bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypothyroidism After Hemithyroidectomy
Authors: Said Meena , Chiu Vicki , Haigh Philip I. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe risk of hypothyroidism after hemithyroidectomy is variable, and most estimates come from single institutional studies. The purpose of the present study was to determine the incidence of hypothyroidism at the population level, and to evaluate predictive factors for hypothyroidism after hemithyroidectomy.MethodsThis retrospective study identified euthyroid patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy between 2000 and 2010 for benign disease in Kaiser Permanente Southern California regional hospitals. The incidence of hypothyroidism [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels >4 μIU/ml] was analyzed. The independent effect of age‐quartile, gender, race, thyroiditis, and preoperative TSH level on the development of hypothyroidism was evaluated.ResultsOf 1,240 euthyroid patients identified, 417 (34 %) developed hypothyroidism, and 314 (25 % of total group) needed levothyroxine. Hypothyroidism was more common in age‐quartile 2 (32 %), age‐quartile 3 (37 %), and age‐quartile 4 (42 %) than in age‐quartile 1 (25 %) [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.87; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.27–2.76, p = 0.002; age‐quartile 4 compared to age‐quartile 1]. Hypothyroidism was more frequent with increasing preoperative TSH levels 36, 72, and 92 % in patients with TSH levels of 1.0–2, 2.01–3, and 3.01–4 μIU/ml, respectively, compared to 17 % in those with TSH levels <1 μIU/ml [adjusted OR = 45.1; 95 % CI 13.5–151, p < 0.0001; 3.01–4 μIU/ml compared to <1 μIU/ml]. Thyroiditis was also an independent predictor of hypothyroidism.ConclusionsAbout one third of euthyroid patients who undergo hemithyroidectomy develop hypothyroidism. The most significant predictor is the preoperative TSH level, with an approximate doubling of risk for each 1 unit of TSH increase over 1 μIU/ml. Our categorical scale is simple and allows for easy recall when counseling patients preoperatively.
Characterization of Vibrio cholerae Bacteriophages Isolated from the Environmental Waters of the Lake Victoria Region of Kenya
Authors: Maina Alice Nyambura , Mwaura Francis B. , Oyugi Julius , Goulding David , Toribio Ana L. , Kariuki Samuel 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Over the last decade, cholera outbreaks have become common in some parts of Kenya. The most recent cholera outbreak occurred in Coastal and Lake Victoria region during January 2009 and May 2010, where a total of 11,769 cases and 274 deaths were reported by the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation. The objective of this study is to isolate Vibrio
cholerae bacteriophages from the environmental waters of the Lake Victoria region of Kenya with potential for use as a biocontrol for cholera outbreaks. Water samples from wells, ponds, sewage effluent, boreholes, rivers, and lakes of the Lake Victoria region of Kenya were enriched for 48 h at 37 °C in broth containing a an environmental strain of V.
cholerae. Bacteriophages were isolated from 5 out of the 42 environmental water samples taken. Isolated phages produced tiny, round, and clear plaques suggesting that these phages were lytic to V. cholerae. Transmission electron microscope examination revealed that all the nine phages belonged to the family Myoviridae, with typical icosahedral heads, long contractile tails, and fibers. Head had an average diameter of 88.3 nm and tail of length and width 84.9 and 16.1 nm, respectively. Vibriophages isolated from the Lake Victoria region of Kenya have been characterized and the isolated phages may have a potential to be used as antibacterial agents to control pathogenic V.
cholerae bacteria in water reservoirs.
Quality Changes and Antioxidant Properties of Microencapsulated Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) Seed Oil During Accelerated Storage
Authors: Razmkhah Sara , Tan Chin‐Ping , Long Kamariah , Nyam Kar‐Lin 
Published: August 2013

AbstractQuality changes and antioxidant properties of microencapsulated kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed oil (MKSO) were investigated at 6‐day intervals during 24 days of storage at 65 °C. DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and BCB assays were used to determine the antioxidant activity (AOA) and their correlations were reported. Total flavonoids content (TFC) and oxidative stability in terms of evolution of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were also studied. The results showed that there was a significant (p < 0.05) effect of microencapsulation whereby AOA of MKSO showed only a 23.28 % decrease as compared to a 61.51 % decrease in the control bulk oil (KSO) when assessed by FRAP. MKSO showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower reduction of its initial TFC as compared to KSO and total increase in TBARS of MKSO was reported to be significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of KSO. AOA determined by all assays were well correlated with TFC and also among themselves. Microencapsulation of kenaf seed oil was found to be effective in the stabilisation of natural antioxidants and prolonging the shelf‐life.
Botulinum toxin A treatment of the lower extremities in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Molenaers Guy , Fagard Katrien , Van Campenhout Anja , Desloovere Kaat 
Published: August 2013

Objectives In the last 2 decades, BTX-A is increasingly being used in the management of spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and there is no doubt about its effect on range of motion, spasticity reduction and gait pattern in this patient population. However, in daily practice, there is still an ongoing search for the best way to apply BTX-A. Two studies were set up to evaluate how successful an integrated multilevel treatment approach is in children with CP. The first study identifies crucial factors within the treatment strategy which may predict the outcome. The second study evaluates the efficacy of repeated BTX-A injections. Methods Patient selection was based on following criteria: diagnosis of CP, lower limb BTX-A treatment, age at time of treatment <24 years, no combined surgery at the time of BTX-A injections, 3D gait analysis and clinical evaluation pre and 2 months post BTX-A injections. The first study included the last treatment of 577 patients. In the second study, the first and last BTX-A treatment of 222 children were included. The Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) was used to evaluate the functional outcome of each treatment session. Results In the first study, the mean GAS score of the total group was 51.7 (±7.5). Considering a converted total score of 50 as cut-off score for successful treatment, 67.1 % of the treatments were successful. Significantly higher GAS scores were found in mildly involved children compared to more involved children ( p < 0.0001) and for multilevel injections or injections in the distal muscle groups only compared to injections in the proximal muscles of the lower limb only ( p < 0.0001). Other crucial factors for a successful outcome were amount of physical therapy per week ( p=0.0026), post injection casting ( p=0.005) and frequency of using day and night orthoses after injection ( p < 0.0001). In the second study, the mean GAS score of the total group decreased from 54.8 (±6.8) at the first treatment to 50.7 (±6.9) at the last treatment, indicating that on average, repeated BTX-A treatment is successful. Conclusion The integrated multilevel BTX-A approach is successful in children with CP. Several factors might help the clinician to select patients that are most likely to benefit from the treatment, to assure the most optimal treatment strategy and to predict the outcome. Each treatment should be carefully planned and goals should be well chosen, because the effectiveness of the BTX-A treatment may decrease with increasing number of treatments in the same patient.
Neuronal circuits of fear memory and fear extinction
Authors: Wotjak C.T. , Pape H.-C. 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
The paradigm“eat or be eaten” has proven to be a critical guiding element during the evolution of both humans and animals. This helps to explain the fact that the ability to de­tect danger or a threat has been highly con­served throughout evolution and thus exhib­its a high degree of homology between spe­cies. Studies in laboratory animals thereby enable the identification of key neurochem­ical, cellular and molecular mechanisms un­derlying fear and anxiety, and important­ly, permit conclusions to be drawn regard­ing the situation in humans. This, in turn, pro­vides a highly valuable basis for further im­provements in prognosis, diagnosis, preven­tion and therapy of anxiety disorders. The present article focuses on one aspect cen­tral to translational anxiety research: the neu­ronal substrates and circuits of fear memo­ry and fear extinction. Following a brief intro­duction into the principles of fear condition­ing, the synaptic circuits that underlie the ac­quisition and extinction of fear memories in the mammalian brain will be described. His­torically established principles will be system­atically compared with novel findings on the detailed synaptic circuitry of the fear matrix. Knowledge of the neuronal substrates and circuitry will significantly improve our under­standing of pathologically transformed states of fear and anxiety and thereby help to derive novel intervention strategies for the treat­ment of anxiety disorders.
Temperament, character and personality disorders
Authors: Jylhä P. , Ketokivi M. , Mantere O. , Melartin T. , Suominen K. , Vuorilehto M. , Holma M. , Holma I. , Isometsä E. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo study, whether temperament and character remain stable over time and whether they differ between patients with and without personality disorder (PD) and between patients with specific PDs.MethodsPatients with (n = 225) or without (n = 285) PD from Jorvi Bipolar Study, Vantaa Depression Study (VDS) and Vantaa Primary Care Depression Study were interviewed at baseline and at 18 months, and in the VDS also at 5 years. A general population comparison group (n = 264) was surveyed by mail.ResultsCompared with non-PD patients, PD patients scored lower on self-directedness and cooperativeness. Cluster B and C PDs associated with high Novelty Seeking and Harm Avoidance, respectively. In logistic regression models, sensitivity and specificity of Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) dimensions for presence of any PD were 53% and 75%, and for specific PDs from 11% to 41% and from 92% to 100%, respectively. The 18-month test-retest correlations of TCI-R dimensions ranged from 0.58 to 0.82.ConclusionsMedium-term temporal stability of TCI in a clinical population appears good. Character scores differ markedly between PD and non-PD patients, whereas temperament scores differ only somewhat between the specific PDs. However, the TCI dimensions capture only a portion of the differences between PD and non-PD patients.
Bracing for demand shocks: An experimental investigation
Authors: Tokar Travis , Aloysius John , Williams Brent , Waller Matthew 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWe investigate inventory ordering decisions when decision makers anticipated a demand shock. Decision makers anticipating an event have been shown to brace for an uncertain negative outcome by overestimating the likelihood of that event. Decision makers faced with a spike in demand may incur increased holding costs because they may brace, exhibiting a judgment bias, and consequently a decision bias by over‐ordering inventory. Three studies span conditions of uncertainty regarding the timing and magnitude of a demand shock: Employing three between‐subjects experiments, Study 1 investigates behavior when decision makers were faced with uncertainty in timing and in magnitude of demand at the most elemental level, manipulating holding and stock out costs. The three experimental tasks feature uncertainty about the magnitude of demand (Experiment 1.1), uncertainty about the timing of demand (Experiment 1.2), and uncertainty about both the magnitude and timing of demand (Experiment 1.3). Study 2 uses a dynamic, multi‐period replenishment task and a between‐subjects manipulation regarding the uncertainty of timing and magnitude of a demand shock. Study 3 also employs a multi‐period decision environment, but compares behavior under a demand shock condition with that in a condition featuring only random variability. The collective results from the three studies identify a bias toward over‐ordering in response to a demand shock, relative to the optimal orders. The between‐subjects manipulations in Study 2 points toward a possible remedy as we found that providing information concerning the timing and magnitude of a shock ameliorated the bias. The primary revelation was that decision makers had more difficulty dealing with uncertain timing than with uncertain magnitude of demand. One implication is that it is particularly critical for retailers to carefully plan and manage how they share information with upstream supply chain partners regarding when they plan to introduce store‐level promotions.
Asymmetric adjustments in the spread of lending and deposit rates: Evidence from extended threshold unit root tests
Authors: Lee Junsoo , Strazicich Mark C. , Yu Byung Chul 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIn this paper, we test for asymmetric adjustments in the spread of the U.S. prime lending rate and 3‐month certificate of deposit rate. In doing so, we extend the pioneering threshold unit root tests of Enders and Granger (1998) to more flexible models where the deterministic terms and short‐run dynamics, in addition to the persistent parameters, can differ in two regimes. While some previous works have tested for asymmetric adjustments in the spread of lending and deposit rates using threshold unit root tests, the deterministic terms and short‐run dynamics were assumed to be symmetric, which can lead to bias and less accurate conclusions if these conditions do not hold. Overall, we find that the spread in lending and deposit rates is stationary but adjustment to the equilibrium is asymmetric. In particular, we find more rapid adjustment when the spread is narrowing below a threshold level than when widening above this level. Several theoretical implications are suggested.
Wege in die Abhängigkeit
Authors: Garbusow Maria , Friedel Eva , Sebold Miriam , Beck Anne , Heinz Andreas , Smolka Michael N. 
Published: August 2013

Hintergrund: Riskanter Alkoholkonsum und Alkoholabhängigkeit treten in Industrieländern häufig auf und manifestieren sich oft bereits im jungen Erwachsenenalter. Wir prüfen in dieser Studie den Einfluss dysfunktionaler Lernmechanismen und deren Modulation durch verschiedene Stressoren, wie z. B. die Menge des Alkoholkonsums, auf die Entstehung, den Verlauf und ggf. die Aufrechterhaltung der Abhängigkeitserkrankung. Zielsetzung: Bisher bekannte ätiologische Faktoren, die im Zusammenhang mit der Entwicklung einer Alkoholabhängigkeit stehen, betreffen sowohl genetische (z. B. die genetisch bedingte geringe Sensitivität gegenüber der akuten Alkoholwirkung oder eine positive Familiengeschichte bezüglich Alkoholabhängigkeit) als auch umweltbedingten Faktoren (z. B. Stress, Trauma, dysfunktionale familiäre Strukturen und der Einfluss der Peers). Belohnungsabhängige Lernmechanismen könnten mit dem veränderten Alkoholkonsum in Adoleszenz und jungem Erwachsenenalter assoziiert sein und somit ebenfalls zu den prädisponierenden Faktoren für die Entwicklung einer Alkoholabhängigkeit zählen. Unser Wissen über diese Mechanismen ist bisher jedoch begrenzt. Im Rahmen der Studie „Learning in Alcohol Dependence“ (LeAD) sollen Lernmechanismen und ihre Bedeutung für die Entstehung exzessiven Alkoholkonsums untersucht werden. Zudem wird im Längsschnitt erfasst, wie sich der Alkoholkonsum selbst wieder auf diese Lernmechanismen auswirkt. Methodik: Eine Kohorte 18-jähriger Männer mit hohem versus niedrigem Risiko an einer Alkoholabhängigkeit zu erkranken, wird im Längsschnitt untersucht, wobei unter anderem bereits bekannte Risikofaktoren erfasst werden. Lernmechanismen werden mithilfe verschiedener Paradigmen (dem Pavlow’schen und instrumentellen Lernen, Habituierung und Devaluation sowie Risikoverhalten) behavioral und mittels funktioneller Bildgebung untersucht. Schlussfolgerungen: Bisher existieren keine Untersuchungen beim Menschen, in denen spezifische Veränderungen des Lernverhaltens mit prädisponierenden Faktoren für die Entwicklung einer Alkoholabhängigkeit in Zusammenhang gebracht werden. Durch die LeAD-Studie sollen diese Faktoren weiter aufgeklärt werden, wodurch eine zielgerichtete Prävention besser möglich werden könnte. Dadurch ließen sich speziell in dieser Altersgruppe Prävalenz und Schwere der Alkoholabhängigkeit beeinflussen.
Subdiffusion Supports Joining Of Correct Ends During Repair Of DNA Double-Strand Breaks
Authors: Girst S. , Hable V. , Drexler G. A. , Greubel C. , Siebenwirth C. , Haum M. , Friedl A. A. , Dollinger G. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe mobility of damaged chromatin regions in the nucleus may affect the probability of mis-repair. In this work, live-cell observation and distance tracking of GFP-tagged DNA damage response protein MDC1 was used to study the random-walk behaviour of chromatin domains containing radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSB). Our measurements indicate a subdiffusion-type random walk process with similar time dependence for isolated and clustered DSBs that were induced by 20 MeV proton or 43 MeV carbon ion micro-irradiation. As compared to normal diffusion, subdiffusion enhances the probability that both ends of a DSB meet, thus promoting high efficiency DNA repair. It also limits their probability of long-range movements and thus lowers the probability of mis-rejoining and chromosome aberrations.
On‐chip dual‐band bandpass filter on a GaAs substrate
Authors: Kao Hsuan‐Ling , Dai Xin , Zhang Xiu Yin , Cho Cheng‐Lin , Yeh Chih‐Sheng , Chiu Hsien‐Chin 
Published: August 2013

A dual‐band bandpass filter in a millimetre‐wave band that uses 0.5 μm GaAs pHEMT technology with two sets of stepped‐impedance resonators, which results in a reduction in size, is presented. The two passband frequencies can be flexibly controlled by adjusting the lengths of the two sets of resonators. Two bandwidths can be tuned independently, using external quality factors and coupling coefficients. The fractional 1‐dB bandwidths at 60 and 77 GHz are 8.6 and 4.1%, respectively. The measured S21 values at 60 and 77 GHz are − 2.26 and − 3.9 dB. Good performance is obtained in terms of the excellent microwave properties of the semi‐insulating GaAs substrate, which makes this system attractive for wireless communication applications.
Miniaturised dual‐wideband bandpass filter using novel dual‐band coupled‐line sections
Authors: Xu Jin , Wu Wen 
Published: August 2013

A novel dual‐wideband bandpass filter (BPF) by using the proposed dual‐band open stub‐loaded coupled‐line section is presented. The proposed dual‐band BPF has a symmetrical frequency response along the designing frequency f0, and the transmission zero at f0 improves the filter band‐to‐band isolation significantly. As an example, a dual‐wideband BPF for 2.4 GHz WLAN and 6.8 GHz RFID applications is designed, fabricated and measured. The fabricated filter has the merits of simple topology, compact size, good return loss, low insertion loss and high isolation. The measurement agrees well with the simulation.
Compact tri‐band CPW‐fed antenna for WLAN/WiMAX applications
Authors: Hua M.J. , Wang P. , Zheng Y. , Yuan S.L. 
Published: August 2013

A compact triple‐band coplanar waveguide (CPW)‐fed antenna for WLAN/WiMAX applications is proposed. The radiation patch is fed by capacitive coupling of the top transmission line. By only using one metallic strip etched on the bottom of the substrate, tri‐band resonances of the antenna are generated. The proposed antenna has a compact size of 30 × 27 mm2, which can provide stable omnidirectional radiation patterns in three bands. The measured − 10 dB impedance bandwidths are 150 MHz (2.39–2.54 GHz), 360 MHz (3.37–3.73 GHz) and 1170 MHz (5.02–6.19 GHz), which is suitable for WLAN/WiMAX applications.
Low complexity lowpass linear‐phase multiplierless FIR filter
Authors: Pavlović V.D. , Antić D.S. , Nikolić S.S. , Perić S.Lj. 
Published: August 2013

A new class of lowpass linear‐phase FIR filter function given in an explicit compact form is introduced. First, the general form of a new class of nth‐order difference equations with all real coefficients equals one is proposed, and after that the simple frequency sampling structure for any odd and even orders of the filter is designed. Finally, several simulation experiments have been performed in order to compare this filter with other known filters for the same values of free real integer parameters. It should be highlighted that the new filters compare favourably even with the already existing filters, because they have an insert attenuation of 158 dB, 15.1681% lower cutoff frequency of the passband of the filter, and 18.5313% lower cutoff frequency of the stopband of the filter, for an insert loss of 100 dB.
High‐throughput CABAC codec architecture for HEVC
Authors: Choi Yongseok , Choi Jongbum 
Published: August 2013

A VLSI architecture of a context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) entropy codec for high‐efficiency video coding (HEVC), the next generation video coding standard, is presented and analysis of its performance in terms of effective processing throughput, i.e. bin/s, is provided. For high throughput, the architecture is designed to process up to two regular bins per unit time while minimising pipeline stall due to inherent dependencies of CABAC through various optimisations including context forwarding and speculative decoding. The experiments show that the effective throughput is achieved up to 1.60 bins or 1.41 bits per cycle, which corresponds to 469.5 Mbit/s at the operating frequency of 333 MHz, under practical video coding environments.
Wien bridge‐based calibration circuit for CDR applications
Authors: Tavernier F. , Moreira P. , Poltorak K. 
Published: August 2013

A robust and fully integrated solution to calibrate the voltage controlled oscillator frequency to the data rate frequency in a clock and data recovery is described. As such, no external reference frequency or a separate reference phase‐locked loop is required. The proposed calibration circuit has been designed in a 130 nm CMOS technology. It shows a very low temperature dependency below 100 ppm °C−1.
Platform enabling intelligent safety applications for vulnerable road users
Authors: Dozza Marco , Idegren Martin , Andersson Tomas , Fernandez Andre 
Published: August 2013

In 2009, 9108 vulnerable road users (VRUs; pedestrians and bicyclists) died in the EU and 4722 in the US. Active safety systems, that is intelligent systems able to predict and prevent crashes, may significantly help to reduce VRU fatalities and injuries; however, current active safety systems for VRUs are only found on high‐end vehicles, only support the host vehicle driver, and do not make use of wireless communication. The scope of this study is to describe the set‐up and real‐world verification of a platform to enable active safety systems for VRU. This platform is carried by VRUs and may support multiple road users using wireless communication. A simple conceptual application, addressing pedestrian safety at crossings, was developed to test the platform. This application was not cooperative (i.e. did not support multiple road users with wireless communication). The results presented in this study suggest that such a platform can be employed (i) as a logger for naturalistic studies on VRUs, (ii) to better understand VRU behaviour and accident causation and (iii) as a basis for the development of novel active safety applications, running on portable devices, such as future generation smart phones, and possibly enabled by wireless communication.