bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Normal growth, altered growth? Study of the relationship between harris lines and bone form within a post‐medieval plague cemetery (Dendermonde, Belgium, 16th Century)
Authors: Boucherie Alexandra , Castex Dominique , Polet Caroline , Kacki Sacha 
Published: June 2016

ObjectivesHarris lines (HLs) are defined as transverse, mineralized lines associated with temporary growth arrest. In paleopathology, HLs are used to reconstruct health status of past populations. However, their etiology is still obscure. The aim of this article is to test the reliability of HLs as an arrested growth marker by investigating their incidence on human metrical parameters.MethodsThe study was performed on 69 individuals (28 adults, 41 subadults) from the Dendermonde plague cemetery (Belgium, 16th century). HLs were rated on distal femora and both ends of tibiae. Overall prevalence and age‐at‐formation of each detected lines were calculated. ANOVA analyses were conducted within subadult and adult samples to test if the presence of HLs did impact size and shape parameters of the individuals.ResultsAt Dendermonde, 52% of the individuals had at least one HL. The age‐at‐formation was estimated between 5 and 9 years old for the subadults and between 10 and 14 years old for the adults. ANOVA analyses showed that the presence of HLs did not affect the size of the individuals. However, significant differences in shape parameters were highlighted by HL presence. Subadults with HLs displayed slighter shape parameters than the subadults without, whereas the adults with HLs had larger measurements than the adults without.ConclusionsThe results suggest that HLs can have a certain impact on shape parameters. The underlying causes can be various, especially for the early formed HLs. However, HLs deposited around puberty are more likely to be physiological lines reflecting hormonal secretions. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 29:e22885, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Composite blending of ionic liquid–poly(ether sulfone) polymeric membranes: Green materials with potential for carbon dioxide/methane separation
Authors: Mohshim Dzeti Farhah , Mukhtar Hilmi , Man Zakaria 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTThe incorporation of imidazolium‐based ionic liquids into a poly(ether sulfone) (PES) polymeric membrane resulted in a dense and void‐free polymeric membrane. As determined through the ideal gas permeation test, the carbon dioxide (CO2) permeation increased about 22% compared to that of the pure PES polymeric membrane whereas the methane (CH4) permeation decreased tremendously. This made the CO2/CH4 ideal separation increase substantially by more than 100%. This study highlighted the utilization of imidazolium‐based ionic liquids in the synthesis of ionic liquid polymeric membranes (ILPMs). Two different ionic liquids were used to compare the CO2 separation performance through the membranes. The glass‐transition temperatures (Tgs) of ILPMs were found to be lower than the Tg of the pure PES polymeric membranes; this supported the high CO2 permeation of the ILPMs due to the increase in PES flexibility caused by ionic liquid addition. The results also draw attention to new trends of ionic liquids as a potential green candidates for future membrane synthesis. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43999.
Myelinated Axons in the Auricular Branch of the Human Vagus Nerve
Authors: Safi Sami , Ellrich Jens , Neuhuber Winfried 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTTranscutaneous stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) resulted in deactivation of temporal lobe structures, similar to invasive cervical vagus nerve (CVN) stimulation. Presumably, both methods stimulated myelinated afferent beta axons mediating anti‐convulsive effects. How numbers of A beta axons in the human ABVN compare to those of the CVN is unknown. The ABVN, CVN, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and thoracic vagus nerve (TVN) were dissected from embalmed bodies. Numbers and calibers of myelinated axons were analyzed in semithin sections. Myelinated axons in the left and right ABVN averaged to 385 and 363, respectively. Numbers of A beta axons measuring ≥7 µm averaged to 64 and 78 on the left and right, respectively. Numbers of A beta axons in CVN were estimated by subtracting myelinated presumed motor axons in RLN from the total count of CVN. This resulted in 280 and 504 A beta axons on the left and right, respectively, concurring well with the thick myelinated axon count of the ipsilateral TVN (255 and 466, respectively). Thus, the ratio of A beta axons in the ABVN and CVN was ∼1:5 and 1:6 on the left and right side, respectively. These results indicate that transcutaneous ABVN stimulation might be a promising alternative to invasive CVN stimulation. Anat Rec, 299:1184–1191, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The pectoral fin muscles of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae: Functional and evolutionary implications for the fin‐to‐limb transition and subsequent evolution of tetrapods
Authors: Miyake Tsutomu , Kumamoto Minayori , Iwata Masamitsu , Sato Ryuichi , Okabe Masataka , Koie Hiroshi , Kumai Nori , Fujii Kenichi , Matsuzaki Koji , Nakamura Chiho , Yamauchi Shinya , Yoshida Kosuke , Yoshimura Kohtaroh , Komoda Akira , Uyeno Teruya , Abe Yoshitaka 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTTo investigate the morphology and evolutionary origin of muscles in vertebrate limbs, we conducted anatomical dissections, computed tomography and kinematic analyses on the pectoral fin of the African coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae. We discovered nine antagonistic pairs of pronators and supinators that are anatomically and functionally distinct from the abductor and adductor superficiales and profundi. In particular, the first pronator and supinator pair represents mono‐ and biarticular muscles; a portion of the muscle fibers is attached to ridges on the humerus and is separated into two monoarticular muscles, whereas, as a biarticular muscle, the main body is inserted into the radius by crossing two joints from the shoulder girdle. This pair, consisting of a pronator and supinator, constitutes a muscle arrangement equivalent to two human antagonistic pairs of monoarticular muscles and one antagonistic pair of biarticular muscles in the stylopod between the shoulder and elbow joints. Our recent kinesiological and biomechanical engineering studies on human limbs have demonstrated that two antagonistic pairs of monoarticular muscles and one antagonistic pair of biarticular muscles in the stylopod (1) coordinately control output force and force direction at the wrist and ankle and (2) achieve a contact task to carry out weight‐bearing motion and maintain stable posture. Therefore, along with dissections of the pectoral fins in two lungfish species, Neoceratodus forsteri and Protopterus aethiopicus, we discuss the functional and evolutionary implications for the fin‐to‐limb transition and subsequent evolution of tetrapods. Anat Rec, 299:1203–1223, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of surrogate tissues as indicators of drug activity in a melanoma skin model
Authors: Parekh Palak R. , Choudhuri Rohini , Weyemi Urbain , Martin Olga A. , Bonner William M. , Redon Christophe E. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe development of novel cancer treatments is a challenging task, partly because results from model systems often fail to predict drug efficacy in humans, and also tumors are often inaccessible for biochemical analysis, preventing effective monitoring of drug activity in vivo. Utilizing a model system, we evaluated the use of drug‐induced DNA damage in surrogate tissues as indicators of drug efficacy. Samples of a commercially available melanoma skin model (Mattek MLNM‐FT‐A375) containing keratinocyte and fibroblast layers with melanoma nodules were subjected to various chemotherapeutic regimens for one, four, or eight days. At these times they were analyzed for DNA double‐stranded breaks (γH2AX foci) and apoptosis (TUNEL). A wide range of drug responses in both tumor and normal tissues were observed and cataloged. For the melanoma, the most common drug response was apoptosis. The basal keratinocyte layer, which was the most reliable indicator of drug response in the melanoma skin model, responded with γH2AX foci formation that was abrupt and transient. The relationships between tumor and surrogate tissue drug responses are complex, indicating that while surrogate tissue drug responses may be useful clinical tools, careful control of variables such as the timing of sampling may be important in interpreting the results.
Saddlepoint tests for quantile regression
Authors: Ronchetti Elvezio , Sabolová Radka 
Published: June 2016

AbstractQuantile regression is a flexible and powerful technique which allows us to model the quantiles of the conditional distribution of a response variable given a set of covariates. Regression quantile estimators can be viewed asM‐estimators and standard asymptotic inference is readily available based on likelihood‐ratio, Wald, and score‐type test statistics. However these statistics require the estimation of the sparsity functionwhereGandgare the cumulative distribution function and the density of the regression errors, respectively, and this can lead to nonparametric density estimation. Moreover the asymptoticdistribution for these statistics can provide an inaccurate approximation of tail probabilities and this can lead to inaccurateP‐values, especially for moderate sample sizes. Alternative methods which do not require the estimation of the sparsity function include rank techniques and resampling methods to obtain confidence intervals, which can be inverted to test hypotheses. These are typically more accurate than the standardM‐tests. In this article we show how accurate tests can be obtained by using a nonparametric saddlepoint test statistic. The proposed statistic is asymptoticallydistributed, does not require the specification of the error distribution, and does not require the estimation of the sparsity function. The validity of the method is demonstrated through a simulation study, which shows both the robustness and the accuracy of the new test compared to the best available alternatives.The Canadian Journal of Statistics44: 271–299; 2016 © 2016 Statistical Society of Canada
Gustatory and general visceral centers and their connections in the brain of adult zebrafish: a carbocyanine dye tract‐tracing study
Authors: Yáñez Julián , Souto Yara , Piñeiro Laura , Folgueira Mónica , Anadón Ramón 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe central connections of the gustatory/general visceral system of the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were examined by means of carbocyanine dye tracing. Main primary gustatory centers (facial and vagal lobes) received sensory projections from the facial and vagal nerves, respectively. The vagal nerve also projects to the commissural nucleus of Cajal, a general visceral sensory center. These primary centers mainly project on a prominent secondary gustatory and general visceral nucleus (SGN/V) located in the isthmic region. Secondary projections on the SGN/V were topographically organized, those of the facial lobe mainly ending medially to those of the vagal lobe, and those from the commissural nucleus ventrolaterally. Descending facial lobe projections to the medial funicular nucleus were also noted. Ascending fibers originating from the SGN/V mainly projected to the posterior thalamic nucleus and the lateral hypothalamus (lateral torus, lateral recess nucleus, hypothalamic inferior lobe diffuse nucleus) and an intermediate cell‐ and fiber‐rich region termed here the tertiary gustatory nucleus proper, but not to a nucleus formerly considered as the zebrafish tertiary gustatory nucleus. The posterior thalamic nucleus, tertiary gustatory nucleus proper, and nucleus of the lateral recess gave rise to descending projections to the SGN/V and the vagal lobe. The connectivity between diencephalic gustatory centers and the telencephalon was also investigated. The present results showed that the gustatory connections of the adult zebrafish are rather similar to those reported in other cyprinids, excepting the tertiary gustatory nucleus. Similarities between the gustatory systems of zebrafish and other fishes are also discussed. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:333–362, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fluid‐structure interaction including volumetric coupling with homogenised subdomains for modeling respiratory mechanics
Authors: Yoshihara Lena , Roth Christian J. , Wall Wolfgang A. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryIn this article, a novel approach is presented for combining standard fluid‐structure interaction with additional volumetric constraints to model fluid flow into and from homogenised solid domains. The proposed algorithm is particularly interesting for investigations in the field of respiratory mechanics as it enables the mutual coupling of airflow in the conducting part and local tissue deformation in the respiratory part of the lung by means of a volume constraint. In combination with a classical monolithic fluid‐structure interaction approach, a comprehensive model of the human lung can be established that will be useful to gain new insights into respiratory mechanics in health and disease. To illustrate the validity and versatility of the novel approach, three numerical examples including a patient‐specific lung model are presented. The proposed algorithm proves its capability of computing clinically relevant airflow distribution and tissue strain data at a level of detail that is not yet achievable, neither with current imaging techniques nor with existing computational models. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fluid–structure interaction and structural analyses using a comprehensive mitral valve model with 3D chordal structure
Authors: Toma Milan , Einstein Daniel R. , Bloodworth Charles H. , Cochran Richard P. , Yoganathan Ajit P. , Kunzelman Karyn S. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryOver the years, three‐dimensional models of the mitral valve have generally been organized around a simplified anatomy. Leaflets have been typically modeled as membranes, tethered to discrete chordae typically modeled as one‐dimensional, non‐linear cables. Yet, recent, high‐resolution medical images have revealed that there is no clear boundary between the chordae and the leaflets. In fact, the mitral valve has been revealed to be more of a webbed structure whose architecture is continuous with the chordae and their extensions into the leaflets. Such detailed images can serve as the basis of anatomically accurate, subject‐specific models, wherein the entire valve is modeled with solid elements that more faithfully represent the chordae, the leaflets, and the transition between the two. These models have the potential to enhance our understanding of mitral valve mechanics and to re‐examine the role of the mitral valve chordae, which heretofore have been considered to be ‘invisible’ to the fluid and to be of secondary importance to the leaflets. However, these new models also require a rethinking of modeling assumptions. In this study, we examine the conventional practice of loading the leaflets only and not the chordae in order to study the structural response of the mitral valve apparatus. Specifically, we demonstrate that fully resolved 3D models of the mitral valve require a fluid–structure interaction analysis to correctly load the valve even in the case of quasi‐static mechanics. While a fluid–structure interaction mode is still more computationally expensive than a structural‐only model, we also show that advances in GPU computing have made such models tractable. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A video recommendation algorithm based on the combination of video content and social network
Authors: Cui Laizhong , Dong Linyong , Fu Xianghua , Wen Zhenkun , Lu Nan , Zhang Guanjing 
Published: June 2016

SummaryRecently, social network has been one of the biggest information exchange platforms of the Internet. Moreover, the users in social network used to watch videos through social network application. To provide a proper recommended video list, the video recommendation algorithm for social network is becoming a hot research issue. On one hand, more and more researchers introduce the concept of trust into video recommendation algorithms. However, most of them only select the trust friends based on the similarity and neglect the characteristics of social network. On the other hand, most previous video recommendation algorithms are only based on the number that a video is viewed to evaluate a video's quality. They do not make good use of the social relationship in social network and the video's reputation. This paper mainly focuses on the challenge that the effectiveness and performance of current video recommendation algorithm in social network cannot satisfy the users. In this paper, we propose a novel video recommendation algorithm based on the combination of video content and social network. Our proposed algorithm consists of the trust friends computing model and video's quality evaluation model. The trust friends computing method takes into account similarity between users, interaction between users, and the active degree of a user. In our video's quality evaluation model, we combine the acceptance ratio of a video with a video's reputation. The video can be given an appropriate rating score through this model. We design corresponding trust friends computing algorithm and video recommendation algorithm respectively for two proposed models. Our integral video recommendation algorithm consists of these two algorithms. The experimental results indicate that the performance and effectiveness of our algorithm are better than those of two classical video recommendation algorithms (i.e., user‐based collaborative filtering algorithm and TBR‐d algorithm), in terms of precision, recall and F1‐measure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implementation of a simplified flow cytometric assays for minimal residual disease monitoring in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Vinhas Ester , Lucena‐Silva Norma , Pedrosa Francisco 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundMonitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) in B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to assess treatment response is crucial for risk assignment. Flow cytometry can be used to monitor MRD in ALL but the implementation of this approach requires extensive expertise. If resources are limited, the costs of full flow cytometric MRD testing might be prohibitive.ObjectiveWe evaluated the applicability of a previously reported simplified MRD assay, designed to distinguish leukemic from normal lymphoblastic during remission induction therapy.MethodsFifty‐nine samples from children with ALL, enrolled in the RE‐LLA study at a pediatric oncology center in Recife (Brazil), were evaluated for MRD on day 19 and on day 26 of remission induction therapy. We compared results obtained by a trainee in Recife and an expert.ResultsThe method was implemented successfully and the concordance between results obtained by the trainee and the expert was practically absolute at the end of the study.ConclusionsIt is possible to implement reliable measurements of MRD during remission induction therapy in childhood ALL despite limited resources. The simplicity of the MRD method used in this study does not require extensive prior training in leukemia immunophenotyping. © 2016 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Decadal shifts in grass and woody plant cover are driven by prolonged drying and modified by topo‐edaphic properties
Authors: Munson Seth M. , Sankey Temuulen T. , Xian George , Villarreal Miguel L. , Homer Collin G. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWoody plant encroachment and overall declines in perennial vegetation in dryland regions can alter ecosystem properties and indicate land degradation, but the causes of these shifts remain controversial. Determining how changes in the abundance and distribution of grass and woody plants are influenced by conditions that regulate water availability at a regional scale provides a baseline to compare how management actions alter the composition of these vegetation types at a more local scale and can be used to predict future shifts under climate change. Using a remote‐sensing‐based approach, we assessed the balance between grasses and woody plants and how climate and topo‐edaphic conditions affected their abundances across the northern Sonoran Desert from 1989 to 2009. Despite widespread woody plant encroachment in this region over the last 150 years, we found that leguminous trees, including mesquite (Prosopis spp.), declined in cover in areas with prolonged drying conditions during the early 21st century. Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) also had moderate decreases with prolonged drying but was buffered from changes on soils with low clay that promote infiltration and high available water capacity that allows for retention of water at depth. Perennial grasses have expanded and contracted over the last two decades in response to summer precipitation and were especially dynamic on shallow soils with high clay that have large fluctuations in water availability. Our results suggest that topo‐edaphic properties can amplify or ameliorate climate‐induced changes in woody plants and perennial grasses. Understanding these relationships has important implications for ecosystem function under climate change in the southwestern USA and can inform management efforts to regulate grass and woody plant abundances.
Assessing performance of single‐sample molecular genetic methods to estimate effective population size: empirical evidence from the endangered Gochu Asturcelta pig breed
Authors: Menéndez Juan , Álvarez Isabel , Fernandez Iván , Menéndez‐Arias Nuria A. , Goyache Félix 
Published: June 2016

AbstractEstimating effective population size (Ne) using linkage disequilibrium (LD) information (Ne(LD)) has the operational advantage of using a single sample. However, Ne(LD) estimates assume discrete generations and its performance are constrained by demographic issues. However, such concerns have received little empirical attention so far. The pedigree of the endangered Gochu Asturcelta pig breed includes individuals classified into discrete filial generations and individuals with generations overlap. Up to 780 individuals were typed with a set of 17 microsatellites. Performance of Ne(LD) was compared with Ne estimates obtained using genealogical information, molecular coancestry (Ne(M)) and a temporal (two‐sample) method (Ne(JR)). Molecular‐based estimates of Ne exceeded those obtained using pedigree data. Estimates of Ne(LD) for filial generations F3 and F4 (17.0 and 17.3, respectively) were lower and steadier than those obtained using yearly or biannual samplings. Ne(LD) estimated for samples including generations overlap could only be compared with those obtained for the discrete filial generations when sampling span approached a generation interval and demographic correction for bias was applied. Single‐sample Ne(M) estimates were lower than their Ne(LD) counterparts. Ne(M) estimates are likely to partially reflect the number of founders rather than population size. In any case, estimates of LD and molecular coancestry tend to covary and, therefore, Ne(M) and Ne(LD) can hardly be considered independent. Demographically adjusted estimates of Ne(JR) and Ne(LD) took comparable values when: (1) the two samples used for the former were separated by one equivalent to discrete generations in the pedigree and (2) sampling span used for the latter approached a generation interval. Overall, the empirical evidence given in this study suggested that the advantage of using single‐sample methods to obtain molecular‐based estimates of Ne is not clear in operational terms. Estimates of Ne obtained using methods based in molecular information should be interpreted with caution.