bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High Serum Concentration of Interleukin-18 in Diabetic Patients with Foot Ulcers
Authors: Sabuncu Tevfik , Eren Mehmet Ali , Tabur Suzan , Dag Omer Faruk , Boduroglu Omer 
Published: June 2014

Background
It is well known that interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays a key role in the inflammatory process. However, there are limited data on the role IL-18 plays with diabetic foot ulcers, an acute and complex inflammatory situation. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate serum IL-18 levels of diabetic patients with foot ulcers.

Methods
Twenty diabetic patients with acute foot ulcers, 21 diabetic patients without a history of foot ulcers, and 21 healthy volunteers were enrolled in our study. Circulating levels of IL-18, and other biochemical markers are parameters of inflammation and were measured in all three groups.

Results
Diabetic patients both with and without foot ulcers had high IL-18 concentrations (P &lt; 0.001 and P = 0.020, respectively) when compared with the nondiabetic volunteers. Those with foot ulcers had higher levels of IL-18 level (P &lt; 0.001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (P = 0.001), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P &lt; 0.001) than those without foot ulcers.

Conclusions
We found that serum IL-18 concentrations were elevated in diabetic patients with acute diabetic foot ulcers. However, these findings do not indicate whether the IL-18 elevation is a cause or a result of the diabetic foot ulceration. Further studies are needed to show the role of IL-18 in the course of these ulcers.
Using a Polymerase Chain Reaction as a Complementary Test to Improve the Detection of Dermatophyte Fungus in Nails
Authors: Sánchez María José Iglesias , Pico Ana María Pérez , Tejedor Félix Marcos , Sánchez María Jesús Iglesias , Acevedo Raquel Mayordomo 
Published: June 2014

Background
Dermatomycoses are a group of pathologic abnormalities frequently seen in clinical practice, and their prevalence has increased in recent decades. Diagnostic confirmation of mycotic infection in nails is essential because there are several pathologic conditions with similar clinical manifestations. The classical method for confirming the presence of fungus in nail is microbiological culture and the identification of morphological structures by microscopy.

Methods
We devised a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that amplifies specific DNA sequences of dermatophyte fungus that is notably faster than the 3 to 4 weeks that the traditional procedure takes. We compared this new technique and the conventional plate culture method in 225 nail samples. The results were subjected to statistical analysis.

Results
We found concordance in 78.2% of the samples analyzed by the two methods and increased sensitivity when simultaneously using the two methods to analyze clinical samples. Now we can confirm the presence of dermatophyte fungus in most of the positive samples in just 24 hours, and we have to wait for the result of culture only in negative PCR cases.

Conclusions
Although this PCR cannot, at present, substitute for the traditional culture method in the detection of dermatophyte infection of the nails, it can be used as a complementary technique because its main advantage lies in the significant reduction of time used for diagnosis, in addition to higher sensitivity.
The Subtalar Joint Axis Palpation Technique—Part 1
Authors: Van Alsenoy Ken K. , De Schepper Joris , Santos Derek , Vereecke Evie E. , D'Août Kristiaan 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundLocating the position of the subtalar joint axis can be a predictive clinical variable in biomechanical analysis and a valuable tool in the design of functional foot orthoses. Before testing Kirby's palpation technique to locate the subtalar joint axis in cadavers, it was important to develop and test the experimental methods in a mechanical model in which the exact location of the hinge joint can be controlled.MethodsFour testers determined the hinge joint location and moved it through its range of motion, capturing the movement of the joint axis using a kinematic model. The joint axis location was determined and validated by comparing the actual hinge joint location on the mechanical model with the location determined by the palpation technique described by Kirby in 1987 and the location determined by the helical joint axis method using three-dimensional kinematic data.ResultsThe overall angles result in mean slopes and intersections of 87° and 92 mm, 86° and 97 mm, 85° and 92 mm, and 88° and 91 mm for testers 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Testers 1 and 3 were able to determine the location to 1° and 1 mm accuracy, tester 2 to 0° and 4 mm, and tester 4 to 2° and 2 mm compared with the kinematic data.ConclusionsThe technique of determining the points of no rotation as described by Kirby could be validated by using a three-dimensional kinematic model to determine the helical axis.
The Consistency of Individual-Selected Versus Rater-Determined Angle and Base of Gait
Authors: McPoil Thomas G. , Cornwall Mark W. , Taylor Olivia , Pomeroy Mary , Mufti Judy , Kuhlman Holly , Ehlers Derrik , Carrell Drew 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundSeveral studies have reported the necessity of using a standardized foot placement to improve reliability when performing standing foot posture measurements. The intent of this study was to determine whether individuals can reliably place their feet in the same standing position after marching in place or whether the standing position must be determined by a rater observing the angle and base of gait during walking to ensure the consistency of foot placement.MethodsTwenty individuals (12 women and 8 men; mean age, 24.8 years) consented to participate. All of the participants were asked to march in place for 10 sec and then to stop in their preferred angle and base foot placement. Participants then walked over an 8-m walkway so that one of two raters could observe the participant's angle and base while walking. An angle and base of gait tracing was then made for each participant's foot placement.ResultsThe two raters and all of the participants demonstrated high levels of reliability for foot placement between the two sessions. The results indicate that asking the participant to march in place provides a more consistent angle and base foot placement between two sessions compared with having a rater determine the angle and base of gait foot placement after observing the participant while walking.ConclusionsBased on these findings, we recommend using marching in place to position a patient in his or her angle and base foot placement when the measurement or visual assessment of foot posture must be performed for more than one clinical visit.
“Step Up for Foot Care”
Authors: Chen Bright , Mitchell Analiza , Tran David 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundStudies have shown that lower-extremity problems in the homeless population have significant public health and economic implications. A combined community service and research project was performed to identify and address the foot and ankle care needs in a sample homeless population in San Francisco, California.MethodsA 37-question survey regarding general demographic characteristics, foot hygiene practices, associated risk factors, and self-reported lower-extremity pathologic conditions was completed by 299 homeless individuals who met the inclusion criteria. The service project included education on proper foot care and the distribution of footwear.ResultsThe participants demonstrated mostly good efforts regarding foot hygiene but had high-risk factors, including smoking, alcohol use, and extended hours on their feet. More than half of the homeless individuals surveyed experienced foot pain. Approximately one in five had edema and neuropathic symptoms. The most commonly reported foot problems were dermatologic, but these conditions could pose serious sequelae in the setting of risk factors. The community service project was well received by the homeless community.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates lack of resources and high-risk factors for lower-extremity complications in the homeless individuals studied. It is important in the realm of public health to keep lower-extremity health in mind because it plays an important role in preventing the spread of infection and lowering the social economic burden.
Active alkaline traps to determine acidic‐gas ratios in volcanic plumes: Sampling techniques and analytical methods
Authors: Wittmer J. , Bobrowski N. , Liotta M. , Giuffrida G. , Calabrese S. , Platt U. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIn situ measurements have been the basis for monitoring volcanic gas emissions for many years and—being complemented by remote sensing techniques—still play an important role to date. Concerning in situ techniques for sampling a dilute plume, an increase in accuracy and a reduction of detection limits are still necessary for most gases (e.g., CO2, SO2, HCl, HF, HBr, HI). In this work, the Raschig‐Tube technique (RT) is modified and utilized for application on volcanic plumes. The theoretical and experimental absorption properties of the RT and the Drechsel bottle (DB) setups are characterized and both are applied simultaneously to the well‐established Filter packs technique (FP) in the field (on Stromboli Island and Mount Etna). The comparison points out that FPs are the most practical to apply but the results are error‐prone compared to RT and DB, whereas the RT results in up to 13 times higher analyte concentrations than the DB in the same sampling time. An optimization of the analytical procedure, including sample pretreatment and analysis by titration, Ion Chromatography, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, led to a comprehensive data set covering a wide range of compounds. In particular, less abundant species were quantified more accurately and iodine was detected for the first time in Stromboli's plume. Simultaneously applying Multiaxis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX‐DOAS) the chemical transformation of emitted bromide into bromine monoxide (BrO) from Stromboli and Etna was determined to 3–6% and 7%, respectively, within less than 5 min after the gas release from the active vents.
Canonical correlation analysis of the combined solar wind and geomagnetic index data sets
Authors: Borovsky Joseph E. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractCanonical correlation analysis (CCA) will evaluate the degree of correlation between two multivariate data sets and will uncover patterns of correlation between the two data sets. Here CCA is applied to the multivariate solar wind data set and the multivariate geomagnetic index data set. CCA creates a new set of solar wind variables and a new set of Earth variables. The first of the new solar wind variables can be used as a solar wind driver function for the magnetosphere; the conjugate Earth variable can be used as an Earth vector to describe global geomagnetic activity in the magnetosphere‐ionosphere system. The CCA‐generated driver functions are found to be superior in accuracy to other driver functions in the literature. CCA of the combined data sets provides information about (1) differences in the solar wind driving of high‐latitude geomagnetic indices (AE,AU,AL, and polar cap index) versus magnetospheric‐convection geomagnetic indices (Kpand midnight boundary index), (2) the properties of electric field‐based driver functions versus reconnection‐based driver functions, and (3) improvements to solar wind/magnetosphere correlations produced by time averaging the solar wind clock angle. The CCA process tends to focus on the magnetospheric‐convective indices over other indices: this may indicate that there is more predictable variance in the global‐convective indices than in the others.
A practical formulation of snow surface diffusion by wind for watershed‐scale applications
Authors: Ohara Noriaki 
Published: June 2014

AbstractPrediction of snow drift is of importance for structure design and traffic management on snowy and windy prairie landscapes. The snow redistribution by wind is also regarded as one of the largest sources of error in hydrologic snowmelt models. In this study, a snow movement equation was generalized and customized for horizontal two‐dimensional watershed‐scale applications by incorporating snow transport, wind snow diffusion, and snow gravitational movement. Then, the snow surface diffusion process by wind turbulence was formulated in terms of the autocorrelation functions of the measurable wind velocity field using G.I. Taylor's theorem. However, analysis of the example wind data suggested a delta correlation in wind turbulent component that resulted from subtracting their moving average values from the original wind speed data. The dynamic model based on the proposed formulation was able to effectively reproduce the observed equilibrium snow profiles affected by wind drifting. A two‐dimensional model simulation using a 10 m digital elevation model in Muddy Gap, Wyoming was also presented for qualitative validation of the model in the watershed‐scale applications. Additionally, the theoretical extension for preferential snow accumulation process was presented in Appendix . These modeling results together with the observations on the prairie suggested the importance of the snow surface diffusion process in addition to the snow transport.
Excitation of EMIC waves detected by the Van Allen Probes on 28 April 2013
Authors: Zhang J.‐C. , Saikin A. A. , Kistler L. M. , Smith C. W. , Spence H. E. , Mouikis C. G. , Torbert R. B. , Larsen B. A. , Reeves G. D. , Skoug R. M. , Funsten H. O. , Kurth W. S. , Kletzing C. A. , Allen R. C. , Jordanova V. K. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractWe report the wave observations, associated plasma measurements, and linear theory testing of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave events observed by the Van Allen Probes on 28 April 2013. The wave events are detected in their generation regions as three individual events in two consecutive orbits of Van Allen Probe‐A, while the other spacecraft, B, does not detect any significant EMIC wave activity during this period. Three overlapping H+ populations are observed around the plasmapause when the waves are excited. The difference between the observational EMIC wave growth parameter (Σh) and the theoretical EMIC instability parameter (Sh) is significantly raised, on average, to 0.10 ± 0.01, 0.15 ± 0.02, and 0.07 ± 0.02 during the three wave events, respectively. On Van Allen Probe‐B, this difference never exceeds 0. Compared to linear theory (Σh > Sh), the waves are only excited for elevated thresholds.
Characterizing interplanetary shocks for development and optimization of an automated solar wind shock detection algorithm
Authors: Cash M. D. , Wrobel J. S. , Cosentino K. C. , Reinard A. A. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractHuman evaluation of solar wind data for interplanetary (IP) shock identification relies on both heuristics and pattern recognition, with the former lending itself to algorithmic representation and automation. Such detection algorithms can potentially alert forecasters of approaching shocks, providing increased warning of subsequent geomagnetic storms. However, capturing shocks with an algorithmic treatment alone is challenging, as past and present work demonstrates. We present a statistical analysis of 209 IP shocks observed at L1, and we use this information to optimize a set of shock identification criteria for use with an automated solar wind shock detection algorithm. In order to specify ranges for the threshold values used in our algorithm, we quantify discontinuities in the solar wind density, velocity, temperature, and magnetic field magnitude by analyzing 8 years of IP shocks detected by the SWEPAM and MAG instruments aboard the ACE spacecraft. Although automatic shock detection algorithms have previously been developed, in this paper we conduct a methodical optimization to refine shock identification criteria and present the optimal performance of this and similar approaches. We compute forecast skill scores for over 10,000 permutations of our shock detection criteria in order to identify the set of threshold values that yield optimal forecast skill scores. We then compare our results to previous automatic shock detection algorithms using a standard data set, and our optimized algorithm shows improvements in the reliability of automated shock detection.
Dependence of IMF By penetration into the neutral sheet on IMF Bz and geomagnetic activity
Authors: Cao JinBin , Duan Aiying , Dunlop M. , Wei Xinhua , Cai Cunlin 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe penetration of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By into the magnetosphere plays an important role in determining magnetospheric configuration and its dynamics. In this paper, using 9 years of Cluster data at the center of neutral sheet, we statistically study the relations of the penetration of IMF By in the neutral sheet (NS) with IMF Bz and the Kp index. The correlation coefficient between NS By and IMF By is enhanced during the periods of southward IMF Bz and large Kp indexes. The penetration efficiency of IMF By, which is defined as the slope of the linear fit of the points in the By‐IMF By space, is larger during southward IMF Bz than during northward IMF Bz. The penetration efficiency of IMF By also increases with increasing Kp index. Since the Kp index can be considered as an index of magnetospheric convection, this means that the penetration of IMF By into the magnetosphere is enhanced during the periods of strong magnetospheric convection. These results indicate that the IMF Bz and magnetospheric convection can influence the neutral sheet By and even magnetotail dynamics by changing the penetration of IMF By.
Comparison of interplanetary signatures of streamers and pseudostreamers
Authors: Crooker N. U. , McPherron R. L. , Owens M. J. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIf the source of the slow solar wind is a web comprising pseudostreamer belts connected to the streamer belt, then one expects the properties of interplanetary pseudostreamer flows to be similar to those of streamer flows. That expectation is tested with data from the slow wind preceding stream interfaces in stream interaction regions at 1 AU, where the interfaces separate what was originally slow and fast wind. Pseudostreamer cases were separated from streamer cases with the aid of the streamer identification tool developed by Owens et al. (), and superposed epoch analysis was performed to compare the patterns of a number of plasma and composition parameters. The results reveal that pseudostreamer flows have all of the slow‐wind characteristics of streamer flows except that they are slightly less pronounced than streamer characteristics when compared to fast wind. The results are consistent with the concept that the solar wind displays a continuum of dynamic states rather than only slow and fast states.
Optimal plant water‐use strategies under stochastic rainfall
Authors: Manzoni Stefano , Vico Giulia , Katul Gabriel , Palmroth Sari , Porporato Amilcare 
Published: June 2014

AbstractPlant hydraulic traits have been conjectured to be coordinated, thereby providing plants with a balanced hydraulic system that protects them from cavitation while allowing an efficient transport of water necessary for photosynthesis. In particular, observations suggest correlations between the water potentials at which xylem cavitation impairs water movement and the one at stomatal closure, and between maximum xylem and stomatal conductances, begging the question as to whether such coordination emerges as an optimal water‐use strategy under unpredictable rainfall. Here mean transpiration <E> is used as a proxy for long‐term plant fitness and its variations as a function of the water potentials at 50% loss of stem conductivity due to cavitation and at 90% stomatal closure are explored. It is shown that coordination between these hydraulic traits is necessary to maximize <E>, with rainfall patterns altering the optimal range of trait values. In contrast, coordination between ecosystem‐level conductances appears not necessary to maximize <E>. The optimal trait ranges are wider under drier than under mesic conditions, suggesting that in semiarid systems different water use strategies may be equally successful. Comparison with observations across species from a range of ecosystems confirms model predictions, indicating that the coordinated functioning of plant organs might indeed emerge from an optimal response to rainfall variability.
Association of Exercise Therapy and Reduction of Pain Sensitivity in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Henriksen Marius , Klokker Louise , Graven‐Nielsen Thomas , Bartholdy Cecilie , Schjødt Jørgensen Tanja , Bandak Elisabeth , Danneskiold‐Samsøe Bente , Christensen Robin , Bliddal Henning 
Published: June 2014

ObjectiveExercise has beneficial effects on pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA), yet the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise on pressure–pain sensitivity in patients with knee OA.MethodsIn a randomized controlled trial, participants were assigned to 12 weeks of supervised exercise therapy (ET; 36 sessions) or a no attention control group (CG). Pressure–pain sensitivity was assessed by cuff pressure algometry on the calf of the most symptomatic leg. The coprimary outcomes were pressure–pain thresholds (PPTs) and cumulated visual analog scale pain scores during constant pressure for 6 minutes at 125% of the PPT as a measure of temporal summation (TS) of pressure–pain. Secondary outcomes included self‐reported pain using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire. Analyses were based on the “per‐protocol” population (participants following the protocol).ResultsSixty participants were randomized (31 in ET group, 29 in CG), and the per‐protocol population included 48 participants (25 in ET group, 23 in CG). At followup, mean group differences in the change from baseline were 3.1 kPa (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.2, 6.0; P = 0.038) for the PPT, 2,608 mm × seconds (95% CI 458, 4,758; P = 0.019) for TS, and 6.8 points (95% CI 1.2, 12.4; P = 0.018) for KOOS pain, all in favor of ET.ConclusionPressure–pain sensitivity, TS, and self‐reported pain are reduced among patients completing a 12‐week supervised exercise program compared to a no attention CG. These results demonstrate beneficial effects of exercise on basic pain mechanisms and further exploration may provide a basis for optimized treatment.