bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Primary vesicoureteral reflux: A 26‐year experience in a single centre
Authors: Vachvanichsanong Prayong , Dissaneewate Pornsak , McNeil Edward 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAimTo determine the nature of primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and the association of VUR with hydronephrosis and renal damage.MethodsThe medical records of children ≤ 15 years diagnosed with VUR, attending the Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand between 1987 and 2013 were reviewed. Renal ultrasound and technetium‐99m dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan (DMSA) results were examined to determine the severity of hydronephrosis and renal damage, respectively.ResultsThere were 177 boys and 211 girls. 350 (90.2%) were diagnosed following urinary tract infection (UTI). The median (IQR) age at diagnosis of first VUR was 7.6 (4.3–12.2) months in boys and 18.6 (9.0–46.6) months in girls (P < 0.001).Renal ultrasound was performed in 340 patients. Hydronephrosis was found in 105 patients and 135 kidneys and 22.5% VUR kidneys and 11.0% non‐VUR kidneys (P = 0.01). The severity of hydronephrosis was associated with VUR grade (44.2% of grades IV and V VUR had hydronephrosis vs 11.9% of grades I–III VUR, P < 0.001).DMSA was performed in 332 patients. Abnormalities were found in 30.1% VUR kidneys and 4.1% non‐VUR kidneys (P < 0.001). Abnormal DMSA results were strongly associated with VUR grade (17.8% for VUR grades I–III vs 60.5% for VUR grades IV and V, P < 0.001).ConclusionPrimary VUR in this group was most commonly diagnosed following investigation of UTI and detected during infancy, earlier in boys. Hydronephrosis and renal damage were associated with severity of VUR.
Prospective study of nephrolithiasis occurrence in children receiving cefotriaxone
Authors: Youssef Doaa Mohammed , Sherief Laila Metwaly , Sherbiny Hanan Saker , ElAttar Mai Yehia , Sheikh Abdel Razek Mohammed El , Fawzy Faten Mohammed , Adham Tamer 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAimCeftriaxone is a commonly used antibiotic among the paediatric population. Various reports have associated high doses of Ceftriaxone with the development of nephrolithiasis; our aim was to test this association with a 5 day course of treatment.MethodsOur study group consisted of 120 patients divided into two groups. The first group included 60 patients who underwent treatment with Ceftriaxone therapy that was started empirically and continued for 5 days at the dose of 80 mg/kg per day. The second group (60 patients) who received treatment with other antibiotics (other than Ceftriaxone), as recommended by hospital protocols. Patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) were excluded as UTI may be a predisposing cause for nephrolithiasis. Baseline and follow up after 5 days were done with; abdominal ultrasound, serum urea, creatinine, serum calcium, 24 h urinary calcium and urinary calcium/ creatinine ratio. Extended metabolic tests were done for cases that developed nephrolithiasis.ResultsFive cases out of the 60 patients treated with Ceftriaxone developed calculi; that were small and were eliminated spontaneously in four cases at mean duration of 3 weeks. In these cases renal ultrasonography examinations were normal prior to treatment; and none of them had metabolic disturbances or risk factors leading to stone formation. By multiple regression analysis, only age was related to nephrolithiasis formation being higher in the group that has developed stones.ConclusionOnly patients who underwent Ceftriaxone therapy have developed renal stones, even with a short course of therapy (5 days), and in the absence of a known predisposing cause for nephrolithiasis. We have thus concluded that Ceftriaxone by itself maybe a predisposing factor for nephrolithiasis
Direct and indirect effects of nursery habitats on coral‐reef fish assemblages, grazing pressure and benthic dynamics
Authors: Harborne Alastair R. , Nagelkerken Ivan , Wolff Nicholas H. , Bozec Yves‐Marie , Dorenbosch Martijn , Grol Monique G. G. , Mumby Peter J. 
Published: September 2015

Migrating species are common within seascapes, but the potential for these movements to alter the populations and functional roles of non‐migrating species (e.g. by increasing predation) is rarely investigated. This study considers whether the presence of nursery habitats (mangroves and seagrass) simply enhances the abundance of nursery‐using parrotfishes and piscivores on nearby coral reefs, or also affects other parrotfishes. Data from 131 reef sites and multiple seascape configurations across 13 degrees of latitude were used to model correlations between biophysical variables, including nursery habitat connectivity, and the abundance and grazing pressure of both nursery‐using species and other parrotfishes and piscivore biomass. Connectivity to mangroves and dense seagrass was positively correlated with the biomass of nursery‐using species, but was also negatively correlated with non‐nursery parrotfish populations. This reduction may be caused indirectly by nursery habitats increasing confamilial competition and predation by nursery‐using piscivores, particularly affecting small parrotfishes settling directly onto reefs.As key reef grazers, parrotfishes affect coral demographics. Consequently, a spatial simulation model predicted the impacts after five years of changes in grazing pressure because of nursery habitat connectivity. The model demonstrated that high nursery connectivity was correlated to changes in grazing pressure on nearby reefs that could potentially lead to differences in coral cover of ∼3–4% when compared to low connectivity reefs. However, the direction of this change depended on the seascapes’ characteristics. Historically, large‐bodied, nursery‐using parrotfish would have increased grazing in all nursery‐rich seascapes. Overfishing means that nursery availability may have spatially variable impacts on coral cover, influencing reserve design.This study suggests that nursery availability may directly and indirectly modify an ecological process, and alter an ecological cascade (migrating species increase predator and competitor abundances, affecting other grazers and consequently corals). Therefore, elucidating the multi‐species impacts of animal movements is required to better understand ecosystem functioning.
Relative Orientation Dependent on Dual Quaternions
Authors: Sheng Qing H. , Shao Sa , Xiao Hui , Zhu Feng , Wang Qing , Zhang Bin 
Published: September 2015

AbstractA new approach to relative orientation based on dual quaternions is proposed. Dual quaternions are used to express a unified description of the relative position and orientation of two images in a stereopair. The coplanarity condition equation and its linearised model based on dual quaternions are established. According to the principle of least squares adjustment with constraints, a dual quaternion can be identified and the relative‐orientation parameters can then be obtained by a non‐linear transformation of the components of the dual quaternion. Experimental results show that the proposed approach is feasible and more reliable and efficient than the conventional approach based on Euler angles.
Analysis of Different Methods for 3D Reconstruction of Natural Surfaces from Parallel‐Axes UAV Images
Authors: Eltner Anette , Schneider Danilo 
Published: September 2015

AbstractRecent advances in structure from motion (SfM) and dense matching algorithms enable surface reconstruction from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images with high spatial resolution, allowing for new insights into earth surface processes. However, accuracy issues are inherent in parallel‐axes UAV image configurations. In this study, the quality of digital elevation models (DEMs) is assessed using images from a simulated UAV flight. Five different SfM tools and three different cameras are compared. If ground control points (GCPs) are not integrated into the adjustment process with parallel‐axes image configurations, significant dome‐effect systematic errors are observed, which can be reduced based on calibration parameters retrieved from a testfield captured with convergent images immediately before or after the UAV flight. A comparison between DEMs of a soil surface generated from UAV images and terrestrial laser‐scanning data show that natural surfaces can be very accurately reconstructed from UAV images, even when GCPs are missing and simple geometric camera models are considered.
Hydration status influences seed fire tolerance in temperate European herbaceous species
Authors: Ruprecht E. , Lukács K. , Domokos P. , Kuhn T. , Fenesi A. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractPrescribed burning is an important management tool in many parts of the world. While natural fires generally occur during the driest and warmest period of the year, prescribed burning is often timed out‐of‐season, when there is higher soil moisture and lower biomass combustibility. However, fire season may influence seedling recruitment after fire, e.g. through the effect of seed hydration status on fire tolerance. In non‐fire‐prone temperate regions, anthropogenic fire may occur exclusively in periods outside the growing season with higher soil moisture, which may have negative consequences on seedling recruitment. Fire tolerance of moist and dry seeds of 16 temperate European herbaceous species belonging to four families was assessed using heat treatment of 100 °C for 5 min and subsequent germination trials. Moist seeds of Asteraceae, Poaceae and Brassicaceae had a predominantly negative reaction to the heat treatment, while those of Fabaceae tolerated it or germination was even enhanced. The reaction of dry seeds was completely different, with positive responses in three species of the Fabaceae and fire tolerance in species of other families. Our results point out that hydration status may significantly influence the post‐fire germination of seeds. Dry seeds were found to tolerate high heat, while moist seeds were harmed in more than half of the species. This implies that if prescribed burning is applied in temperate grasslands of Europe, it should be timed to dry periods of the dormant season in order to protect seeds from negative effects of fire.
Latency as a region contrast: Measuring ERP latency differences with Dynamic Time Warping
Authors: Zoumpoulaki A. , Alsufyani A. , Filetti M. , Brammer M. , Bowman H. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractMethods for measuring onset latency contrasts are evaluated against a new method utilizing the dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm. This new method allows latency to be measured across a region instead of single point. We use computer simulations to compare the methods’ power and Type I error rates under different scenarios. We perform per‐participant analysis for different signal‐to‐noise ratios and two sizes of window (broad vs. narrow). In addition, the methods are tested in combination with single‐participant and jackknife average waveforms for different effect sizes, at the group level. DTW performs better than the other methods, being less sensitive to noise as well as to placement and width of the window selected.
Empirically based comparisons of the reliability and validity of common quantification approaches for eyeblink startle potentiation in humans
Authors: Bradford Daniel E. , Starr Mark J. , Shackman Alexander J. , Curtin John J. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractStartle potentiation is a well‐validated translational measure of negative affect. Startle potentiation is widely used in clinical and affective science, and there are multiple approaches for its quantification. The three most commonly used approaches quantify startle potentiation as the increase in startle response from a neutral to threat condition based on (1) raw potentiation, (2) standardized potentiation, or (3) percent‐change potentiation. These three quantification approaches may yield qualitatively different conclusions about effects of independent variables (IVs) on affect when within‐ or between‐group differences exist for startle response in the neutral condition. Accordingly, we directly compared these quantification approaches in a shock‐threat task using four IVs known to influence startle response in the no‐threat condition: probe intensity, time (i.e., habituation), alcohol administration, and individual differences in general startle reactivity measured at baseline. We confirmed the expected effects of time, alcohol, and general startle reactivity on affect using self‐reported fear/anxiety as a criterion. The percent‐change approach displayed apparent artifact across all four IVs, which raises substantial concerns about its validity. Both raw and standardized potentiation approaches were stable across probe intensity and time, which supports their validity. However, only raw potentiation displayed effects that were consistent with a priori specifications and/or the self‐report criterion for the effects of alcohol and general startle reactivity. Supplemental analyses of reliability and validity for each approach provided additional evidence in support of raw potentiation.
Efficacy and safety of aclidinium bromide in patients with COPD: A phase 3 randomized clinical trial in a Korean population
Authors: Lee Sang Haak , Lee Jongmin , Yoo Kwang Ha , Uh Soo‐Taek , Park Myung Jae , Lee Sang Yeub , Kim Jae Yeol , Kim Deog Kyeom , Kim Seung Joon , Lee Kwan Ho , Yoo Chul‐Gyu 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackground and objectiveAclidinium bromide (‘aclidinium’) is a novel, inhaled long‐acting muscarinic antagonist. Therapeutic effects of aclidinium on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been demonstrated in Caucasian populations in several clinical trials. This was a randomized, double‐blind, multi‐centre phase‐3 clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aclidinium in a Korean population.MethodsA total of 263 Korean patients with moderate‐to‐severe COPD were randomized to receive aclidinium (400 μg, bd) (Genuai) or placebo via a dry‐powder inhaler. The primary end point was change in trough forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) at 12 weeks. Other lung function measurements, COPD exacerbation, health status (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), dyspnoea (Transition Dyspnea Index (TDI) and safety were assessed throughout the study period.ResultsA significant improvement in trough FEV1 from baseline was shown with aclidinium compared with the placebo (0.126 L, P < 0.0001). Significant improvements were also demonstrated in peak FEV1 (0.190 L, P < 0.0001), SGRQ and TDI. Furthermore, aclidinium significantly reduced the prevalence of exacerbations (aclidinium, 5.4%; placebo, 15.6%, P < 0.05), and the duration of exacerbations was shorter compared with placebo (rate ratio: 0.27; P < 0.05). Aclidinium (400 μg) was well tolerated and the prevalence of adverse events was comparable with the placebo.ConclusionsInhaled aclidinium (400 μg) was shown to be safe and efficacious in Korean patients with moderate‐to‐severe COPD.Clinical trial registration: NCT01636401 at Clinicaltrials.gov
Presidential Campaign Spending and Correct Voting from 2000 to 2008*
Authors: Bergbower Matthew L. , McClurg Scott D. , Holbrook Thomas 
Published: September 2015

ObjectiveThis study examines whether presidential campaigns help voters make informed choices on Election Day, or whether unique campaign contexts can actually hinder quality votes. We explore this question by relating the allocation of resources by presidential campaigns to a measure of correct voting (Lau and Redlawsk, 1997).MethodsWe expect that when campaign messages become overwhelmingly one sided, the number of incorrect votes increases and test this through an assessment of campaign data and responses to the 2000, 2004, and 2008 American National Election Studies.ResultsOur results reveal that lopsided campaign contexts create an opportunity for campaigns to pick up votes that would otherwise go to the opposing candidate.ConclusionThis research underscores the normative value of competitive political campaigns as it relates to voters’ exposure to political information. Our findings contribute to debates on campaign strategy, information environments, and the effect of campaigns on voter decision‐making.
Fatal tracheal aspergillosis during rituximab combined chemotherapy for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma that developed after lung transplantation
Authors: Kawamoto K. , Shibasaki Y. , Sato S. , Nemoto H. , Takizawa J. , Narita M. , Tsuchida M. , Sone H. , Masuko M. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractInvasive tracheal aspergillosis (ITA) is an infection that is unique to patients who have undergone lung transplantation (LT). Although the activity of this disease often appears on imaging, we encountered a case of ITA that became exacerbated, despite few computed tomography (CT) findings, during rituximab combined chemotherapy for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma. ITA developed during immunosuppressive therapy after LT. Because CT findings may show false‐negative results, bronchoscopy is recommended for such cases.
Natural variation in the C‐repeat binding factor cold response pathway correlates with local adaptation of Arabidopsis ecotypes
Authors: Gehan Malia A. , Park Sunchung , Gilmour Sarah J. , An Chuanfu , Lee Chin‐Mei , Thomashow Michael F. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryThe natural range of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) encompasses geographical regions that have greatly differing local climates, including harshness of winter temperatures. A question thus raised is whether differences in freezing tolerance might contribute to local adaptation in Arabidopsis. Consistent with this possibility is that Arabidopsis accessions differ in freezing tolerance and that those collected from colder northern latitudes are generally more tolerant to freezing than those collected from warmer southern latitudes. Moreover, recent studies with Arabidopsis genotypes collected from sites in Sweden (SW) and Italy (IT) have established that the two accessions are locally adapted, that the SW ecotype is more tolerant of freezing than the IT ecotype, and that genetic differences between the two ecotypes that condition local adaptation and freezing tolerance map to a region that includes the C‐repeat binding factor (CBF) locus. The CBF locus includes three genes – CBF1, CBF2 and CBF3 – that are induced by low temperature and encode transcription factors that regulate a group of more than 100 genes, the CBF regulon, which impart freezing tolerance. Here we show that cold induction of most CBF regulon genes is lower in IT plants compared with SW plants, and that this is due to the IT CBF2 gene encoding a non‐functional CBF2 protein. The non‐functional IT CBF2 protein also contributes to the lower freezing tolerance of the IT plants compared with the SW plants. Taken together, studies on the SW and IT ecotypes provide evidence that natural variation in the CBF pathway has contributed to adaptive evolution in these Arabidopsis populations.
Offshoring, Plant Survival and Employment Growth
Authors: Bandick Roger 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThis paper empirically investigates the effects of offshoring on plant survival and employment growth using data on the Danish manufacturing plants during the period 1995–2006. To control for the potential endogeneity of the offshoring decision, the paper uses instrumental variables and propensity score‐matching approaches. The data allow me to control for the heterogeneity between the units by using firm‐level offshoring activities in different regions and performing the empirical analysis on plantlevel aggregation, which is shown to be of crucial importance. Using firm as a unit of observation, the effect of offshoring is, if any, very small. However, using plant as a unit of observation, there are strong indications that offshoring plays a much larger role for the extensive and intensive margin of adjustments. The results reveal that plants survival prospect is higher if the main offshoring is located in high‐wage countries; lower if it is located in low‐wage countries; and not affected if it is located in medium‐wage countries. Finally, the results also reveal that depending on where the main offshoring is located, the growth rate of low‐skilled employment is 2 to 8 per cent lower in plants of offshoring firms.
Estimating patient‐specific and anatomically correct reference model for craniomaxillofacial deformity via sparse representation
Authors: Wang Li , Ren Yi , Gao Yaozong , Tang Zhen , Chen Ken‐Chung , Li Jianfu , Shen Steve G. F. , Yan Jin , Lee Philip K. M. , Chow Ben , Xia James J. , Shen Dinggang 
Published: September 2015

Purpose:A significant number of patients suffer from craniomaxillofacial (CMF) deformity and require CMF surgery in the United States. The success of CMF surgery depends on not only the surgical techniques but also an accurate surgical planning. However, surgical planning for CMF surgery is challenging due to the absence of a patient‐specific reference model. Currently, the outcome of the surgery is often subjective and highly dependent on surgeon's experience. In this paper, the authors present an automatic method to estimate an anatomically correct reference shape of jaws for orthognathic surgery, a common type of CMF surgery.Methods:To estimate a patient‐specific jaw reference model, the authors use a data‐driven method based on sparse shape composition. Given a dictionary of normal subjects, the authors first use the sparse representation to represent the midface of a patient by the midfaces of the normal subjects in the dictionary. Then, the derived sparse coefficients are used to reconstruct a patient‐specific reference jaw shape.Results:The authors have validated the proposed method on both synthetic and real patient data. Experimental results show that the authors’ method can effectively reconstruct the normal shape of jaw for patients.Conclusions:The authors have presented a novel method to automatically estimate a patient‐specific reference model for the patient suffering from CMF deformity.
Increasing efficiency of BEAMnrc‐simulated Co‐60 beams using directional source biasing
Authors: Walters B. R. B. 
Published: September 2015

Purpose:This study describes the implementation of a directional source biasing (DSB) scheme for efficiently simulating Cobalt‐60 treatment heads using the BEAMnrc Monte Carlo code. Previous simulation of Co‐60 beams with BEAMnrc was impractical because of the time required to track photons not directed into the treatment field and to simulate secondary charged particles.Methods:In DSB, efficiency is increased by splitting each photon emitted by the Co‐60 source a user‐defined number of times. Only those split primary photons directed into a user‐defined splitting field (encompassing the treatment field) are sampled, yielding many low‐weight photons directed into the field. Efficiency can be further increased by taking advantage of radial symmetry at the top of the treatment head to reduce the number of split primary photons tracked in this portion. There is also an option to generate contaminant electrons in DSB.Results:The DSB scheme in BEAMnrc increases the photon fluence calculation efficiency in a 10 × 10 cm2 Co‐60 beam by a factor of 1800 with a concurrent increase in contaminant electron fluence calculation efficiency by a factor of 1200. Implementation of DSB in beampp, a C++ code for accelerator simulations based on EGSnrc and the C++ class library, egspp, increases photon fluence efficiency by a factor of 2800 and contaminant electron fluence efficiency by a factor of 1600. Optimum splitting numbers are in the range of 20 000–40 000. For dose calculations in a water phantom (0.5 × 0.5 × 0.5 cm3 voxels) this translates into a factor of ∼400 increase in dose calculation efficiency (all doses > 0.5 × Dmax). An example calculation of the ratio of dose to water to dose to chamber (the basis of the beam quality correction factor) to within 0.2% in a realistic chamber using a full simulation of a Co‐60 treatment head as a source indicates the practicality of Co‐60 simulations with DSB.Conclusions:The efficiency improvement resulting from DSB makes Monte Carlo commissioning of Co‐60 beams and calculation of beam quality correction factors feasible.