bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bidecadal Thermal Changes in the Abyssal Ocean
Authors: Wunsch Carl , Heimbach Patrick 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
A dynamically consistent state estimate is used for the period 1992–2011 to describe the changes in oceanic temperatures and heat content, with an emphasis on determining the noise background in the abyssal (below 2000 m) depths. Interpretation requires close attention to the long memory of the deep ocean, implying that meteorological forcing of decades to thousands of years ago should still be producing trendlike changes in abyssal heat content. Much of the deep-ocean volume remained unobserved. At the present time, warming is seen in the deep western Atlantic and Southern Oceans, roughly consistent with those regions of the ocean expected to display the earliest responses to surface disturbances. Parts of the deeper ocean, below 3600 m, show cooling. Most of the variation in the abyssal Pacific Ocean is comparatively featureless, consistent with the slow, diffusive approach to a steady state expected there. In the global average, changes in heat content below 2000 m are roughly 10% of those inferred for the upper ocean over the 20-yr period. A useful global observing strategy for detecting future change has to be designed to account for the different time and spatial scales manifested in the observed changes. If the precision estimates of heat content change are independent of systematic errors, determining oceanic heat uptake values equivalent to 0.1 W m−2 is possibly attainable over future bidecadal periods.
A Low-Cost Wireless Temperature Sensor: Evaluation for Use in Environmental Monitoring Applications
Authors: Young Duick T. , Chapman Lee , Muller Catherine L. , Cai Xiao-Ming , Grimmond C. S. B. 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
A wide range of environmental applications would benefit from a dense network of air temperature observations. However, with limitations of costs, existing siting guidelines, and risk of damage, new methods are required to gain a high-resolution understanding of spatiotemporal patterns of temperature for agricultural and urban meteorological phenomena such as the urban heat island. With the launch of a new generation of low-cost sensors, it is possible to deploy a network to monitor air temperature at finer spatial resolutions. This study investigates the Aginova Sentinel Micro (ASM) sensor with a custom radiation shield (together less than USD$150) that can provide secure near-real-time air temperature data to a server utilizing existing (or user deployed) Wi-Fi networks. This makes it ideally suited for deployment where wireless communications readily exist, notably urban areas. Assessment of the performance of the ASM relative to traceable standards in a water bath and atmospheric chamber show it to have good measurement accuracy with mean errors &lt;±0.22°C between −25° and 30°C, with a time constant in ambient air of 110 ±15 s. Subsequent field tests also showed the ASM (in the custom shield) had excellent performance (RMSE = 0.13°C) over a range of meteorological conditions relative to a traceable operational Met Office platinum resistance thermometer. These results indicate that the ASM and radiation shield are more than fit for purpose for dense network deployment in environmental monitoring applications at relatively low cost compared to existing observation techniques.
The Impact of Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors on Major Salivary Gland Cancer Survival
Authors: Olarte Lucia S. , Megwalu Uchechukwu C. 
Published: March 2014

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors on survival in patients with major salivary gland malignancies.Study DesignPopulation‐based study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer database.Subject and MethodsThe study cohort consisted of 10,735 men and women ages 20 and older who were diagnosed with major salivary gland carcinoma from 1973 to 2009.ResultsKaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the overall and disease‐specific survival was higher for women than for men (P <. 001). Overall and disease‐specific survival decreased with increasing age (P <. 001) and differed by race (P <. 001) and marital status (P <. 001). Patients residing in counties with higher rates of high school completion had higher overall and disease‐specific survival (P <. 001). Patients residing in counties with higher median household incomes had better overall and disease‐specific survival than patients from lower income counties (P <. 001). On multivariable analysis, male sex (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32‐1.50), increasing age, and single status (HR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.27‐1.44) had poor prognostic impact on overall survival. Male sex (HR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.27‐1.49), increasing age, and single status (HR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.19‐1.39) had poor prognostic impact on disease‐specific survival.ConclusionFor patients with salivary gland malignancies, there is a survival benefit for younger patients, female patients, and married patients. This highlights the significance of demographic factors on survival outcomes for patients with salivary gland malignancies and highlights areas for further research on health disparities.
Acute Dacryocystitis with Empyema of the Lacrimal Sac: Is Immediate Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy Justified?
Authors: Lombardi Davide , Mattavelli Davide , Accorona Remo , Turano Raffaele , Semeraro Francesco , Bozzola Anna , Nicolai Piero 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (Endo‐DCR) in the treatment of acute dacryocystitis with lacrimal sac empyema (ADLSE).DesignCase series with chart review.SettingAcademic tertiary center.PatientsThe study included 26 consecutive patients who underwent Endo‐DCR for ADLSE between August 2005 and December 2013.Main Outcome MeasuresThe success of the procedure was defined as complete complaint relief and DCR patency. Data on the time from referral to surgery, postoperative complications, and revision surgery are also reported.ResultsThe present patient series included 4 males (15.4%) and 22 females (84.6%) (mean age, 66 years). The mean time between referral and surgery was 0.88 days and the mean follow‐up time was 29 months. All patients showed immediate relief from symptoms, with no ADLSE recurrences. Complete success was achieved in 25 (96.2%) cases; the only failure was in a patient who had previously undergone radioiodine treatment. In this case, revision Endo‐DCR was not successful. The only perioperative complication (3.8%) was epistaxis in a patient who required revision surgery under general anesthesia. The definitive success rate was 96.2% after primary and revision surgery.ConclusionsEndo‐DCR enables rapid resolution of ADLSE with a very high success rate. Immediate surgery may reduce the risk of skin fistulization and/or orbital complications. DCR shrinkage and lacrimal obstruction are unlikely with Endo‐DCR since the procedure is performed on an enlarged sac. The main advantage of Endo‐DCR, compared with external DCR, is the absence of a skin incision in an inflamed and infected field.
Cardioprotective effects of curcumin and nebivolol against doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity in rats
Authors: Imbaby S , Ewais M , Essawy S , Farag N 
Published: March 2014

Doxorubicin (DOX) is used in the treatment of cancer. However, cardiotoxicity is its major dose-limiting factor. Mechanism of DOX–cardiac toxicity is not completely elucidated. The aim of the current study was to explore whether the addition of subeffective dose of curcumin (100 mg/kg) to nebivolol would produce a better impact in treating DOX-induced cardiac toxicity in comparison with monotherapy. Male rats were used and subdivided into seven groups. Cardiac toxicity was induced in 6 groups by intraperitoneal injection of DOX over 23 days; of the six groups, five groups were treated with curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg), nebivolol (1 and 2 mg/kg), and their combination; the sixth group was the control group used for comparison. Oral administration of curcumin and/or nebivolol attenuated DOX cardiotoxicity as manifested by increasing survival rate, improvement in body weight, heart index, and ECG parameters, increase in ventricular isoprenaline responses, and improvement in cardiac enzymes, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and histopathological picture. The addition of the current low subeffective dose of curcumin to nebivolol ameliorated DOX cardiac toxicity to a much greater extent than monotherapy showing better antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects versus the per se effect of nebivolol. Therefore, the current study encourages adding low dose of curcumin to potentiate the effect of nebivolol in the clinical management of cardiac toxicity improving the patients’ quality of life if proper clinical safety data are available.
Social cognition in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS)
Authors: Charvet LE , Cleary RE , Vazquez K , Belman AL , Krupp LB ,   on behalf of the US Network for Pediatric MS
Published: March 2014

Background: Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) patients represent a subpopulation who are diagnosed during the course of development. Social cognitive deficits have recently been recognized in adults with MS. It is critical to identify whether these youngest patients with the disorder are also at risk. Objective: To determine whether pediatric-onset MS is associated with social cognitive deficits. Methods: Consecutively-recruited participants with pediatric-onset MS were compared to a group of age- and gender-matched healthy controls on Theory of Mind (ToM) task performance. Tasks measured facial affect recognition (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test), detecting social faux pas (Faux Pas Test), and understanding the perspective of another (False Beliefs Task). Results: Twenty-eight (28) pediatric-onset MS participants (median age 17 years) and 32 healthy controls (median age 16 years) completed the study. The MS participants performed worse than controls on all three ToM tasks: Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test ( p = 0.008), the Faux Pas Test ( p = 0.009), and the False Beliefs Task ( p = 0.06). While more MS than control participants were impaired on a measure of information processing speed (the Symbol Digit Modalities Test; 38% versus 6%), it did not account for the differences in ToM performance. Conclusions: Social cognition may represent an area of cognitive functioning affected by MS in the pediatric-onset population. These processes are especially important to study in younger patients as they may have long range implications for social adjustment, employment, and well-being.
Cognitive, Neuropsychiatric, and Motor Features Associated With Apolipoprotein E ∊4 Allele in a Sample of Bulgarian Patients With Late-Onset Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Pavlova Radka , Mehrabian Shima , Petrova Maria , Skelina Silvia , Mihova Kalina , Jordanova Albena , Mitev Vanio , Traykov Latchezar 
Published: March 2014

Objective: To evaluate the role of apolipoprotein E ( APOE) ∊4 allele on cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and motor features in a sample of Bulgarian patients with late-onset Parkinson’s disease (LOPD, age at onset > 55 years). Methods: A total of 16 patients with LOPD having APOE ∊3/∊4 genotype were compared to 30 patients with LOPD having APOE ∊3/∊3 genotype and 20 healthy control individuals. Detailed cognitive assessment and evaluation of neuropsychiatric and motor symptoms were performed. Results: The patients with LOPD had significantly lower scores in all cognitive domains compared to controls. The patients with LOPD carrying an ∊4 allele showed some significant differences in their cognitive, motor, and neuropsychiatric features. Conclusions: The data suggest a role of the APOE genotype as a disease-modifying factor.
Cortical thickness in youth with major depressive disorder
Authors: Reynolds Stephanie , Carrey Normand , Jaworska Natalia , Langevin Lisa Marie , Yang Xiao-Ru , MacMaster Frank P 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundStudies in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) have implicated dysregulation of frontal-limbic circuits in the symptomology of this disorder. We hypothesized that the middle frontal gyrus (MFG; a core portion of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or DLPFC) and the anterior cingulate (caudal), regions implicated in emotive and cognitive control, would display a reduced cortical thickness in youth with MDD as compared to healthy, non-depressed adolescents.MethodsSixteen healthy control adolescents (17.19 ± 1.87 years; 7 males, 9 females) and thirty MDD participants (16.89 ± 2.01 years; 9 males, 21 females) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cortical thickness analysis was carried out using FreeSurfer software.ResultsCounter to our hypothesis, we observed thicker right and left rostral MFG in MDD adolescents as compared to controls (p = 0.004 and p = 0.005, respectively). Furthermore, the left caudal anterior cingulate cortex was thicker in MDD subjects as compared to controls (p = 0.009). In MDD subjects, there was a significant inverse correlation between age and left MFG thickness (r = -0.45, p = 0.001).ConclusionsThese results have implications for the developmental trajectory of the frontal lobe in adolescent MDD. The MFG is implicated in the frontal-limbic circuits underlying executive functioning and their interaction with affective processing. Alterations in this region are likely involved with the symptoms of MDD. Limitations include a small sample size and cross sectional design.
Mathematically optimized cryoprotectant equilibration procedures for cryopreservation of human oocytes
Authors: Davidson Allyson Fry , Benson James D , Higgins Adam Z 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
Simple and effective cryopreservation of human oocytes would have an enormous impact on the financial and ethical constraints of human assisted reproduction. Recently, studies have demonstrated the potential for cryopreservation in an ice-free glassy state by equilibrating oocytes with high concentrations of cryoprotectants (CPAs) and rapidly cooling to liquid nitrogen temperatures. A major difficulty with this approach is that the high concentrations required for the avoidance of crystal formation (vitrification) also increase the risk of osmotic and toxic damage. We recently described a mathematical optimization approach for designing CPA equilibration procedures that avoid osmotic damage and minimize toxicity, and we presented optimized procedures for human oocytes involving continuous changes in solution composition.

Methods
Here we adapt and refine our previous algorithm to predict piecewise-constant changes in extracellular solution concentrations in order to make the predicted procedures easier to implement. Importantly, we investigate the effects of using alternate equilibration endpoints on predicted protocol toxicity. Finally, we compare the resulting procedures to previously described experimental methods, as well as mathematically optimized procedures involving continuous changes in solution composition.

Results
For equilibration with CPA, our algorithm predicts an optimal first step consisting of exposure to a solution containing only water and CPA. This is predicted to cause the cells to initially shrink and then swell to the maximum cell volume limit. To reach the target intracellular CPA concentration, the cells are then induced to shrink to the minimum cell volume limit by exposure to a high CPA concentration. For post-thaw equilibration to remove CPA, the optimal procedures involve exposure to CPA-free solutions that are predicted to cause swelling to the maximum volume limit. The toxicity associated with these procedures is predicted to be much less than that of conventional procedures and comparable to that of the corresponding procedures with continuous changes in solution composition.

Conclusions
The piecewise-constant procedures described in this study are experimentally facile and are predicted to be less toxic than conventional procedures for human oocyte cryopreservation. Moreover, the mathematical optimization approach described here will facilitate the design of cryopreservation procedures for other cell types.
Improved prognostic diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in an early stage of disease by a combination of different predictive biomarkers identified by proteome analysis
Authors: Boenisch Maximilian , Hurst Rebecca , Huber Susanna , Koehn Jadranka , Krapfenbauer Kurt 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundSince the original characterizations of the pathological features defining glomerulonephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were reported, numerous studies have linked the development of pathology to the abnormal expression of protein in urine. The determination of proteinuria is important and necessary; however, this alone is not predictive enough to confirm a suspected diagnosis, especially in an early state of disease when symptoms are not yet observed. Furthermore, several studies have already highlighted the pitfalls of proteinuria both as a clinical prognostic marker and as a factor predicting the progressive loss of renal function. Therefore, the identification of more accurate and predictive biomarkers is urgently needed. To address this, comparative urinary and kidney profiling was performed in the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse as a model of lupus tubulointerstitial nephritis and lupus glomerulonephritis corresponding to SLE in humans.ResultsTamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THG; uromodulin) and beta2-microglubulin (β2M) were identified as immune process-related molecules in the urine and kidney of the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse model. Furthermore, we show that the combinatory expression profile of THG and β2M as biomarkers, normalized by the proteinuria level, is more predictive than proteinuria determination alone. Data were confirmed by comparative urinary profiling of SLE in mice by Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis.ConclusionBased on our results, we are able to diagnose SLE in the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse in a very early state of disease, when the proteinuria level alone is not able to confirm a suspected diagnosis. The pre-validation of our urinary biomarkers is associated with clinical outcomes of glomerulonephritis in humans and merits additional investigation. Further conformations of our predictive biomarkers in the urine of SLE patients in the course of a clinical study are still ongoing.
Decoding the massive genome of loblolly pine using haploid DNA and novel assembly strategies
Authors: Neale David B , Wegrzyn Jill L , Stevens Kristian A , Zimin Aleksey V , Puiu Daniela , Crepeau Marc W , Cardeno Charis , Koriabine Maxim , Holtz-Morris Ann E , Liechty John D , Martínez-García Pedro J , Vasquez-Gross Hans A , Lin Brian Y , Zieve Jacob J , Dougherty William M , Fuentes-Soriano Sara , Wu Le-Shin , Gilbert Don , Marçais Guillaume , Roberts Michael , Holt Carson , Yandell Mark , Davis John M , Smith Katherine E , Dean Jeffrey FD , Lorenz W Walter , Whetten Ross W , Sederoff Ronald , Wheeler Nicholas , McGuire Patrick E , Main Doreen , Loopstra Carol A , Mockaitis Keithanne , deJong Pieter J , Yorke James A , Salzberg Steven L , Langley Charles H 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Background
The size and complexity of conifer genomes has, until now, prevented full genome sequencing and assembly. The large research community and economic importance of loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., made it an early candidate for reference sequence determination.

Results
We develop a novel strategy to sequence the genome of loblolly pine that combines unique aspects of pine reproductive biology and genome assembly methodology. We use a whole genome shotgun approach relying primarily on next generation sequence generated from a single haploid seed megagametophyte from a loblolly pine tree, 20-1010, that has been used in industrial forest tree breeding. The resulting sequence and assembly was used to generate a draft genome spanning 23.2 Gbp and containing 20.1 Gbp with an N50 scaffold size of 66.9 kbp, making it a significant improvement over available conifer genomes. The long scaffold lengths allow the annotation of 50,172 gene models with intron lengths averaging over 2.7 kbp and sometimes exceeding 100 kbp in length. Analysis of orthologous gene sets identifies gene families that may be unique to conifers. We further characterize and expand the existing repeat library based on the de novo analysis of the repetitive content, estimated to encompass 82% of the genome.

Conclusions
In addition to its value as a resource for researchers and breeders, the loblolly pine genome sequence and assembly reported here demonstrates a novel approach to sequencing the large and complex genomes of this important group of plants that can now be widely applied.
Oxidative Desulfurization of Diesel Using Organic Salt of Polyoxometalate as an Efficient and Recoverable Phase-transfer Catalyst
Authors: Yu Fengli , Wang Rui 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Several organic salts of polyoxometalates were prepared and used initially as effective and recoverable phase-transfer catalysts for the oxidative desulfurization of simulated and real diesels. Meanwhile, the kinetic parameters of the DBT oxidation process were obtained.
Enhanced CO Oxidation Activity of Ni@Ag Core–Shell Nanoparticles
Authors: Mahara Yuji , Ishikawa Hiroyuki , Ohyama Junya , Sawabe Kyoichi , Yamamoto Yuta , Arai Shigeo , Satsuma Atsushi 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Ni@Ag core–shell nanoparticles supported on SiO2 were prepared by a galvanic replacement reaction between Ni and Ag at a low temperature (213 K). The Ni@Ag core–shell catalyst showed a higher catalytic activity for CO oxidation than Ag and Ni monometallic catalysts as well as than Ni–Ag bimetallic catalyst prepared by a conventional impregnation method.
A single plan solution to chest wall radiotherapy with bolus?
Authors: Ordonez-Sanz C , Bowles S , Hirst A , MacDougall N D 
Published: March 2014

Objective:
Radiotherapy treatments of post-mastectomy chest walls are complex, requiring treatment close to skin, necessitating bolus use. Commonly used 5- and 10-mm-thick boluses develop full skin dose, needing removal for the latter half of treatment and requiring two treatment plans to be generated. Can a thinner bolus be used for all treatment fractions, requiring only one plan?

Methods:
Investigation of doses received using (A) a half-time 10-mm-thick Vaseline® bolus (current situation); (B) a brass mesh (Whiting & Davis, Attleboro Falls, MA) and (C) 3- and 5-mm Superflab™ (Mick Radio-Nuclear Instruments, Mount Vernon, NY) for 6 and 15 MV. Dosimetric measurements in Barts WT1 solid water and an anthropomorphic phantom, using ionization chambers and thermoluminescent dosemeters, were used to study the effect of different bolus regimes on the photon depth–dose curves (DDCs) and skin doses.

Results:
Measured skin doses for the current 10-mm-thick Vaseline bolus, brass mesh and 3-mm bolus were compared (5 mm bolus has been rejected). The brass mesh has the least effect on the DDC, with changes &lt;0.7% for depths greater than d max. Brass mesh conforms superiorly to skin surfaces. Measurements on an anthropomorphic phantom demonstrate an increased skin dose compared with our current treatment protocol.

Conclusion:
Brass mesh has the smallest effect on the DDC, whilst sufficiently increasing surface dose. It can be removed at any fraction, based on a clinical decision, without the need for generating a new plan. Treating with one plan significantly reduces planning times.

Advances in knowledge:
Quantification of skin doses required and achieved from wax-on/wax-off treatment compared with alternative available breast boluses.