bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Response of deep groundwater to land use change in desert basins of the Trans‐Pecos region, Texas, USA: Effects on infiltration, recharge, and nitrogen fluxes
Authors: Robertson Wendy Marie , Böhlke J. K. , Sharp John M. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractQuantifying the effects of anthropogenic processes on groundwater in arid regions can be complicated by thick unsaturated zones with long transit times. Human activities can alter water and nutrient fluxes, but their impact on groundwater is not always clear. This study of basins in the Trans‐Pecos region of Texas links anthropogenic land use and vegetation change with alterations to unsaturated zone fluxes and regional increases in basin groundwater NO3− concentrations. Median increases in groundwater NO3− (by 0.7–0.9 mg‐N/l over periods ranging from 10 to 50+ years) occurred despite low precipitation (220–360 mm/year), high potential evapotranspiration (~1570 mm/year), and thick unsaturated zones (10–150+ m). Recent model simulations indicate net infiltration and groundwater recharge can occur beneath Trans‐Pecos basin floors, and may have increased due to irrigation and vegetation change. These processes were investigated further with chemical and isotopic data from groundwater and unsaturated zone cores. Some unsaturated zone solute profiles indicate flushing of natural salt accumulations has occurred. Results are consistent with human‐influenced flushing of naturally accumulated unsaturated zone nitrogen as an important source of NO3− to the groundwater. Regional mass balance calculations indicate the mass of natural unsaturated zone NO3− (122–910 kg‐N/ha) was sufficient to cause the observed groundwater NO3− increases, especially if augmented locally with the addition of fertilizer N. Groundwater NO3− trends can be explained by small volumes of high NO3− modern recharge mixed with larger volumes of older groundwater in wells. This study illustrates the importance of combining long‐term monitoring and targeted process studies to improve understanding of human impacts on recharge and nutrient cycling in arid regions, which are vulnerable to the effects of climate change and increasing human reliance on dryland ecosystems.
Multiview convolutional neural networks for lung nodule classification
Authors: Liu Kui , Kang Guixia 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTTo find a better way to screen early lung cancer, motivated by the great success of deep learning, we empirically investigate the challenge of classifying lung nodules in computed tomography (CT) in an end‐to‐end manner. Multi‐view convolutional neural networks (MV‐CNN) are proposed in this article for lung nodule classification. Unlike the traditional CNNs, a MV‐CNN takes multiple views of each entered nodule. We carry out a binary classification (benign and malignant) and a ternary classification (benign, primary malignant, and metastatic malignant) using the Lung Image Database Consortium and Image Database Resource Initiative database. The results show that, for binary or ternary classifications, the multiview strategy produces higher accuracy than the single view method, even for cases that are over‐fitted. Our model achieves an error rate of 5.41 and 13.91% for binary and ternary classifications, respectively. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic curve and t‐distributed stochastic neighbor embedding algorithm are used to analyze the models. The results reveal that the deep features learned by the model proposed in this article have a higher separability than features from the image space and the multiview strategies; therefore, researchers can get better representation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 27, 12–22, 2017
An improved label fusion approach with sparse patch‐based representation for MRI brain image segmentation
Authors: Yan Meng , Liu Hong , Xu Xiangyang , Song Enmin , Qian Yuejing , Pan Ning , Jin Renchao , Jin Lianghai , Cheng Shaorong , Hung Chih‐Cheng 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTThe multi‐atlas patch‐based label fusion (LF) method mainly focuses on the measurement of the patch similarity which is the comparison between the atlas patch and the target patch. To enhance the LF performance, the distribution probability about the target can be used during the LF process. Hence, we consider two LF schemes: in the first scheme, we keep the results of the interpolation so that we can obtain the labels of the atlas with discrete values (between 0 and 1) instead of binary values in the label propagation. In doing so, each atlas can be treated as a probability atlas. Second, we introduce the distribution probability of the tissue (to be segmented) in the sparse patch‐based LF process. Based on the probability of the tissue and sparse patch‐based representation, we propose three different LF methods which are called LF‐Method‐1, LF‐Method‐2, and LF‐Method‐3. In addition, an automated estimation method about the distribution probability of the tissue is also proposed. To evaluate the accuracy of our proposed LF methods, the methods were compared with those of the nonlocal patch‐based LF method (Nonlocal‐PBM), the sparse patch‐based LF method (Sparse‐PBM), majority voting method, similarity and truth estimation for propagated segmentations, and hierarchical multi‐atlas LF with multi‐scale feature representation and label‐specific patch partition (HMAS). Based on our experimental results and quantitative comparison, our methods are promising in the magnetic resonance image segmentation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 27, 23–32, 2017
Multimodal medical image fusion based on discrete Tchebichef moments and pulse coupled neural network
Authors: Tang Lu , Qian Jiansheng , Li Leida , Hu Junfeng , Wu Xiang 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTMultimodal medical image fusion plays a vital role in clinical diagnoses and treatment planning. In many image fusion methods‐based pulse coupled neural network (PCNN), normalized coefficients are used to motivate the PCNN, and this makes the fused image blur, detail loss, and decreases contrast. Moreover, they are limited in dealing with medical images with different modalities. In this article, we present a new multimodal medical image fusion method based on discrete Tchebichef moments and pulse coupled neural network to overcome the aforementioned problems. First, medical images are divided into equal‐size blocks and the Tchebichef moments are calculated to characterize image shape, and energy of blocks is computed as the sum of squared non‐DC moment values. Then to retain edges and textures, the energy of Tchebichef moments for blocks is introduced to motivate the PCNN with adaptive linking strength. Finally, large firing times are selected as coefficients of the fused image. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme outperforms state‐of‐the‐art methods and it is more effective in processing medical images with different modalities. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 27, 57–65, 2017
Thermogelling chitosan lactate hydrogel improves functional recovery after a C2 spinal cord hemisection in rat
Authors: Nawrotek Katarzyna , Marqueste Tanguy , Modrzejewska Zofia , Zarzycki Roman , Rusak Agnieszka , Decherchi Patrick 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe present study was designed to provide an appropriate micro‐environment for regenerating axotomized neurons and proliferating/migrating cells. Because of its intrinsic permissive properties, biocompatibility and biodegradability, we chose to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of a chitosan‐based biopolymer. The biomaterial toxicity was measured through in vitro test based on fibroblast cell survival on thermogelling chitosan lactate hydrogel substrate and then polymer was implanted into a C2 hemisection of the rat spinal cord. Animals were randomized into three experimental groups (Control, Lesion and Lesion + Hydrogel) and functional tests (ladder walking and forelimb grip strength tests, respiratory assessment by whole‐body plethysmography measurements) were used, once a week during 10 weeks, to evaluate post‐traumatic recoveries. Then, electrophysiological examinations (reflexivity of the sub‐lesional region, ventilatory adjustments to muscle fatigue known to elicit the muscle metaboreflex and phrenic nerve recordings during normoxia and temporary hypoxia) were performed. In vitro results indicated that the chitosan matrix is a non‐toxic biomaterial that allowed fibroblast survival. Furthermore, implanted animals showed improvements of their ladder walking scores from the 4th week post‐implantation. Finally, electrophysiological recordings indicated that animals receiving the chitosan matrix exhibited recovery of the H‐reflex rate sensitive depression, the ventilatory response to repetitive muscle stimulation and an increase of the phrenic nerve activity to asphyxia compared to lesioned and nonimplanted animals. This study indicates that hydrogel based on chitosan constitute a promising therapeutic approach to repair damaged spinal cord or may be used as an adjuvant with other treatments to enhance functional recovery after a central nervous system damage. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2004–2019, 2017.
Preparation of a non‐woven poly(ε‐caprolactone) fabric with partially embedded apatite surface for bone tissue engineering applications by partial surface melting of poly(ε‐caprolactone) fibers
Authors: Kim In Ae , Rhee Sang‐Hoon 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis article describes a novel method for the preparation of a biodegradable non‐woven poly(ε‐caprolactone) fabric with a partially embedded apatite surface designed for application as a scaffold material for bone tissue engineering. The non‐woven poly(ε‐caprolactone) fabric was generated by the electro‐spinning technique and then apatite was coated in simulated body fluid after coating the PVA solution containing CaCl2·2H2O. The apatite crystals were partially embedded or fully embedded into the thermoplastic poly(ε‐caprolactone) fibers by controlling the degree of poly(ε‐caprolactone) fiber surface melting in a convection oven. Identical apatite‐coated poly(ε‐caprolactone) fabric that did not undergo heat‐treatment was used as a control. The features of the embedded apatite crystals were evaluated by FE‐SEM, AFM, EDS, and XRD. The adhesion strengths of the coated apatite layers and the tensile strengths of the apatite coated fabrics with and without heat‐treatment were assessed by the tape‐test and a universal testing machine, respectively. The degree of water absorbance was assessed by adding a DMEM droplet onto the fabrics. Moreover, cell penetrability was assessed by seeding preosteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cells onto the fabrics and observing the degrees of cell penetration after 1 and 4 weeks by staining nuclei with DAPI. The non‐woven poly(ε‐caprolactone) fabric with a partially embedded apatite surface showed good water absorbance, cell penetrability, higher apatite adhesion strength, and higher tensile strength compared with the control fabric. These results show that the non‐woven poly(ε‐caprolactone) fabric with a partially embedded apatite surface is a potential candidate scaffold for bone tissue engineering due to its strong apatite adhesion strength and excellent cell penetrability. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 1973–1983, 2017.
The elimination‐plus lineup: Testing a modified lineup procedure with confidence
Authors: Pica Emily , Pozzulo Joanna 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe present study examined whether a modified form of a preidentification confidence rating would provide evidence of a suspect's guilt in addition to the identification decision confidence. Participants (N = 241) viewed a videotaped mock crime and were presented with a target‐present or target‐absent simultaneous, sequential, elimination, or elimination‐plus lineup procedure; both elimination procedures required 2 separate judgments from the witness (i.e., relative and absolute). The elimination‐plus procedure was identical to that of the elimination procedure with the addition of the confidence rating in between judgment 1 and judgment 2. Confidence after judgment 1, confidence after judgment 2, and the average of the 2 confidence ratings with the elimination‐plus procedure significantly predicted accuracy for choosers. Given that confidence has been recognised by the Supreme Court of the United States, these results shed light on a novel way of utilising confidence in the investigative process.
A new strategy for accelerated extraction of target compounds using molecularly imprinted polymer particles embedded in a paper‐based disk
Authors: Zarejousheghani Mashaalah , Schrader Steffi , Möder Monika , Schmidt Matthias , Borsdorf Helko 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn this study, a general simple and inexpensive method is introduced for the preparation of a paper‐based selective disk‐type solid phase extraction (SPE) technique, appropriate for fast and high throughput monitoring of target compounds. An ion exchange molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized for the extraction and analysis of acesulfame, an anthropogenic water quality marker. Acesulfame imprinting was used as an example for demonstrating the benefits of a nanosized, swellable MIP extraction sorbents integrated in an on‐site compatible concept for water quality monitoring. Compared with an 8 mL standard SPE cartridge, the paper‐based MIP disk (47 mm ø) format allowed (1) high sample flow rates up to 30 mL•min−1 without losing extraction efficiency (2) extracting sample volumes up to 500 mL in much shorter times than with standard SPE, (3) the reuse of the disks (up to 3 times more than SPE cartridge) due to high robustness and an efficient post‐cleaning, and (4) reducing the sampling time from 100 minutes (using the standard SPE format) to about 2 minutes with the MIP paper disk for 50 mL water sample. Different parameters like cellulose fiber/polymer ratios, sample volume, sample flow‐rate, washing, and elution conditions were evaluated and optimized. Using developed extraction technique with high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS–MS) analysis, a new protocol was established that provides detection and quantification limits of 0.015 μg•L−1 and 0.05 μg•L−1, respectively. The developed paper disks were used in‐field for the selective extraction of target compounds and transferred to the laboratory for further analysis.
Diffusional kurtosis imaging of parotid glands in Sjögren's syndrome: Initial findings
Authors: Chu Chen , Zhang Huayong , Zhou Nan , Dou Xin , Li Ming , Liu Song , Zhu Yun , Wang Chun , Chen Weibo , Chan Queenie , Sun Lingyun , He Jian , Zhou Zhengyang 
Published: March 2017

PurposeTo explore the role of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) of parotid glands in diagnosing Sjögren's syndrome (SS).Materials and MethodsA total of 40 patients with SS and 40 healthy volunteers underwent 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including DKI, which generated the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), corrected diffusion (D), and diffusional kurtosis (K) values. The MR nodular grade was determined on the basis of MR morphological findings.ResultsThe parotid ADC, D, and K values in patients with SS were significantly higher than those of healthy volunteers (P = 0.011, < 0.001, 0.022, respectively). The parotid ADC and D values in patients with SS of MR nodular grade 0 were significantly higher than those of healthy volunteers (all P < 0.001). The parotid D value showed an accuracy of 75.0% and 87.9% in diagnosing patients with SS and MR nodular grade 0, respectively. The parotid ADC and D values correlated negatively, while the K values correlated positively with the MR nodular grade significantly in patients with SS (r = −0.741, −0.605, 0.424, all P < 0.001). All parotid DKI parameters differed significantly among patients with SS at different MR nodular grades (all P < 0.001).ConclusionParotid DKI parameters hold great potential in diagnosing SS, especially in early‐stage SS without MR morphological changes.Level of Evidence: 2Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1409–1417.
Accuracy of PDFF estimation by magnitude‐based and complex‐based MRI in children with MR spectroscopy as a reference
Authors: Haufe William M. , Wolfson Tanya , Hooker Catherine A. , Hooker Jonathan C. , Covarrubias Yesenia , Schlein Alex N. , Hamilton Gavin , Middleton Michael S. , Angeles Jorge E. , Hernando Diego , Reeder Scott B. , Schwimmer Jeffrey B. , Sirlin Claude B. 
Published: March 2017

PurposeTo assess and compare the accuracy of magnitude‐based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI‐M) and complex‐based MRI (MRI‐C) for estimating hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) in children, using MR spectroscopy (MRS) as the reference standard. A secondary aim was to assess the agreement between MRI‐M and MRI‐C.Materials and MethodsThis was a HIPAA‐compliant, retrospective analysis of data collected in children enrolled in prospective, Institutional Review Board (IRB)‐approved studies between 2012 and 2014. Informed consent was obtained from 200 children (ages 8–19 years) who subsequently underwent 3T MR exams that included MRI‐M, MRI‐C, and T1‐independent, T2‐corrected, single‐voxel stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) MRS. Both MRI methods acquired six echoes at low flip angles.
‐corrected PDFF parametric maps were generated. PDFF values were recorded from regions of interest (ROIs) drawn on the maps in each of the nine Couinaud segments and three ROIs colocalized to the MRS voxel location. Regression analyses assessing agreement with MRS were performed to evaluate the accuracy of each MRI method, and Bland–Altman and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analyses were performed to assess agreement between the MRI methods.ResultsMRI‐M and MRI‐C PDFF were accurate relative to the colocalized MRS reference standard, with regression intercepts of 0.63% and –0.07%, slopes of 0.998 and 0.975, and proportion‐of‐explained‐variance values (R2) of 0.982 and 0.979, respectively. For individual Couinaud segments and for the whole liver averages, Bland–Altman biases between MRI‐M and MRI‐C were small (ranging from 0.04 to 1.11%) and ICCs were high (≥0.978).ConclusionBoth MRI‐M and MRI‐C accurately estimated hepatic PDFF in children, and high intermethod agreement was observed.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1641–1647.
Evaluating climate model simulations of drought for the northwestern United States
Authors: Abatzoglou John T. , Rupp David E. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTProjected changes in regional characteristics of drought throughout the 21st century can help inform climate change assessments across drought‐sensitive sectors. However, the ability of global climate models (GCMs) to reproduce statistical attributes of observed drought at regional scales has not typically been considered. We present a framework for evaluating the fidelity of GCMs to simulate regional drought to help guide model selection for users of regional climate projections where drought plays a key climate impact, and elucidate shortcomings of model simulations of hydroclimate variability. Monthly precipitation (Pr) and potential evapotranspiration (ETo) from 24 GCMs of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 were compared to observations, with a focus on the northwestern United States (NWUS), using a suite of statistics for capturing multi‐scalar aspects of drought and both supply (Pr) and atmospheric demand (ETo). Model fidelity was generally higher for drought metrics evaluated with ETo versus Pr, and for seasonal and annual time scales versus multi‐year time scales. While some GCMs performed well across the suite of drought metrics and time scales, models systematically underestimated the severity of regional drought in the NWUS defined by precipitation deficits, particularly for multi‐year time scales.
Superior turbinate eosinophilia correlates with olfactory deficit in chronic rhinosinusitis patients
Authors: Lavin Jennifer , Min Jin‐Young , Lidder Alcina K. , Huang Julia He , Kato Atsushi , Lam Kent , Meen Eric , Chmiel Joan S. , Norton James , Suh Lydia , Mahdavinia Mahboobeh , Hulse Kathryn E. , Conley David B. , Chandra Rakesh K. , Shintani‐Smith Stephanie , Kern Robert C. , Schleimer Robert P. , Tan Bruce K. 
Published: March 2017

ObjectiveTo evaluate if molecular markers of eosinophilia in olfactory‐enriched mucosa are associated with olfactory dysfunction.Study DesignCross‐sectional study of tissue biopsies from 99 patients, and an additional 30 patients who underwent prospective olfactory testing prior to sinonasal procedures.MethodsTissue biopsies were processed for analysis of inflammatory markers using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Ipsilateral olfactory performance was assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks (Burghart, Wedel, Germany) threshold component and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (Sensonics, Haddon Heights, NJ). Age‐adjusted data was correlated with inflammatory marker expression and clinical measures of obstruction from computed tomography and endoscopy.ResultsGene expression of the eosinophil marker CLC (Charcot Leyden crystal protein) was elevated in superior turbinate (ST) tissue in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) compared to ST and inferior turbinate tissue in CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and control patients (all P < 0.001, respectively). CLC in ST tissue was correlated with IL‐5 and eotaxin‐1 expression (all P < 0.001; P = 0.65, and 0.49, respectively). CLC expression was strongly correlated with eosinophilic cationic protein levels (P < 0.001; r = −0.76), and ST CLC expression was inversely related to olfactory threshold (P = 0.002, r = −0.57) and discrimination scores (P = 0.05, r = −0.42). In multiple linear regression of CLC gene expression, polyp status, and radiographic and endoscopic findings with olfactory threshold, CLC was the only significantly correlated variable (P < 0.05).ConclusionMarkers of eosinophils are elevated in the ST of patients with CRSwNP and correlate with olfactory loss. These findings support the hypothesis that olfactory dysfunction in CRS correlates local eosinophil influx into the olfactory cleft.Level of EvidenceNA. Laryngoscope, 127:2210–2218, 2017
Long‐term local control rates of patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck managed by surgery and postoperative radiation
Authors: Ali Safina , Palmer Frank L. , Katabi Nora , Lee Nancy , Shah Jatin P. , Patel Snehal G. , Ganly Ian 
Published: March 2017

ObjectivesTo report long‐term local control in patients with adenoid cystic cancer (ACC) of the head and neck managed by surgery and identify factors predictive for local failure.Study DesignSingle‐institution retrospective cohort study.MethodsEighty‐seven patients who had surgery for ACC between 1985 and 2009 were identified. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were recorded. Local recurrence‐free survival (LRFS) was recorded by the Kaplan‐Meier method. Predictors of local control were identified.ResultsThe median age was 54 years. Seventy‐two (83%) patients had perineural invasion, 61 (70%) had close/positive margins, and 58 (67%) had pT 1T2. Fifty‐nine (68%) patients had postoperative radiation therapy (PORT). With a median follow‐up of 85 months, the 10‐year LRFS was 78.7%. There were 14 local recurrences. On multivariable analysis, pathological tumor (T)3T4 stage and no PORT were independent predictors for local failure. Patients with no PORT had a 13‐fold increased risk of local failure compared to patients treated with PORT (P = 0.003) after adjusting for stage.ConclusionAfter adjusting for T stage, patients who do not get PORT are more likely to have local recurrence.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 127:2265–2269, 2017