bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Distribution and Habitat Preferences of Crimson Seabream Parargyrops edita: Implications for a Marine Protected Area in Beibu Gulf, Northern South China Sea
Authors: Wang Lifei , Wang Xuefeng , Li Chunhou , Jia Xiaoping 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Understanding distribution patterns and habitat characteristics of ecologically or economically important species in marine protected areas is critical for identifying ecological boundaries and optimizing management strategies. However, studies on groundfish resources around marine protected areas are often limited because of economic, geographic, or jurisdictional constraints. This study investigated the seasonal distribution of Crimson Seabream Parargyrops edita, an important demersal fish species in the Beibu Gulf, northern South China Sea, based on bottom trawl surveys inside and outside of the experimental zone of a marine protected area. It examined habitat preferences of Crimson Seabream in terms of 11 abiotic and biotic factors (sea bottom temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, depth, transparency, zooplankton biomass, eastings, northings, season, and zone) using generalized additive models. The density of Crimson Seabream was highest in spring, with a mean ± SD density of 50,700 ± 15,100 individuals/km2 and an occurrence frequency of 92.3%, and lowest in winter, with a mean ± SD density of 20 ± 39 individuals/km2 and an occurrence frequency of 30.8%. Crimson Seabream were most aggregated in summer and least aggregated in winter. Results suggest that the distribution of Crimson Seabream was first and foremost influenced by season, sea bottom temperature, and salinity. Crimson Seabream were most likely to be found in areas with sea bottom temperature between 22.8°C and 25.0°C, salinity between 31.5‰ and 32.0‰, dissolved oxygen between 4.4 and 6.8 mg/L, and zooplankton biomass between 114.0 and 2,717.5 mg/m3. Further, findings suggest that dynamic management strategies with more effort on minimizing human activity around the marine protected area in winter and spring may provide more effective support for Crimson Seabream recruitment. Statistical approaches applied here and related outcomes may serve as a basis for determining the spillover effects of marine protected areas and enhancing fishery management units.
A new approach to developing diagnostics and therapeutics: Aggregation‐induced emission‐based fluorescence turn‐on
Authors: Guo Meichen , Song Hang , Li Kai , Ma Minchao , Liu Yang , Fu Qiang , He Zhonggui 
Published: May 2019

AbstractFluorescence imaging is a promising visualization tool and possesses the advantages of in situ response and facile operation; thus, it is widely exploited for bioassays. However, traditional fluorophores suffer from concentration limits because they are always quenched when they aggregate, which impedes applications, especially for trace analysis and real‐time monitoring. Recently, novel molecules with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics were developed to solve the problems encountered when using traditional organic dyes, because these new molecules exhibit weak or even no fluorescence when they are in free movement states but emit intensely upon the restriction of intramolecular motions. Inspired by the excellent performances of AIE molecules, a substantial number of AIE‐based probes have been designed, synthesized, and applied to various fields to fulfill diverse detection tasks. According to numerous experiments, AIE probes are more practical than traditional fluorescent probes, especially when used in bioassays. To bridge bioimaging and materials engineering, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the development of AIE bioprobes. It begins with a summary of mechanisms of the AIE phenomenon. Then, the strategies to realize accurate detection using AIE probes are discussed. In addition, typical examples of AIE‐active materials applied in diagnosis, treatment, and nanocarrier tracking are presented. In addition, some challenges are put forward to inspire more ideas in the promising field of AIE‐active materials.
Whole exome sequencing reveals novel LEPR frameshift mutation in severely obese children from Western India
Authors: Bhatt Arpan , Purani Charul , Bhargava Poonam , Patel Komal , Agarbattiwala Tanvi , Puvar Apurvasinh , Shah Krati , Joshi Chaitanya G. , Dhamecha Nidhi , Prabhakar Mukund , Joshi Madhvi 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundObesity, especially early onset of obesity is a serious health concern in both developed and developing countries. This is further associated with serious comorbidities like a fatty liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, type‐2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, renal complications and respiratory problems. Many times early onset of obesity is linked with heritable monogenic, polygenic and syndromic forms. Globally, studies on roles of genes involved in early onset of obesity are limited.MethodsHere in this study, a consanguineous family of Western Indian origin having four siblings, one unaffected and three affected with severe early onset of obesity was enrolled. Affected siblings also displayed comorbidities like mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, raised Renal Resistance Index, oliguria, and severe anemia. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) of Trio with one affected and unaffected sibling was done. Data analysis was performed to check pathogenic mutation segregation in unaffected parents with affected and unaffected sibling.ResultsWES of trio identified novel frameshift mutation in the LEPR gene resulting in truncated leptin receptor (LEPR). The same mutation was confirmed in other affected siblings and two siblings of distant relatives by Sanger sequencing. The possible effects of truncating mutation in LEPR function by in silico analysis were also studied.ConclusionUnderstanding genetic basis of obesity might provide a clue for better management and treatment in times to come. This work demonstrates identification of novel mutation in LEPR gene resulting into early onset of obesity. Discovery of novel, population‐specific genomics markers will help population screening programs in creating base for possible therapeutic applications and prevention of this disease for next generations.
Performance evaluation of the 5‐Ring GE Discovery MI PET/CT system using the national electrical manufacturers association NU 2‐2012 Standard
Authors: Pan Tinsu , Einstein Samuel A. , Kappadath Srinivas Cheenu , Grogg Kira S. , Lois Gomez Cristina , Alessio Adam M. , Hunter William C. , El Fakhri Georges , Kinahan Paul E. , Mawlawi Osama R. 
Published: May 2019

The GE Discovery MI PET/CT system has a modular digital detector design allowing three, four, or five detector block rings that extend the axial field‐of‐view (FOV) from 15 to 25 cm in 5 cm increments. This study investigated the performance of the 5‐ring system and compared it to 3‐ and 4‐ring systems; the GE Discovery IQ system that uses conventional photomultiplier tubes; and the GE Signa PET/MR system that has a reduced transaxial FOV.MethodsPET performance was evaluated at three different institutions. Spatial resolution, sensitivity, counting rate performance, accuracy, and image quality were measured in accordance with National Electrical Manufacturers Association NU 2‐2012 standards. The mean energy resolution, mean timing resolution, and PET/CT subsystem alignment were also measured. Phantoms were used to determine the effects of varying acquisition time and reconstruction parameters on image quality. Retrospective patient scans were reconstructed with various scan durations to evaluate the impact on image quality.ResultsResults from all three institutions were similar. Radial/tangential/axial full width at half maximum spatial resolution measurements using the filtered back projection algorithm were 4.3/4.3/5.0 mm, 5.5/4.6/6.5 mm, and 7.4/5.0/6.6 mm at 1, 10, and 20 cm from the center of the FOV, respectively. Measured sensitivity at the center of the FOV (20.84 cps/kBq) was significantly higher than systems with reduced axial FOV. The peak noise‐equivalent counting rate was 266.3 kcps at 20.8 kBq/ml, with a corresponding scatter fraction of 40.2%. The correction accuracy for count losses up to the peak noise‐equivalent counting rate was 3.6%. For the 10‐, 13‐, 17‐, 22‐, 28‐, and 37‐mm spheres, contrast recoveries in the image quality phantom were measured to be 46.2%, 54.3%, 66.1%, 71.1%, 85.3%, and 89.3%, respectively. The mean energy and timing resolution were 9.55% and 381.7 ps, respectively. Phantom and patient images demonstrated excellent image quality, even at short acquisition times or low injected activity.ConclusionCompared to other PET/CT models, the extended axial FOV improved the overall PET performance of the 5‐ring GE Discovery MI scanner. This system offers the potential to reduce scan times or injected activities through increased sensitivity.
Harmonization of chest CT scans for different doses and reconstruction methods
Authors: Vegas‐Sánchez‐Ferrero Gonzalo , Ledesma‐Carbayo Maria Jesus , Washko George R. , San José Estépar Raúl 
Published: May 2019

PurposeTo develop and validate a computed tomography (CT) harmonization technique by combining noise‐stabilization and autocalibration methodologies to provide reliable densitometry measurements in heterogeneous acquisition protocols.MethodsWe propose to reduce the effects of spatially variant noise such as nonuniform patterns of noise and biases. The method combines the statistical characterization of the signal‐to‐noise relationship in the CT image intensities, which allows us to estimate both the signal and spatially variant variance of noise, with an autocalibration technique that reduces the nonuniform biases caused by noise and reconstruction techniques. The method is firstly validated with anthropomorphic synthetic images that simulate CT acquisitions with variable scanning parameters: different dosage, nonhomogeneous variance of noise, and various reconstruction methods. We finally evaluate these effects and the ability of our method to provide consistent densitometric measurements in a cohort of clinical chest CT scans from two vendors (Siemens, n = 54 subjects; and GE, n = 50 subjects) acquired with several reconstruction algorithms (filtered back‐projection and iterative reconstructions) with high‐dose and low‐dose protocols.ResultsThe harmonization reduces the effect of nonhomogeneous noise without compromising the resolution of the images (25% RMSE reduction in both clinical datasets). An analysis through hierarchical linear models showed that the average biases induced by differences in dosage and reconstruction methods are also reduced up to 74.20%, enabling comparable results between high‐dose and low‐dose reconstructions. We also assessed the statistical similarity between acquisitions obtaining increases of up to 30% points and showing that the low‐dose vs high‐dose comparisons of harmonized data obtain similar and even higher similarity than the observed for high‐dose vs high‐dose comparisons of nonharmonized data.ConclusionThe proposed harmonization technique allows to compare measures of low‐dose with high‐dose acquisitions without using a specific reconstruction as a reference. Since the harmonization does not require a precalibration with a phantom, it can be applied to retrospective studies. This approach might be suitable for multicenter trials for which a reference reconstruction is not feasible or hard to define due to differences in vendors, models, and reconstruction techniques.
Structure elucidation and NMR assignment of two new eudesmane derivatives from Merremia yunnanensis
Authors: Li Qian , Yuan Mingrui , Li Jinyu , Wei Di , Mei Shuangxi , Cui Tao , Wang Jingkun , Zhu Zhaoyun , Dong Xun , Wan Jinfu 
Published: May 2019

AbstractTwo new eudesmane derivatives, 1α,6β,9β‐trihydroxy‐eudesm‐3‐ene‐1‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside (1) and 1α,6β,9β‐trihydroxy‐eudesm‐3‐ene‐1‐(6‐cinnamoyl)‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside (2) were discovered from Merremia yunnanensis. The structures were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data including HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D, and 2D NMR. It should be noted that this is the first report about structure elucidation and NMR assignment of compounds from M. yunnanensis.
Association of Maternal Obesity in Early Pregnancy with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Chinese Prospective Cohort Analysis
Authors: Zhou Yubo , Li Hongtian , Zhang Yali , Zhang Le , Liu Jufen , Liu Jianmeng 
Published: May 2019

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the associations of maternal obesity in early pregnancy with adverse pregnancy outcomes.MethodsA prospective cohort analysis was performed among 18,481 Chinese nulliparous women, using data from a 2006 to 2009 trial of prenatal micronutrient supplementation. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2. Interested outcomes included fetal loss (spontaneous abortion plus stillbirth), infant death, total mortality, and preterm and birth weight outcomes.ResultsCompared with normal weight, obesity was associated with total mortality (adjusted relative risks [ARR] 1.34; 95% CI: 1.03‐1.74) and fetal loss (ARR 1.51; 95% CI: 1.15‐1.99) but not with infant death (ARR 0.53; 95% CI: 0.20‐1.46). Further analyses showed that obesity was particularly associated with spontaneous abortion (ARR 1.51; 95% CI: 1.13‐2.02) rather than stillbirth (ARR 1.52; 95% CI: 0.65‐3.57). Moreover, obesity was associated with preterm birth (ARR 1.59; 95% CI: 1.25‐2.02), macrosomia (ARR 3.71, 95% CI: 3.01‐4.59), and large for gestational age (ARR 2.93; 95% CI: 2.49‐3.47).ConclusionsMaternal obesity in early pregnancy is associated with various adverse pregnancy outcomes in Chinese nulliparous women, suggesting the importance of an appropriate weight before and during pregnancy.
Choosing between the BP and BN sequential strategies
Authors: McClish Donna K. , Wilk Amber R. , Schubert Christine M. 
Published: May 2019

SUMMARYCost and burden of diagnostic testing may be reduced if fewer tests can be applied. Sequential testing involves selecting a sequence of tests, but only administering subsequent tests dependent on results of previous tests. This research provides guidance to choosing between single tests or the believe the positive (BP) and believe the negative (BN) sequential testing strategies, using accuracy (as measured by the Youden Index) as the primary determinant. Approximately 75% of the parameter combinations examined resulted in either BP or BN being recommended based on a higher accuracy at the optimal point. In about half of the scenarios BP was preferred, and the other half, BN, with the choice often a function of the value of the ratio of standard deviations of those without and with disease (b). Large values of b for the first test of the sequence tended to be associated with preference for BN as opposed to BP, while small values of b appear to favor BP. When there was no preference between sequences and/or single tests based on the Youden Index, cost of the sequence was considered. In this case, disease prevalence plays a large role in the selection of strategies, with lower values favoring BN and sometimes higher values favoring BP. The cost threshold for the sequential strategy to be preferred over a single, more accurate test, was often quite high. It appears that while sequential strategies most often increase diagnostic accuracy over a single test, sequential strategies are not always preferred.
DNA Nanotechnology as an Emerging Tool to Study Mechanotransduction in Living Systems
Authors: Ma Victor Pui‐Yan , Salaita Khalid 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe ease of tailoring DNA nanostructures with sub‐nanometer precision has enabled new and exciting in vivo applications in the areas of chemical sensing, imaging, and gene regulation. A new emerging paradigm in the field is that DNA nanostructures can be engineered to study molecular mechanics. This new development has transformed the repertoire of capabilities enabled by DNA to include detection of molecular forces in living cells and elucidating the fundamental mechanisms of mechanotransduction. This Review first describes fundamental aspects of force‐induced melting of DNA hairpins and duplexes. This is then followed by a survey of the currently available force sensing DNA probes and different fluorescence‐based force readout modes. Throughout the Review, applications of these probes in studying immune receptor signaling, including the T cell receptor and B cell receptor, as well as Notch and integrin signaling, are discussed.
The influences of curriculum area and student background on mindset to learning in the veterinary curriculum: a pilot study
Authors: Armitage‐Chan Elizabeth , Maddison Jill 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA student's mindset influences their achievement and response to challenge, with a ‘fixed mindset’ encouraging disengagement from challenging tasks and avoidance of learning and feedback opportunities. These behaviours resemble those reported for professional and non‐clinical curriculum areas, which are important for employability and resilience in veterinary practice. Students with a ‘growth mindset’ to learning are more persistent when faced with challenges and actively seek more demanding tasks. They also demonstrate higher levels of psychological well‐being. The objectives of this study were to explore whether variation in veterinary students’ mindset to learning exists across different curriculum areas, and to identify whether students’ backgrounds influence their learning mindset. The mindsets of veterinary students at a UK veterinary school were measured using an adapted version of the Implicit Theories of Intelligence Scale. The survey was constructed to compare mindset in clinical reasoning, professional reasoning (incorporating ethics and critical thinking), communication skills and reflection. More students demonstrated a growth mindset to communication skills (59%), reflection (84%) and clinical reasoning (83%) than to professional reasoning (34%). There were more students with a fixed mindset to professional reasoning (10%) than in other areas (0–5%). Students’ background (international or non‐traditional university access) did not appear to influence mindset to learning. Disengagement from professional studies curricula may be a consequence of students lacking a growth mindset in professional reasoning. Curriculum interventions that encourage engagement and the development of a growth mindset to learning non‐clinical competences may be beneficial.
Evaluating agricultural weather and climate services in Africa: Evidence, methods, and a learning agenda
Authors: Vaughan Catherine , Hansen James , Roudier Philippe , Watkiss Paul , Carr Edward 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWeather and climate services (WCS) are expected to improve the capacity of Africa's agricultural sector to manage the risks of climate variability and change. Despite this, a lack of evidence prevents a realistic analysis of whether such services are delivering on their potential. This paper reviews 66 studies that have evaluated outcomes and/or impacts of agricultural WCS in Africa, highlighting areas that have received relatively more attention as well as persistent gaps. While the evaluation of WCS outcomes is relatively straightforward, estimates of the number of people who access and use these services are uneven (covering a small number of communities in 23 of 54 African countries) and highly variable (with access estimates ranging from ~2 to 86%, depending on the service and the population). Meanwhile, 22 documents estimate the impact of WCS with respect to yields and/or income. Developed with a variety of methods, these estimates are also wide ranging and illustrate how impact is conditioned on a number of characteristics of the service, the user, and the context in which both operate. The paper uses lessons developed through this review to develop a “learning agenda,” or evidence‐building roadmap, to establish priorities that can guide work to improve the design, delivery, and impact of agricultural WCS in Africa. Priority learning areas include activities that can strengthen the evidence of access, use, and impacts of WCS, along with those that can advance the use and usability of evidence so as to improve the design and targeting of WCS services.This article is categorized under:

Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Evaluating Future Impacts of Climate Change
Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Learning from Cases and Analogies
Application of biparametric perturbation method to functionally graded thin plates with different moduli in tension and compression
Authors: He Xiao‐Ting , Li Xue , Yang Zhi‐Xin , Liu Guang‐Hui , Sun Jun‐Yi 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIn this study, a biparametric perturbation method is used for the solution of the large‐deflection bending problem of a functionally graded thin plate with different moduli in tension and compression. First, the Föppl‐von Kármán equations for the bimodular functionally graded thin plate are established in rectangular coordinates system, thus obtaining the axisymmetric simplified form in polar coordinates system. By adopting two groups of perturbation parameters, one group is gradient index and central deflection, another is gradient index and load, the biparametric perturbation solution for the established governing equations are obtained, respectively, under different boundary constrains. The result indicates that the two groups of parameter selections are valid, and the biparametric perturbation solution is also consistent to single‐parameter perturbation solution. The bimodular effects on stiffness and deformation of thin plates are also discussed via biparametric perturbation solutions obtained. The study indicates that the dominant factor influencing the stiffness is the relative magnitudes relation among the tensile modulus, the neutral layer modulus and the compressive modulus.
Easy as (Happiness) Pie? A Critical Evaluation of a Popular Model of the Determinants of Well-Being
Authors: Brown Nicholas J. L. , Rohrer Julia M. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAn underlying principle behind much of the research in positive psychology is that individuals have considerable leeway to increase their levels of happiness. In an influential article that is frequently cited in support of such claims, Lyubomirsky et al. (Rev Gen Psychol 9:111–131, 2005. 10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111) put forward a model (subsequently popularized under the name of the “happiness pie”) in which approximately 50% of individual differences in happiness are due to genetic factors and 10% to life circumstances, leaving 40% available to be changed via volitional activities. We re-examined Lyubomirsky et al.’s claims and found several apparent deficiencies in their chain of arguments on both the empirical and the conceptual level. We conclude that there is little empirical evidence for the variance decomposition suggested by the “happiness pie,” and that even if it were valid, it is not necessarily informative with respect to the question of whether individuals can truly exert substantial influence over their own chronic happiness level. We believe that our critical re-examination of Lyubomirsky et al.’s seminal article offers insights into some common misconceptions and pitfalls of scientific inference, and we hope that it might contribute to the construction of a more rigorous and solid empirical basis for the field of positive psychology.