bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Blindness and Diabetic Retinopathy in Northern Jordan
Authors: Rabiu Mansur M. , Al Bdour Muawyah D. , Abu Ameerh Mohammed A. , Jadoon Muhammed Z. 
Published: February 2015

Purpose To estimate the prevalence of blindness, visual impairment, diabetes, and diabetic retinopathy in north Jordan (Irbid) using the rapid assessment of avoidable blindness and diabetic retinopathy methodology. Methods A multistage cluster random sampling technique was used to select participants for this survey. A total of 108 clusters were selected using probability proportional to size method while subjects within the clusters were selected using compact segment method. Survey teams moved from house to house in selected segments examining residents 50 years and older until 35 participants were recruited. All eligible people underwent a standardized examination protocol, which included ophthalmic examination and random blood sugar test using digital glucometers (Accu-Chek) in their homes. Diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients was assessed through dilated fundus examination. Results A total of 3638 out of the 3780 eligible participants were examined. Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of blindness, severe visual impairment, and visual impairment with available correction were 1.33% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-1.73), 1.82% (95% CI 1.35-2.25), and 9.49% (95% CI 8.26-10.74), respectively, all higher in women. Untreated cataract and diabetic retinopathy were the major causes of blindness, accounting for 46.7% and 33.2% of total blindness cases, respectively. Glaucoma was the third major cause, accounting for 8.9% of cases. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 28.6% (95% CI 26.9-30.3) among the study population and higher in women. The prevalence of any retinopathy among diabetic patients was 48.4%. Conclusions Cataract and diabetic retinopathy are the 2 major causes of blindness and visual impairment in northern Jordan. For both conditions, women are primarily affected, suggesting possible limitations to access to services. A diabetic retinopathy screening program needs to proactively create sex-sensitive awareness and provide easily accessible screening services with prompt treatment.
Evaluation of Sex Differences in Corneal Hysteresis
Authors: Allam Riham S.H.M. , Khalil Noha M.M.M. 
Published: February 2015

Purpose To study sex differences in corneal biomechanical parameters in Egypt as regards to corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg), and corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc). Methods This is a cross-sectional observational study that includes 350 eyes of 350 normal subjects (175 men and 175 women) who were evaluated using the Reichert ocular response analyzer (ORA) to measure CH, CRF, IOPg, and IOPcc. Results The mean CH in men was 9.69 ± 2.05 mm Hg (range 5.7–14.6 mm Hg) and in women 10.41 ± 1.65 mm Hg (range 7–14.4 mm Hg) with a p value of 0.00038. The mean CRF in men was 9.54 ± 2.16 mm Hg (range 4.9–14.4 mm Hg) and in women was 10.37 ± 1.71 mm Hg (range 7.3–15.5 mm Hg) with a p value of 0.00008. The mean IOPg in men was 14.78 ± 4.15 mm Hg (range 7.2–26.5 mm Hg) and in women was 15.44 ± 3.3 mm Hg (range 8.6–23.7 mm Hg) with a p value of 0.09. The mean IOPcc in men was 16.2 ± 4.08 mm Hg (range 10.9–28.9 mm Hg) and in women was 15.86 ± 3.41 (range 9.7–24.2 mm Hg) with a p value of 0.4. There was a statistically significant difference between men and women in CH and CRF while IOPg and IOPcc showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Conclusions There is a statistically significant difference between men and women in CH and CRF, where women show higher values, while no statistically significant difference exists between the groups in IOPg or IOPcc.
Efficacy of Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Bonnin Sophie , Dupas Bénédicte , Sanharawi Mohamed El , Perol Julien , Erginay Ali , Tadayoni Ramin , Massin Pascale 
Published: February 2015

Purpose To assess the efficacy of a single dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Dex-I) injection for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods This was a retrospective chart review of 39 eyes (34 consecutive patients). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) (>24 mm Hg) were analyzed before treatment and 2 and 4 months after injection. Results Preoperative mean CMT was 559 ± 111 μm and decreased to 338 ± 84 and 477 ± 140 μm 2 and 4 months after injection, respectively. Although all eyes showed a significant decrease in CMT 2 months after injection (p<0.0001), a recurrence of the macular edema was observed 4 months after injection in 79% of eyes. Mean BCVA improvement (logMAR) was 0.13 ± 0.18 (p<0.0001) and 0.07 ± 0.21 (p = 0.049) 2 and 4 months after injection, respectively, without significant difference between vitrectomized and nonvitrectomized eyes. Eight eyes (21%) developed reversible increase in IOP 2 months after injection. Conclusions Thirty percent of DME eyes had gained more than 2 logMAR lines 2 months after Dex-I injection and safety was good. Visual acuity gain was maintained 4 months after injection despite a recurrence of edema in most cases.
Modified Anterolateral Approach in Minimally Invasive Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Tsai Shang-Wen , Chen Cheng-Fong , Wu Po-Kuei , Chen Tain-Hsiung , Liu Chien-Lin , Chen Wei-Ming 
Published: February 2015

Purpose of the study Minimally invasive procedures for total hip arthroplasty (THA) provide less surgery related trauma, and perhaps a fast recovery and satisfaction. Using modified instruments, we reported clinical follow-up data for a modified anterolateral approach. Basic procedures Using specialised retractors to expose the acetabulum and femur, this single-incision technique preserved more gluteus medius tendon and provided access for soft tissue repair. The demographic data for 1003 patients undergoing THA with this technique are presented, including operative variables, complications, Harris Hip Score for clinical evaluation and cup inclination angle for radiographic evaluation. Average follow-up was 59 months (range 24-121). Main findings In 1077 primary THAs performed in 1003 patients, the median wound length was 6 cm (range 4.8-9.2), median operation time was 68 minutes (range 45-112). The mean perioperative blood loss was 422 mls (range 56-990). The median cup inclination angle was 44 degrees (range 33-54), median acetabular version angle was 17° (range 12-24) median length of hospitalisation was 4 days (range 3-8). A total of 22 (2.0%) complications were noted including 5 cases of stem subsidence, 4 cup loosening, 5 greater trochanter fractures, 4 infections, 2 intraoperative proximal femur fractures and 2 iliopsoas impingement. In total, 13 (1.2%) received additional surgery. No neurovascular injury or dislocation was noted. For the clinical results, Harris Hip Score improved from 53 (range 33-67) preoperatively to 94 postoperatively (range 87-100). Principal conclusions Minimally invasive surgery via this modified anterolateral approach is a safe and reliable method.
First Experiences with the Direct Anterior Approach in Lateral Decubitus Position: Learning Curve and 1 Year Complication Rate
Authors: Melman Wietse P.R. , Mollen Bas P. , Kollen Boudewijn J. , Verheyen Cees C.P.M. 
Published: February 2015

The direct anterior approach (DAA) in supine position for hip arthroplasty has been reported to suffer from high complication rates initially. The DAA with the patient in lateral decubitus position is believed to provide better visibility and especially femoral accessibility with potential fewer complications. The first cohort of total hip prostheses, which were implanted by a single surgeon using DAA in lateral decubitus position more than 1 year ago, was analysed retrospectively. In total 182 hip prostheses (172 patients) were analysed. Three consecutive time periods based on equal number of surgical procedures were compared. The technical complication rate and operating time improved significantly between the 3 consecutive groups. The 1 year infection rate was 0.5% and survival rate of 98.9%. This is the first series of patients that were subjected to a hip replacement based on the direct anterior approach in a lateral decubitus position in which decreasing complication rates suggest the presence of a learning curve in surgeons conducting this type of surgery. Initial complication rate was high but decreased significantly in time and was acceptable certainly in the third group of our cohort. An unacceptable complication rate with the straight uncemented stem forced us to discontinue this configuration after only 7 surgical procedures. Complication, infection and revision rates were acceptable for the all cemented hip replacements using a curved anatomical stem.
What is the Best Training for Vascular access Surgery?
Authors: Lazarides Miltos K. , Georgiadis George S. , Georgakarakos Efstratios I. 
Published: February 2015

Questions have been raised whether there is a lack of appropriate training in access creation and maintenance, and if training juniors in arteriovenous (AV) fistulas may affect the outcome. A survey was undertaken to study “experts” opinion in access training using a closed questionnaire. The majority of “experts” consented that there is a lack of appropriate training in access creation and maintenance in a great extent, although they located the main deficit regarding access training in the pre-operative planning and decision making. Regarding the second question, a literature search revealed only four studies, comparing the outcomes of AV fistulas created either by consultant surgeons or trainees. A meta-analysis performed revealed that 1-year patency rate was not statistically significant different among access procedures created either by consultants or trainees. Access surgery shares the same basic principles with vascular surgery and provides a valuable workload for the trainees and is a necessity to become a building component in all “core” vascular curricula; the required skills can be acquired with the trainees operating independently simple cases, as the latter is not leading to suboptimal outcomes.
Fibrin Sheath Formation and Intimal Thickening after Catheter Placement in Dog Model: Role of Hemodynamic Wall Shear Stress
Authors: Wang Li Hua , Wei Fang , Jia Lan , Lu Zhi , Wang Bo , Dong Hong Ye , Yu Hai Bo , Sun Gui Jiang , Yang Jie , Li Bo , Meng Jia , Zhang Rui Ning , Bi Xue Qing , Chen Hai Yan , Jiang Ai li 
Published: February 2015

Purpose To investigate the role of wall shear stress in aspects of the formation of fibrin sheath and intimal thickening in a dog model. Methods Tunneled silicone 14.5-F catheters were inserted into the left internal jugular vein in eight dogs. The dogs were separated into two groups according to catheter indwelling time of 14 and 28 days. All dogs underwent extracorporeal circulation three times a week. Multidetector computed tomography venography (MDCTV) examination was used to examine the catheter tip thrombus. After the animals were sacrificed, histological and immunohistochemistry evaluations were performed to confirm specific cell populations. We used computer modeling to generate wall shear stress profiles for the blood flow through the catheter. Results Catheter-related sheaths were identified in all catheter specimens, but there was no fibrin sheath around the catheter tip. There were also differences in wall shear stress between the different venous wall sites. Differences in vein wall thickening at different sites have been found at both 14 days (intima to media (I/M) ratio S1 vs S2: p = 0.01, S3 vs S4: p<0.01) and 28 days (I/M ratio S1 vs S2: p<0.01, S3 vs S4: p<0.05). Conclusions After catheter placement, fibrin sheath formation partially covered the catheter. Meanwhile, focal areas of intimal thickening were also seen in the venous wall adjacent to the sites of high wall shear stress. These findings indicate an important role of wall shear stress profiles in fibrin sheath formation and intimal thickening.
Interannual variability in the Yucatan Channel flow
Authors: Athié Gabriela , Sheinbaum Julio , Leben Robert , Ochoa José , Shannon Michael R. , Candela Julio 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMooring measurements in the Yucatan Channel, from May 2010 to May 2011 and from July 2012 to June 2013 yield a mean transport of 27 and 25 Sv, respectively, with a subinertial standard deviation of 3.5 Sv. These mean transport values are higher than the 23 Sv reported from 21 months of similar measurements (1999–2001). Analysis of low‐frequency variations of a transport proxy based on 20 years of altimetry data indicates that during 1999–2001, the flow through Yucatan Channel was anomalously low. This suggests that a sizable compensation through other channels off the Gulf of Mexico is required to match the transport cable measurements of the Florida Current at 27°N.
Rapid slip‐deficit rates at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau prior to the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake
Authors: Thompson T. Ben , Plesch Andreas , Shaw John H. , Meade Brendan J. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe Longmen Shan is the steepest topographic front at the India‐Asia collision zone and the site of the Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake. Here to explain the interseismic GPS velocities across the greater Longmen Shan region, we develop a boundary element model including earthquake cycle effects, topography, the westward dipping Beichuan Fault and a ∼20 km deep, shallowly dipping, detachment, inferred from observed afterslip and from structural considerations. Previous analyses which neglected the detachment and earthquake cycle effects have found shortening rates near zero. In contrast, we find that interseismic GPS data are consistent with a shortening rate of 5.7±1.5mm/yr and maximum surface slip‐deficit rate of 9.5±2.5mm/yr. This model unifies the interpretation of geodetic deformation throughout the earthquake cycle and suggests that the Longmen Shan is an active fold‐and‐thrust belt with of Wenchuan‐like recurrence intervals as short as 600 years.
Compounding effects of warm sea surface temperature and reduced sea ice on the extreme circulation over the extratropical North Pacific and North America during the 2013–2014 boreal winter
Authors: Lee Ming‐Ying , Hong Chi‐Cherng , Hsu Huang‐Hsiung 
Published: February 2015

AbstractUnprecedented atmospheric circulations with extreme weather were observed in the extratropical Northern Hemisphere during the winter of 2013–2014. The anomalous circulations were the manifestation of the Pacific pattern or the North Pacific Oscillation/Western Pacific pattern but with extremely large amplitude. Simulation results suggest that the anomalous atmospheric circulations were constructively induced by anomalous sea surface temperature in the tropical Pacific and extratropical North Pacific, as well as the low sea ice concentration in the Arctic. Natural variability played a major role in inducing the anomaly pattern, whereas the anomalously warm sea surface temperature and low Arctic sea ice concentration in the Bering Sea contributed to the intensity. If the anthropogenic warming has a significant impact on causing the synchronization of the aforementioned anomalies in sea surface temperature and sea ice concentration and this trend continues, severe winters similar to that in 2013–2014 may occur more frequently in the future.
Electron acceleration in the dipolarization front driven by magnetic reconnection
Authors: Huang Can , Wu Mingyu , Lu Quanming , Wang Rongsheng , Wang Shui 
Published: February 2015

AbstractA large‐scale two‐dimensional (2‐D) particle‐in‐cell simulation is performed in this paper to investigate electron acceleration in the dipolarization front (DF) region during magnetic reconnection. It is found that the DF is mainly driven by an ion outflow which also generates a positive potential region behind the DF. The DF propagates with an almost constant speed and gets growing, while the electrons in the DF region can be highly energized in the perpendicular direction due to betatron acceleration. For the first time, we reveal that there exists a velocity threshold; only the electrons below the threshold can be trapped by the parallel electric potential in the DF region and then energized by betatron acceleration.
Eddy‐driven sediment transport in the Argentine Basin: Is the height of the Zapiola Rise hydrodynamically controlled?
Authors: Weijer Wilbert , Maltrud Mathew E. , Homoky William B. , Polzin Kurt L. , Maas Leo R. M. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractIn this study, we address the question whether eddy‐driven transports in the Argentine Basin can be held responsible for enhanced sediment accumulation over the Zapiola Rise, hence accounting for the existence and growth of this sediment drift. To address this question, we perform a 6 year simulation with a strongly eddying ocean model. We release two passive tracers, with settling velocities that are consistent with silt and clay size particles. Our experiments show contrasting behavior between the silt fraction and the lighter clay. Due to its larger settling velocity, the silt fraction reaches a quasisteady state within a few years, with abyssal sedimentation rates that match net input. In contrast, clay settles only slowly, and its distribution is heavily stratified, being transported mainly along isopycnals. Yet, both size classes display a significant and persistent concentration minimum over the Zapiola Rise. We show that the Zapiola Anticyclone, a strong eddy‐driven vortex that circulates around the Zapiola Rise, is a barrier to sediment transport, and hence prevents significant accumulation of sediments on the Rise. We conclude that sediment transport by the turbulent circulation in the Argentine Basin alone cannot account for the preferred sediment accumulation over the Rise. We speculate that resuspension is a critical process in the formation and maintenance of the Zapiola Rise.
Tropical sea surface temperatures for the past four centuries reconstructed from coral archives
Authors: Tierney Jessica E. , Abram Nerilie J. , Anchukaitis Kevin J. , Evans Michael N. , Giry Cyril , Kilbourne K. Halimeda , Saenger Casey P. , Wu Henry C. , Zinke Jens 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMost annually resolved climate reconstructions of the Common Era are based on terrestrial data, making it a challenge to independently assess how recent climate changes have affected the oceans. Here as part of the Past Global Changes Ocean2K project, we present four regionally calibrated and validated reconstructions of sea surface temperatures in the tropics, based on 57 published and publicly archived marine paleoclimate data sets derived exclusively from tropical coral archives. Validation exercises suggest that our reconstructions are interpretable for much of the past 400 years, depending on the availability of paleoclimate data within, and the reconstruction validation statistics for, each target region. Analysis of the trends in the data suggests that the Indian, western Pacific, and western Atlantic Ocean regions were cooling until modern warming began around the 1830s. The early 1800s were an exceptionally cool period in the Indo‐Pacific region, likely due to multiple large tropical volcanic eruptions occurring in the early nineteenth century. Decadal‐scale variability is a quasi‐persistent feature of all basins. Twentieth century warming associated with greenhouse gas emissions is apparent in the Indian, West Pacific, and western Atlantic Oceans, but we find no evidence that either natural or anthropogenic forcings have altered El Niño–Southern Oscillation‐related variance in tropical sea surface temperatures. Our marine‐based regional paleoclimate reconstructions serve as benchmarks against which terrestrial reconstructions as well as climate model simulations can be compared and as a basis for studying the processes by which the tropical oceans mediate climate variability and change.
First artificial periodic inhomogeneity experiments at HAARP
Authors: Hysell D. L. , McCarrick M. J. , Fallen C. T. , Vierinen J. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractExperiments involving the generation and detection of artificial periodic inhomogeneities have been performed at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility. Irregularities were created using powerful X‐mode HF emissions and then probed using short (10 μs) X‐ and O‐mode pulses. Reception was performed using a portable software‐defined receiver together with the crossed rhombic antenna from the local ionosonde. Echoes were observed reliably between about 85 and 140 km altitude with signal‐to‐noise ratios as high as about 30 dB. The Doppler shift of the echoes can be associated with the vertical neutral wind in this altitude range. Small but persistent Doppler shifts were observed. The decay time constant of the echoes is meanwhile indicative of the ambipolar diffusion coefficient which depends on the plasma temperature, composition, and neutral gas density. The measured time constants appear to be consistent with theoretical expectations and imply a methodology for measuring neutral density profiles. The significance of thermospheric vertical neutral wind and density measurements which are difficult to obtain using ground‐based instruments by other means is discussed.
Grain size effects on energy delivery to the streambed and links to bedrock erosion
Authors: Turowski Jens M. , Wyss Carlos R. , Beer Alexander R. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractFluvial bedrock erosion rates are thought to be proportional to the energy delivered to the channel bed by impacting bed load particles. Combining methods for field measurements of impact energy and for automatic sensing of grain size distributions in the instrumented channel of the Erlenbach, we show that the larger a bed load grain is, the more efficient it is in transferring energy to the streambed. On average, the largest grain size class contributes only 9% to the total bed load mass but is responsible for more than 40% of the energy delivery. This effect may help to explain the predominance of extreme floods, when large grains are mobile, in driving long‐term erosion. While the mechanistic saltation‐abrasion model accounts for hydraulic forcing of energy delivery, the observed grain size effect is not captured. We suggest that the discrepancy arises from differing transport modes (rolling, sliding, and saltation) not currently captured in modeling.
The probability distribution of intense daily precipitation
Authors: Cavanaugh Nicholas R. , Gershunov Alexander , Panorska Anna K. , Kozubowski Tomasz J. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe probability tail structure of over 22,000 weather stations globally is examined in order to identify the physically and mathematically consistent distribution type for modeling the probability of intense daily precipitation and extremes. Results indicate that when aggregating data annually, most locations are to be considered heavy tailed with statistical significance. When aggregating data by season, it becomes evident that the thickness of the probability tail is related to the variability in precipitation causing events and thus that the fundamental cause of precipitation volatility is weather diversity. These results have both theoretical and practical implications for the modeling of high‐frequency climate variability worldwide.