bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seismic intensity measures for above‐ground liquid storage tanks
Authors: Bakalis Konstantinos , Kohrangi Mohsen , Vamvatsikos Dimitrios 
Published: April 2018

SummaryA series of scalar and vector intensity measures is examined to determine their suitability within the seismic risk assessment of liquid storage tanks. Using a surrogate modelling approach on a squat tank that is examined under both anchored and unanchored support conditions, incremental dynamic analysis is adopted to generate the distributions of response parameters conditioned on each of the candidate intensity measures. Efficiency and sufficiency metrics are used in order to perform the intensity measure evaluation for individual failure modes, while a comparison in terms of mean annual frequency of exceedance is performed with respect to a damage state that is mutually governed by the impulsive and convective modes of the tank. The results reveal combinations of spectral acceleration ordinates as adequate predictors, among which the average spectral acceleration is singled out as the optimal solution. The sole exception is found for the sloshing‐controlled modes of failure, where mainly the convective period spectral acceleration is deemed adequate to represent the associated response due to their underlying linear relationship. A computationally efficient method in terms of site hazard analysis is finally proposed to serve in place of the vector‐valued intensity measures, providing a good match for the unanchored tank considered and a more conservative one for the corresponding anchored system.
Parental characteristics in association with disordered eating in 11‐ to 12‐year‐olds: A study within the Danish National Birth Cohort
Authors: Larsen Pernille Stemann , Strandberg‐Larsen Katrine , Olsen Else Marie , Micali Nadia , Nybo Andersen Anne‐Marie 
Published: April 2018

SummaryWe examined the association between parental characteristics and disordered eating among 11‐ to 12‐year‐olds within the Danish National Birth Cohort. Frequency of fasting, purging, and binge eating was obtained by self‐report from 37,592 children and combined into a measure of disordered eating (no, monthly, and weekly). Information on parental characteristics was obtained during pregnancy, from the 7‐year follow‐up, and by linkage to population registers. Data were analysed using multinomial logistic regression models with robust standard errors. In total, 3.1% reported weekly and 4.1% reported monthly disordered eating. Parental young age, low educational level, and overweight/obesity were associated with disordered eating. The relative risk ratios for, respectively, weekly and monthly disordered eating according to maternal eating disorder were 1.01 [0.75, 1.37] and 1.09 [0.84, 1.42]. Disordered eating is common among children and is associated with several parental characteristics. We found social inequality in disordered eating, but our data did not support an association with maternal eating disorder.
Robust sidelobe amplitude and phase modulation for dual‐function radar‐communications
Authors: de Oliveira Ferreira Aline , Sampaio‐Neto Raimundo , Fortes José Mauro 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we address the topic of sidelobe modulation in dual‐function radar‐communication platforms, which consists in embedding communication messages into the radar emissions by varying the phase and/or amplitude values of the radar transmit beampattern at a receiver direction within the sidelobe. An advantage of this type of communication link is that it is inherently secure as the communication symbol is transmitted correctly only at a specific direction. However, this advantage may become a major problem, causing an expressive decrease in performance, if the real receiver position does not match exactly the predefined one. This scenario easily arises from the relative movement between the radar and the receiver. We propose 2 original methods for embedding the sidelobe amplitude/phase modulation into the radar transmit beampattern that have simple closed‐form equations and are robust to small angular errors in the receiver's direction. We also propose a noncoherent signaling strategy for sidelobe phase modulation and present its analytical bit error rate expression for the binary case. Simulation results and comparisons illustrate the advantages of the proposed techniques.
Crowd-Sourced Databases as Essential Elements for Forest Service Partnerships and Aquatic Resource Conservation
Authors: Isaak Daniel J , Young Michael K , McConnell Callie , Roper Brett B , Archer Eric K , Staab Brian , Hirsch Christine , Nagel David E , Schwartz Michael K , Chandler Gwynne L 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
High-quality information is needed for conservation and management of aquatic resources on lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Information is ultimately derived from data, so the USFS maintains a series of databases that are used to describe the status and trends of aquatic habitats and biota. The databases are spatially explicit and are crowd-sourced, meaning that distributed networks of professionals and technicians operating throughout the National Forest System collect stream and biological measurements, which are stored in central repositories. How those databases are developed is evolving and ranges from agency-specific endeavors to collaborative projects that involve dozens of natural resource organizations and extensive user-communities throughout the USA. The rate of data collection is accelerating and databases now often encompass millions of records, so proper archiving and maintenance by information technology specialists are necessary to maximize the utility of data for natural resource planning. Here, we describe several of the aquatic databases maintained by the USFS, applications arising from novel syntheses of databases, and the increasingly important roles databases play in collaborative partnerships and cost-effective stewardship of aquatic resources.
Effect of total replacement of egg by soymilk and lecithin on physical properties of batter and cake
Authors: Hedayati Sara , Mazaheri Tehrani Mostafa 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe baking industry is interested in finding cost‐effective and healthful alternatives for eggs. Therefore, in this study the effects of total replacement of egg by soymilk (SM) in combination with 0–6% soy lecithin (SL) on batter (density, microstructure, viscosity, and texture) and cakes (height, volume, density, texture, color parameters, and sensory attributes) were determined and compared with cakes manufactured with eggs. The results showed that all batters had shear thinning behavior and provided a good fit for the power law model. The egg‐free cake in the absence of SL was downgraded because of high density and viscosity, small air bubbles, dark color, firm texture, low volume, and sensory scores. Inclusion of up to 4% SL to the SM was found to be significant in improving cake quality and led to cakes more similar to the control sample; however, higher levels of SL had negative effects on organoleptic properties of cakes.
Effects of livestock grazing on Anemone coronaria L. in drylands: Implications for nature conservation
Authors: Stavi Ilan , Shuker Shimshon , Barkai Daniel , Knoll Yaakov M. , Zaady Eli 
Published: April 2018

Grazing in nature reserves, or other sensitive lands, could affect the abundance of important plant species. In the Mediterranean basin, the Anemone coronaria is considered a flagship geophyte species. Studies conducted in the Mediterranean region of northern Israel showed that livestock grazing increased the abundance of A. coronaria. This was attributed to the consumption of other herbaceous vegetation species, resulting in better accessibility of A. coronaria to sunlight. Also, it was suggested that consumption of this species is limited due to its toxicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of livestock on the abundance of A. coronaria, and on specific soil properties in a dryland environment, where primary productivity is determined by water availability. A long‐term study was established in the Israeli Negev, where early‐, mid‐, and late‐season grazing treatments took place over the course of a decade, and studied over three consecutive years between 2013/2014 and 2015/2016. The study revealed that the abundance of A. coronaria followed the order of non‐grazing (control) > late‐season grazing > mid‐season grazing > early‐season grazing. However, this effect was not significant (p = .0668). One way or another, the largest adverse impact of early‐season grazing is attributed to consuming fresh and not yet toxic shoots of A. coronaria at that phenological stage. The soil properties were studied in summer 2016. The analysis showed a significant increase in bulk density under all of the grazing treatments compared with those in the control plots. It was concluded that, in drylands, trampling over wet soil during the growing season increases its compactability, degrading the soil‐moisture status, and limiting A. coronaria abundance. Recommendations for nature conservation in drylands are, therefore, to negate grazing during A. coronaria's early‐growing season, as well as shortly after rain events when the soil moisture level is high.
Action and semantic tool knowledge – Effective connectivity in the underlying neural networks
Authors: Kleineberg Nina N. , Dovern Anna , Binder Ellen , Grefkes Christian , Eickhoff Simon B. , Fink Gereon R. , Weiss Peter H. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractEvidence from neuropsychological and imaging studies indicate that action and semantic knowledge about tools draw upon distinct neural substrates, but little is known about the underlying interregional effective connectivity. With fMRI and dynamic causal modeling (DCM) we investigated effective connectivity in the left‐hemisphere (LH) while subjects performed (i) a function knowledge and (ii) a value knowledge task, both addressing semantic tool knowledge, and (iii) a manipulation (action) knowledge task. Overall, the results indicate crosstalk between action nodes and semantic nodes. Interestingly, effective connectivity was weakened between semantic nodes and action nodes during the manipulation task. Furthermore, pronounced modulations of effective connectivity within the fronto‐parietal action system of the LH (comprising lateral occipito‐temporal cortex, intraparietal sulcus, supramarginal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus) were observed in a bidirectional manner during the processing of action knowledge. In contrast, the function and value knowledge tasks resulted in a significant strengthening of the effective connectivity between visual cortex and fusiform gyrus. Importantly, this modulation was present in both semantic tasks, indicating that processing different aspects of semantic knowledge about tools evokes similar effective connectivity patterns. Data revealed that interregional effective connectivity during the processing of tool knowledge occurred in a bidirectional manner with a weakening of connectivity between areas engaged in action and semantic knowledge about tools during the processing of action knowledge. Moreover, different semantic tool knowledge tasks elicited similar effective connectivity patterns.
Endogenously generated gamma‐band oscillations in early visual cortex: A neurofeedback study
Authors: Merkel Nina , Wibral Michael , Bland Gareth , Singer Wolf 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHuman subjects were trained with neurofeedback (NFB) to enhance the power of narrow‐band gamma oscillations in circumscribed regions of early visual cortex. To select the region and the oscillation frequency for NFB training, gamma oscillations were induced with locally presented drifting gratings. The source and frequency of these induced oscillations were determined using beamforming methods. During NFB training the power of narrow band gamma oscillations was continuously extracted from this source with online beamforming and converted into the pitch of a tone signal. We found that seven out of ten subjects were able to selectively increase the amplitude of gamma oscillations in the absence of visual stimulation. One subject however failed completely and two subjects succeeded to manipulate the feedback signal by contraction of muscles. In all subjects the attempts to enhance visual gamma oscillations were associated with an increase of beta oscillations over precentral/frontal regions. Only successful subjects exhibited an additional marked increase of theta oscillations over precentral/prefrontal and temporal regions whereas unsuccessful subjects showed an increase of alpha band oscillations over occipital regions. We argue that spatially confined networks in early visual cortex can be entrained to engage in narrow band gamma oscillations not only by visual stimuli but also by top down signals. We interpret the concomitant increase in beta oscillations as indication for an engagement of the fronto‐parietal attention network and the increase of theta oscillations as a correlate of imagery. Our finding support the application of NFB in disease conditions associated with impaired gamma synchronization.
Have out‐of‐pocket health care payments risen under free health care policy? The case ofSriLanka
Authors: Pallegedara Asankha , Grimm Michael 
Published: April 2018

SummaryCompared to its neighbors, Sri Lanka performs well in terms of health. Health care is provided for free in the public sector, yet households' out‐of‐pocket health expenditures are steadily increasing. We explore whether this increase can be explained by supply shortages and insufficient public health care financing or whether it is rather the result of an income‐induced demand for supplementary and higher quality services from the private sector. We focus on total health care expenditures and health care expenditures for specific services such as expenses on private outpatient treatments and expenses on laboratory and other diagnostic services. Overall, we find little indication that limited supply of public health care per se pushes patients into the private sector. Yet income is identified as one key driver of rising health care expenditures, ie, as households get richer, they spend an increasing amount on private services suggesting a dissatisfaction with the quality offered by the public sector. Hence, quality improvements in the public sector seem to be necessary to ensure sustainability of the public health care sector. If the rich and the middle class increasingly opt out of public health care, the willingness to pay taxes to finance the free health care policy will certainly shrink.
Determination of antibiotic resistance and high‐performance liquid chromatography profiles for Mycobacterium species
Authors: Toka Özer Türkan , Yula Erkan , Doğan Metin , Baskın Hüseyin 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundIncidence of mycobacterial infections has been increasing. However, diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial infections can be difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the mycolic acids for rapid identification and dendrogram cluster analysis of mycobacterium species.MethodsClinical specimens received for mycobacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility test were processed by standard laboratory protocols. Positive cultures were analyzed with HPLC method. Mycolic acid analysis with HPLC was used for diagnosis of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections. These reports were compared with Sherlock Library mycobacterial species, and the similarity index was analyzed. This value was formed by a software in multidimensional space that was the calculation of the average distance between the nearest library profile and unknown profile.ResultsThe ninety‐two samples were identified as M. tuberculosis. (similarity index between 0.593 and 0.994). One of the other strains was identified as M. avium intracellulare (strain No. 82) (SI = 0.906); one of them was identified as M. interjectum (strain no. 89) (SI = 0.644). Total 94 samples were identified, and dendrogram was applied to these samples. Profile A (10.6%), profile B (59.6%), profile C (11.7%), profile D (3.2%), and other profiles as single different profiles were identified. Rates for each as 1% (89, 94, 1, 82, 26, 42, 32, 41, 100, 43, 47, 44, 40, 35).ConclusionHigh‐performance liquid chromatography is a useful, rapid, reliable, and practical method for diagnosis of mycobacterium species.
Effects of an entertaining, culturally targeted narrative and an appealing expert interview on the colorectal screening intentions of African American women
Authors: Kennedy May G. , McClish Donna , Jones Resa M. , Jin Yan , Wilson Diane B. , Bishop Diane L. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractUniversal screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is recommended for individuals 50–75 years of age, but screening uptake is suboptimal and African Americans have suffered persistent racial disparities in CRC incidence and deaths. We compared a culturally tailored fictional narrative and an engaging expert interview on the ability to increase intentions to be screened for CRC among African American women. In a post‐only experiment, women (N = 442) in face‐to‐face listening groups in African American churches heard audio recordings of either a narrative or an expert interview. Questionnaires were completed immediately afterward and 30 days later. Women who heard narratives reported stronger intentions to be screened with a home stool blood test than women who heard the interview; the effect lasted at least 30 days. Culturally tailored, fictional narratives appear to be an effective persuasive strategy for reducing racial disparities in CRC outcomes.
Photoreceptor cells as a source of fundus autofluorescence in recessive Stargardt disease
Authors: Paavo Maarjaliis , Lee Winston , Allikmets Rando , Tsang Stephen , Sparrow Janet R. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBisretinoid fluorophores form in photoreceptor outer segments from nonenzymatic reactions of vitamin A aldehyde. The short‐wavelength autofluorescence (SW‐AF) of fundus flecks in recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1) suggests a connection to these fluorophores. Through multimodal imaging, we sought to elucidate this link. Flecks observed in SW‐AF images often colocalized with foci exhibiting reduced or absent near‐infrared autofluorescence signal, the source of which is melanin in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. With serial imaging, changes in near‐infrared autofluorescence (NIR‐AF) preceded the onset of fleck hyperautofluorescence in SW‐AF images and fleck profiles in NIR‐AF images tended to be larger. Flecks in SW‐AF and NIR‐AF images also corresponded to hyperreflective lesions traversing photoreceptor‐attributable bands in horizontal SD‐OCT scans. The hyperreflective lesions interrupted adjacent OCT reflectivity bands and were associated with thinning of the outer nuclear layer. These SD‐OCT findings are attributable to photoreceptor cell degeneration. Progressive increases and decreases in the SW‐AF intensity of flecks were evident in color‐coded quantitative fundus autofluorescence maps. In some cases, flecks appeared to spread radially from the fovea to approximately 8° of eccentricity, beyond which a circumferential spread characterized the distribution. Since the NIR‐AF signal is derived from melanin and loss of this autofluorescence is indicative of RPE atrophy, the SW‐AF of flecks cannot be accounted for by bisretinoid lipofuscin in RPE. Instead, we suggest that the bisretinoid serving as the source of the SW‐AF signal, resides in photoreceptors, the cell that is also the site of bisretinoid synthesis.
Children With Intestinal Failure Undergoing Intestinal Rehabilitation Are at Risk for Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency
Authors: Gunnar Riikka , Lumia Mirka , Pakarinen Mikko , Merras‐Salmio Laura 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundEssential fatty acid (EFA) status may be compromised during the intestinal failure (IF) rehabilitation. Parenteral lipid restriction is used to treat intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD), while the enteral fatty acid (FA) absorption remains limited. We analyzed the FA status among pediatric IF and intestinal insufficiency patients.MethodsWe evaluated 49 patients aged 0–18 years attending our nationwide IF referral center. Their serum FA fractions were determined and examined against previous nutrition, parenteral lipid emulsion, and intestinal anatomy data. The patients were divided into 3 subgroups according to their dependence on parenteral nutrition (PN): full enteral (EN) (n = 33), supplemental PN (n = 14) or predominantly PN (n = 20). Trien:tetraen ratio (TTR) ≥0.2 was considered diagnostic for essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) and increased risk was suspected if TTR exceeded 0.1.ResultsWe identified 8 (16%) patients with elevated TTR ≥0.1; in 3 of them the ratio exceeded 0.2. Five of these children belonged to supplemental PN group. This group carried the highest incidence of elevated TTR (P = 0.0016), with median TTR at 0.06 (interquartile range 0.03–0.09) and two‐thirds of the analyzed TTR ≥0.5. Increased EFAD risk was associated with young age (P = 0.0291), current PN with low parenteral lipid content (P = 0.0003), and short remaining small bowel (P = 0.0013).ConclusionsIF children with supplemental PN carry the highest overall risk for EFAD. Young age, current PN, and short remaining small bowel also increase the risk for EFAD.
In Vitro Performance Testing of Legacy and ENFit Gastrostomy Tube Devices Under Gravity Flow Conditions
Authors: Guha Suvajyoti , Ravi Nivetita , Silverstein Joshua S. , Cooper Jeffrey , Myers Matthew R. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundChanges in connector design for the gastrostomy tube were implemented to reduce the risk of misconnections. This study aimed to determine whether there are differences in gravity flow rates between legacy devices and the ENFit devices intended to replace them.Materials and MethodsWe compared 5 legacy gastrostomy tube brands with 3 corresponding ENFit brands, sized between 14 French (Fr) and 24 Fr. Seven commercial diets were used. One comparison involved low‐profile devices.ResultsWhether an ENFit device manifested a lower flow rate than a legacy device was not a strong function of diet. One 14‐Fr ENFit device, because of its reduced distal inner tube diameter, produced an average feeding time of 56 (±13) minutes from a 20‐minute baseline. For other 14‐Fr ENFit devices, the increase was much less pronounced (25 ± 4 minutes). At larger sizes, both decreases and increases in feeding time were observed, depending on device type; on average, the 20‐minute feeding time increased to 25 (±7) minutes. For low‐profile devices, across all sizes, an increase in 20‐minute feeding time occurred, but the difference was small (23 ± 2).ConclusionStatistically lower flow rates were observed for 70% of ENFit devices relative to their legacy counterparts. We estimate that 30% of the differences may be noticeable. In the scenarios studied, lower flow rates (relative to other devices at the same Fr number) arise from energy losses in straight tubing. This difference can be reduced by increasing the tube inner diameters in distal end of ENFit tubes.