bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiac device implantations in obese patients: Success rates and complications
Authors: Attanasio Philipp , Lacour Philipp , Ernert Andrea , Pieske Burkert , Haverkamp Wilhelm , Blaschke Florian , Dalle Vedove Francesco , Huemer Martin 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundObesity is associated with increased complications and potentially worse outcomes for various cardiac interventions. This study analyzed the success rate and complication rates associated with implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in obese patients.HypothesisSuccess rates are lower and complication rates higher in obese patients.MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing CIED implantation between 2011 and 2015 in our hospital were included. Patients were categorized into obese and nonobese groups according to body mass index (BMI); cutoff was 30 kg/m2. Patient characteristics, complication rates, procedural duration, and fluoroscopy data were compared between the 2 groups.ResultsA total of 965 patients (mean age, 69.0 ± 12.9 years; 67% male) were included. Of these, 249 (25.8%) patients were classified obese and 716 (74.2%) nonobese. Mean BMI was 34.7 ± 4.7 kg/m2 vs 25.1 ± 3.0 kg/m2, respectively. There was no difference in procedural success rates between the 2 groups (97.2% vs 97.1%, respectively). Major complications were significantly lower in the obese group compared with the nonobese group (11 [4.4%] vs 62 [8.7%]; P < 0.05). Procedural duration and fluoroscopy duration were not different between the 2 groups, but the total dose‐area product was significantly higher in obese patients vs nonobese patients (4012 ± 5416 cGcm2
vs 2692 ± 5277 cGcm2
; P < 0.005).Conclusions
CIED implantation can be safely and effectively achieved in patients with BMI >30 kg/m2. However, total radiation dose was significantly higher in the obese group, emphasizing that efforts should be made to reduce radiation exposure in these patients.
Opportunistic salpingectomy: What about the role of the ovary in ovarian cancer?
Authors: Samimi Goli , Minasian Lori M. 
Published: March 2017

A report in this issue of Cancer reviews the concept of bilateral salpingectomy as a preventive approach for high‐grade serous carcinomas and describes the potential for risk reduction while limiting adverse effects of premature menopause that occur after salpingo‐oophorectomy. The findings indicate that salpingectomy for risk‐reduction in high‐risk women remains a source of debate and requires additional research, particularly with respect to the role of the ovary in ovarian cancer progression.See also pages 1714‐20.
GABAergic innervation of the ciliary ganglion in macaque monkeys – A light and electron microscopic study
Authors: Barnerssoi Miriam , May Paul J. , Horn Anja K. E. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe vertebrate ciliary ganglion (CG) is a relay station in the parasympathetic pathway activating the iris sphincter and ciliary muscle to mediate pupillary constriction and lens accommodation, respectively. While the postganglionic motoneurons in the CG are cholinergic, as are their inputs, there is evidence from avian studies that GABA may also be involved. Here, we used light and electron microscopic methods to examine the GABAergic innervation of the CG in Macaca fascicularis monkeys. Immunohistochemistry for the gamma aminobutyric acid synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) revealed that all CG neurons are contacted by ChAT‐positive terminals. A subpopulation of 17.5% of CG neurons was associated with terminal boutons expressing GAD‐immunoreactivity in addition. Double‐labeling for GAD and synaptophysin confirmed that these were synaptic terminals. Electron microscopic analysis in conjunction with GABA‐immunogold staining showed that (1) GAD‐positive terminals mainly target dendrites and spines in the perisomatic neuropil of CG neurons; (2) GABA is restricted to a specific terminal type, which displays intermediate features lying between classically excitatory and inhibitory endings; and (3) if a CG neuron is contacted by GABA‐positive terminals, virtually all perisomatic terminals supplying it show GABA immunoreactivity. The source of this GABAergic input and whether GABA contributes to a specific CG function remains to be investigated. Nevertheless, our data indicate that the innervation of the ciliary ganglion is more complex than previously thought, and that GABA may play a neuromodulatory role in the control of lens or pupil function. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1–1, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using principal component analysis technique in the instrumental shade sorting of textile fabrics
Authors: Hasanlou Elham , Izadan Hossein , Khalili Haleh 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn the present study, the CCC shade sorting method was employed with CMC(2:1) color difference formula on the colorimetric data (CIEL*a* b*) of 37 fabric color sets. The k‐means non‐hierarchical clustering technique was also combined with the CCC shade sorting method to increase its efficiency. The results of this combined method showed a slightly better performance, as compared with the CCC method. Also, a new proposed shade sorting method by the application of principal components analysis (PCA) technique was used to identify and remove the outliers in each of the color sets. The results of separating the outliers showed that although the diameter of group criterion was improved significantly, the number of groups, the number of singleton groups, and the number of groups with low samples were increased considerably. Finally, in a second new proposed shade sorting method, PCA was used as a data reduction tool on the colorimetric data of the 37 color sets. Then, the two first principal components in combination with a k‐means clustering technique were used for the clustering of the samples in each color set. The results of this second new proposed method were found to be similar to the CCC method considering number of group and fabric consumption criteria. The second new proposed method revealed a moderately worse result, with regard to the diameter of group criterion, than the CCC method.
A parallel k‐means clustering algorithm based on redundance elimination and extreme points optimization employing MapReduce
Authors: Tang Zhuo , Liu Kunkun , Xiao Jinbo , Yang Li , Xiao Zheng 
Published: March 2017

SummaryWhen facing massive statistical data, the k‐means algorithm is very difficult to satisfy the need of data processing as it lacks an effective parallel mechanism. This paper proposes an improved k‐means algorithm (IMR‐KCA) to conduct clustering analysis based on medical data employing MapReduce computing framework. Through analyzing the defects of vast redundancy in the traditional k‐means algorithms, a selection model is firstly proposed to simplify the computations with multiple clustering centers. Based on several proposed theorems, we prove the correctness of this selection model. Second, this paper provides a method to calculate the distances from extreme points to central points, and the original Euclidean distance is replaced with Manhattan distance. For this simplification, a group of theorems are proposed to prove the correctness. Next, we provide a group of implementation algorithms to complete the parallelism of the clustering computation employing the MapReduce framework. Finally, the experimental results illustrate that IMR‐KCA is more reliable and efficient than the direct parallelization of the traditional clustering algorithms based on MapReduce. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Supramolecular Isoguanosine Assemblies Form Hydrogels with Excellent Long‐Term Stability
Authors: Zhao Hang , Schäfer Andreas H. , Seela Frank 
Published: March 2017

AbstractInvited for this month's cover is the collaboration between Prof. Dr. Frank Seela at Osnabrück University and Center for Nanotechnology in Münster, Germany, Dr. Hang Zhao, former postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Seela's group and now Associate Professor at Sichuan University, P. R. China, and Dr. Andreas Schäfer at Nanoanalytics GmbH, Münster, Germany. The cover picture shows an isoguanosine hydrogel formed by nucleoside self‐assembly that consists of interconnected helical fibers. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/cplu.201600586.
Nematode distributions as spatial null models for macroinvertebrate species richness across environmental gradients: A case from mountain lakes
Authors: de Mendoza Guillermo , Traunspurger Walter , Palomo Alejandro , Catalan Jordi 
Published: March 2017

AbstractNematode species are widely tolerant of environmental conditions and disperse passively. Therefore, the species richness distribution in this group might largely depend on the topological distribution of the habitats and main aerial and aquatic dispersal pathways connecting them. If so, the nematode species richness distributions may serve as null models for evaluating that of other groups more affected by environmental gradients. We investigated this hypothesis in lakes across an altitudinal gradient in the Pyrenees. We compared the altitudinal distribution, environmental tolerance, and species richness, of nematodes with that of three other invertebrate groups collected during the same sampling: oligochaetes, chironomids, and nonchironomid insects. We tested the altitudinal bias in distributions witht‐tests and the significance of narrow‐ranging altitudinal distributions with randomizations. We compared results between groups with Fisher's exact tests. We then explored the influence of environmental factors on species assemblages in all groups with redundancy analysis (RDA), using 28 environmental variables. And, finally, we analyzed species richness patterns across altitude with simple linear and quadratic regressions. Nematode species were rarely biased from random distributions (5% of species) in contrast with other groups (35%, 47%, and 50%, respectively). The altitudinal bias most often shifted toward low altitudes (85% of biased species). Nematodes showed a lower portion of narrow‐ranging species than any other group, and differed significantly from nonchironomid insects (10% and 43%, respectively). Environmental variables barely explained nematode assemblages (RDA adjusted R2 = 0.02), in contrast with other groups (0.13, 0.19 and 0.24). Despite these substantial differences in the response to environmental factors, species richness across altitude was unimodal, peaking at mid elevations, in all groups. This similarity indicates that the spatial distribution of lakes across altitude is a primary driver of invertebrate richness. Provided that nematodes are ubiquitous, their distribution offers potential null models to investigate species richness across environmental gradients in other ecosystem types and biogeographic regions.
Is relative Si/Ca availability crucial to the performance of grassland ecosystems?
Authors: Schaller Jörg , Hodson Martin J. , Struyf Eric 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSpecies composition of grasslands and pastures is an important control on biomass production and ecological functioning, with a significant role of grasses and legumes. A change in composition of legumes/grasses abundance and biomass ratio results in altered nutrient cycling and composition of higher trophic‐level communities (e.g., grazers). However, in addition to pasturing and fire effects, other parameters may also potentially affect grassland composition. Grasses are known as silicon (Si) accumulators and legumes as calcium (Ca) accumulators. We propose a new testable hypothesis, and a conceptual model, on the role of Si/Ca availability in controlling legume/grass dominance/competition in grassland systems. Based on available literature, we argue that Si/Ca availability is an important trigger for shifts in abundance of both plant families. The differential uptake of Si and Ca by legumes and grasses affects grassland biogeochemistry and microbial (fungal) biomass. In addition, altered litter stoichiometry, through impact of Ca and Si uptake on N, C, and P turnover, affects the decomposition processes.
An irreversible division of labor through a sexually dependent system in the clonal plant Iris laevigata (Iridaceae)
Authors: Wang Lingyan , Wang Hanxi , He Chunguang , Sheng Lianxi , Tang Zhanhui 
Published: March 2017

AbstractScientists were concerned with the division of labor research early, and much current research in clonal plant ecology has proved environmentally induced or a developmentally programmed division of labor. However, the sexually dependent division of labor in clonal plants has received little attention, and few experimental tests have been conducted to date. Here, using reproductive ramets and non‐reproductive ramets in the clonal plant Iris laevigata, we test this hypothesis on morphology and physiology through field and manipulative experiments, including an isotope (15N) labeling method. With regard to morphology, under natural conditions, non‐reproductive ramets of I. laevigata were more abundant, taller, and consisted exclusively of leaves, while the relatively rare, smaller reproductive ramets consisted of leaves, flowers, or seeds. However, the mean biomass of non‐reproductive ramets was nearly half that of reproductive ramets. With regard to physiology, non‐reproductive ramets had a significantly higher net photosynthetic rate over a 24‐h period than reproductive ramets. Furthermore, the reproductive ramets stopped leaf growth when flower buds appeared in late May and lost photosynthetic capacity before late June, while its growing fruits still required a constant supply of many nutrients. Manipulative experiments showed that the non‐reproductive ramets supplied the nutrient demands for reproduction of the reproductive ramets through clonal integration as high as δ15N of the value (196.1 ± 73.39) of the seed. Thereby providing the first clear evidence of sexually dependent division of labor in clonal plants: Certain individuals constitute a very small amount of reproductive castes (reproductive ramets), whereas a large amount of other individuals (non‐reproductive ramets) are “workers” as in social insect societies whose role is primarily as producers. The rapid withering of reproductive ramets that failed to be pollinated highlights their role as irreversibly focused on reproduction, and those unable to reproduce do not contribute to the colony. Additionally, “producer” ramets positively influenced reproductive castes growth, and the division of labor was assumed to underlie the resource allocation pattern among ramets.
Engineering bi‐functional enzyme complex of formate dehydrogenase and leucine dehydrogenase by peptide linker mediated fusion for accelerating cofactor regeneration
Authors: Zhang Yonghui , Wang Yali , Wang Shizhen , Fang Baishan 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis study reports the application of peptide linker in the construction of bi‐functional formate dehydrogenase (FDH) and leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH) enzymatic complex for efficient cofactor regeneration and L‐tert leucine (L‐tle) biotransformation. Seven FDH‐LeuDH fusion enzymes with different peptide linker were successfully developed and displayed both parental enzyme activities. The incorporation order of FDH and LeuDH was investigated by predicting three‐dimensional structures of LeuDH‐FDH and FDH‐LeuDH models using the I‐TASSER server. The enzymatic characterization showed that insertion of rigid peptide linker obtained better activity and thermal stability in comparison with flexible peptide linker. The production rate of fusion enzymatic complex with suitable flexible peptide linker was increased by 1.2 times compared with free enzyme mixture. Moreover, structural analysis of FDH and LeuDH suggested the secondary structure of the N‐, C‐terminal domain and their relative positions to functional domains was also greatly relevant to the catalytic properties of the fusion enzymatic complex. The results show that rigid peptide linker could ensure the independent folding of moieties and stabilized enzyme structure, while the flexible peptide linker was likely to bring enzyme moieties in close proximity for superior cofactor channeling.
ZnCr2O4@ZnO/g‐C3N4: A Triple‐Junction Nanostructured Material for Effective Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution under Visible Light
Authors: Patnaik Sulagna , Sahoo Dipti P. , Mohapatra Lagnamayee , Martha Satyabadi , Parida Kulamani 
Published: March 2017

AbstractA triple‐junction nanostructured material consisting of porous exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) nanosheets, ZnO, and ZnCr2O4is prepared by a one‐pot synthesis method through the calcination of a mixture of urea, thiourea, and Zn–Cr layered double hydroxide (LDH) at 450 °C. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the prepared nanocomposites are characterized by various physicochemical techniques. This synthesis process simultaneously makes the material porous, produces exfoliated sheets of g‐C3N4, and disperses mixed metal oxides on the surface of g‐C3N4owing to the slow evolution of significant amount of gases such as H2O, CO2, NH3, and H2S. The dispersion of ZnO and ZnCr2O4on the surface of the g‐C3N4exfoliated nanosheets results in a preferable resolution for visible‐light‐induced photocatalytic H2and O2evolution. An optimal g‐C3N4content (60 %) in the ZnCr2O4@ZnO/g‐C3N4nanostructured composite results in maximum H2(847 μmol in 2 h) and O2(455 μmol in 2 h) production in the presence of CH3OH and AgNO3, respectively, as sacrificial reagents. The apparent conversion efficiencies for H2and O2evolution are 28.01 and 15.0 %, respectively. The increased photocatalytic activity is attributed to the proper alignment of the band structure, synergistic effects owing to the good coordination between g‐C3N4(Lewis base) and ZnIIions (Lewis acid), and the suppression of electron–hole recombination owing to the formation of g‐C3N4nanosheets.
Investigations of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of fattening farms using artificial intelligence methods
Authors: Hosseinzadeh‐Bandbafha Homa , Nabavi‐Pelesaraei Ashkan , Shamshirband Shahaboddin 
Published: March 2017

The aim of this study was to assess artificial intelligence methods (adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference systems and artificial neural network, ANN) for modeling and predicting energy output and greenhouse gas emissions from calf fattening farms in Abyek and Alborz cities of Iran. The modeling was done based on the amount of energy input. From the total energy input of 24,003 (MJ calf−1), feed and fossil fuels have the most significant share. The analysis of greenhouse gas emissions showed that 1174 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per head of calf was released for the fattening period of 6–12 months. The best model of ANN had 6‐16‐2 structure. The best adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference systems model was designed using four adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference systems sub‐networks, which were developed at two stages. Comparison between the models showed that, due to employing fuzzy rules, the adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference systems models could model energy output and greenhouse gas emissions more accurately than the ANN model. Regression coefficient, root means square error, and mean absolute percentage error for the ANN model were 0.721, 0.055, and 0.9 for energy output, while 0.733, 0.048, and 2.49 for greenhouse gas emissions. These values for the best topology adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference systems were 0.999, 0.006, and 0.098 for energy output, while 0.996, 0.005, and 0.362 for greenhouse gas emissions. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1546–1559, 2017
Understanding transient landscape of the Ethiopian Plateau in relation to mantle dynamics
Authors: Gani Nahid D. , Neupane Prabhat C. 
Published: March 2017

The Ethiopian Plateau, situated on the Western Escarpment of the East African Rift System, constitutes a part of a large igneous province that has experienced extensive flood basalt volcanism around 30 Ma related to the outpouring of the Afar mantle plume. This non‐orogenic plateau with long‐wavelength dynamic topography has been deeply incised by the Blue Nile River and its numerous tributaries. The plateau represents an excellent natural laboratory to study the interplay between bedrock river incision and uplift. Our analysis of a total of 202 convex upward and double‐concave tributary longitudinal profiles reveals 244 knickpoints, the majority of which are not associated with lithologic boundaries or faults. The normalized steepness indices (ksn) of these profiles vary in upstream versus downstream from knickpoints indicating variable uplift within the plateau. Our investigation of integrating mantle seismic P‐wave velocity anomaly with ksn and knickpoints suggests ongoing incision of the plateau surface in response to Afar plume related mantle dynamics. Tributary reaches with higher ksn generally lie above the areas with negative velocity anomaly, thus hotter (than normal) mantle that are likely undergoing more uplift. Therefore, this study suggests that the transient landscape incision of the Ethiopian Plateau is largely controlled by the ongoing uplift of the plateau, indicating that the plateau physiography is dynamic, not stable.
Plant transcription factors from the homeodomain‐leucine zipper family I. Role in development and stress responses
Authors: Perotti María Florencia , Ribone Pamela Anahí , Chan Raquel Lía 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn front of stressful conditions plants display adaptation mechanisms leading to changes in their morphology, physiology, development and molecular composition. Transcription factors (TFs) play crucial roles in these complex adaptation processes. This work is focused in the homeodomain‐leucine zipper I (HD‐Zip I) family of TFs, unique to plants. First discovered in 1991, they were identified and isolated from monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants showing high structural similarity and diversified functions. These TFs have, besides the homeodomain and leucine zipper, conserved motifs in their carboxy‐termini allowing the interaction with the basal machinery and with other regulatory proteins. The model dicotyledonous plant Arabidopsis thaliana has 17 HD‐Zip I members; most of them regulated by external stimuli and hormones. These TFs are involved in key developmental processes like root and stem elongation, rosette leaves morphology determination, inflorescence stem branching, flowering and pollen hydration. Moreover, they are key players in responses to environmental stresses and illumination conditions. Several HD‐Zip I encoding genes from different species were protected in patents because their overexpression or mutation generates improved agronomical phenotypes. Here we discuss many aspects about these TFs including structural features, biological functions and their utilization as biotechnological tools to improve crops. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(5):280–289, 2017