bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Low-energy fractures of the humeral shaft and bisphosphonate use
Authors: Yavropoulou Maria P , Giusti Andrea , Ramautar Sharita R , Dijkstra Sander , Hamdy Neveen AT , Papapoulos Socrates E 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Atypical fractures of the femur have been reported to occur in patients on long-term treatment with bisphosphonates; however, causality has not been proven, and it is not known whether similar fractures may occur in other long bones. We addressed this issue by examining the relationship between humeral shaft fractures and bisphosphonate use. We identified all patients aged ≥50 years consecutively admitted to a single center with a new fracture of the humerus. All individual radiographs were examined and fracture site was classified. A case-control study was undertaken in patients with humeral shaft fractures, and controls were sex- and age-matched patients with proximal humeral fractures in a 1:4 ratio. Patients with shaft fractures and radiographic characteristics similar to those of atypical femoral fractures were compared with those with ordinary shaft fractures. The association between “atypical” fractures and bisphosphonate or glucocorticoid use was examined. A total of 198 patients had a low-energy fracture of the humerus; 20 of these patients had a shaft fracture (10%). These 20 patients (cases) were matched with 80 patients with proximal fractures (controls). Bisphosphonates were used by 5% of cases and by 6.3% of controls (odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09–6.85); glucocorticoids were used by 10% of cases and 8.8% of controls (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.23–5.83). There was no difference in cortical thickness between cases and controls and bisphosphonate or glucocorticoid users and nonusers. Four of the 20 patients with shaft fractures had “atypical” radiographic features, with significantly increased cortical thickness, but none of these had ever been treated with bisphosphonates or glucocorticoids. Our results show that low-energy fractures of the humeral shaft with “atypical” radiographic characteristics are infrequent and are not associated with the use of bisphosphonates or glucocorticoids. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Pressure drop in biofilters as related to dust and biomass accumulation
Authors: Andreasen Rune R. , Nicolai Richard E. , Poulsen Tjalfe G. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: Pressure drop is a key parameter controlling cost efficiency of air cleaning biofilters. Pressure drop tends to increase with time due to accumulation of dust and biomass (DBM) within the filter medium. Although this is well known no easily applied expression for accurately estimating pressure drop under such conditions is available. Thus, evaluation of filter operating costs is at present uncertain.RESULTS: In this study the relationship between filter pressure drop and accumulation of DBM in the filter was examined using a commercial available material: light expanded clay aggregates (Leca®) consisting of porous rounded aggregates with similar shape. Pressure drop as a function of operating time (for a 60 day period), filter depth and DBM accumulation was measured on a set of pilot scale biofilter units filtering exhaust air from a full scale pig stable (as opposed to using artificially contaminated air). Pressure drop was observed to increase with time at all filter depths in response to DBM accumulation. Both DBM accumulation and pressure drop increase was most pronounced near the filter inlet.CONCLUSION: Pressure drop and DBM accumulation were closely related and both linked to the fraction of air‐filled flow conducting voids. Based on the data a simple expression for predicting pressure drop in porous biofilter media as a function of DBM accumulation was developed. This expression can serve as an easily applied tool in assessment of biofilter cost efficiency. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Sleep rounds: A multidisciplinary approach to optimize sleep quality and satisfaction in hospitalized patients
Authors: Thomas Katherine P. , Salas Rachel E. , Gamaldo Charlene , Chik Yolanda , Huffman Linda , Rasquinha Russell , Hoesch Robert E. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND:Poor sleep has adverse affects on heath, yet few studies have addressed the goal of improving sleep among hospitalized patients. We evaluated the effectiveness of a sleep‐promoting intervention on the quality and quantity of sleep among inpatients.METHODS:This study was conducted on a neurological ward in a large, tertiary care hospital. Sleep quality, quantity, and disruptors were assessed using questionnaires completed by patients during their hospital stay and Press Ganey surveys completed retrospectively. Room noise was also measured using noise meters. Data from each of 4 chronological phases of the study (baseline, basic intervention, “washout,” and deluxe intervention) were analyzed. In the intervention phases, nurses conducted “Sleep Rounds” at bedtime, during which sleep‐promoting practices were implemented, including lights out, television off, temperature adjustment, and a final restroom usage.RESULTS:Patients reported 5 (interquartile range [IQR] 3) hours of sleep per night, awoke 3 (IQR 3) times nightly, and reported a median sleep latency of 11 to 15 minutes. Pain, staff interruptions, and roommates were the most significant barriers to good sleep. Noise levels were adequately low (35–40 dB) at night but were not positively impacted by our sleep‐promoting interventions. Patients perceived noise on the unit to be worse during phases of the study in which there was no intervention.CONCLUSIONS:Patient perception of sleep experience improved during the phases in which Sleep Rounds were implemented, despite the fact that there was no measurable improvement in sleep or sleep‐disrupting factors. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2012; © 2012 Society of Hospital Medicine
Detailing the use of magnetohydrodynamic effects for synchronization of MRI with the cardiac cycle: A feasibility study
Authors: Frauenrath Tobias , Fuchs Katharina , Dieringer Matthias A. , Özerdem Celal , Patel Nishant , Renz Wolfgang , Greiser Andreas , Elgeti Thomas , Niendorf Thoralf 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPurpose:To investigate the feasibility of using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects for synchronization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the cardiac cycle.Materials and Methods:The MHD effect was scrutinized using a pulsatile flow phantom at B0 = 7.0 T. MHD effects were examined in vivo in healthy volunteers (n = 10) for B0 ranging from 0.05–7.0 T. Noncontrast‐enhanced MR angiography (MRA) of the carotids was performed using a gated steady‐state free‐precession (SSFP) imaging technique in conjunction with electrocardiogram (ECG) and MHD synchronization.Results:The MHD potential correlates with flow velocities derived from phase contrast MRI. MHD voltages depend on the orientation between B0 and the flow of a conductive fluid. An increase in the interelectrode spacing along the flow increases the MHD potential. In vivo measurement of the MHD effect provides peak voltages of 1.5 mV for surface areas close to the common carotid artery at B0 = 7.0 T. Synchronization of MRI with the cardiac cycle using MHD triggering is feasible. MHD triggered MRA of the carotids at 3.0 T showed an overall image quality and richness of anatomic detail, which is comparable to ECG‐triggered MRAs.Conclusion:This feasibility study demonstrates the use of MHD effects for synchronization of MR acquisitions with the cardiac cycle. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:364–372. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modelling variable glacier lapse rates using ERA‐Interim reanalysis climatology: an evaluation at Vestari‐ Hagafellsjökull, Langjökull, Iceland
Authors: Hodgkins R. , Carr S. , Pálsson F. , Guðmundsson S. , Björnsson H. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe near‐surface air temperature lapse rate is an important tool for spatially distributing temperatures in snow‐ and ice‐melt models, but is difficult to parameterize, as it is not simply correlated with boundary‐layer meteorological variables, such as temperature itself. This contribution quantifies spring‐autumn lapse rate variability over 5 years at Vestari‐Hagafellsjökull, a southerly outlet of Langjökull in Iceland. It is observed that summer lapse rates (0.57 °C 100 m−1) are significantly lower than non‐summer rates, and are also lower than the Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate (SALR), which is often adopted in melt models. This is consistent with reduced near‐surface temperature sensitivity to free‐atmosphere temperature change during the occurrence of melting. A Variable Lapse Rate (VLR) regression model is calibrated with standardized, 750 hPa temperature anomalies derived from ERA‐Interim climatology, which is shown to be highly significantly correlated with near‐surface temperatures. The modelled VLR overestimates cumulative June–September Positive Degree Days (PDDs) by 3% when used to extrapolate temperatures from 1100 to 500 m a.s.l. on the glacier, whereas the SALR overestimates cumulative PDDs by 14%. ERA‐Interim data therefore appear to offer a good representation of free‐atmosphere temperature variability over Vestari‐Hagafellsjökull, and the modelling approach offers a simple means of improving lapse rate parameterizations in melt models. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Trends in extreme temperature indices in South Africa: 1962–2009
Authors: Kruger A. C. , Sekele S. S. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractTrends in daily maximum and minimum extreme temperature indices were investigated for 28 weather stations in South Africa, not only for the common period of 1962–2009, but also for longer periods which the individual record lengths of the stations would allow. The utilized weather stations had limited gaps in their time series, did not undergo major moves, or had their exposure compromised during the study period, as to influence the homogeneity of their time series. The indices calculated were forthcoming from those developed by the WMO/CLIVAR Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI), but only those applicable to the South African climate were selected. The general result is that warm extremes increased and cold extremes decreased for all of the weather stations. The trends however vary on a regional basis, both in magnitude and statistical significance, broadly indicating that the western half, as well as parts of the northeast and east of South Africa, show relatively stronger increases in warm extremes and decreases in cold extremes than elsewhere in the country. These regions coincide to a large degree with the thermal regimes in South Africa which are susceptible to extreme temperatures. The annual absolute maximum and minimum temperatures do not reflect the general trends displayed by the other indices, showing that individual extreme events cannot always be associated with observed long‐term climatic trends. The analyses of longer time series than the common period indicate that it is highly likely that warming accelerated since the mid‐1960s in South Africa. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Survival, fidelity, and recovery rates of white‐winged doves in Texas
Authors: Collier Bret A. , Kremer Shelly R. , Mason Corey D. , Peterson Markus J. , Calhoun Kirby W. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractManagement of migratory birds at the national level has historically relied on regulatory boundaries for definition of harvest restrictions and estimation of demographic parameters. Most species of migratory game birds are not expanding their ranges, so migratory corridors are approximately fixed. White‐winged doves (Zenaida asiatica), however, have undergone significant variation in population structure with marked range expansion occurring in Texas, and range contraction in Arizona, during the last 30 years. Because >85% of white‐winged dove harvest in the United States (approx. 1.3 million annually) now occurs in Texas, information on vital rates of expanding white‐winged dove populations is necessary for informed management. We used band recovery and mark–recapture data to investigate variation in survival and harvest across 3 geographic strata for white‐winged doves banded in the pre‐hunting season in Texas during 2007–2010. We banded 60,742 white‐winged doves, recovered 2,458 bands via harvest reporting, and recaptured 455 known‐age birds between 2007 and 2010. The best supporting model found some evidence for geographic differences in survival rates among strata (A–C) in both hatch‐year (juvenile; A = 0.205 [SE = 0.0476], B = 0.213 [SE = 0.0278], C = 0.364 [SE = 0.0254]) and after‐hatch year (adult; A = 0.483 [SE = 0.0775], B = 0.465 [SE = 0.0366], C = 0.538 [SE = 0.251]) birds. White‐winged doves had a low probability of moving among strata (0.009) or being recaptured (0.002) across all strata. Harvest recovery rates were concordant with estimates for other dove species, but were variable across geographic strata. Based on our results, harvest management strategies for white‐winged doves in Texas and elsewhere should consider differences in population vital rates among geographic strata. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Current Issues in the Social Psychological Study of ‘Language Attitudes’: Constructionism, Context, and the Attitude–Behavior Link
Authors: Soukup Barbara 
Published: March 2012

AbstractQuantitative social psychological studies of ‘language attitudes’ (particularly speaker evaluation experiments using the ‘matched‐guise technique’) are a popular area of research. But they have also been the subject of much criticism, especially from the perspective of social constructionism. This article focuses on two central points of debate: the issue of whether or not (language) attitudes should be regarded as stable mental entities, and the issue of the attitude–behavior link. Contrary to what has been suggested, adopting a constructionist perspective on these issues does not entail abandoning all quantitative methodology in favor of qualitative (discourse) analysis. Rather, it means conceptualizing speaker evaluation experiments as contextually situated ‘communicative events’. Under such a recast, experiments can be usefully harnessed for the explication of sociolinguistic behavior such as strategic style‐shifting. More generally, quantitative ‘language attitude’ research needs to take constructionist considerations into account in order to retain its scientific relevance today.
QSPR Prediction of Lipophilicity for Organic Compounds Using Random Forest Technique on the Basis of Simplex Representation of Molecular Structure
Authors: Ognichenko Liudmyla N. , Kuz'min Victor E. , Gorb Leonid , Hill Frances C. , Artemenko Anatoly G. , Polischuk Pavel G. , Leszczynski Jerzy 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe relationship between the octanol‐water partition coefficient for more than twelve thousand organic compounds and their structures was investigated using a QSPR approach based on Simplex Representation of Molecular Structure (SiRMS). The dataset used in our study included 10973 compounds with experimental values of lipophilicity (LogKow) for different chemical compounds. Random Forest (RF) method was used for statistical modeling at the 2D level of representation of molecular structure. Developed models are adequate and successfully validated with external test sets. Proposed models have clear interpretation due to the use of simplex representation of molecular structure and predict the LogKow values with the accuracy of the best modern models. Thus QSPR models proposed in this study represent powerful and easy‐to use virtual screening tool that can be recommended for prediction of octanol‐water partition coefficient.
QSAR Prediction of Passive Permeability in the LLC‐PK1 Cell Line: Trends in Molecular Properties and Cross‐Prediction of Caco‐2 Permeabilities
Authors: Sherer Edward C. , Verras Andreas , Madeira Maria , Hagmann William K. , Sheridan Robert P. , Roberts Drew , Bleasby Kelly , Cornell Wendy D. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA QSAR model for predicting passive permeability (Papp) was derived from Papp values measured in the LLC‐PK1 cell line. The QSAR method and descriptor set that performed best in terms of cross‐validation was random forest with a combination of AP, DP, and MOE_2D descriptors. The QSAR model was used to predict the Caco‐2 cell permeability for 313 compounds described in the literature with good success. We find that passive permeability for different cell lines can be predicted with similar molecular properties and descriptors. It is shown that the variation in experimental measurements of Papp is smaller than the error in QSAR predictions indicating that predictions are not quantitatively perfect, although qualitatively useful. We get better predictions if the training set is large and diverse, rather than smaller and more internally consistent. This is because prediction accuracy falls off quickly with decreasing similarity to the training set and it is therefore better to have as large a training set as possible. While single physical parameters are not as good as a full QSAR model in predicting Papp, logD seems the most important parameter. Intermediate values of logD are associated with higher Papp.
On the inherent precision of mcDESPOT
Authors: Lankford Christopher L. , Does Mark D. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA statistical analysis of the mcDESPOT protocol for characterizing two exchanging water proton pools—a seven‐dimensional problem that fits to multiple flip angle measurements of both spoiled and refocused gradient echoes—is presented. Theoretical calculations of the Cramér‐Rao lower bounds of the variance of fitted model parameters were made using a variety of model system parameters, meant to mimic those expected in human white matter. The results, validated by Monte Carlo simulations, indicated that mcDESPOT signals acquired at feasibly attainable signal‐to‐noise ratios cannot provide parameter estimates with useful levels of precision. Precision can be greatly improved by constraining solutions with a priori model information, although this will generally lead to biased parameter estimates with less specificity. These results indicate that previous, apparently successful applications of mcDESPOT to human white matter may have used data fitting methods that implicitly constrained parameter solutions, or that the two‐pool model of white matter may not be sufficient to describe the observed water proton signal in mcDESPOT acquisitions. In either case, mcDESPOT‐derived estimates of two‐pool model parameters cannot yet be unambiguously related to specific tissue characteristics. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Expression of multiple nebulin isoforms in human skeletal muscle and brain
Authors: Laitila Jenni , Hanif Mubashir , Paetau Anders , Hujanen Sari , Keto Joni , Somervuo Panu , Huovinen Sanna , Udd Bjarne , Wallgren‐Pettersson Carina , Auvinen Petri , Hackman Peter , Pelin Katarina 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIntroduction:Nebulin is a large actin‐binding protein of the skeletal muscle sarcomere. Multiple isoforms of nebulin are produced from the 183‐exon–containing nebulin gene (NEB). Mutations in NEB cause nemaline myopathy, distal myopathy, and core‐rod myopathy.Methods:Nebulin mRNA expression was assessed by microarrays and RT‐PCR in 21 human leg muscle and 2 brain samples. Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 5 regions of 1 brain sample.Results:Nebulin isoform diversity is as high in brain as in skeletal muscle. Isoforms with more than 22 super repeats seem to be more common than previously anticipated. Immunohistochemistry showed nebulin expression predominantly in the cytoplasm of pyramidal neurons but also in the cytoplasm of mainly subcortical endothelial cells.Conclusions:Nebulin, as in skeletal muscle, may have a role as an actin filament stabilizer or length regulator in neurons of the human brain, although patients with NEB mutations usually have normal cognition. Muscle Nerve, 2012
Genetic variability and clinical spectrum of Chinese patients with limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A
Authors: Luo Su‐Shan , Xi Jian‐Ying , Zhu Wen‐Hua , Zhao Chong‐Bo , Lu Jia‐Hong , Lin Jie , Wang Yin , Lu Jun , Qiao Kai 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIntroduction:Previous studies of limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) patients in many countries have suggested a heterogeneous genetic and clinical spectrum, but the genotypes and phenotypes of Chinese LGMD2A patients remain unclear.Methods:We directly screened calpain‐3 (CAPN3) in 18 Chinese Han subjects who exhibited severely reduced or completely absent calpain‐3 expression, as determined by Western blot analysis. We subsequently analyzed genotype/phenotype correlations.Results:Seventeen patients (94.4%) were identified who had at least 1 causative mutation. All 18 mutations were distributed along the entire gene, and 11 of the mutations were novel, including 4 missense mutations, 5 deletions, and 2 splicing mutations. The phenotypes of these Chinese LGMD2A patients varied from severe LGMD to distal myopathy, and even asymptomatic hyper‐CK‐emia.Conclusions:No evidential correlation was found between the genotypes and phenotypes of the patients assessed in this study. Western blot analysis is still a useful diagnostic method when genetic analysis is unavailable. Muscle Nerve, 2012
Properties on novel PVDF‐HFP‐based composite polymer electrolyte with vinyltrimethoxylsilane‐modified ZSM‐5
Authors: Xiao Wei , Li Xinhai , Guo Huajun , Wang Zhixing 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA kind of novel poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP)‐based composite polymer electrolyte doped with vinyltrimethoxylsilane (DB171 silane)‐modified ZSM‐5 is prepared by phase inversion method (denoted as M‐ZSM‐5 membrane). Physical and chemical properties of M‐ZSM‐5 membrane are studied by SEM, FTIR, TG‐DSC, EIS, and LSV. The results show that thermal and electrochemical stability can reach 400°C and 5 V, respectively; temperature dependence of ionic conductivity follows Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher relation and ionic conductivity at room temperature is up to 4.2 mS/cm; the interfacial resistance reaches a stable value about 325 Ω after 5 days storage at room temperature, which suggests that it can be potentially suitable as electrolyte in polymer lithium ion battery. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers