bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Middle cerebral artery Doppler reference centile charts for the prediction of fetal anemia in a population from India
Authors: Kumar Manisha , Umrawal Tarul , Singh Anuradha 
Published: September 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo construct reference charts for the fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) peak systolic velocity (PSV,) and the corresponding cord blood hemoglobin values at 24–40 weeks of pregnancy for the identification of fetal anemia.MethodsIn a cross‐sectional study, 300 women with a pregnancy duration of 24–40 weeks planned for delivery within 72 hours underwent a Doppler study of the MCA and cord blood hemoglobin estimation at delivery. Regression analysis was used to construct reference charts. The validity of the charts was assessed in 40 fetuses from Rhesus‐isoimmunized pregnancies.ResultsThe MCA PSV and hemoglobin values increased with advancing gestational age. Multiples of the median (MOM) were calculated and reference charts were constructed for mild anemia (MCA PSV 1.29 MOM; hemoglobin 0.8 MOM), moderate anemia (MCA PSV 1.50 MOM; hemoglobin 0.6 MOM), and severe anemia (MCA PSV 1.55 MOM; hemoglobin 0.5 MOM). In the validation sample, the hemoglobin value estimated on the basis of the MCA PSV corresponded with the actual hemoglobin range in 90% of the fetuses. The sensitivity was 92% and the specificity was 95%.ConclusionThe constructed charts are suitable for the evaluation of fetal anemia in the regional population.
Simulated relationship between air temperature and precipitation over Europe: sensitivity to the choice of RCM and GCM
Authors: Crhová Lenka , Holtanová Eva 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTThis paper presents an evaluation of the relationship between near‐surface air temperature (T) and precipitation (P) over Europe simulated by regional climate models (RCMs) from the EURO‐CORDEX project. Simulations of two RCMs (RCA4 and CCLM4‐8‐17) driven by four different global climate models (GCMs) in the period 1971–2000 were analysed. Two different coefficients, the Pearson correlation coefficient based on monthly anomalies and the T‐P index (TPI) based on daily values, were used for this evaluation. First, the comparison of T‐P correlation and TPI patterns calculated from E‐OBS data was made. Afterwards, simulated T‐P relationship patterns were briefly evaluated. We especially focused on evaluating the RCM and GCM influence on the simulated T‐P relationship pattern. Our results indicate that RCM simulations captured the basic seasonal dependence of the T‐P relationship over Europe represented by both T‐P correlation and TPI patterns. The simulated T‐P relationship pattern is more strongly influenced by an RCM than a driving GCM in contrast to temperature means in winter and precipitation and temperatures changes, which are more strongly influenced by driving GCM as shown in previous studies. The simulations of the CCLM4‐8‐17 RCM demonstrated noticeably better agreement with observed T‐P relationship fields than the RCA4 RCM simulations. The T‐P relationship simulated by RCA4 tends to shift to positive values in comparison to E‐OBS values. These findings were found for both TPI and T‐P correlation.
Analysis of moisture, oil, and fatty acid composition of olives by near‐infrared spectroscopy: development and validation calibration models
Authors: Saha Uttam , Jackson Daniel 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDOlive is a new, expanding crop in Georgia. Its oil content steadily increases with maturity, but eventually plateaus at the maximum when the olives should be promptly harvested, avoiding overripening and quality degradation. This requires frequent testing. However, olive quality analysis by wet chemistry is laborious, slow and costly, whereas near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), being precise, accurate, rapid and cheap, could be suitable. We developed and validated NIRS calibration models for moisture, fresh‐matter‐oil (oil‐FMO), dry‐matter‐oil (oil‐DMO) and major fatty acid composition analyses.RESULTSOf the12 models developed, seven constituents – moisture, oil‐FMO, oil‐DMO, and palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic and linoleic acids (representing 88–97% of the total fatty acids) had low standard errors and high coefficients of determination (R2 = 0.81–0.98; 1 − VR = 0.74–0.86) for both calibration and cross‐validation. For these seven constituents, predictions of an independent validation set yielded excellent agreement between the NIRS predicted values and the reference values with low standard error of prediction (SEP), low bias, high coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.80–0.93) and high ratios of performance to deviation (RPD = SD/SEP; 2.21–3.85).CONCLUSIONPrecise, accurate and rapid analysis of fresh olives for moisture, oil and major fatty acid composition can be done at a low cost using NIRS, meeting the analytical needs of the industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of welding wire and groove angle on mechanical properties of high strength steel welded joints
Authors: Evci C. , Işık H. , Macar M. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractMechanical properties of high strength steel welded joints strictly depend on the welding process, the filler material composition and the welding geometry. This study investigates the effects of using cored and solid welding wires and implementing various groove angles on the mechanical performance of weld joints which were fabricated employing the gas metal arc welding process. It was found that weld joints of low alloy, high strength steels using low alloy steel cored welding wires exhibited higher tensile strength than that of low alloy steel solid wire and chromium‐nickel steel bare welding wire when the method of gas metal arc welding is employed. The effect of groove angle on the strength and toughness of V‐groove and double V‐groove butt‐joints was investigated. V‐groove joints, with higher tensile strength than double V‐groove joints in the whole range of groove angles, were superior in toughness for small groove angles, but impact toughness values of both joints were comparable for large angles. The effect of heat input and cooling rate on the weld microstructure and weld strength was also investigated by performing thermal analysis employing the commercial software ANSYS. It was concluded that cooling rate and solidification growth rate determined the microstructure of the weld zone which had great consequences in regard to mechanical properties.
Hardening distortions of serial produced crown wheels
Authors: Olofsson A. , Jonsson S. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe hardening distortions of serial produced crown wheels are studied with respect to gear runout, inner diameter and back‐face tilt. The data analysed originates from a production data base from ordinary production as well as from directed experiments carried out in production, resulting in a large set of data. Strong influences are found for steel plants, position of material in ingots and stacking levels on hardening trays. It could be concluded that rectangular strands have a detrimental effect on gear runout, which, however, can be strongly decreased by disabling the magnetic stirring during casting. Furthermore, the inner diameter after quenching is influenced by the stacking level on the hardening tray when free‐hardening or when using a segmented central expander during press quenching. This influence is attributed to variations in hardening temperature. When press quenching using a fixed mandrel, the effect of stacking level disappears. Moreover, it is found that the back‐face tilt strongly depends on the position in the ingot as well as on the stacking level on the hardening tray.
Stochastic differential games with competing Brownian particles and related Isaacs' equations
Authors: Feng Xinwei 
Published: September 2017

SummaryIn this paper, we study zero‐sum two‐player stochastic differential games in which the state equations are competing Brownian particles and the cost functional is defined by generalized backward stochastic differential equations with more than one increasing process. After we study the regularity of competing Brownian particles, we establish the dynamic programming principle for the upper and lower value functions and show that these are the unique viscosity solution of the associated upper and lower Isaacs' equations, which are fully nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations with nonlinear Neumann boundary conditions.
Weight loss and frequency of body‐weight self‐monitoring in an online commercial weight management program with and without a cellular‐connected ‘smart’ scale: a randomized pilot study
Authors: Thomas J. G. , Raynor H. A. , Bond D. S. , Luke A. K. , Cardoso C. C. , Wojtanowski A. C. , Vander Veur S. , Tate D. , Wing R. R. , Foster G. D. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryObjectiveEvaluate the effects of an online commercial weight management program, with and without provision of a ‘smart’ scale with instructions to weigh daily and weekly tailored feedback, on weight loss and the frequency of body‐weight self‐monitoring.MethodsParticipants (N = 92; body mass index 27–40 kg/m2) were randomized to 6 months of no‐cost access to the Weight Watchers Online (WWO) platform alone, or enhanced with a cellular‐connected ‘smart’ scale, instructions to weigh daily and weekly pre‐scripted email feedback (Weight Watchers Online Enhanced [WWO‐E]). The number of days that weight was self‐monitored (via ‘smart’ scale in WWO‐E and manually in WWO) was recorded automatically across the 6‐month trial. Objective weight was measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months.ResultsWhile both groups achieved statistically significant weight loss, mean ± standard error weight loss did not differ between WWO‐E and WWO at 3 months (5.1 ± 0.6 kg vs. 4.0 ± 0.7 kg, respectively; p = 0.257) or 6 months (5.3 ± 0.6 kg vs. 3.9 ± 0.7 kg, respectively; p = 0.116). However, a greater proportion of WWO‐E lost ≥5% of initial body weight at 3 months (52.2% vs. 28.3%; p = 0.033), but not 6 months (43.5% vs. 30.4%; p = 0.280), compared with WWO. Mean ± standard deviation days with self‐monitored weight was higher in WWO‐E (80.5 ± 5.6; 44.7% of days) than WWO (12.0 ± 1.0; 6.7% of days; p < 0.001) across the 6‐month study period.ConclusionsThis is the first study to show that provision of a ‘smart’ scale with weekly tailored feedback substantially increased the frequency of self‐weighing and the proportion of participants achieving an initial clinically significant ≥5% weight loss (52% vs. 28%) in an online commercial weight management program. Both WWO and WWO‐E produced significant weight loss over 6 months. While mean weight losses were slightly greater in the enhanced group, the difference was not statistically significant in this small sample. This study provides support for the clinical utility of online commercial weight management programs and the potential for supporting technology such as ‘smart’ scales to improve adherence to body‐weight self‐monitoring and clinical outcomes.
Reactivation of TWIST1 contributes to Ewing sarcoma metastasis
Authors: Choo Sun , Wang Ping , Newbury Robert , Roberts William , Yang Jing 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBackgroundEwing sarcoma is a cancer of bone and soft tissue. Despite aggressive treatment, survival remains poor, particularly in patients with metastatic disease. Failure to treat Ewing sarcoma is due to the lack of understanding of the molecular pathways that regulate metastasis. In addition, no molecular prognostic markers have been identified for Ewing sarcoma to risk stratify patients.ProcedureEwing sarcoma patients were divided into high or low Twist1 gene expression and survival curves were generated using the R2 microarray‐based Genomic Analysis platform (http://r2.amc.nl). Tumors from Ewing sarcoma patients were also evaluated for TWIST1 expression by immunohistochemistry. Ewing sarcoma xenografts were established to evaluate the role of TWIST1 in metastasis. The effects of Twist1 on migration and invasion were evaluated using migration and invasion assays in A673 and RDES cells.ResultsTwist1 expression was a negative prognostic marker for overall survival in a public Ewing sarcoma patient data set based on Twist1 mRNA levels and in patient tumor samples based on Twist1 immunohistochemistry. TWIST1 is detected in significantly higher percentage of patients with metastatic diseases than localized disease. Using Ewing sarcoma tumor xenografts in mice, we found that suppressing TWIST1 levels suppressed metastasis without affecting primary tumor development. Knockdown of Twist1 inhibited the migration and invasion capability, while overexpression of Twist1 promoted migration and invasion in Ewing sarcoma cells.ConclusionThese results suggest that TWIST1 promotes metastasis in Ewing sarcoma and could be used as a prognostic marker for treatment stratification; however, further validation is required in a larger cohort of patients.
Facile and template‐free method toward chemical synthesis of polyaniline film/nanotube structures
Authors: Liu Pei , Zhu Yisi , Torres Jorge , Lee Seung Hee , Yun Minhee 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTA facile and template‐free method is reported to synthesize a new thin film structure: polyaniline (PANI) film/nanotubes (F/N) structure. The PANI F/N is a 100‐nm thick PANI film embedded with PANI nanotubes. This well‐controlled method requires no surfactant or organic acid as well as relatively low concentration of reagents. Synthesis condition studies reveal that aniline oligomers with certain structures are responsible for guiding the growth of the nanotubes. Electrical characterization also indicates that the PANI F/N possesses similar field‐effect transistor characteristics to bare PANI film. With its 20% increased surface‐area‐to‐volume (S/V) ratio contributed by surface embedded nanotubes and the excellent p‐type semiconducting characteristic, PANI F/N shows clear superiority compared with bare PANI film. Such advantages guarantee the PANI F/N a promising future toward the development of ultra‐high sensitivity and low‐cost biosensors © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 3973–3979
Dyadic effects of coping strategies, time perspectives, and personality on the quality of life of cancer patients and their caregivers
Authors: Hamidou Zeinab , Auquier Pascal , Leroy Tanguy , Barlesi Fabrice , Salas Sébastien , Chinot Olivier , Baumstarck Karine 
Published: September 2017

AbstractObjectiveResearchers are interested in studying whether the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients and caregivers is influenced by internal psychobehavioral processes (temporality and coping strategies) and the personality traits that they or their relatives experience. We examined these associations in a sample of patient‐caregiver dyads by using the actor‐partner interdependence model.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study involved 156 cancer patient‐caregiver dyads. The self‐reported data included QoL (Short‐Form 36), coping strategies (Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Scale), time perspectives (Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory), and personality (Big Five Inventory). The actor‐partner interdependence model was used to test the dyadic effect individualizing actor (degree to which the individual's characteristics were associated with their QoL) and partner (degree to which the individual's characteristics were associated with the QoL of the other dyad member) effects.ResultsActor effects were found for patients and caregivers: The use of positive thinking and future/present‐hedonistic perspectives were associated with higher QoL; the use of avoidance and past‐negative perspective were associated with lower QoL. Partner effects were also found highlighting the specific mechanisms of the interconnections in the patient‐caregiver dyad. The patient's QoL was higher when the caregiver used social support and experienced openness. The caregiver's QoL was lower when the patient used social support and avoidance strategies and experienced future perspective.ConclusionsThe examination of the relationships between individuals' QoL and their internal psychobehavioral processes and personality traits will have several applications in the routine clinical management. Individual‐level and dyad‐level interventions should be proposed: cognitive‐rehabilitation, emotional and cognitive self‐regulation for time perspectives, and personality constructs.
Stochastic model predictive control without terminal constraints
Authors: Lorenzen Matthias , Müller Matthias A. , Allgöwer Frank 
Published: September 2017

SummarySufficient conditions for the stability of stochastic model predictive control without terminal cost and terminal constraints are derived. Analogous to stability proofs in the nominal setup, we first provide results for the case of optimization over general feedback laws and exact propagation of the probability density functions of the predicted states. We highlight why these results, being based on the principle of optimality, do not directly extend to currently used computationally tractable approximations such as optimization over parameterized feedback laws and relaxation of the chance constraints. Based thereon, for both cases, stability results are derived under stronger assumptions. A third approach is presented for linear systems where propagation of the mean value and the covariance matrix of the states instead of the complete distribution is sufficient, and hence, the principle of optimality can be used again. The main results are presented for nonlinear systems along with examples and computational simplifications for linear systems.
Convex LPV synthesis of estimators and feedforwards using duality and integral quadratic constraints
Authors: Venkataraman Raghu , Seiler Peter 
Published: September 2017

SummaryA method is presented for synthesizing output estimators and disturbance feedforward controllers for continuous‐time, uncertain, gridded, linear parameter‐varying (LPV) systems. Integral quadratic constraints are used to describe the uncertainty. Since the gridded LPV systems do not have a valid frequency‐domain interpretation, the time domain, dissipation inequality approach is followed. There are 2 main contributions. The first contribution is that a notion of duality is developed for the worst‐case gain analysis of uncertain, gridded LPV systems. This includes notions of dual LPV systems and dual integral quadratic constraints. Furthermore, several technical results are developed to demonstrate that the sufficient conditions for bounding the worst‐case gain of the primal and dual uncertain LPV systems are equivalent. The second contribution is that the convex conditions are derived for the synthesis of robust output estimators for uncertain LPV systems. The estimator synthesis conditions, together with the duality results, enable the convex synthesis of robust disturbance feedforward controllers. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated using a numerical example.
Ultrasound and histological measurements of dividing membrane thickness in twin gestations
Authors: Bracero L. A. , Huff C. , Blitz M. J. , Plata M. J. , Seybold D. J. , Broce M. 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo determine how prenatal ultrasound measurements of dividing membrane thickness correlate with postnatal histological measurements and chorionicity in twin gestations.MethodsThis was a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of twin gestations. Dividing membrane thickness was measured by transabdominal ultrasound, with the insonation beam both parallel and perpendicular to the membrane, in the second or third trimester, depending on when care was established. Ultrasound examinations were performed every 4 weeks following initial assessment until delivery. Measurements of membrane thickness from the first ultrasound examination were compared with histological measurements after delivery.ResultsA total of 45 twin pregnancies (32 dichorionic, 13 monochorionic) were included. Mean gestational age at initial ultrasound examination was 24.1 ± 7.3 weeks. Parallel ultrasound measurements of membrane thickness were 1.6 ± 0.8 mm for monochorionic and 2.5 ± 0.9 mm for dichorionic gestations (P = 0.001). Perpendicular ultrasound measurements were 1.6 ± 0.3 mm for monochorionic and 2.2 ± 0.8 mm for dichorionic gestations (P = 0.009). Inter‐ and intraobserver reliability of ultrasound measurements were 0.847 and 0.950, respectively. Parallel and perpendicular ultrasound measurements correlated better with each other (R = 0.807, P < 0.001) than with histological measurements of membrane thickness (Rparallel = 0.538, P < 0.001; Rperpendicular = 0.529, P < 0.001). Receiver–operating characteristics curve analyses to predict histological membrane thickness > 50th percentile resulted in an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.828 for parallel (P < 0.001) and 0.874 for perpendicular (P < 0.001) measurements with a cut‐off value of 1.9 mm for both approaches. The AUCs for parallel and perpendicular measurements to predict dichorionicity were 0.892 (P < 0.001) and 0.823 (P < 0.001) with cut‐off values of 1.9 and 1.8 mm, respectively.ConclusionPrenatal ultrasound measurement of twin dividing membrane thickness is positively correlated with postnatal histological measurement. Dichorionicity can be determined by a magnified dividing membrane thickness ≥ 1.9 mm. Measurements with the ultrasound beam parallel to the dividing membrane may be more accurate than perpendicular measurements. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Algorithms for hierarchical clustering: an overview, II
Authors: Murtagh Fionn , Contreras Pedro 
Published: September 2017

We survey agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithms and discuss efficient implementations that are available in R and other software environments. We look at hierarchical self‐organizing maps and mixture models. We review grid‐based clustering, focusing on hierarchical density‐based approaches. Finally, we describe a recently developed very efficient (linear time) hierarchical clustering algorithm, which can also be viewed as a hierarchical grid‐based algorithm. This review adds to the earlier version, Murtagh F, Contreras P. Algorithms for hierarchical clustering: an overview, Wiley Interdiscip Rev: Data Mining Knowl Discov 2012, 2, 86–97. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2017, 7:e1219. doi: 10.1002/widm.1219This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Hierarchies and Trees
Technologies > Classification
Technologies > Structure Discovery and Clustering