bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A realistic phantom for validating MRI‐based synthetic CT images of the human skull
Authors: Soliman Abraam S. , Burns Levi , Owrangi Amir , Lee Young , Song William Y. , Stanisz Greg , Chugh Brige P. 
Published: June 2017

PurposeTo introduce a new realistic human skull phantom for the validation of synthetic CT images of cortical bone from ultra‐short echo‐time (UTE) sequences.MethodsA human skull of an adult female was utilized as a realistic representation of skull cortical bone. The skull was stabilized in a special acrylic container and was filled with contrast agents that have T1 and T2 relaxation times similar to human brain. The phantom was MR scanned at 3T with UTE and T2‐weighted sequences, followed by CT. A clustering approach was developed to extract the cortical bone signal from MR images. maps of the skull were calculated. Synthetic CT images of the bone were compared to cortical bone signal extracted from CT images and confounding factors, such as registration errors, were analyzed.ResultsDice similarity coefficient (DSC) of UTE‐detected cortical bone was 0.84 and gradually decreased with decreasing number of spokes. DSC did not significantly depend on echo‐time. Registration errors were found to be significant confounding factors, with 25% decrease in DSC for consistent 2 mm error at each axis.ConclusionThis work introduced a new realistic human skull phantom, specifically for the evaluation and analysis of synthetic CT images of cortical bone.
Direct comparison of high‐temporal‐resolution CINE MRI with Doppler ultrasound for assessment of diastolic dysfunction in mice
Authors: Roberts Thomas A. , Price Anthony N. , Jackson Laurence H. , Taylor Valerie , David Anna L. , Lythgoe Mark F. , Stuckey Daniel J. 
Published: June 2017

Diastolic dysfunction is a sensitive early indicator of heart failure and can provide additional data to conventional measures of systolic function. Transmitral Doppler ultrasound, which measures the one‐dimensional flow of blood through the mitral valve, is currently the preferred method for the measurement of diastolic function, but the measurement of the left ventricular volume changes using high‐temporal‐resolution cinematic magnetic resonance imaging (CINE MRI) is an alternative approach which is emerging as a potentially more robust and user‐independent technique. Here, we investigated the performance of high‐temporal‐resolution CINE MRI and compared it with ultrasound for the detection of diastolic dysfunction in a mouse model of myocardial infarction. An in‐house, high‐temporal‐resolution, retrospectively gated CINE sequence was developed with a temporal resolution of 1 ms. Diastolic function in mice was assessed using a custom‐made, open‐source reconstruction package. Early (E) and late (A) left ventricular filling phases were easily identifiable, and these measurements were compared directly with high‐frequency, pulsed‐wave, Doppler ultrasound measurements of mitral valve inflow. A repeatability study established that high‐temporal‐resolution CINE MRI and Doppler ultrasound showed comparable accuracy when measuring E/A in normal control mice. However, when applied in a mouse model of myocardial infarction, high‐temporal‐resolution CINE MRI indicated diastolic heart failure (E/A = 0.94 ± 0.11), whereas ultrasound falsely detected normal cardiac function (E/A = 1.21 ± 0.11). The addition of high‐temporal‐resolution CINE MRI to preclinical imaging studies enhances the library of sequences available to cardiac researchers and potentially identifies diastolic heart failure early in disease progression.
Using children's literature to decrease moral disengagement and victimization among elementary school students
Authors: Wang Cixin , Goldberg Taryn S. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractPrevious research has suggested that moral disengagement is strongly associated with bullying and bystander behavior. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of a 5‐week classroom‐wide bullying intervention, The Bullying Literature Project‐Moral Disengagement Version (BLP‐MD), on moral disengagement and bullying among elementary school students. A quasiexperimental design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the BLP‐MD. A sample of 84 third grade students (Mage = 7.93 years, 53.6% female) from four classrooms and their teachers participated in this study. The results revealed significant time by treatment interactions for decreasing both victimization and moral disengagement in treatment classrooms compared to waitlist control classrooms. The program also resulted in improved perception of peer friendships and was rated as having high social validity for both students and their teachers. How to incorporate the BLP‐MD into the general language arts curriculum to decrease moral disengagement and bullying, and promote positive bystanding is discussed.
A novel amino acid substitution Trp574Arg in acetolactate synthase (ALS) confers broad resistance to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides in crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)
Authors: Li Jian , Li Mei , Gao Xingxiang , Fang Feng 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDCrabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) is an annual monocotyledonous weed. In recent years, field applications of nicosulfuron have been ineffective in controlling crabgrass populations in Shandong Province, China. To investigate the mechanisms of resistance to nicosulfuron in crabgrass populations, the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene fragment covering known resistance‐confering mutation sites was amplified and sequenced.RESULTSDose–response experiments suggested that the resistant population SD13 (R) was highly resistant to nicosulfuron (resistance index R/S = 43.7) compared with the sensitive population SD22 (S). ALS gene sequencing revealed a Trp574Arg substitution in the SD13 population, and no other known resistance‐conferring mutations were found. In vitro ALS enzyme assays further confirmed that the SD13 population was resistant to all tested ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. The resistance pattern experiments revealed that, compared with SD22, the SD13 population exhibited broad‐spectrum resistance to nicosulfuron (43.7‐fold), imazethapyr (11.4‐fold) and flumetsulam (16.1‐fold); however, it did not develop resistance to atrazine, mesotrione and topramezone.CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrated that Trp574Arg substitution was the main reason for crabgrass resistance to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Trp574Arg substitution in a weed species, and is the first report of target‐site mechanisms of herbicide resistance for crabgrass. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Signaling and epigenetic mechanisms of intestinal stem cells and progenitors: insight into crypt homeostasis, plasticity, and niches
Authors: Smith Ryan J. , Rao‐Bhatia Abilasha , Kim Tae‐Hee 
Published: June 2017

The rapid turnover of intestinal epithelial cells is maintained by a small number of stem cells located in pocket‐like gland structures called crypts. While our understanding of the identity and function of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) has rapidly progressed, epigenetic and transcriptional regulation in crypt stem cell and progenitor pools remains an active field of investigation. Surrounded by various types of cells in the stroma, crypt progenitors display high levels of plasticity, harboring the ability to interconvert in the face of epithelial damage. Recent studies analyzing epigenetic patterns of intestinal epithelial cells have provided evidence that plasticity is maintained by a broadly permissive epigenomic state, wherein cell‐lineage specification is directed through activation of signaling pathways and transcription factor (TF) expression. New studies also have shown that the ISC niche, which is comprised of surrounding epithelial and mesenchymal tissues, plays a crucial role in supporting the maintenance and differentiation of stem cells by providing contextual information in the form of signaling cascades, such as Wnt, Notch, and Hippo. These cascades ultimately govern TF expression to promote early cell‐lineage decisions in both crypt stem cells and progenitors. Highlighting recent studies investigating signaling, transcriptional, and epigenetic mechanisms of intestinal epithelial cells, we will discuss the mechanisms underlying crypt homeostasis, plasticity, and niches. WIREs Dev Biol 2017, 6:e281. doi: 10.1002/wdev.281This article is categorized under:

Adult Stem Cells, Tissue Renewal, and Regeneration > Tissue Stem Cells and Niches
Adult Stem Cells, Tissue Renewal, and Regeneration > Stem Cell Differentiation and Reversion
Transoral robotic surgery vs. endoscopic partial midline glossectomy for obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Folk David , D'Agostino Mark 
Published: June 2017

ObjectiveTo compare sleep‐related outcomes in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients following base of tongue resection via robotic surgery and endoscopic midline glossectomy.MethodsThis was a retrospective study. A total of 114 robotic and 37 endoscopic midline glossectomy surgeries were performed between July 2010 and April 2015 as part of single or multilevel surgery. Patients were excluded for indications other than sleep apnea or if complete sleep studies were not obtained. Thus, 45 robotic and 16 endoscopic surgeries were included in the analysis.ResultsIn the robotic surgery group there were statistically significant improvements in AHI [(44.4 ± 22.6) events/h–(14.0 ± 3.0) events/h, P < 0.001] Epworth Sleepiness Scale (12.3 ± 4.6 to 4.5 ± 2.9, P < 0.001), and O2 nadir (82.0% ± 6.1% to 85.0% ± 5.4%, P < 0.001). In the endoscopic group there were also improvements in AHI (48.7 ± 30.2 to 27.4 ± 31.9, P = 0.06), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (12.6 ± 5.5 to 8.3 ± 4.5, P = 0.08), and O2 nadir (80.2% ± 8.6% to 82.7% ± 6.5%, P = 0.4). Surgical success rate was 75.6% and 56.3% in the robotic and endoscopic groups, respectively. Greater volume of tissue removed was predictive of surgical success in the robotic cases (10.3 vs. 8.6 ml, P = 0.02).ConclusionsBoth robotic surgery and endoscopic techniques for tongue base reduction improve objective measures of sleep apnea. Greater success rates may be achieved with robotic surgery compared to traditional methods.
Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters and Other Topics: The Sixty-Eighth Session of the International Law Commission
Authors: Murphy Sean D. 
Published: June 2017

The International Law Commission held its sixty-eighth session in Geneva from May 2 to June 10, and from July 4 to August 12, 2016, under the chairmanship of Pedro Comissário Afonso (Mozambique). Notably, the Commission completedonsecond reading a full set of eighteen draft articles with commentaries on the protection of persons in the event of disasters and recommended to the United Nations General Assembly that it elaborate a convention based on the draft articles.Additionally, the Commission adopted on first reading a complete set of draft conclusions, with commentaries, for two topics: identification of customary international law; and subsequent agreements and subsequent practice in relation to the interpretation of treaties. As such, both topics might be completed by the Commission on second reading in 2018.Progress was also made in developing draft articles on crimes against humanity; draft guidelines on protection of the atmosphere; draft conclusions on jus cogens; and draft principles on protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts. The Commission commenced a debate on a proposed draft article on “limitations and exceptions” to the immunity of state officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction, but, due to insufficient time, the debate will continue in 2017. Furthermore, an additional proposed guideline on the provisional application of treaties was sent to the drafting committee. The Commission decided to add two new topics to its long-term work program: the settlement of international disputes to which international organizations are parties; and succession of states in respect of state responsibility.
Distance to international border shapes the distribution pattern of the growing Little BustardTetrax tetraxwinter population in Northern Iran
Authors: YOUSEFI MASOUD , KAFASH ANOOSHE , MALAKOUTIKHAH SHIMA , ASHOORI ABBAS , KHANI ALI , MEHDIZADE YOUSEF , ATAEI FARHAD , SHEYKHI ILANLOO SAYYAD , REZAEI HAMID REZA , SILVA JOÃO PAULO 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe Little BustardTetrax tetraxis a Near Threatened grassland bird that is fully migratory within its eastern population, wintering in large numbers across the south Caucasus and northern parts of Iran. The species’ habitat selection has been comprehensively studied in its western European range, but very limited information is available for its eastern population. Surveys carried out between 2010 and 2015 show a considerable population increase and probable range expansion in the region. We modelled the suitability of potential winter habitat for the species and found that distance to country border, land cover and altitude were the most important variables in predicting habitat suitability. There is still considerable hunting pressure in Iran and distance to border is likely to be related to strict hunting prohibition along the border belt imposed for military purposes. This represents an opportunity for the conservation of the species, where management efforts should aim at ensuring the maintenance of suitable land cover.
Stellar progenitors of black holes: insights from optical and infrared observations
Authors: Mirabel I. F. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractHere are reviewed the insights from observations at optical and infrared wavelengths for low mass limits above which stars do not seem to end as luminous supernovae. These insights are: (1) the absence in archived images of nearby galaxies of stellar progenitors of core-collapse supernovae above 16-18 M⊙, (2) the identification of luminous-massive stars that quietly disappear without optically bright supernovae, (3) the absence in the nebular spectra of supernovae of type II-P of the nucleosynthetic products expected from progenitors above 20 M⊙, (4) the absence in color magnitude diagrams of stars in the environment of historic core-collapse supernovae of stars with ⩾20 M⊙. From the results in these different areas of observational astrophysics, and the recently confirmed dependence of black hole formation on metallicity and redshift of progenitors, it is concluded that a large fraction of massive stellar binaries in the universe end as binary black holes.
Black holes formed by direct collapse: observational evidences
Authors: Mirabel I. F. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBinary black holes as the recently detected sources of gravitational waves can be formed from massive stellar binaries in the field or by dynamical interactions in clusters of high stellar density, if the black holes are the remnants of massive stars that collapsed without natal kicks that would disrupt the binary system or eject the black holes from the cluster before binary black hole formation. Here are summarized and discussed the kinematics in three dimensions of space of five Galactic black hole X-ray binaries. For Cygnus X-1 and GRS 1915+105 it is found that the black holes of ~15 M⊙ and ~10 M⊙ in these sources were formed in situ, without energetic kicks. These observations suggest that binary black holes with components of ~10 M⊙ may have been prolifically produced in the universe.
KETJU: Post-Newtonian-Accurate Supermassive Black Hole Dynamics in GADGET-3
Authors: Rantala Antti , Pihajoki Pauli , Johansson Peter H. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe present KETJU, a new regularized tree code based on algorithmic chain regularization and implemented into Gadget-3. This new code is able to follow simultaneously galactic-scale dynamical and astrophysical processes and the small-scale supermassive black hole binary dynamics. We present here the general idea of this new code and show a test simulation of black hole binary dynamics in a galaxy merger of two massive elliptical galaxies. The separation of the black holes at the time of the merger is several orders of magnitude smaller in KETJU than when compared to ordinary Gadget-3 simulations. The merger timescale is also longer by 100 − 200 Myr.
Empirical multi-wavelength prediction method for Very High Energy Gamma-ray emitting BL Lacs
Authors: Ramazani V. Fallah , Lindfors E. , Nilsson K. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe present the most up-to-date and complete multi-wavelength correlation analysis on luminosity properties of TeV BL Lacs. Correlation function (power law or linear) parameters are calculated based on linear regression method. Using the lower energy luminosities of a sample of 182 non-TeV BL Lacs and the generated functions, minimum level of VHE gamma-ray emission was calculated for each non-TeV BL Lacs. This multi wavelength prediction method gives us a list of best candidates to be observed with current generation of Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescopes.
Monitoring of the radio galaxy M 87 at Very High Energy with MAGIC during a low emission state between 2012 and 2015
Authors: Arcaro C. , Bangale P. , Manganaro M. , Mazin D. , Colin P. , Vovk Ie. , Mannheim K. ,   for the MAGIC Collaboration, Hada K. , Jermak H. E. , Madrid J. P. , Massaro F. , Richter S. , Spanier F. , Walker R. C. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe present the preliminary results from observing the nearby radio galaxy M 87 for 156 hours (between the years 2012 and 2015) with the MAGIC telescopes, which lead to a significant very high energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) detection of the source in quiescent states each year. Our VHE analysis combined with quasi-simultaneous data at other energies (from gamma-rays, X-rays, optical and radio) provides a unique opportunity to study the source variability and its broadband spectral energy distribution, which is found to disfavour a one-zone synchrotron/synchrotron self-Compton model. Therefore, other alternative scenarios for the photon emission are explored. We also find that the VHE emission is compatible with being produced close to the source radio core as previous data already indicated. A detailed paper presenting full results of the observing campaign is in preparation.
Gamma-ray Bursts Progress and Problems
Authors: Tanvir N. R. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractOur understanding of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) has come a long way in the past fifty years since their first detection. We now know that GRBs arise in distant galaxies and that there are at least two distinct sub-classes, the long-duration class being produced by some rare massive star core collapse and the short-duration class likely by compact binary mergers involved neutron stars. In both cases, the final remnant will be a stellar-mass black-hole or a massive neutron star. The bursts themselves are associated with ultra-relativistic jetted outflows created by these events, and their afterglows by the impact of these outflows on the surrounding circumburst material. Increasingly GRBs are also being used as probes of the universe, both for understanding galaxy evolution back to the era of reionization, and for the physics of gravitational wave sources. However, many aspects of GRBs remain poorly understood, some pointers to which are given here.
Relativistic loss cone dynamics: Infall and inspiral rates and branching ratios
Authors: Alexander Tal 
Published: June 2017

AbstractI describe recent advances in the formulation and modeling of relativistic stellar dynamics around a massive black hole, and the implications for the rates of infall (e.g. tidal disruption) and inspiral (e.g. gradual decay by gravitational wave emission) processes, and their branching ratios.
X-ray polarimetry – A new Window on Black Hole Systems
Authors: Goosmann René W. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThree dedicated X-ray polarimetry mission projects are currently under phase A study at NASA and ESA. The need for this new observational window is more apparent than ever. On behalf of the consortium behind the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (XIPE) we present here some prospects of X-ray polarimetry for our understanding of supermassive and stellar mass black hole systems. X-ray polarimetry is going to discriminate between leptonic and hadronic jet models in radio-loud active galactic nuclei. For leptonic jets it also puts important constraints on the origin of the seed photons that constitute the high energy emission via Comptonization. Another important application of X-ray polarimetry allows us to clarify the accretion history of the supermassive black hole at the Galactic Center. In a few Black Hole X-ray binary systems, X-ray polarimetry allows us to estimate in a new, independent way the angular momentum of the black hole.
Ballontibioplastie zur Reposition von Impressionsfrakturen des Tibiakopfs
Authors: Herath Steven , Braun Benedikt , Veith Nils , Fritz Tobias , Pohlemann Tim , Pizanis Antonius 
Published: June 2017

ZusammenfassungBei der Behandlung von Impressionsfrakturen des lateralen Tibiaplateaus gilt die offene Reposition und Osteosynthese als Methode der Wahl. Für ausgewählte Frakturen, bei denen die Impression der Gelenkfläche die Hauptkomponente darstellt, kann die Rekonstruktion des Plateaus nach der hier vorgestellten Methode jedoch auch minimalinvasiv mithilfe eines Kyphoplastieballons erfolgen, der statt konventioneller Instrumente zum Anheben der Gelenkfläche benutzt wird. Der Erfolg der Operation hängt dabei von der korrekten Indikationsstellung sowie von der Beachtung einiger Tricks und Fallstricke ab. Eigene Erfahrungen zeigen sehr gute postoperative Ergebnisse nach Tibioplastie von ausgewählten Frakturen.
Kranioplastiken: Indikationen und Materialien
Authors: Kapapa Thomas , Wirtz Christian , Richter Peter 
Published: June 2017

ZusammenfassungNach Trauma, Infektionen oder Operationen kann es zu kleineren oder größeren Knochensubstanzdefekten am Gesichts- oder Hirnschädel kommen. Kleinere Knochendefekte stellen für das Hirn keine Gefahr dar, auch nicht bei diffusen Traumen, und zeigen keinen Einfluss auf den neurologischen Status. Dennoch ist der Verschluss größerer Knochenlücken am Schädel aus protektiven, kosmetischen und therapeutischen Erwägungen angezeigt. Besonders das „Syndrom des Trepanierten“ oder „Sinking-Skin-Flap-Syndrom“ mit Kopfschmerzen, Übelkeit, Erbrechen, Krampfanfällen und psychischen sowie psychologischen Auffälligkeiten nach Teilentfernung der Schädeldecke zeigt ein gutes Ansprechen auf den Verschluss. Es gibt Hinweise darauf, dass Kranioplastiken bereits seit Tausenden von Jahren durchgeführt wurden. Was einst als Einbringen eines Fremdkörpers in eine Knochenlücke begann, entwickelte sich zu einem mehrzeitigen, mehrregionalen, komplexen fazioorbitokranialen Eingriff. In dieser Entwicklung spielten über die Jahrhunderte hinweg kriegerische Auseinandersetzungen, von Handgreiflichkeiten bis hin zu moderner Militärtechnologie, in der Entstehung von Schädel-Hirn-Traumen und deren rekonstruktiven Therapien eine große Rolle. Während die letzten Jahrhunderte davon geprägt waren, das richtige Material zur Schädelplastik zu identifizieren, führt nun der weitere Weg über computerassistiertes Design zur zellmodulierenden und somit knochenverschließenden Technik.