bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Broken bar indicators for cage induction motors and their relationship with the number of consecutive broken bars
Authors: Martinez Javier , Belahcen Anouar , Arkkio Antero 
Published: August 2013

The study presents analysis of the broken bar induction machine, through numerical, analytical and experimental investigations. Numerical finite element analysis is carried out with a commercial software in which coupling between the windings circuit equations and equations of the magnetic field has been implemented and verified through intensive measurements. An analytical model has also been constructed to understand and explain the origin of different frequencies detected in the case of broken bars. The analytical model enabled prediction of frequencies, in a new manner, when the number of consecutive broken bars increases. The novelty of this study arises from derivation of an expression linking stator current harmonics (using the wave number of a broken cage), slip harmonic and saturation harmonic, which is closely related to the number of consecutive broken bars. The model also takes into account the speed ripple. This expression has been validated by both finite element model (FEM) and measurements on a 22 kW induction machine with healthy and faulty rotors.
Minimum switching loss pulse width modulation for reduced power conversion loss in reactive power compensators
Authors: Siva Prasad Jaldanki Sreenivasa , Narayanan Gopalaratnam 
Published: August 2013

Advanced bus‐clamping switching sequences, which employ an active vector twice in a subcycle, are used to reduce line current distortion and switching loss in a space vector modulated voltage source converter. This study evaluates minimum switching loss pulse width modulation (MSLPWM), which is a combination of such sequences, for static reactive power compensator (STATCOM) application. It is shown that MSLPWM results in a significant reduction in device loss over conventional space vector pulse width modulation. Experimental verification is presented at different power levels of up to 150 kVA.
DNorm: disease name normalization with pairwise learning to rank
Authors: Leaman Robert , Islamaj Doğan Rezarta , Lu Zhiyong 
Published: August 2013

AbstractMotivation: Despite the central role of diseases in biomedical research, there have been much fewer attempts to automatically determine which diseases are mentioned in a text—the task of disease name normalization (DNorm)—compared with other normalization tasks in biomedical text mining research.Methods: In this article we introduce the first machine learning approach for DNorm, using the NCBI disease corpus and the MEDIC vocabulary, which combines MeSH® and OMIM. Our method is a high-performing and mathematically principled framework for learning similarities between mentions and concept names directly from training data. The technique is based on pairwise learning to rank, which has not previously been applied to the normalization task but has proven successful in large optimization problems for information retrieval.Results: We compare our method with several techniques based on lexical normalization and matching, MetaMap and Lucene. Our algorithm achieves 0.782 micro-averaged F-measure and 0.809 macro-averaged F-measure, an increase over the highest performing baseline method of 0.121 and 0.098, respectively.Availability: The source code for DNorm is available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/CBBresearch/Lu/Demo/DNorm, along with a web-based demonstration and links to the NCBI disease corpus. Results on PubMed abstracts are available in PubTator: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/CBBresearch/Lu/Demo/PubTatorContact: zhiyong.lu@nih.gov
Analysis of Serum γ‐Glutamyl Transferase Levels in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Patients
Authors: Hirfanoglu Ibrahim M. , Unal Sezin , Onal E. Esra , Beken Serdar , Turkyilmaz Canan , Pasaoglu Hatice , Koc Esin , Ergenekon Ebru , Atalay Yildiz 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACTObjectives:Gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) is commonly measured in newborn infants as a sensitive liver function test; however, reference ranges are mostly based on early studies, including relatively small number of patients. The aim of this study was to emphasise recently changed GGT values because of changed newborns profile admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and establish new cross‐sectional reference ranges for the serum GGT levels in a cohort of neonates between 26 and 42 weeks' gestational age in 1 centre.Methods:From January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012, liver function tests including serum GGT measurements were performed in 705 newborns who were admitted to NICUs because of different aetiologies at Gazi University School of Medicine Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Infants with Apgar score <8 at the fifth minute, any metabolic or liver disease, cholestasis, congenital infection, culture‐proven sepsis, elevated serum aminotransferases, and who were treated with phenobarbital were excluded. Clinical and laboratory data of 583 neonates were analysed retrospectively. GGT was measured by enzymatic method using the Abbott Architect C16000 autoanalyser. Mean, 2.5th, and 97.5th percentiles were used to express the reference range data.Results:Four hundred sixty‐one GGT values of 200 preterm infants and 501 GGT values of 383 term infants during the first 28 days after birth were analysed. Serum GGT levels of preterm infants in the first 7 days and between 8 and 28 days after delivery were (mean ± standard deviation; 141.81 ± 88.56 U/L and 131.17 ± 85.53 U/L) similar to term infants (139.90 ± 86.46 U/L and 144.56 ± 86.51 U/L), respectively (P = 0.649 and P = 0.087). Serum GGT levels were found to be significantly higher in male infants (no need of query) (145.98 ± 93.68 U/L) than female infants (132.18 ± 78.97 U/L) (P = 0.035), and infants born vaginally (152.24 ± 90.71 U/L) also had higher serum GGT activity than those born by caesarean section (135.38 ± 85.37 U/L) (P = 0.005).Conclusions:A new reference range for serum GGT levels that is higher than previous reference values can identify neonates with truly abnormal results and prevent unnecessary interventions.
Obesity and Symptomatic Cholelithiasis in Childhood
Authors: Fradin Kelly , Racine Andrew D. , Belamarich Peter F. 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACTObjectives:The aims of this study were to correlate the temporal trends in obesity prevalence with hospitalization rates for symptomatic cholelithiasis and to estimate the strength of the association between obesity and symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients hospitalized at an urban children's hospital in New York serving a multiethnic population.Methods:Using obesity prevalence data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the rates of hospitalization for cholelithiasis derived from the Kids' Inpatient Database for 1997–2007, we estimated a correlation and a linear regression. We conducted a retrospective, case‐control study in which each case ages 4 to 20 years with symptomatic cholelithiasis was individually matched to a control admitted with appendicitis based on age, sex, ethnicity, and race.Results:The prevalence of obesity and the cholelithiasis hospitalization rate increased over time (R = 0.87, P = 0.0025). For every 1% increase in the obesity rate among children, the rate of hospitalization for gallstones increased by 0.65/100,000 children (R2 = 0.75, P = 0.0025, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32–0.99). The odds ratio for obesity in cases versus controls was 5.78 (n = 518, P < 0.0001, 95% CI 3.50–9.53). We found a significant dose‐response effect, which showed that for every 1 z score increase in body mass index, the risk of cholelithiasis was increased by 79% (P < 0.0001, 95% CI 1.5–2.13).Conclusions:The national trend in the prevalence of obesity from 1997 to 2009 was significantly correlated with increasing rates of hospitalization for pediatric cholelithiasis. Our case‐control study suggests that obesity is a significant risk factor for hospital admission because of cholelithiasis.
Technical and cost efficiency of rural household apple production
Authors: Wang Lijia , Huo Xuexi , Kabir Shajahan 
Published: August 2013

PurposeAt the center of apple production province in China, how to increase apple per unit yield and to improve apple production efficiency in Shaanxi become big issues. The objectives of this paper are to investigate the technical efficiency (TE) and cost efficiency (CE) of apple orchard and to analyse determinants which affect apple production efficiency. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThis paper conducts a two‐stage DEA to achieve the objectives. In the first‐stage, a cost minimization model is applied to measure apple production efficiency. Then, a Tobit model is provided to estimate regression coefficients which are used to adjust the efficiency scores in the first‐stage.FindingsThe results indicate that TE and CE are rather low in Shaanxi. The research also explores that the inefficient production of apple farmers is caused mainly by two aspects. One is the inefficient apple orchards operation of farmers. The other is the disadvantageous environmental conditions which heavily affect apple growth and fruit bearing situation.Originality/valueMost of the research are based on national statistical data, and only measure the TE. This paper primarily focuses on the estimation of efficiency scores with the data involved in both quantity and price information of traditional inputs and outputs based on 255 apple farmers in Shaanxi. Specifically, This paper also consider farmer's opportunity cost to which little literature refers. The results not only reveal the efficient determinants of apple production, but also provide suggestions for agricultural policy makers.
Decision making with the uncertain IMOWAD operator
Authors: Zeng Shouzhen 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a new decision making technique called the uncertain induced Minkowski OWA distance (UIMOWAD) operator.Design/methodology/approachThe developed UIMOWAD operator is a new aggregation operator that uses the IOWA operator, the Minkowski distance and interval numbers. It is an extension of the IMOWAD operator that uses uncertain information in the aggregation represented in the form of interval numbers.FindingsThe UIMOWAD operator is very suitable to deal with complex reordering processes that represent a wide range of factors in an uncertain environment that can be assessed with interval numbers.Research limitations/implicationsClearly, this paper is devoted to the OWA operator and uncertain theory.Practical implicationsThe UIMOWAD operator is applicable in a wide range of situations such as decision‐making, statistics, engineering and economics.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified need to study how to make a decision according to expert's interest in uncertain environment.
Tumor necrosis factor‐like weak inducer of apoptosis and its receptor fibroblast growth factor‐inducible 14 are expressed in urticarial vasculitis
Authors: Li Mengmeng , Chen Tao , Guo Zaipei , Li Jingyi , Cao Na 
Published: August 2013

AbstractTumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a member of the TNF family, has been implicated as a pro‐inflammatory cytokine in many types of autoimmune and infectious diseases. However, information about TWEAK in dermatological diseases is limited. To date, no studies have investigated the roles of TWEAK in patients with urticarial vasculitis (UV). This study aimed to assess serum TWEAK levels, together with TWEAK and fibroblast growth factor‐inducible 14 (Fn14) expressions of skin lesions in patients with UV. Serum TWEAK levels in patients with UV, together with patients with cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis (CLA) and healthy controls were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay; TWEAK and Fn14 expressions of skin lesions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results showed that TWEAK and Fn14 were abundantly expressed in the dermal vessel wall of lesional skin in patients with UV but not healthy controls. Serum TWEAK levels in the acute stage in patients with UV were significantly higher than those in the convalescent stage and healthy controls. Serum TWEAK levels were elevated significantly in patients with CLA compared with those in healthy controls. Our previous study indicated that TWEAK may be an important mediator for the development of vascular inflammation in skin. In addition, we also found that TWEAK blockade substantially reduced vascular damage and perivascular leukocyte infiltrates in lipopolysaccharide‐induced cutaneous vasculitis. Our study shows that TWEAK may be associated with the pathogenesis of UV; it is therefore suggested that TWEAK may be a potential therapeutic target for UV and other types of cutaneous vasculitis.
Thermal Modifications of Root Transparency and Implications for Aging: A Pilot Study
Authors: Gibelli Daniele , De Angelis Danilo , Rossetti Francesca , Cappella Annalisa , Frustaci Michela , Magli Francesca , Mazzarelli Debora , Mazzucchi Alessandra , Cattaneo Cristina 
Published: August 2013

AbstractRoot transparency has proven to be related to age and has been considered by different odontological methods for age estimation. Very little is known concerning possible variations of root transparency with heat, although the applicability of the method to burnt remains depends on the possible modifications of this specific variable. This pilot study presents the results of an experiment performed on 105 teeth obtained from dental patients and autopsy material, heated in an industrial oven at 50°C, 100°C, 150°C and 200°C. Root transparency was measured before and after the charring experiment. The heating process proved to radically modify root transparency, which decreased in 20% of samples at 50°C, in 34.6% at 100°C, in 50% at 150°C, in 77% at 200°C. The overall correlation index (CI) between decrease in root transparency and increase in temperature amounted to 0.96. These results show that heat may modify root transparency and suggest caution in using methods based on root transparency for age estimation.
Influence of dietary feathers on the fecal microbiota in captive Arctic fox: Do dietary hair or feathers play a role in the evolution of carnivorous mammals?
Authors: ZHANG Liang , YANG Shuhui , XU Yanchun , DAHMER Thomas D. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractHair and feathers are composed of keratin and are indigestible, inalimental and unpalatable for carnivores. However, carnivores often ingest hair and feathers during feeding or when grooming. We hypothesized that ingestion of hair and feathers changes species diversity and relative abundance of bacteria in the gut of carnivores. To test this hypothesis, we added disinfected poultry down feathers to the normal diet of captive Arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus). We then used fluorescently labeled terminal restriction fragments (T‐RFs) to examine changes in fecal bacterial diversity and abundance. The results showed that the number of bacterial species increased significantly after feather ingestion, but that total abundance was unchanged. This demonstrated that addition of disinfected feathers to the diet stimulated increased production among less abundant bacteria, resulting in a balancing of relative abundance of different bacterial species, or that some newly‐ingested microbial species would colonize the gut because a suitable microhabitat had become available. This implies that the overall production of bacterial metabolites would be made up of a greater range of substances after feather ingestion. On one hand, the host's immune response would be more diverse, increasing the capacity of the immune system to regulate gut microflora. On the other hand, the animal's physiological performance would also be affected. For wild animals, such altered physiological traits would be subjected to natural selection, and, hence, persistent geographic differences in the character of ingested feathers or fur would drive speciation.
Clinical outcomes and direct costings of endoluminal clipping compared to surgery in the management of iatrogenic colonic perforation
Authors: Chan Wah‐Kheong , Roslani April Camilla , Law Chee‐Wei , Goh Khean‐Lee , Mahadeva Sanjiv 
Published: August 2013

ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes and costs of endoluminal clipping and surgery in the management of iatrogenic colonic perforation.MethodsA retrospective, single‐center, clinical and economic analysis of outcomes and costings between endoluminal clipping and surgery in consecutive cases of iatrogenic colonic perforations was conducted.ResultsIn total, 7136 colonoscopies performed over a 6‐year period were complicated by 12 (0.17%) perforations. Seven cases were treated by endoscopic clipping (with a success rate of 71.4%) and five with immediate surgery. Both groups of patients had similar clinical and individual characteristics. Patients who were treated with endoscopic clipping had a shorter period of hospitalization (median 9 vs 13 days) compared to surgery, but this was not statistically significant. Compared to patients who had immediate surgery, the median direct health‐care costs for all procedures (US$ 115.10 vs US$ 1479.50, P = 0.012) and investigations (US$ 124.60 vs US$ 512.90, P = 0.048) during inpatient stay were lower for the endoscopic clipping group. There was a trend towards a lower overall inpatient median cost for patients managed with endoscopic clipping compared to surgery (US$ 1481.70 vs US$ 3281.90, P = 0.073).ConclusionEndoluminal clipping may be more cost‐effective than surgery in the management of iatrogenic colonic perforations.
Validation of a single‐nucleotide polymorphism panel for parentage testing of farmed red deer
Authors: Gudex B. , Walker M. , Fisher P. , Spelman R. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryRed deer behaviour prevents the accurate physical matching of dams to fawns and, therefore, breeders have to rely on DNA‐based parentage testing. A panel consisting of 100 single nucleotide polymorphism markers, with an average minor allele frequency of 0.25, was able to resolve 92% of fawns to both parents. In comparison, an existing 12‐marker microsatellite panel was able to resolve 68% of fawns to both parents. When excluding dam DNA information, the single nucleotide polymorphism panel matched 81% of the fawns to their sires and the microsatellite panel 71%.
Anti‐Müllerian hormone levels in salpingectomized compared with nonsalpingectomized women with tubal factor infertility and women with unexplained infertility
Authors: Grynnerup Anna G.‐A. , Lindhard Anette , Sørensen Steen 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the consequence of salpingectomy on ovarian reserve by measuring anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels before in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in salpingectomized women compared with nonsalpingectomized women with tubal factor infertility, women with unexplained infertility and fertile control women, and to evaluate whether AMH levels could predict IVF outcome.DesignCross‐sectional study extended from a previous prospective study.SettingFour university fertility clinics.PatientsSeventy‐one women with infertility and 21 fertile controls.InterventionsBlood sampling and IVF and embryo transfer in the following cycle.Main outcome measureSerum AMH levels and oocytes retrieved.ResultsAnti‐Müllerian hormone levels were significantly lower in the salpingectomy infertility group (median 16.1, range 5.2–54 pmol/L) compared with the nonsalpingectomy tubal factor infertility group (median 23.4, range 3.5–50 pmol/L; p = 0.04). In all groups, AMH levels correlated positively with the number of oocytes retrieved. AMH predicted poor response (five or fewer oocytes) with a sensitivity and specificity of 90% and 70%, at a 19 pmol/L cut‐off value.ConclusionSerum AMH levels were lower in salpingectomized women compared with women with tubal factor infertility and preserved Fallopian tubes, indicating that ovarian reserve might be affected by tubal surgery. Furthermore, serum AMH levels could predict a poor oocyte response (five or fewer oocytes) in the study group of infertile women.
Hypermethylation of HOXA10 gene in mid‐luteal endometrium from women with ovarian endometriomas
Authors: Fambrini Massimiliano , Sorbi Flavia , Bussani Cecilia , Cioni Riccardo , Sisti Giovanni , Andersson Karin L. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractA decrease in HOXA10 gene expression in eutopic mid‐secretory endometrium has been found in women with endometriosis‐associated infertility. Promoter hypermethylation of HOXA10 is thought to be the leading mechanism for epigenetic gene regulation in patients with endometriosis. In our series we documented significantly higher HOXA10 promoter methylation levels in women with ovarian endometriomas than in healthy controls during the mid‐luteal phase. Development of epigenetic‐based strategies for non‐surgical treatment of infertility related to ovarian endometriomas could be an attractive field of research in the coming years.
Remote Monitoring of Left Ventricular Assist Device Parameters After HeartAssist‐5 Implantation
Authors: Pektok Erman , Demirozu Zumrut Tuba , Arat Nurcan , Yildiz Omer , Oklu Emine , Eker Deniz , Ece Ferah , Ciftci Cavlan , Yazicioglu Nuran , Bayindir Osman , Kucukaksu Deniz Suha 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAlthough several left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been used widely, remote monitoring of LVAD parameters has been available only recently. We present our remote monitoring experience with an axial‐flow LVAD (HeartAssist‐5, MicroMed Cardiovascular, Inc., Houston, TX, USA). Five consecutive patients who were implanted a HeartAssist‐5 LVAD because of end‐stage heart failure due to ischemic (n = 4) or idiopathic (n = 1) cardiomyopathy, and discharged from hospital between December 2011 and January 2013 were analyzed. The data (pump speed, pump flow, power consumption) obtained from clinical visits and remote monitoring were studied. During a median follow‐up of 253 (range: 80–394) days, fine tuning of LVADs was performed at clinical visits. All patients are doing well and are in New York Heart Association Class‐I/II. A total of 39 alarms were received from three patients. One patient was hospitalized for suspected thrombosis and was subjected to physical examinations as well as laboratory and echocardiographic evaluations; however, no evidence of thrombus washout or pump thrombus was found. The patient was treated conservatively. Remaining alarms were due to insufficient water intake and were resolved by increased water consumption at night and summer times, and fine tuning of pump speed. No alarms were received from the remaining two patients. We believe that remote monitoring is a useful technology for early detection and treatment of serious problems occurring out of hospital thereby improving patient care. Future developments may ease troubleshooting, provide more data from the patient and the pump, and eventually increase physician and patient satisfaction. Despite all potential clinical benefits, remote monitoring should be taken as a supplement to rather than a substitute for routine clinical visits for patient follow‐up.