bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. subsp. piperitum) florets, a traditional culinary spice in Italy: evaluation of phenolics and volatiles in local populations, and comparison with the composition of other plant parts
Authors: Ferioli Federico , Giambanelli Elisa , D'Antuono L Filippo 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDWild fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. subsp. piperitum) florets are used as a typical spice in central and southern Italy. Although fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), belonging to the Apiaceae (syn. Umbelliferae) family, is a well‐known vegetable and aromatic plant, whose main phytochemical compounds have been extensively analysed and investigated as flavouring agents and for their putative health promoting functions, its florets have not been specifically considered up to now. Therefore, the volatile and phenolic composition of florets from an Italian wild fennel crop was determined at different developmental stages, and compared to that of leaves and fruits. Moreover, florets of nine Italian wild fennel populations of different geographical origin from northern–central Italy were also analysed.RESULTSThe total phenolic amount increased from leaves to florets, reaching its highest value in early florets, at 58 012 mg kg−1 of dry matter (DM), then constantly decreased in fruits. In florets of wild populations, phenolics ranged from 6666 to 43 368 mg kg−1 DM. The total amount of volatile compounds was more than twice higher in florets (21 449 mg kg−1 DM) than in leaves (10 470 mg kg−1 DM), reaching its highest value in fruits (50 533 mg kg−1 DM). Estragole and trans‐anethole were the main compounds of the volatile fraction. Total volatiles ranged from 24 367 to 60 468 mg kg−1 DM in florets of local populations.CONCLUSIONSignificant changes in the total amount and profile of both phenolic and volatile compounds occurred during plant development. The consistent increase of estragole at later developmental stages supported the claim of different sensory properties of florets and fruits. Geographical origin significantly affected phenolic and volatile composition of wild fennel florets. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Exacerbation of liver steatosis following exposure to famine and overnutrition
Authors: Ning Zhiyuan , Zhang Kun , Zhao Li , Lu You , Sun Honglin , Chen Chi , Nie Xiaomin , Lu Meng , Wang Ningjian , Lu Yingli 
Published: May 2017

ScopePeople suffering from famine in early life and overnutrition in adulthood may have an increased risk for liver steatosis. We aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of early nutrition restriction and overnutrition on de novo lipogenesis in the liver.Methods and resultsThree‐wk‐old male rats were food restricted for 4 wk and refed a high‐fat or normal fat diet individually in metabolic cages for 9 wk. Weight‐matched groups were also set up. Fatty acid synthetase expression was measured to estimate de novo lipogenesis in the liver. Parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism were measured with isotope assays. All four groups had comparable body weights. However, the famine high‐fat diet group had the highest degree of liver steatosis, the greatest body fat ratio, and insulin resistance. Lipid accumulation, fatty acid synthetase expression, and gluconeogenesis in the liver were significantly higher in the famine and high‐fat diet groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, these groups also had markedly lower muscle glucose uptake.ConclusionUnder famine and high‐fat refeeding stress, rats were extremely susceptible to developing hepatic steatosis. This is presumably a consequence of upregulation of de novo lipogenesis and enhanced glucose flux from muscle to de novo lipogenesis in the liver.
Developing Bayesian networks from a dependency‐layered ontology: A proof‐of‐concept in radiation oncology
Authors: Kalet Alan M. , Doctor Jason N. , Gennari John H. , Phillips Mark H. 
Published: May 2017

PurposeBayesian networks (BNs) are graphical representations of probabilistic knowledge that offer normative reasoning under uncertainty and are well suited for use in medical domains. Traditional knowledge‐based network development of BN topology requires that modeling experts establish relevant dependency links between domain concepts by searching and translating published literature, querying domain experts, or applying machine learning algorithms on data. For initial development these methods are time‐intensive and this cost hinders the growth of BN applications in medical decision making. Further, this approach fails to utilize knowledge representation in medical fields to automate network development. Our research alleviates the challenges surrounding BN modeling in radiation oncology by leveraging an ontology based hub and spoke system for BN construction.MethodsWe implement a hub and spoke system by developing (a) an ontology of knowledge in radiation oncology (the hub) which includes dependency semantics similar to BN relations and (b) a software tool that operates on ontological semantics using deductive reasoning to create BN topologies (the spokes). We demonstrate that network topologies built using the software are terminologically consistent and form networks that are topologically compatible with existing ones. We do this first by merging two different BN models for prostate cancer radiotherapy prediction which contain domain cross terms. We then use the logic to perform discovery of new causal chains between radiation oncology concepts.ResultsFrom the radiation oncology (RO) ontology we successfully reconstructed a previously published prostate cancer radiotherapy Bayes net using up‐to‐date domain knowledge. Merging this model with another similar prostate cancer model in the RO domain produced a larger, highly interconnected model representing the expanded scope of knowledge available regarding prostate cancer therapy parameters, complications, and outcomes. The causal discovery resulted in an automatically‐built causal network model of all ontologized radiotherapy concepts between a ‘Mucositis’ complication and anatomic tumor location.ConclusionsThe proposed model building approach lowers barriers to developing probabilistic models relevant to real‐world clinical decision making, and offers a solution to the consistency and compatibility problems. Further, the knowledge representation in this work demonstrates potential for broader radiation oncology applications outside of Bayes nets.
Accuracy evaluation of a six‐degree‐of‐freedom couch using cone beam CT and IsoCal phantom with an in‐house algorithm
Authors: Zhang Qinghui , Driewer Joseph , Wang Shuo , Li Sicong , Zhu Xiaofeng , Zheng Dandan , Cao Yijian , Zhang Jiaju , Jamshidi Abolghassem , Cox Brett W. , Knisely Jonathan P.S. , Potters Louis , Klein Eric E. 
Published: May 2017

PurposeThe accuracy of a six degree of freedom (6DoF) couch was evaluated using a novel method.MethodsCone beam CT (CBCT) images of a 3D phantom (IsoCal) were acquired with different, known combinations of couch pitch and roll angles. Pitch and roll angles between the maximum allowable values of 357 and 3 degrees were tested in one degree increments. A total of 49 combinations were tested at 0 degrees of yaw (couch rotation angle). The 3D positions of 16 tungsten carbide ball bearings (BBs), each 4 mm in diameter and arranged in a known geometry within the IsoCal phantom, were determined in the 49 image sets with in‐house software. The BB positions at different rotation angles were determined using a rotation matrix from the original BB positions at zero pitch and roll angles. A linear least squares fit method estimated the rotation angles and differences between detected and nominal rotation angles were calculated. This study was conducted for the case with and without extra weight on the couch. Couch walk shifts for the system were investigated using eight combinations of rotation, roll and pitch.ResultsA total of 49 CBCT images with voxel sizes 0.5 × 0.5 × 1.0 mm3 were taken for the case without extra weight on the couch. The 16 BBs were determined to evaluate the isocenter translation and rotation differences between the calculated and nominal couch values. Among all 49 calculations, the maximum rotation angle differences were 0.10 degrees for pitch, 0.15 degrees for roll and 0.09 degrees for yaw. The corresponding mean and standard deviation values were 0.028 ± 0.032, −0.043 ± 0.058, and −0.009 ± 0.033 degrees. The maximum translation differences were 0.3 mm in the left–right direction, 0.5 mm in the anterior–posterior direction and 0.4 mm in the superior–inferior direction. The mean values and corresponding standard deviations were 0.07 ± 0.12, −0.05 ± 0.25, and −0.12±0.14 mm for the planes described above. With an 80 kg phantom on the couch, the maximum translation shift was 0.69 mm. The couch walk translation shifts were less than 0.1 mm and rotation shifts were less than 0.1 degree.ConclusionsErrors of a new 6DoF couch were tested using CBCT images of a 3D phantom. The rotation errors were less than 0.3 degree and the translation errors were less than or equal to 0.8 mm in each direction. This level of accuracy is warranted for clinical radiotherapy utilization including stereotactic radiosurgery.
Using Eulerian video magnification to enhance detection of fasciculations in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Van Hillegondsberg Ludo , Carr Jonathan , Brey Naeem , Henning Franclo 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionThis study seeks to determine whether the use of Eulerian video magnification (EVM) increases the detection of muscle fasciculations in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS) compared with direct clinical observation (DCO).MethodsThirty‐second‐long video recordings were taken of 9 body regions of 7 PALS and 7 controls, and fasciculations were counted by DCO during the same 30‐s period. The video recordings were then motion magnified and reviewed by 2 independent assessors.ResultsIn PALS, median fasciculation count per body region was 1 by DCO (range 0–10) and 3 in the EVM recordings (range 0–15; P < 0.0001). EVM revealed more fasciculations than DCO in 61% of recordings. In controls, median fasciculation count was 0 for both DCO and EVM.DiscussionCompared with DCO, EVM significantly increased the detection of fasciculations in body regions of PALS. When it is used to supplement clinical examination, EVM has the potential to facilitate the diagnosis of ALS. Muscle Nerve 56: 1063–1067, 2017
Strength anisotropy of granular material consisting of perfectly round particles
Authors: Wang Rui , Fu Pengcheng , Tong Zhaoxia , Zhang Jian‐Min , Dafalias Yannis F. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe strength anisotropy of granular materials deposited under gravity has mostly been attributed to elongated particles' tendency to align long axes along the bedding plane direction. However, recent experiments on near‐spherical glass beads, for which preferred particle alignment is inapplicable, have exhibited surprisingly strong strength anisotropy. This study tests the hypothesis that certain amount of fabric anisotropy caused by the anisotropic stress during deposition under gravity can be locked in a circular‐particle deposit. Such locked‐in fabric anisotropy can withstand isotropic consolidation and leads to significant strength anisotropy. 2D discrete element method simulations of direct shear tests on circular‐particle deposits are conducted in this study, allowing for the monitoring of both stress and fabric. Simulations on both monodispersed and polydispersed circular‐particle samples generated under downward gravitational acceleration exhibit clear anisotropy in shear strength, thereby proving the hypothesis. When using contact normal‐based and void‐based fabric tensors to quantify fabric anisotropy in the material, we find that the intensity of anisotropy is discernible but low prior to shearing and is dependent on the consolidation process and the dispersity of the sample. The fact that samples with very low anisotropy intensity measurements still exhibit fairly strong strength anisotropy suggests that current typical contact normal‐based and void‐based second‐order fabric tensor formulations may not be very effective in reflecting the anisotropic peak shear strength of granular materials. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Children with low‐risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia are at highest risk of second cancers
Authors: Nielsen Stine N. , Eriksson Frank , Rosthoej Susanne , Andersen Mette K. , Forestier Erik , Hasle Henrik , Hjalgrim Lisa L. , Aasberg Ann , Abrahamsson Jonas , Heyman Mats , Jónsson Ólafur G. , Pruunsild Kaie , Vaitkeviciené Goda E. , Vettenranta Kim , Schmiegelow Kjeld 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe improved survival rates for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may be jeopardized by the development of a second cancer, which has been associated with thiopurine therapy.ProcedureWe retrospectively analyzed three sequential Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology's protocols characterized by increasing intensity of thiopurine‐based maintenance therapy. We explored the risk of second cancer in relation to protocols, risk group, thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity, ALL high hyperdiploidy (HeH), and t(12;21)[ETV6/RUNX1].ResultsAfter median 9.5 years (interquartile range, 5.4–15.3 yrs) of follow‐up, 40 of 3,591 patients had developed a second cancer, of whom 38 had non‐high‐risk B‐cell precursor ALL. Patients with standard‐risk ALL, who received the longest maintenance therapy, had the highest adjusted hazard of second cancer (hazard ratio [HR], intermediate vs. standard risk: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.06−0.43, P < 0.001; HR, high vs. standard risk: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02−0.49, P = 0.006); no significant effects of protocol, age, or white blood cell count at diagnosis, ALL HeH, or t(12;21)[ETV6/RUNX1] were observed. A subset analysis on the patients with standard‐risk ALL did not show an increased hazard of second cancer from either HeH or t(12;21) (adjusted HR 2.02, 95% CI: 0.69−5.96, P = 0.20). The effect of low TPMT low activity was explored in patients reaching maintenance therapy in clinical remission (n = 3,368); no association with second cancer was observed (adjusted HR 1.43, 95% CI: 0.54−3.76, P = 0.47).ConclusionsThe rate of second cancer was generally highest in patients with low‐risk ALL, but we could not identify a subset at higher risk than others.
Nausea and vomiting in children and adolescents receiving intrathecal methotrexate: A prospective, observational study
Authors: Flank Jacqueline , Nadeem Komail , Moledina Sheliza , Khanna Mila , Schindera Christina , Punnett Angela , Dupuis L. Lee 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of nausea and vomiting after receipt of intrathecal methotrexate (IT‐MTX) in pediatric oncology patients is unknown.MethodsPatients (4–18 years) about to receive IT‐MTX were eligible to participate in this prospective, observational study. Patients received antiemetics as prescribed by their clinical team. Nausea severity (patient‐assessed), timing of emetic episodes, and administration of antiemetics were recorded beginning immediately prior to IT‐MTX administration, for the next 24 hr (acute phase), and for a maximum of 7 additional days (delayed phase). Complete chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) control was defined as no emetic episodes and no nausea.ResultsOne hundred patients consented to participate in this study; 70 provided evaluable data (mean age: 8.3 years; range: 4.1–17.6). Most (94%) received propofol‐containing anesthesia for IT‐MTX administration. Most (89%) received a 5‐HT3 antagonist prior to IT‐MTX. During the acute phase, 36 children (51%) experienced complete CINV control, 67 (96%) complete vomiting control, and 36 (51%) complete nausea control. Severe acute phase nausea was reported by 12 children (17%). During the delayed phase, 35 patients (50%) experienced complete CINV control, 60 (86%) complete vomiting control, and 36 (51%) complete nausea control. Severe nausea was reported in the delayed phase by 27 (39%) patients.ConclusionsMost pediatric patients who received IT‐MTX and prophylaxis with ondansetron or granisetron experienced complete acute and delayed vomiting control. However, nausea control was poor and severe nausea was reported by many children. Effective interventions to control nausea are needed.
The impact of regulatory action on the co‐prescribing of renin–angiotensin system blockers in UK primary care
Authors: Allen Craig , Donegan Katherine 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this study was to assess the impact of regulatory action taken in June 2014 on the co‐prescribing of renin–angiotensin system (RAS) blockers in UK primary care.MethodsRAS blocker prescriptions, issued between 01/01/2009–30/06/2015, were extracted from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink to estimate the quarterly prevalence (number of patients with at least one co‐prescription) and incidence (number of patients first receiving a RAS blocker co‐prescription) of co‐prescribing. Two different RAS blockers prescribed on the same day constituted a co‐prescription.ResultsA total of 880 364 patients were prescribed a single RAS blocker during the study period. Prevalence of co‐prescribing increased from 4812 patients per million person‐years in Q1 2009 to 4865 in Q1 2010. A reduction then occurred decreasing to 2901 patients per million person‐years in Q2 2014 when the EU review concluded and continued to decrease thereafter despite a continued increase in the prevalence of prescribing of a single RAS blocker. Incidence of new co‐prescribing decreased from 454 patients per million person‐years in Q1 2009 to 159 in Q2 2014, but remained relatively constant at ~119 patients per million person‐years on average after the EU review concluded. A total of 96% of co‐prescriptions were for an ACE inhibitor + ARB, and 4% accounted for an ACE inhibitor or ARB + renin inhibitor.ConclusionsRecently, there has been a decrease in the prevalence and incidence of RAS blocker co‐prescribing. Reassuringly, overall co‐prescribing reduced in line with recommendations, although there was a decreasing trend prior to this likely due in part to prior publication of the data used in the EU review. © 2017 Crown copyright. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Early Prediction Tool to Identify the Need for Pharmacotherapy in Infants at Risk of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Authors: Isemann Barbara T. , Stoeckle Elaina C. , Taleghani Afshin A. , Mueller Eric W. 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveTo develop a tool to predict the need for pharmacologic treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) within 36 hours from birth in infants at risk for opioid withdrawal.Study DesignRetrospective study of infants born at gestation of ≥34 weeks with in utero exposure to opioids during two time periods from January 2013 through October 2016. Period 1 was used to develop a predictive tool for validation during period 2. Birth weight, gestational age, four categories of opioid exposure, and individual scores for 21 withdrawal symptoms from the Modified Finnegan Score at 36 hours of life were recorded. During period 1, a best subsets multiple regression analysis was performed on factors that were associated with pharmacotherapy on univariate analysis. Two tools were designed: one based on three highly predictive symptoms associated with need for pharmacotherapy for NAS and the other incorporating opioid exposure. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the tools were calculated during period 2.ResultsThe study included 264 infants (period 1, n=143; period 2, n=121). Polysubstance exposure and three withdrawal symptoms present at 36 hours of life that were significantly associated with pharmacotherapy for NAS comprised the tools. The “symptoms only tool” was able to predict that infants with a score <1 would not receive pharmacotherapy, and infants with scores of ≥4 would receive pharmacotherapy with positive predictive values of 90% and 100%, respectively. When opioid exposure was included, the “symptoms + exposure tool” was able to predict that infants with a score of ≤1 would not receive pharmacotherapy and infants with scores of ≥5 would receive pharmacotherapy with positive predictive values of 94% and 86%, respectively.ConclusionAn NAS prediction tool combining three clinical signs with and without category of opioid exposure had high positive predictive values for requiring and for not requiring pharmacotherapy. This tool may expedite pharmacotherapy decisions and optimize management for infants at risk for NAS.
The common parasite Toxoplasma gondii induces prostatic inflammation and microglandular hyperplasia in a mouse model
Authors: Colinot Darrelle L. , Garbuz Tamila , Bosland Maarten C. , Wang Liang , Rice Susan E. , Sullivan William J. , Arrizabalaga Gustavo , Jerde Travis J. 
Published: May 2017

BackgroundInflammation is the most prevalent and widespread histological finding in the human prostate, and associates with the development and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Several factors have been hypothesized to cause inflammation, yet the role each may play in the etiology of prostatic inflammation remains unclear. This study examined the possibility that the common protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii induces prostatic inflammation and reactive hyperplasia in a mouse model.MethodsMale mice were infected systemically with T. gondii parasites and prostatic inflammation was scored based on severity and focality of infiltrating leukocytes and epithelial hyperplasia. We characterized inflammatory cells with flow cytometry and the resulting epithelial proliferation with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation.ResultsWe found that T. gondii infects the mouse prostate within the first 14 days of infection and can establish parasite cysts that persist for at least 60 days. T. gondii infection induces a substantial and chronic inflammatory reaction in the mouse prostate characterized by monocytic and lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate. T. gondii‐induced inflammation results in reactive hyperplasia, involving basal and luminal epithelial proliferation, and the exhibition of proliferative inflammatory microglandular hyperplasia in inflamed mouse prostates.ConclusionsThis study identifies the common parasite T. gondii as a new trigger of prostatic inflammation, which we used to develop a novel mouse model of prostatic inflammation. This is the first report that T. gondii chronically encysts and induces chronic inflammation within the prostate of any species. Furthermore, T. gondii‐induced prostatic inflammation persists and progresses without genetic manipulation in mice, offering a powerful new mouse model for the study of chronic prostatic inflammation and microglandular hyperplasia.
Finite‐time stabilization of stochastic nonlinear systems with SiISS inverse dynamics
Authors: Min Huifang , Xu Shengyuan , Ma Qian , Qi Zhidong , Zhang Zhengqiang 
Published: May 2017

SummaryThis paper investigates the finite‐time control problem for a class of stochastic nonlinear systems with stochastic integral input‐to‐state stablility (SiISS) inverse dynamics. Motivated by finite‐time stochastic input‐to‐state stability and the concept of SiISS using Lyapunov functions, a novel finite‐time SiISS using Lyapunov functions is introduced firstly. Then, by adopting this novel finite‐time SiISS small‐gain arguments, using the backstepping technique and stochastic finite‐time stability theory, a systematic design and analysis algorithm is proposed. Given the control laws that guarantee global stability in probability or asymptotic stability in probability, our design algorithm presents a state‐feedback controller that can ensure the solution of the closed‐loop system to be finite‐time stable in probability. Finally, a simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.