bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blood cell transcriptomic-based early biomarkers of adverse programming effects of gestational calorie restriction and their reversibility by leptin supplementation
Authors: Konieczna Jadwiga , Sánchez Juana , Palou Mariona , Picó Catalina , Palou Andreu 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe challenge of preventing major chronic diseases requires reliable, early biomarkers. Gestational mild undernutrition in rats is enough to program the offspring to develop later pathologies; the intake of leptin, a breastmilk component, during lactation may reverse these programming effects. We used these models to identify, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), transcriptomic-based early biomarkers of programmed susceptibility to later disorders and explored their response to neonatal leptin intake. Microarray analysis was performed in PBMCs from the offspring of control and 20% gestational calorie-restricted dams (CR) and CR-rats supplemented with physiological doses of leptin throughout lactation. Notably, leptin supplementation normalised 218 of the 224 mRNA-levels identified in PBMCs associated to undernutrition during pregnancy. These markers may be useful for early identification and subsequent monitoring of individuals who are at risk of later diseases and would specifically benefit from the intake of appropriate amounts of leptin during lactation.
Genomic analysis of LPS-stimulated myeloid cells identifies a common pro-inflammatory response but divergent IL-10 anti-inflammatory responses
Authors: Hutchins Andrew Paul , Takahashi Yoshiko , Miranda-Saavedra Diego 
Published: March 2015

AbstractInflammation is an essential physiological response to infection and injury that must be kept within strict bounds. The IL-10/STAT3 anti-inflammatory response (AIR) is indispensable for controlling the extent of inflammation, although the complete mechanisms downstream of STAT3 have not yet been elucidated. The AIR is widely known to extend to other myeloid cells, but it has best been characterized in macrophages. Here we set out to characterize the LPS-mediated pro-inflammatory response and the AIR across a range of myeloid cells. We found that whereas the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response is broadly similar among macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, mast cells and eosinophils, the AIR is drastically different across all myeloid cell types that respond to IL-10 (all bar eosinophils). We propose a model whereby the IL-10/STAT3 AIR works by selectively inhibiting specific pathways in distinct cell types: in macrophages the AIR most likely works through the inhibition of NF-κB target genes; in DCs and mast cells through indirect IRF disruption; and in neutrophils through IRF disruption and possibly also indirect NF-κB inhibition. In summary, no conserved IL-10/STAT3 AIR effectors were identified; instead a cell type-specific model of the AIR is proposed.
Natural quasicrystal with decagonal symmetry
Authors: Bindi Luca , Yao Nan , Lin Chaney , Hollister Lincoln S. , Andronicos Christopher L. , Distler Vadim V. , Eddy Michael P. , Kostin Alexander , Kryachko Valery , MacPherson Glenn J. , Steinhardt William M. , Yudovskaya Marina , Steinhardt Paul J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe report the first occurrence of a natural quasicrystal with decagonal symmetry. The quasicrystal, with composition Al71Ni24Fe5, was discovered in the Khatyrka meteorite, a recently described CV3 carbonaceous chondrite. Icosahedrite, Al63Cu24Fe13, the first natural quasicrystal to be identified, was found in the same meteorite. The new quasicrystal was found associated with steinhardtite (Al38Ni32Fe30), Fe-poor steinhardtite (Al50Ni40Fe10), Al-bearing trevorite (NiFe2O4) and Al-bearing taenite (FeNi). Laboratory studies of decagonal Al71Ni24Fe5 have shown that it is stable over a narrow range of temperatures, 1120 K to 1200 K at standard pressure, providing support for our earlier conclusion that the Khatyrka meteorite reached heterogeneous high temperatures [1100 < T(K) ≤ 1500] and then rapidly cooled after being heated during an impact-induced shock that occurred in outer space 4.5 Gya. The occurrences of metallic Al alloyed with Cu, Ni and Fe raises new questions regarding conditions that can be achieved in the early solar nebula.
Monitoring Disease Trends using Hospital Traffic Data from High Resolution Satellite Imagery: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Nsoesie Elaine O. , Butler Patrick , Ramakrishnan Naren , Mekaru Sumiko R. , Brownstein John S. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractChallenges with alternative data sources for disease surveillance include differentiating the signal from the noise and obtaining information from data constrained settings. For the latter, events such as increases in hospital traffic could serve as early indicators of social disruption resulting from disease. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of using hospital parking lot traffic data extracted from high-resolution satellite imagery to augment public health disease surveillance in Chile, Argentina and Mexico. We used archived satellite imagery collected from January 2010 to May 2013 and data on the incidence of respiratory virus illnesses from the Pan American Health Organization as a reference. We developed dynamical Elastic Net multivariable linear regression models to estimate the incidence of respiratory virus illnesses using hospital traffic and assessed how to minimize the effects of noise on the models. We noted that predictions based on models fitted using a sample of observations were better. The results were consistent across countries with selected models having reasonably low normalized root-mean-squared errors and high correlations for both the fits and predictions. The observations from this study suggest that if properly procured and combined with other information, this data source could be useful for monitoring disease trends.
Microencapsulation of Metal-based Phase Change Material for High-temperature Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Nomura Takahiro , Zhu Chunyu , Sheng Nan , Saito Genki , Akiyama Tomohiro 
Published: March 2015

AbstractLatent heat storage using alloys as phase change materials (PCMs) is an attractive option for high-temperature thermal energy storage. Encapsulation of these PCMs is essential for their successful use. However, so far, technology for producing microencapsulated PCMs (MEPCMs) that can be used above 500°C has not been established. Therefore, in this study, we developed Al-Si alloy microsphere MEPCMs covered by α-Al2O3 shells. The MEPCM was prepared in two steps: (1) the formation of an AlOOH shell on the PCM particles using a boehmite treatment and (2) heat-oxidation treatment in an O2 atmosphere to form a stable α-Al2O3 shell. The MEPCM presented a melting point of 573°C and latent heat of 247 J g−1. The cycling performance showed good durability. These results indicated the possibility of using MEPCM at high temperatures. The MEPCM developed in this study has great promise in future energy and chemical processes, such as exergy recuperation and process intensification.
The Effect of Noise on the Relationship Between Auditory Working Memory and Comprehension in School-Age Children
Authors: Sullivan Jessica R. , Osman Homira , Schafer Erin C. 
Published: March 2015

PurposeThe objectives of the current study were to examine the effect of noise (−5 dB SNR) on auditory comprehension and to examine its relationship with working memory. It was hypothesized that noise has a negative impact on information processing, auditory working memory, and comprehension.MethodChildren with normal hearing between the ages of 8 and 10 years were administered working memory and comprehension tasks in quiet and noise. The comprehension measure comprised 5 domains: main idea, details, reasoning, vocabulary, and understanding messages.ResultsPerformance on auditory working memory and comprehension tasks were significantly poorer in noise than in quiet. The reasoning, details, understanding, and vocabulary subtests were particularly affected in noise (p< .05). The relationship between auditory working memory and comprehension was stronger in noise than in quiet, suggesting an increased contribution of working memory.ConclusionsThese data suggest that school-age children's auditory working memory and comprehension are negatively affected by noise. Performance on comprehension tasks in noise is strongly related to demands placed on working memory, supporting the theory that degrading listening conditions draws resources away from the primary task.
The Influence of Phonomotor Treatment on Word Retrieval Abilities in 26 Individuals With Chronic Aphasia: An Open Trial
Authors: Kendall Diane L. , Oelke Megan , Brookshire Carmel Elizabeth , Nadeau Stephen E. 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
The ultimate goal of aphasia therapy should be to achieve gains in function that generalize to untrained exemplars and daily conversation. Anomia is one of the most disabling features of aphasia. The predominantly lexical/semantic approaches used to treat anomia have low potential for generalization due to the orthogonality of semantic and phonologic representations; this has been borne out in a meta-analysis of treatment studies. The intensive, neurally distributed, phonologic therapy reported here can, in principle, generalize to untrained phonologic sequences because of extant regularities in phonologic sequence knowledge and should, in principle, generalize to production of words trained as well as those untrained.

Method
Twenty-six persons with chronic aphasia due to stroke were treated, in a staggered (immediate vs. delayed treatment) open trial design, with 60 hr of intensive, multimodal therapy designed to enhance access to and efficiency of phonemes and phonologic sequences.

Results
There was an absolute increase of 5% in confrontation naming of “untrained” nouns at 3 months, and there were 9% to 10% increases on measures of generalization of phonologic processes.

Conclusion
The results of this trial demonstrate generalization of training effects on laboratory measures, which were sustained at 3 months, and provide support for the theories that motivated the treatment.
The Effect of Voice Ambulatory Biofeedback on the Daily Performance and Retention of a Modified Vocal Motor Behavior in Participants With Normal Voices
Authors: Van Stan Jarrad H. , Mehta Daryush D. , Hillman Robert E. 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
Ambulatory biofeedback has potential to improve carryover of newly established vocal motor behaviors into daily life outside of the clinic and warrants systematic research that is lacking in the literature. This proof-of-concept study was designed to establish an empirical basis for future work in this area by formally assessing whether ambulatory biofeedback reduces daily vocal intensity (performance) and the extent to which this change remains after biofeedback removal (retention).

Method
Six participants with normal voices wore the KayPENTAX Ambulatory Phonation Monitor for 3 baseline days followed by 4 days with biofeedback provided on odd days.

Results
Compared to baseline days, participants exhibited a statistically significant decrease in mean vocal intensity (4.4 dB) and an increase in compliance (16.8 percentage points) when biofeedback was provided above a participant-specific intensity threshold. After biofeedback removal, mean vocal intensity and compliance reverted back to baseline levels.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that although current ambulatory biofeedback approaches have potential to modify a vocal motor behavior, the modified behavior may not be retained after biofeedback removal. Future work calls for the testing of more innovative ambulatory biofeedback approaches on the basis of motor control and learning theories to improve retention of a desired vocal motor behavior.
Design methodology for optimising a high insulation voltage insulated gate bipolar transistor gate driver signal transmission function
Authors: Am Sokchea , Lefranc Pierre , Frey David 
Published: March 2015

In this study, a design methodology for optimising a signal transmission function for high galvanic insulation (up to 30 kV) insulated gate bipolar transistor gate driver is proposed. The technology is based on a printed circuit board magnetic planar transformer with electronic circuits for excitation and reception. The objective of this study is to optimise the geometric elements of the transformer and its associated electronics devices with the help of a virtual prototyping tool. A bi‐objective problem of the overall system that leads to a Pareto front is presented. Several Pareto fronts’ results are obtained assuming different insulation layers thickness. The chosen transformer solution is justified and depends on the bi‐objective functions and the galvanic insulation level of the system. Moreover, the experimental results are compared with the simulation results. Finally, the comparisons between experimental and simulation results are proposed to lead to a conclusion of this methodology.
Fundamentals of Clinical Outcomes Assessment for Spinal Disorders: Clinical Outcome Instruments and Applications
Authors: Vavken Patrick , Ganal-Antonio Anne Kathleen B. , Quidde Julia , Shen Francis H. , Chapman Jens R. , Samartzis Dino 
Published: March 2015

Study Design A broad narrative review. Objectives Outcome assessment in spinal disorders is imperative to help monitor the safety and efficacy of the treatment in an effort to change the clinical practice and improve patient outcomes. The following article, part two of a two-part series, discusses the various outcome tools and instruments utilized to address spinal disorders and their management. Methods A thorough review of the peer-reviewed literature was performed, irrespective of language, addressing outcome research, instruments and tools, and applications. Results Numerous articles addressing the development and implementation of health-related quality-of-life, neck and low back pain, overall pain, spinal deformity, and other condition-specific outcome instruments have been reported. Their applications in the context of the clinical trial studies, the economic analyses, and overall evidence-based orthopedics have been noted. Additional issues regarding the problems and potential sources of bias utilizing outcomes scales and the concept of minimally clinically important difference were discussed. Conclusion Continuing research needs to assess the outcome instruments and tools used in the clinical outcome assessment for spinal disorders. Understanding the fundamental principles in spinal outcome assessment may also advance the field of “personalized spine care.”
A multifactorial injury prevention intervention reduces injury incidence in Physical Education Teacher Education students
Authors: Goossens L. , Cardon G. , Witvrouw E. , Steyaert A. , De Clercq D. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPhysical Education Teacher Education (PETE) students are at considerable risk for non‐contact sports injuries of the lower extremities. Multifactorial injury prevention interventions including exercises have been successful in sports populations, but no such study has ever been performed in PETE students. This study investigated the efficacy of a multifactorial injury prevention intervention on injury incidence reduction in PETE students. PETE students in the intervention group (n = 154) and in the control group (n = 189) registered sports injuries prospectively. The intervention lasted one academic year and consisted of an injury awareness programme and preventive strategies, implemented by the PETE sports lecturers. Differences in injury incidence between the intervention and control group were tested by Poisson regression Wald tests. There was a trend towards significantly lower incidence rate (2.18 vs. 2.73; p = 0.061) in the intervention group compared with the control group. Students in the intervention group had significantly less acute, first‐time and extracurricular injuries. The largest reduction was observed for injuries during unsupervised practice sessions. A multifactorial injury prevention intervention embedded into a regular PETE programme is a promising and feasible strategy to prevent injuries in PETE students. Further research is needed to investigate whether the results may be generalised to other PETE programmes.
Interior second derivative estimates for solutions to the linearized Monge-Ampère equation
Authors: Gutiérrez Cristian , Nguyen Truyen 
Published: March 2015

Let

Ω
⊂

R

n

\Omega \subset \mathbb {R}^n

be a bounded convex domain and

ϕ
∈
C
(

Ω
¯

)

\phi \in C(\overline \Omega )

be a convex function such that

ϕ
\phi

is sufficiently smooth on

∂
Ω

\partial \Omega

and the Monge-Ampère measure

det

D
2

ϕ

\det D^2\phi

is bounded away from zero and infinity in

Ω
\Omega

. The corresponding linearized Monge-Ampère equation is
\[

t
r
a
c
e

(
Φ

D
2

u
)
=
f
,

\mathrm {trace}(\Phi D^2 u) =f,

\]
where

Φ
:=
det

D
2

ϕ

(

D
2

ϕ

)

−
1

\Phi := \det D^2 \phi ~ (D^2\phi )^{-1}

is the matrix of cofactors of

D
2

ϕ

D^2\phi

. We prove a conjecture about the relationship between

L
p

L^p

estimates for

D
2

u

D^2 u

and the closeness between

det

D
2

ϕ

\det D^2\phi

and one. As a consequence, we obtain interior

W

2
,
p

W^{2,p}

estimates for solutions to such equations whenever the measure

det

D
2

ϕ

\det D^2\phi

is given by a continuous density and the function

f
f

belongs to

L
q

(
Ω
)

L^q(\Omega )

for some

q
>
max

{
p
,
n
}

q> \max {\{p,n\}}

.
Deforestation Control and Agricultural Supply in Brazil
Authors: Bento de Souza Ferreira Filho Joaquim , Ribera Luis , Horridge Mark 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBrazil has dramatically increased its agricultural area under cultivation, in the process becoming a major food exporter at the cost of natural forests. A new challenge is to meet the food demands of an expanding world population in the face of pessimistic climate change scenarios and the increasing scarcity of land. Can Brazil help meet rising world food demand while conserving its tropical rainforests? To address this question we simulate outcomes using a large dynamic multiregional computable general equilibrium model of Brazil to model land use over 20 years in 90 zones and 14 agricultural sectors. The model features a land‐use change module based on a transition matrix obtained from satellite imagery. We analyze two scenarios of deforestation reduction, both linked to actual policy proposals. Model results indicate several mechanisms that allow food output to increase without expanding land supply. In particular, we stress the role of Brazil's vast, low‐yield pasture area as a source of future cropland. Thus, we find that controlling deforestation leads to rather small decreases in food output—which could be neutralized by tiny exogenous productivity improvements. We conclude that the decrease in deforestation will not significantly compromise Brazilian agricultural supply capacity in the foreseeable future.
Farmers' Adaptation to Extreme Weather Events through Farm Management and Its Impacts on the Mean and Risk of Rice Yield in China
Authors: Huang Jikun , Wang Yangjie , Wang Jinxia 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe explore how rice farmers adjust their farm management practices in response to extreme weather events and determine whether their adjustments affect the mean, risk, and downside risk of rice yield. Based on a survey of 1,653 rice farmers in China, our econometric analyses show that the severity of drought and flood in the study areas significantly increases the risk and downside risk of rice yield. The applied farm management measures respond to severe drought and flood and can be considered as adaptation to climate change, an issue often ignored in previous studies. We model adaptation and its impact on rice yield for adapters and non‐adapters. Utilizing a moment‐based approach, we show that adaptation through farm management measures significantly increases rice yield and reduces the risk and downside risk of rice yield. Several policies, including scaling up the cost‐effective farm management adaptation and providing public services related to natural disasters, are recommended to improve adaptive capacity of farmers, particular the poor, in response to extreme events.
ChIPseeker: an R/Bioconductor package for ChIP peak annotation, comparison and visualization
Authors: Yu Guangchuang , Wang Li-Gen , He Qing-Yu 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Summary: ChIPseeker is an R package for annotating ChIP-seq data analysis. It supports annotating ChIP peaks and provides functions to visualize ChIP peaks coverage over chromosomes and profiles of peaks binding to TSS regions. Comparison of ChIP peak profiles and annotation are also supported. Moreover, it supports evaluating significant overlap among ChIP-seq datasets. Currently, ChIPseeker contains 15 000 bed file information from GEO database. These datasets can be downloaded and compare with user’s own data to explore significant overlap datasets for inferring co-regulation or transcription factor complex for further investigation.
Availability and implementation: ChIPseeker is released under Artistic-2.0 License. The source code and documents are freely available through Bioconductor (http://www.bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/ChIPseeker.html).
Contact: guangchuangyu@gmail.com or tqyhe@jnu.edu.cn
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Metagenomic analysis of the impact of nitrofurantoin treatment on the human faecal microbiota
Authors: Vervoort Jascha , Xavier Basil Britto , Stewardson Andrew , Coenen Samuel , Godycki-Cwirko Maciek , Adriaenssens Niels , Kowalczyk Anna , Lammens Christine , Harbarth Stephan , Goossens Herman , Malhotra-Kumar Surbhi 
Published: March 2015

Abstract

Objectives
The objective was to study changes in the faecal microbiota of patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) treated with nitrofurantoin and of non-treated healthy controls using 16S rRNA analysis.

Methods
Serial stool samples were collected from patients receiving nitrofurantoin treatment at different timepoints [before treatment (day 1; T1), within 48 h of end of treatment (days 5–15; T2) and 28 days after treatment (days 31–43; T3)], as well as from healthy controls. Direct DNA extraction (PowerSoil DNA Isolation Kit, MoBio Laboratories, Carlsbad, CA, USA) from stool samples was followed by pyrosequencing (454 GS FLX Titanium) of the V3–V5 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene.

Results
Among UTI patients, mean proportions of the Actinobacteria phylum increased by 19.6% in the first follow-up sample (T2) in comparison with the pretreatment baseline stool sample (T1) (P = 0.026). However, proportions of Actinobacteria reversed to ‘normal’ pre-antibiotic levels, with a mean difference of 1.0% compared with baseline proportions, in the second follow-up sample (T3). The increase in Actinobacteria was specifically due to an increase in the Bifidobacteriaceae family (Bifidobacterium genus), which constituted 81.0% (95% CI ±7.4%) of this phylum.

Conclusions
No significant impact was observed other than a temporary increase in the beneficial Bifidobacterium genus following nitrofurantoin treatment, which supports its reintroduction into clinical use.