bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age‐related changes in laser‐evoked potentials following trigeminal and hand stimulation in healthy subjects
Authors: de Tommaso M. , Ricci K. , Montemurno A. , Vecchio E. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate age‐related changes in laser‐evoked potential (LEP) features, including habituation, via trigeminal and hand stimulation in a large group of healthy volunteers.MethodsWe recorded the LEPs by right‐hand stimulation in 237 healthy subjects and by stimulation of the right supraorbital zone in 170 cases. The subjects ranged in age from 7 to 72 years and were divided into six groups by age.ResultsAt the trigeminal level, the N2 and P2 latencies were significantly shorter and the N2–P2 amplitude was significantly larger in the 7–17 age group than in the other groups. The N2–P2 amplitude of the responses evoked by hand stimulation was significantly larger in the 7–40 age range than in the older subjects. The N1 amplitude and latency were not significantly different among the groups. The N2–P2 habituation increased with age, but no significant changes among groups were revealed by the Bonferroni test.ConclusionsTrigeminal vertex LEPs have greater amplitudes and appear earlier in children, while a progressive age‐related amplitude decrease characterizes the N2–P2 waves associated with hand stimulation. The N2–P2 habituation increases in older people. The N1 latency and amplitude seem to remain stable during ageing and are therefore potentially reliable and useful patterns for nociceptive system examination.SignificanceStandardization of age‐related changes in trigeminal and hand LEPs is possible and should improve their reliability in the objective assessment of pain pathways.
NTE/PNPLA6 is expressed in mature Schwann cells and is required for glial ensheathment of Remak fibers
Authors: McFerrin Janis , Patton Bruce L. , Sunderhaus Elizabeth R. , Kretzschmar Doris 
Published: February 2017

AbstractNeuropathy target esterase (NTE) or patatin‐like phospholipase domain containing 6 (PNPLA6) was first linked with a neuropathy occurring after organophosphate poisoning and was later also found to cause complex syndromes when mutated, which can include mental retardation, spastic paraplegia, ataxia, and blindness. NTE/PNPLA6 is widely expressed in neurons but experiments with its Drosophila orthologue Swiss‐cheese (SWS) suggested that it may also have glial functions. Investigating whether NTE/PNPLA6 is expressed in glia, we found that NTE/PNPLA6 is expressed by Schwann cells in the sciatic nerve of adult mice with the most prominent expression in nonmyelinating Schwann cells. Within Schwann cells, NTE/PNPLA6 is enriched at the Schmidt‐Lanterman incisures and around the nucleus. When analyzing postnatal expression patterns, we did not detect NTE/PNPLA6 in promyelinating Schwann cells, while weak expression was detectable at postnatal day 5 in Schwann cells and increased with their maturation. Interestingly, NTE/PNPLA6 levels were upregulated after nerve crush and localized to ovoids forming along the nerve fibers. Using a GFAP‐based knock‐out of NTE/PNPLA6, we detected an incomplete ensheathment of Remak fibers whereas myelination did not appear to be affected. These results suggest that NTE/PNPLA6 is involved in the maturation of nonmyelinating Schwann cells during development and de‐/remyelination after neuronal injury. Since Schwann cells play an important role in maintaining axonal viability and function, it is therefore likely that changes in Schwann cells contribute to the locomotory deficits and neuropathy observed in patients carrying mutations in NTE.
Housing First for older homeless adults with mental illness: a subgroup analysis of the At Home/Chez Soi randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chung Timothy E. , Gozdzik Agnes , Palma Lazgare Luis I. , To Matthew J. , Aubry Tim , Frankish James , Hwang Stephen W. , Stergiopoulos Vicky 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveThis study compares the effect of Housing First on older (≥50 years old) and younger (18–49 years old) homeless adults with mental illness participating in At Home/Chez Soi, a 24‐month multisite randomized controlled trial of Housing First.MethodAt Home/Chez Soi, participants (n = 2148) were randomized to receive rent supplements with intensive case management or assertive community treatment, based on their need level for mental health services, or usual care in their respective communities. A subgroup analysis compared older (n = 470) and younger (n = 1678) homeless participants across baseline characteristics and 24‐month outcomes including housing stability (primary outcome), generic and condition‐specific quality of life, community functioning, physical and mental health status, mental health symptom severity, psychological community integration, recovery, and substance use (secondary outcomes).ResultsAt 24 months, Housing First significantly improved the percentage of days stably housed among older (+43.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 38.4% to 49.5%) and younger homeless adults (+39.7%, 95% CI: 36.8% to 42.6%), compared with usual care, with no significant differences between age groups (difference of differences = +4.2%, 95% CI: −2.1% to 10.5%, p = 0.188). Improvements from baseline to 24 months in mental health and condition‐specific quality of life were significantly greater among older homeless adults than among younger homeless adults.ConclusionHousing First significantly improved housing stability among older and younger homeless adults with mental illness, resulting in superior mental health and quality of life outcomes in older homeless adults compared with younger homeless adults at 24 months. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Altered neural mechanisms of cognitive control in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis: An effective connectivity study
Authors: Dobryakova Ekaterina , Rocca Maria Assunta , Valsasina Paola , DeLuca John , Filippi Massimo 
Published: February 2017

AbstractPrimary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) leads to physical and cognitive disability. Specifically, cognitive deficits in PPMS have been explained by both grey matter atrophy and white matter lesions. However, existing research still lacks in the understanding of how the brain of a patient with PPMS functions under cognitive control demands. Thus, the aim of the current study was to examine information integration in patients with PPMS using a search‐based effective connectivity method. Fourteen patients with PPMS and 22 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls (HC) performed the Stroop task, a cognitively demanding interference task that taxes neural resources required for cognitive control and response inhibition. Results showed that compared to HC, PPMS patients exhibited poor behavioral performance and alterations in information flow, manifested in the form of the loss of top‐down connections, reversal of connections, and hyperconnectivity. Significant correlations were observed between connection strengths and behavioral measures. The connection between the posterior parietal cortex (PCC) and left posterior parietal lobule, which was present in both groups, showed a negative correlation with performance accuracy on incongruent trials. The connection between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and PCC showed a positive correlation with performance accuracy on incongruent trials. However, the adaptive nature of this connection was not significant on a behavioral level as the PPMS group performed significantly worse compared to the HC group during the Stroop task. Thus, the current study provides important evidence about effective connectivity patterns that can be characterized as maladaptive cerebral re‐organization in the PPMS brain. Hum Brain Mapp 38:2580–2588, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of River Flow Regime Changes Related to Water Availability on the Kapuas River, Indonesia
Authors: Herawati Henny , Suripin S. , Suharyanto S. , Hetwisari Tia 
Published: February 2017

AbstractRivers are major sources of fresh water, which is a basic need in society. The availability of water is affected by river basin characteristics such as rainfall and land cover type. Along with population and economy growth, there has been a change in land use that leads to changes in land cover types, thereby changing the river flow regime and affecting the availability of water in the river. Thus it is necessary to analyse water flow regime changes in the river to determine water availability for proper action plans in the future. Studies on these aspects were conducted in the Kapuas River Basin with an area of about 100 000 km2, in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The study was conducted by analysing the trend of annual rainfall and change of land cover during the last three decades, by analysing land cover types and comparing the availability of water in the Kapuas River from measurement results in 2002 and 2012. The results showed that the rainfall trend had increased 4.3% over the last 30 years. The changes in the hydrological aspects of the study area have altered the river flow regime of Kapuas River within the last 30 years and have influenced river water availability. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lean six sigma methodologies improve clinical laboratory efficiency and reduce turnaround times
Authors: Inal Tamer C. , Goruroglu Ozturk Ozlem , Kibar Filiz , Cetiner Salih , Matyar Selcuk , Daglioglu Gulcin , Yaman Akgun 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundOrganizing work flow is a major task of laboratory management. Recently, clinical laboratories have started to adopt methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma and some successful implementations have been reported. This study used Lean Six Sigma to simplify the laboratory work process and decrease the turnaround time by eliminating non‐value‐adding steps.MethodsThe five‐stage Six Sigma system known as define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC) is used to identify and solve problems. The laboratory turnaround time for individual tests, total delay time in the sample reception area, and percentage of steps involving risks of medical errors and biological hazards in the overall process are measured.ResultsThe pre‐analytical process in the reception area was improved by eliminating 3 h and 22.5 min of non‐value‐adding work. Turnaround time also improved for stat samples from 68 to 59 min after applying Lean. Steps prone to medical errors and posing potential biological hazards to receptionists were reduced from 30% to 3%.ConclusionSuccessful implementation of Lean Six Sigma significantly improved all of the selected performance metrics. This quality‐improvement methodology has the potential to significantly improve clinical laboratories.
Potential of quantitative susceptibility mapping for detection of prostatic calcifications
Authors: Straub Sina , Laun Frederik B. , Emmerich Julian , Jobke Björn , Hauswald Henrik , Katayama Sonja , Herfarth Klaus , Schlemmer Heinz‐Peter , Ladd Mark E. , Ziener Christian H. , Bonekamp David , Röthke Matthias C. 
Published: February 2017

PurposeTo evaluate whether quantitative susceptibility (QSM) may be used as an alternative to computed tomography (CT) to detect calcification in prostate cancer patients.Materials and MethodsSusceptibility map calculation was performed using 3D gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 26 patients measured at 3T who previously received a planning CT of the prostate. Phase images were unwrapped using Laplacian‐based phase unwrapping, the background field was removed with the V‐SHARP method, and susceptibility maps were calculated with the iLSQR method. Two blinded readers were asked to identify peri‐ and intraprostatic calcifications.ResultsAverage mean and minimum susceptibility values (referenced to iliopsoas muscle) of calcifications were −0.249 ± 0.179 ppm and –0.551 ± 0.323 ppm, and average mean and maximum intensities in CT images were 319 ± 164 HU and 679 ± 392 HU. Twenty‐one and 17 out of 22 prostatic calcifications were identified using susceptibility maps and magnitude images, respectively, as well as more than half of periprostatic phleboliths depicted by CT. Calcifications in the prostate and its periphery were quantitatively differentiable from noncalcified prostate tissue in CT (mean values for calcifications / for noncalcified tissue: 71 to 649 / –1 to 83 HU) and in QSM (mean values for calcifications / for noncalcified tissue: –0.641 to 0.063 / –0.046 to 0.181 ppm). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between susceptibility values and CT image intensities for calcifications (P < 0.004).ConclusionProstatic calcifications could be well identified with QSM. Susceptibility maps can be easily obtained from clinical prostate MR protocols that include a 3D gradient echo sequence, rendering it a promising technique for detection and quantification of intraprostatic calcifications.Level of Evidence: 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:889–898.
Bioprocessing of common beans in diets for tilapia: in vivo digestibility and antinutritional factors
Authors: Valdez‐González Francisco , Gutiérrez‐Dorado Roberto , Hernández‐Llamas Alfredo , García‐Ulloa Manuel , Sánchez‐Magaña Luís , Cuevas‐Rodríguez Breidy , Rodríguez‐González Hervey 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDBioprocessing of ingredients by solid‐state fermentation is a low‐cost technique for preparing diets. It is performed by adding microorganisms such as Rhizopus oligosporus to bean grains, achieving minimal degradation of nutrients and a significant improvement in digestibility. In particular, fermentation induces favorable changes in beans by reducing enzyme inhibitors, such as phytates and tannins.RESULTSFermentation significantly (P < 0.05) increased the protein content and digestibility of dry matter and protein compared with whole bean grains, and decreased the content of lipids, ash and phytic acid. Hardening did not have a significant (P > 0.05) effect on the chemical content of beans and digestibility of diets. The dehulled bean meal significantly (P < 0.05) increased protein and lipid content and digestibility of dry matter and protein of beans, and decreased fiber, ash and tannin content. The chemical content of beans and digestibility of ingredients compare favorably with those reported by other authors, indicating the benefits of fermentation and dehulling.CONCLUSIONWe concluded that bean meal obtained from fermentation or dehulling represents a low‐cost alternative for diets for tilapia. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Atheroprotective Effects and Molecular Targets of Tanshinones Derived From Herbal Medicine Danshen
Authors: Fang Jian , Little Peter J. , Xu Suowen 
Published: February 2017

AbstractMedicinal plant‐derived bioactive compounds modulate multiple therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), rendering herb‐derived phytochemicals effective against one of the major CVDs‐atherosclerosis. Danshen (Salvia milthiorriza Bunge) is a Chinese medicine that has been used in cardio‐ and cerebro‐vascular therapeutic remedies in Asian countries for many years. Emerging evidence from cellular, animal, and clinical studies suggests that major lipophilic tanshinones from Danshen can treat atherosclerotic CVDs. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of tanshinones in treating atherosclerosis, ranging from endothelial dysfunction to chronic inflammation. We also overview new molecular targets of tanshinones, including endothelial nitric oxide synthase, AMP‐activated protein kinase, ABC transporter A1, heme oxygenase 1, soluble epoxide hydrolase, 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, estrogen receptor, and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9. Thus, this review provides a new perspective for advancing our understanding of the “ancient” herb Danshen from “modern” biomedical perspectives, supporting the possibility of exploiting tanshinones and derivatives as effective therapeutics against atherosclerosis‐related cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Automatic segmentation of the right ventricle from cardiac MRI using a learning‐based approach
Authors: Avendi Michael R. , Kheradvar Arash , Jafarkhani Hamid 
Published: February 2017

PurposeThis study aims to accurately segment the right ventricle (RV) from cardiac MRI using a fully automatic learning‐based method.MethodsThe proposed method uses deep learning algorithms, i.e., convolutional neural networks and stacked autoencoders, for automatic detection and initial segmentation of the RV chamber. The initial segmentation is then combined with the deformable models to improve the accuracy and robustness of the process. We trained our algorithm using 16 cardiac MRI datasets of the MICCAI 2012 RV Segmentation Challenge database and validated our technique using the rest of the dataset (32 subjects).ResultsAn average Dice metric of 82.5% along with an average Hausdorff distance of 7.85 mm were achieved for all the studied subjects. Furthermore, a high correlation and level of agreement with the ground truth contours for end‐diastolic volume (0.98), end‐systolic volume (0.99), and ejection fraction (0.93) were observed.ConclusionOur results show that deep learning algorithms can be effectively used for automatic segmentation of the RV. Computed quantitative metrics of our method outperformed that of the existing techniques participated in the MICCAI 2012 challenge, as reported by the challenge organizers. Magn Reson Med 78:2439–2448, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Multishot echo‐planar MREIT for fast imaging of conductivity, current density, and electric field distributions
Authors: Chauhan Munish , Vidya Shankar Rohini , Ashok Kumar Neeta , Kodibagkar Vikram D. , Sadleir Rosalind 
Published: February 2017

PurposeMagnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) sequences typically use conventional spin or gradient echo–based acquisition methods for reconstruction of conductivity and current density maps. Use of MREIT in functional and electroporation studies requires higher temporal resolution and faster sequences. Here, single and multishot echo planar imaging (EPI) based MREIT sequences were evaluated to see whether high‐quality MREIT phase data could be obtained for rapid reconstruction of current density, conductivity, and electric fields.MethodsA gel phantom with an insulating inclusion was used as a test object. Ghost artifact, geometric distortion, and MREIT correction algorithms were applied to the data. The EPI‐MREIT‐derived phase‐projected current density and conductivity images were compared with simulations and spin‐echo images as a function of EPI shot number.ResultsGood agreement among measures in simulated, spin echo, and EPI data was achieved. Current density errors were stable and below 9% as the shot number decreased from 64 to 2, but increased for single‐shot images. Conductivity reconstruction relative contrast ratios were stable as the shot number decreased. The derived electric fields also agreed with the simulated data.ConclusionsThe EPI methods can be combined successfully with MREIT reconstruction algorithms to achieve fast imaging of current density, conductivity, and electric field. Magn Reson Med 79:71–82, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Towards performance prediction of multicore software routers
Authors: Suksomboon Kalika , Matsumoto Nobutaka , Fukushima Masaki , Okamoto Shuichi , Hayashi Michiaki 
Published: February 2017

SummaryRapid advances in network function virtualization technologies have led to the emergence of flexible and scalable embedded data plane processing functions, eg, packet forwarding, on commodity hardware. However, performance prediction of softwarized network functions on such shared resources is challenging but very important for obtaining the full benefits of network function virtualization. This paper addresses the problem of performance prediction for multicore software routers and reveals a key technique to achieve high accuracy. Motivated by observations, we first analyze how many CPU cycles are spent for forwarding a packet in multicore processing systems. Our prediction model of the CPU usage based on cache contention can capture its nonlinear dilation scaled by the number of CPU cores–called dilated CPU consumption (DCC). We validate the accuracy of the DCC model with measured data. On the basis of the DCC model, we develop 2 performance prediction algorithms to predict the maximum throughput of the packet‐forwarding function corresponding to the assigned resources. The first algorithm includes CPU utilization statistics (called DCC‐u), while its simplified version (called sDCC) does not require CPU utilization statistics. We validate the proposed models through the exhaustive set of experiments under various amounts of assigned resources (ie, CPU speeds and the number of CPU cores) and different traffic loads (ie, a large and small number of traffic flows). The results show that DCC‐u and sDCC achieve high accuracy under various amounts of resources and traffic conditions. Remarkably, they improve the precision of estimation from that of the existing techniques by up to 105% to 163%.
Stabilized velocity and pressure mixed hybrid DGFEM for the stokes problem
Authors: Igreja Iury , Loula Abimael F. D. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryWe propose mixed hybrid Discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element (DGFEM) formulations for the Stokes problem characterized by the introduction of Lagrange multipliers associated with the traces of the velocity and pressure fields on the edges of the elements to weakly impose the transmission conditions. Both velocity and pressure multipliers are stabilized and, as a consequence of these stabilizations, we prove existence and uniqueness of solution for the local problems. All velocity and pressure degrees‐of‐freedom can be eliminated at the element level by static condensation leading to a global problem in the multipliers only. The proposed methodology is able to recover stability of very convenient choices of finite element spaces, such as those adopting equal order polynomial approximations for all fields. Numerical experiments illustrate the flexibility and robustness of the proposed formulations and show optimal rates of convergence. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implicit Lyapunov‐based control strategy for closed quantum systems with dipole and polarizability coupling
Authors: Zhao Shouwei , Lin Hai , Sun Jitao , Zhou Lei 
Published: February 2017

SummaryIn this paper, the state transfer of finite dimensional closed quantum systems with dipole and polarizability coupling in non‐ideal cases is investigated. Two kinds of non‐ideal systems are considered, where the internal Hamiltonian of the system is not strongly regular and not all the eigenvectors of the internal Hamiltonian are directly coupled with the target state. Such systems often exist in practical quantum systems such as the one‐dimensional oscillator and coupled two‐spin system. An implicit Lyapunov‐based control strategy is proposed here with convergence analysis for quantum systems modeled by finite dimensional bilinear Schrödinger equations. Specifically, two kinds of Lyapunov functions are defined via implicit functions, and their existences are guaranteed with the help of a fixed point theorem. Then, the local convergence analysis is investigated with the explicit characterization of the largest invariant set by LaSalle invariance principle. Finally, the performance of the feedback design is illustrated by numerical simulations. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.