bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Possible Combinations of Electronic Data Capture and Randomization Systems
Authors: Haag M. , Pilz L. R. , Schrimpf D. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryBackground: Clinical trials (CT) are in a wider sense experiments to prove and establish clinical benefit of treatments. Nowadays electronic data capture systems (EDCS) are used more often bringing a better data management and higher data quality into clinical practice. Also electronic systems for the randomization are used to assign the patients to the treatments.Objectives: If the mentioned randomization system (RS) and EDCS are used, possibly identical data are collected in both, especially by stratified randomization. This separated data storage may lead to data inconsistency and in general data samples have to be aligned. The article discusses solutions to combine RS and EDCS. In detail one approach is realized and introduced.Methods: Different possible settings of combination of EDCS and RS are determined and the pros and cons for each solution are worked out. For the combination of two independent applications the necessary interfaces for the communication are defined. Thereby, existing standards are considered. An example realization is implemented with the help of open-source applications and state-of-the-art software development procedures.Results: Three possibilities of separate usage or combination of EDCS and RS are pre -sented and assessed: i) the complete independent usage of both systems; ii) realization of one system with both functions; and iii) two separate systems, which communicate via defined interfaces. In addition a realization of our preferred approach, the combination of both systems, is introduced using the open source tools RANDI2 and Open-Clinica.Conclusion: The advantage of a flexible independent development of EDCS and RS is shown based on the fact that these tool are very different featured. In our opinion the combination of both systems via defined interfaces fulfills the requirements of randomization and electronic data capture and is feasible in practice. In addition, the use of such a setting can reduce the training costs and the error-prone duplicated data entry.
Does Co-morbidity Provide Significant Improvement on Age Adjustment when Predicting Medical Outcomes?
Authors: Ryan P. , Hiller J. E. , Mnatzaganian G. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryObjective: Using three risk-adjustment methods we evaluated whether co-morbidity derived from electronic hospital patient data provided significant improvement on age adjustment when predicting major outcomes following an elective total joint replacement (TJR) due to osteoarthritis.Methods: Longitudinal data from 819 elderly men who had had a TJR were integrated with hospital morbidity data (HMD) and mortality records. For each participant, any mor bidity or health-related outcome was retrieved from the linked data in the period 1970 through to 2007 and this enabled us to better account for patient co-morbidities. Co-mor bidities recorded in the HMD in all admissions preceding the index TJR admission were used to construct three risk-adjustment methods, namely Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI), Elixhauser’s adjustment method, and number of co-morbidities. Postoperative outcomes evaluated included length of hospital stay, 90-day readmission, and 1-year and 2-year mortality. These were modelled using Cox proportional hazards regression as a function of age for the baseline models, and as a function of age and each of the risk-adjustment methods. The difference in the statistical performance between the models that included age alone and those that also included the co-morbidity adjustment method was as sessed by measuring the difference in the Harrell’s C estimates between pairs of mod els applied to the same patient data using Bootstrap analysis with 1000 replications.Results: Number of co-morbidities did not provide any significant improvement in model discrimination when added to baseline models observed in all outcomes. CCI significantly improved model discrimination when predicting post-operative mortality but not when length of stay or readmission was modelled. For every one point increase in CCI, postoperative 1- and 2-year mortality increased by 37% and 30%, respectively. Elixhauser’s method outperformed the other two providing significant improvement on age adjustment in all outcomes.Conclusion: The predictive performance of co-morbidity derived from electronic hospital data is outcome and risk-adjustment method specific.
Development of nuclear microsatellites for the Arcto‐Tertiary tree Zelkova carpinifolia (Ulmaceae) using 454 pyrosequencing
Authors: Maharramova Elmira H. , Muller Ludo A. , Korotkova Nadja , Borsch Thomas 
Published: February 2014

• Premise of the study: The current study aimed at developing nuclear microsatellite markers for the relict tree species Zelkova carpinifolia, which is threatened in its natural range in the South Caucasus.• Methods and Results: Pyrosequencing of an enriched microsatellite library on the Roche FLX platform using the 454 Titanium kit produced 86,058 sequence reads, most of which contained short tandem repeats. Eighty microsatellite loci identified using the software package QDD version 1 were selected and tested for proper PCR amplification. Of these, 13 allowed proper amplification and were shown to be polymorphic among a sample of 25 Z. carpinifolia specimens from various geographic origins.• Conclusions: The set of microsatellite markers will be suitable for the assessment of genetic diversity in Z. carpinifolia. They will allow for an examination of phylogeographic patterns as well as of population structure and gene flow within this species.
L'émergence d'une politique industrielle de défense libérale en Europe
Authors: Hoeffler Catherine 
Published: February 2014

Cet article porte sur le changement des politiques d’armement en Europe : contrairement aux théories mettant l’accent sur l’inertie du secteur, la focalisation sur les instruments permet d’analyser le changement institutionnel de cette politique de manière comparée. Centrée sur les instruments regroupés au sein de trois rôles de régulation de l’État (producteur-actionnaire, acquéreur et législateur) en Allemagne, en France et au Royaume-Uni, cette contribution met en évidence la convergence des politiques nationales sur un modèle de politique industrielle de défense libérale. Ce modèle combine une volonté d’un gouvernement de soutenir ses industries nationales avec une combinaison hybride d’instruments de nature libérale et protectionniste.
Événements et spectacles sportifs : état des lieux des stratégies de segmentation
Authors: Pons Frank , Giroux Marilyn , Haurat François 
Published: February 2014

La segmentation représente un aspect important des stratégies de marketing mises en place par la plupart des organisations. Le marché du sport professionnel et les nombreuses franchises en activité ne font pas exception. Les marques qui composent ce marché singulier à fort contenu émotionnel, où gravitent des consommateurs aux caractéristiques particulières, doivent apporter une attention spéciale à la segmentation si elles veulent connaître du succès, et ce, malgré la relative absence d’une tradition stratégique en ce sens. Cet article vise un double objectif : rappeler l’importance de la segmentation dans le contexte du marketing sportif, en illustrant différentes pratiques, et présenter des approches de segmentation différentes, en mettant l’accent sur une utilisation accrue des motivations des spectateurs et sur leur perception de la personnalité des marques sportives.
Les conseils d'administration, acteurs de la réflexion stratégique ?
Authors: Martel Philippe 
Published: February 2014

Les vingt dernières années ont donné lieu à nombreuses recherches et analyses sur les différentes dimensions de la gouvernance, dont bon nombre ont eu une influence certaine sur le fonctionnement des conseils d’administration. Une des responsabilités les plus importantes des conseils, l’adoption de la stratégie d’entreprise et le suivi de sa réalisation, fait toutefois exception : on trouve en effet plusieurs études intéressantes sur le sujet, mais peu qui sont globales et concluantes sur les caractéristiques d’une gouvernance stratégique optimale. Partant de cette littérature, nous avons entrepris une série d’entrevues avec des membres et présidents de conseils d’administration, des responsables de la stratégie et des PDG d’entreprises. Nous présentons un cadre d’analyse pour une gouvernance stratégique renouvelée ainsi qu’une proposition de contribution des conseils d’administration aux différents moments de la réflexion stratégique : des conseils successivement proactifs (« avant »), participatifs (« pendant ») et indépendants et vigilants (« après »). Enfin, nous décrivons les conditions de succès de la mise en place d’une telle gouvernance stratégique renouvelée.
Negative Selection of Self-Reactive Chicken B Cells Requires B Cell Receptor Signaling and Is Independent of the Bursal Microenvironment
Authors: Davani Dariush , Pancer Zeev , Cheroutre Hilde , Ratcliffe Michael J. H. 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Although the negative selection of self-reactive B cells in the bone marrow of mammals has been clearly demonstrated, it remains unclear in models of gut-associated B cell lymphopoiesis, such as that of the chicken (Gallus gallus). We have generated chicken surface IgM–related receptors in which the diversity region of the lamprey variable lymphocyte receptor (VLR) has been fused to the C region of chicken surface IgM (Tμ). Expression of a VLR:Tμ receptor with specificity for PE supported normal development of B cells, whereas a VLR:Tμ receptor specific to hen egg lysozyme (a self-antigen with respect to chicken B cells) induced, in vivo, complete deletion of VLRHELTμ-expressing B cells. In ovo i.v. injection of PE resulted in deletion of VLRPETμ-expressing Β cells in the embryo spleen, demonstrating that negative selection was independent of the bursal microenvironment. Although chickens transduced with a murine CD8α:chicken Igα fusion protein contained B cells expressing mCD8α:chIgα, cotransfection of the mCD8α:chIgα construct, together with thymus leukemia Ag (a natural ligand for mCD8α), resulted in reduced levels of mCD8α:chIgα-expressing B cells in inverse proportion to the levels of thymus leukemia Ag–expressing cells. Deletion of mCD8α:chIgα-expressing cells was specific for B cells and required active signaling downstream of the mCD8α:chIgα receptor. Ag-mediated negative selection of developing chicken B cells can therefore occur independently of the bursal microenvironment and is dependent on signaling downstream of the BCR.
Machina ex musico : le compositeur, le concerto, sa forme et son amas de sons
Authors: Rea John 
Published: February 2014

Dans ce texte autoréflexif, façonné en discours concertant, John Rea théorise que, depuis la toute fin du xviiie siècle, l’histoire de la forme du concerto présente deux traditions distinctes et chevauchantes qui émanent d’une source unique : la cinquantaine de concertos de Mozart. Rea retrace le parcours des deux courants compositionnels caractérisés comme modèle français et modèle germanique. Au fil des années, ces deux cours d’eau se déversent séparément en piscines puis en cascades pour être réunis à la fin du xxe siècle. Rea suggère également que les deux modèles simulent la technique théâtrale d’une mise en représentation (reconstitution) de la volonté humaine en marche à maints égards. Vers la fin du xixe siècle pourtant, chaque tradition subit l’influence d’un courant sous-jacent: la mise en représentation de l’évolution de la machine. Audible pour la première fois lors de la prestation virtuose mécanique typique aussi du concerto, cette mise en représentation devient beaucoup plus tard très tangible et sonore à cause de l’emploi véritable de la machine.
Parcours dans la programmation des concerts du Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
Authors: Couture Ariane 
Published: February 2014

En 25 ans d’activités, le nem a interprété 635 oeuvres de 374 compositeurs dans le cadre de concerts locaux, d’ateliers publics ou de tournées à l’étranger. Prises individuellement, ces oeuvres couvrent la majorité des tendances esthétiques de la musique du xxe siècle. Parmi le répertoire de l’ensemble, il est cependant possible d’effectuer des regroupements sur la base de deux axes principaux : d’une part, les oeuvres érigées au statut de « classiques » de la musique contemporaine, et, d’autre part, les nouvelles oeuvres qui participent à l’innovation musicale. Ainsi, la politique de diffusion des oeuvres en concert établie par Lorraine Vaillancourt amène l’instauration d’une nouvelle culture dans le domaine de la création musicale, basée sur le développement d’un répertoire d’oeuvres des xxe et xxie siècles.
Using NCBI BLAST
Authors: Stover Nicholas A. , Cavalcanti Andre R.O. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBLAST is the most widely used software in bioinformatics research. Its main function is to compare a sequence of interest, the query sequence, to sequences in a large database. BLAST then reports the best matches, or “hits,” found in the database. This simple program has two primary applications. First, if the function of the query sequence is unknown, it may be possible to infer its function based on the recognized functions of similar sequences. Second, if the researcher has a query sequence with a known function, it may be possible to identify sequences in the database that have similar functions. The utility of BLAST therefore depends on the researcher's choice of query sequence and database. An appreciation for the functions and limitations of BLAST are vital to using this program effectively. This unit will introduce the basic concepts behind BLAST, walk through BLAST searching protocols, and interpret common results. Curr. Protoc. Essential Lab. Tech. 8:11.1.1‐11.1.35. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Reliability of Radiographic Scoring Methods in Axial Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Biagioni Bradly J. , Gladman Dafna D. , Cook Richard J. , Eder Lihi , Wakhlu Anupam , Shen Hua , Chandran Vinod 
Published: February 2014

ObjectiveImportant differences exist between axial psoriatic arthritis (AxPsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index (BASRI), the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS), and the Radiographic Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (RASSS) were developed to score AS, and the Psoriatic Arthritis Spondylitis Radiology Index (PASRI) to score AxPsA. We aimed to develop a computerized scoring application and compare the intra‐ and interrater reliability of these scoring systems in AS and AxPsA.MethodsA computerized scoring application was developed to facilitate the scoring of radiographic features and calculate total scores for established scoring methods for AS and AxPsA. Digital spinal radiographs of 18 patients with AS and 40 patients with AxPsA were read in random order individually by 4 rheumatologists, data were entered into the application, and scores were obtained. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of the intra‐ and interrater reliability of scores for each method were then computed.ResultsIn AS, the intra‐ and interrater ICC was 0.91 and 0.80 for sacroiliitis grade, 0.96 and 0.86 for BASRI‐spine, 0.98 and 0.86 for mSASSS, 0.96 and 0.75 for RASSS, and 0.99 and 0.93 for PASRI, respectively. In AxPsA, the intra‐ and interrater ICC was 0.81 and 0.67 for sacroiliitis grade, 0.77 and 0.52 for BASRI‐spine, 0.91 and 0.65 for mSASSS, 0.90 and 0.68 for RASSS, and 0.92 and 0.88 for PASRI, respectively.ConclusionAvailable radiographic scoring systems perform well in AS and have moderate intra‐ and interrater reliability when applied to AxPsA. However, PASRI may be superior for assessing structural damage in AxPsA.
Increased Intrarenal Arterial Stiffness May Predict the Occurrence of New Digital Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Rosato Edoardo , Barbano Biagio , Gigante Antonietta , Molinaro Ilenia , Quarta Silvia , Pisarri Simonetta , Amoroso Antonio , Cianci Rosario , Salsano Felice 
Published: February 2014

ObjectivePatients with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) are at high risk for the development of ischemic digital ulcers (DUs), which occur in 35–60% of SSc patients. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between intrarenal arterial stiffness and DUs in SSc patients and to evaluate the prognostic value of Doppler indices to predict new DU occurrence.MethodsSeventy unselected, consecutive patients with SSc (58 women and 12 men, mean ± SD age 49.5 ± 13.8 years) were enrolled. In all patients, Doppler ultrasound examination was performed. The following Doppler indices of intrarenal stiffness were measured: peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI), pulsatile index (PI), and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D).ResultsIn total, 30 (42%) of 70 patients experienced new DUs. RI, S/D, and PI were significantly higher in SSc patients with new DUs than in SSc patients without new DUs. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated a good accuracy of new DU prediction for RI (0.94, P < 0.0001), S/D (0.92, P < 0.0001), and PI (0.88, P < 0.0001). Conversely, the ROC curve showed no performance for PSV (0.58, P > 0.05) and EDV (0.28, P > 0.05). Using a cutoff value of 0.70 for RI and 3.25 for S/D, the positive predictive value was 90.6% and 92.9%, respectively.ConclusionWe can conclude that Doppler indices of intrarenal stiffness are reliable markers of new DU occurrence. Doppler indices could be used in association with the capillaroscopic and clinical findings or serologic tests for the identification of patients at high risk of developing DUs.
Gas Phase Emitter Effect of Thulium within Ceramic Metal Halide Lamps in Dependence on Frequency
Authors: Ruhrmann C. , Depta M. , Bergner A. , Höbing T. , Denissen C. , Suijker J. , Mentel J. , Awakowicz P. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThe gas phase emitter effect within ceramic metal halide (CMH) lamps reduces the effective work function of the electrode material and, therewith, the electrode temperature. An investigation of the gas phase emitter effect of thulium (Tm) within CMH lamps seeded with Tm iodide (TmI3) is carried out. For this purpose, phase resolved images of the arc attachment and measurements of the electrode temperature, Tm atom and ion densities are performed in dependence on operating frequency by pyrometry and optical emission spectroscopy. Additionally, the influence of a sodium iodide (NaI) admixture is studied.The emitter effect is generated by means of a monolayer of Tm atoms on the electrode surface generated by a Tm ion current within the cathodic phase. It overlaps onto the anodic phase at higher frequencies of some hundreds of hertz. The reason is the finite life time of the monolayer, which is determined by the adsorption energy of Tm on the tungsten surface. Due to the low electric field strength in front of the anode and the mass inertia, the emitter ions and atoms remain in front of the anode. They retard the decay of the monolayer and with it the increase of the work function. Moreover, a comparison of a lamp seeded with TmI3 and sodium iodide (NaI) with a lamp seeded only with TmI3 illustrates a slight reduction of the electrode tip temperature caused by a higher Tm saturation vapour pressure and a higher Tm amount within the lamp filling. The influence of Na appears to be quite low. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ultra‐Precision Surface Machining with Reactive Plasma Jets
Authors: Arnold Th. , Böhm G. , Paetzelt H. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractAtmospheric Plasma Jet Machining (PJM) is a technology for non‐mechanical ultra‐precision surface shape generation, shape error correction and smoothing based on atmospheric plasma jets. PJM is favorably applied to generate optical surfaces like aspheres, acylinders, or free‐forms but also to improve the surface shape accuracy in a very fast and cost‐efficient way. For that purpose a mainly fluorine containing plasma jet is brought into contact with a surface to locally remove material by a chemical reaction forming volatile products. Hence, the technology is limited to materials like silicon, fused silica and similar, or silicon carbide. Furthermore, the etch profile results from a convolution of the radical and the temperature distribution at the surface. Since the temperature distribution is also influenced by the plasma jet this leads to a non‐linear dependence of the removal function of the plasma tool on its velocity. Using the dwell‐time algorithm for deterministic surface machining by superposition of the local removal function of the plasma tool an advanced process simulation is necessary. In a first local approximation the velocity dependence of the removal function, which has to be determined previously, must be incorporated. Second order thermal effects due to inhomogeneous heating caused by the part geometry and the tool path can be managed by a sophisticated calculation of the surface temperature evolution during machining based on the Finite Element Method (FEM). With the help of this procedure the accuracy and convergence of the machining process can be significantly improved. In the article several examples of surface processing using plasma jet machining are presented. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Application for Pollution Control in Industrial Processes
Authors: Hammer Th. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractEconomic application of atmospheric pressure plasma technology for industrial pollution control requires fulfilling two propositions: First application of pollution control technologies needs to result in clear environmental, health, or safety benefits motivating political measures. Second plasma technology needs to be competitive as compared to other available pollution control technologies. Thus in this article methods for the evaluation of atmospheric plasma application for industrial pollution control are reviewed: Examples of emission regulations and emission control technologies are given. Requirements of industrial scale emission control and of thermal and non‐thermal exhaust gas treatment technologies are described. The potential of various non‐thermal plasma reactor concepts for cost effective treatment of industrial scale gas flows is analyzed, and methods for the evaluation of plasma energy balance and plasma chemical kinetics are given for them. How to deal with shortcomings of atmospheric pressure plasmas such as lack of plasma‐chemical selectivity is addressed in a section about plasma‐catalytic hybrid processes. Further the progress made recently in electrostatic precipitation is reviewed, and the importance of electro‐hydrodynamic effects for the reactor design both for electrostatic precipitation and for plasma chemical pollution control is considered. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)