bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Beyond Bones: Assessing Whether Ultrasound‐Aided Instruction and Practice Improve Unassisted Soft Tissue Palpation Skills of First‐Year Medical Students
Authors: Walrod Bryant J. , Boucher Laura C. , Conroy Mark J. , McCamey Kendra L. , Hartz Clinton A. , Way David P. , Jonesco Michael A. , Albrechta Steven , Bockbrader Marcia , Bahner David P. 
Published: December 2018

ObjectivesOur purpose was to determine whether ultrasound (US)‐aided instruction and practice on musculoskeletal anatomy would improve first‐year medical students’ ability to locate and identify specific soft tissue structures by unaided palpation in the upper and lower extremities of healthy human models.MethodsThis study was a randomized crossover design with 49 first‐year medical students randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. Each group was provided expert instruction and hands‐on practice using US to scan and study soft tissue structures. During session 1, group A learned the anatomy of the upper extremities, whereas group B learned the lower. Students were then tested on their proficiency in locating 4 soft tissue structures (2 upper and 2 lower extremities) through palpation of a human model. During session 2, group A learned lower extremities, and group B learned upper. At the end of session 2, students repeated the assessment.ResultsAfter the first instructional session, neither group performed significantly better on identifying and locating the soft tissue landmarks they learned aided by US. After the second instructional session, however, scores for both groups increased approximately 20 percentage points, indicating that both groups performed significantly better on palpating and identifying both the upper and lower extremity soft tissue landmarks (Cohen d = 0.89 and 0.82, respectively).ConclusionsTime and practice viewing soft tissue structures with US assistance seems to have a “palpation‐with‐eyes” effect that improves students’ abilities to correctly locate, palpate, and identify limb‐specific soft tissue structures once the US assistance is removed.
Exosomes Derived From Low‐Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound‐Treated Dendritic Cells Suppress Tumor Necrosis Factor–Induced Endothelial Inflammation
Authors: Li Xuefeng , Li Xiaoyan , Lin Jing , Sun Xiuyun , Ding Qiuli 
Published: December 2018

ObjectivesEndothelial cell inflammation plays an important role in atherosclerosis. Low‐intensity pulsed ultrasonography (LIPUS) exerts an anti‐inflammatory function on endothelial cells, whereas the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated.MethodsBone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) derived from bone barrow cells were treated with LIPUS, and exosomes secreted into the supernatant were purified. The isolated exosomes were incubated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate their effect on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α–induced endothelial inflammation. Ultrastructure was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Messenger RNA levels were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and protein levels were analyzed by western blot.ResultsThe isolated exosomes presented a typical exosomal size of 30 to 100 nm in diameter and expressed exosome positive markers (Alix, CD63, and TSG101) but not the exosome negative marker (Calnexin). Exosomes derived from LIPUS‐treated BMDCs were rich in miR‐16 and miR‐21, which could be engulfed by HUVECs. Pretreatment with exosomes impeded TNFα‐induced HUVEC activation and downregulated TNFα‐stimulated expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, thus preventing TNFα‐induced activation of the nuclear factor‐κB signaling pathway.ConclusionExosomes derived from LIPUS‐treated BMDC inhibit TNFα‐induced endothelial inflammation by inhibiting the nuclear factor‐κB signaling pathway.
Allowable take of black vultures in the eastern United States
Authors: Zimmerman Guthrie S. , Millsap Brian A. , Avery Michael L. , Sauer John R. , Runge Michael C. , Richkus Kenneth D. 
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACTBlack vultures (Coragyps atratus) have been increasing in density and expanding their range in the eastern United States since at least the 1960s. In many areas, their densities have increased to the level where they are causing damage to property and livestock and the number of requests for allowable take permits has increased throughout these areas. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) requires updated information to help inform the number of take permits that could reduce conflicts while meeting obligations under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We expanded analyses used to estimate allowable take in Virginia to cover the range of black vultures in the eastern United States. We used the prescribed take level approach, which integrates demographic rates, population size estimates, and management objectives into an estimate of allowable take. We provide estimates of allowable take at 4 different scales: individual states, Bird Conservation Regions, USFWS administrative regions, and flyways. Our updated population time series provides evidence of rapidly increasing black vulture populations in many regions of the eastern United States, with an overall population estimate of approximately 4.26 million in 2015 in the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways. Estimated allowable take ranged from a few hundred individuals per year in states at the northern end of the species range to approximately 287,000/year over the entire eastern United States. The USFWS has no legal mandate regarding the spatial scale at which take should be managed and we found little biological evidence of subpopulation structure for black vultures in the eastern United States. We suggest that allowable take for the species be implemented at a scale that meets stakeholder objectives (e.g., reducing conflict, and ensuring that black vultures are not extirpated from local areas) and is efficient for administrative and monitoring purposes. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
High‐permittivity pad design tool for 7T neuroimaging and 3T body imaging
Authors: van Gemert Jeroen , Brink Wyger , Webb Andrew , Remis Rob 
Published: December 2018

PurposeHigh‐permittivity materials in the form of flexible “dielectric pads” have proved very useful for addressing RF inhomogeneities in high field MRI systems. Finding the optimal design of such pads is, however, a tedious task, reducing the impact of this technique. We present an easy‐to‐use software tool which allows researchers and clinicians to design dielectric pads efficiently on standard computer systems, for 7T neuroimaging and 3T body imaging applications.MethodsThe tool incorporates advanced computational methods based on field decomposition and model order reduction as a framework to efficiently evaluate the B1+ fields resulting from dielectric pads. The tool further incorporates optimization routines which can either optimize the position of a given dielectric pad, or perform a full parametric design. The optimization procedure can target either a single target field, or perform a sweep to explore the trade‐off between homogeneity and efficiency of the B1+ field in a specific region of interest. The 3T version further allows for shifting of the imaging landmark to enable different imaging targets to be centered in the body coil.ResultsExample design results are shown for imaging the inner ear at 7T and for cardiac imaging at 3T. Computation times for all cases are approximately a minute per target field.ConclusionThe developed tool can be easily used to design dielectric pads for any 7T neuroimaging and 3T body imaging application within minutes. This bridges the gap between the advanced design methods and the practical application by the MR community.
Population Characteristics and Management of Lentic Populations of Nonnative Burbot in the Green River System, Wyoming
Authors: Brauer Tucker A. , Quist Michael C. , Rhea Darren T. , Laughlin Troy W. , Walrath John D. 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
Fishes introduced outside of their native distributions have the potential to negatively affect their recipient ecosystems. Since their illegal introduction into the Green River, Wyoming, in the 1990s, Burbot Lota lota have been sampled in lotic and lentic environments throughout the Green River system, where they pose a threat to native fishes and valuable sport fisheries. In response to this invasion, managers of the Green River have begun to explore the efficacy of a suppression effort targeting Burbot. We sought to the describe population dynamics of Burbot in the lentic portions (i.e., reservoirs) of the Green River system in comparison with Burbot population dynamics in lotic areas of the Green River. We also sought to evaluate potential management scenarios for a suppression program. Burbot for this study were collected from Fontenelle and Flaming Gorge reservoirs in October and November 2016. Growth rates of Burbot in the lentic portion of the system were higher than those for fish in the Green River. Total annual mortality rates (A) of Burbot were approximately 10% lower in the reservoirs (33%) than in the Green River. Additionally, lentic Burbot matured earlier than lotic Burbot. An age-structured population model indicated that Burbot populations were growing rapidly (population growth rate λ = 1.18) in the study reservoirs. Annual exploitation (μ) of juvenile Burbot would need to reach 7%; the μ of mature Burbot would need to increase to 33% or greater (A ≥ 57%) to effectively suppress Burbot in this system. Sensitivity analysis suggested that mortality of age-1 and age-2 Burbot had the greatest influence on λ. However, due to difficulties in collecting juvenile Burbot in the Green River system, focusing removal efforts on mature individuals may be the most realistic option for suppressing Burbot populations in this system.
Juvenile Salmonid Assemblages at the Mirror Lake Complex in the Lower Columbia River before and after a Culvert Modification
Authors: Sol Sean Y. , Hanson Amanda C. , Marcoe Keith , Johnson Lyndal L. 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
This study examined salmonid assemblages upstream of a culvert connecting the Mirror Lake Complex with the lower Columbia River before and after the culvert was modified to improve habitat connectivity and fish passage. Initially the culvert limited water flow between the Columbia River and the Mirror Lake Complex. The outlet and interior of the culvert were reconfigured to create a more “natural” and suitable passageway for salmonids through the removal of riprap and the strategic placement of boulders, cobbles, gravels, baffles, and weirs. Prior to the culvert modification, three sites were sampled monthly between April and August of 2008, 5.0 and 0.5 km upstream of the culvert and immediately downstream of the culvert. After the culvert modification, the same sites were sampled from 2009 to 2012, with two additional sites added in 2010. Sites near the culvert supported Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, Coho Salmon O. kisutch, and Chum Salmon O. keta, while sites further from the culvert supported unmarked Coho Salmon and Rainbow Trout O. mykiss, steelhead (anadromous Rainbow Trout), and Cutthroat Trout O. clarkii. Clear trends in salmonid occurrence were not observed, although densities of Chinook Salmon tended to be higher in years postmodification than before modification. Culvert modifications should focus on alleviating site-specific fish passage conditions to result in substantial changes to habitat connectivity.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for the Critically Ill Patient
Authors: Limketkai Berkeley N. , Hendler Steven , Ting Peng‐sheng , Parian Alyssa M. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe gut microbiome has been implicated in a diversity of diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, hepatic steatosis, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and anxiety. Current research also suggests the presence of a bidirectional relationship between the composition of the gut microbiome and critical illness. In the critical care setting, multiple factors (eg, use of antibiotics, aberrant nutrition, bloodstream infections, bowel ischemia, and abnormal bowel motility) strongly contribute to intestinal dysbiosis. Conversely, early studies have associated intestinal dysbiosis with worse clinical outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU), such as infection, organ failure, and mortality. The possibility of intestinal dysbiosis influencing these clinical outcomes has prompted the question of whether microbiome manipulation strategies, such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), may have a role in the management of critical illness. After a literature search of FMT used in the ICU for indications other than Clostridium difficile infections, we found 4 case reports that describe the use of FMT in 5 critically ill patients with systemic inflammatory responses and no clear source of infection. This review discusses the relationship between the gut microbiome and critical illness, early data on the use of FMT in critical care, and safety considerations of FMT in the critically ill and immunocompromised populations.
Genomic landscape and evolutionary trajectories of ovarian cancer precursor lesions
Authors: Wu Ren‐Chin , Wang Pei , Lin Shiou‐Fu , Zhang Ming , Song Qianqian , Chu Tiffany , Wang Brant G , Kurman Robert J , Vang Russell , Kinzler Kenneth , Tomasetti Cristian , Jiao Yuchen , Shih Ie‐Ming , Wang Tian‐Li 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe clonal relationship between ovarian high‐grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) and its presumed precursor lesion, serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), has been reported. However, when analyzing patients with concurrent ovarian carcinoma and tubal lesion, the extensive carcinoma tissues present at diagnosis may have effaced the natural habitat of precursor clone(s), obscuring tumor clonal evolutionary history, or may have disseminated to anatomically adjacent fimbriae ends, masquerading as precursor lesions. To circumvent these limitations, we analyzed the genomic landscape of incidental tubal precursor lesions including p53 signature, dormant STIC or serous tubal intraepithelial lesion (STIL) and proliferative STIC in women without ovarian carcinoma or any cancer diagnosis using whole‐exome sequencing and amplicon sequencing. In three of the four cancer‐free women with multiple discrete tubal lesions we observed non‐identical TP53 mutations between precursor lesions from the same individual. In one of the four women with co‐existing ovarian HGSC and tubal precursor lesion we found non‐identical TP53 mutations and a lack of common mutations shared between her precursor lesion and carcinoma. Analyzing the evolutionary history of multiple tubal lesions in the same four patients with concurrent ovarian carcinoma indicated distinct evolution trajectories. Collectively, the results support diverse clonal origins of tubal precursor lesions at the very early stages of tumorigenesis. Mathematical modeling based on lesion‐specific proliferation rates indicated that p53 signature and dormant STIC may take a prolonged time (two decades or more) to develop into STIC, whereas STIC may progress to carcinoma in a much shorter time (6 years). The above findings may have implications for future research aimed at prevention and early detection of ovarian cancer. Copyright © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Patients with cystic fibrosis having a residual function mutation: Data from the Italian registry
Authors: Salvatore Donatello , Padoan Rita , Buzzetti Roberto , Amato Annalisa , Giordani Barbara , Ferrari Gianluca , Majo Fabio 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundCFTR mutations permitting residual function (RF) of the CFTR protein are disease‐causing. These mutations are associated with a pneumopathy that is delayed in onset and is slower in progression than are more common forms of cystic fibrosis (CF), although the disease may become severe in some patients. RF mutations are among the most frequent in Italy, thus encouraging investigation of their prevalence and associated phenotypes.MethodsData from the Italian Registry were used to compare patients with at least one RF mutation with those homozygous for F508del.ResultsA total of 806 patients bearing at least one RF mutation were identified among 5204 registered patients (15.5%). The RF patients were older than the F508del homozygotes (median age 26.0 years vs 19.8 years, respectively), with a higher median age at diagnosis (6.3 years vs 0.2 years, respectively) and a lower median sweat chloride value (76.0 mmol/L vs 100.0 mmol/L, respectively). In the RF group, lung infections and comorbidities were less prevalent than those in the F508del homozygotes, while better FEV1 and nutritional status were observed at all ages. Within the RF group, RF/F508del subjects showed more severe pneumopathy than did patients with RF/other mutations. In particular, the 3849 + 10kbC → T/F508del subjects had worse FEV1 and a higher prevalence of lung infections than did patients with other genotypes.ConclusionsPatients with RF mutations are numerous in Italy and have a milder disease phenotype than do F508del homozygotes. Inside the RF group, F508del heterozygotes and, in particular, 3849 + 10kbC → T/F508del patients showed more severe pneumopathy.
Structural and functional characterization of type three secretion system ATPase PscN and its regulator PscL from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Halder Pranab Kumar , Roy Chittran , Datta Saumen 
Published: December 2018

AbstractType Three Secretion Systems (T3SS) from many gram‐negative bacteria utilize ATPases for the translocation of effector proteins into the eukaryotic host cells through injectisome. Cytosolic regulators effectively control the action of these ATPases. PscN from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was an ATPase which was regulated by an uncharacterized PscL. Here we have bioinformatically, biochemically, and biophysically characterized PscN as a T3SS ATPase and PscL as its regulator. In solution, PscN exists predominantly as oligomer and hydrolyzes ATP with Vmax of 3.9 ± 0.2 μmol/min/mg and K
m 0.93 ± 0.06 mM. Hexameric structure of PscN was observed under AFM and TEM in the presence of ATP. PscL was dimeric in solution and interacted with PscN strongly in Ni‐NTA pull‐down assay and SPR analysis. PscL was shown to downregulate PscN ATPase activity up to 80% when mixed with PscN in 1:2 ratio (PscN:PscL). SEC data reconfirm the PscN–PscL interaction stoichiometry (ie, 1:2 ratio) which can also be visualized under AFM. In the present study, we have also found out the existence of an oligomeric form of the PscN–PscL heterotrimeric complex. PscL being the regulator of PscN and interacts to form this conformation, which may play an important role too in the regulation of T3SS utilized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For structural aspect, three dimensional in silico models of PscN, PscL, and PscN–PscL were generated. So, in short, present study tried to enlighten both the structural, functional and mechanistic insights into the action of PscN–PscL complex in T3SS mediated pathogenic pathway.
Sulfur isotope analysis of microcrystalline iron sulfides using secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging: Extracting local paleo‐environmental information from modern and ancient sediments
Authors: Bryant Roger N. , Jones Clive , Raven Morgan R. , Gomes Maya L. , Berelson William M. , Bradley Alexander S. , Fike David A. 
Published: December 2018

RationaleSulfur isotope ratio measurements of bulk sulfide from marine sediments have often been used to reconstruct environmental conditions associated with their formation. In situ microscale spot analyses by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and laser ablation multiple‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS) have been utilized for the same purpose. However, these techniques are often not suitable for studying small (≤10 μm) grains or for detecting intra‐grain variability.MethodsHere, we present a method for the physical extraction (using lithium polytungstate heavy liquid) and subsequent sulfur isotope analysis (using SIMS; CAMECA IMS 7f‐GEO) of microcrystalline iron sulfides. SIMS sulfur isotope ratio measurements were made via Cs+ bombardment of raster squares with sides of 20–130 μm, using an electron multiplier (EM) detector to collect counts of 32S− and 34S− for each pixel (128 × 128 pixel grids) for between 20 and 960 cycles.ResultsThe extraction procedure did not discernibly alter pyrite grain‐size distributions. The apparent inter‐grain variability in 34S/32S in 1–4 μm‐sized pyrite and marcasite fragments from isotopically homogeneous hydrothermal crystals was ~ ±2‰ (1σ), comparable with the standard error of the mean for individual measurements (≤ ±2‰, 1σ). In contrast, grain‐specific 34S/32S ratios in modern and ancient sedimentary pyrites and marcasites can have inter‐ and intra‐grain variability >60‰. The distributions of intra‐sample isotopic variability are consistent with bulk 34S/32S values.ConclusionsSIMS analyses of isolated iron sulfide grains yielded distributions that are isotopically representative of bulk 34S/32S values. Populations of iron sulfide grains from sedimentary samples record the evolution of the S‐isotopic composition of pore water sulfide in their S‐isotopic compositions. These data allow past local environmental conditions to be inferred.
Low‐cost solution in international robotic challenge: Lessons learned by Tuscany Robotics Team at ERL Emergency Robots 2017
Authors: Limosani Raffaele , Manzi Alessandro , Faggiani Alessandro , Bianchi Matteo , Pagliai Marco , Ridolfi Alessandro , Allotta Benedetto , Dario Paolo , Cavallo Filippo 
Published: December 2018

AbstractEuropean Robotics League (ERL) Emergency Robots is an outdoor robotics contest focusing on multidomain emergency response scenarios. In this context, the deployed robots are expected to fulfill land, underwater, and flying cooperative tasks which emulate real‐world situations inspired by the 2011 Fukushima accident.Participation of the Tuscany Robotics Team at ERL Emergency Robots 2017 was deeply affected by damage to (and resulting unavailability of) the unmanned ground vehicle to be used in the competition. This damage occurred 3 days before the challenge. An entirely new working mobile platform was built from scratch using a low‐cost chassis. It was able to compete with the other participants in the challenge and achieved various tasks ( of the tasks completed by the best performer).The paper provides a complete description of the work carried out and the system used during the competition. The development was based on low‐cost solutions, in particular:

Adoption of open‐hardware and
open‐software technology, providing cheap and fast‐prototyping solutions.
Use of smartphones, allowing sophisticated sensors to be exploited in an affordable way.
Employment of Cloud infrastructures, to reduce the computational burden of offloading heavy processes.Results of this experience represent a concrete demonstration, showing that even low‐cost solutions can achieve complex tasks, such as those required for the European robotic competition. The presented lessons learned aim to provide guidelines useful for reacting to unexpected events. Finally, the team was honored with the Creativity Award “for building a land robot from scratch in less than 2 days when their ground platform broke.”