bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiographic evaluation in clinical practice of the types and stage of incisor tooth resorption and hypercementosis in horses
Authors: Henry T. J. , Puchalski S. M. , Arzi B. , Kass P. H. , Verstraete F. J. M. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryBackgroundThere are several reports of incisor tooth resorption and hypercementosis in horses but, to date, studies have been limited in case numbers and to advanced lesions. Tooth resorption in other species is a radiographic diagnosis of types of resorption that are often identified before clinical signs. Our goal was to evaluate radiographically incisor tooth resorption in a large population of horses, utilising interpretation criteria from canine and human dentistry.ObjectiveTo document and classify incisor tooth resorption and hypercementosis.Study designRetrospective descriptive case series.MethodsHorses presented for routine dental care >5 years old were included only if owners were unaware of incisor pathology. Radiographs (three views) were obtained of the incisor teeth and incisor teeth resorption was classified according to the radiographic criteria described for man and dogs. Hypercementosis and its location were recorded.ResultsTooth resorption was detected in 149 of 169 (88.2%) horses and 951 of 1952 (48.7%) of incisor teeth. The classification system used was applicable in 926 (97.2%) of 951 affected teeth. Hypercementosis was detected in 34 (20.1%) horses and 148 (7.6%) teeth. As horses increased in age, resorption and hypercementosis was more frequent; no significant differences were found among sex or breed categories. All horses with hypercementosis had resorption, but only 23.4% of horses with resorption had hypercementosis. Advanced (stage ≥3) resorption was detected in 159 (8.1%) teeth and 54 (32.0%) horses in an otherwise clinically healthy population.Main limitationsCertain horses’ anatomy precluded isolation of the mandibular third incisor teeth from the canine teeth due to superimposition.ConclusionsIncisor tooth resorption, in particular external replacement resorption and external inflammatory resorption, is common in horses. Hypercementosis is consistently associated with resorption, but the inverse association is inconsistent.
Automatic estimation of exercises' difficulty levels in a tutoring system for teaching the conversion of natural language into first‐order logic
Authors: Perikos Isidoros , Grivokostopoulou Foteini , Kovas Konstantinos , Hatzilygeroudis Ioannis 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe estimation of the difficulty level of exercises is a fundamental aspect of intelligent tutoring systems, and it is necessary in order to achieve better adaptation to the students' needs and maximize learning efficiency. In this article, we present an approach to automatically estimates the difficulty level of exercises in natural language (NL) to first‐order of logic (FOL). The estimation of an exercise's difficulty level is based on the complexity of the corresponding answer, that is the FOL formula, as well as the structure and the semantics of the exercise, that is a natural language sentence and it is carried out in two main steps. Initially, a preliminary estimation is performed based on the complexity of the FOL formula. The system takes as input parameters the number, the type and the order of quantifiers, the number of implications, and the number of different connectives. Afterwards, the final estimation is made based on both semantic aspects of the NL sentence and the structure of the FOL formula. An evaluation study was conducted to assess the system's performance, and the results are very encouraging.
Influence of WFIKKN1 on BMP1‐mediated activation of latent myostatin
Authors: Szláma György , Vásárhelyi Viktor , Trexler Mária , Patthy László 
Published: November 2016

The NTR domain of WFIKKN1 protein has been shown to have significant affinity for the prodomain regions of promyostatin and latent myostatin but the biological significance of these interactions remained unclear. In view of its role as a myostatin antagonist, we tested the assumption that WFIKKN1 inhibits the release of myostatin from promyostatin and/or latent myostatin. WFIKKN1 was found to have no effect on processing of promyostatin by furin, the rate of cleavage of latent myostatin by BMP1, however, was significantly enhanced in the presence of WFIKKN1 and this enhancer activity was superstimulated by heparin. Unexpectedly, WFIKKN1 was also cleaved by BMP1 and our studies have shown that the KKN1 fragment generated by BMP1‐cleavage of WFIKKN1 contributes most significantly to the observed enhancer activity. Analysis of a pro‐TGF‐β ‐based homology model of homodimeric latent myostatin revealed that the BMP1‐cleavage sites are buried and not readily accessible to BMP1. In view of this observation, the most plausible explanation for the BMP1‐enhancer activity of the KKN1 fragment is that it shifts a conformational equilibrium of latent myostatin from the closed circular structure of the homodimer to a more open form, making the cleavage sites more accessible to BMP1. On the other hand, the observation that the enhancer activity of KKN1 is superstimulated in the presence of heparin is explained by the fact KKN1, latent myostatin, and BMP1 have affinity for heparin and these interactions with heparin increase the local concentrations of the reactants thereby facilitating the action of BMP1.EnzymesFurin: EC 3.4.21.75; BMP1, bone morphogentic protein 1 or procollagen C‐endopeptidase: EC 3.4.24.19.
Application of the cohesive zone model for analysing the edge crack propagation of steel sheet in the cold rolling process
Authors: Zan D. Q. , Sun Q. , Pan H. L. , Chen J. J. , Wang Z. D. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn the cold rolling process, the expansion and coalescence of micro‐defects can make steel sheet quality descend and create edge crack in the steel sheet. And the edge crack can cause the strip rupture completely. In this research, the cohesive zone model (CZM) was used to analyse the initiation and propagation of edge crack in the cold rolling process with the non‐reversing two‐high mill. A bi‐linear traction–separation law was utilized which is primarily given by the CZM parameters including the cohesive stress, T, and the cohesive energy, Γ. Compared with other popular models such as the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman (GTN) model, the CZM presents certain advantages because it requires a smaller number of parameters to be defined. Comparison results of the experiments and simulation illustrated that the CZM can provide accurate prediction for the propagation of edge crack in the cold rolling process. Parametric analysis was carried out and showed that the extent of the crack propagation increases with the increasing of the reduction ratio.
Strong thermal acclimation of photosynthesis in tropical and temperate wet‐forest tree species: the importance of altered Rubisco content
Authors: Scafaro Andrew P. , Xiang Shuang , Long Benedict M. , Bahar Nur H. A. , Weerasinghe Lasantha K. , Creek Danielle , Evans John R. , Reich Peter B. , Atkin Owen K. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractUnderstanding of the extent of acclimation of light‐saturated net photosynthesis (An) to temperature (T), and associated underlying mechanisms, remains limited. This is a key knowledge gap given the importance of thermal acclimation for plant functioning, both under current and future higher temperatures, limiting the accuracy and realism of Earth system model (ESM) predictions. Given this, we analysed and modelled T‐dependent changes in photosynthetic capacity in 10 wet‐forest tree species: six from temperate forests and four from tropical forests. Temperate and tropical species were each acclimated to three daytime growth temperatures (Tgrowth): temperate – 15, 20 and 25 °C; tropical – 25, 30 and 35 °C. CO2 response curves of An were used to model maximal rates of RuBP (ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate) carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax) at each treatment's respective Tgrowth and at a common measurement T (25 °C). SDS‐PAGE gels were used to determine abundance of the CO2‐fixing enzyme, Rubisco. Leaf chlorophyll, nitrogen (N) and mass per unit leaf area (LMA) were also determined. For all species and Tgrowth, An at current atmospheric CO2 partial pressure was Rubisco‐limited. Across all species, LMA decreased with increasing Tgrowth. Similarly, area‐based rates of Vcmax at a measurement T of 25 °C (Vcmax25) linearly declined with increasing Tgrowth, linked to a concomitant decline in total leaf protein per unit leaf area and Rubisco as a percentage of leaf N. The decline in Rubisco constrained Vcmax and An for leaves developed at higher Tgrowth and resulted in poor predictions of photosynthesis by currently widely used models that do not account for Tgrowth‐mediated changes in Rubisco abundance that underpin the thermal acclimation response of photosynthesis in wet‐forest tree species. A new model is proposed that accounts for the effect of Tgrowth‐mediated declines in Vcmax25 on An, complementing current photosynthetic thermal acclimation models that do not account for T sensitivity of Vcmax25.
Farmers’ Adoption of Irrigation Technologies: Experimental Evidence from a Coordination Game with Positive Network Externalities in India
Authors: Müller Malte , Kimmich Christian , Rommel Jens 
Published: November 2016

AbstractElectric irrigation contributes to food security in rural India, but deteriorating electrical infrastructures threaten the functioning of farmers’ pump sets. This problem could be solved through investments in energy-efficient technologies. However, network externalities create a coordination problem for farmers. We develop a framed field experiment to study the effects of group size, leading by example, and payoff structures on the ability to coordinate technology adoption investments. The experiment is based on a game that combines features of a step-level public goods game and a critical mass game. Our findings show that smaller groups more frequently coordinate on payoff- superior equilibria and that higher payoffs lead to more investments. Contrary to previous studies, leading by example reduces investments but has no effect on efficiency. Building on this analysis, we discuss possible bottom-up solutions to the energy crisis in rural India.
Return visits and belonging to countries of origin among young people from refugee backgrounds
Authors: McMICHAEL CELIA , NUNN CAITLIN , GIFFORD SANDRA , CORREA‐VELEZ IGNACIO 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn this article, we explore the return visits of resettled young people from refugee backgrounds to their personal and/or ancestral countries of origin. We draw on qualitative data from a longitudinal study of people who fled their country of origin at an early age, many of whom were born or lived for protracted periods in countries of asylum, and resettled in Australia. We demonstrate that return visits are not simply a homecoming; the young people's narratives reflect ambivalent relationships to the homeland experienced across multiple domains of belonging. Accounts of return visits refer to three core domains of belonging – practical national belonging, family connection, and attachment to material places. We argue that a return visit gives these youths a valued opportunity to negotiate and develop their homeland connections, though not necessarily an unambiguous opportunity to belong.
The upside‐down roots of a transnational advocacy network: applying an ‘organizational ecology’ approach to the anti‐GMO network
Authors: BOWNAS RICHARD 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn this article, I examine a transnational advocacy network opposed to the introduction of genetically modified crops and supportive of organic agriculture in India. I argue that this network illustrates some of the consequences of ‘upward oriented linkages’, in which professional NGO brokers focus on constructing relationships with other professional or elite partner bodies such as donor organizations, global retailers and the English language media. The ‘upside‐down’ tree that results has roots pointing upwards to global partners and to domestic elite actors but is less responsive, and less tightly bound, to mass organizations and to its purported non‐elite constituency of marginal farmers. I make this case through a methodological approach I term ‘organizational ecology’ in which I explore the idea of NGO based advocacy organizations as filling ‘niches’ in the larger political ecology of rural India and within this ‘ecology’ forming symbiotic connections to other organizations.
Bureaucratic expertise, overconfidence, and policy choice
Authors: Liu Xinsheng , Stoutenborough James , Vedlitz Arnold 
Published: November 2016

AbstractClassic theory on bureaucracy suggests that one primary source of bureaucratic power in public administration and the policy‐making process derives from bureaucratic issue‐specific expertise. Studies in psychology and behavioral economics suggest that experienced experts tend to be overconfident in estimating their expertise, but few researchers have examined whether experienced bureaucrats are prone to overconfidence and, if so, how overconfidence may correlate with their policy choice. Drawing on past theoretical and empirical literature, this study is the first to investigate these questions by using survey data collected from 579 officials in various agencies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Our analyses demonstrate that (a) the level of issue‐specific expertise perceived by individual bureaucrats is positively associated with their work experience/job relevance to climate change, (b) more experienced bureaucrats tend to be more overconfident in assessing their expertise, and (c) overconfidence, independently of sociodemographic characteristics, attitudinal factors and political ideology, correlates positively with bureaucrats’ risk‐taking policy choices.
Cokriging Transmissivity, Head and Trajectory Data for Transmissivity and Solute Path Estimation
Authors: Butera Ilaria , Soffia Claudia 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn practical situations concerning aquifers, time and/or economic restraints often make it impossible to construct numerical models, and in these cases simple methodologies could be useful, at least for feasibility studies. In this context, the present manuscript deals with the use of a straightforward cokriging method to use data acquired from a monitoring network (transmissivity, piezometric head and trajectory data) in order to obtain useful information about the characteristics of the aquifer. Two issues have been addressed: estimation of the solute path and estimation of the transmissivity. This manuscript, compared with previous works that have applied cokriging, considers that the solute transit data originate from a source of unknown intensity and from an unknown location. The proposed cokriging systems are implemented through already developed covariance and cross‐covariance functions, considering a first‐order approximation in the log‐transmissivity variance. For this reason, numerical Monte Carlo experiments have been performed to test the accuracy of the results of the proposed cokriging procedures in both weakly () and mildly () heterogeneous transmissivity aquifers. Since a prerequisite of cokriging is a linear relationship among the involved quantities, more accurate results can be expected in weakly heterogeneous transmissivity fields, where the trajectory, transmissivity and hydraulic head data relations are almost linear. Comparing the numerical results with the analytical solutions, it in fact emerges that cokriging can be very useful for the estimation of a solute path and transmissivity when a limited set of data is available for weakly heterogeneous aquifers.
Prognostic significance of low skeletal muscle mass compared with protein–energy malnutrition in liver cirrhosis
Authors: Nishikawa Hiroki , Enomoto Hirayuki , Ishii Akio , Iwata Yoshinori , Miyamoto Yuho , Ishii Noriko , Yuri Yukihisa , Takata Ryo , Hasegawa Kunihiro , Nakano Chikage , Nishimura Takashi , Yoh Kazunori , Aizawa Nobuhiro , Sakai Yoshiyuki , Ikeda Naoto , Takashima Tomoyuki , Iijima Hiroko , Nishiguchi Shuhei 
Published: November 2016

AbstractAimsTo investigate the impact of low skeletal muscle mass (LSMM) on survival as compared with protein–energy malnutrition (PEM) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).MethodsA total of 206 individuals with LC were analyzed. We retrospectively examined the impact of LSMM, as defined by psoas muscle mass at the third lumber on computed tomography, on survival as compared with PEM. In terms of comparison of the effects of LSMM and PEM on survival, we used time‐dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis.ResultsOur study cohort included 115 men and 91 women with a median age of 67 years. There were 140 patients with Child–Pugh A, 62 with Child–Pugh B, and 4 with Child–Pugh C. A total of 117 patients (56.8%) had LSMM and 52 patients (25.2%) had PEM. The proportion of PEM in patients with LSMM (31.62%, 37/117) was significantly higher than in patients without LSMM (16.85%, 15/89) (P = 0.0229). In the multivariate analysis for the entire cohort, the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma, lower body mass index, presence of LSMM, lower triglyceride value, poorer renal function, and higher des‐γ‐carboxy prothrombin value were found to be significant adverse predictors linked to overall survival, while presence of PEM tended to be significant. In the time‐dependent ROC analysis, all area under the ROCs for survival in LSMM at each time point were higher than those in PEM except for Child‐Pugh B patients.ConclusionIn this comparison of LSMM and PEM on clinical outcomes in LC patients, it was shown that LSMM may have stronger prognostic impact than PEM.
Clinical outcome and prognostic factors in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with bone metastases medicated with zoledronic acid
Authors: Honda Yohji , Aikata Hiroshi , Honda Fumi , Nakano Norihito , Nakamura Yuki , Hatooka Masahiro , Morio Kei , Kobayashi Tomoki , Fukuhara Takayuki , Nagaoki Yuko , Kawaoka Tomokazu , Hiramatsu Akira , Imamura Michio , Kawakami Yoshiiku , Chayama Kazuaki 
Published: November 2016

AbstractAimsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcome and prognostic parameters in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bone metastases who had received treatment with zoledronic acid (ZOL).MethodsNinety‐nine HCC patients with bone metastases who had been treated with ZOL were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. We analyzed the prognostic factors, including serum N‐telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) levels, as bone metabolism markers.ResultsThe median overall survival (OS) time was 11.5 months. Child–Pugh grade A (P = 0.004) and intrahepatic tumor stage (IHTS) T0–3 (P = 0.010) correlated significantly with favorable OS. In 46 patients with grade A and T0–3, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis defined 16 nmol BCE/L serum NTX as the cut‐off level for median OS. Multivariate analysis identified baseline serum NTX <16 nmol BCE/L (P = 0.045) as the only significant and independent determinant of OS.ConclusionLow baseline serum NTX level correlated with favorable outcome in bone metastatic HCC patients with Child–Pugh grade A and IHTS T0–3 treated with ZOL.
Diagnostic utility of BAP1 and EZH2 expression in malignant mesothelioma
Authors: Shinozaki‐Ushiku Aya , Ushiku Tetsuo , Morita Shigeki , Anraku Masaki , Nakajima Jun , Fukayama Masashi 
Published: November 2016

AimsMalignant mesothelioma is a highly aggressive cancer that is usually diagnosed at advanced stages; thus, highly sensitive and specific markers are necessary for its early definitive diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility and prognostic significance of BAP1 and EZH2 in malignant mesothelioma.Methods and resultsThe expression of BAP1 and EZH2 was investigated by immunohistochemistry in 32 malignant mesotheliomas and 44 benign mesothelial proliferative lesions, including well‐differentiated papillary mesothelioma (n = 4), mesothelial inclusion cyst (n = 22), and reactive mesothelial hyperplasia (n = 18). BAP1 loss and high EZH2 expression were observed in 17 (53%) and 22 (66%) malignant mesothelioma cases, respectively, whereas none of the benign lesions showed BAP1 loss or high EZH2 expression. The combination of BAP1 loss and high EZH2 expression as markers to differentiate epithelioid/biphasic malignant mesothelioma from benign mesothelial lesions was highly sensitive (90%) and specific (100%). There were no statistically significant associations between parameters such as age and sex of patients, tumour location, asbestos exposure, treatment, histology, and BAP1 or EZH2 expression. Survival analysis revealed that BAP1 loss, but not high EZH2 expression, was associated with a better prognosis.ConclusionsBAP1 loss and high EZH2 expression were highly specific to malignant mesothelioma in differentiating it from benign mesothelial proliferations, and the combination of these two markers improved the diagnostic accuracy.
Optimisation of pressurised liquid extraction for antioxidative polyphenolic compound from Momordica charantia using response surface methodology
Authors: Syahariza Zainul Abidin , Torkamani Amir Ehsan , Norziah Hani M. , Mahmood Wan Ahmad Kamil , Juliano Pablo 
Published: November 2016

SummaryPressurised liquid extraction (PLE) of antioxidant compounds from bitter gourd fruits (Momordica charantia) in aqueous ethanolic solvent was investigated using response surface methodology at laboratory scale to understand key impact of extraction variables. Extraction efficiency was optimised by measuring the yield of extraction, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP) and radical scavenging activity (RSA). The optimal extraction conditions were reached at 80% ethanol concentration, 10‐min extraction time and at 160 °C. Under these extraction conditions, values of TPC (5.40 ± 0.30 g GAE per 100 g), TFC (1.50 ± 0.10 g QE per 100 g), FRAP (778.55 ± 10 μmol eq Fe (II) g−1), yield (178.50 ± 5.50 mg g−1 dc) and RSA (75.50 ± 4.50%) were achieved. Furthermore, statistical analysis revealed that antioxidative attributes of bitter gourd extract were strongly and positively correlated with extraction temperature and ethanol concentration rather than processing time. This study illustrated that PLE has the potential to extract antioxidant compounds from tropical fruit vegetables in an accelerated manner. Furthermore, influential parameters affecting the process could be optimised for further industrial intake.