bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dual-Source Dual-Energy CT Portal Venous Phase Abdominal CT Scans in Large Body Habitus Patients: Preliminary Observations on Image Quality and Material Decomposition
Authors: Baliyan Vinit , Kordbacheh Hamed , Serrao Jessica , Sahani Dushyant V. , Kambadakone Avinash R. 
Published: November 2018

Purpose
Our objective was to evaluate image quality (IQ) and material decomposition in patients with large body habitus undergoing portal venous phase abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans on dual-source dual-energy CT (dsDECT) scanners.

Methods
This retrospective analysis included 30 scans from consecutive patients (19 males/11 females, mean ± SD age = 55.3 ± 17.5 years, range = 27–87 years) with large body habitus (≥90 kg, mean ± SD weight = 105.4 ± 12.35, range = 91–145 kg) who underwent portal venous phase abdominal DECT examinations on dsDECT scanner between Jan 2015 and Dec 2015. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of IQ of DECT data sets (blended, iodine, and virtual noncontrast images) was performed. The patients were categorized into 2 groups (group A, ≤104 kg; group B, >104 kg).

Results
The mean ± SD patient body weight in group A was 97.2 ± 4.5 kg (range = 91–104 kg) and 114.8 ± 11.7 kg (range = 104.3–145.2 kg) for patients in group B. The diagnostic acceptability of the blended images in patients > 104 kg was lower (3.6 vs 4, <3 in 4/14 vs 0/16, P = 0.03). The extension of visceral anatomy beyond DE field of view (DEFOV) was seen in 60% (28 organs in 18 patients), the most common organs being liver and spleen. The incidence of visceral organs outside DEFOV was significantly higher in patients > 104 kg (18 vs 10, P = 0.03). Outside the DEFOV, blended images demonstrated higher image noise (mean: 14.48, range = 10.09–26.83 vs mean: 9.5, range = 7.3–15.8) P < 0.001) and lower signal-to-noise ratio (mean: 4.15, range = 1.5–7.6 vs mean: 7.5, range = 4.2–9.9) P < 0.001), and material-specific information was not available in this region. Within the DEFOV, the IQ of iodine maps and virtual non-contrast images were diagnostically acceptable with diagnostic acceptability of 3 or greater in nearly all patients. A 40-cm transverse diameter cut-off provided a good predictor of extension of visceral anatomy outside the effective DEFOV.

Conclusions
Dual-source DECT allows diagnostically acceptable IQ and material separation in patients with large body habitus with the major limitation of exclusion of patient anatomy and organs outside the effective dual-energy field of view.
Adaptive Nonlocal Means Method for Denoising Basis Material Images From Dual-Energy Computed Tomography
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Zhang Yanbo , Yu Hengyong 
Published: November 2018

Abstract
We propose an adaptive nonlocal means approach for image-domain material decomposition in low-dose dual-energy micro–computed tomography. The key idea is to create a distribution map for decomposition error and assign a smooth weight for a given pixel. This method is applied to the decomposed images of 3 basis materials: bone, soft tissue, and gold in our applications. We assume that bone and gold cannot coexist in the same pixel and regroup these basis materials into 2 categories. For soft tissue, the proposed algorithm is implemented in a noniterative mode. For bone and gold, an iterative mode is used and followed by a postiteration process. Both our numerical simulation and in vivo preclinical experiment results show that the proposed adaptive nonlocal means outperforms other state-of-the-art denoising algorithms, such as the original nonlocal means and total variation minimization methods.
Assessing the Relationship Between American Heart Association Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score and Coronary Artery Imaging Findings
Authors: Li Ying , Zhu Guangming , Ding Victoria , Jiang Bin , Ball Robyn L. , Ahuja Neera , Rodriguez Fatima , Fleischmann Dominik , Desai Manisha , Saloner David , Saba Luca , Wintermark Max , Hom Jason 
Published: November 2018

Objective
The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between computed tomography angiography imaging characteristics of coronary artery and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) score.

Methods
We retrospectively identified all patients who underwent a coronary computed tomography angiography at our institution from December 2013 to July 2016, then we calculated the 10-year ASCVD score. We characterized the relationship between coronary artery imaging findings and ASCVD risk score.

Results
One hundred fifty-one patients met our inclusion criteria. Patients with a 10-year ASCVD score of 7.5% or greater had significantly more arterial segments showing stenosis (46.4%, P = 0.008) and significantly higher maximal plaque thickness (1.25 vs 0.53, P = 0.001). However, among 56 patients with a 10-year ASCVD score of 7.5% or greater, 30 (53.6%) had no arterial stenosis. Furthermore, among the patients with a 10-year ASCVD score of less than 7.5%, 24 (25.3%) had some arterial stenosis.

Conclusions
There is some concordance but not a perfect overlap between 10-year ASCVD risk scores and coronary artery imaging findings.
MIR-190B Alleviates Cell Autophagy and Burn-Induced Skeletal Muscle Wasting via Modulating PHLPP1/Akt/FoxO3A Signaling Pathway
Authors: Yu Yonghui , Yang Longlong , Han Shaofang , Wu Yushou , Liu Lingying , Chang Yang , Wang Xiaoteng , Chai Jiake 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
Cell autophagy is an important material recycling process and is involved in regulating many vital activities under both physiological and pathological conditions. However, the mechanism of autophagy regulating burn-induced skeletal muscle wasting still needs to be elucidated.

Methods:
The rat burn model with 30% total body surface area and L6 cell line were used in this study. An immunofluorescence assay was used to detect autophagic levels. MicroRNA array and real-time PCR were employed to measure miR-190b levels, and its influence on PH domain and leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) protein translation was estimated using luciferase reporter assay. The expression levels of autophagy-related proteins were analyzed by Western blot. Skeletal muscle wasting was evaluated by the ratio of tibias anterior muscle weight to body weight.

Results:
Our study demonstrates that burn injury promotes expression of the autophagy-related proteins light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin-1, suppresses expression of Akt and Forkhead box O (FoxO) 3a protein phosphorylation, and increases PHLPP1 protein level which is required for Akt dephosphorylation. miR-190b, the regulator of PHLPP1 protein translation, also significantly decreases after burn injury. Ectopic expression of miR-190b in L6 myoblast cell downregulates PHLPP1 protein expression, elevates Akt and FoxO3a phosphorylation, and subsequently reduces cell autophagy. Finally, suppressing autophagy with 3-methyladenine represses the protein expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 and mitigates burn-induced skeletal muscle wasting.

Conclusion:
Burn injury induced skeletal muscle cell autophagy and subsequently resulted in skeletal muscle wasting via regulating miR-190b/PHLPP1/Akt/FoxO3a signaling pathway.
Plasma Renin Concentration is Associated With Hemodynamic Deficiency and Adverse Renal Outcome in Septic Shock
Authors: Nguyen Maxime , Denimal Damien , Dargent Auguste , Guinot Pierre-Grégoire , Duvillard Laurence , Quenot Jean-Pierre , Bouhemad Bélaïd 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACT

Background:
In septic shock, both systemic vasodilatation and glomerular arteriole dilatation are responsible for the drop in glomerular filtration observed in early acute kidney injury. Angiotensin II has been shown to act on both mechanisms. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of renin angiotensin system activation, on hemodynamic deficiency and renal outcome in patient with septic shock and to assess whether urinary sodium could be a reliable test for high plasma renin concentration screening.

Methods:
This was a prospective and observational study. Inclusion criteria were early septic shock (first episode), dose of norepinephrine ≥ 0.25 μg/kg/min, before the start of substitutive corticosteroids. Plasma renin concentration, plasma aldosterone concentration, and urinary sodium were measured at inclusion. Renal outcome, organ deficiency, and 28-day survival were followed.

Results:
Plasma renin concentration was associated with worse hemodynamic deficiency and adverse renal outcome. Natriuresis was associated with shock severity but was not associated with renal outcome. Low natriuresis (< 20 mM) was associated with higher renin concentration. Those two variables were only weakly correlated.

Conclusion:
Plasma renin concentration is associated with adverse renal outcome, probably through shock severity and insufficient glomerular efferent arterioles vasoconstriction. An association was observed between low natriuresis and high plasma renin concentration.
The Effect of Nutrition on Early Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia, Serum Insulin Levels, and Exogenous Insulin Administration in Critically Ill Patients With Septic Shock: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Treskes Nikki , Koekkoek Wilhelmina Aria Christina , van Zanten Arthur Raymond Hubert 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACT

Background:
Stress-induced hyperglycemia is common among septic shock patients. Nutritional support influences glucose homeostasis but this effect has never been studied in septic shock. We aimed to determine the course of hyperglycemia and serum insulin levels in critically ill septic shock patients and to address the effects of caloric intake on glycemia, insulin levels, and exogenous insulin requirements.

Methods:
A prospective observational study of 24 ventilated septic shock patients during 72 h after ICU admission. Every 4 h nutritional variables, exogenous insulin administration, serum insulin, and glucose levels were recorded.

Results:
Stress-induced hyperglycemia was found in 96.2% of patients. Exogenous insulin requirements increased gradually and were most pronounced at 36 h (mean 4.64 IU/h). Total serum insulin levels were lowest at the point of most exogenous insulin requirements (mean 2.75 mIU/L). Total caloric intake and insulin requirements were positively associated (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.210).

Conclusions:
In patients with septic shock marked reduced serum insulin levels can be observed during the first 36 h after intensive care unit (ICU) admission that have to be compensated by exogenous insulin administration, a phenomenon gradually improving after 36 h. Feeding is positively associated with exogenous insulin requirements. These results suggest that strategies to manage stress-induced hyperglycemia in patients with septic shock should consider frequent glycemic monitoring, conservative insulin dosing to prevent hypoglycemia when insulin resistance disappears, and slow progressive nutrition support during the early ICU phase as caloric loading may worsen hyperglycemia. This approach may attenuate the risk of glucose variability, hypo- and hyperglycemia and associated poor outcomes.
The Evolving Practice Patterns of Academic Endocrine Surgeons
Authors: Kuo Jennifer H. , Duh Quan Y. , Chen Herbert , Lai Victoria , Sorensen Meredith J. , Chabot John A. , Lee James A. 
Published: November 2018

Objective:
To examine the evolution of an academic endocrine surgeon's practice over time.

Summary Background:
Amid growing recognition that surgical volume and specialization are linked to better outcomes, endocrine surgery is one of the youngest fields to develop its own formal fellowship training program. However, 3 decades after the emergence of endocrine surgery as a distinct specialty, the medical community and public still have a limited understanding of endocrine surgeons and what they do.

Methods:
We performed a cross-sectional analysis of endocrine surgeons identified in the Faculty Practice Solutions Center Database from 2014 to 2017. Trends in annual number of endocrine surgeries performed, number of all surgeries performed, total work relative value units generated, and patient payer mix stratified by years of practice were evaluated.

Results:
One hundred thirty-nine endocrine surgeons practicing in 103 institutions over 4 years were analyzed. The proportion of endocrine-specific operations increases over time. A typical academic endocrine surgeon meets the high-volume threshold for thyroidectomies early in their career, but does not reach the thresholds for parathyroidectomies or adrenalectomies until after 4 years. Increased productivity as reflected by adjusted work relative value units does increase over the first 15 years of practice, but also decreases as the proportion of endocrine-specific practice increases. The greatest proportion of endocrine surgeons’ patients are insured by commercial plans (46%–50%), and payer mix is stable across all levels of practice.

Conclusions:
Although endocrine surgeons perform a high-volume of endocrine-specific operations, practice patterns are heterogeneous and suggest that most surgeons have to grow their endocrine-specific practice over time.
Familiarity facilitates detection of angry expressions
Authors: Chauhan Vassiki , Visconti di Oleggio Castello Matteo , Taylor Morgan , Gobbini Maria Ida 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPersonal familiarity facilitates rapid and optimized detection of faces. In this study, we investigated whether familiarity associated with faces can also facilitate the detection of facial expressions. Models of face processing propose that face identity and face expression detection are mediated by distinct pathways. We used a visual search paradigm to assess if facial expressions of emotion (anger and happiness) were detected more rapidly when produced by familiar as compared to unfamiliar faces. We found that participants detected an angry expression 11% more accurately and 135 ms faster when produced by familiar as compared to unfamiliar faces while happy expressions were detected with equivalent accuracies and at equivalent speeds for familiar and unfamiliar faces. These results suggest that detectors in the visual system dedicated to processing features of angry expressions are optimized for familiar faces.
A wheat/rye polymorphism affects seminal root length and is associated with drought and waterlogging tolerance
Authors: Howell Tyson , Moriconi Jorge I. , Zhao Xueqiang , Hegarty Joshua , Fahima Tzion , Santa-Maria Guillermo E. , Dubcovsky Jorge 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACTThe introgression of a small segment of wheat chromosome 1BS in the distal region of the rye 1RS arm translocation in wheat (henceforth 1RSrw) was previously associated with reduced grain yield, carbon isotope discrimination and stomatal conductance, suggesting reduced access to soil moisture. In this study, we show that the 1RS/1RSRWpolymorphism causes differences in root length in field and hydroponic experiments. In the latter, differences in seminal root length were associated with a developmentally regulated arrest of the root apical meristem (RAM). Approximately 10 days after germination, the seminal roots of the 1RSRWplants showed a gradual reduction in elongation rate and stopped growing a week later. Seventeen days after germination, the roots of the 1RSRWplants showed altered gradients of reactive oxygen species and emergence of lateral roots close to the RAM, suggesting a loss of apical dominance. The 1RS/1RSRWisogenic lines also differed in plant biomass and grain yield under normal, terminal drought, and waterlogging field conditions. The differences were larger in fields with reduced or excessive irrigation. These results suggest that this polymorphism may be useful to modulate root architecture and mitigate the negative impacts of excess or reduced water in wheat production.HIGHLIGHTA wheat/rye polymorphism in chromosome one affects seminal root length and apical dominance and is associated with differences in drought and waterlogging tolerance in the field.
Noise induced bimodality in genetic circuits with monostable positive feedback
Authors: Bokes Pavol , Singh Abhyudai 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe expression of individual genes can be maintained through positive feedback loop mechanisms. If genes are expressed in bursts, then feedback either affects the frequency with which bursts occur or their size. Here we use a tractable hybrid modelling framework to evaluate how noncooperative positive feedback in burst frequency or burst size impacts the protein-level distribution. We confirm the results of previous studies that noncooperative positive feedback in burst frequency can support bimodal distributions. Intriguingly, bimodal distributions are unavailable in the case of feedback in burst size in the hybrid framework. However, kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of a full discrete model show that bimodality can reappear due to low-copy number effects. The two types of feedbacks lead to dramatically different values of protein mean and noise. We show that small values of leakage imply a small protein mean for feedback in burst frequency but not necessarily for feedback in burst size. We also show that protein noise decreases in response to gene activation if feedback is in burst frequency but there is a transient noise amplification if feedback acts on burst size. Our results suggest that feedback in burst size and feedback in burst frequency may play fundamentally different roles in maintaining and controlling stochastic gene expression.
Mutations in bacterial genes induce unanticipated changes in the relationship between bacterial pathogens in experimental otitis media
Authors: Lakhani Vinal , Tan Li , Mukherjee Sayak , Stewart William C. L. , Swords W. Edward , Das Jayajit 
Published: November 2018

AbstractOtitis media (OM) is a common polymicrobial infection of the middle ear in children under the age of fifteen years. A widely used experimental strategy to analyze roles of specific phenotypes of bacterial pathogens of OM is to study changes in co-infection kinetics of bacterial populations in animal models when a wild type bacterial strain is replaced by a specific isogenic mutant strain in the co-inoculating mixtures. Since relationships between the OM bacterial pathogens within the host are regulated by many interlinked processes, connecting the changes in the co-infection kinetics to a bacterial phenotype can be challenging. We investigated middle ear co-infections in adult chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) by two major OM pathogens: nontypeableHaemophilus influenzae(NTHi) andMoraxella catarrhalis(Mcat), as well as isogenic mutant strains in each bacterial species. We analyzed the infection kinetic data using Lotka-Volterra population dynamics, Maximum Entropy inference, and Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) based model selection. We found that changes in relationships between the bacterial pathogens that were not anticipated in the design of the co-infection experiments involving mutant strains are common and were strong regulators of the co-infecting bacterial populations. The framework developed here allows for a systematic analysis of host-host variations of bacterial populations and small sizes of animal cohorts in co-infection experiments to quantify the role of specific mutant strains in changing the infection kinetics. Our combined approach can be used to analyze the functional footprint of mutant strains in regulating co-infection kinetics in models of experimental OM and other polymicrobial diseases.
The Time Scale of Evolution
Authors: Passagem-Santos Diogo , Perfeito Lilia 
Published: November 2018

AbstractFitness is a measure of how quickly alleles change in frequency under natural selection. Time is always implicit in evolutionary models but its units are rarely made explicit. When measuring phenotypes such as absolute growth rate, the units of measurement need to be made explicit. By contrasting measures of fitness and growth rate, we uncovered a curious effect, by which evolutionary time runs at different speeds depending on how restricted population growth is. In other words, when the generation time of a population is externally imposed, relative fitness per generation is no longer an accurate measure of differences between genotypes. We explore this effect and describe how it affects selective sweeps, probability of fixation of beneficial mutations and adaptation dynamics. Moreover, we show that different populations cannot be compared unless they share a common reference and that our inference of epistasis can be biased by this temporal effect. Finally, we suggest less biased ways to measure selection in experimental evolution.
Sensorimotor Memory for Object Weight is Based on Previous Experience During Lifting, Not Holding
Authors: van Polanen Vonne , Davare Marco 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACTTo allow skilled object manipulation, the brain must generate a motor command specifically tailored to the object properties. For instance, in object lifting, the forces applied by the fingertips must be scaled to the object’s weight. When lifting a series of objects, forces are usually scaled according to recent experience from previously lifted objects, an effect often referred to as sensorimotor memory. In this study, we investigated the specific time period during which stored information from previous object manipulation is used to mediate sensorimotor memory. More specifically, we examined whether sensorimotor memory was based on weight information obtained between object contact and lift completion (lifting phase) or during stable holding (holding phase). Participants lifted objects in virtual reality that could increase or decrease in weight after the object was lifted and held in the air. In this way, we could distinguish whether the force planning in the next lift was scaled depending on weight information gathered from either the dynamic lifting or static holding period. We found that force planning was based on the previous object weight experienced during the lifting, but not holding, phase. This suggest that the lifting phase, while merely lasting a few hundred milliseconds, is a key time period for building up internal object representations used for planning future hand-object interactions.HIGHLIGHTSWhen lifting objects, fingertip force scaling is based on the most recent liftWe investigated what time period is critical for acquiring sensorimotor memorySensorimotor memory is based on weight experienced during previous lift, not holdThe lifting phase is a key period for building up internal models of object lifting