bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atypical Cervical Cytology and Colposcopic Directed Biopsy
Authors: Younglove R. Hal , Newman Robert L.
Published: January 2017

A cervical cytologic diagnosis of inflammatory atypia was made in 319 patients during a 42‐month period. Two hundred twenty‐five of those patients underwent colposcopy, and biopsy was performed in 155 patients. Mild to severe dysplasia was diagnosed in 115 patients, for a 36% prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
Tubal Sterilization and Ovarian Perfusion: Selective Arteriography in Vivo and in Vitro
Authors: Manzanilla‐Sevilla Rafael , González‐Iñiguez Rafael , Casanova‐Alvarez Nicolás , Martínez‐Alcalá Felix
Published: January 2017

To determine whether there are changes in the utero‐tuboovarian circulation after tubal sterilization, selective arteriograms were taken in vivo every 0.3–7.0 seconds with a Puck‐type seriograph and also in vitro. A control arteriographic study was made. The operations performed were fimbriectomy and modified Pomeroy. The 30 patients studied were divided into two groups. One was formed by 20 nonpregnant women. The other ten patients were in the early puerperium. Arteriographic images with and without tubal sterilization were prepared, and the different techniques were compared. With the Pomeroy operations, the various tubal sites where surgery was performed were also compared. It was concluded that neither the modified Pomeroy sterilization nor fimbriectomy alters ovarian perfusion in either nonpregnant women or those in the early puerperium.
Systemic Reactions with Total Dose Infusion of Iron Dextran Complex in Obstetric Patients
Authors: Fahmy Kamal
Published: January 2017

Iron dextran complex (Imferon) total dose infusion (TDI) was used to treat iron deficiency anemia in 310 obstetric patients. Systemic reactions were reported for 13.5% of the group. Most (90.5%) of the severe reactions occurred during the test dose, while 66.6% recorded during or after TDI were mild. Antihistamine premedication included administration of promethazine hydrochloride to 104 patients and intramuscular and intravenous drip chlorpheniramine hydrogen maleate to 206 patients. Total systemic reactions were statistically greater with intramuscular promethazine hydrochloride than with intramuscular and intravenous chlorpheniramine maleate (p<0.001). On the other hand, the rates of severe reactions and reactions during the test dose were similar for both antihistamine schedules (p>0.05). The incidence of all systemic reactions was the same for pregnant and postnatal women (p>0.05), but severe reactions were more frequent among pregnant than postnatal patients (p<0.001). There were no fatalities.
A Follow‐up of Vasectomy Clients in Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Atiqur Rahman , Swenson Ingrid E. , Rahman Azizur
Published: January 2017

A one‐year follow‐up of 585 vasectomy clients sterilized at vasectomy camps in Shibpur and Shalna in rural Bangladesh showed that almost half of the clients were dissatisfied with their vasectomies. The majority of dissatisfied clients stated that their primary reasons for dissatisfaction were: (a) their ability to work had decreased and (b) they had not received all of the incentives they had been promised. However, 58% of the matched nonvasectomized controls also felt that their ability to work had decreased in the last year. Only 2%–7% of the dissatisfied clients cited decreased sexual performance as their primary reason for dissatisfaction. Satisfied vasectomy clients most frequently cited: (a) the permanence of this method of birth control and (b) the incentives they received as their reasons for satisfaction.
Microadministration of Ketamine During Labor and Delivery of Nigerian Women
Authors: Ayangade Okun
Published: January 2017

Carefully controlled intravenous administration of ketamine produced excellent analgesia and dissociative sleep in all patients in the active phase of labor. The introduction to delivery interval was significantly shortened (3.6 vs 6 hours) in our general population. Of the 50 patients studied, 49 were unable to remember if contractions were painful and 80% experienced and narrated dreams. The auditory component was consistently intact in 82% of the cases; 78% described the total experience as pleasant, while the rest found it unpleasant or uncertain. The one‐minute Apgar score of 6.8 was not significantly different from that of the general population.
Breech Presentations in a Sample of Colombian Hospitals
Authors: López‐Escobar G. , Riaño‐Gamboa G. , Fortney Judith , Janowitz Barbara
Published: January 2017

All the breech presentations that occurred in a large sample of data on obstetric deliveries from a random sample of urban hospitals in Colombia are examined. The 463 breeches are analyzed by age and parity of the mother, type of breech presentation (frank or footling) and type of delivery (vaginal or abdominal). The data suggest that abdominal delivery reduces perinatal mortality although cell values are too small to adequately control for birth weight.
Vaginal Adenocarcinoma in a Gravida with Prenatal DES Exposure
Authors: Castillo Hector Del , Rubio Pedro A. , Farrell Edward M.
Published: January 2017

The article presents a case of a young pregnant woman with vaginal carcinoma who had been exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero. Surgical excision of the lesion was attempted but failed. Interstitial irradiation was then applied and proved successful. The patient's infant, as well as two subsequent children, were delivered by cesarean section after normal pregnancies. There was no evidence of metastatic disease or recurrence in 11½ years following the initial diagnosis. Since 1965, a rising incidence of vaginal adenocarcinoma in women who were exposed to (DES) in utero has been reported. These women should be examined regularly after menarche for prompt evaluation and treatment of precancerous lesions such as adenosis, cervical erosion or transverse ridges. Since most of these patients are young, a conservative treatment is recommended. Extensive surgery and pelvic irradiation is indicated, however, in the cases of widespread disease.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen and β2‐Microglobulin as Serum Tumor Markers in Women with Genital Cancer
Authors: Khoo Soo Keat , Daunter Brian , Mackay Eric
Published: January 2017

A comparative study of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and β2‐microglobulin (β2‐MG) in serum was made by radioimmunoassay in 77 women with genital cancer. With a positive level defined as 5 ng of CEA/ml and 3.0 μg of β2‐MG/ml, CEA was positive in 31% of the women with cancer of the corpus, 36% of those with cancer of the cervix and 36% of those with cancer of the ovary; the corresponding figures for β2‐MG were 6%, 27% and 56%, respectively. The additional use of β2‐MG provided an increase in positive results, especially in cases of cancer of the ovary. A direct relationship between the extent of tumor and serum marker level was more evident for β2‐MG than CEA. There was no correlation between serial levels of CEA and β2‐MG in most patients. CEA levels appeared to predict subsequent tumor behavior more accurately in patients with good prognoses (ie, complete or partial tumor response), whereas β2‐MG levels gave the same prediction in those with bad prognoses (ie, nonresponsive or progressive tumor).
Copper Content in Cervical Mucus of Women Wearing Plain and Copper‐Bearing Spring Coils
Authors: Randić Ljiljana
Published: January 2017

To test the hypothesis that the copper in copper‐bearing intrauterine devices (IUDs) and its reaction with cervical mucus constitute the agent in preventing conception, the copper content of 300 samples of cervical mucus, 150 each from women wearing plain Spring Coil IUDs and those wearing Spring Coils containing 500 mg of copper, was determined at 3, 6 and 12 months after IUD insertion. Stoner and Dasler's modified spectrophotometric micromethod (Clin Chem 10:845, 1964) was used to quantify the copper content of the cervical mucus. Analysis showed no significant change in the copper content of the cervical mucus of women wearing plain Spring Coils compared to that of women not wearing IUDs; however, the amount of copper in the cervical mucus of women wearing copper‐bearing Spring Coils was 5‐6 times greater at midcycle 3, 6 and 12 months after insertion. Thus, we conclude that there is an important biologic basis for assuming that copper‐bearing Spring Coils can inhibit sperm penetration through the cervical mucus and that they can initiate contraceptive activity at the cervical level.
Hysteroplasty and Vaginoplasty for Reconstruction of the Uterus
Authors: Singh K. J. , Devi Lakshmi
Published: January 2017

A simple surgical procedure for reconstruction of the uterus from available Müllerian bulbs with simultaneous vaginoplasty is described. The Müllerian bulbs on both sides are incised, and suitable central fibromuscular tissue is excised to make a uterine cavity. The margins are sutured around a uterine mold, taking care to leave tubal os free. The reconstructed lower end of the uterus (now representing the cervix and upper third of the vagina) is brought down into the space already made out of the peritoneal septum between the bladder and the rectoanal region. The perineal operation for vaginoplasty is completed after suturing the lower end of the reconstructed uterus to the upper margin of the reconstructed vagina. The vaginal and uterine molds are kept in place for one and two weeks postoperatively, respectively.
Menstrual Regulation and the Law
Authors: Paxman J. M. , Barberis M.
Published: January 2017

The advent of menstrual regulation techniques has further clouded the once‐clear legal distinction between contraception and abortion. This study, which attempts to assess the relationship between menstrual regulation and abortion laws throughout the world, focuses on the three distinct types of abortion laws that impinge on menstrual regulation practice: (1) those that focus on the “intent” to interrupt pregnancy, (2) those that require proof of pregnancy and (3) those that make abortion readily accessible for a wide variety of indications.
Laparoscopic Sterilization with Room Air Insufflation: Preliminary Report
Authors: Diaz Maria Orbelina , Atwood Richard J. , Laufe Leonard E.
Published: January 2017

Laparoscopic sterilizations can be safely performed using room air insufflation. In a series of 400 procedures, the rates of surgical complications and complaints were comparable to other laparoscopy studies in which high‐pressure gas was used. The purported problems associated with room air insufflation were not encountered in this study.
131I Isotope Placentography: Simple Counting Equipment in Obstetric Practice
Authors: Knox‐Macaulay Huxley H. M. , Smith Olufemi A. , Scott Ainor
Published: January 2017

Simple counting equipment and radioiodinated human serum albumin (131IHSA) were used to perform placental localization on 48 pregnant women with antepartum hemorrhage. The level of diagnostic accuracy of 85% compares favorably with more expensive methods. The false‐negative diagnosis rate for the whole group was 4% and the false‐positive diagnosis rate was 8%. The authors recommend this method of isotope placentography for developing countries because the cost of the equipment, including maintenance, and the isotopes is relatively small, and the radiation hazards are negligible.
Clomiphene Citrate and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in the Treatment of Anovulatory Infertility
Authors: Sutaria U. D. , Crooke A. C. , Bertrand P. V. , Hodgson C.
Published: January 2017

Fifty‐one patients with proven anovulatory infertility were treated for four months. For two months each, a dose regimen of 50 mg of clomiphene citrate daily for five days and one of 150 mg daily for five days was prescribed. During one month of each of these two regimens, each patient also received 5000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin intramuscularly. Thirty‐three of the 51 patients ovulated at least once during the four months of treatment; the ovulation rate was 64.7%. Sixteen pregnancies occurred during the treatment, for a pregnancy rate of 31.4%. Human chorionic gonadotropin did not appear to increase the ovulation rate.
Prognosis of Pregnancy After Threatened Abortion
Authors: Adelusi Babatunde , Dada O. A.
Published: January 2017

Uterine bleeding in early pregnancy represents a definite threat to the developing embryo and constitutes a source of anxiety to both the patient and her clinician. In a prospective study of women with threatened abortion (TA) in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy in Ibadan, Nigeria, 48.8% of them aborted their pregnancies and there was no significant association between the various sociomedical factors considered and the outcome of pregnancy after TA. In like manner, routine admission of patients with TA into the hospital may not be essential for the preservation of the pregnancy. However, uterine bleeding as a symptom of abortion appears to be of greater risk if this occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy, and the predictive value of circulating progesterone levels in TA is significant. It is probable that uterine bleeding in the second trimester, especially when this is associated with low circulating levels of progesterone, may be pathognomonic of imminent abortion.
New elements in the interreceptor matrix: a comparative study of Megavilli and Landolt's club
Authors: Yang Jingjin , Wu Sharon L. , S. M. Chow Maggie , S. M. Wai Maria , Yew David T.
Published: January 2017

Megavilli and Landolt's clubs were reported in the interreceptor matrix of the retina of the goldfish and neonatal rat for the first time. Megavilli encroach onto the inner or outer segments of photoreceptors and were different from microvilli. Landolt's clubs were not present in the adult rat but only in the adult goldfish.
Diversity and composition of rhizospheric soil and root endogenous bacteria in Panax notoginseng during continuous cropping practices
Authors: Tan Yong , Cui Yinshan , Li Haoyu , Kuang Anxiu , Li Xiaoran , Wei Yunlin , JI Xiuling
Published: January 2017

Rhizobacteria and endophytic bacteria play important roles in protecting host plants from infection by phytopathogens, which cause soil‐borne diseases and severely impair plant health. Panax notoginseng is negatively affected by continuous cropping and becomes vulnerable to attack by microbial pathogens. In the present study, culture‐independent Illumina MiSeq was used to investigate root‐endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria in response to continuous cropping of P. notoginseng. Numbers of rhizospheric bacteria decreased with continuous P. notoginseng cropping, while the effects of continuous cropping on endophytic bacteria were not statistically significant. Bacterial diversity was higher in healthy P. notoginseng rhizospheric soils and roots than in those of diseased P. notoginseng. The most dominant phyla detected during continuous cropping were Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria. The genera Pseudomonas, Rhodoplanes, Candidatus Solibacter, and Streptomyces were dominant in P. notoginseng rhizospheric soils and roots. Erwinia, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Sphingobium were specifically detected in relatively high proportions among root‐rot rhizospheric bacteria and endogenous root bacteria in plants under continuous cropping, suggesting that they may be the pathogens responsible for the negative effects of continuous cropping on P. notoginseng. Based on canonical correspondence analysis of the bacterial communities that were identified from healthy plants and fallow soils, total phosphorus (P), pH, and organic soil matter exerted the greatest impacts upon bacterial community composition during continuous cropping. In general, continuous cropping practices for P. notoginseng and severe root‐rot disease notably affected the community structure and the diversity of rhizospheric and root endophytic bacteria. Our study elucidated the ecological significance of microbial communities in healthy plant maintenance, and our results may inform biological control strategies during the continuous cropping of P. notoginseng.
Performance of the Standard Normal Homogeneity Test for the homogenization of mean seasonal snow depth time series
Authors: Marcolini Giorgia , Bellin Alberto , Chiogna Gabriele
Published: January 2017

Time series of snow depth bear relevant information for environmental studies in Alpine areas. In addition, due to its sensitivity to air temperature, snow depth dynamic is a robust indicator of climate change effects in mountainous areas. Unfortunately, collecting accurate snow depth data is a difficult task and often time series are obtained by merging data from different sources. Especially in the past, observations were not standardized, such that changes in the operator and in the equipment were sources of inhomogeneities in the time series. To overcome this problem and make the most efficient use of the available information, homogenization techniques may be used. However, a standardized approach for homogenizing snow depth data is currently lacking, despite its importance in climatic and hydrological studies. We evaluate the performance of the Standard Normal Homogeneity Test (SNHT) to homogenize mean seasonal snow depth data collected in the Province of Trento, Northeastern Italy. The proposed algorithm showed good performance in both detecting breakpoints and identifying homogeneous time series. Breakpoints have been detected in about 20% of the analysed time series. A homogeneity analysis on mean seasonal snow depth datasets is hence recommended before performing climatological studies.
A statistical analysis of hourly heavy rainfall events over the Beijing metropolitan region during the warm seasons of 2007–2014
Authors: Li Huiqi , Cui Xiaopeng , Zhang Da‐Lin
Published: January 2017

A statistical analysis of the spatiotemporal characteristics of hourly heavy rainfall (HHR) events and rainstorm days, defined as greater than 20 mm h−1 and 50 mm day−1, respectively, is performed using observations at 5‐min intervals from 155 automated weather stations (AWSs) over the Beijing metropolitan region (BMR) during the warm seasons of 2007–2014. Results show pronounced variability in the frequencies and rainfall amounts of both HHR events and rainstorm days across the BMR of less than 150 km width from the west to east. That is, higher‐ (lower) frequency HHR events with more (less) accumulated rainfall amounts take place in eastern Haidian and over the BMR's northeast mountains (west and northwest mountains). Many extreme rainfall and even record‐breaking events, in terms of the frequency, duration, rainfall amount and intensity, are found to occur in the regions of high‐frequency HHR events and rainstorm days. The frequency of rainstorm days with HHR events accounts for more than 50% of that of total rainstorm days over the BMR's plains and near the northeast mountains. Results also show that HHR events occur most frequently in late July, and typically peak during 1600–2000 LST. A comparison of the averaged surface meteorological variables and upper‐air sounding at 0800 LST between HHR and non‐HHR days reveals that the occurrences of the HHR events coincide with the distribution of surface warmer and more humid air as well as organized convergence in the presence of an unstable environment with surface south‐ to southeasterly winds, low‐level south to southwesterly flows and a deep layer of higher moisture content. These results suggest likely the positive influences of urban environment and mountain‐plain circulations on the generation of the HHR events, given favourable larger‐scale conditions.
Population abundance estimation with heterogeneous encounter probabilities using numerical integration
Authors: White Gary C. , Cooch Evan G.
Published: January 2017

Estimation of population abundance is a common problem in wildlife ecology and management. Capture‐mark‐reencounter (CMR) methods using marked animals are a standard approach, particularly in recent history with the development of innovative methods of marking using camera traps or DNA samples. However, estimates of abundance from multiple encounters of marked individuals are biased low when individual heterogeneity of encounter probabilities is not accounted for in the estimator. We evaluated the operating characteristics of the Huggins logit‐normal estimator through computer simulations, using Gaussian–Hermite quadrature to model individual encounter heterogeneity. We simulated individual encounter data following a factorial design with 2 levels of sampling occasions (t = 5, 10), 3 levels of abundance (N = 100, 500, 1,000), 4 levels of median detection probabilities (p = 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6) for each sampling occasion (on the probability scale), and 4 levels of individual heterogeneity (σp = 0, 0.5, 1, 2; on the logit normal scale), resulting in a design space consisting of 96 simulation scenarios (2 × 3 × 4 × 4). For each scenario, we performed 1,000 simulations using the Huggins estimators Mt, M0, MtRE, and M0RE, where the RE subscript corresponds to the random effects model. As expected, the Mt and M0 estimators were biased when individual heterogeneity was present but unbiased for σp = 0 data. The estimators for MtRE and M0RE were biased high for N = 100 and median p ≤ 0.2 but showed little bias elsewhere. The bias is attributed to the occasional sets of data that result in a low overall detection probability and a resulting highly skewed sampling distribution of . This result is confirmed in that the median of the sampling distributions was only slightly biased high. The random effects estimators performed poorly for σp = 0 data, mainly because a log link function forces the estimate of σp > 0. However, the Fletcher statistic provided useful evidence to evaluate σp > 0, as did likelihood ratio tests of the null hypothesis σp = 0. Generally, confidence interval coverage of N appears close to the nominal 95% expected when the estimator is not biased. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty following translabyrinthine approach: Long‐term study of 369 cases
Authors: Volsky Peter G. , Hillman Todd A. , Stromberg Kellen J. , Buchinsky Farrel J. , Chen Douglas A. , Jackson Neal M. , Arriaga Moisés A.
Published: January 2017

Objective

To report the authors' experience with hydroxyapatite cement (HAC) cranioplasty and analyze the material's long‐term safety and efficacy in repairing translabyrinthine skull‐base defects by examining adverse events, specifically cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and surgical site infections.

Study Design

Retrospective case‐control study (primary study arm); prospective cross‐sectional study of patients not examined within the last 5 years (secondary arm). Setting: tertiary‐care neurotology private practice and academic practice (two centers).

Methods

Hydroxyapatite cement implanted following translabyrinthine approach, with or without fat graft, was included. Combined approaches were excluded. Implant‐associated adverse events were defined as 1) CSF leaks requiring reoperation or spinal drainage, and (2) infections requiring reoperation. Patients not examined within 5 years were interviewed by telephone to update their condition. Incidence of adverse events was compared to published data for translabyrinthine cranioplasty using fat graft alone. Implant survival analysis was performed.

Results

The study cohort included 369 HAC implants in the same number of patients. There were seven CSF leaks and seven infections. Combined (n = 14) incidence of adverse events was 3.8% (2.09%, 6.28%). Compared to fat graft alone, the adverse events associated with HAC were fewer (P < 0.001). Up to 15 years (5,475 days), HAC cement maintained 95% adverse event‐free survival. There were no cases of meningitis.

Conclusion

Cranioplasty using HAC with autologous fat following translabyrinthine skull‐base surgery is safer and more effective than fat graft alone, up to 15 years after surgery.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 127:2120–2125, 2017
Striosomal dysfunction affects behavioral adaptation but not impulsivity—Evidence from X‐linked dystonia‐parkinsonism
Authors: Beste Christian , Mückschel Moritz , Rosales Raymond , Domingo Aloysius , Lee Lillian , Ng Arlene , Klein Christine , Münchau Alexander
Published: January 2017

Background: Executive functions including behavioral adaptation and impulse control are commonly impaired in movement disorders caused by striatal pathology. However, as yet it is unclear what aspects of behavioral abnormalities are related to pathology in which striatal subcomponent, that is, the matrix and the striosomes. We therefore studied cognitive control in X‐linked dystonia‐parkinsonism, a model disease of striosomal degeneration, using behavioral paradigms and EEG.

Methods: We studied genetically confirmed X‐linked dystonia‐parkinsonism patients (N = 21) in their early disease stages and healthy matched controls. Error‐related behavioral adaptation was tested in a flanker task and response inhibition in a Go/Nogo paradigm during EEG. We focused on error‐related negativity during error processing and the Nogo‐N2 and Nogo‐P3 in the response inhibition task. Source localization analyses were calculated. In addition, total wavelet power and phase‐locking factor reflecting neural synchronization processes in time and frequency across trials were calculated.

Results: Error processing and behavioral adaptation predominantly engaging the anterior cingulate cortex was markedly impaired in X‐linked dystonia‐parkinsonism. This was reflected in abnormal reaction times correlating with error‐related negativity amplitudes, error related theta band activity, and the phase‐locking factor. Also, abnormal error processing correlated with dystonia severity but not with parkinsonism. Response inhibition and corresponding EEG activity were normal.

Conclusions: This dissociable pattern of cognitive deficits most likely reflects predominant dysfunction of the striosomal compartment and its connections to the anterior cingulate cortex in X‐linked dystonia‐parkinsonism. The results underscore the importance of striosomes for cognitive function in humans and suggest that striosomes are relays of error‐related behavioral adaptation but not inhibitory control. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Blending type approximation by q‐generalized Boolean sum of Durrmeyer type
Authors: Sidharth Manjari , Ispir Nurhayat , Agrawal P. N.
Published: January 2017

This paper is in continuation of the work performed by Kajla et al. (Applied Mathematics and Computation 2016; 275 : 372–385.) wherein the authors introduced a bivariate extension of q‐Bernstein–Schurer–Durrmeyer operators and studied the rate of convergence with the aid of the Lipschitz class function and the modulus of continuity. Here, we estimate the rate of convergence of these operators by means of Peetre's K‐functional. Then, the associated generalized Boolean sum operator of the q‐Bernstein–Schurer–Durrmeyer type is defined and discussed. The smoothness properties of these operators are improved with the help of mixed K‐functional. Furthermore, we show the convergence of the bivariate Durrmeyer‐type operators and the associated generalized Boolean sum operators to certain functions by illustrative graphics using Maple algorithm. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Closed‐form expressions for flip angle variation that maximize total signal in T1‐weighted rapid gradient echo MRI
Authors: Drobnitzky Matthias , Klose Uwe
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient‐echo (MPRAGE) sequences are commonly employed for T1‐weighted structural brain imaging. Following a contrast preparation radiofrequency (RF) pulse, the data acquisition proceeds under nonequilibrium conditions of the relaxing longitudinal magnetization. Variation of the flip angle can be used to maximize total available signal. Simulated annealing or greedy algorithms have so far been published to numerically solve this problem, with signal‐to‐noise ratios optimized for clinical imaging scenarios by adhering to a predefined shape of the signal evolution. We propose an unconstrained optimization of the MPRAGE experiment that employs techniques from resource allocation theory. A new dynamic programming solution is introduced that yields closed‐form expressions for optimal flip angle variation.

Methods

Flip angle series are proposed that maximize total transverse magnetization () for a range of physiologic T1 values. A 3D MPRAGE sequence is modified to allow for a controlled variation of the excitation angle. Experiments employing a T1 contrast phantom are performed at 3T. 1D acquisitions without phase encoding permit measurement of the temporal development of . Image mean signal and standard deviation for reference flip angle trains are compared in 2D measurements. Signal profiles at sharp phantom edges are acquired to access image blurring related to nonuniform development.

Results

A novel closed‐form expression for flip angle variation is found that constitutes the optimal policy to reach maximum total signal. It numerically equals previously published results of other authors when evaluated under their simplifying assumptions. Longitudinal magnetization () is exhaustively used without causing abrupt changes in the measured MR signal, which is a prerequisite for artifact free images. Phantom experiments at 3T verify the expected benefit for total accumulated k‐space signal when compared with published flip angle series.

Conclusions

Describing the MR signal collection in MPRAGE sequences as a Bellman problem is a new concept. By means of recursively solving a series of overlapping subproblems, this leads to an elegant solution for the problem of maximizing total available MR signal in k‐space. A closed‐form expression for flip angle variation avoids the complexity of numerical optimization and eases access to controlled variation in an attempt to identify potential clinical applications.
Metabolic phenotyping of human plasma by 1H‐NMR at high and medium magnetic field strengths: a case study for lung cancer
Authors: Louis Evelyne , Cantrelle Francois‐Xavier , Mesotten Liesbet , Reekmans Gunter , Bervoets Liene , Vanhove Karolien , Thomeer Michiel , Lippens Guy , Adriaensens Peter
Published: January 2017

Accurate identification and quantification of human plasma metabolites can be challenging in crowded regions of the NMR spectrum with severe signal overlap. Therefore, this study describes metabolite spiking experiments on the basis of which the NMR spectrum can be rationally segmented into well‐defined integration regions, and this for spectrometers having magnetic field strengths corresponding to 1H resonance frequencies of 400 MHz and 900 MHz. Subsequently, the integration data of a case–control dataset of 69 lung cancer patients and 74 controls were used to train a multivariate statistical classification model for both field strengths. In this way, the advantages/disadvantages of high versus medium magnetic field strength were evaluated. The discriminative power obtained from the data collected at the two magnetic field strengths is rather similar, i.e. a sensitivity and specificity of respectively 90 and 97% for the 400 MHz data versus 88 and 96% for the 900 MHz data. This shows that a medium‐field NMR spectrometer (400–600 MHz) is already sufficient to perform clinical metabolomics. However, the improved spectral resolution (reduced signal overlap) and signal‐to‐noise ratio of 900 MHz spectra yield more integration regions that represent a single metabolite. This will simplify the unraveling and understanding of the related, disease disturbed, biochemical pathways. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computation of higher‐order moments of generalized polynomial chaos expansions
Authors: Savin É. , Faverjon B.
Published: January 2017

Because of the complexity of fluid flow solvers, non‐intrusive uncertainty quantification techniques have been developed in aerodynamic simulations in order to compute the quantities of interest required in an optimization process, for example. The objective function is commonly expressed in terms of moments of these quantities, such as the mean, standard deviation, or even higher‐order moments. Polynomial surrogate models based on polynomial chaos expansions have often been implemented in this respect. The original approach of uncertainty quantification using polynomial chaos is however intrusive. It is based on a Galerkin‐type formulation of the model equations to derive the governing equations for the polynomial expansion coefficients. Third‐order, indeed fourth‐order moments of the polynomials are needed in this analysis. Besides, both intrusive and non‐intrusive approaches call for their computation provided that higher‐order moments of the quantities of interest need to be post‐processed. In most applications, they are evaluated by Gauss quadratures and eventually stored for use throughout the computations. In this paper, analytical formulas are rather considered for the moments of the continuous polynomials of the Askey scheme, so that they can be evaluated by quadrature‐free procedures instead. Matlab© codes have been developed for this purpose and tested by comparisons with Gauss quadratures. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RP‐HPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS based metabolic profiling of the potential Olea europaea by‐product “wood” and its comparison with leaf counterpart
Authors: Ammar Sonda , Contreras Maria del Mar , Gargouri Boutheina , Segura‐Carretero Antonio , Bouaziz Mohamed
Published: January 2017

Introduction

Olea europaea L. organs such as leaves, stems and roots have been associated with numerous in vivo and in vitro biological activities and used for traditional medicinal purposes. However, tree wood is an untapped resource with little information about their chemical composition.

Objective

That is why, the objective of this study is to increase the knowledge about phytochemicals from ‘Chemlali’ olive wood by means of mass spectrometry‐based analyses. Its comparison with by‐products derived from leaves was also studied.

Methodology

Hydromethanol extracts from wood and leaves with stems of ‘Chemlali’ olive cultivar were analysed using reversed‐phase (RP) high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to two detection systems: diode‐array detection (DAD) and quadrupole time‐of‐flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry (MS) in negative ion mode. Tandem MS experiments were performed to establish the chemical structure of olive phytochemicals.

Results

A total of 85 compounds were characterised in the studied olive parts and classified as: sugars (3), organic acids (5), one phenolic aldehyde, simple phenolic acids (6), simple phenylethanoids (5), flavonoids (14), coumarins (3), caffeoyl phenylethanoid derivatives (6), iridoids (5), secoiridoids (32), and lignans (5). To our knowledge, the major part of these metabolites was not previously reported in olive tree wood, and 10 olive chemical constituents were identified for the first time in the Oleaceae family.

Conclusion

The results presented here demonstrated the usefulness of the methodology proposed, based on RP‐HPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS and MS/MS, to develop an exhaustive metabolic profiling and to recover new biologically active compounds in olive wood with pharmacologic and cosmetic potential. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction of neonatal respiratory distress in pregnancies complicated by fetal lung masses
Authors: Girsen Anna I. , Hintz Susan R. , Sammour Rami , Naqvi Aasim , El‐Sayed Yasser Y. , Sherwin Katie , Davis Alexis S. , Chock Valerie Y. , Barth Richard A. , Rubesova Erika , Sylvester Karl G. , Chitkara Ritu , Blumenfeld Yair J.
Published: January 2017

Objective

The objective of this article is to evaluate the utility of fetal lung mass imaging for predicting neonatal respiratory distress.

Method

Pregnancies with fetal lung masses between 2009 and 2014 at a single center were analyzed. Neonatal respiratory distress was defined as intubation and mechanical ventilation at birth, surgery before discharge, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The predictive utility of the initial as well as maximal lung mass volume and congenital pulmonary airway malformation volume ratio by ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was analyzed.

Results

Forty‐seven fetal lung mass cases were included; of those, eight (17%) had respiratory distress. The initial US was performed at similar gestational ages in pregnancies with and without respiratory distress (26.4 ± 5.6 vs 22.3 ± 3 weeks, p = 0.09); however, those with respiratory distress had higher congenital volume ratio at that time (1.0 vs 0.3, p = 0.01). The strongest predictors of respiratory distress were maximal volume >24.0 cm3 by MRI (100% sensitivity, 91% specificity, 60% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value) and maximal volume >34.0 cm3 by US (100% sensitivity, 85% specificity, 54% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value).

Conclusion

Ultrasound and MRI parameters can predict neonatal respiratory distress, even when obtained before 24 weeks. Third trimester parameters demonstrated the best positive predictive value. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Silicificated polymer arrays based on a strong adhesive polymer for antifouling coatings
Authors: Du Mengmeng , Jin Qiaoqiao , Chai Mengsha , Ji Peijun
Published: January 2017

We report a novel approach for the preparation of multilayer polymers for protein and bacterial antifouling. Stainless steel (SS) was used as the model substrate. SS was first coated with a hybrid polymer film, which was formed by simultaneous hydrolytic polycondensation of 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane and polymerization of dopamine (HPAPD). Then p‐phenylenediamine was chemically bound to SS–HPAPD. The amino groups of p‐phenylenediamine were used as anchors for the growth of polyaniline nanofiber arrays by polymerization of aniline in situ. The nanofibers were further silicificated using 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3‐mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane and octyltrimethoxysilane, conferring various functional groups. The silicificated polyaniline nanofiber arrays (SPNAs) become hydrophobic. Separate tests for the adsorption of proteins of small (54 kDa) and large (2 × 90 kDa) molecular weights and Escherichia coli on the SPNAs were performed. The results show that the SPNAs can resist the adhesion of the proteins with an average efficiency of 96.3 ± 3.2%, and the SPNAs can resist the adhesion and colonization of Escherichia coli with an average efficiency of 97.5 ± 3.8%. The methodology of forming SPNAs on SS is of general utility and has wide application potential. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Azahelicenes as visible light photoinitiators for cationic and radical polymerization: Preparation of photoluminescent polymers and use in high performance LED projector 3D printing resins
Authors: Al Mousawi Assi , Dumur Frédéric , Garra Patxi , Toufaily Joumana , Hamieh Tayssir , Goubard Fabrice , Bui Thanh‐Tuân , Graff Bernadette , Gigmes Didier , Pierre Fouassier Jean , Lalevée Jacques
Published: January 2017

In this article, novel azahelicenes (AZs) were synthesized and proposed as high performance visible light photoinitiators for both the free radical polymerization of acrylates and the cationic polymerization (CP) of epoxides upon visible light exposure using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) @405, @455, and @470 nm. Excellent polymerization initiating abilities are found and high final conversions were obtained. Remarkably, an exceptional long lifetime photoluminescence property of the polymer films was observed when synthesized in presence of AZs. A full picture of the involved chemical mechanisms is given. AZs being high performance photoinitiators, their use in new cationic LED 3D printing resins will be also presented, that is, the cationic process upon LED projector @405 nm can be useful to reduce the shrinkage usually observed for radical polymerization. LED projector printing is very interesting compared to laser writing as this technology projects the profile of an entire layer of a 3D object at one time. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 55, 1189–1199
Modeling ionomer swelling dynamics of a sulfonated polyphenylene, pentablock copolymers, and nafion
Authors: Wang Donghui , Cornelius Chris J.
Published: January 2017

The water swelling behavior of Nafion, sulfonated poly(phenylene) (sPP), and poly[t‐butyl styrene‐b‐hydrogenated isoprene‐b‐sulfonated styrene‐b‐hydrogenated isoprene‐b‐t‐butyl styrene) was studied in order to understand microscopic molecular interactions. Ionomer swelling was modeled using the Flory‐Rehner relationship to predict solvent‐ionomer interaction parameter (χ12) and effective number of elastically active chains (n). Water swollen PBC had a decreasing χ12 from 1.146 to 0.516 when its ion‐exchange capacity (IEC) increased from 1.0 to 2.0. Nafion 117 and sPP χ12 values were 0.93 and 0.807 at an IEC of 0.91 and 1.8. Polymer water uptake was inversely dependent upon n and IEC or sulfonic acid‐group concentration. The following trend was noted for ionomer type, n, and water uptake: PBC‐2.0 (159 wt % and 7.89e‐4 mol/cm3) > sPP (48.6 wt % and 1.40e‐3 mol/cm3) > Nafion 117 (23 wt % and 1.24e‐3 mol/cm3). The ionomer's Gibb's total free change (ΔGTot) due to water swelling for Nafion 117 was −15.3 J, sPP was −28.5 J, and PBC‐2.0 was −53.2 J. An empirical equation was created to estimate a material's total solubility parameter (δ); and dispersion (δd), dipolar (δp,), and hydrogen bonding (δh) forces. The δ values for Nafion 117, sPP, and PBC‐2.0 were 19.9 (J/cm3)1/2, 21.3 (J/cm3)1/2, and 21.0 (J/cm3)1/2. Idealized swelling within an ionomer due to solvent. Ion domains are comprised of fixed sulfonated acid groups (SO3H) along the polymer's backbone. These functional groups provide interaction sites for molecules to diffusion and swell chains. The total change in free energy ΔG is dominated by ΔGmix that is attributed to hydrogen bonding and the concentration of elastically active chains n, which directly impacts its chemical potential Δμ. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017, 55, 435–443
X‐ray reflectivity method for the characterization of InGaN/GaN quantum well interface
Authors: Massabuau Fabien , Piot Nicolas , Frentrup Martin , Wang Xiuze , Avenas Quentin , Kappers Menno , Humphreys Colin , Oliver Rachel
Published: January 2017

A method to characterize the interface of InGaN/GaN quantum wells by X‐ray reflectivity is presented. The interface roughness can be obtained from the ratio of diffuse to specular scatterings obtained on a transverse ‐scan. Rotation around the azimuthal angle allows for information about the directionality of the roughening mechanisms to be obtained. The method allows for quick identification of the presence or absence of gross well width fluctuations in the quantum well, providing that the interface is chemically sharp. When the interface exhibits chemical grading, compositional fluctuations across the terraced structure of the quantum well surface lead to aggravated roughness as the barrier is grown, which may be misinterpreted as gross well width fluctuations. This method carries promises for complementing analysis by transmission electron microscopy as it is non‐destructive, fast, and allows multi‐directional characterization of the roughness. It would therefore be particularly useful to detect process deviation in a production line, where prior knowledge of the sample is already available.
Robust sliding mode‐based extremum‐seeking controller for reaction systems via uncertainty estimation approach
Authors: Lara‐Cisneros Gerardo , Femat Ricardo , Dochain Denis
Published: January 2017

This paper deals with the design of a robust sliding mode‐based extremum‐seeking controller aimed at the online optimization of a class of uncertain reaction systems. The design methodology is based on an input–output linearizing method with variable‐structure feedback, such that the closed‐loop system converges to a neighborhood of the optimal set point with sliding mode motion. In contrast with previous extremum‐seeking control algorithms, the control scheme includes a dynamic modelling‐error estimator to compensate for unknown terms related with model uncertainties and unmeasured disturbances. The proposed online optimization scheme does not make use of a dither signal or a gradient‐based optimization algorithm. Practical stabilizability for the closed‐loop system around to the unknown optimal set point is analyzed. Numerical experiments for two nonlinear processes illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed robust control scheme. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating the Framework of a New River Bird Survey Method
Authors: Call E. M. , Hunter M. L.
Published: January 2017

River bird assemblages can serve as beacons of environmental change associated with restoration or degradation. River birds regularly rely on riverine resources at some point in their life cycle, vary in the scale of temporal and spatial of use and forage at multiple levels of the food web (e.g. fish, aquatic plants, aquatic or emergent insects). We present a novel river bird survey method that is more easily employed and less intrusive than riverbank transect or boat surveys and encompasses a wide suite of species and a year‐round time frame. We evaluate the relative efficacy of different levels of survey duration (20, 15, 10 or 5 min), number of surveys (every 2 weeks in spring and fall and every 3 weeks in summer and winter) and number of sites on the survey's ability to document species richness and bird abundance. We used two statistical approaches, species accumulation curves (for duration, number of surveys and number of sites) and first‐order Jackknifes (for duration). We conclude that a biweekly or triweekly survey, 25 sites in the focal river, and a survey duration of at least 15 min are sufficient to meet our objectives. This logistically efficient survey approach facilitates monitoring complex and long‐term change such as that associated with river restoration and dam removal. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bringing Together Reading and Writing: An Experimental Study of Writing Intensive Reading Comprehension in Low‐Performing Urban Elementary Schools
Authors: Collins James L , Lee Jaekyung , Fox Jeffery D. , Madigan Timothy P.
Published: January 2017

This study examined the hypothesis that assisted writing during reading improves reading comprehension. The hypothesis was derived from sociocognitive and constructivist theory and research and implemented in the form of a curricular intervention called Writing Intensive Reading Comprehension after its main feature of bringing together reading comprehension and writing. The study used instruction with interactive thinksheets to provide sustained, focused, and assisted writing experiences to help students in low‐performing urban schools construct understandings of their reading. The study used a cluster randomized trial design. Results support the hypothesis that bringing together reading and writing through instruction using thinksheets produces levels of reading comprehension superior to traditional instruction. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses of pretest and posttest data from 1,062 fourth‐ and fifth‐grade students in 50 classrooms and 10 schools (four 2‐year experimental, three 1‐year experimental, and three control schools) also revealed greater effects for special education and low‐income students in the experimental group. The study also revealed uneven improvement among experimental classrooms with regard to students’ grade level, length of exposure to the intervention, and teachers’ fidelity of implementation. The results imply that the upper grade students with the longer treatment and higher fidelity of implementation benefited more from the intervention. The study extends theory and research on reading–writing connections and suggests additional research and practical applications using assisted writing to improve reading comprehension.