bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Agreement between an in‐house replication competent and a reference replication defective recombinant virus assay for measuring phenotypic resistance to HIV‐1 protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase inhibitors
Authors: Saladini Francesco , Giannini Alessia , Boccuto Adele , Vicenti Ilaria , Zazzi Maurizio 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundAlthough clinical management of drug resistance is routinely based on genotypic methods, phenotypic assays remain necessary for the characterization of novel HIV‐1 inhibitors, particularly against common drug‐resistant variants. We describe the development and assessment of the performance of a recombinant virus assay for measuring HIV‐1 susceptibility to protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT), and integrase (IN) inhibitors.MethodsThe system is based on the creation of replication‐competent chimeric viruses through homologous recombination between patient or laboratory virus‐derived PCR fragments and the corresponding NL4‐3 vector where the whole Gag‐PR, RT‐RNaseH or IN coding regions has been deleted through inverse PCR. The susceptibility to nucleoside (NRTIs) and non‐nucleoside (NNRTIs) RT inhibitors and to IN inhibitors (INIs) is calculated through a single‐round infection assay in TZM‐bl cells, while protease inhibitor (PI) activity is determined through a first round of infection in MT‐2 cells followed by infection of TZM‐bl cells with MT‐2 supernatants.ResultsThe assay showed excellent reproducibility and accuracy when testing PI, NRTI, NNRTI, and INI susceptibility of drug‐resistant clones previously characterized through the reference pseudoparticle‐based Phenosense assay. The coefficient of interassay variation in fold change (FC) resistance was 12.0%‐24.3% when assaying seven drug/clones pairs in three runs. FC values calculated by the Phenosense and in‐house for 20 drug/clones pairs were in good agreement, with mean±SD ratio of 1.14±0.33 and no cases differing by more than twofold.ConclusionsThe described phenotypic assay can be adopted to evaluate the antiviral activity of licensed and investigational HIV‐1 drugs targeting any of the three HIV‐1 enzymes.
Benchmarking transverse spin relaxation based oxygenation measurements in the brain during hypercapnia and hypoxia
Authors: Ni Wendy W. , Christen Thomas , Zaharchuk Greg 
Published: March 2017

PurposeTo simultaneously assess reproducibility of three MRI transverse relaxation parameters (
,
, and R2) for brain tissue oxygenation mapping and to assess changes in these parameters with inhalation of gases that increase and decrease oxygenation, to identify the most sensitive parameter for imaging brain oxygenation.Materials and MethodsForty‐eight healthy subjects (25 male, ages 35 ± 8 years) were scanned at 3.0 Tesla, each with one of four gases (mildly and strongly hypercapnic and hypoxic) administered in a challenge paradigm, using a gas delivery setup designed for patient use. Cerebral blood flow mapping with arterial spin labeling, and simultaneous
,
, and R2 mapping with gradient‐echo sampling of free induction decay and echo (GESFIDE) were performed. Reproducibility in air and gas‐induced changes were evaluated using nonparametric analysis with correction for multiple comparisons.ResultsOur gas delivery setup achieved stable gas challenges as shown by physiological monitoring. Test–retest variability of
,
, and R2 were found to be 0.24 s−1 (8.6% of mean), 0.24 s−1 (1.3% of mean), and 0.15 s−1 (1.0% of mean), respectively. Strong hypoxia produced the most conclusive oxygenation‐driven relaxation change, inducing increases in
(25 ± 13%, P = 0.03),
(5 ± 2%, P = 0.02), and R2 (2 ± 2%, NS).ConclusionWe benchmarked the intra‐scan test–retest variability in GESFIDE‐based transverse relaxation rate mapping. Using a reliable framework for gas challenge paradigms, we recommend strong hypoxia for validating oxygenation mapping methods, and the use of tissue
change, instead of
or R2, as a metric for studying brain tissue oxygenation using transverse relaxation methods.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:704–714
Variability in the Botswana High and its relationships with rainfall and temperature characteristics over southern Africa
Authors: Driver P. , Reason C. J. C. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTThe seasonal and interannual variability of the mid‐tropospheric Botswana High and its relationships with various characteristics of rainfall and temperature over southern Africa are examined. This High typically forms in August and then strengthens and moves southward over southern Africa during the spring and summer. It also expands in zonal extent so that by March it is part of an anticyclonic ridge extending from the South Atlantic Convergence Zone eastwards over this ocean, across southern Africa and to the western Indian Ocean, with its greatest intensity in February. Its position is always to the south and southeast of the region of heavy precipitation across tropical southern Africa associated with the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and its meridional arm that passes through the eastern Congo Basin. Substantial interannual variability exists in the strength of the Botswana High. While the High is typically stronger (weaker) during El Niño (La Niña) events, there are also a number of neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) summers with large anomalies in the Botswana High. Neutral summers with an anomalously weak Botswana High are also characterized by a cyclonic anomaly extending from Angola south to the Antarctic and an anticyclonic anomaly over the South West Indian Ocean. These circulation patterns favour the development of tropical extratropical cloud bands, the main synoptic summer rainfall producing system, and the inflow of more moisture from the Indian Ocean towards the source of the cloud bands and hence increased rainfall. Roughly, the reverse circulation anomalies occur during neutral summers with anomalously large values of the Botswana High. Relationships are also found between the Botswana High and dry spell frequency, maximum temperature, diurnal temperature range and the number of days with extreme temperatures during the summer.
Single intra‐articular injection of fluvastatin‐PLGA microspheres reduces cartilage degradation in rabbits with experimental osteoarthritis
Authors: Goto Norio , Okazaki Ken , Akasaki Yukio , Ishihara Kohei , Murakami Koji , Koyano Kiyoshi , Ayukawa Yasunori , Yasunami Noriyuki , Masuzaki Tomohiro , Nakashima Yasuharu 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTStatins are cholesterol‐lowering drugs that inhibit 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase, a rate‐limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway. The anti‐inflammatory effect of statins has been reported in recent years. The present study investigated therapeutic effects of the local administration of statin in osteoarthritis (OA). We assessed clinically used statins and selected fluvastatin for further experimentation, as it showed potent anabolic and anti‐catabolic effects on human OA chondrocytes. To achieve controlled intra‐articular administration of statin, we developed an intra‐articular injectable statin using poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) as a drug delivery system (DDS). The release profile of the statin was evaluated in vitro. Finally, therapeutic effects of fluvastatin‐loaded PLGA microspheres (FLU‐PLGA) were tested in a rabbit OA model. Rabbit knees were divided into four subgroups: group 1‐A, PLGA‐treated group; group 1‐B, PLGA contralateral saline control group; group 2‐A, FLU‐PLGA‐treated group; and group 2‐B, FLU‐PLGA contralateral saline control group. Histological analysis 5 weeks after intra‐articular injection revealed that OARSI scores were lower in group 2‐A. No significant differences in OARSI scores were observed between groups 1‐A, 1‐B, and 2‐B. This study indicates that a single intra‐articular injection of fluvastatin‐loaded PLGA microspheres could be a novel therapeutic approach for treating patients with OA. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2465–2475, 2017.
Influence of modified atmosphere packaging on protein oxidation, calpain activation and desmin degradation of beef muscles
Authors: Fu Qing‐quan , Ge Qing‐feng , Liu Rui , Wang Hai‐ou , Zhou Guang‐hong , Zhang Wan‐gang 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDProtein oxidation is widespread in biochemical systems. The objective of the study was to investigate the differences in protein oxidation, μ‐calpain activity, desmin proteolysis and protein solubility of beef psoas major (PM) and semi‐membranosus (SM) muscles under three packaging systems during postmortem ageing. At 24 h postmortem, beef muscles were packaged respectively in air‐permeable film overwrap (AP), vacuum pack (VP) or modified atmosphere (MAP, 80% O2 + 20% CO2), and then displayed for 10 days at 4 °C.RESULTSCarbonyl group values and thiol group content were significantly influenced by packaging type and storage time. The SM muscles from AP and MAP showed greater μ‐calpain activity compared to VP. Desmin of PM and SM from AP and MAP samples showed decreased proteolysis compared with VP.CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that the inhibition of μ‐calpain activity of beef samples from AP and MAP could be closely associated with protein oxidation which further lowered the level of desmin degradation compared to VP. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Ultra‐performance convergence chromatography for the quantitative determination of bioactive compounds in Aralia continentalis Kitagawa as quality control markers
Authors: Kim Hyo Seon , Moon Byeong Cheol , Choi Goya , Kim Wook Jin , Lee A Yeong 
Published: March 2017

A rapid ultra‐performance convergence chromatography method was developed for the quantitative determination of bioactive compounds in Aralia continentalis as quality control markers. Quantitative analysis indicated the presence of two major bioactive compounds: diterpenoid acids continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid. Using a Torus 1‐aminoanthracene column, continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid were separated in less than 8 min. The method was validated with respect to precision, accuracy, and linearity according to the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The optimized method exhibited a good linear correlation (r2 > 0.996), excellent precision (RSD < 1.0%), and acceptable recoveries (99.97–100.26%). Limits of detection for continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid were 0.068 and 0.097 μg/mL, respectively, while their corresponding limits of quantitation were 0.207 and 0.295 μg/mL. The system performance of ultra‐performance convergence chromatography was compared with that of conventional high‐performance liquid chromatography with respect to analysis time and efficiency. The proposed method was found to be reliable and convenient for the quantitative analysis of continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid in A. continentalis from South Korea and A. pubescens from China. This study is expected to serve as a guideline for the quality control of Aralia continentalis.
Knowledge Convergence through “MaThinking”
Authors: Kodama Mitsuru 
Published: March 2017

This paper suggests that Ma enable the coexistence of dissimilars and that the formation of Ma is an important factor in bringing about the knowledge convergence process to integrate dissimilar knowledge in organizations and companies. The paper presents four concepts of Ma: the first is the temporal Ma of experience (Ma of time); the second is spatial Ma, which raises the quality of dialogue (Ma of space); the third is the psychological Ma that ties together knowledge from different areas of specialization (mental Ma); and the fourth is situational Ma that ties together different contexts (Ma of context).The commonality in these four concepts of Ma is the existence of relationships that ties together different contexts and knowledge (in other words boundaries) in dynamically changing space‐time. However, rather than referring to relationships that have specific meaning, Ma describe holistic relationships that allow a diversity of meanings in dynamically changing flows. The paper argues that Ma, as dynamically changing holistic relationships, have their roots in the Eastern philosophies of Japanese Shintoism and Buddhism and discusses relationship among Ma, Ba, and strategic communities. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Smoking: An independent risk factor for lost productivity in chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Campbell Adam P. , Hoehle Lloyd P. , Phillips Katie M. , Caradonna David S. , Gray Stacey T. , Sedaghat Ahmad R. 
Published: March 2017

Objectives/HypothesisChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with a significant loss of patient productivity that costs billions of dollars every year. Smoking is associated with worsening sinonasal symptoms, but its effect on lost productivity in CRS patients has yet to be described. Therefore, we sought to determine the association between smoking and productivity in patients with CRS.Study DesignProspective cross‐sectional cohort study of 140 patients with CRS.MethodsSinonasal symptom severity was measured using the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcomes Test. Lost productivity was assessed by asking participants how many days of work and/or school they missed in the last 3 months due to CRS. Associations were sought between lost productivity and smoking.ResultsParticipants missed a mean of 3.0 days (standard deviation = 12.8 days) of work or school due to CRS. Having any history of smoking was associated with 6 days of lost productivity due to CRS (adjusted β = 6.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64 to 11.77, P = .031). Although the number of active smokers in our study cohort was very small (N = 6), we performed a univariate association between smoking status, considering former smokers and active smokers separately, and found that active smoking (β = 11.75, 95% CI: 2.11 to 21.40, P = .018) had a much larger impact on CRS‐related productivity loss than that experienced by former smokers (β = 4.45, 95% CI: −0.32 to 9.23, P = .070).ConclusionsSmoking (likely driven by active smoking) is independently associated with missed days of work or school in patients with CRS. Further study is needed to determine whether interventions directed at smoking may impact CRS‐related productivity loss.Level of Evidence2c Laryngoscope, 127:1742–1745, 2017
Steroid intracochlear distribution differs by administration method: Systemic versus intratympanic injection
Authors: Lee Jong Joo , Jang Jeong Hun , Choo Oak‐Sung , Lim Hye Jin , Choung Yun‐Hoon 
Published: March 2017

ObjectiveSteroids have been widely used to treat inner‐ear diseases such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's disease. They can be given via either systemic or intratympanic (IT) injection. The purpose of the present study was to explore differences in intracochlear steroid distribution by the administration method employed (systemic vs. IT injection).Study DesignAnimal study.MethodsTwenty‐three Sprague‐Dawley rats were given fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labeled dexamethasone (FITC‐DEX) three times (on successive days) via intraperitoneal (IP) or IT injection. Cochlear uptake of FITC‐DEX was evaluated via immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry at 6 hours, and 3 and 7 days after the final injection.ResultsFITC‐DEX uptake was evident in spiral ganglion cells (SGs), the organ of Corti (OC), and the lateral walls (LWs), the basal turns of which were stained relatively prominently in both groups. Animals receiving IP injections exhibited higher FITC‐DEX uptakes by the SGs and OC, whereas IT injection triggered higher‐level FITC‐DEX accumulation by the OC and LWs. Flow cytometry revealed that intracochlear FITC‐DEX uptake by IT‐injected animals was higher and more prolonged than in animals subjected to IP injections.ConclusionWe thus describe differences in cochlear steroid distributions after systemic and IT injections. This finding could help our understanding of the pharmacokinetics of steroids in the cochlea.Level of EvidenceNA. Laryngoscope, 128:189–194, 2018
Comparison of propeller perforator flap and venous supercharged propeller perforator flap in reconstruction of lower limb soft tissue defect: A prospective study
Authors: Chaput Benoit , Bertheuil Nicolas , Grolleau Jean‐Louis , Bekara Farid , Carloni Raphael , Laloze Jerome , Herlin Christian 
Published: March 2017

IntroductionIn lower limbs, reliability of propeller perforator flaps (PPF) remains uncertain. The main complication is venous congestion, which can lead to distal necrosis. We aim to highlight if venous supercharging of PPF could substantially limit complications in lower limb coverage.MethodsBetween 2011 and 2016, we developed a standardized procedure of venous supercharging in the lower limb reconstruction with PPF using saphenous veins anastomosis. Then, we prospectively compared a consecutive series of 30 PPF to cover lower limbs defect, with a consecutive series of 30 venous‐supercharged PPF (vsPPF). Etiologies of trauma, flap harvesting, complications, and outcomes were compared.ResultsThe etiologies of the defect were acute trauma in 67.6% of reconstruction with PPFs and 60% of reconstruction with vsPPFs (P = 0.826). The average size of the skin paddle was 48.1 ±18.2 cm2 for PPF and 58.9 ±19.5 cm2 for vsPPF, and the average arc of rotation was 126.7° ±33.1 for PPF and 121.3° ±31.9 for vsPPF. The average sizes and rotation arcs between the two flaps were not significantly different (P = 0.031, P = 0.527). The operative time was significantly increased for vsPPF when compared to PPF procedure (128.8 ±8.5 minutes vs. 81.3 ±10.1 minutes, P < 0.001). Venous congestion was significantly higher in PPF with 11 cases than in vsPPF with two cases (36.7% versus 6.7%, P = 0.010). Distal necrosis were significantly higher in PPF with nine cases than in vsPPF with 1 cases (30% versus 3.3%, P = 0.012). Following poor flap evolution, stitches removal was significantly more frequent in PPF with 11 cases than in vsPPF with one case (36.7% vs 3.3%, P = 0.002). Leeches application was significantly more frequent for PPF procedures with nine cases, than for vsPPF with one case (30% vs 3.3%, P = 0.012). The average length of hospital stay for PPF was significantly longer than for vsPPF (8.78 versus 7.11 days, P = 0.026).ConclusionThe vsPPF is a reliable alternative to PPF to cover small‐ and medium‐size defect in lower limbs, reducing venous congestion and overall complications.
Joint system relaxometry (JSR) and Crámer‐Rao lower bound optimization of sequence parameters: A framework for enhanced precision of DESPOT T1 and T2 estimation
Authors: Teixeira Rui Pedro A.G. , Malik Shaihan J. , Hajnal Joseph V. 
Published: March 2017

PurposeThis study aims to increase the precision of single‐compartment DESPOT relaxometry by two means: (i) a joint system relaxometry (JSR) approach that estimates parameters in a single step using all available data; and (ii) optimizing acquisition parameters by deploying a robust design tool based on the Crámer‐Rao lower bound (CRLB).MethodsFollowing the development of the analysis and design capabilities, phantom and four in vivo subject experiments were performed to compare directly the precision achieved with DESPOT and JSR estimation using published protocols and protocols designed using a proposed CRLB framework.ResultsExperimental data demonstrate JSR's ability to decrease relaxometry estimation variance. Phantom results show 72 to 77% improvement using the same data as conventional DESPOT. This is further improved to 81 to 87% using optimal parameters. Both experiments show systematic bias depending on the acquisition parameters used, which are shown to be highly reproducible and to vary with different magnetization transfer conditions.ConclusionsCompared with DESPOT, JSR produces reproducible relaxation maps with improved precision. Further improvement was achieved using CRLB as a protocol design tool. With this combined approach, it is possible to achieve submillimeter maps of
in an 11‐min examination, making the approach appealing for potential clinical use. Magn Reson Med 79:234–245, 2018. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
A constructive arbitrary‐degree Kronecker product decomposition of tensors
Authors: Batselier Kim , Wong Ngai 
Published: March 2017

SummaryWe generalize the matrix Kronecker product to tensors and propose the tensor Kronecker product singular value decomposition that decomposes a real k‐way tensor
into a linear combination of tensor Kronecker products with an arbitrary number of d factors. We show how to construct
, where each factor
is also a k‐way tensor, thus including matrices (k=2) as a special case. This problem is readily solved by reshaping and permuting
into a d‐way tensor, followed by a orthogonal polyadic decomposition. Moreover, we introduce the new notion of general symmetric tensors (encompassing symmetric, persymmetric, centrosymmetric, Toeplitz and Hankel tensors, etc.) and prove that when
is structured then its factors
will also inherit this structure.
A numerical convergence study regarding homogenization assumptions in phase field modeling
Authors: Kiefer B. , Furlan T. , Mosler J. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryFrom a mathematical point of view, phase field theory can be understood as a smooth approximation of an underlying sharp interface problem. However, the smooth phase field approximation is not uniquely defined. Different phase field approximations are known to converge to the same sharp interface problem in the limiting case—if the thickness of the diffuse interface converges to zero. In this respect and focusing on numerics, a question that naturally arises is as follows: What are the convergence rates of the different phase field models? The paper deals precisely with this question for a certain family of phase field models. The focus is on an Allen–Cahn‐type phase field model coupled to continuum mechanics. This model is rewritten into a unified variational phase field framework that covers different homogenization assumptions in the diffuse interfaces: Voigt/Taylor, Reuss/Sachs and more sound homogenization approaches falling into the range of rank‐one convexification. It is shown by means of numerical experiments that the underlying phase field model—that is, the homogenization assumption in the diffuse interface—indeed influences the convergence rate. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interpolation schemes for geometrically exact beams: A motion approach
Authors: Sonneville Valentin , Brüls Olivier , Bauchau Olivier A. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryThis paper focuses on the interpolation of the kinematic fields describing the configuration of geometrically exact beams, namely, the position and rotation fields. Two kinematic representations are investigated: the classical approach that treats the displacement and rotation fields separately and the motion approach that treats those two fields as a unit. The latter approach is found to be more consistent with the kinematic description of beams. Then, two finite element interpolation strategies are presented and contrasted. The first interpolates the displacement and rotation fields separately, whereas the second interpolates both fields as a unit, in a manner consistent with the motion approach. The performance of both strategies is evaluated in light of the fundamental requirements for the convergence of the finite element method: the ability to represent rigid‐body motions and constant strain states. It is shown that the traditional uncoupled interpolation scheme for the position field approximates that based on the motion approach and that the coupling induced by the interpolation of motion yields superior convergence rates for the representation of constant strain states. This property is known to lead to finite elements that are less prone to the locking phenomenon. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.