bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of practice variability on spinal manipulation learning*
Authors: Marchand Andrée-Anne , Mendoza Laura , Dugas Claude , Descarreaux Martin , Pagé Isabelle 
Published: January 2017

Objective:
To evaluate the effects of practice variability on chiropractic students' capacity to deliver spinal manipulations (SMs) of a targeted peak force.

Methods:
Forty students participated in an experimental session including either a variable or a constant practice protocol of 45 SMs. SMs were delivered on a computer-connected device that recorded force-time profiles. Ten SMs with a target peak force of 350-N were performed before practice, immediately following practice, and 2 days later. Mixed-design analyses of variance were used to assess the effect of practice type on SM biomechanical parameters and on the constant, the absolute error (AE), and the variable error (VE).

Results:
The practice period led to significantly more accurate (FAE[2,76] = 6.17, p &lt; .01) and consistent (FVE[2,76] = 3.90, p = .02) performances at the postintervention assessment regardless of practice type. Among biomechanical parameters, preload force was higher at the retention assessment than at baseline (F[2,76] = 6.53, p &lt; .01), while rate of force application significantly decreased between the baseline and the retention assessment (F[2,76] = 4.10, p = .02).

Conclusion:
This experimental study showed that 1 session of SM practice including feedback leads to an increase in SM peak force accuracy and consistency, whether or not the practice period included variable practice. The current results confirmed that short practice periods with feedback should be included in the chiropractic curriculum.
Extraction of the geomagnetic activity effect from TEC data: A comparison between the spectral whitening method and 28 day running median
Authors: Chen Zhou , Wang Jing‐Song , Deng Yue , Huang Chun‐Ming 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe spectral whitening method (SWM) has been previously proved to be very effective at identifying ionospheric disturbances on foF2 (the critical frequency of ionospheric F2 layer). To continuously investigate the strength of the new method, in this paper SWM has been used to extract the effect of geomagnetic activity on total electron content (TEC) and has been compared with the traditional 28 day running median centered (RMC) method. First, ionospheric variations during quiet and disturbed conditions are analyzed by both SWM and RMC. The results from RMC, compared with those from SWM, overestimate the disturbance occurrence by about 5–20% during the geomagnetic storms and up to 35% during the quiet time. The possible reason is that the results can be contaminated by the residuals of periodic components in the RMC identified disturbances. Meanwhile, the power spectral analysis of the disturbance field shows that the annual and diurnal variations are still significant in RMC results but very weak in SWM results, which indicates that SWM has some advantage to clean up the background variation. Finally, the analysis of the spatial correlation of the disturbance field with F10.7 and Ap illustrates that the effects of solar and geomagnetic activities from SWM are significantly reduced and enhanced, respectively. It suggests that the SWM is more effective in extracting the effect of geomagnetic activity from TEC than RMC. The relative deviation of TEC derived by SWM is more sensitive to geomagnetic activity than solar activity.
Tidal sensitivity of shallow very low frequency earthquakes in the Ryukyu Trench
Authors: Nakamura Mamoru , Kakazu Keito 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWe show that the activity between 2002 and 2014 of shallow very low frequency earthquakes (VLFEs), which occur in shallow subduction zones of the Ryukyu Trench, responds to ocean and Earth tides. Tidal sensitivity is highest in the central portion of the Ryukyu Trench and lowest in the southwest. The lag of peak VLFE activation behind the peaks of shear stress or normal stress is laterally heterogeneous along the Ryukyu Trench. The lateral variation of the lag between the peaks of sensitivity and stresses can be explained by the dependence of VLFE activation on thrust‐encouraging shear stress on the plate. The effective normal stress, which is calculated through rock experiments and from the sensitivity of VLFE for shear stress, is 0.25 MPa in the central Ryukyu Trench, which implies that high pore pressure on the plate interface would induce the VLFEs. The lateral variation of the sensitivity can be explained by differences in pore pressure within the plate interface. Although tidal sensitivity is lowest in the southwestern Ryukyu Trench, it increased temporarily during the middle of the decay of VLFE swarm activity. This is interpreted as reflecting a temporary increase in pore pressure on the fault, frictional heterogeneity, or fault weakening during the slip of slow slip events.
High‐resolution NO2 observations from the Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper: Retrieval and validation
Authors: Lamsal L. N. , Janz S. J. , Krotkov N. A. , Pickering K. E. , Spurr R. J. D. , Kowalewski M. G. , Loughner C. P. , Crawford J. H. , Swartz W. H. , Herman J. R. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractNitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a short‐lived atmospheric pollutant that serves as an air quality indicator and is itself a health concern. The Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper (ACAM) was flown on board the NASA UC‐12 aircraft during the Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality Maryland field campaign in July 2011. The instrument collected hyperspectral remote sensing measurements in the 304–910 nm range, allowing daytime observations of several tropospheric pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), at an unprecedented spatial resolution of 1.5 × 1.1 km2. Retrievals of slant column abundance are based on the differential optical absorption spectroscopy method. For the air mass factor computations needed to convert these retrievals to vertical column abundance, we include high‐resolution information for the surface reflectivity by using bidirectional reflectance distribution function data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. We use high‐resolution simulated vertical distributions of NO2 from the Community Multiscale Air Quality and Global Modeling Initiative models to account for the temporal variation in atmospheric NO2 to retrieve middle and lower tropospheric NO2 columns (NO2 below the aircraft). We compare NO2 derived from ACAM measurements with in situ observations from NASA's P‐3B research aircraft, total column observations from the ground‐based Pandora spectrometers, and tropospheric column observations from the space‐based Ozone Monitoring Instrument. The high‐resolution ACAM measurements not only give new insights into our understanding of atmospheric composition and chemistry through observation of subsampling variability in typical satellite and model resolutions, but they also provide opportunities for testing algorithm improvements for forthcoming geostationary air quality missions.
Evaluation of WRF capability to detect dry and wet periods in Spain using drought indices
Authors: García‐Valdecasas Ojeda Matilde , Gámiz‐Fortis Sonia R. , Castro‐Díez Yolanda , Esteban‐Parra María Jesús 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model has been used to show the benefits provided by downscaled fields to detect and analyze wet and dry periods over a region with high precipitation variability such as Spain. We have analyzed the spatiotemporal behavior of two widely used drought indices: the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), computed at 3 and 12 month time scales, which provide important information in an agricultural and water‐resource context. These two indices were computed from WRF outputs and compared with those calculated from observational (monthly precipitation and temperature databases of Spain, MOPREDAS and MOTEDAS) and from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts Interim Re‐Analysis (ERA‐Interim) data sets. This evaluation was made by using a regional scale and a multistep regionalization method and by comparison of individual grid points. In general, results indicate that the drought indices obtained by using WRF outputs provide a noticeable improvement regarding those computed by using ERA‐Interim, higher at longer time scales. Although results show no significant differences between drought indices analyzed, the improvement offered by WRF is greater for SPI than for SPEI. In terms of averaged duration, magnitude, and severity of drought, the benefits provided by WRF are not so evident, presenting better agreement with the observational data at 12 month time scale, being clearer for the intensity. These findings evidence the benefit of using WRF climate fields to monitor, analyze, and detect drought events, being a valuable source of knowledge for a suitable decision making, especially for water‐resource management.
A new geophone device for understanding environmental impacts caused by gravel bedload during artificial floods
Authors: Tsubaki Ryota , Kawahara Yoshihisa , Zhang Xin‐Hua , Tsuboshita Kentaro 
Published: January 2017

AbstractTo assess the contribution of gravel bedload on the removal of attached‐algae and aquatic plants from a cobble‐bed river during small floods, we propose a geophone type method for measuring the local bedload of non‐uniform sized gravel. Due to limited peak discharge for focused events during our study, a large fraction of bed material (here cobbles) was immobile and only a small fraction of bed material (sand and gravel) was expected to be transported during the flushing flows we analyzed. The device we developed has a size equivalent to immobile bed material and a shape similar to bed material (rounded cobbles) at the site. The instrument's design allows avoidance of disturbances in river bed micro‐topography during installation and local bedload transport during floods. A flume experiment was conducted in order to establish an empirical algorithm for estimating the diameter of impacted gravel, and uncertainty related to diameter estimation is discussed. The proposed method was utilized to quantify gravel bedload in a cobble‐bed river during flushing flows. We also discuss the contribution of measured gravel bedload during flushing flows on the removal of attached‐algae (up to a 37% reduction in chlorophyll‐a density) and aquatic plants (a reduction of 38% in dry mass per area). Based on time variation for the measured gravel bedload, we also suggest the propagation of a bed‐form composed of the fine sediment fraction migrating on immobile larger sediment and implications for the propagation of the fine sediment wave for attached‐algae removal.
Platelet microparticles: a biomarker for recanalization in rtPA‐treated ischemic stroke patients
Authors: Bivard Andrew , Lincz Lisa F , Maquire Jane , Parsons Mark , Levi Christopher 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObjectivesIdentification of a biomarker for acute recanalization could have significant clinical impact.MethodsWe prospectively collected baseline, 24‐h, and 90‐day clinical and imaging data from consecutive ischemic stroke patients who fulfilled standard clinical eligibility criteria for treatment with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). Computed tomography angiography was acquired at 24 h and assessed using the thrombolysis is myocardial infarction (TIMI) scale with a score of 2b/3 indicating recanalization. Blood samples collected at 24 h after stroke symptom onset were used to measure the inflammatory biomarkers of glycoprotein IIb (CD41) expressing microparticles (MP), C‐reactive protein (CRP), COX 2, APOE, and Angiopoietin 1. Analysis was performed using linear regression and Pearson's correlation coefficient.ResultsA total of 57 patients met study eligibility criteria and had sufficient data and sample quality to be analyzed. Circulating levels of platelet derived CD41 + MP were significantly related to reperfusion (Pearson correlation, PC: 0.554, P < 0.001) and recanalization (PC: 0.495, P < 0.001) as well as related with 3‐month modified Rankin Score (PC: 0.483, P < 0.001). CRP was significantly negatively correlated with recanalization on 24 h CTA (PC: −0.292, P = 0.041). Backward logistic regression with CRP and CD41 + MP increased the association with reperfusion (r2 = 0.357 P < 0.001).InterpretationThere is a significant relationship between the inflammatory biomarkers CD41 + MP and CRP and recanalization.
Combined state and parameter estimation for Hammerstein systems with time delay using the Kalman filtering
Authors: Ma Junxia , Ding Feng , Xiong Weili , Yang Erfu 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThis paper discusses the state and parameter estimation problem for a class of Hammerstein state space systems with time delay. Both the process and the measurement noises are considered in the system. On the basis of the observable canonical state space form and the key term separation, a pseudolinear regressive identification model is obtained. For the unknown states in the information vector, the Kalman filter is used to search for the optimal state estimates. A Kalman filter–based least squares iterative and a recursive least squares algorithms are proposed. Extending the information vector to include the latest information terms, which are missed for the time delay, the Kalman filter–based recursive extended least squares algorithm is derived to obtain the estimates of the unknown time delay, parameters, and states. The numerical simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Divergent Regioselective Homocoupling and Hydroxylation of 3‐Arylbenzo[d]isoxazoles
Authors: Guo Ying , Yu Kun‐Kun , Xing Li‐Hao , Liu Hong‐Wei , Wang Wei , Ji Ya‐Fei 
Published: January 2017

AbstractPalladium‐catalyzed oxidative homocoupling and hydroxylation of 3‐arylbenzo[d]isoxazoles have been developed via direct C(sp2)−H bond activation using benzoisoxazoles as a new directing group. The protocols offer a divergent approach to functionalized, synthetically useful benzoisoxazoles in good yields. Critically, 1‐iodo‐4‐methoxybenzene functions as an oxidant to mediate the dehydrogenative homocoupling and minimize the cross‐coupling. A dual‐core dimeric palladacycle intermediate is confirmed by X‐ray crystallography, and serves as an active catalytic species in the catalytic cycles.magnified image
Height, BMI, and relative economic standing in children from developing countries
Authors: Murasko Jason E. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to estimate a height‐BMI association in child and female adolescent populations in developing countries, and to evaluate the potential role of relative economic status in this association.MethodsFlexible structured additive regression models were used to estimate associations between height, BMI, and relative wealth. Linear regression models were used to evaluate height‐wealth interactions on BMI outcomes. The models were applied to pooled samples of 971,180 children under 5 years of age and 225,718 adolescent females between 15 and 19 years. Samples were taken from Demographic and Health Surveys from 64 developing countries.ResultsChildren exhibited a strong inverse association between height and BMI over the entire distribution of height. Female adolescents showed a weak inverse association. Relative economic status was associated with a stronger height‐BMI relationship in early‐life (<3 years) and a weaker relationship as children age into their fifth year.ConclusionsRelative economic status may protect against consequences of a negative height‐BMI association in young children in developing countries, first by promoting higher body weight among shorter children during the risk period for early‐life mortality, and afterwards by limiting body weight in shorter children when overweight and obesity become longer‐term health issues.
Overall trends vs. individual trajectories in the second‐to‐fourth digit (2D:4D) and metacarpal (2M:4M) ratios during puberty and adolescence
Authors: Králík Miroslav , Ingrová Pavlína , Kozieł Sławomir , Hupková Adela , Klíma Ondřej 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObjectivesThe second‐to‐fourth digit ratio (2D:4D ratio) can be assumed a valid indicator of sexual differentiation, provided that it is stable once it develops, or eventual changes remain uniform in a respective cohort throughout ontogenesis. The main goal of this study was to determine whether the metacarpal 2M:4M and the digit 2D:4D ratio change during the period of pubertal/adolescent growth.Materials and MethodsThe metacarpals and digits were measured on radiographs of left hands in the sample of 328 individuals (96 pairs of male and 68 pairs of female twins) from the Wrocław Longitudinal Study of Twins (1967–1983). Five consecutive annual measurements were done for each individual within a 4‐year‐interval somewhere between 7 and 18 years of age. Age‐related changes in both ratios were studied using a set of mixed‐effects linear models. Three types of correlation coefficients were used for assessment of stability between repeated measurements at different ages.ResultsAn overall decrease in the average 2M:4M ratio was observed, attributable to a much larger extent to males than to females. On the contrary, a slight overall increase in the average 2D:4D ratio was observed, attributable to a much larger extent to females than to males. The rank order of the ratios remained highly stable within the monitored period (the correlation coefficient mostly ranged between 0.85 and 0.95). In spite of these findings, we recorded significant intraindividual changes in both ratios. In some individuals the 2D:4D ratio can undergo changes comparable to average sex differences and much higher than average age‐related changes.DiscussionRelatively slight overall changes in digit ratio in puberty and adolescence themselves are not inconsistent with the use of the 2D:4D ratio as an indirect marker of prenatal sexual differentiation. Nevertheless, individual changes in the ratios varied substantially in this study and differed from the average trends. Future studies should focus on the nature of interindividual developmental differences in the digit and metacarpal ratios.
Control‐oriented modeling of colloid transport by solute gradients in dead‐end channels
Authors: Chen Tehuan , Xu Chao 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWhen colloids are placed in the nonuniform solute concentration, they transfer toward or away from the higher solute concentration side. This phenomenon is called diffusiophoresis, which is widely founded in many solute–particle interaction processes. In this paper, we consider the colloid transport by solute gradients in dead‐end channels with a boundary solute concentration being manipulated, which is a step‐like concentration input. We model this process by a coupled solute–particle system, which involves the solute diffusion model and the colloid transport model, and establish a control‐oriented model, which is important for controller strategy synthesis in practice. We use the method of separation of variables to obtain the analytical solution of the solute diffusion model and proposed an effective computational scheme for solving the colloid transport model. Thus, we give the simulation results of colloid transfer by considering different boundary solute concentration inputs and show the effectiveness and feasibility for more flexible external control. Finally, because the control‐oriented modeling is a switching system governed by partial differential equations essentially, we reformulate the colloid transfer control problem and discuss this problem in detailed from the viewpoint of the computational optimal control. Copyright © 2017 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surgical adhesive: Synthesis and properties of thermoresponsive Pluronic L‐31–3,4–dihydroxyphenylalanine–arginine derivatives
Authors: Lu Dedai , Li Yunfei , Li Tinģe , Zhang Yongyong , Dou Fajuan , Wang Xiaoying , Zhao Xiaolong , Ma Hengchang , Guan Xiaolin , Wei Qiangbing , Lei Ziqiang 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTA novel thermosensitive adhesive was synthesized by the esterification reaction of multihydroxyl Pluronic L‐31 with 3,4‐dihydroxy‐l‐phenylalanine and l‐arginine. Pluronic L‐31–DOPA–arginine derivative (PDA) gels, rapidly formed in situ with horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide, were used to explore the performance of efficient tissue adhesives. The results of their adhesive strength on porcine skin demonstrate that the structure of the polymers and temperature influenced the adhesiveness to tissue of the polymers. Compared with the PDAs at 25 °C, the PDAs at 37 °C showed superior adhesive strength. The attractive performance of the PDA gels were demonstrated by this study's results, which suggest biomedical applications in tissue‐adhesive devices in the future. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44729.
Persistence of Disease‐Associated Anti–Citrullinated Protein Antibody–Expressing Memory B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis in Clinical Remission
Authors: Pelzek Adam J. , Grönwall Caroline , Rosenthal Pamela , Greenberg Jeffrey D. , McGeachy Mandy , Moreland Larry , Rigby William F. C. , Silverman Gregg J. 
Published: January 2017

ObjectiveIn rheumatoid arthritis (RA), autoreactive B cells are pathogenic drivers and sources of anti–citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) that are a diagnostic biomarker and predictor of worse long‐term prognosis. Yet, the immunobiologic significance of persistent ACPA production at the cellular level is poorly understood. This study was undertaken to investigate the representation of ACPA‐expressing switched‐memory B cells in RA.MethodsIn a cross‐sectional study of RA patients, we investigated the presence of continued defects in immune homeostasis as a function of disease activity. Using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a sensitive multiplex bead‐based immunoassay, we characterized fine binding antibody specificities in sera, synovial fluid (SF), and B cell culture supernatants. In this manner, we determined the frequency and epitope reactivity patterns of ACPAs produced by SF B cells and switched‐memory blood B cells and compared the latter to serum ACPA levels and disease activity scores.ResultsCultured B cells from SF were shown to spontaneously secrete ACPAs, while constitutive IgG autoantibody production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was substantially less frequent. After in vitro stimulation, PBMCs secreted IgG ACPA that was overwhelmingly from switched‐memory B cells, across all patient groups treated with methotrexate and/or a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor. Intriguingly, the frequencies of ACPA‐expressing switched‐memory B cells significantly correlated with serum IgG anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide 3 (r = 0.57, P = 0.003). Moreover, treatment‐induced clinical remission had little or no effect on the circulating burden of switched‐memory ACPA‐expressing B cells, in part explaining the continued dysregulation of humoral immunity.ConclusionOur findings rationalize why therapeutic cessation most often results in disease reactivation and clinical flare. Hence, a clinical disease activity score is not a reliable indicator of the resolution of pathologic recirculating B cell autoimmunity.