bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
2D versus 3D real time ultrasound with live xPlane imaging to visualize aortic and ductal arches: comparison between methods
Authors: Dell’Oro Stefania , Verderio Maria , Incerti Maddalena , Mastrolia Salvatore Andrea , Cozzolino Sabrina , Vergani Patrizia 
Published: April 2018

Background
The diagnosis of congenital heart defects is challenging, especially for what concerns conotruncal anomalies. Indeed, although the screening techniques of fetal cardiac anomalies have greatly improved, the detection rate of conotruncal anomalies still remains low due to the fact that they are associated with a normal four-chamber view. Therefore, the study aimed to compare real-time three-dimensional echocardiography with live xPlane imaging with two-dimensional (2D) traditional imaging in visualizing ductal and aortic arches during routine echocardiography of the second trimester of gestation.

Methods
This was an observational prospective study including 114 women with uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies. All sonographic studies were performed by two different operators, of them 60 by a first level operator, while 54 by a second level operator. A subanalysis was run in order to evaluate the feasibility and the time needed for the two procedures according to fetal spine position and operator’s experience.

Results
The measurements with 2D ultrasound were performed in all 114 echocardiographies, while live xPlane imaging was feasible in the 78% of the cases, and this was mainly due to fetal position. The time lapse needed to visualize aortic and ductal arches was significantly lower when using 2D ultrasound compared to live xPlane imaging (29.56 ± 28.5 s vs. 42.5 ± 38.1 s, P = 0.006 for aortic arch; 22.14 ± 17.8 s vs. 37.1 ± 33.8 s, P = 0.001 for ductal arch), also when performing a subanalysis according to operators’ experience (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Feasibility of live xPlane proved to be correlated with the position of the fetal spine and the operator’s experience.

Discussion
To find a reproducible and standardized method to detect fetal heart defects may bring a great benefit for both patients and operators. In this scenario live xPlane imaging is a novel method to visualize ductal and aortic arches. We found that the position of the fetal spine may affect the feasibility of the method since, when the fetal back is anterior or transverse, the visualization of the correct view of three-vessels and trachea in order to set the reference line properly becomes more challenging. In addition, the fetal spine position influences the duration of the ultrasound examination. Regarding operator’s skills and experience, in our study a first level operator was able to perform the complete 2D and xPlane examination in a lower number of cases compared to second level operators. In addition, the time required for the complete examination was higher for first level operators. This means that this technique is based on an adequate operators’ expertise.
Determinants of child Labour in Crop Production (A Case Study of Anambra State of Nigeria).
Authors: Smiles Ume , Ezeano C I , Nnadozie A. K.O. 
Published: April 2018

Determinants of child Labour use among rural household crop farmers in Anambra State of Nigeria were studied. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select one hundred (100) respondents for the detailed study. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents for the study. Percentage response was used to capture objective i and iii. Objective ii was capture using Probit model analysis. The result showed that majority of the respondents were married, youthful, had moderate household size, educated and highly experienced in farming. The determinant factors to the use of child labour among rural household were relationship between the child and household heads, access to credit and educational level. The major operations accomplished by the children in the study area were bird scaring, fertilizer application and planting. The child right act should be enforced by appropriate government agencies and the offenders brought to book, free education to all children and social mobilization on change of attitude to use of child labour were recommended. Keywords; Determinants, Child Labour, Crop Production, Anambra State, Nigeria
Silica, Amorphous
Authors: Graf Christina 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAmorphous or noncrystalline silica is silicon dioxide (SiO2) that does not have a crystalline structure. Amorphous silica can be naturally occurring or synthetic, and has a wide range of applications.The chemical structure and chemical, physical, and particulate characteristics of amorphous silica are given. Polymerization processes and further modifications and important applications, including silica sols and colloidal silica, silica gel, precipitated silica, pyrogenic silica (fumed silica), and fused silica and fused quartz, are discussed. Formation, properties, processing, modification approaches, and applications of naturally occurring amorphous silica are presented as well. Finally, health effects and safety issues of amorphous silica materials are introduced, including exposure and uptake, biological effects, and classification and labeling according to international regulations.
Lead, Toxicology
Authors: Koehrn Kara 
Published: April 2018

The toxic effects of lead have been recognized since ancient times. Today, lead and its compounds are some of the most well‐studied environmental toxicants. Efforts to reduce exposures in the United States have made dramatic and steady progress since the 1970s. However, lead exposure is still a significant health concern with broad implications for public health, particularly for its effects on neurodevelopment and the cardiovascular system.In this article, occupational and nonoccupational exposures are reported followed by a review of lead's toxic effects. Detection and treatment of lead poisoning are also discussed.
Extraction method using sinusoidal waves to simplify earthquake ground motion
Authors: Yamamoto Masashi , Sato Yoshiyuki , Inoue Shusaku 
Published: April 2018

AbstractA method for simplifying earthquake ground motion using sinusoidal waves is proposed. The method combines the advantages of a wavelet analysis suitable for non‐stationary states and a Fourier analysis suitable for stationary states through an extraction of the best‐matched waveforms using multiple wavelets. The proposed method was formulated and applied to an acceleration waveform observed during the 1995 Kobe earthquake and a frequency‐swept sinusoidal waveform. The results show that the method appropriately extracts both non‐stationary and stationary waveforms. The method can be utilized to resolve a waveform into various waveform components created by different propagation paths.
RecA
Protein
Authors: Bianco Piero R 
Published: April 2018

Abstract

The RecA protein of
Escherichia coli
is the prototypic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)‐strand exchange protein. It assembles on single‐stranded DNA to form a helical nucleoprotein filament that is the active species for all RecA protein‐dependent functions. This protein–DNA complex is responsible for three mutually exclusive functions: DNA recombination, induction of the DNA‐damage SOS response and SOS‐induced mutagenesis. The overall structure and activity of the nucleoprotein filament are determined by nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) cofactor binding, hydrolysis and product release. This is evident when the crystal structure of the filament is closely examined and NTP‐related structural changes are related to biological function.

Key Concepts

RecA protein is the prototype enzyme for a family of proteins known as recombinases.

Homologous recombination is the exchange of the corresponding stretches of DNA between two DNA molecules of similar sequence.

The SOS response is an inducible DNA repair and damage tolerance system that is induced by RecA.

SOS‐induced mutagenesis is a form of DNA repair catalysed by error‐prone, translesion DNA polymerases.

The RecA nucleoprotein filament is a large dynamic structure whose formation is essential to all RecA functions.

Coprotease activity is the induced self‐cleavage of one protein (LexA) by another (RecA).
A
rabidopsis thaliana

as an Experimental Organism
Authors: Serino Giovanna , Marzi Davide 
Published: April 2018

Abstract

In the past decades, plant research has experienced an incredibly fast growth, thanks both to the increasing number of scientists joining the field and the great number of publicly available tools. In this context,
Arabidopsis thaliana
still retains a central role in Plant Science, being the prominent plant model adopted worldwide. Indeed, its main features such as easy and fast growth, high seed production, easy genetic manipulation and a completely sequenced genome still place
Arabidopsis
as the best model for studying plants.
Arabidopsis
has proven to be an ideal organism for studying plant development at the molecular, cellular, organismal and ecological levels. By concentrating their efforts on a single model system,
Arabidopsis
scientists have made outstanding advances in almost any field of plant research. Further, discoveries made in
Arabidopsis
have been translated to other plant species such as economically important crops, as well as to animal systems, including complex human disease processes.

Key Concepts

Arabidopsis
is a small flowering plant, which has emerged as the primary experimental organism for the study of all aspects of plant biology.

Arabidopsis
genome has been fully sequenced in 2000 and contains approximately 28 000 genes.

Several molecular tools have been established to identify
Arabidopsis
transcription profiles, epigenetic landscape, protein and metabolite composition.

Systems biology is currently being used in
Arabidopsis
to investigate the transcriptional networks regulating root development, the metabolic response to stress and the genetic regulation of metabolic variability.

Gain of function and loss of function transgenic lines for specific
Arabidopsis
genes can be easily produced or obtained from public collections.

Most of the information on
Arabidopsis
research is available from dedicated websites.

Discoveries made in
Arabidopsis
can be easily translated to other plant species, as well as to animal systems.
Identification of Differentially Regulated Edwardsiella ictaluri Proteins During Catfish Serum Treatment
Authors: Dumpala Pradeep R. , Lawrence Mark L. , Karsi Attila 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Edwardsiella ictaluri is a facultative, intracellular, gram-negative bacterium that causes enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC). Edwardsiella ictaluri is known to be resistant to defense mechanisms present in catfish serum, which might aid in its use of a host's bloodstream to become septicemic. However, the precise mechanisms of the survival of E. ictaluri in host serum are not known. Analysis of the response of E. ictaluri to the host serum treatment at a proteomic level might aid in the elucidation of its adaptation mechanisms against defense mechanisms present in catfish serum. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify differentially regulated proteins of E. ictaluri upon exposure to naïve catfish serum. Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) followed by in-gel trypsin digestion and MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis were used for identification of differentially expressed E. ictaluri proteins. A total of 19 differentially regulated proteins (7 up- and 12 downregulated) were identified. Among those were four putative immunogenic proteins, two chaperones and eight proteins involved in the translational process, two nucleic acid degradation and integration proteins, two intermediary metabolism proteins, and one iron-ion-binding protein. Further research focusing on the functions of these differentially expressed proteins may reveal their roles in host adaptation by E. ictaluri.
Using a budget standards approach to assess the adequacy of newstart allowance
Authors: Saunders Peter 
Published: April 2018

AbstractA budget standard indicates how much a particular family living in a particular place at a particular time needs to achieve a particular standard of living. The budget includes every item that is needed to satisfy the family's individual and collective needs, priced in current retail outlets. The approach has strong intuitive appeal because it reflects how actual families do their budgeting and has been used to assess the adequacy of a wide variety of incomes and costs. This article presents new budget standards for a range of unemployed families derived from the estimates produced in the 1990s, revised to reflect new data, improved research methods and changed circumstances. The new estimates are deliberately conservative and indicate how much is needed to achieve the Minimum Income for Healthy Living standard developed by UK public health researchers. They indicate that the current level of Newstart Allowance – the main form of income support for the unemployed – is woefully inadequate. The methods used to derive the budgets have been chosen so that others can vary some of the key assumptions (e.g., about housing costs) to tailor the budgets to fit specific applications.
Achievement on Unwrapping High Cycle Density of Noisy Phase Maps for Digital Holographic Microscopy
Authors: Wang Mingqing , Li Fang , Zheng Ming , Lu Wei , Zhao Sufen , Yu Qingnan , Jia Yan , Wu Jian 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPhase unwrapping has been an important way to construct a 3‐dimensional image of the object in digital holographic microscopy. However, there is still a huge challenge currently on this technique at present, as it is still difficult to perfectly retrieve high wrapping density of phase maps which include different types of noise. This is because many details of high wrapping density of phase maps are buried in noise so that it is difficult to reconstruct them in digital holography. In order to solve this problem, a novel solution called I‐PUROR method is presented in this paper. In comparison to previous techniques, not only can the I‐PUROR algorithm effectively overcome the noise influence, but also reconstruct phase details very well in the phase unwrapping process. The experimental evaluation is fully consistent with theoretical analysis. It proves the validity of this new method.
The Future of Data‐Driven Wound Care
Authors: Woods Jon S. , Saxena Mayur , Nagamine Tasha , Howell Raelina S. , Criscitelli Theresa , Gorenstein Scott , M. Gillette Brian 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTCare for patients with chronic wounds can be complex, and the chances of poor outcomes are high if wound care is not optimized through evidence‐based protocols. Tracking and managing every variable and comorbidity in patients with wounds is difficult despite the increasing use of wound‐specific electronic medical records. Harnessing the power of big data analytics to help nurses and physicians provide optimized care based on the care provided to millions of patients can result in better outcomes. Numerous applications of machine learning toward workflow improvements, inpatient monitoring, outpatient communication, and hospital operations can improve overall efficiency and efficacy of care delivery in and out of the hospital, while reducing adverse events and complications. This article provides an overview of the application of big data analytics and machine learning in health care, highlights important recent advances, and discusses how these technologies may revolutionize advanced wound care.
Spinal extradural T‐cell lymphoma with paraneoplastic hypereosinophilia in a dog: clinicopathological features, treatment, and outcome
Authors: McNaught Katie A. , Morris Joanna , Lazzerini Kali , Millins Caroline , José‐López Roberto 
Published: April 2018

Key Clinical MessageSpinal lymphoma is a rare manifestation of a common canine hematopoietic neoplasia. Description of treatment, outcome, andMRIfeatures are scarce. The latter can be heterogeneous, stressing the importance of lesion excision and analysis. Clinicians should also be aware of hypereosinophilia as accompanying paraneoplastic syndrome and its potential prognostic implications.
Lithium Recovery by Precipitation from Impure Solutions – Lithium Ion Battery Waste
Authors: Han Bing , Porvali Antti , Lundström Mari , Louhi-Kultanen Marjatta 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHydrochloric acid (HCl) leaching solutions were investigated with the aim of recovering the lithium present in industrial battery waste. The lithium‐rich solution after HCl leaching of battery waste contains major impurities such as iron, nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and copper. This composition was used as a model system to prepare a synthetic solution for lithium recovery by precipitation. The precipitation results indicated that the feeding rate of carbonate and stirring rate had an effect on particle size distribution. Uniform particles were obtained with a semi‐batch process. A faster carbonate feeding rate can result in a smaller particle size due to the high supersaturation degree and chemical reaction rates.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Hispidanin A and Related Diterpenoids
Authors: Cao Wei , Deng Heping , Sun Ying , Liu Bo , Qin Song 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe report on our accomplishment of the asymmetric synthesis of hispidanin A and its natural precursor, a labdane diterpenoid. In the first generation of synthesis, a semi‐synthesis strategy was employed to construct a labdane‐type diterpenoid, a natural precursor of hispidanin A, in which Barton's photolytic remote functionalization was employed as a key transformation. In addition, the totarane‐type dienophile counterpart was derived from commercially available (−)‐scalareol. In the second generation of synthesis, key elements included an iron‐catalyzed radical cascade to access the labdane‐type diene on the basis of hydrogen atom transfer, and an enantioselective cationic polyene cyclization furnished the totarane‐type dienophile. Reaction optimization and mechanistic analysis of the radical cascade reaction was conducted. Furthermore, the [4+2] cycloaddition reaction was achieved in excellent yield and selectivity under thermal conditions, which has been rationalized by using DFT transition‐state analysis and paved the way for final accomplishment of the total synthesis of hispidanin A.
Characterization of the liquid fractions from textile sludge pyrolysis and their application as defoamers
Authors: Scheibe Ana Silvia , Leal Tarcísio Wolff , Brandão Heloísa Lima , Valle José Alexandre Borges , de Souza Selene M. A. Guelli Ulson , de Souza Antônio Augusto Ulson 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and the defoamer capacity of bio‐oils obtained from textile sludge pyrolysis. The pyrolysis was carried out at two temperatures: 310 and 500 °C, and the bio‐oils were analyzed after 7 days and after 2 months of storage under refrigeration. The structure of the bio‐oils was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the extraction of polar compounds by solid phase micro extraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. According to the chromatography and FTIR results, aromatic hydrocarbons, amines, silicone, and organic sulphur compounds were present in the pyrolysis oils. The Bikerman test showed that 1 mL of bio‐oil obtained from pyrolysis at 500 °C can break down a column of foam in less than 1 min, which is comparable to the results of commercial antifoams. According to these results, these oils can be used as defoamers, even at the textile plant itself.
Wilm's Tumor: An Update
Authors: D'ANGIO G. J. , BECKWITH J. B. , BRESLOW N. E. , BISHOP H. C. , EVANS A. E. , FAREWELL V. , FERNBACH D. , GOODWIN W. E. , JONES B. , LEAPE L. L. , PALMER N. F. , TEFFT M. , WOLFF J. A. 
Published: April 2018

Major advances have been made against Wilms' tumor as a result of treatment methods developed by single institutions that then have been confirmed and extended by national cooperating groups. Better survival rates have been achieved, and therapy has been refined so that treatment can be reduced in early stage disease without jeopardizing tumor control. This results in fewer short‐ and long‐term complications, an especially important consideration in children. Their organs and tissues are vulnerable to anti‐mitotic treatments such as chemo‐ and radiotherapy, that can produce disabling if not lethal dysfunctions.This progress has been the result of the cooperative efforts by multiple specialists, and provides evidence of the value of such integrated studies. They have changed the outlook from a 90% death rate in the early years of this century to the 90% survival rate now possible with modern management.
Current Status of Classification and Staging of Prostate Cancer
Authors: MURPHY GERALD P. , GAETA J. F. , PICKREN J. , WAJSMAN Z. 
Published: April 2018

The international TNM classification system for prostatic cancer has been recently revised and is most helpful for comparisons between various groups of patients. Today in the United States, the evaluation of certain factors related to clinical and pathologic staging are being further altered. These include primary grade of tumor and the extent and techniques of tumor staging. New tests for acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase isozymes are being concurrently evaluated. Advances in the past six years have contributed to further redefinition and subgrouping of previous conventional staging or prognostic assessment of prostatic cancer. Localized (Stage B, C), occult (Stage A), or generalized (Stage D) tumors are being subdivided. Although grade of the primary tumor has been thought to be important only recently has a consensus been achieved by the National Prostatic Cancer Project for a system of assessment that uses cellular patterns and nuclear changes. Aspiration cytology may be a useful adjuvant. The role and type of pelvic lymph node assessment, whether operative, radiographic, or by thin needle percutaneous aspiration, is undergoing additional study.In dealing with the so‐called occult (Stage A) lesions, a further subdivision, Stage A,/A2has been employed. Similar changes in so‐called B1/B2, C1/C2, and D1/D2 also exist. These are valid attempts to further define extent of disease and overall true tumor burden. Nevertheless, it is still the privilege of the physician to determine the necessity and extent of the use of such classification. Today, the decision to provide therapeutic care based only on a clinical stage must be made with the knowledge of these variations of classification and staging as well as of other developments.