bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of off‐focus radiation in scatter correction for dedicated cone beam breast CT
Authors: Shi Linxi , Vedantham Srinivasan , Karellas Andrew , Zhu Lei 
Published: November 2017

PurposeDedicated cone beam breast CT (CBBCT) suffers from x‐ray scatter contamination. We aim to identify the source of the significant difference between the scatter distributions estimated by two recent methods proposed by our group and to investigate its effect on CBBCT image quality.MethodWe recently proposed two novel methods of scatter correction for CBBCT, using a library based (LB) technique and a forward projection (FP) model. Despite similar enhancement on CBBCT image qualities, these two methods obtain very different scatter distributions. We hypothesize that the off‐focus radiation (OFR) is the contributor and results in nontrivial signals in x‐ray projections, which is ignored in the scatter estimation via the LB method. Experiments using a thin wire test tool are designed to study the effect of OFR on CBBCT spatial resolution by measuring the point spread function (PSF) and the modulation transfer function (MTF). A narrow collimator setting is used to suppress the OFR‐induced signals. In addition, “PSFs” and “MTFs” are measured on clinical CBBCT images obtained by the LB and FP methods using small calcifications as point sources. The improvement of spatial resolution achieved by suppressing OFR in the wire experiment as well as in the clinical study is quantified by the improvement ratios of PSFs and spatial frequencies at different MTF values. Our hypothesis that OFR causes the imaging difference between the FP and LB methods is verified if these ratios obtained from experimental and clinical data are consistent.ResultsIn the wire experiment, the results show that suppression of OFR increases the maximum signal of the PSF by about 14% and reduces the full‐width‐at‐half‐maximum (FWHM) by about 12.0%. Similar improvement on spatial resolution is achieved by the FP method compared with the LB method in the patient study. The improvement ratios of spatial frequencies at different MTF values without OFR match very well in both studies at a level of around 16%, with an average root‐mean‐square difference of 0.47%.ConclusionThe results of the wire experiment and the clinical study indicate that the main difference between the LB and FP methods is whether the OFR‐induced signals are included after scatter correction. Our study further shows that OFR significantly affects the image spatial resolution of CBBCT, indicating that the visualization of micro‐calcifications is susceptible to OFR contamination. Our finding is therefore important in further improvement of diagnostic performance of CBBCT.
Emerging Technologies and Synergies for Airborne and Space-Based Measurements of Water Vapor Profiles
Authors: Nehrir Amin R. , Kiemle Christoph , Lebsock Mathew D. , Kirchengast Gottfried , Buehler Stefan A. , Löhnert Ulrich , Liu Cong-Liang , Hargrave Peter C. , Barrera-Verdejo Maria , Winker David M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA deeper understanding of how clouds will respond to a warming climate is one of the outstanding challenges in climate science.
Uncertainties in the response of clouds, and particularly shallow clouds, have been identified as the dominant source of the discrepancy in model estimates of equilibrium climate sensitivity. As the community gains a deeper understanding of the many processes involved, there is a growing appreciation of the critical role played by fluctuations in water vapor and the coupling of water vapor and atmospheric circulations. Reduction of uncertainties in cloud-climate feedbacks and convection initiation as well as improved understanding of processes governing these effects will result from profiling of water vapor in the lower troposphere with improved accuracy and vertical resolution compared to existing airborne and space-based measurements. This paper highlights new technologies and improved measurement approaches for measuring lower tropospheric water vapor and their expected added value to current observations. Those include differential absorption lidar and radar, microwave occultation between low-Earth orbiters, and hyperspectral microwave remote sensing. Each methodology is briefly explained, and measurement capabilities as well as the current technological readiness for aircraft and satellite implementation are specified. Potential synergies between the technologies are discussed, actual examples hereof are given, and future perspectives are explored. Based on technical maturity and the foreseen near-mid-term development path of the various discussed measurement approaches, we find that improved measurements of water vapor throughout the troposphere would greatly benefit from the combination of differential absorption lidar focusing on the lower troposphere with passive remote sensors constraining the upper-tropospheric humidity.
Effect of Clinical Variables on the Volume of Blood Collected for Blood Cultures in an Adult Patient Population
Authors: Jones R. Logan , Sayles Harlan R. , Fey Paul D. , Rupp Mark E. 
Published: November 2017

OBJECTIVETo identify clinical variables that influence blood culture volume recoveryDESIGNRetrospective chart review and linear model analysisSETTINGA 621-bed Academic Medical Center with a Clinical Laboratory that processes 20,000+ blood cultures annually and dedicated phlebotomy staff for venipuncturePATIENTSConsecutive patients requiring blood cultureMETHODSOver a 6-day period, blood volume was determined in 568 culture bottles from 128 unique adult patients, and clinical data from the time of phlebotomy were extracted from hospital electronic medical records. Conditional hierarchical linear models with random effects for patient and phlebotomy occasion were utilized to analyze correlations between values collected from the same patient and during the same phlebotomy occasion.RESULTSBlood samples obtained from a central venous catheter yielded, on average, 2.53 mL more blood (95% CI, 1.63–3.44 mL;P<.001) than those from peripheral venipuncture, and aerobic bottles contained 0.38 mL more blood (95% CI, 0.1–0.67 mL;P=.009) than the anaerobic bottles. The remaining clinical variables (eg, hospital department, patient age, body mass index, gender, mean arterial pressure, concomitant systemic antibiotic use, and Charlson comorbidity index score) failed to reach statistical significance (P<.05) in relation to volume.CONCLUSIONSBlood cultures obtained from central venous catheters contain significantly greater volume than those obtained via peripheral venipuncture. These data highlight the clinically significant issue of low culture volume recovery, indicate that diagnostic and prognostic tools that rely on volume-dependent phenomena (ie, time to positivity) may require further validation under usual clinical practice circumstances, and suggest goals for future institutional performance improvement.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2017;38:1493–1497
Risk Factors for Staphylococcus aureus Acquisition in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Matched Case-Case-Control Study
Authors: Washam Matthew C. , Ankrum Andrea , Haberman Beth E. , Staat Mary Allen , Haslam David B. 
Published: November 2017

OBJECTIVETo determine risk factors independent of length of stay (LOS) for Staphylococcus aureus acquisition in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).DESIGNRetrospective matched case–case-control study.SETTINGQuaternary-care referral NICU at a large academic children’s hospital.METHODSInfants admitted between January 2014 and March 2016 at a level IV NICU who acquired methicillin resistant (MRSA) or susceptible (MSSA) S. aureus were matched with controls by duration of exposure to determine risk factors for acquisition. A secondary post hoc analysis was performed on the entire cohort of at-risk infants for risk factors identified in the primary analysis to further quantify risk.RESULTSIn total, 1,751 infants were admitted during the study period with 199 infants identified as having S. aureus prevalent on admission. There were 246 incident S. aureus acquisitions in the remaining at-risk infant cohort. On matched analysis, infants housed in a single-bed unit were associated with a significantly decreased risk of both MRSA (P=.03) and MSSA (P=.01) acquisition compared with infants housed in multibed pods. Across the entire cohort, pooled S. aureus acquisition was significantly lower in infants housed in single-bed units (hazard ratio,=0.46; confidence interval, 0.34–0.62).CONCLUSIONSNICU bed design is significantly associated with S. aureus acquisition in hospitalized infants independent of LOS.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:46–52
A complete map of Greenland ice velocity derived from satellite data collected over 20 years
Authors: JOUGHIN IAN , SMITH BEN E. , HOWAT IAN M. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTWhile numerous maps of Greenland ice flow velocity exist, most have gaps in coverage and/or accuracy is limited. We processed a large volume of synthetic aperture radar and Landsat 8 imagery collected between 1995 and 2015 to produce a nearly complete map of ice flow velocity for Greenland at a far greater accuracy than most prior products. We evaluated the accuracy of this map by comparing it with a variety of measured and estimated velocities. For the slow-moving interior of the ice sheet, where estimates are determined from interferometric phase, the errors are ~2 m a−1 or better. For coastal areas, where estimates are determined entirely from speckle- or feature-tracking methods, errors are 2–3 m a−1, which is in good agreement with the estimated formal errors. Especially for the slow-moving majority of the ice sheet, this map provides an important source of data for numerous types of glaciological studies.
THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN SHAPING AFRICAN FERTILITY PATTERN: EVIDENCE FROM DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS
Authors: Odimegwu Clifford , Adedini Sunday A. 
Published: November 2017

SummaryAnthropological explanations of demographic outcomes have emphasized the need to understand how community structures contribute to those outcomes. However, studies on fertility dynamics in Africa have largely focused on micro-level factors, thus ignoring the influence of community contexts. Using the most recent Demographic and Health Survey data from Egypt (Northern Africa), Cameroon (Middle Africa), Kenya (Eastern Africa), Nigeria (Western Africa) and Zimbabwe (Southern Africa), the study employed multilevel Poisson regression models to examine the influence of community factors on African fertility levels and patterns. The number of sampled women (aged 15–44) ranged from 7774 in Kenya (2008–09) to 30,480 in Nigeria (2008). The findings demonstrate some significant community effects on African fertility patterns, even after controlling for a number of individual-level factors. For instance, residence in socioeconomically disadvantaged regions, rural settings, poor neighbourhood and communities with high family size norm were found to be associated with higher fertility levels in the selected countries. The emerging African fertility patterns require the need to go beyond addressing individual-level characteristics in the efforts to reduce fertility levels in Africa.
FAR BELOW REPLACEMENT FERTILITY IN URBAN CHINA
Authors: Zhao Zhongwei , Xu Qinzi , Yuan Xin 
Published: November 2017

SummaryChina’s urban population has experienced rapid fertility decline over the past six decades. This drastic change will have a significant impact on China’s demographic, social and economic future. However, the patterns and characteristics of urban China’s fertility decline have not been systematically examined. This study analyses the trends and age patterns of fertility in urban China since the 1950s, and summarizes the major characteristics of reproductive behaviours into four ‘lows’: extremely ‘low’ level of fertility; ‘low’ proportion of two and higher parity births; ‘low’ mean age at birth; and ‘low’ level of childlessness. The paper argues that the highly homogenous reproductive behaviours found in China’s now near 800 million urban population have been in part shaped by the country’s unprecedented government intervention in family planning. The ‘later, longer, fewer’ campaign in the 1970s and the ‘one-child’ policy, in particular, have left clear imprints on China’s reproductive norms and fertility patterns. The government-led family planning programme, however, has not been the only driving force of fertility decline. A wide range of social, economic, political and cultural changes have also affected the transition in family formation, reproductive behaviour and fertility patterns, and this has become increasingly prominent in the past two decades.
Human ecology of sacred space: Church forests in the highlands of northwestern Ethiopia
Authors: RUELLE MORGAN L. , KASSAM KARIM-ALY , ASFAW ZEMEDE 
Published: November 2017

SUMMARYIn the highlands of northwestern Ethiopia, Orthodox Christian churches provide habitats for plants that have become rare in the surrounding agricultural landscapes. The objective of this paper is to investigate why and how the local clergy and laypeople protect and promote woody plants within their sacred spaces. Interviews at 11 churches in the Debark District of North Gonder generated a list of 47 woody species, of which most are rare in the rest of the landscape. Three tree species (indigenous cedar,Juniperus procera; indigenous olive,Olea europaeasubsp.cuspidata; and exoticEucalyptus globulus) were identified as most important. While cedar and olive are symbols of tradition and witnesses to church history, eucalyptus is a source of income and alternative material for church construction and repair. A significant proportion of indigenous species within Debark's church forests were said to have been planted, including cedars and olives. Knowledge that these species are cultivated enhances the conservation value of these forests by inspiring local people to continue planting trees and shrubs. In addition to serving as refugia for rare species, Ethiopia's church forests nurture the knowledge necessary to promote plant diversity in the rest of the landscape and serve as archetypes for community-driven conservation.
The impact of urban gardens on adequate and healthy food: a systematic review
Authors: Garcia Mariana T , Ribeiro Silvana M , Germani Ana Claudia Camargo Gonçalves , Bógus Cláudia M 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the impacts on food and nutrition-related outcomes resulting from participation in urban gardens, especially on healthy food practices, healthy food access, and healthy food beliefs, knowledge and attitudes.DesignThe systematic review identified studies by searching the PubMed, ERIC, LILACS, Web of Science and Embase databases. An assessment of quality and bias risk of the studies was carried out and a narrative summary was produced.SettingStudies published as original articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals in English, Spanish or Portuguese between 2005 and 2015 were included.SubjectsThe studies included were based on data from adult participants in urban gardens.ResultsTwenty-four studies were initially selected based on the eligibility criteria, twelve of which were included. There was important heterogeneity of settings, population and assessment methods. Assessment of quality and bias risk of the studies revealed the need for greater methodological rigour. Most studies investigated community gardens and employed a qualitative approach. The following were reported: greater fruit and vegetable consumption, better access to healthy foods, greater valuing of cooking, harvest sharing with family and friends, enhanced importance of organic production, and valuing of adequate and healthy food.ConclusionsThematic patterns related to adequate and healthy food associated with participation in urban gardens were identified, revealing a positive impact on practices of adequate and healthy food and mainly on food perceptions.
Association of citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) damage with physiological parameters and larval weight in Citrus reticulata
Authors: Arshad Muhammad , Ullah Muhammad Irfan , Afzal Muhammad , Aatif Hafiz M. , Iftikhar Yasir , Molina-Ochoa Jaime , Foster John E. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe citrus leafminer (CLM),Phyllocnistis citrellaStainton causes injury to citrus and related species in the Rutaceae family. The damage that the CLM larvae can cause is significant in citrus plantations. We tested two citrus cultivars — ‘Kinnow’ (Citrus reticulataBlanco) and ‘Fairchild’ (a hybrid ofCitrus reticulataClementine x Orlando Tangelo) — to quantify CLM larvae infestation and effect on the physiology of the citrus cultivars. We then compared the CLM larval weight with its associated damage. To calculate infestation level, mine area and total leaf area, we used the image analysis technique. The infestation level of CLM was higher in ‘Fairchild’ than in ‘Kinnow’ cultivar of citrus. For both cultivars, larval weight of CLM was directly proportional to the amount of mines generated. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that the mines that CLM larvae generate pose significant effect on the net photosynthetic rates and water use efficiency of citrus nursery plants. These results will help improve our understanding of the interaction between CLM and citrus nursery plants and effect of the pest on the yield potential of the crop.
Evaluation of Florpyrauxifen-benzyl on Herbicide-Resistant and Herbicide-Susceptible Barnyardgrass Accessions
Authors: Miller M. Ryan , Norsworthy Jason K. , Scott Robert C. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFlorpyrauxifen-benzyl is a new herbicide under development in rice that will provide an alternative mode of action to control barnyardgrass. Multiple greenhouse experiments evaluated florpyrauxifen-benzyl efficacy on barnyardgrass accessions collected in rice fields across Arkansas, and to evaluate its efficacy on herbicide-resistant biotypes. In one experiment, florpyrauxifen-benzyl was applied at the labeled rate of 30 g ai ha−1to 152 barnyardgrass accessions collected from 21 Arkansas counties. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 30 g ai ha−1effectively controlled barnyardgrass and subsequently reduced plant height and aboveground biomass. In a dose-response experiment, susceptible-, acetolactate synthase (ALS)-, propanil-, and quinclorac-resistant barnyardgrass biotypes were subjected to nine rates of florpyrauxifen-benzyl ranging from 0 to 120 g ai ha−1. The effective dose required to provide 90% control, plant height reduction, and biomass reduction of the susceptible and resistant biotypes fell below the anticipated labeled rate of 30 g ai ha−1. Based on these results, quinclorac-resistant barnyardgrass as well as other resistant biotypes can be controlled with florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 30 g ai ha−1. Overall, results from these studies indicate that florpyrauxifen-benzyl can be an effective tool for controlling susceptible and currently existing herbicide-resistant barnyardgrass biotypes in rice. Additionally, the unique auxin chemistry of florpyrauxifen-benzyl will introduce an alternative mechanism of action in rice weed control thus acting as an herbicide-resistance management tool.
Nano-enabled pancreas cancer immunotherapy using immunogenic cell death and reversing immunosuppression
Authors: Lu Jianqin , Liu Xiangsheng , Liao Yu-Pei , Salazar Felix , Sun Bingbing , Jiang Wen , Chang Chong Hyun , Jiang Jinhong , Wang Xiang , Wu Anna M. , Meng Huan , Nel Andre E. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWhile chemotherapy delivery by nanocarriers has modestly improved the survival prospects of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), additional engagement of the immune response could be game changing. We demonstrate a nano-enabled approach for accomplishing robust anti-PDAC immunity in syngeneic mice through the induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) as well as interfering in the immunosuppressive indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) pathway. This is accomplished by conjugating the IDO inhibitor, indoximod (IND), to a phospholipid that allows prodrug self-assembly into nanovesicles or incorporation into a lipid bilayer that encapsulates mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNP). The porous MSNP interior allows contemporaneous delivery of the ICD-inducing chemotherapeutic agent, oxaliplatin (OX). The nanovesicles plus free OX or OX/IND-MSNP induce effective innate and adaptive anti-PDAC immunity when used in a vaccination approach, direct tumor injection or intravenous biodistribution to an orthotopic PDAC site. Significant tumor reduction or eradication is accomplishable by recruiting cytotoxic T lymphocytes, concomitant with downregulation of Foxp3+ T cells.
Novel peptide probes to assess the tensional state of fibronectin fibers in cancer
Authors: Arnoldini Simon , Moscaroli Alessandra , Chabria Mamta , Hilbert Manuel , Hertig Samuel , Schibli Roger , Béhé Martin , Vogel Viola 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTransformations of extracellular matrix (ECM) accompany pathological tissue changes, yet how cell-ECM crosstalk drives these processes remains unknown as adequate tools to probe forces or mechanical strains in tissues are lacking. Here, we introduce a new nanoprobe to assess the mechanical strain of fibronectin (Fn) fibers in tissue, based on the bacterial Fn-binding peptide FnBPA5. FnBPA5 exhibits nM binding affinity to relaxed, but not stretched Fn fibers and is shown to exhibit strain-sensitive ECM binding in cell culture in a comparison with an established Fn-FRET probe. Staining of tumor tissue cryosections shows large regions of relaxed Fn fibers and injection of radiolabeled 111In-FnBPA5 in a prostate cancer mouse model reveals specific accumulation of 111In-FnBPA5 in tumor with prolonged retention compared to other organs. The herein presented approach enables to investigate how Fn fiber strain at the tissue level impacts cell signaling and pathological progression in different diseases.
A rapidly-reversible absorptive and emissive vapochromic Pt(II) pincer-based chemical sensor
Authors: Bryant M. J. , Skelton J. M. , Hatcher L. E. , Stubbs C. , Madrid E. , Pallipurath A. R. , Thomas L. H. , Woodall C. H. , Christensen J. , Fuertes S. , Robinson T. P. , Beavers C. M. , Teat S. J. , Warren M. R. , Pradaux-Caggiano F. , Walsh A. , Marken F. , Carbery D. R. , Parker S. C. , McKeown N. B. , Malpass-Evans R. , Carta M. , Raithby P. R. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSelective, robust and cost-effective chemical sensors for detecting small volatile-organic compounds (VOCs) have widespread applications in industry, healthcare and environmental monitoring. Here we design a Pt(II) pincer-type material with selective absorptive and emissive responses to methanol and water. The yellow anhydrous form converts reversibly on a subsecond timescale to a red hydrate in the presence of parts-per-thousand levels of atmospheric water vapour. Exposure to methanol induces a similarly-rapid and reversible colour change to a blue methanol solvate. Stable smart coatings on glass demonstrate robust switching over 104 cycles, and flexible microporous polymer membranes incorporating microcrystals of the complex show identical vapochromic behaviour. The rapid vapochromic response can be rationalised from the crystal structure, and in combination with quantum-chemical modelling, we provide a complete microscopic picture of the switching mechanism. We discuss how this multiscale design approach can be used to obtain new compounds with tailored VOC selectivity and spectral responses.