda , Rodríguez-Trillo Ángela , Lourés Esther , Cid Ana Rosa , Bonanad Santiago , Cabrera Noelia , Moret Andrés , Parra Rafael , Mingot-Castellano María Eva , Balda Ignacia , Altisent Carmen , Pérez-Montes Rocío , Fisac Rosa María , Iruín Gemma , Herrero Sonia , Soto Inmaculada , Rueda Beatriz de , Jiménez-Yuste Víctor , Alonso Nieves , Vilariño Dolores , Arija Olga , Campos Rosa , Paloma María José , Bermejo Nuria , Toll Teresa , Mateo José , Arribalzaga Karmele , Marco Pascual , Palomo Ángeles , Sarmiento Lizheidy , Iñigo Belén , Nieto María del Mar , Vidal Rosa , Martínez María Paz , Aguinaco Reyes , Ferreiro María , García-Frade Javier , Rodríguez-Huerta Ana María , Cuesta Jorge , Rodríguez-González Ramón , García-Candel Faustino , Cornudella Rosa , Aguilar Carlos , Borràs Nina , Vidal Francisco , César Jesús María 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD) remains difficult in a significant proportion of patients. A Spanish multicentre study investigated a cohort of 556 patients from 330 families who were analysed centrally. VWD was confirmed in 480. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the whole coding VWF was carried out in all recruited patients, compared with the phenotype, and a final diagnosis established. A total of 238 different VWF mutations were found, 154 were not included in the Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD). Of the patients, 463 were found to have VWF mutation/s. A good phenotypic/ genotypic association was estimated in 96.5 % of the patients. One hundred seventy-four patients had two or more mutations. Occasionally a predominant phenotype masked the presence of a second abnormality. One hundred sixteen patients presented with mutations that had previously been associated with increased von Willebrand factor (VWF) clearance. RIPA unavailability, central phenotypic results disagreement and difficult distinction between severe type 1 and type 3 VWD prevented a clear diagnosis in 70 patients. The NGS study facilitated an appropriate classification in 63 of them. The remaining seven patients presented with a VWF novel mutation pending further investigation. In five patients with a type 3 and two with a type 2A or 2B phenotype with no mutation, an acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) was suspected/confirmed. These data seem to support NGS as a first line efficient and faster paradigm in VWD diagnosis.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Increased risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with bullous pemphigoid
Authors: Bucciarelli Paolo , Balice Ylenia , Cianchini Giuseppe , Quaglino Pietro , Pinton Piergiacomo Calzavara , Caproni Marzia , Alaibac Mauro , Simone Clara De , Patrizi Annalisa , Cozzani Emanuele , Papini Manuela , Tedeschi Alberto , Berti Emilio , Rosendaal Frits R. , Cugno Massimo , Marzano Angelo V. ,   for the INVENTEP Study Group
Published: August 2015

SummaryActivation of blood coagulation has been demonstrated in bullous pemphigoid (BP), a rare autoimmune blistering disease, potentially leading to a prothrombotic state. In order to evaluate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in BP, a cohort study was carried out on 432 BP patients (59 % females; median age 76 years, interquartile range [IQR]: 68–82). At diagnosis, autoimmune bullous skin disorder intensity score (ABSIS) was calculated. VTE incidence was standardised with rates of the general population. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratio of VTE according to ABSIS and concomitant risk factors. During a median follow-up of 4.2 years, 31 objectively-diagnosed VTE events were recorded. The incidence rate of VTE (per 1000 patient-years) was 17.2 overall (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 11.1–23.2), 56.7 (95 %CI: 33.0–80.4) during acute phase (22 VTE) and 6.3 (95 %CI: 2.8–11.3) during remission (9 VTE). The standardised incidence ratio was 4.06 (95 %CI: 2.73–5.65), higher during the acute phase (14.86, 95 %CI: 9.20–21.88) than during remission (1.48, 0.66–2.63). The adjusted hazard ratio of VTE was 2.74 (95 %CI: 1.07–7.04) for ABSIS > 48 vs ABSIS < 28, and 2.56 (95 %CI: 1.00–6.70) in patients with [uni2265] 2 concomitant risk factors. In conclusion, BP patients have a 15-fold increased VTE risk during acute phase, proportional to disease severity and heightened by concomitant risk factors.
Intramural Ventricular Septal Defect Is a Distinct Clinical Entity Associated With Postoperative Morbidity in Children After Repair of Conotruncal Anomalies
Authors: Patel Jyoti K. , Glatz Andrew C. , Ghosh Reena M. , Jones Shannon M. , Natarajan Shobha , Ravishankar Chitra , Mascio Christopher E. , Spray Thomas L. , Cohen Meryl S. 
Published: August 2015

Background—
Intramural ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are interventricular communications through right ventricular free wall trabeculations that can occur after repair of conotruncal anomalies. We assessed the prevalence of residual intramural VSDs and their effect on postoperative course.

Methods and Results—

Children who underwent biventricular repair of a conotruncal anomaly from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2013, and had a postoperative transthoracic echocardiogram were included. Images were reviewed for residual intramural or nonintramural VSDs. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use, and need for subsequent catheter or surgical VSD closure. The secondary outcome was postoperative hospital length of stay. A residual VSD was present in 256 of the 442 subjects (58%), of which 231 (90%) were <2 mm in size. Forty-nine patients (11%) had intramural VSDs, and 207 (47%) had nonintramural VSDs. Patients with intramural VSDs were more likely to reach the primary composite outcome compared with those with nonintramural VSDs or no residual VSD (14 of 49 [29%] versus 15 of 207 [7%] versus 6 of 186 [3%];
P
<0.0001). In addition, those with intramural VSDs had longer postoperative hospital length of stay compared with those with nonintramural VSDs or no residual VSD (20 days [interquartile range, 11–42 days] versus 7 days [interquartile range, 5–14 days] versus 6 days [interquartile range, 4–11 days];
P
=0.0001). These associations remained significant after adjustment for known risk factors for poor outcomes, including residual VSD size and operative complexity.

Conclusions—
Among residual VSDs after repair of conotruncal anomalies, intramural VSDs are uniquely associated with postoperative morbidity, mortality, and longer postoperative hospital length of stay. It is important to recognize intramural VSDs in the postoperative period.
Polarimetric Radar Signatures of Dendritic Growth Zones within Colorado Winter Storms
Authors: Schrom Robert S. , Kumjian Matthew R. , Lu Yinghui 
Published: August 2015

AbstractX-band polarimetric radar observations of winter storms in northeastern Colorado on 20–21 February, 9 March, and 9 April 2013 are examined. These observations were taken by the Colorado State University–University of Chicago–Illinois State Water Survey (CSU-CHILL) radar during the Front Range Orographic Storms (FROST) project. The polarimetric radar moments of reflectivity factor at horizontal polarization ZH, differential reflectivity ZDR, and specific differential phase KDP exhibited a range of signatures at different times near the −15°C temperature level favored for dendritic ice crystal growth. In general, KDP was enhanced in these regions with ZDR decreasing and ZH increasing toward the ground, suggestive of aggregation (or riming). The largest ZDR values (~3.5–5.5 dB) were observed during periods of significant low-level upslope flow. Convective features observed when the upslope flow was weaker had the highest KDP (>1.5° km−1) and ZH (>20 dBZ) values. Electromagnetic scattering calculations using the generalized multiparticle Mie method were used to determine whether these radar signatures were consistent with dendrites. Particle size distributions (PSDs) of dendrites were retrieved for a variety of cases using these scattering calculations and the radar observations. The PSDs derived using stratiform precipitation observations were found to be reasonably consistent with previous PSD observations. PSDs derived where riming may have occurred likely had errors and deviated significantly from these previous PSD observations. These results suggest that this polarimetric radar signature may therefore be useful in identifying regions of rapidly collecting dendrites, after considering the effects of riming on the radar variables.
Length Scale of the Finite-Amplitude Meanders of Shelfbreak Fronts
Authors: Zhang Weifeng G. , Gawarkiewicz Glen G. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThrough combining analytical arguments and numerical models, this study investigates the finite-amplitude meanders of shelfbreak fronts characterized by sloping isopycnals outcropping at both the surface and the shelfbreak bottom. The objective is to provide a formula for the meander length scale that can explain observed frontal length scale variability and also be verified with observations. Considering the frontal instability to be a mixture of barotropic and baroclinic instability, the derived along-shelf meander length scale formula is [b1/(1 + a1S1/2)]NH/f, where N is the buoyancy frequency; H is the depth of the front; f is the Coriolis parameter; S is the Burger number measuring the ratio of energy conversion associated with barotropic and baroclinic instability; and a1 and b1 are empirical constants. Initial growth rate of the frontal instability is formulated as [b2(1 + a1S1/2)/(1 + a2αS1/2)]NH/L, where α is the bottom slope at the foot of the front, and a2 and b2 are empirical constants. The formulas are verified using numerical sensitivity simulations, and fitting of the simulated and formulated results gives a1 = 2.69, b1 = 14.65, a2 = 5.1 × 103, and b2 = 6.2 × 10−2. The numerical simulations also show development of fast-growing frontal symmetric instability when the minimum initial potential vorticity is negative. Although frontal symmetric instability leads to faster development of barotropic and baroclinic instability at later times, it does not significantly influence the meander length scale. The derived meander length scale provides a framework for future studies of the influences of external forces on shelfbreak frontal circulation and cross-frontal exchange.
On Shipboard Marine X-Band Radar Near-Surface Current ‘‘Calibration’’
Authors: Lund Björn , Graber Hans C. , Hessner Katrin , Williams Neil J. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe ocean wave signatures within conventional noncoherent marine X-band radar (MR) image sequences can be used to derive near-surface current information. On ships, an accurate near-real-time record of the near-surface current could improve navigational safety. It could also advance understanding of air–sea interaction processes. The standard shipboard MR near-surface current estimates were found to have large errors (of the same order of magnitude as the signal) that are associated with ship speed and heading. For acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs), ship heading errors are known to induce a spurious cross-track current that is proportional to the ship speed and the sine of the error angle. Conventional mechanical gyrocompasses are very reliable heading sensors, but they are too inaccurate for shipboard ADCPs. Within the ADCP community, it is common practice to correct the gyrocompass measurements with the help of multiantenna carrier-phase differential GPS systems. This study shows how a similar multiantenna GPS-based ship heading correction technique stands to improve the accuracy of MR near-surface current estimates. Changes to the standard MR near-surface current retrieval method that are necessary for high-quality results from ships are also introduced. MR and ADCP data collected from R/V Roger Revelle during the Impact of Typhoons on the Ocean in the Pacific (ITOP) program in 2010 are used to demonstrate the MR currents’ accuracy and reliability.
An Adaptive Compensatory Approach of the Fixed Localization in the EnKF
Authors: Wu Xinrong , Li Wei , Han Guijun , Zhang Lianxin , Shao Caixia , Sun Chunjian , Xuan Lili 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Although the fixed covariance localization in the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) can significantly increase the reliability of background error covariance, it has been demonstrated that extreme impact radii can cause the EnKF to lose some useful information. Tuning an optimal impact radius, on the other hand, is always difficult for a general circulation model. The EnKF multiscale analysis (MSA) approach was presented to make up for the above-mentioned drawback of the fixed localization. As a follow-up, this study presents an adaptive compensatory approach to further improve the performance of the EnKF-MSA. The new method adaptively triggers a multigrid analysis (MGA) to extract multiscale information from the observational residual after the EnKF without inflation is completed at each analysis step. Within a biased twin experiment framework consisting of a barotropic spectral model and an idealized observing system, the performance of the adaptive method is examined. Results show that the MGA reduces the computational cost of the MSA by 93%. On the assimilation quality, the adaptive method has an incremental improvement over the EnKF-MSA. That is, the adaptive EnKF-MGA reduces to the EnKF without inflation, which is better than the EnKF-MSA, for moderate impact radii. The proposed scheme works for a broader range of impact radii than the standard EnKF (i.e., the EnKF with inflation). For extreme impact radii, the adaptive EnKF-MGA can produce smaller assimilation errors than the standard EnKF and shorten the spinup period by 53%. In addition, the computational cost of the MGA is negligible relative to that of the standard EnKF.