bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mapping EORTC QLQ-C30 onto EQ-5D for the assessment of cancer patients
Authors: Kim Seon Ha , Jo Min-Woo , Kim Hwa-Jung , Ahn Jin-Hee 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) is the instrument most frequently used to measure quality of life in cancer patients, whereas the EQ-5D is widely used to measure and evaluate general health status. Although the EORTC QLQ-C30 has been mapped to EQ-5D utilities, those studies were limited to patients with a single type of cancer. The present study aimed to develop a mapping relationship between the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D-based utility values at the individual level.

Methods
The model was derived using patients with different types of cancer who were receiving chemotherapy. The external validation set comprised outpatients with colon cancer. Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the EQ-5D index from the EORTC QLQ-C30 results. The predictability, goodness of fit, and signs of the estimated coefficients of the model were assessed. Predictive ability was determined by calculating the mean absolute error, the estimated proportions with absolute errors > 0.05 and > 0.1, and the root-mean-squared error (RMSE).

Results
A model that included global health, physical, role, emotional functions, and pain was optimal, with a mean absolute error of 0.069 and an RMSE of 0.095 (normalized RMSE, 8.1%). The explanatory power of this model was 51.6%. The mean absolute error was higher for modeled patients in poor health.

Conclusions
This mapping algorithm enabled the EORTC QLQ-C30 to be converted to the EQ-5D utility index to assess cancer patients in Korea.
Nonlinear cyclic weak contractions in G-metric spaces and applications to boundary value problems
Authors: Nashine Hemant Kumar , Golubović Zoran , Kadelburg Zoran 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
We present fixed point theorems for nonlinear cyclic mappings under a generalized weakly contractive condition in G-metric spaces. We furnish examples to demonstrate the usage of the results and produce an application to second-order periodic boundary value problems for ODEs.

MSC:47H10, 34B15.
A study on the consistency analysis of energy parameter for Mandarin speech
Authors: Shen Li-Te , Yeh Cheng-Yu , Hwang Shaw-Hwa 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
In this study, a consistency analysis of energy parameter for Mandarin speech is presented. Identified as a result of inspection of the human pronunciation process, the consistency can be interpreted as a high correlation of a warping curve between the spectrum and the prosody intra a syllable. Through three steps in the procedure of the consistency analysis, the hidden Markov model (HMM) algorithm is used first to decode HMM-state sequences within a syllable at the same time as to divide them into three segments. Second, based on a designated syllable, the vector quantization (VQ) with the Linde–Buzo–Gray algorithm is used to train the VQ codebooks of each segment. Third, the energy vector of each segment is encoded as an index by VQ codebooks, and then the probability of each possible path is evaluated as a prerequisite to analyze the consistency. It is demonstrated experimentally that a consistency is definitely acquired in case the syllable is located exactly in the same word. These results offer a research direction that the energy warping process intra a syllable must be considered in a text-to-speech system to improve the synthesized speech quality.
Health impact assessment of air pollution in megacity of Tehran, Iran
Authors: Naddafi Kazem , Hassanvand Mohammad Sadegh , Yunesian Masud , Momeniha Fatemeh , Nabizadeh Ramin , Faridi Sasan , Gholampour Akbar 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
The aims of the present study were to provide quantitative data on the impact of air pollution on the health of people living in Tehran city, the most populated city of Iran. The approach proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) was applied using the AirQ 2.2.3 software developed by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Bilthoven Division. Concentrations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10) were used to assess human exposure and health impacts in terms of attributable proportion of the health outcome, annual number of excess cases of mortality for all causes, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The annual average of PM10, SO2, NO2 and O3 in Tehran were 90.58, 89.16, 85 and 68.82 μg/m3, respectively. Considering short-term effects, PM10 had the highest health impact on the 8,700,000 inhabitants of Tehran city, causing an excess of total mortality of 2194 out of 47284 in a year. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone caused about, respectively, 1458, 1050 and 819 excess cases of total mortality. Results indicate that the magnitude of the health impact estimated for the city of Tehran underscores the need for urgent action to reduce the health burden of air pollution.
Multivariate statistical assessment of heavy metal pollution sources of groundwater around a lead and zinc plant
Authors: Zamani Abbas Ali , Yaftian Mohammad Reza , Parizanganeh Abdolhossein 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
The contamination of groundwater by heavy metal ions around a lead and zinc plant has been studied. As a case study groundwater contamination in Bonab Industrial Estate (Zanjan-Iran) for iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead content was investigated using differential pulse polarography (DPP). Although, cobalt, copper and zinc were found correspondingly in 47.8%, 100.0%, and 100.0% of the samples, they did not contain these metals above their maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). Cadmium was detected in 65.2% of the samples and 17.4% of them were polluted by this metal. All samples contained detectable levels of lead and iron with 8.7% and 13.0% of the samples higher than their MCLs. Nickel was also found in 78.3% of the samples, out of which 8.7% were polluted. In general, the results revealed the contamination of groundwater sources in the studied zone. The higher health risks are related to lead, nickel, and cadmium ions. Multivariate statistical techniques were applied for interpreting the experimental data and giving a description for the sources. The data analysis showed correlations and similarities between investigated heavy metals and helps to classify these ion groups. Cluster analysis identified five clusters among the studied heavy metals. Cluster 1 consisted of Pb, Cu, and cluster 3 included Cd, Fe; also each of the elements Zn, Co and Ni was located in groups with single member. The same results were obtained by factor analysis. Statistical investigations revealed that anthropogenic factors and notably lead and zinc plant and pedo-geochemical pollution sources are influencing water quality in the studied area.
CalloseMeasurer: a novel software solution to measure callose deposition and recognise spreading callose patterns
Authors: Zhou Ji , Spallek Thomas , Faulkner Christine , Robatzek Silke 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
Quantification of callose deposits is a useful measure for the activities of plant immunity and pathogen growth by fluorescence imaging. For robust scoring of differences, this normally requires many technical and biological replicates and manual or automated quantification of the callose deposits. However, previously available software tools for quantifying callose deposits from bioimages were limited, making batch processing of callose image data problematic. In particular, it is challenging to perform large-scale analysis on images with high background noise and fused callose deposition signals.

Results
We developed CalloseMeasurer, an easy-to-use application that quantifies callose deposition, a plant immune response triggered by potentially pathogenic microbes. Additionally, by tracking identified callose deposits between multiple images, the software can recognise patterns of how a given filamentous pathogen grows in plant leaves. The software has been evaluated with typical noisy experimental images and can be automatically executed without the need for user intervention. The automated analysis is achieved by using standard image analysis functions such as image enhancement, adaptive thresholding, and object segmentation, supplemented by several novel methods which filter background noise, split fused signals, perform edge-based detection, and construct networks and skeletons for extracting pathogen growth patterns. To efficiently batch process callose images, we implemented the algorithm in C/C++ within the Acapella™ framework. Using the tool we can robustly score significant differences between different plant genotypes when activating the immune response. We also provide examples for measuring the in planta hyphal growth of filamentous pathogens.

Conclusions
CalloseMeasurer is a new software solution for batch-processing large image data sets to quantify callose deposition in plants. We demonstrate its high accuracy and usefulness for two applications: 1) the quantification of callose deposition in different genotypes as a measure for the activity of plant immunity; and 2) the quantification and detection of spreading networks of callose deposition triggered by filamentous pathogens as a measure for growing pathogen hyphae. The software is an easy-to-use protocol which is executed within the Acapella software system without requiring any additional libraries. The source code of the software is freely available at https://sourceforge.net/projects/bioimage/files/Callose.
High-dose pre-operative helical tomotherapy (54 Gy) for retroperitoneal liposarcoma
Authors: Sargos Paul , Dejean Catherine , Figueiredo Bénédicte Henriques de , Brouste Véronique , Nguyen Bui Binh , Italiano Antoine , Stoeckle Eberhard , Kantor Guy 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Purpose
To evaluate the feasibility of pre-operative radiotherapy (54 Gy) with Helical Tomotherapy (HT) followed by surgery.

Methods and materials
Ten patients with non-metastatic resectable retroperitoneal liposarcomas were treated by pre-operative tomotherapy (54 Gy) and surgery. Clinical and biological toxicities were evaluated on the CTCAEV3.0 scale. For nine patients, delivered tomotherapy plans were compared with retrospectively-planned dynamic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) dosimetric studies.

Results
No immediate or late Grade>2 toxicities were observed after radiotherapy. Post-operatively, one patient died and three patients experienced Grade 3 toxicity (two digestive and one metabolic). These toxicities disappeared and only two patients presented persistent Grade 1 paresthesia. R0 resection was obtained for four patients, R1 for four, and R2 resection for two. With a median follow-up of 26 months, no local or metastatic relapse was observed. Dosimetric comparisons between HT and retrospectively-planned IMRT demonstrate adequate target volume coverage for both techniques. Gastrointestinal sparing is higher with HT with a D200cc reduced by 5 Gy. Integral dose (ID) was increased in HT.

Conclusions
High dose pre-operative radiotherapy (54 Gy) for retroperitoneal liposarcoma is feasible and mostly well tolerated. Cumulative toxicity and tolerance depend mainly on patient’s general status. Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is essential, irrespective of the IMRT technique used. Furthermore, HT offers the possibility of sparing selected areas in such complex volumes.
A vertex similarity-based framework to discover and rank orphan disease-related genes
Authors: Zhu Cheng , Kushwaha Akash , Berman Kenneth , Jegga Anil G 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
A rare or orphan disease (OD) is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population. While opportunities now exist to accelerate progress toward understanding the basis for many more ODs, the prioritization of candidate genes is still a critical step for disease-gene identification. Several network-based frameworks have been developed to address this problem with varied results.

Result
We have developed a novel vertex similarity (VS) based parameter-free prioritizing framework to identify and rank orphan disease candidate genes. We validate our approach by using 1598 known orphan disease-causing genes (ODGs) representing 172 orphan diseases (ODs). We compare our approach with a state-of-art parameter-based approach (PageRank with Priors or PRP) and with another parameter-free method (Interconnectedness or ICN). Our results show that VS-based approach outperforms ICN and is comparable to PRP. We further apply VS-based ranking to identify and rank potential novel candidate genes for several ODs.

Conclusion
We demonstrate that VS-based parameter-free ranking approach can be successfully used for disease candidate gene prioritization and can complement other network-based methods for candidate disease gene ranking. Importantly, our VS-ranked top candidate genes for the ODs match the known literature, suggesting several novel causal relationships for further investigation.
Acaricidal activity of ethanolic extract from aerial parts of Tagetes patula L. (Asteraceae) against larvae and engorged adult females of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806)
Authors: Politi Flávio Augusto Sanches , Figueira Glyn Mara , Araújo Andréa Mendez , Sampieri Bruno Rodrigues , Mathias Maria Izabel Camargo , Szabó Matias Pablo Juan , Bechara Gervásio Henrique , dos Santos Lourdes Campaner , Vilegas Wagner , Pietro Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigue 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
The tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the species with the largest worldwide distribution and is proven to be involved in the transmission of pathogens such as Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis, Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia ricketsii, Rickettsia conorii, among others. Studies have demonstrated acquisition of resistance to some of the active principles used in commercial formulations of acaricides. Tagetes patula (Asteraceae) is a plant with highlighted economic and commercial importance due to the production of secondary metabolites with insecticide and acaricide potential, mainly flavonoids, thiophenes and terpenes.

Methods
The in vitro acaricide action of the ethanolic 70% extract from aerial parts of T. patula, obtained by percolation, was evaluated against larvae and engorged adult females of Rhipicephalus sanguineus by immersion test for 5 minutes. The chemical characterization of this extract was done by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS), using direct injection of sample.

Results
Despite T. patula not proving lethal to adults in any of the concentrations tested, at 50.0 mg/mL oviposition rate decreased by 21.5% and eliminated 99.78% of the larvae. Also it was determined that the best results were obtained with 5 minutes of immersion. From the chromatographic analysis twelve O-glycosylated flavonoids were identified.

Conclusions
This is the first report on the acaricidal activity of T. patula extract against Rh. sanguineus. If we consider the application of the product in the environment, we could completely eliminate the larval stage of development of the ixodid Rh. sanguineus.
Anaemia and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Gilgel Gibe dam area, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Getachew Million , Yewhalaw Delenesaw , Tafess Ketema , Getachew Yehenew , Zeynudin Ahmed 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
Anaemia is known to be one of the outcomes of parasitic infection and it may result in impaired cognitive development, reduced physical work capacity and in severe cases increased risk of mortality, particularly during the prenatal period. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of anaemia among pregnant women in Gilgel-Gibe dam area, southwestern Ethiopia.

Methods
A cross-sectional community based study was conducted on 388 pregnant women living in three districts around Gilgel Gibe Dam area, southwestern Ethiopia. Socio-demographic and socio-economic data were collected from each participant. A single stool sample was also collected from each selected pregnant woman. Haemoglobin concentration was determined by the cyanmethemoglobin method. Plasmodium infection prevalence and intensity were assessed with thin and thick blood film examination.

Results
Of the total 388 study participants, 209 (53.9%) were anaemic. Pregnant woman who were rural residents (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.62, 95% C.I: 1.02-2.62, P= 0.042), not using insecticide treated nets (ITNs) during the study period (AOR = 2.84, 95% C.I: 1.33-6.05, p = 0.007), those who were Plasmodium malaria infected (AOR = 11.19, 95% C.I: 3.31-37.7, p= 0.01) and those with Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections (AOR=1.82, 95% C.I: 1.16-2.87, p=0.001) had higher odds of being anaemic than those who were urban residents, using ITNs, free of Plasmodium malaria and Soil transmitted helminth infection, respectively. There was a significant correlation between increasing hookworm parasite load (r = −.110, P< 0.001), Ascaris lumbricoides (r = −.122, P < 0.001) and Trichuris trichiura(r = −.025, P < 0.001) and decreasing hematocrit values.

Conclusion
The high prevalence of anaemia indicates it is currently a serious health problem of pregnant women living in Gilgel Gibe Dam area. Plasmodium malaria and soil transmitted helminth infections were significantly associated with anaemia. Antenatal care should promote de-worming and education on personal hygiene. Therefore, there is a need to design strategies that help to diagnose pregnant women for malaria and STH infections during their antenatal care (ANC) visit instead of testing for only haemoglobin (Hgb) levels and blood group.
Optimizing Intensive Care Unit Discharge Decisions with Patient Readmissions
Authors: Chan Carri W. , Farias Vivek F. , Bambos Nicholas , Escobar Gabriel J. 
Published: December 2012

This work examines the impact of discharge decisions under uncertainty in a capacity-constrained high-risk setting: the intensive care unit (ICU). New arrivals to an ICU are typically very high-priority patients and, should the ICU be full upon their arrival, discharging a patient currently residing in the ICU may be required to accommodate a newly admitted patient. Patients so discharged risk physiologic deterioration, which might ultimately require readmission; models of these risks are currently unavailable to providers. These readmissions in turn impose an additional load on the capacity-limited ICU resources. We study the impact of several different ICU discharge strategies on patient mortality and total readmission load. We focus on discharge rules that prioritize patients based on some measure of criticality assuming the availability of a model of readmission risk. We use empirical data from over 5,000 actual ICU patient flows to calibrate our model. The empirical study suggests that a predictive model of the readmission risks associated with discharge decisions, in tandem with simple index policies of the type proposed, can provide very meaningful throughput gains in actual ICUs while at the same time maintaining, or even improving upon, mortality rates. We explicitly provide a discharge policy that accomplishes this. In addition to our empirical work, we conduct a rigorous performance analysis for the family of discharge policies we consider. We show that our policy is optimal in certain regimes, and is otherwise guaranteed to incur readmission related costs no larger than a factor of [Formula: see text] of an optimal discharge strategy, where [Formula: see text] is a certain natural measure of system utilization.
Interactions of Tc(IV) with citrate in NaCl media
Authors: Wall Nathalie A. , Karunathilake Nelum , Dong Wenming 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThis paper presents the experimental determination of the stability constant for the citrate complexes with TcO(OH)+and TcO(OH)20at different ionic strengths (NaCl), using a solvent extraction method. Data show that the stability constants for the formation of TcO(OH)Cit2−and TcO(OH)2Cit3−are 107.5 ± 0.2and 102.8 ± 0.2, respectively, at zero ionic strength, with an average of 106.5 ± 0.3and 102.8 ± 0.2, respectively, in the 1.0–3.0 M ionic strength range. PHREEQC calculations based on these stability constants show that the TcO(OH)Cit2−is the predominant species between pH 3 and 8 and that 50 mM citrate leads to a Tc(IV) solubility of 2 × 10−5 M at pH 5.
An electrochemical technique to prepare 55Fe source for the calibration of the X-ray detectors
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Gandhi Shyamala S. , Udhayakumar J. , Satpati A. K. , Shukla Rakesh , Tyagi A. K. , Dash Ashutosh 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
This paper describes an electrochemical method for the preparation of 55Fe sources, utilized in the calibration of low energy X-ray detectors. In this process, electrodeposition of 55Fe containing 185 MBq (∼5 mCi) of activity on a small circular cross sectional flat surface area (∼0.07 cm2) within a cylindrical Cu metal rod was carried out at a current density of 20 mA/cm2 at 18 ºC for 4 h using sulphate bath maintained at pH ∼ 2. The electrolytic cell, the experimental set up used and the process of 55Fe deposition were described. The effect of various experimental parameters influencing the electrodeposition of 55Fe were identified and optimized. The texture and morphology of the electrodeposited samples were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM and EDS techniques. The quantity of deposited 55Fe activity was assayed in a calibrated ion chamber. Quality control tests were carried out to ensure nonleachability, uniform distribution of activity and stability of the sources.
Bosna: The Australian-Bosnian Weekly (The Bosnian Language in Australia)
Authors: Hill Peter M. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
This paper investigates the state of the Bosnian language on the basis of an analysis of the Australian-Bosnian weekly Bosna. The concept of a Bosnian language (bosanski jezik) is not new but has taken on a new lease on life with the establishment of an independent state of Bosnia and Hercegovina (BH). The general consensus is that, while there is still a common vernacular in that republic and beyond within the neoštokavian area, a new BH standard is coming into being. It still has a very flexible (“wide” or “soft”) norm and this is reflected in the enormous degree of variation in the newspaper Bosna.