bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Slip interface imaging based on MR‐elastography preoperatively predicts meningioma–brain adhesion
Authors: Yin Ziying , Hughes Joshua D. , Glaser Kevin J. , Manduca Armando , Van Gompel Jamie , Link Michael J. , Romano Anthony , Ehman Richard L. , Huston John 
Published: February 2017

PurposeTo investigate the ability of slip interface imaging (SII), a recently developed magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)‐based technique, to predict the degree of meningioma–brain adhesion, using findings at surgery as the reference standard.Materials and MethodsWith Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent, 25 patients with meningiomas >2.5 cm in maximal diameter underwent preoperative SII assessment. Intracranial shear motions were introduced using a soft, pillow‐like head driver and the resulting displacement field was acquired with an MRE pulse sequence on 3T MR scanners. The displacement data were analyzed to determine tumor–brain adhesion by assessing intensities on shear line images and raw as well as normalized octahedral shear strain (OSS) values along the interface. The SII findings of shear line images, OSS, and normalized OSS were independently and blindly correlated with surgical findings of tumor adhesion by using the Cohen's κ coefficient and chi‐squared test.ResultsNeurosurgeons categorized the surgical plane as extrapial (no adhesion) in 15 patients, mixed in four, and subpial (adhesion) in six. Both shear line images and OSS agreed with the surgical findings in 18 (72%) cases (fair agreement, κ = 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05–0.69), while normalized OSS was concordant with the surgical findings in 23 (92%) cases (good agreement, κ = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.67–1). The correlation between SII predictions (shear line images, OSS, and normalized OSS) and the surgical findings were statistically significant (chi‐squared test, P = 0.02, P = 0.02, and P < 0.0001, respectively).ConclusionSII preoperatively evaluates the degree of meningioma–brain adhesion noninvasively, allowing for improved prediction of surgical risk and tumor resectability.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1007–1016.
Combining soil and tree‐stem flux measurements and soil gas profiles to understand CH4 pathways in Fagus sylvatica forests
Authors: Maier Martin , Machacova Katerina , Lang Friederike , Svobodova Kateřina , Urban Otmar 
Published: February 2017

AbstractQuantifying and understanding fluxes of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in natural soil–plant–atmosphere systems are crucial to predict global climate change. Wetland herbaceous species or tree species at waterlogged sites are known to emit large amounts of CH4. Upland forest soils are regarded as CH4 sinks and tree species like upland beech are not known to significantly emit CH4. Yet, data are scarce and this assumption needs to be tested.We combined measurements of soil–atmosphere and stem–atmosphere fluxes of CO2 and CH4, and soil gas profiles to assess the contribution of the different ecosystem compartments at two upland beech forest sites in Central Europe in a case study. Soil was a net CH4 sink at both sites, though emissions were detected consistently from beech stems at one site. Although stem emissions from beech stems were high compared to known fluxes from other upland tree species, they were substantially lower compared to the strong CH4 sink of the soil. Yet, we observed extraordinarily large CH4 emissions from one beech tree that was 140% of the CH4 sink of the soil. The soil gas profile at this tree indicated CH4 production at a soil depth > 0.3 m, despite the net uptake of CH4 consistently observed at the soil surface. Field soil assessment showed strong redoximorphic color patterns in the adjacent soil and supports this evaluation. We hypothesize that there is a transport link between the soil and stem via the root system representing a preferential transport mechanism for CH4 despite the fact that beech roots usually do not bear aerenchyma. The high mobility of gases requires a holistic view on the soil–plant–atmosphere system. Therefore, we recommend including field soil assessment and soil gas profiles measurements when investigating soil–atmosphere and stem–atmosphere fluxes to better understand the sources of gases and their transport mechanisms.
The utility of the musculocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap in pharyngolaryngeal reconstruction in the high‐risk patient
Authors: Ooi Adrian S.H. , Teven Chad M. , Inbal Amir , Chang David W. 
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESPrior radiotherapy leads to increased wound complication rates for microsurgical reconstruction of pharyngolaryngeal (PL) defects. Incorporating vastus lateralis muscle together with anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) skin in defect reconstruction is useful in protecting vital structures and reinforcing irradiated neck skin and suture lines. This study shows the utility of the musculocutaneous ALT (MC ALT) in PL reconstruction in previously irradiated patients.METHODSA single‐surgeon, retrospective chart review of all patients with defects of the PL region where an MC ALT was used for reconstruction from February 2014 to May 2016. The harvest of the MC ALT is described.RESULTSThirteen consecutive patients underwent reconstruction with a MC ALT flap. All 13 patients had received previous radiotherapy. PL defects included five partial, five subtotal, and three total. There was a 100% flap survival rate with five early recipient site complications including three fistulas, one neck abscess, and one partial muscle necrosis. Three patients (23%) developed strictures requiring dilatation, two of whom had received post‐reconstruction radiotherapy.CONCLUSIONSThe use of the MC ALT for reconstruction of PL defects should be considered to mitigate the negative effects of prior irradiation and provide a back‐up plan in instances where complications occur.
Overcoming the divide between ataxias and spastic paraplegias: Shared phenotypes, genes, and pathways
Authors: Synofzik Matthis , Schüle Rebecca 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTAutosomal‐dominant spinocerebellar ataxias, autosomal‐recessive spinocerebellar ataxias, and hereditary spastic paraplegias have traditionally been designated in separate clinicogenetic disease classifications. This classification system still largely frames clinical thinking and genetic workup in clinical practice. Yet, with the advent of next‐generation sequencing, phenotypically unbiased studies have revealed the limitations of this classification system. Various genes (eg, SPG7, SYNE1, PNPLA6) traditionally rooted in either the ataxia or hereditary spastic paraplegia classification system have now been shown to cause ataxia on the one end of the disease continuum and hereditary spastic paraplegia on the other. Other genes such as GBA2 and KIF1C were almost simultaneously published as both a hereditary spastic paraplegia and an ataxia gene. The variability and fluidity of observed phenotypes along the ataxia‐spasticity spectrum warrants a rethinking of the traditional classification system. We propose to replace this divisive diagnosis‐driven ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia classification system by a descriptive, unbiased approach of modular phenotyping. This approach is also open to expansion of the phenotype beyond ataxia and spasticity, which often occur as part of broader multisystem neuronal dysfunction. The concept of a continuous ataxia‐spasticity disease spectrum is further supported by ataxias and hereditary spastic paraplegias sharing not only overlapping phenotypes and underlying genes, but also common cellular pathways and disease mechanisms. This suggests a shared vulnerability of cerebellar and corticospinal neurons for common pathophysiological processes. It might be this mechanistic overlap that drives their clinical overlap. A mechanistically inspired classification system will help to pave the way for mechanism‐based strategies for drug development. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Validating the ability of the discontinuous deformation analysis method to model normal P‐wave propagation across rock fractures
Authors: Gong Wenjun , Wang Yunsheng , Ning Youjun , Luo Yonghong , Wang Yujie 
Published: February 2017

SummaryThe effects of fractures on wave propagation problems are increasingly abstracting the attention of scholars and engineers in rock engineering field. This study aims to fully validate the ability of discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) to model normal P‐wave propagation across rock fractures. The effects of a single fracture and multiple parallel fractures are all tested. The results indicate that DDA can accurately reflect the fracture effects, including the fractures stiffness, the fracture spacing and the fracture number, and the effects of incident wave frequency on one‐dimensional P‐wave propagation problems. Thus, DDA is able to deal well with normal incident P‐wave propagation problems. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extended RF shimming: Sequence‐level parallel transmission optimization applied to steady‐state free precession MRI of the heart
Authors: Beqiri Arian , Price Anthony N. , Padormo Francesco , Hajnal Joseph V. , Malik Shaihan J. 
Published: February 2017

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at high field presents challenges because of the high specific absorption rate and significant transmit field (B1+) inhomogeneities. Parallel transmission MRI offers the ability to correct for both issues at the level of individual radiofrequency (RF) pulses, but must operate within strict hardware and safety constraints. The constraints are themselves affected by sequence parameters, such as the RF pulse duration and TR, meaning that an overall optimal operating point exists for a given sequence. This work seeks to obtain optimal performance by performing a ‘sequence‐level’ optimization in which pulse sequence parameters are included as part of an RF shimming calculation. The method is applied to balanced steady‐state free precession cardiac MRI with the objective of minimizing TR, hence reducing the imaging duration. Results are demonstrated using an eight‐channel parallel transmit system operating at 3 T, with an in vivo study carried out on seven male subjects of varying body mass index (BMI). Compared with single‐channel operation, a mean‐squared‐error shimming approach leads to reduced imaging durations of 32 ± 3% with simultaneous improvement in flip angle homogeneity of 32 ± 8% within the myocardium.
Hansen solubility parameter: from polyethylene and poly(vinyl acetate) homopolymers to ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers
Authors: Camacho Javier , Díez Eduardo , Díaz Ismael , Ovejero Gabriel 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) of two ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers (with 18 and 33 wt% of vinyl acetate) and their corresponding homopolymers (polyethylene, PE, and poly(vinyl acetate), PVAc) have been studied at various temperatures, employing the previously obtained Flory–Huggins parameters. From these latter values, a procedure based on the Hansen solubility spheres theory was employed to determine the HSPs, as well as the radius of interaction. The procedure was validated with literature data, with deviations of around 3%. The HSP values (dispersion, polar and association terms, respectively, all in MPa1/2) at 333.15 K are 14.84, −3.88 and 1.78 for PE, 17.65, −1.24 and 2.76 for EVA410 (with 18 wt% of vinyl acetate), 17.52, 0.15 and 3.61 for EVA460 (with 33 wt% of vinyl acetate) and 19.45, 10.59 and 5.76 for PVAc. The main characteristic of the obtained HSP values is that the high polar term of PVAc tends to increase the solubility character of the pure PE, and thus the EVA copolymers, allowing them to solubilize dispersion and polar compounds. Finally, it was also demonstrated that it is possible to predict the HSPs of EVA copolymers using the vinyl acetate content and the HSPs of pure PE and PVAc as input data. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Evaluation of vehicular dynamic effects for the life cycle fatigue design of short‐span bridges
Authors: Zhang Wei , Wu Mengxue , Zhu Jin 
Published: February 2017

AbstractDedicated to Prof. Dr. Akimitsu Kurita on his 70th birthdayIn current bridge design codes or specifications, the dynamic effects of vehicles are considered by using a dynamic amplification factor (DAF) or dynamic load allowance (IM). However, a DAF is defined based on the ratio of the maximum dynamic load responses to the static load responses, and it is more appropriate for maximum value‐based strength design. For fatigue design, stress cycles other than the maximum stress ranges could contribute to fatigue damage accumulations. Meanwhile, on the capacity side, a reduction in fatigue strength due to structural deterioration, which is related to local environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, etc., could introduce more uncertainties into structural safety and reliability evaluation. However, such multiple stress range effects and structural deterioration are not included in current bridge fatigue design. To evaluate the vehicular dynamic effects for the life cycle fatigue design of short‐span bridges, the present study proposes a new dynamic amplification factor for life cycle bridge fatigue design (DALC), which is defined as the ratio of the life cycle nominal live load stress range to the maximum static stress range. In contrast to other traditionally defined dynamic factors, the newly defined DALC includes information about both the structural loading and the structural capacity. Therefore, the multiple stress cycles from vehicle‐induced vibrations and the structural deteriorations from road surface conditions and corrosion of structural members are included. Parametric studies of DALC were carried out for multiple parameters and variables in the bridge's design life cycle, for instance, possible faulting days in each year, fatigue strength exponent, corrosion parameters and corrosion level. The stochastic properties and uncertainties from these variables are also considered in the DALC calculation.
Evaluation of cracks in an offshore crane runway girder
Authors: Wardenier Jaap , de Vries Peter , Timmermann Gerrit 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThis paper deals with the evaluation of fatigue cracks in a box type radial crane runway girder with full penetration welds between the web and flange. After 20 years of service fatigue cracks were observed which were initiated in the flange at the toe of the full penetration weld with the web. The observed cracks in the crane runway girder vary in length from a few mm to 330 mm with a summation of the lengths of all observed cracks being 750 mm, on a total length of 56000 mm, thus being only 1.3 %.The investigation consists of the fatigue analysis described in this paper and additional experimental investigations with scale tests of approximately 1:2 on equivalent I sections with a concentrated load and with a line load to investigate whether cracks stop when they have grown through the residual tensile stress field. For this analyzed crane runway girder with multi‐layered full penetration welds and with small cracks at the weld toes in the flange, based on EN 1993‐6 the damage would be 1.0 for a design class 98 which is not far from the ”class“ 92 found by Kuhlmann et al, [1] for tests with rolling wheels, however, related to weld failures from the root of not fully penetrated fillet welds in combination with crack initiations at the weld toe.
Design and construction of the complex steel structure for the Amager Bakke waste‐to‐energy plant
Authors: Hauptenbuchner Johannes 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAmager Bakke (English: Amager slope) is the name of Copenhagen's new waste‐to‐energy‐plant located on the Amager peninsula. Once finished, it will be one of the largest incinerators in northern Europe and will be used for the combined production of district heat and electricity. On top of the waste‐to‐energy plant there will be a landscaped park featuring artificial ski slopes and a viewing platform. The support structure is mainly formed by a steelwork. The model‐based design and construction of the complex, three‐dimensional steel structure proved to be a challenging task for all the engineers and companies involved.
Self‐assembly of Renewable Nano‐sized Triterpenoids
Authors: Bag Braja Gopal , Majumdar Rakhi 
Published: February 2017

AbstractStudies on plant metabolites have gained renewed interest in recent years because these can serve as renewable chemicals for the development of a sustainable society. Among various plant secondary metabolites, terpenoids constitute the major component and triterpenoids are the 30C subset of it. In recent years, triterpenoids have drawn the attention of scientific community due to many of its potential and realized applications in medicine, drug delivery, thermochromic materials, pollutant capture, catalysis, liquid crystals, etc. In this personal review, we have discussed our computational results carried out on sixty representative naturally occurring triterpenoids demonstrating that all the triterpenoids are renewable functional nano‐entities. Study of the self‐assembly of several triterpenoids such as betulin, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid and arjunolic acid and their derivatives in different liquids have also been discussed. Moreover, the utilization of the resulting supramolecular architectures such as vesicles, spheres, flowers and fibrillar networks of nano‐ to micrometer dimensions and gels have also been discussed in the perspective of green, renewable and nanos.
Water quality and UK agriculture: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Holden Joseph , Haygarth Philip M. , Dunn Nicola , Harris Jim , Harris Robert C. , Humble Ann , Jenkins Alan , MacDonald Jannette , McGonigle Dan F. , Meacham Theresa , Orr Harriet G. , Pearson Phillippa L. , Ross Martin , Sapiets Alison , Benton Tim 
Published: February 2017

There are high aspirations for environmental water quality targets in the UK, but requirements for significant growth in agricultural production to meet both food security objectives and provide viable livelihoods for farmers make these hard to achieve. Significant water quality challenges are related to nutrients, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, pathogens, sediments and habitat alteration. To facilitate the challenges posed, there is a need for predictive, spatially distributed models to be developed that encompass the key aspects of agriculture and water management in order to inform future policy and organizations with an interest in land management. Additionally, there needs to be recognition from policy makers that different solutions are needed in different agri‐water systems and that it often takes many years or decades for policies to have a sustained water quality impact. Long‐term support for research infrastructure and the scientific skills base is required to enable measurement and data analysis necessary to inform decision making. Farmers need clearly articulated information on the issues and potential solutions on which to make informed management decisions regarding water. There are existing solutions to some problems and this knowledge needs to be effectively disseminated with appropriate incentives for implementation to have maximum impact. Greater collaboration between researchers, industry, and policy makers, with the necessary framework to deliver effective joint working, is urgently needed. There is also a need for a wider societal understanding of the land–water system and the various ways in which society pays (and might pay in the future) for the real value of water. WIREs Water 2017, 4:e1201. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1201This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems
Science of Water > Water Quality
Global employment and social trends
Authors: Kühn Stefan , Milasi Santo , Horne Richard , Yoon Sheena 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAgainst the backdrop of a rather disappointing economic performance in 2016 and the below‐trend outlook for 2017, Chapter 1 assesses the ability of the economy to (i) generate a sufficient number of jobs, (ii) improve the quality of employment for those with a job, and (iii) ensure that the gains of growth are shared in an inclusive manner. The chapter also discusses the policy efforts needed to overcome structural impediments to growth, including inequality.
Relating trace refinement and linearizability
Authors: Smith Graeme , Winter Kirsten 
Published: February 2017

Abstract

In the late 1980’s, Back extended the notion of stepwise refinement of sequential systems to concurrent systems. By doing so he provided a definition of what it means for a concurrent system to be correct with respect to an abstract (potentially sequential) specification. This notion of refinement, referred to as
trace refinement
, was also independently proposed by Abadi and Lamport and has found widespread acceptance and application within the refinement community. Around the same time as Back’s work, Herlihy and Wing proposed
linearizability
as the correctness notion for concurrent objects. Linearizability has also found widespread acceptance being regarded as the standard notion of correctness for concurrent objects in the concurrent-algorithms community. In this paper, we provide a formal link between trace refinement and linearizability. This allows us to compare the two correctness conditions. Our comparisons show that trace refinement implies linearizability, but that linearizability does not imply trace refinement in general. However, linearizability does imply trace refinement under certain conditions. These conditions relate to (i) the fact that trace refinement can be used to prove both safety and liveness properties, whereas linearizability can only be used to prove safety properties, and (ii) the fact that trace refinement depends on the identification of when operations in the implementation are observed to occur. We discuss the consequences of these differences in the context of verifying concurrent objects.
Wavefront direction and cycle length affect left atrial electrogram amplitude
Authors: Iso Kazuki , Watanabe Ichiro , Kogawa Rikitake , Okumura Yasuo , Nagashima Koichi , Takahashi Keiko , Watanabe Ryuta , Arai Masaru , Ohkubo Kimie , Nakai Toshiko , Hirayama Atsushi , Nikaido Mizuki 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe relationship between atrial electrogram (EGM) characteristics in atrial fibrillation (AF) and those in sinus rhythm (SR) are generally unknown. The activation rate and direction may affect EGM characteristics. We examined characteristics of left atrial (LA) EGMs obtained during pacing from different sites.MethodsThe study included 10 patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation for AF. Atrial EGMs were recorded from a 64‐pole basket catheter placed in the LA, and bipolar EGM amplitudes from the distal electrode pair (1–2) and proximal electrode pair (6–7) from 8 splines were averaged. The high right atrium (HRA), proximal coronary sinus (CSp), and distal coronary sinus (CSd) were paced at 600 ms and 300 ms.ResultsWhen the LA voltage at SR was ≥1.5 mV, bipolar voltages of the HRA were greater than those of the CSp, which were greater than those of the CSd, regardless of the pacing cycle length. The shorter pacing cycle length resulted in a reduction of the LA EGM voltage at sites of SR voltage ≥1.5 mV, but no significant difference was seen at sites where the SR EGM amplitude was between >0.5 and <1.5 mV. No significant differences were seen in intra‐basket conduction times between pacing cycle lengths of 600 ms and 300 ms at any pacing site.ConclusionThe rate and direction‐dependent reduction of the amplitude of atrial EGMs may explain, in part, the voltage discordance during SR and AF.