bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating Baseline Kidney Function in Hospitalized Patients with Impaired Kidney Function
Authors: Siew Edward D. , Ikizler T. Alp , Matheny Michael E. , Shi Yaping , Schildcrout Jonathan S. , Danciu Ioana , Dwyer Jamie P. , Srichai Manakan , Hung Adriana M. , Smith James P. , Peterson Josh F. 
Published: March 2012

Summary

Background and objectives
Inaccurate determination of baseline kidney function can misclassify acute kidney injury (AKI) and affect the study of AKI-related outcomes. No consensus exists on how to optimally determine baseline kidney function when multiple preadmission creatinine measurements are available.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
The accuracy of commonly used methods for estimating baseline serum creatinine was compared with that of a reference standard adjudicated by a panel of board-certified nephrologists in 379 patients with AKI or CKD admitted to a tertiary referral center.

Results
Agreement between estimating methods and the reference standard was highest when using creatinine values measured 7–365 days before admission. During this interval, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the mean outpatient serum creatinine level (0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.88–0.92]) was higher than the most recent outpatient (ICC, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.80–0.88]; P<0.001) and the nadir outpatient (ICC, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.76–0.87; P<0.001) serum creatinine. Using the final creatinine value from a prior inpatient admission increased the ICC of the most recent outpatient creatinine method (0.88 [95% CI, 0.85–0.91]). Performance of all methods declined or was unchanged when the time interval was broadened to 2 years or included serum creatinine measured within a week of admission.

Conclusions
The mean outpatient serum creatinine measured within a year of hospitalization most closely approximates nephrologist-adjudicated serum creatinine values.
Familial Hypomagnesemia with Hypercalciuria and Nephrocalcinosis
Authors: Godron Astrid , Harambat Jérôme , Boccio Valérie , Mensire Anne , May Adrien , Rigothier Claire , Couzi Lionel , Barrou Benoit , Godin Michel , Chauveau Dominique , Faguer Stanislas , Vallet Marion , Cochat Pierre , Eckart Philippe , Guest Geneviève , Guigonis Vincent , Houillier Pascal , Blanchard Anne , Jeunemaitre Xavier , Vargas-Poussou Rosa 
Published: March 2012

Summary

Background and objectives
Familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis is a rare autosomal recessive renal tubular disease. It is caused by mutations in CLDN16 and CLDN19, encoding claudin-16 and -19, respectively. Familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis is usually complicated by progressive CKD. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical and genetic features of familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis and analyze phenotype–genotype associations in patients with CLDN16 or CLDN19 mutations.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
Data from 32 genetically confirmed patients (9 patients with CLDN16 and 23 patients with CLDN19 mutations) from 26 unrelated families were retrospectively reviewed.

Results
Diagnosis was based on clinical criteria at a median age of 9.5 years and confirmed by genetic testing at a median age of 15.5 years. In total, 13 CLDN16 or CLDN19 mutations were identified, including 8 novel mutations. A founder effect was detected for the recurrent CLDN16 p.Ala139Val mutation in North African families and the CLDN19 p.Gly20Asp mutation in Spanish and French families. CKD was more frequently observed in patients with CLDN19 mutations: survival without CKD or ESRD was 56% at 20 years of age in CLDN19 versus 100% in CLDN16 mutations (log rank P<0.01). Ocular abnormalities were observed in 91% of patients with CLDN19 mutations and none of the patients with CLDN16 mutations (P<0.01). Treatments seem to have no effect on hypercalciuria and CKD progression.

Conclusions
Patients with CLDN19 mutations may display more severe renal impairment than patients with CLDN16 mutations. Ocular abnormalities were observed only in patients with CLDN19 mutations.
Application of Synchronous Brushless Motors in Electric Hand Tools
Authors: Dirba J. , Lavrinovicha L. , Levin N. , Pugachev V. 
Published: March 2012

Application of Synchronous Brushless Motors in Electric Hand Tools
In the paper, the possibilities to apply synchronous brushless motors in the electric hand tools are considered. The potential of such motors is estimated in a wide range of characteristics. In particular, estimation is made for the electric hand plane with a synchronous motor having outer rotor and excitation from permanent magnets.
Surface Modification of SB-SE Thin Films by Laser Irradiation and Etching
Authors: Shiman O. , Gerbreders V. , Sledevskis E. 
Published: March 2012

Surface Modification of SB-SE Thin Films by Laser Irradiation and Etching
The surfaces of Sb20Se80 and Sb40Se60 thin films were modified by exposure to laser light. To study the topology of these surfaces the scanning force microscopy was used. As a result, the surface of as-deposited/amorphous SbxSe100-x films appear to be flat, while the treated films exhibit three types of surface structure on the sub-micrometer scale. Changes in the surface characteristics as well as potential applications of selective etching of Sb-Se thin films are discussed.
Retraining Postural Responses With Exercises Emphasizing Speed Poststroke
Authors: Gray Vicki L. , Juren Larissa M. , Ivanova Tanya D. , Garland S. Jayne 
Published: March 2012

Background
Postural responses are impaired after stroke, with reduced or delayed muscle activity in the paretic leg muscles.

Objective
The efficacy of exercises emphasizing speed of movement in modifying postural responses to perturbations that were not practiced was investigated.

Design
This was a dual cohort design.

Methods
A convenience sample of 32 individuals with hemiparesis poststroke (mean number of weeks poststroke=11.3, SD=4.1) who were recruited upon discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation hospital and a control group of age- and sex-matched individuals who were healthy (n=32) performed a single session of exercise emphasizing speed of movement. To assess postural responses to internal perturbation, unilateral arm raise and load drop tasks were performed before exercises (pre-exercise), immediately after exercises (post-exercise), and 15 minutes after exercises (retention). The time to burst peak and area of the biceps femoris muscle (BF) electromyographic (EMG) activity in the arm raise task was measured with the arm acceleration and velocity of the center of pressure (COP) excursion. For the load drop task, the anticipatory EMG deactivation area of the BF was calculated. In both tasks, the vertical ground reaction forces were recorded for each leg separately.

Results
Before exercise, EMG and force platform measures were smaller in the stroke group than in the control group. After exercise, the paretic BF time to burst peak decreased, the paretic BF EMG area increased, and the COP velocity increased in the arm raise task, as did the paretic BF anticipatory EMG deactivation area in the load drop task. The stroke group was weight bearing more symmetrically after exercises. Most changes were retained 15 minutes after the exercises.

Limitations
The retention period was short, and there was no control group of individuals with stroke.

Conclusions
The results of this efficacy study demonstrated that fast movement exercises improved postural responses to perturbations that were not practiced.
Percutaneous Lateral Ligament Reconstruction with Allograft for Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability
Authors: Youn Hyunkook , Kim Yong Sang , Lee Jongseok , Choi Woo Jin , Lee Jin Woo 
Published: March 2012

Background: The majority of lateral ankle instability can be treated successfully with conservative method. However, if such treatments fail, surgical treatment should be considered. A wide variety of procedures have been introduced to treat chronic lateral ankle instability. The percutaneous method avoids dissection which is associated with open surgery and can lead to excessive morbidity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of percutaneous lateral ligament reconstruction with an allograft in the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability. Methods: Between October 2006 and April 2009, percutaneous lateral ligament reconstruction using an allograft was performed on 15 ankles in 13 patients for chronic lateral ankle instability. The patients included in this study satisfied at least one of the following criteria: a previously failed reconstruction of the ligament, severe ankle instability (more than 15 degrees of talar tilt, more than 10 mm of anterior drawer), general laxity of ligaments, body mass index (BMI) higher than 25. The mean followup period was 18.1 (range, 12 to 40) months. The grafted tendon was secured by double tenodeses at both the talus and calcaneus or triple tenodeses which included a fibular tenodesis. The clinical outcomes were evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Karlsson-Peterson ankle score, and patients' subjective satisfaction. The radiological results were evaluated using the varus tilting angle and the anterior displacement distance. Results: The VAS improved from preoperative 3.7 ± 2.2 to 1.6 ± 1.3 at the last followup ( p = 0.002). The Karlsson-Peterson ankle score increased from 54.2 ± 8.8 to 80.9 ± 7.2 ( p = 0.001). Patients were satisfied in 13 cases (86.7%) with excellent or good results. Radiologically, the mean varus tilting angle was 15.5 ± 4.4 degrees preoperatively and 7.3 ± 3.6 at the last followup ( p = 0.001). The anterior drawer distance was 10.1 ± 3.3 mm preoperatively and 7.2 ± 2.7 mm at last followup ( p = 0.001). Conclusion: We believe percutaneous lateral ligament reconstruction with allograft to be a useful method as a salvage procedure for the treatment of severe and complicated types of chronic lateral ankle instability. Furthermore, the minimal invasiveness of this technique provides a good cosmetic outcome and we found it to be a technically easy and fast procedure. Level of Evidence: Comparative Case Series
Surgical Treatment of Non-Diabetic Chronic Osteomyelitis Involving the Foot and Ankle
Authors: Jeong Jae Jung , Lee Ho Seong , Choi Young Rak , Kim Sang Woo , Seo Jeong Ho 
Published: March 2012

Background: We evaluated the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with chronic osteomyelitis in the foot and ankle in patients without diabetes. Methods: We reviewed 15 patients treated for chronic osteomyelitis involving the foot and ankle between September 2004 and March 2007. Patients with diabetes mellitus or who were immunocompromised were excluded. The cause of osteomyelitis, sites of occurrence, causative pathogens, and invasion of the adjacent joint(s) were reviewed, then the clinical characteristics were analyzed. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to clarify the extent of infection and invasion of the adjacent joint. Surgical management included wide debridement, dead space control, and arthrodesis if there was invasion of the adjacent joint. The mean postoperative followup period was 3.3 years, during which recurrences and complications were evaluated. Results: Extrinsic causes accounted for 86.7% of the chronic osteomyelitis involving the foot and ankle. The most common cause of osteomyelitis was trauma with ten cases due to complications following fractures or dislocation. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas were the most common causative pathogens. In 46.7% of the patients, the adjacent joint was involved and an arthrodesis was performed. The mean length of the hospital stay was 39.1 days. The average of number of surgeries was two. Fourteen of 15 patients had no recurrence. Conclusion: For the successful treatment of chronic osteomyelitis involving the foot and ankle, an arthrodesis based on invasion of the adjacent joint as well as wide debridement and dead space control was successful in this series. Level of Evidence: IV, Retrospective Case Series
Sexually transmitted infections in HIV-infected patients in Kabale Hospital, Uganda
Authors: Osinde Michael Odongo , Kakaire Othman , Kaye Dan Kabonge 
Published: March 2012

Introduction: Acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is an epidemiological marker of high-risk sexual behavior in HIV-infected patients. We assessed the prevalence of STIs among patients attending an HIV care and support centre. Methodology: From January to August 2009, we assessed socio-demographic variables, sexuality, disclosure of sero-status and STI treatment for 400 patients attending the HIV care and support centre. Characteristics of those who had been treated and those who had never been treated for STIs were compared to identify factors independently associated with STIs. Results: Of the 400 respondents, 25.3% were male, 47.3% were aged 25-34 years, over 85% were currently married or had ever been married, and 62% had primary level of education or less. Though 82.5% were on antiretroviral drugs, only 53.1% disclosed their sero-status to their regular partners and only 41.9% knew the sero-status of their regular partners. Furthermore, 151 (37.7%) had been treated for STIs. The STIs were gonorrhoea (15; 9.7%), chlamydia (11; 7.1%), Trichomonas vaginalis (5; 3.3%), syphilis (99; 64.3%), and mixed infections (21; 13.6%). Factors associated with STI treatment on univariable analysis were age at sexual debut, whether the respondent had had sex in the previous six months, frequency of sexual intercourse, having changed sexual partners, number of sexual partners, and age when the respondent had a first child. Conclusion: Unprotected sexual intercourse and STIs are common among patients seeking HIV care in Uganda. Only the age of sexual debut (odds ratio0.82, confidence limits 0.71, 0.94) was independently (though inversely) associated with STIs.
Clinical, Functional, and Radiographic Differences Among Juvenile-onset, Adult-onset, and Late-onset Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: CHEN HUNG-AN , CHEN CHUN-HSIUNG , LIAO HSIEN-TZUNG , LIN YEONG-JANG , CHEN PEI-CHIH , CHEN WEI-SHENG , CHIEN CHIH-CHIANG , CHOU CHUNG-TEI 
Published: March 2012

Objective.The aim of our study was to compare the clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes at different ages of onset in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods.A total of 546 patients were enrolled consecutively and classified into 3 groups based on their age at symptom onset: (1) juvenile-onset AS (age ≤ 16 years; JoAS); (2) adult-onset AS (> 16 but < 40 years; AoAS); and (3) late-onset AS (≥ 40 years; LoAS). We compared the differences among the 3 groups. OR for disease outcomes were calculated and adjusted for sex, HLA-B27, and disease duration.Results.There were 67 patients (12.3%) with JoAS, 460 (84.2%) with AoAS, and 19 (3.5%) with LoAS. Male sex and HLA-B27 were associated with a younger age at onset (p < 0.001). Compared to patients with AoAS, patients with JoAS were more likely to present with peripheral arthritis, while patients with JoAS and LoAS were less likely to have back pain at the onset of AS (p < 0.05). After controlling for multiple covariates, JoAS was found to be associated with a worse functional outcome and global assessment, and a high serum immunoglobulin A level (p < 0.05). Patients with JoAS had less lumbar spinal radiographic severity (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in clinical or functional outcome between the LoAS and AoAS groups. None of the LoAS patients had radiographic hip involvement.Conclusion.Sex and HLA-B27 are significantly associated with age at onset of AS. Both JoAS and LoAS have their distinctive symptoms/signs at onset and different disease outcomes.
How Do Physicians Weigh Benefits and Risks Associated with Treatments in Patients with Osteoarthritis in the United Kingdom?
Authors: ARDEN NIGEL K. , HAUBER A. BRETT , MOHAMED ATEESHA F. , JOHNSON F. REED , PELOSO PAUL M. , WATSON DOUGLAS J. , MAVROS PANAGIOTIS , GAMMAITONI ARNOLD , SEN SHUVAYU S. , TAYLOR STEPHANIE D. 
Published: March 2012

Objective.To quantify the relative importance that UK physicians attach to the benefits and risks of current drugs when making treatment decisions for patients with osteoarthritis (OA).Methods.Physicians treating at least 10 patients with OA per month completed an online discrete-choice experiment survey and answered 12 treatment-choice questions comparing medication profiles. Medication profiles were defined by 4 benefits (reduction in ambulatory pain, resting pain, stiffness, and difficulty doing daily activities) and 3 treatment-related risks [bleeding ulcer, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI)]. Each physician made medication choices for 3 of 9 hypothetical patients (varied by age, history of MI, hypertension, and history of gastrointestinal bleeding). Importance weights were estimated using a random-parameters logit model. Treatment-related risks physicians were willing to accept in exchange for various reductions in ambulatory and resting pain also were calculated.Results.The final sample was 475. A reduction in ambulatory pain from 75 mm to 25 mm (1.6 units) was 1.1 times as important as an increase in MI risk from 0% to 1.5% (1.5 units). The greatest importance was for eliminating a 3% treatment-related risk of MI or stroke. On average, physicians were willing to accept an increase in bleeding ulcer risk of 0.7% (95% CI 0.4%–1.7%) for a reduction in ambulatory pain of 75 mm to 50 mm.Conclusion.When presented with well-known benefits and risks of OA treatments, physicians placed greater importance on the risks than on the analgesic properties of the drug. This has implications for the reporting of the results of clinical research to physicians.
Energy Demand Analytics Using Coupled Technological and Economic Models
Authors: Steckley Samuel G. , Meade Douglas S. , Lenox Carol Shay , Hoffman Kenneth C. , Reid David H. , H. Schoener Bradley C. 
Published: March 2012

Impacts of a range of policy scenarios on end-use energy demand are examined using a coupling of MARKAL, an energy system model with extensive supply and end-use technological detail, and Inforum LIFT, a large-scale model of the U.S. economy with inter-industry, government, and consumer behavioral dynamics. Responses in end-use energy demand are the result of energy efficiency improvements, fuel switching, and indirect economy-wide impacts. Carbon emissions reductions attributed to end-use demand response are analyzed and compared to carbon emissions reductions attributed to changes in the electric sector. Scenarios with the greatest impacts are a carbon tax case, resulting in a shift away from coal generation in the electric sector, and a normative case using a 7% discount rate for end-use technology investment decisions, resulting in increased adoption of energy efficient technology. In the course of addressing the specific EMF 25 scenarios and specified assumptions, a number of interesting issues were identified for follow-on analyses. doi: 10.5547/ISSN0195-6574-EJ-Vol32-SI1-10
Nanopore Characterization and Optical Modeling of Transparent Polycrystalline Alumina
Authors: Stuer Michael , Bowen Paul , Cantoni Marco , Pecharroman Carlos , Zhao Zhe 
Published: March 2012

AbstractProduction of transparent ceramics has become a topic of resurgent interest in recent years, with its promise of near‐net shaping appealing to applications ranging from biomedicine to solar energy. However, the mechanisms governing ceramic transparency, translucency, and opaqueness are not entirely understood. Models of both grain boundary and pore scattering have been proposed, but too often without sufficient experimental corroboration. An extensive experimental analysis of transparent alumina samples is presented, establishing a first direct link between the observed transparency, defect size, and porosity. Given the unprecedented experimental detail from the full 3D pore reconstruction from the FIB tomography, how to correctly interpret the experimentally observed transparency is additionally shown. The unprecedented experimental and theoretical agreement for the first time identifies the relative contributions of different scattering mechanisms, thereby paving the way forward for microstructural tuning of transparent polycrystalline alumina.
Improving the performance of a catalytic system for the synthesis of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with a reduced number of entanglements
Authors: Ronca Sara , Romano Dario , Forte Giuseppe , Andablo‐Reyes Efren , Rastogi Sanjayc 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIt has been shown that, in suitable reaction conditions, it is possible to obtain ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with a reduced number of entanglements directly from the synthesis. This material shows interesting technological properties in terms of improved solid‐state processability. Nascent powders can be compressed into films and ultrastretched to give high modulus, high strength tapes. At high temperature, above the melting point, the “disentangled'' state will revert to the fully entangled, thermodynamically stable state. This change can be followed by suitable techniques. In this study, we have investigated the effect that a cocatalyst modification can have on the catalyst performance and ultimately on the material properties and processability. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 31: 193–204, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/adv.21265
Autonomic Shutdown of Lithium‐Ion Batteries Using Thermoresponsive Microspheres
Authors: Baginska Marta , Blaiszik Benjamin J. , Merriman Ryan J. , Sottos Nancy R. , Moore Jeffrey S. , White Scott R. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAutonomic, thermally‐induced shutdown of Lithium‐ion (Li‐ion) batteries is demonstrated by incorporating thermoresponsive polymer microspheres (ca. 4 μm) onto battery anodes or separators. When the internal battery environment reaches a critical temperature, the microspheres melt and coat the anode/separator with a nonconductive barrier, halting Li‐ion transport and shutting down the cell permanently. Three functionalization schemes are shown to perform cell shutdown: 1) poly(ethylene) (PE) microspheres coated on the anode, 2) paraffin wax microspheres coated on the anode, and 3) PE microspheres coated on the separator. Charge and discharge capacity is measured for Li‐ion coin cells containing microsphere‐coated anodes or separators as a function of capsule coverage. For PE coated on the anode, the initial capacity of the battery is unaffected by the presence of the PE microspheres up to a coverage of 12 mg cm−2 (when cycled at 1C), and full shutdown (>98% loss of initial capacity) is achieved in cells containing greater than 3.5 mg cm−2. For paraffin microspheres coated on the anode and PE microspheres coated on the separator, shutdown is achieved in cells containing coverages greater than 2.9 and 13.7 mg cm−2, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy images of electrode surfaces from cells that have undergone autonomic shutdown provides evidence of melting, wetting, and resolidification of PE into the anode and polymer film formation at the anode/separator interface.