bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of combined textural and morphological features for diagnosis of breast masses in ultrasound
Authors: Prabusankarlal Kadayanallur Mahadevan , Thirumoorthy Palanisamy , Manavalan Radhakrishnan 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe objective of this study is to assess the combined performance of textural and morphological features for the detection and diagnosis of breast masses in ultrasound images. We have extracted a total of forty four features using textural and morphological techniques. Support vector machine (SVM) classifier is used to discriminate the tumors into benign or malignant. The performance of individual as well as combined features are assessed using accuracy(Ac), sensitivity(Se), specificity(Sp), Matthews correlation coefficient(MCC) and area AZ under receiver operating characteristics curve. The individual features produced classification accuracy in the range of 61.66% and 90.83% and when features from each category are combined, the accuracy is improved in the range of 79.16% and 95.83%. Moreover, the combination of gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and ratio of perimeters (P
ratio
) presented highest performance among all feature combinations (Ac 95.85%, Se 96%, Sp 91.46%, MCC 0.9146 and AZ 0.9444).The results indicated that the discrimination performance of a computer aided breast cancer diagnosis system increases when textural and morphological features are combined.
Surveying Nepal's Third Gender
Authors: Knight Kyle G. , Flores Andrew R. , Nezhad Sheila J. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
This article discusses research undertaken in the wake of Nepal's 2011 federal census, the world's first to include a gender category in addition to male and female. It presents the methodology and initial findings of a new survey of 1,178 sexual and gender minorities in Nepal conducted to determine inclusive and locally relevant methodologies for demographic information gathering. Nepal has legally recognized a third gender since 2007 and in 2011 added that category to the census. However, due to confusion and discrimination among census enumerators and a data entry system that only allowed for two genders, those who identified as third gender were not accurately measured. Beyond those limitations, the term third gender is contested, and by itself it may not fully represent the many sexual and gender minorities in Nepal, including people who are gender nonconforming. This article discusses the development of new survey data measuring the identity, behavioral, and attraction dimensions of gender and sexuality across different terms that are in use in Nepal. Initial findings show that seven distinct groups of respondents can be described, and this article discusses how to expand the concepts and considerations for inclusive data collection in Nepal.
Aggregated Excimer Formation through Hydrogen Bonding in a Pyrene–Urea Derivative
Authors: Matsumoto Hisato , Nishimura Yoshinobu , Arai Tatsuo 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
We examined intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions of pyrene derivatives bearing a urea unit, referred to as 1PUP (one pyrenyl group) and 1DPU (two pyrenyl groups). 1DPU showed a new emission band around 530 nm along with a locally excited emission (LE) attributed to the pyrene moiety, even at 10−7 M, in contrast to 1PUP, which only had an LE, indicating that the symmetrical configuration allowed stable stacking of 1DPU. Time-resolved emission spectroscopy revealed that the intensity of the new band increased relative to that of the LE with the concentration of 1DPU. Furthermore, addition of tetrabutylammonium acetate (TBAAc) resulted in the disappearance of the new band, due to the formation of hydrogen bonds with 1DPU. These results indicate that the new band may originate from intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions between 1DPU molecules through the urea unit, even at very low concentrations, and can be attributed to an excimer emission. This implies that hydrogen bond formation by the urea units of 1DPU favors a conformation that results in the formation of the excimer in the absence of anions, and the strength of the hydrogen-bonding interaction between 1DPU molecules is weaker than the interaction between a 1DPU molecule and an anion.
Central Corneal Thickness in Mentally Challenged (MC) Children
Authors: Jethani Jitendra , Patel Mital , Shah Mehul 
Published: April 2015

Purpose: A case-control study to assess central corneal thickness (CCT) values in mentally challenged (MC) children.
Participants and Methods: Children with mental disability were enrolled in the study. Age-matched and healthy control subjects from a similar ethnic background were enrolled in the study. Central corneal thickness was measured by ultrasound pachymetry. Six consecutive measurements were made at the center of the cornea of each eye. Only the right eye of each child in each group was included in the statistical analysis.
Results: Twenty-seven children in the MC group (14 boys and 13 girls) and 34 age-matched and healthy control subjects (23 boys and 11girls) were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 9.74 ± 2.697 years (range 7- 17years). The mean age in control group was 10.2 ± 2.185 years (range, 8-17 years). In the MC group, mean CCT value was 505.76 ± 31.23 mm in the right eye. In the control group, mean CCT value was 528.59 ± 30.35 mm in the right eye. CCT value in the MC group was significantly lesser than in the control group for right eye (P =0.006).
Conclusions: Mentally challenged (MC) children had a decreased central corneal thickness compared with healthy control subjects. CCT should be kept in mind during measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP) in MC children with because decreased central corneal thickness may give an artificially low intraocular pressure measurement by applanation tonometry.
Histological Characteristics of Altered Human Lingual Frenulum
Authors: De Castro Martinelli Roberta Lopes , Marchesan Irene Queiroz , Gusmão Reinaldo Jordão , De Castro Rodrigues Antonio , Berretin-Felix Giédre 
Published: April 2015

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the histological characteristics of altered human lingual frenulum.
Materials and Methods: Between March and July, 2011, 50 children between 6 months and 4 years of age were assessed by a Speech Language Pathologist in a Public Health Care Service in Brotas – Sao Paulo, Brazil. The lingual frenulum evaluation protocol proposed by Marchesan (2010, 2012) was administered to the 50 children – 26 male and 24 female. Of the 50, 8 children had lingual frenulum alterations. The 8 children with lingual frenulum alteration underwent lingual frenectomy. The materials for analyses were taken from 7-micrometer-thick tissues sections. Staining was employed using haematoxylin paired with eosin (H&E), Masson’s trichrome and picrosirius red.
Results: The assessment of the lingual frenulum indicated that 8 children had lingual frenulum alteration. Surgery was performed and the material collected was submitted to analyses. The histological analyses demonstrated that the lingual frenulum of children with ankyloglossia or with short frenulum had bundles of striated skeletal muscle fibers, high frequency of type I collagen in the deep layers and compact bundles of elastic fibers positioned near the epithelial lining. Bundles of muscle fibers were not observed in anterior frenulum and short frenulum with anterior fixation. Type I collagen and bundles of elastic fibers sparse and far from the epithelial lining were observed in those types of frenulum.
Conclusion: The analysis of the histological sections demonstrated the characteristics of altered human lingual frenulum.
Drops Supplementation for Treating Vitamin D Deficiency in Healthy Children and Adolescents: The Important Role of Sun Exposure
Authors: Papadopoulou A. , Makris K. , Tsohantari M. , Paulakou M. , Lambidi S. , Marketou H. , Tsoumakas K. 
Published: April 2015

Background: High prevalence of Vit D deficiency had been worldwide reported and supplementation was recommended in deficient cases with rapid therapeutic response. As there is no clear evidence to what really is required during childhood in order to prevent adult diseases, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of supplementation therapy in healthy children with vit D deficiency. Methods: Thirty six children, mean age 10.9+3.4 years old, with Vit D deficiency were included in the study and were randomly divided in two groups: Those who received supplementation therapy with 2000 IU Vit D3 drops daily for three months and those who had no intervention. Socioeconomic status, sun protection and diet habits, outdoors physical activity and fracture history were evaluated through a questionnaire and blood samples before and after intervention were collected to assess 25(OH)Vit D levels and bone mineral status. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in relation to socioeconomic and family characteristic, outdoors physical activity and dietary intake. Sunscreen use was limited during summer vacation in 85% of the cases but the amount of use was significantly negatively correlated to baseline levels of Vit D during last year. The 25(OH)Vit D levels at baseline were 14.72+3.63 ng/ml (6.7 - 19.7 ng/ml) whereas a significant increase 25.21+7.08 ng/ml (8-42.2 ng/ml) was observed on re-evaluation (p=0.0001). No difference was found between treated children and non-treated (p=0.13). Skin type and sunscreen habits were not related to therapeutic response rate in both groups. Conclusion: This randomized clinical trial revealed a significant improvement in Vit D levels both in treated and non treated groups but no significant difference was established between the groups. The supplementation of vit D in healthy children and adolescents with Vit D deficiency could not be suggested. Sun protection may interfere with Vit D levels. Re-evaluation and re discussion of sun health benefits on Vit D synthesis and national sun protection strategies may be needed.
Bacterial Contamination of Toothbrushes and their Disinfection by 4% Edta, 10% Sodium Perborate and 3% Neem Juice: A Clinico -Microbiology Study
Authors: Sheikh Nilofer Sultan , Rajhans Neelima S. , Moolya Nikesh , Mhaske Nilkanth , Frenandes Gabrieala Jude , Sudeep H.M. 
Published: April 2015

Aim: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the bacterial survival rate on toothbrushes and efficacy of their decontamination by 4% disodium ethyl diamine tetra acetic acid [EDTA], 10% sodium perborate and 3% neem juice.
Methods: Forty subjects with chronic periodontitis enrolled to this randomized controlled clinical trial were provided with autoclaved toothbrushes which were free from microorganisms. Brushing instructions were given to each participant. Toothbrushes were collected from all study participants after one week and were placed with head down position in autoclaved test tube containing sterile peptone water. Toothbrushes collected were sent for aerobic culture in laboratory for growth of micro-organisms. Incubation was done for 24 hours at 37˚C.The toothbrushes were then divided into four groups and immersed in disinfectants like 4% disodium EDTA, 10% sodium perborate and 3% neem juice. Their efficacy was evaluated by aerobic culture analysis and chi – square test was used for statistical analysis of the data.
Results: The results obtained showed that 4% disodium EDTA and 3% neem juice showed 100% efficacy, whereas 10% Sodium perborate showed 40% effectiveness in decontaminating the toothbrushes. Distilled water as a control showed least effectiveness in cleaning toothbrushes.
Conclusion: The present data appeared to indicate that 4% Disodium EDTA and 3 % Neem juice are equally effective but 3% Neem juice may be considered non-toxic, cost effective and quite feasible for disinfection of toothbrushes.
Major cardiothoracic trauma: Eleven-year review of outcomes in the North West of England
Authors: Khorsandi M , Skouras C , Prasad S , Shah R 
Published: April 2015

Introduction Up to 15% of patients with cardiothoracic trauma require emergency surgery, and death can be prevented in a substantial proportion of this group. UK reports have emphasised the need for improvement in this field. We assessed major cardiothoracic trauma (MCT) outcomes in North West England over 11 years. Methods The database from the Trauma Audit and Research Network was used to retrieve data for all patients who had suffered MCT between 2000 and 2011 in North West England and the findings analysed. Trauma that led to thoracotomy/thoracoscopy or sternotomy was defined as MCT. Results A total of 146 patients were identified, and a considerable male predominance (88.4%) noted. A total of 54.1% had sustained penetrating cardiothoracic trauma. Also, 53.4% had been admitted to tertiary-care hospitals for trauma (TCHT) and 46.6% had been admitted to non-TCHT. Overall prevalence of mortality was 35.6%. No significant difference was found in mortality between TCHT vs non-TCHT. Prevalence of mortality was significantly higher in the subgroup of patients cared for exclusively in non-TCHT compared with patients transferred from non-TCHT to TCHT (41% vs 13.8%, p<0.05). Conclusions No significant difference was demonstrated in length of stay in hospital/length of stay in the intensive treatment unit and prevalence of mortality between patients originally presenting in TCHT and those presenting in non-TCHT. However, patients transferred from non-TCHT to TCHT had a lower prevalence of mortality. These findings may constitute a valuable benchmark for comparison with results arising after introduction of trauma centres in the UK.
Experience of managing open fractures of the lower limb at a major trauma centre
Authors: Ali AM , McMaster JM , Noyes D , Brent AJ , Cogswell LK 
Published: April 2015

Introduction In April 2012 the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford became a major trauma centre (MTC). The British Orthopaedic Association and British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons joint standards for the management of open fractures of the lower limb (BOAST 4) require system-wide changes in referral practice that may be facilitated by the MTC and its associated major trauma network. Methods From 2008 to 2013 a multistep audit of compliance with BOAST 4 was conducted to assess referral patterns, timing of surgery and outcomes (surgical site infection rates), to determine changes following local intervention and the establishment of the MTC. Results Over the study period, 50 patients had soft tissue cover for an open lower limb fracture and there was a significant increase in the proportion of patients receiving definitive fixation in our centre (p=0.036). The median time from injury to soft tissue cover fell from 6.0 days to 3.5 days (p=0.051) and the median time from definitive fixation to soft tissue cover fell from 5.0 days to 2.0 days (p=0.003). The deep infection rate fell from 27% to 8% (p=0.247). However, in 2013 many patients still experienced a delay of >72 hours between injury and soft tissue cover, primarily owing to a lack of capacity for providing soft tissue cover. Conclusions Our experience may be relevant to other MTCs seeking to identify barriers to optimising the management of patients with these injuries.
Determinants Of A Fast-Growing Firm’s Profits: Empirical Evidence For Slovenia
Authors: Močnik Dijana , Širec Karin 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
This paper seeks to explain the relationship between a firm’s profitability and firm size, leverage ratio and labour costs – using a sample of 782 Slovenian fast-growing firms from the years 2008 and 2009. We determined that profitability is negatively related to the firm size and leverage ratio, but positively to the labour costs. These results illustrate that, with increasing firm size, a fast-growing firm becomes less profitable. The negative coefficient for the leverage ratio indicates that the higher the extent to which debts were used as the source of financing, the lower the profits. One explanation for this is that profitable, fast-growing firms rely on their equity capital. Alternatively, higher-leveraged firms bear greater risks of bankruptcy; consequently, creditors are reluctant to approve credit for such clients. The positive association between labour costs and profitability implies that the higher the labour cost, the higher the profitability of fast-growing firms.
Generating Investment Strategies Using Multiobjective Genetic Programming And Internet Term Popularity Data
Authors: Jakubéci Martin 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Searching for stock picking strategies can be modelled as a multiobjective optimization problem. The objectives are mostly the profit and risk. Because of the conflicting nature of these objectives, we have to find Pareto optimal solutions. Multiobjective genetic programming (MOGP) can be used to find tree based solutions, using evolutionary operators. The advantage is that this algorithm can combine any number of inputs and generate complex models. Recent research shows, that the popularity of different terms on the internet can be used to enhance the models. This paper deals with a SPEA2 MOGP implementation, which uses Google trends and Wikipedia popularity to find stock investment strategies.
IT Applications In Logistics And Their Influence On The Competitiveness Of Companies/Supply Chains
Authors: Miraldes Tatiana , Garrido Azevedo Susana , Charrua-Santos Fernando Bigares , Mendes Luís António F. , Oliveira Matias João Carlos 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
This paper aims to study the influence of Information Technologies on the competitiveness of companies/supply chains. That is, it intends to analyse if the adoption of Information Technologies contributes to improve costs, time and customer service. To attain this objective a case study and content analysis methodology is used. Results indicate that there is a positive relation between the adoption of technologies, namely RFID, A.R. and the competitiveness of companies/supply chains. By the use of these technologies it is possible to improve several processes across the supply chain, as well as the reduction of costs related to labor, improvement in inventories and management of transport channels as well as an improvement on customer service. The improvement of these indicators has as consequence a gain in competitiveness allowing the companies to respond to the market needs in a differentiated way increasing by this way the customers’ satisfaction. As the information technologies have been considered very important for businesses it is crucial to improve our understanding on the main advantages associates with them and their contribution for competitiveness improvement of companies and supply chains, so this paper represents an important contribution for academics and professionals in this field.
The role of serotonin in impulsive aggression, suicide, and homicide in adolescents and adults: a literature review
Authors: Glick Amy R. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThis is a literature review discussing previous studies on the associations between impulsive aggression and the serotonergic system in adults, adolescents, and children. The review demonstrates that there is a clear association between low cerebrospinal fluid serotonin and impulsive aggression. However, studies on neurotransmitter receptor profiles, functional imaging, genetics, and epigenetics reviewed in this article suggest a more complicated picture that includes consideration of gene vs. environment in the evaluation of risk. Serotonin supplementation studies suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may reduce impulsive aggression in some adults but are less effective in adults with pathological aggression and also in children and adolescents. Child and adolescent studies are less conclusive, in part due to the heterogeneous physiologic and psychosocial changes occurring over the course of development. The author thus concludes that psychiatrists can reduce risk in these special patient populations by creating safer environments in the form of changes in policy and increased support services.
Low testosterone in a young combat veteran with dual diagnosis and suicidal behavior: a case study
Authors: Kiraly Drew D. , Sher Leo 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Suicide and suicidal behaviors amongst combat veterans is an important public health issue. Exposure to military combat predisposes patients to increased levels of major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and chronic pain – all of which are important risk factors for suicide. Here, we present a case study of a young combat veteran who presented with an impulsive suicide attempt that had a high potential for lethality in the context of depression, PTSD, and substance use. On routine admission laboratory work, his serum level of testosterone was seen to be low. Given the important role that testosterone plays in the regulation of mood and behavior, we posit that it is a potentially important marker for suicide risk in an already at-risk population.
Passing Standardized Assessments with Fading Prompts
Authors: Greene Amy Marie 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIntroduction: No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 mandates that all students perform at a level of proficient on state assessments. This includes students with learning and intellectual disabilities who are inherently performing below grade level. Given that schools are held accountable for meeting these goals and some states are not allowing students to graduate if they do not pass the assessments, this is a large concern for students, parents, teachers, and administration.Method: Forty-five students with a disability in writing or an intellectual disability participated in this quasi-experimental, singlegroup, pretest-posttest design that evaluated the effectiveness of the Fading Prompts through Graphic Organizers method for students with learning and intellectual disabilities in written expression as measured according to the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.Results: Data analyses were conducted through the use of four dichotomies for percent differences, which compared teacher administered pretests and posttests, pretests and the state administered PSSA, teacher administered posttests and the PSSA, and the participants’ PSSA and the average state PSSA score. All forty-five students performed at a below basic level during baseline and a proficient level on the posttest. The learned skills generalized to the PSSA with forty-three students earning a passing score of proficient, while two students advanced to basic.Conclusion: Based on the outcomes of this study, it is highly recommended that this program be utilized at least for students with learning and intellectual disabilities until further research can be done.