Universal Classification System Research Articles

Challenges in Prosthesis Classification

Accurate prosthesis classification is critical for total joint arthroplasty surveillance and assessment of comparative effectiveness. Historically, prosthesis classification was based solely on the names of the prosthesis manufacturers. As a result, prosthesis designs changed without corresponding name changes, and other prostheses' names changed over time without substantial design modifications. As the number of prostheses used in total joint arthroplasty on the market increased, catalog and lot numbers associated with prosthesis descriptions were introduced by manufacturers. Currently, these catalog and lot numbers are not standardized, and there is no consensus on categorization of these numbers into brands or subbrands. Classification of the attributes of a prosthesis also varies, limiting comparisons of prostheses across studies and reports. The development of a universal prosthesis classification system would standardize prosthesis classification and enhance total joint arthroplasty research collaboration worldwide. This is a current area of focus for the International Consortium of Orthopaedic Registries (ICOR).

Bioinformatics and systems biology of the lipidome.

Bioinformatics and systems biology of the lipidome.

New classification system of radical hysterectomy: Emphasis on a three-dimensional anatomic template for parametrial resection

Objective The international acceptance of a universal classification system for radical hysterectomy is one of the important challenges in gynecologic oncology. The recently published classification system by Querleu and Morrow is a relevant proposal that has been well received by the professional community. However, it does not include a description of parametrial resection in three dimensions, which mostly determines post-operative morbidity. Methods The intention of this follow-up paper was to further develop the classification system based on the four proposed types of radical hysterectomy (A–D) into a three-dimensional model using standard anatomical landmarks for definition of resection margins in longitudinal and transverse dimensions and demonstrate it on pictures. Results Resection margins were defined in longitudinal and transverse dimensions for each suggested type of radical hysterectomy on all three parts of the parametria. Besides precise description using stable anatomical landmarks, all resection lines have been shown on intra-operative photographs. Conclusion Four types of radical hysteretomy can be precisely defined on a three-dimensional anatomical template, including nerve sparing procedure. Our paper should contribute to better standardization (including nomenclature) of the radical hysterectomy, enhancing harmonization of clinical practice in gynecological oncology.

Evaluation of the Reliability of Classification Systems Used for Distal Radius Fractures

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the reliability of classification systems by determining inter- and intraobserver agreement in displaced distal radius fractures. Radiographs of 32 patients (21 men and 11 women with a mean age of 41.6 years) who presented with a displaced distal radius fracture were classified by 9 orthopedic surgeons (5-25 years experience) using 5 different classification systems (Fernandez, AO, Frykman, Melone, and Universal Classification systems) twice with 20-day intervals. The results were processed with kappa statistics and used in assessment of inter- and intraobserver agreement of the classification systems. When classification systems were compared, the highest kappa coefficient in intraobserver agreement was determined in Universal classification (0.621). Fernandez (0.474), AO (0.309), Frykman (0.305), and Melone classification systems (0.262) followed the Universal system respectively. Kappa statistical results were evaluated using the Landis Koch score system for the assessment of interobserver agreement. According to the Landis Koch score system, the results were insufficient in all classification systems. Fernandez classification system had the highest interobserver agreement (0.235) and Melone classification system had the lowest interobserver agreement (0.056). According to the results of our study, the systems used to classify the displaced distal radial fractures are insufficient. A new classification system that ensures the 3-dimensional assessment of the fracture is more user-friendly and a high inter- and intraobserver agreement is necessary.

Selective Eaters and Tactile Sensitivity

Among the various disciplines that address pediatric feeding disorders, there is increasing awareness of the complex and multifaceted factors that must be addressed. There remains a need for a universal classification system that would provide a common language and guide treatment strategies. The group of children who have been traditionally labeled “picky eaters” is examined, including the link between tactile defensiveness and selective eating, the anxiety that these children and their caregivers experience, and the need to address both sensory sensitivity and anxiety. Treatment methods are explored, including approaches that incorporate the caregiver in intervention sessions.

Challenges Associated with Classifying Urban Meteorological Stations: The Oklahoma City Micronet Example

During 2007-2008, a dense network of meteorological stations was deployed across the Oklahoma City metropolitan area to collect real-time, research-quality observations of atmospheric variables throughout the urban environment: the Oklahoma City Micronet (OKCNET). Because surface characteristics can be vastly different between rural and urban areas as well as throughout a city, significant variability exists in the local microclimates observed by meteorological stations deployed in an urban area. As such, documenting the characteristics near any site (i.e., metadata) is critical to fully understand the overall representativeness of the site and the associated evolution of atmospheric conditions. To date, a universal classification system for urban meteorological stations does not exist. Thus, this study utilized four different methodologies to classify OKCNET sites and increase the metadata for the individual sites and the overall network. The results demonstrated that while each classification system had specific merits, significant challenges existed in establishing consistent metadata for the sites due to (a) limitations associated with the methodologies and (b) the heterogeneity of surface conditions. In particular, stations deployed within the transition zones form urban to suburban and suburban to rural posed the greatest challenges in establishing consistent metadata for the sites.

The play pyramid: a play classification and ideation tool for toy design

Toy designers and students may benefit from a universal classification system to communicate and ideate new toy concepts. In this paper, we present two graphical tools that help designers to classify and manipulate toy product concepts. The play pyramid is a three-dimensional map that allows designers to classify a toy concept by placing it in a space between what we believe to be four independent axes of play (sensory, fantasy, construction and challenge). The sliding scales of play are modifiers or adjectives that one can use to further describe the play of a toy concept. By taking a toy design and moving it around inside the play pyramid or along the scales of play, the design can take on new and unforeseen play affordances. Both of these tools have been tested and applied in industry sponsored research and design education settings and were successful in expanding upon toy ideas.

Abstract 5338: Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction Classification and the Risk of Cardiovascular Death: Observations From the TRITON-TIMI 38 Trial

The prognostic implications of new or recurrent MI after an acute coronary syndrome have not been completely defined in the era of the Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction and newer more sensitive biomarker assays. Therefore, we investigated the association between new or recurrent MI by MI Type and the risk of cardiovascular death among 13,608 patients with ACS undergoing coronary intervention in the TRITON-TIMI 38 Trial. METHODS : MI events were categorized on the basis of subtypes as defined by the AHA/ACC/ESC/WHF Task Force for the Redefinition of MI. The risk of CV death was evaluated by landmark analysis starting at the time of the new MI through the end of follow-up and adjusted for important clinical covariates. Outcomes were adjudicated by a blinded CEC. RESULTS : Pts who experienced a MI during follow up were at higher risk of CV death at 6 months than patients who did not experience a MI (6.5% vs 1.3% vs, p<0.001). This association was present across all subtypes of MI with the highest rate among Type 4b (stent thrombosis, 15.4%) and the lowest among Type 4a (non-stent thrombosis PCI related) (figure ). After adjusting for important clinical covariates, the occurrence of any MI was associated with a 4 fold higher risk of death at 6 months (95% CI 3.3–5.6) with similar increased risk across subtype (figure ). CONCLUSIONS : New or recurrent MI after ACS is associated with a significantly increased risk of CV death. This pattern is consistent across all types as defined by the Universal Classification System, including peri-procedural MI. These findings underscore the clinical relevance of these events and therapies aimed at attenuating this risk.

Grading systems in head and neck dysplasia: their prognostic value, weaknesses and utility.

BackgroundGrading of dysplasia, including head and neck lesions, continues to be a hotly debated subject. It is subjective and lacks intra- and inter-observer reproducibility due to the insufficiency of validated morphological criteria and the biological nature of dysplasia. Moreover, due to the absence of a consensus, several systems are currently employed.ObjectivesThe aims of this review are to:1) Highlight the significance of dysplasia and the importance of a valid method for assessing precursor lesions of the head and neck.2) Review the different histopathological classification systems for grading intraepithelial lesions of the head and neck.3) Discuss and review quality requirements for these grading systems.ConclusionRegarding the different classification systems, data concerning the WHO classification system are the most available in current literature. There is no simple relationship or overlapping between the classification systems. Further studies should be done to see whether other systems have advantages above the current WHO system and to discover indications that could lead to an universal classification system for intraepithelial lesions of the head and neck.

Ethnic Rhinoplasty: A Universal Preoperative Classification System for the Nasal Tip

Ethnic rhinoplasty is a complex procedure, particularly with respect to the nasal tip, that has a revision rate that is significantly higher than the rate for Caucasian surgery. Multiple authors have discussed what they propose as the ideal technique combinations in non-Caucasian rhinoplasty. The demand for rhinoplasty is increasing in these patient populations, but their facial features continue to diversify with the combination of characteristics from other ethnicities. This factor further complicates the preoperative thought process. We present a universal nasal tip classification system that emphasizes skin thickness and cartilage strength, rather than ethnic background, to overcome this challenge. This concept will aid surgeons in preoperative planning and will enhance their ability to communicate technical ideas to other surgeons.

Classificando fraturas do rádio com raio-X e tomografia

INTRODUÇÃO: Este estudo avaliou a confiabilidade interobservador da radiografia simples versus tomografia computadorizada para as classificações Universal e AO em fraturas do rádio distal. PACIENTES e MÉTODOS: Cinco observadores classificaram 21 fraturas do rádio distal utilizando radiografias e tomografias independentemente. O índice Kappa foi utilizado para estabelecer o nível de concordância entre os observadores. RESULTADOS: A confiabilidade interobservador da classificação Universal foi moderada e a confiabilidade interobservador da classificação AO foi baixa. Reduzindo a clas-sificação AO a nove categorias e às três categorias básicas houve melhora do nível de confiabilidade para "moderado". Não houve diferença entre a confiabilidade interobservador da classificação Universal baseada em imagens radiográficas em comparação com a classificação Universal baseada em imagens tomográficas. A confiabilidade interobservador da classificação AO baseada em radiografias simples foi significativamente maior que a confiabilidade interobservador da classificação AO baseada apenas em tomografias computadorizadas. CONCLUSÃO: A partir destes dados, concluímos que classificar fraturas do rádio distal utilizando tomografias computadorizadas sem o auxílio das radiografias simples não traz benefício.

The Reticular Chemistry Structure Resource (RCSR) Database of, and Symbols for, Crystal Nets

During the past decade, interest has grown tremendously in the design and synthesis of crystalline materials constructed from molecular clusters linked by extended groups of atoms. Most notable are metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), in which polyatomic inorganic metal-containing clusters are joined by polytopic linkers. (Although these materials are sometimes referred to as coordination polymers, we prefer to differentiate them, because MOFs are based on strong linkages that yield robust frameworks.) The realization that MOFs could be designed and synthesized in a rational way from molecular building blocks led to the emergence of a discipline that we call reticular chemistry. MOFs can be represented as a special kind of graph called a periodic net. Such descriptions date back to the earliest crystallographic studies but have become much more common recently because thousands of new structures and hundreds of underlying nets have been reported. In the simplest cases (e.g., the structure of diamond), the atoms in the crystal become the vertices of the net, and bonds are the links (edges) that connect them. In the case of MOFs, polyatomic groups act as the vertices and edges of the net. Because of the explosive growth in this area, a need has arisen for a universal system of nomenclature, classification, identification, and retrieval of these topological structures. We have developed a system of symbols for the identification of three periodic nets of interest, and this system is now in wide use. In this Account, we explain the underlying methodology of assigning symbols and describe the Reticular Chemistry Structure Resource (RCSR), in which about 1600 such nets are collected and illustrated in a database that can be searched by symbol, name, keywords, and attributes. The resource also contains searchable data for polyhedra and layers. The database entries come from systematic enumerations or from known chemical compounds or both. In the latter case, references to occurrences are provided. We describe some crystallographic, topological, and other attributes of nets and explain how they are reported in the database. We also describe how the database can be used as a tool for the design and structural analysis of new materials. Associated with each net is a natural tiling, which is a natural partition of space into space-filling tiles. The database allows export of data that can be used to analyze and illustrate such tilings.

Posterolateral Corner Injury of the Knee: Evaluation and Management

Posterolateral corner injury, an increasingly recognized entity, is commonly associated with concomitant ligament disruptions. Prompt recognition is critical for several reasons. Missed posterolateral corner injuries increase the failure rates for both anterior and posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions. Also, untreated posterolateral corner injuries lead to chronic disability. Acute (ie, immediate) surgical intervention results in superior outcomes compared with chronic (ie, late) reconstruction. Although no universal classification system has been adopted, attention to both varus and rotational stability is critical. Multiple options exist for posterolateral corner reconstruction, although recent trends have shifted toward anatomic reconstruction techniques.

Surgical and Molecular Advances in Osteonecrosis: Editorial Comment

Surgical and Molecular Advances in Osteonecrosis: Editorial Comment

The Information Coding Classification (ICC): A Modern, Theory-Based Fully-Faceted, Universal System of Knowledge Fields

Introduction into the structure, contents and specifications (especially the Systematifier) of the Information Coding Classification, developed in the seventies and used in many ways by the author and a few others following its publication in 1982. Its theoretical basis is explained consisting in (1) the Integrative Level Theory, following an evolutionary approach of ontical areas, and integrating also on each level the aspects contained in the sequence of the levels, (2) the distinction between categories of form and categories of being, (3) the application of a feature of Systems Theory (namely the element position plan) and (4) the inclusion of a concept theory, distinguishing four kinds of relationships, originated by the kinds of characteristics (which are the elements of concepts to be derived from the statements on the properties of referents of concepts). Its special Subject Groups on each of its nine levels are outlined and the combinatory facilities at certain positions of the Systematifier are shown. Further elaboration and use have been suggested, be it only as a switching language between the six existing universal classification systems at present in use internationally.

A new classification of pattern hair loss that is universal for men and women: Basic and specific (BASP) classification

Pattern hair loss (PHL) can be classified into several patterns. Currently, the Hamilton-Norwood classification system for men and the Ludwig grade system for women are commonly used to describe patterns of hair loss. However, these pre-existing classifications have some limitations. To establish an acceptable, universal, and accurate standard of both male and female pattern hair loss and to report its use in determining the incidence of PHL. We developed a new classification system (BASP classification) and then applied this system to classify the types of PHL. The BASP classification was based on observed patterns of hair loss. The basic (BA) types represent the shape of the anterior hairline, and the specific types (SP) represent the density of hair on distinct areas (frontal and vertex). There are four basic types (L, M, C, and U) and two specific types (F and V). The final type is decided by the combination of the assigned basic and specific types. Between November 2004 and June 2005, 2213 Korean subjects, comprised of 1768 males and 445 females, were classified according to the BASP classification at 13 university dermatologic centers nationwide throughout South Korea, as a multicenter study of the Korean Hair Research Society. For both sexes, the majority of patients enrolled in the study were in the third and fourth decade of life (65.1% of males and 56.68% of females). In males, the older group as well as the younger group in the study were more likely to have little recession of the frontal hairline (classified as type M1 approximately 2) and diffuse thinning over the top of scalp (type F1 approximately 2). The women in the study developed typical female PHL. The subjects of our study were mostly outpatients and some inpatients who complained about hair loss, not the general population of Korea. The BASP classification is a new stepwise, systematic, and universal classification system for PHL, regardless of sex.

Screening for catastrophic neck injuries in sports

The cervical spine is prone to injury due to the structure of the articulating vertebrae at the level of C4-C6, where the spinal cord occupies more of the spinal canal. Cervical spine injuries can occur in all sports and all ages. Participation in contact sports certainly increases the possibility of cervical spine injuries. In screening for catastrophic neck injuries it is vital to examine incidence and injury surveillance statistics in sports. These data can help determine sport-specific preponderance of catastrophic injury. Screening methods for predisposition to catastrophic cervical spine injuries include a concise history, physical examination, and radiographic methods. There is currently no universal classification system utilizing imaging of the cervical spine that has been validated as a screening method for catastrophic neck injuries.

Questions of identity in the millennium round of Commonwealth censuses

All Commonwealth census authorities have posed questions about identity in the millennium round of enumerations. The most controversial issue has been ethnicity. No universal definition or classification system has been devised and each of the 71 states and dependencies has tended to pursue the enquiry in virtual isolation from its neighbours. The attempt to describe the population in terms of race and ethnicity has been inherited from the colonial era. More recently the requirements of monitoring affirmative-action programmes in multicultural populations have resulted in the introduction or refinement of questions on these categories. A few states—a small minority of Commonwealth countries—remain hostile to such enquiries. Where the issues of race and identity are not pursued, questions of nationality, language, and religion often fill the gaps left, adding further refinements to the definition of identity. An examination of current questioning about identity in Commonwealth censuses reveals a highly complex picture.

A new proposed simplified classification of coronary artery bifurcation lesions and bifurcation interventional techniques

Current classification systems of coronary bifurcation lesions are confusing and difficult to memorize. As coronary revascularization techniques become increasingly complex, it is important to establish a universal classification system. This manuscript proposes a simplified classification system that uses a combination of letters and numbers to provide a clinically relevant anatomic description of a given coronary artery bifurcation lesion. This classification consists of the prefix B (for Bifurcation lesion), followed by the addition of 4 separate suffixes. The first suffix consists of one of the letters C, N, S, or L. C = Close to the bifurcation: the lesion is close to a bifurcation, but the distance from the carina is more than the width of the plaque protruding into the lumen; N = Bifurcation lesion with one branch being Nonsignificant: nonsignificant being defined as less than 2.0 mm vessel diameter; S = Small proximal segment; or L = Large proximal segment: large defined as more than two-thirds of the sum of the diameters of both branch vessels. The second suffix describes the number of diseased ostia. 1M = only the Main vessel ostium is involved; 1S = only the Side branch ostium is involved; or 2 = both ostia are involved. The third suffix classifies the angle between the bifurcation vessels and uses the letters V or T; V = the angle between the two branches is less than 70 degrees, T = angle more than 70 degrees. The fourth suffixes are optional: CA for calcified, LM for left main involvement.

Knowledge Organization in the Domain of Art Studies – History, Transition and Conceptual Changes

The article is an analysis of some aspects of knowledge organization in the domain of the arts, especially visual art. The analysis indicates that different socially and historically embedded discourses on art, including pre-paradigmatic studies and scholarly paradigms, pervade knowledge organization in the art institution at three levels, respectively: 1. Art exhibitions, 2. Primary and tertiary document types (printed, audio-visual, and multimedia documents), and 3. Classification systems, bibliographies, and thesauri. The article presents three paradigms in art scholarship (iconographic, stylistic and materialistic) and analyzes in which way, and to what extent, these paradigms are integrated in the taxonomies of the LCC, DDC, UDC, and Soviet BBK classification systems. The paper also addresses the relationship among paradigms, principles for exhibiting works of art, ways of conceptualising and organizing the content in documents on art history, and LIS knowledge organization systems. It is concluded that the UDC, in particular, is well suited for representation of knowledge produced in the contexts of pre-paradigmatic, iconological, and stylistic studies. But documents by the so-called New art scholars drawing on interdisciplinary studies and representing new approaches and paradigms break with the taxonomies on art in the classical hierarchical, universal classification systems. A step towards a solution of problems caused by this break is a polyhierarchical thesaurus such as the Art & Architecture Thesaurus.