bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clustering of Tibetan Plateau Vortices by 10–30-Day Intraseasonal Oscillation*
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Li Guoping , Fu Xiouhua , Liu Yimin , Li Laifang 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Tibetan Plateau (TP) vortices and the related 10–30-day intraseasonal oscillation in May–September 1998 are analyzed using the twice-daily 500-hPa synoptic weather maps, multiple reanalysis datasets, and satellite-retrieved brightness temperature. During the analysis period, distinctively active and suppressed periods of TP vortices genesis are noticed. In 1998, nine active periods of TP vortices occurred, which were largely clustered by the cyclonic circulations associated with the intraseasonal oscillation of 500-hPa relative vorticity. In addition to the well-recognized 30–60-day oscillation, the clustering of TP vorticity in the 1998 summer are more likely modulated by the 10–30-day oscillation, because all active periods of TP vortices fall into the positive phase of the 10–30-day oscillation in 1998. Even in the negative (i.e., anticyclonic) phases of the 30–60-day oscillation, the positive (i.e., cyclonic) 500-hPa 10–30-day oscillation can excite the clustering of TP vortices. This result indicates that the 10–30-day oscillation more directly modulates the activities of TP vortices by providing a favorable (unfavorable) cyclonic (anticyclonic) environment. The analysis of the 10–30-day atmospheric oscillation suggests that the westerly trough disturbances, in conjunction with convective instability due to low-level warm advection from the Indian monsoon region, are important in the clustering of TP vortex activities. In particular, the moisture flux from the southwest boundary of TP is essential to the accumulation of convective energy. Thus, a better understanding and prediction of the 10–30-day intraseasonal oscillation is needed to advance the extended-range forecasting of TP vortices and their downstream impacts on the weather and climate over East Asia.
Soluble form of receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE): do sRAGE ligands or anti-sRAGE auto-antibodies interfere with sRAGE quantification?
Authors: Lorenzi Rodrigo , Grossin Nicolas , Lambert Marc , Daroux Maité , Adjoutah Zoubir , Flahaut Christophe , Jacolot Philippe , Tessier Frédéric J , Lefranc Didier , Desremaux Pierre , Dubucquoi Sylvain , Boulanger Eric 
Published: August 2013

Background The soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) has been studied in various diseases. It is not clear why sRAGE levels vary between studies, with controversial results. What also remains to be determined is whether receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) ligands could affect sRAGE assessment by epitope masking. Recently described anti-sRAGE autoantibodies may play an interfering role. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the influence of RAGE ligands and anti-sRAGE autoantibodies on sRAGE quantification. Methods The RAGE ligands carboxymethyllysine (CML; AGEs with a high affinity for RAGE), S100 proteins, high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) and β-amyloid peptide (aβ) were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with recombinant sRAGE (rHu-sRAGE) or serum from healthy controls. Using ELISA, anti-sRAGE autoantibodies (IgGs) were identified in haemodialysis (HD) patients, then purified and incubated with rHu-sRAGE or serum to investigate their effects on sRAGE levels. Results RAGE ligands, either alone at three different concentrations (CML was also tested at different glycation levels) or a mixture of all these ligands, did not affect sRAGE levels when incubated with rHu-sRAGE or control serum. Compared with healthy controls, HD patients had higher levels of sRAGE ( P < 0.001) and anti-sRAGE IgGs ( P < 0.05). However, incubation of rHu-sRAGE with purified IgGs from HD patients had no effect on sRAGE quantification. Conclusions RAGE ligands or anti-sRAGE autoantibodies did not interfere with sRAGE quantification. Further studies are required to elucidate the variability in sRAGE levels reported in the literature and to define the potential of sRAGE for use as a reliable biomarker.
Is disgust the driver behind the selection of images for UK tobacco packets?
Authors: Humphris Gerry , Williams Brian 
Published: August 2013

Objective: The use of pictorial warning labels on tobacco packets has gained almost universal international acceptance. In a public consultation exercise in 2006, the Department of Health in England, through a web-based answering system, asked people’s preferences of 42 images, asking which images might be effective to encourage tobacco cessation in smokers. On cursory inspection of the rank order of preference, a pattern appeared to suggest that effectiveness was associated with the level of disgust emotion generated; that is, the images rated the most likely to persuade smokers to quit tobacco consumption appeared revolting. The objective of this study was to confirm that disgust emotion generated by United Kingdom (UK) tobacco packet images was associated with the public’s selection of possible effective images. Design: Three cross-sectional opinion surveys were conducted including students from medicine and psychology disciplines and a section of the public. In addition, a web opinion consultation database was made available for secondary analysis. Method: A total of 291 participants were involved in the three convenience surveys and 19,812 participants gave complete replies to the public consultation website. Each individual rated every image on a five-category rating scale ranging from ‘extremely disgusting’ to ‘not disgusting’. Results: Significant correlations (ranging from 0.91 to 0.94) existed between the image rank order aggregated preference ratings from the original public consultation and the average final score of the disgust ratings for specific items for the three groups. Conclusion: The emotion of disgust may be a possible intervening variable to explain the initial reactions to health promotion materials and smoking cessation.
Role of video-assisted thoracoscopy in the management of stroke
Authors: Muhammad Magdi Ibrahim Ahmad 
Published: August 2013

Objective to evaluate the role of surgery (anterior thoracotomy versus video-assisted thoracoscopy) in avoidance of stroke by obliteration of the left atrial appendage in patients with chronic nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. Methods in a prospective study, 58 patients (35 men and 23 women, aged 62±13.2 years) with chronic nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation were divided into 2 groups: group A was 29 patients who underwent an anterior thoracotomy, and group B was 29 patients who had video-assisted thoracoscopic obliteration of the left atrial appendage. All patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Results the 2 groups were well matched for age, sex, and comorbidities. No stroke was observed in either group. Operative time was significantly longer in group B. There was no intraoperative or postoperative complication, except for 2 cases of superficial wound infection in group A. Conclusions in chronic atrial fibrillation, prophylactic left atrial appendage exclusion is suggested to prevent occurrence of stroke, which can be achieved by a surgical or thoracoscopic approach, but a video-assisted thoracoscopic approach is effective, less invasive, and avoids the complications of a surgical approach.
Revision Osteochondral Allograft Transplantations
Authors: Horton Melissa T. , Pulido Pamela A. , McCauley Julie C. , Bugbee William D. 
Published: August 2013

Background: Primary fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation is a useful treatment option for osteochondral lesions in the knee. Clinical failure of primary osteochondral allograft transplantation may require further surgery, including revision osteochondral allograft transplantation. Purpose: To evaluate outcomes of patients who have undergone revision osteochondral allograft transplantation of the knee. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This series included 33 patients (33 knees) who underwent revision osteochondral allograft transplantation between 1983 and 2012, were at least 2 years out from surgery, and had a minimum 2-year follow-up. Clinical evaluations included the International Knee Documentation Committee pain, function, and total scores; Knee Society function score; and modified Merle d’Aubigné and Postel scale. Failure of the revision allograft was defined as conversion to partial or total knee arthroplasty. Results: The mean follow-up after revision osteochondral allograft transplantation was 10 years, with 75% of patients having more than 5 years’ follow-up. Thirteen patients (39%) had failed results after revision osteochondral allograft transplantation, with a mean time to failure of 5.5 years. The remaining 20 patients (61%) had surviving revision allografts, with a mean graft survival of 10 years. Mean pain and function scores at the last follow-up were improved. Survivorship of the revision allograft was 61% at 10 years. Conclusion: Revision osteochondral allograft transplantation of the knee demonstrated acceptable clinical outcomes, although they were inferior to primary allograft transplantation procedures. Revision osteochondral allograft transplantation may be considered an option for patients with a failed primary osteochondral allograft.
Arthroscopic Suture Anchor Repair of the Lateral Ligament Ankle Complex
Authors: Giza Eric , Shin Edward C. , Wong Stephanie E. , Acevedo Jorge I. , Mangone Peter G. , Olson Kirstina , Anderson Matthew J. 
Published: August 2013

Background: Operative treatment of mechanical ankle instability is indicated for patients with multiple sprains and continued episodes of instability. Open repair of the lateral ankle ligaments involves exposure of the attenuated ligaments and advancement back to their anatomic insertions on the fibula using bone tunnels or suture implants. Hypothesis: Open and arthroscopic fixation are equal in strength to failure for anatomic Broström repair. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Seven matched pairs of human cadaveric ankle specimens were randomized into 2 groups of anatomic Broström repair: open or arthroscopic. The calcaneofibular ligament and anterior talofibular ligament were excised from their origin on the fibula. In the open repair group, 2 suture anchors were used to reattach the ligaments to their anatomic origins. In the arthroscopic repair group, identical suture anchors were used for repair via an arthroscopic technique. The ligaments were cyclically loaded 20 times and then tested to failure. Torque to failure, degrees to failure, initial stiffness, and working stiffness were measured. A matched-pair analysis was performed. Power analysis of 0.8 demonstrated that 7 pairs needed to show a difference of 30%, with a 15% standard error at a significance level of α = .05. Results: There was no difference in the degrees to failure, torque to failure, or stiffness for the repaired ligament complex. Nine of 14 specimens failed at the suture anchor. Conclusion: There is no statistical difference in strength or stiffness of a traditional open repair as compared with an arthroscopic anatomic repair of the lateral ligaments of the ankle. Clinical Relevance: An arthroscopic technique can be considered for lateral ligament stabilization in patients with mild to moderate mechanical instability.
Location of the Femoral Tunnel Aperture in Single-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Shin Young-Soo , Ro Kyung-Han , Lee Jong-Hee , Lee Dae-Hee 
Published: August 2013

Background: Previous 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) studies of knees after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction have compared femoral tunnel positions obtained using the transtibial and anteromedial drilling techniques. This study used postoperative in vivo 3D CT analysis to compare the locations of the femoral tunnel aperture among 3 drilling techniques used in ACL reconstruction: transtibial, anteromedial portal, and outside-in. Hypothesis: The use of the transtibial drilling technique might result in a less anatomically accurate femoral tunnel placement than the anteromedial portal and outside-in techniques. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Immediate postoperative in vivo 3D CT was used to assess the location of the femoral tunnel aperture in 153 patients who underwent single-bundle ACL reconstruction using the transtibial (n = 42), anteromedial portal (n = 73), or outside-in (n = 38) techniques. Femoral tunnel positions were measured by an anatomic coordinate axis method in the low-to-high and deep-to-shallow directions of the distal femur at 90° of knee flexion. Results: The low-to-high femoral tunnel positions were significantly higher in the transtibial group than in the anteromedial portal ( P < .001) and outside-in ( P < .001) groups. There were no differences among the 3 groups in the deep-to-shallow femoral tunnel positions ( P = .773). Conclusion: The transtibial technique of anatomic reconstruction resulted in more highly positioned femoral tunnels in the low-to-high direction than did the anteromedial portal and outside-in techniques. However, no significant differences in the femoral tunnel location were observed in the deep-to-shallow direction.
Return to Athletic Activity After Plate Fixation of Displaced Midshaft Clavicle Fractures
Authors: Meisterling Steven W. , Cain E. Lyle , Fleisig Glenn S. , Hartzell Jeffrey L. , Dugas Jeffrey R. 
Published: August 2013

Background: Recent data support primary plate fixation of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. The safety and efficacy of this practice have not been well documented in athletes. Hypothesis: Plate fixation of clavicle fractures in athletes is a safe and effective procedure, resulting in a reliable and timely return to play. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 29 patients with displaced midshaft clavicle fractures from athletic activity were treated with plate fixation between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2008, including 1 patient treated for each clavicle for separate injuries. All 29 patients were contacted for follow-up. At a mean follow-up of 21 months, patients completed a questionnaire focused on the time to return to athletics and treatment course. Patients also completed the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. Radiographs were reviewed to identify fracture comminution, displacement, shortening, and angulation; radiographic union time; and malunion. Results: All of the patients (30/30 cases) returned to sports after open reduction internal fixation of their fracture. The mean time to return to play was 83 days with a range of 13 to 277 days. Seven (23%) of the cases returned to athletics at ≤6 weeks after surgery, and a total of 20 patients (67%) returned at ≤12 weeks after surgery. All patients (100%) were satisfied with their treatment. The QuickDASH scores revealed almost perfect recovery (mean score, 0.8 of 100). Four minor complications were identified. No patient had a refracture, plate fracture, loss of fixation, nonunion, malunion, or deep wound infection. Conclusion: Plate fixation of displaced clavicle fractures in athletes is a safe procedure, resulting in a high satisfaction rating and minimal disability to the upper extremity. An early return (<6 weeks) to sports is possible after this treatment; however, the time to return is highly variable.
Do Bayesian adaptive trials offer advantages for comparative effectiveness research? Protocol for the RE-ADAPT study
Authors: Connor Jason T , Luce Bryan R , Broglio Kristine R , Ishak K Jack , Mullins C Daniel , Vanness David J , Fleurence Rachael , Saunders Elijah , Davis Barry R 
Published: August 2013

Background Randomized clinical trials, particularly for comparative effectiveness research (CER), are frequently criticized for being overly restrictive or untimely for health-care decision making. Purpose Our prospectively designed REsearch in ADAptive methods for Pragmatic Trials (RE-ADAPT) study is a ‘proof of concept’ to stimulate investment in Bayesian adaptive designs for future CER trials. Methods We will assess whether Bayesian adaptive designs offer potential efficiencies in CER by simulating a re-execution of the Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) study using actual data from ALLHAT. Results We prospectively define seven alternate designs consisting of various combinations of arm dropping, adaptive randomization, and early stopping and describe how these designs will be compared to the original ALLHAT design. We identify the one particular design that would have been executed, which incorporates early stopping and information-based adaptive randomization. Limitations While the simulation realistically emulates patient enrollment, interim analyses, and adaptive changes to design, it cannot incorporate key features like the involvement of data monitoring committee in making decisions about adaptive changes. Conclusion This article describes our analytic approach for RE-ADAPT. The next stage of the project is to conduct the re-execution analyses using the seven prespecified designs and the original ALLHAT data.
Bayesian hierarchical modeling of patient subpopulations: Efficient designs of Phase II oncology clinical trials
Authors: Berry Scott M , Broglio Kristine R , Groshen Susan , Berry Donald A 
Published: August 2013

Background In oncology, the treatment paradigm is shifting toward personalized medicine, where the goal is to match patients to the treatments most likely to deliver benefit. Treatment effects in various subpopulations may provide some information about treatment effects in other subpopulations. Purpose We compare different approaches to Phase II trial design where a new treatment is being investigated in several groups of patients. We compare considering each group in an independent trial to a single trial with hierarchical modeling of the patient groups. Methods We assume four patient groups with different background response rates and simulate operating characteristics of three trial designs, Simon’s Optimal Two-Stage design, a Bayesian adaptive design with frequent interim analyses, and a Bayesian adaptive design with frequent interim analyses and hierarchical modeling across patient groups. Results Simon’s designs are based on 10% Type I and Type II error rates. The independent Bayesian designs are tuned to have similar error rates, but may have a slightly smaller mean sample size due to more frequent interim analyses. Under the null, the mean sample size is 2–4 patients smaller. A hierarchical model across patient groups can provide additional power and a further reduction in mean sample size. Under the null, the addition of the hierarchical model decreases the mean sample size an additional 4–7 patients in each group. Under the alternative hypothesis, power is increased to at least 98% in all groups. Limitations Hierarchical borrowing can make finding a single group in which the treatment is promising, if there is only one, more difficult. In a scenario where the treatment is uninteresting in all but one group, power for that one group is reduced to 65%. When the drug appears promising in some groups and not in others, there is potential for borrowing to inflate the Type I error rate. Conclusions The Bayesian hierarchical design is more likely to correctly conclude efficacy or futility than the other two designs in many scenarios. The Bayesian hierarchical design is a strong design for addressing possibly differential effects in different groups.
Analytical and clinical evaluation of biomarkers assays: When are biomarkers ready for prime time?
Authors: Pennello Gene A 
Published: August 2013

Background Biomarker assays can be evaluated for analytical performance (ability of assay to measure the biomarker quantity) and clinical performance (ability of assay result to inform of the clinical condition of interest). Additionally, a biomarker assay is said to have clinical utility if it ultimately improves patient outcomes when used as intended. Purpose This article reviews analytical and clinical performance studies of biomarker assay tests and also some designs of clinical utility studies. Results Appropriate design and statistical analysis of analytical and clinical evaluation studies depend on the intended clinical use of the test. Some key aspects to valid performance studies include using subjects who are independent of those used to develop the test, masking users of the test to any other available test or reference results, and including in the primary statistical analysis subjects with unavailable results in an intention-to-diagnose analysis. Ingenuity in study design and analysis may be required for efficient and unbiased estimation of performance. Limitations Performance studies need to be carefully planned as they can be prone to many sources of bias. Analytical inaccuracy can hamper the clinical performance of biomarkers. Conclusions As biomedical research and technology advance, challenges in study design and statistical analysis will continue to emerge for analytical and clinical performance studies of biomarker assays. Although not emphasized in some circles, the analytical performance of a biomarker assay is important to characterize. Analytical performance studies have many study design and statistical analysis challenges that deserve further attention.
Reconnecting with urban youth enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and overdue for a 12-month follow-up survey
Authors: Ezell Jerel M , Saltzgaber Jacquelyn , Peterson Edward , Joseph Christine LM 
Published: August 2013

Background Retention of study participants in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is crucial to study validity. Purpose We analyzed the results of four retention strategies used to reconnect with urban teens enrolled in a school-based RCT and overdue for a 12-month follow-up survey. Methods Traditional retention strategies used to reconnect with teens categorized as ‘unable to contact’ were weekly redials of nonworking telephone numbers and mailings to the student’s home. Nontraditional retention strategies were obtaining assistance from school administration and performing outreach on Facebook. Results Of the 422 students enrolled, 125 (29.5%) were overdue for a 12-month follow-up survey, but had no working telephone number (unable to contact). We made 196 attempts to contact these 125 students, of which 82 attempts (41.8%) were successful in ‘reconnecting’ with the student. Using ‘mailed reminder letters’ as the referent category, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the association between the strategy used and reconnecting were 4.60 (1.8–11.8), 1.94 (1.01–3.73), and 2.91 (0.58–14.50), respectively, for telephone number redials, Facebook outreach, and school administration assistance. Of the 422 students, 380 (90%) ultimately completed the 12-month follow-up survey. Limitations Retention strategies were not applied hierarchically or systematically. We were unable to determine student preference for a particular strategy. Findings are likely only applicable to similar study populations. Conclusion A mix of traditional retention strategies and more contemporary methods was effective in reconnecting with urban teenagers enrolled in a school-based RCT and in controlling attrition during the 12-month follow-up survey period.