bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of surgical completeness between robotic total thyroidectomy versus open thyroidectomy
Authors: Tae Kyung , Song Chang M. , Ji Yong B. , Kim Kyung R. , Kim Ji Y. , Choi Yun Y. 
Published: December 2013

Objectives/HypothesisThe aim of this study was to investigate the surgical completeness of robotic total thyroidectomy compared with conventional open thyroidectomy.Study DesignRetrospective, case‐control study.MethodsWe studied 245 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent total thyroidectomy and postoperative radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation. Of these, 62 patients underwent robotic thyroidectomy by a gasless unilateral axillo‐breast (GUAB) or axillary (GUA) approach, and 183 underwent conventional open thyroidectomy. We analyzed serum TSH‐stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg) and RAI uptake at the time of RAI remnant ablation to compare surgical completeness in the two groups.ResultsTumor characteristics and complications did not differ between the two groups except TNM stage. The mean TSH‐stimulated Tg at the first RAI ablation was significantly higher in the robotic group (10.20 ± 9.98 ng/ml) than in the open group (3.85 ± 6.79 ng/ml) (P <0.001). In subgroup analysis of the robotic group by the period in which operations took place, TSH‐stimulated Tg was significantly higher than in the open group in the first (13.28 ± 11.91 ng/ml) and second (10.45 ± 9.30 ng/ml) periods, but there was no significant difference in the third period (6.00 ± 6.26 ng/ml, P = 0.141). The RAI uptake rate at the first RAI ablation did not differ between the two groups, and TSH‐stimulated Tg after RAI ablation was similar.ConclusionThe surgical completeness of robotic total thyroidectomy by a GUAB/GUB approach is comparable to that of open thyroidectomy, if performed by experienced robotic thyroid surgeons in properly selected patients.Level of Evidence3b. Laryngoscope, 124:1042–1047, 2014
Venturing into the no‐man's land of the retina in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Bodis‐Wollner Ivan , Miri Shahnaz , Glazman Sofya 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTThe development of optical coherence tomography (OCT) has led to increasing interest in the retina in Parkinson's disease (PD). The retina is a multilayered tissue: looking into the eye from the outside, these layers comprise the nerve fiber layer (NFL); the ganglion cell layer (GCL); the inner plexiform layer (IPL), which contains the interconnecting plexus, including tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive (dopaminergic) fibers of amacrine cells; the inner nuclear layer; and several outer retinal layers. Commercial spectral‐domain OCT has a specific program for detecting peripapillary NFL defects and a different macular program for diabetic retinopathy. Specific programs for PD are not commercially available. Taking all studies together, it seems that macular programs have a higher diagnostic yield than NFL programs, but the numbers of studies and examined patients are relatively small. It is not certain that all retinal thinning in PD is due to dopaminergic neuronal loss. When applying OCT, the where (region of interest) and the what of the focus of automated programs must be considered. With these caveats, one could take advantage of the power of OCT for looking in‐depth into the terra incognita of individual retinal layers at the fovea and perhaps at other appropriate retinal locations. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Computational Study of Drugs by Integrating Omics Data with Kernel Methods
Authors: Wang Yongcui C. , Deng Naiyang , Chen Shilong , Wang Yong 
Published: December 2013

AbstractWith the rapid development of genomic and chemogenomic techniques, many omics data sources for drugs have been publicly available. These data sources illustrate drug’s biological function in the living cell from different levels and different aspects. One straightforward idea is to learn understandable rules via computational models and algorithms to mine and integrate these data sources. Here, we review our recent efforts on developing kernel‐based methods to integrate drug related omics data sources. Three promising applications of our framework are shown to predict drug targets, assign drug’s ATC‐code annotation, and reveal drug repositioning. We demonstrate that data integration does provide more information and improve the accuracy by recovering more experimentally observed target proteins, ATC‐codes, and drug repositioning. Importantly, data integration can indicate novel predictions which are supported by database search and functional annotation analysis and worthy of further experimental validation. In conclusion, kernel methods can efficiently integrate heterogeneous data sources to computationally study drugs, and will promote the further research in drug discovery in a low‐cost way.
Comparing the Chemical Structure and Protein Content of ChEMBL, DrugBank, Human Metabolome Database and the Therapeutic Target Database
Authors: Southan Christopher , Sitzmann Markus , Muresan Sorel 
Published: December 2013

AbstractChEMBL, DrugBank, Human Metabolome Database and the Therapeutic Target Database are resources of curated chemistry‐to‐protein relationships widely used in the chemogenomic arena. In this work we have extended an earlier analysis (PMID 22821596) by comparing chemistry and protein target content between 2010 and 2013. For the former, details are presented for overlaps and differences, statistics of stereochemistry as well as stereo representation and MW profiles between the four databases. For 2013 our results indicate quality improvements, major expansion, increased achiral structures and changes in MW distributions. An orthogonal comparison of chemical content with different sources inside PubChem highlights further interpretable differences. Expansion of protein content by UniProt IDs is also recorded for 2013 and Gene Ontology comparisons for human‐only sets indicate differences. These emphasise the expanding complementarity of chemistry‐to‐protein relationships between sources, although different criteria are used for their capture.
Application of Person‐Centered Analytic Methodology in Longitudinal Research: Exemplars From the Women's Health Initiative Clinical Trial Data
Authors: Zaslavsky Oleg , Cochrane Barbara B. , Herting Jerald R. , Thompson Hilaire J. , Woods Nancy F. , LaCroix Andrea 
Published: December 2013

AbstractDespite the variety of available analytic methods, longitudinal research in nursing has been dominated by use of a variable‐centered analytic approach. The purpose of this article is to present the utility of person‐centered methodology using a large cohort of American women 65 and older enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Clinical Trial (N = 19,891). Four distinct trajectories of energy/fatigue scores were identified. Levels of fatigue were closely linked to age, socio‐demographic factors, comorbidities, health behaviors, and poor sleep quality. These findings were consistent regardless of the methodological framework. Finally, we demonstrated that energy/fatigue levels predicted future hospitalization in non‐disabled elderly. Person‐centered methods provide unique opportunities to explore and statistically model the effects of longitudinal heterogeneity within a population. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predictors of Attrition Among Rural Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Meneses Karen , Azuero Andres , Su Xiaogang , Benz Rachel , McNees Patrick 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAttrition can jeopardize both internal and external validity. The goal of this secondary analysis was to examine predictors of attrition using baseline data of 432 participants in the Rural Breast Cancer Survivors study. Attrition predictors were conceptualized based on demographic, social, cancer treatment, physical health, and mental health characteristics. Baseline measures were selected using this conceptualization. Bivariate tests of association, discrete‐time Cox regression models and recursive partitioning techniques were used in analysis. Results showed that 100 participants (23%) dropped out by Month 12. Non‐linear tree analyses showed that poor mental health and lack of health insurance were significant predictors of attrition. Findings contribute to future research efforts to reduce research attrition among rural underserved populations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Reformulated Low‐Rank ADI Iteration with Explicit Residual Factors
Authors: Benner Peter , Kürschner Patrick , Saak Jens 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBased on our recent findings [1, 2] regarding the low‐rank ADI iteration for large‐scale Lyapunov equations, we propose a mathematically equivalent formulation of the LR‐ADI whose iteration is directly connected to low rank factors of the Lyapunov residual. If complex shift parameters occur and are handled efficiently [1], this reformulation is slightly more efficient from a computational point of view, since it guarantees that the right hand sides of all linear systems that need to be solved are real. (© 2013 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Accuracy of two‐phase flow simulations: The Taylor Flow benchmark
Authors: Aland Sebastian , Lehrenfeld Christoph , Marschall Holger , Meyer Christoph , Weller Stephan 
Published: December 2013

AbstractWe detail on the relevance and characteristics of a Taylor Flow benchmark recently proposed within the framework of the Priority Program ‘Transport Processes at Fluidic Interfaces’ by the German Research Foundation (DFG‐SPP1506). (© 2013 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Usefulness of cerebral NIRS in detecting the effects of pediatric sleep apnea
Authors: Ullman Nachman , Anas Nick G. , Izaguirre Estela , Haugen Wendy , Ortiz Heather , Arguello Oscar , Nickerson Bruce , Mink Richard B. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBackgroundChildren with sleep apnea have increased morbidity if the sleep apnea is untreated. Polysomnography (PSG) is used to detect sleep apnea, but in children, there are technical difficulties that make the diagnosis more difficult. Cerebral near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has the ability to detect tissue hypoxia by measuring regional oxygen saturation (rSO2). We hypothesized that when used as an adjunct to PSG testing, cerebral NIRS would better detect the effects of sleep apnea in children than arterial pulse oximetry (SpO2). Specifically, we aimed to show that the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) calculated with rSO2 from the NIRS would be greater than that calculated with SpO2.MethodsForty‐seven patients under 18 years of age who underwent PSG testing for sleep apnea were evaluated. Cerebral NIRS was utilized in addition to PSG. The AHI was calculated using SpO2 and compared to the AHI calculated using the rSO2. A pediatric pulmonologist who was unaware of the NIRS data evaluated each patient for sleep apnea. Data are median (interquartile range).ResultsThe median AHI(rSO2) was 2.4(1.2,5.1), significantly greater (P < 0.0001) than the AHI(SpO2) of 0.7(0.4,1.2). Four patients were diagnosed with sleep apnea; however, only one had an AHI(SpO2) ≥ 5, a typical threshold for the diagnosis of sleep apnea. All 4 subjects had an AHI(rSO2) ≥ 5 but 10 patients without sleep apnea had a value ≥5. The sensitivity and specificity for using the AHI(rSO2) to diagnose sleep apnea was 100% and 76.7%, respectively.ConclusionConsistent with the ability of NIRS to detect tissue hypoxia, we found that the AHI calculated with rSO2 was greater than that using SpO2. We conclude that NIRS has potential as a valuable adjunct to PSG in evaluating patients for sleep apnea and warrants further investigation for this purpose. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014; 49:1036–1042. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Risk Factors for First Time Incidence Sciatica: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cook Chad E. , Taylor Jeffrey , Wright Alexis , Milosavljevic Steven , Goode Adam , Whitford Maureen 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackground and PurposeCharacteristically, sciatica involves radiating leg pain that follows a dermatomal pattern along the distribution of the sciatic nerve. To our knowledge, there are no studies that have investigated risk factors associated with first time incidence sciatica. The purpose of the systematic review was to identify the longitudinal risk factors associated with first time incidence sciatica and to report incidence rates for the condition. For the purposes of this review, first time incidence sciatica was defined as either of the following: 1) no prior history of sciatica or 2) transition from a pain‐free state to sciatica. Studies included subjects of any age from longitudinal, observational, cohort designs.MethodsThe study was a systematic review. Eight of the 239 articles identified by electronic search strategies met the inclusion criteria.ResultsRisk factors and their respective effect estimates were reported using descriptive analysis and the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses guidelines. Modifiable risk factors included smoking, obesity, occupational factors and health status. Non‐modifiable factors included age, gender and social class. Incidence rates varied among the included studies, in part reflecting the variability in the operationalized definition of sciatica but ranged from <1% to 37%.DiscussionA majority of the identified risk factors associated with first time sciatica are modifiable, suggesting the potential benefits of primary prevention. In addition, those risk factors are also associated with unhealthy lifestyles, which may function concomitantly toward the development of sciatica. Sciatica as a diagnosis is inconsistently defined among studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Yb3+ site occupation and host sensitization luminescence of a novel near‐infrared emitting Sr2CaMoO6:Yb3+ phosphor
Authors: Wang Enyan , Zhou Wenli , Liu Chunmeng , Wang Jing , Kuang Xiaojun , Ye Yanmei , Tang Jinke , Su Qiang 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe host sensitized near‐infrared (NIR) emitting phosphor Sr2CaMoO6:Yb3+ was fabricated by the solid state reaction method. The structural refinement and Raman spectra elucidate that Yb3+ ions preferentially occupy Ca2+ sites. The phosphor can harvest ultraviolet (UV)–blue photons and exhibits intense NIR emission at around 1012 nm with full‐width‐at‐half‐maximum of 1635 cm–1. Moreover, the absolute NIR photoluminesence quantum yield (PLQY) is estimated to be about 9%. The Sr2CaMoO6:Yb3+ phosphor may be a promising luminescence downshifting material for improving the spectral response of solar cells in the UV region. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Promoting University Students' Engagement in Learning Through Instructor‐Initiated EFL Writing Groups
Authors: Mutwarasibo Faustin 
Published: December 2013

This article examines how to promote university students' engagement in learning by means of instructor‐initiated English as a foreign language (EFL) writing groups. The research took place in Rwanda and was undertaken as a case study involving 34 second‐year undergraduate students, divided into 12 small working groups, and one instructor. The data were collected by means of open‐ended group interviews carried out after each of the 12 groups had finished writing an essay in English. In their responses, students acknowledged having improved their interpersonal and collaborative skills through EFL group writing. Students also indicated that, while discussing and interacting with their group members and with the support from their instructor, they improved their English vocabulary, gained new ideas and perspectives, and enhanced their learning about text coherence, all of which led to improvement in their EFL writing. However, a minority of students did not appreciate writing together, due to continued internal disagreements and member incompatibility. The author proposes strategies to make group work an effective learning tool inside and outside the classroom, particularly in EFL contexts.
Biomolecular motors in nanoscale materials, devices, and systems
Authors: Bachand George D. , Bouxsein Nathan F. , VanDelinder Virginia , Bachand Marlene 
Published: December 2013

Biomolecular motors are a unique class of intracellular proteins that are fundamental to a considerable number of physiological functions such as DNA replication, organelle trafficking, and cell division. The efficient transformation of chemical energy into useful work by these proteins provides strong motivation for their utilization as nanoscale actuators in ex vivo, meso‐ and macro‐scale hybrid systems. Biomolecular motors involved in cytoskeletal transport are quite attractive models within this context due to their ability to direct the transport of nano‐/micro‐scale objects at rates significantly greater than diffusion, and in the absence of bulk fluid flow. As in living organisms, biomolecular motors involved in cytoskeletal transport (i.e., kinesin, dynein, and myosin) function outside of their native environment to dissipatively self‐assemble biological, biomimetic, and hybrid nanostructures that exhibit nonequilibrium behaviors such as self‐healing. These systems also provide nanofluidic transport function in hybrid nanodevices where target analytes are actively captured, sorted, and transported for autonomous sensing and analytical applications. Moving forward, the implementation of biomolecular motors will continue to enable a wide range of unique functionalities that are presently limited to living systems, and support the development of nanoscale systems for addressing critical engineering challenges.This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing
Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices
Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Candidates for Limited Lateral Neck Dissection among Patients with Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Kang Byung Chul , Roh Jong‐Lyel , Lee Jeong Hyun , Cho Kyung‐Ja , Gong Gyungyub , Choi Seung‐Ho , Nam Soon Yuhl , Kim Sang Yoon 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundPapillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is associated with an excellent prognosis but frequently spreads to regional lymph nodes. The extent of neck dissection, particularly routine level II or V lymphadenectomy, is still controversial as it may lead to spinal accessory nerve injury and associated postoperative morbidities. We assessed the diagnostic value of preoperative ultrasonography (US) plus computed tomography (CT) for detecting metastatic lymph nodes and for identifying predictors of level II or V metastasis in patients with PTC.MethodsThe results of US and CT were compared with histopathologic findings at various neck levels in 209 previously untreated PTC patients with lateral cervical nodal metastases who underwent total thyroidectomy with central and lateral neck dissection. Clinicopathologic predictors for level II or V metastases were identified.ResultsPathologic metastases to level II and V were observed in 53.6 and 25.4 % of patients, respectively. Occult metastases were found in 34.5 and 16.8 %, respectively. The sensitivities of US plus CT for levels II and V were 64.6 and 50.9 %, respectively. Image‐based, isolated lateral level IV involvement and macroscopic extranodal extension were independently associated with level II metastasis or either level II or V metastasis (p < 0.01). Macroscopic extranodal extension was also independently associated with level V metastasis (p = 0.001).ConclusionsPatients with image‐based, isolated lateral level IV involvement and no macroscopic extranodal extension are potential candidates for limited level III–IV dissection or prophylactic level II lymphadenectomy omission. Level V lymphadenectomy may be omitted in patients without macroscopic extranodal extension.
Parameter estimation for reaction‐diffusion models of biological invasions
Authors: Soubeyrand Samuel , Roques Lionel 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn this note, we discuss parameter estimation for population models based on partial differential equations (PDEs). Parametric estimation is first considered in the perspective of inverse problems (i.e., when the observation of the solution of a PDE is exactly observed or noise‐free). Then, adopting the point of view of statistics, we turn to parametric estimation for PDEs using more realistic noisy measurements. The approach that we describe uses mechanistic‐statistical models which combine (1) a PDE‐based submodel describing the dynamic under study and (2) a stochastic submodel describing the observation process. This Note is expected to contribute to bridge the gap between modelers using PDEs and population ecologists collecting and analyzing spatio‐temporal data.
Detection of the horizontal spatial structure of soil fungal communities in a natural forest
Authors: Kadowaki Kohmei , Sato Hirotoshi , Yamamoto Satoshi , Tanabe Akifumi S. , Hidaka Amane , Toju Hirokazu 
Published: December 2013

AbstractSoil microbes are considered to be a key determinant of the aboveground plant community. They are not distributed uniformly in the environment, and their activity, abundance, and ecosystem functioning could vary across localities, characterized by high β‐diversity. Investigating factors that contribute to high β‐diversity can help infer the possible mechanisms of microbial community assembly, and predict the scale and extent of impacts that soil microbes have on the plant community. Because soil systems consist of multiple horizons (i.e., vertical stratification) associated with different soil properties, complete understanding of high β‐diversity requires consideration of both horizontal and vertical spatial structures of soil microbial communities. We studied the community composition of soil fungi from the O‐ and A‐horizons in a Castanopsis‐dominated temperate forest, and compared horizontal spatial autocorrelation in species composition between the two soil horizons (O‐ versus A‐horizons). Pyrosequencing analysis yielded 67,129 sequencing reads, summed across all the 48 forest soil samples. Clustering analysis resulted in 597 molecular operational taxonomic units (OTUs), 68 % of which were identified as fungi, represented by four phyla. The Mantel test revealed that the O‐horizon communities are spatially clustered, and the observed high β‐diversity was driven not only by changes in OTUs present, but also by high turnover in identities of OTUs in soil samples. Furthermore, Mantel correlogram analysis showed that the O‐horizon communities resembled each other in composition within the range of 50 m, whereas the A‐horizon communities lacked such horizontal autocorrelation. These differences in the scale patchiness could arise from two processes: (1) that environmental conditions could show higher heterogeneity in finer scale at the A‐horizon than at the O‐horizon; and/or (2) dispersal could be more frequent at the O‐horizon than the A‐horizon. The present study suggests that either environmental filtering (i.e., the niche‐based process) or dispersal limitation (i.e., neutral process) could characterize the observed patterns of spatial clustering in the soil fungal community.