bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fast pyrolysis biochar from sawdust improves the quality of desert soils and enhances plant growth
Authors: Laghari Mahmood , Hu Zhiquan , Mirjat Muhammad Saffar , Xiao Bo , Tagar Ahmed Ali , Hu Mian 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDBiochar has been mostly used in conventional arable soils for improving soil fertility. This study investigated the effect of biochars of different temperatures on plant growth and desert soil properties. Biochars of different temperatures (i.e. 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 °C) were mixed in the soil with 5% by mass, and the treatments were designated as T‐400, T‐500, T‐600, T‐700 and T‐800, respectively. Sorghum was used as a test crop, and the effect of biochar on plant height, yield and soil properties was evaluated.RESULTSSorghum yield increased by 19% and 32% under T‐400 and T‐700, respectively, above the control. Biochar reduced depth‐wise moisture depletion in soil columns and hence improved soil water‐holding capacity by 14% and 57% under T‐400 and T‐700, respectively. Soil hydraulic conductivity was reduced by 15% and 42%, and moisture‐retention capacity was improved by 16% and 59%. Hence, sorghum net water‐use efficiency increased by 52% and 74% in T‐400 and T‐700, respectively. Biochar also improved soil total carbon, cation exchange capacity and plant nutrient content.CONCLUSIONThe addition of fast pyrolysis biochar made from pine sawdust improved the quality of Kubuqi Desert soil and enhanced plant growth. Hence, it can be used for desert modification. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
A memory‐in‐pixel reflective‐type LCD using newly designed system and pixel structure
Authors: Tamaki Masaya , Fukunaga Yoko , Mitsui Masashi , Maeda Kazuyuki , Kabe Masaaki , Teranishi Yasuyuki , Nakanishi Takayuki , Omori Hideyuki , Hayashi Shuji , Takasaki Naoyuki , Goto Fumitaka , Harada Tsutomu 
Published: January 2015

AbstractA 7.03‐in. extended graphics array reflective LCD prototype has been developed by using memory‐in‐pixel (MIP) technologies with a newly designed system and pixel structure. The MIP system comprising a MIP backplane and a display driver has been optimized to reduce power consumption. The MIP backplane has specific circuits that allow accessing row drivers randomly, and the display driver manages which row should be accessed. Thus, the system is capable of showing a mixture of still and moving images, resulting in low power consumption. A dithering block embedded in the display driver enables to select an appropriate dithering algorithm according to the types of images and the position on the screen. In addition, the novel pixel structure, “three divided patterns”, has been designed to improve image quality and to provide visibility in dark environments. The latter is based on a novel approach; interpixel area is used for an aperture to transmit light from the backlight, and the fringe field from adjacent pixel electrodes is used to control LC directions. The feature of the pixel structure is also effective for obtaining equivalent gamma between reflective and transmissive images.
Prognostic indicators in well‐differentiated thyroid carcinoma when controlling for stage and treatment
Authors: Krook Kaelyn A. , Fedewa Stacey A. , Chen Amy Y. 
Published: January 2015

Objectives/HypothesisThe incidence of thyroid carcinoma is rising. Few studies have examined patient characteristics that influence survival when adjusting for treatment and tumor stage/extent.Study DesignRetrospective analysis was performed using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results registry data among patients diagnosed with well‐differentiated thyroid (WDT) carcinoma during 1988–2009.MethodsKaplan–Meir survival curves were used to estimate 5‐ and 10‐year cause‐specific and overall survival differences by sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsA total of 83,985 patients were identified with WDT carcinoma. Blacks had higher hazard of death at 5 years (HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.42‐1.96) and 10 years (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.37‐1.80) when compared to Caucasians, but there were no significant differences in cause‐specific deaths. Hispanics had higher overall and cause‐specific 5‐year and 10‐year hazard of death (5‐year cause‐specific: HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.23‐1.99). Age was the most significant predictor of cause‐specific and overall survival, with risk increasing in a nonlinear fashion. After age 45 years, the HR for 5‐ and 10‐year cause‐specific survival rose drastically, reaching an HR of 153 for individuals aged 85 years and older (HR, 153.45; 95% CI, 97.84–240.67).ConclusionsAge was the strongest factor associated with WDT cancer in our study. African Americans had worse overall survival, although only Hispanics had a significantly worse cause‐specific survival. These factors should be taken into account in counseling patients and treatment planning.Level of Evidence2c. Laryngoscope, 125:1021–1027, 2015
Residual hearing preservation after cochlear implantation via round window or cochleostomy approach
Authors: Sun Chuan‐Hung , Hsu Chuan‐Jen , Chen Peir‐Rong , Wu Hung‐Pin 
Published: January 2015

Objectives/HypothesisThe purpose of the study was to investigate whether cochlear implantation using the round window approach provided better preservation of residual hearing than the cochleostomy approach.Study DesignCase‐control study.MethodsWe designed a case‐control study including 40 patients from a tertiary referral center who underwent cochlear implantation surgeries using devices from MED‐EL Co., Innsbruck, Austria. Between November 2013 and July 2014, we prospectively enrolled 20 subjects for cochlear implantation surgery using the round window insertion approach. In addition, 20 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects from the database of cochlear implantees treated using the cochleostomy approach between January 2008 and October 2013 were retrospectively enrolled. The residual hearing of the operated ear was measured before and after surgery. The variables analyzed were the pure‐tone average threshold at 250, 500, and 1,000 Hz and the residual hearing at frequencies of 250 to 8,000 Hz. The residual hearing was considered as preserved when the audiometric changes were <10 dB hearing loss for each variable. The audiological results of the two groups were compared.ResultsNo statistically significant difference in the preservation of residual hearing was found in the two groups (P > .05 for all of the variables).ConclusionsThe round window and cochleostomy approaches for cochlear implant surgery may preserve residual hearing at similar rates across a range of frequencies.Level of Evidence3b Laryngoscope, 125:1715–1719, 2015
The application of robotics to microlaryngeal laser surgery
Authors: Buckmire Robert A. , Wong Yu‐Tung , Deal Allison M. 
Published: January 2015

Objectives/HypothesisTo evaluate the performance of human subjects, using a prototype robotic micromanipulator controller in a simulated, microlaryngeal operative setting.Study DesignObservational cross‐sectional study.MethodsTwenty‐two human subjects with varying degrees of laser experience performed CO2 laser surgical tasks within a simulated microlaryngeal operative setting using an industry standard manual micromanipulator (MMM) and a prototype robotic micromanipulator controller (RMC). Accuracy, repeatability, and ablation consistency measures were obtained for each human subject across both conditions and for the preprogrammed RMC device.ResultsUsing the standard MMM, surgeons with >10 previous laser cases performed superior to subjects with fewer cases on measures of error percentage and cumulative error (P = .045 and .03, respectively). No significant differences in performance were observed between subjects using the RMC device. In the programmed (P/A) mode, the RMC performed equivalently or superiorly to experienced human subjects on accuracy and repeatability measures, and nearly an order of magnitude better on measures of ablation consistency. The programmed RMC performed significantly better for repetition error when compared to human subjects with <100 previous laser cases (P = .04).ConclusionsExperienced laser surgeons perform better than novice surgeons on tasks of accuracy and repeatability using the MMM device but roughly equivalently using the novel RMC. Operated in the P/A mode, the RMC performs equivalently or superior to experienced laser surgeons using the industry standard MMM for all measured parameters, and delivers an ablation consistency nearly an order of magnitude better than human laser operators.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 125:1393–1400, 2015
Corticosteroid treatment regulates mucosal remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: de Borja Callejas Francisco , Martínez‐Antón Asunción , Picado César , Alobid Isam , Pujols Laura , Valero Antonio , Roca‐Ferrer Jordi , Mullol Joaquim 
Published: January 2015

Objectives/HypothesisTo investigate the effect of oral plus intranasal corticosteroid (CS) treatment on nasal polyp (NP) mucosa remodeling from patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).Study DesignCase series, retrospective study.MethodsPatients (n = 18) with severe CRSwNP were treated with oral prednisone for 2 weeks and intranasal budesonide for 12 weeks. NP biopsies were obtained from patients biopsies before (w0) and after 2 weeks (w2) and 12 weeks (w12) of CS treatment. Matrix metalloprotease 1 (MMP‐1), MMP‐2, MMP‐7, MMP‐9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease type 1 (TIMP‐1) expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in cell and tissue structures. Epithelial damage, eosinophil infiltration, and collagen content were also examined in NP tissues before and after CS treatment.ResultsCompared to w0: 1) oral plus intranasal CS significantly (P < .01) increased presence of submucosal glands at w2, decreased epithelial cell hyperplasia at w12, and decreased tissue eosinophilia at w2 and w12; 2) CS treatment significantly (P < .05) increased immunoreactivity for MMP‐1 and MMP‐2 in the epithelium at w2, but decreased immunoreactivity for MMP‐9 in the epithelium at w2 and w12; 3) at w12, CS significantly (P < .05) reduced MMP‐9 immunoreactive positivity and intensity in the extracellular matrix, while increasing total collagen amount in the extracellular matrix; and 4) CS treatment significantly (P < .01) reduced the number of eosinophils and their MMP and TIMP‐1 immunoreactive expression.ConclusionsCS treatment modulates NP mucosa remodeling, particularly by promoting epithelial repair, regulating tissue remodeling markers, increasing total collagen content, and reducing tissue eosinophil infiltration.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 125:E158–E167, 2015
Advancements in multiresolution analysis
Authors: Moore John A. , Li Ying , O'Connor Devin T. , Stroberg Wylie , Liu Wing Kam 
Published: January 2015

SummaryMaterials have a hierarchical nature, deriving often their most useful properties from microscale or nanoscale constituents. Multiresolution analysis, a generalized continuum mechanics‐based theory, uses extra degrees of freedom to account for an arbitrary number of these nested length scales. In the past, multiresolution analyses have focused mostly on metal alloys. While this article addresses recent advances in image‐based multiresolution analysis of metal alloys, it also highlights extensions to multiresolution theory for modeling of bone mechanics and multiresolution analysis of polymers and polymer nanocomposites. A strong link between molecular dynamics simulations and macroscale multiresolution analyses is shown for both polymers and polymer nanocomposites. The forthcoming work is greatly indebted to the pioneering advances of Ted Belytschko in many areas of computational mechanics; his influence on our work and on the field of finite elements as a whole is substantial Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as reinforcing agents for poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl alcohol)/starch nanocomposites: synthesis, characterization and properties
Authors: Massoumi Bakhshali , Jafarpour Parivash , Jaymand Mehdi , Entezami Ali Akbar 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis paper describes the synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and PVA/starch nanocomposites with poly(ethylene glycol)‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs‐PEG). For this purpose, MWCNTs were carboxylated by a conventional acid oxidation process and then poly(ethylene glycol) monomethylether was covalently attached to the carboxylated MWCNTs via esterification. Sonication was used to assist the dispersion of MWCNTs‐PEG and the resulting suspension was added dropwise to a stirred aqueous solution of poly(ethylene glycol) and PVA/starch to produce PVA/MWCNTs‐PEG and PVA/starch/MWCNTs‐PEG nanocomposites. The chemical structures of all samples as representatives were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the morphology of the nanocomposites was probed by scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, it was observed that the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were improved due to presence of functionalized MWCNTs. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
A green scheduling with adaptive spatial division multiple access grouping for multi‐user coordinated multi‐point networks
Authors: Chaabane Imen Ben , Hamouda Soumaya , Tabbane Sami 
Published: January 2015

AbstractMulti‐User Coordinated Multi‐Point (MU‐CoMP), which couples CoMP with Multi User‐Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU‐MIMO), appears as a promising solution to enhance the Long Term Evolution‐Advanced (LTE‐A) system performance. However, some challenging issues in MU‐CoMP networks require more investigation. First, the set of users transmitting under CoMP mode should be properly identified. Secondly, time‐frequency resource should be efficiently partitioned between CoMP and non‐CoMP users in order to improve the system radio capacity. Thirdly, a fair and green scheduler is much needed for a more energy efficient system. This paper deals with these three issues. We propose an adaptive transmission mode selection according to the total load in the cluster and to users' quality of service. The adequate size of the Spatial Division Multiple Access users' groups is also analyzed. We finally propose a new scheduling algorithm to further enhance the radio capacity and the energy consumption in the cluster. Simulations results showed that significant improvements are obtained in terms of total system throughput and outage probability in the cluster with our proposed scheme. Moreover, energy efficiency has increased by four times with our proposed scheduling algorithm as compared to commonly used schedulers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Framing recommendations to promote prevention behaviors among people at high risk: A simulation study of responses to melanoma genetic test reporting
Authors: Taber Jennifer M. , Aspinwall Lisa G. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractA CDKN2A/p16 mutation confers 76 % lifetime risk of developing melanoma to US residents, and high‐risk individuals are counseled to use sunscreen. Generally, for patients at population risk, gain framing more effectively promotes prevention behaviors; however, it is unknown whether loss frames might more effectively promote behavioral intentions and perceived control over disease risk among high‐risk patients. Undergraduates (N = 146) underwent a simulated genetic counseling and test reporting session for hereditary melanoma. Participants watched a video of a genetic counselor providing information in which genetic risk of melanoma (Low: 15 %; High: 76 %) and framed recommendations to use sunscreen (Loss: Risk may increase by 15 % if don't use sunscreen; Gain: Risk may decrease by 15 % if use sunscreen) were manipulated. Controlling for baseline sunscreen use, high‐risk participants given loss frames reported greater beliefs that sunscreen would reduce risk than high‐risk participants given gain frames. Further, high‐risk participants with fair skin tended to report greater intentions to use sunscreen when given loss frames versus gain frames. Perceived control over risk mediated the effect of message frame and disease risk on intentions to use sunscreen. When counseling patients with elevated cancer risk, genetic counselors may consider framing prevention behavioral recommendations in terms of potential losses.
Outcomes after Radiocarpal Dislocation: A Retrospective Review
Authors: Yuan Brandon J. , Dennison David G. , Elhassan Bassem T. , Kakar Sanjeev 
Published: January 2015

Background Radiocarpal dislocations are rare, high-energy injuries. High morbidity and poor functional outcomes are common. Currently, there is limited data on functional outcomes following treatment of this injury. Methods A retrospective review was conducted analyzing the radiographic and clinical outcome of patients treated for a radiocarpal dislocation from 1979 to 2010. Outcome assessments included wrist range of motion, grip strength, Mayo wrist score, patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE), and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student's t test. Results Twenty-six patients (26 wrists) were treated for a radiocarpal dislocation during the study period; 23 wrists were treated acutely (within 4 weeks of injury), and 3 were treated after a delayed presentation (>4 weeks). Clinical follow-up of more than 6 months was available in 17 patients. Three patients (12 %) underwent primary fusion as initial treatment (two radioscapholunate fusion; one total wrist fusion). Four wrists (24 %) failed initial treatment and were salvaged with scapholunate ligament reconstruction (one wrist) or partial wrist fusion (three wrists). Seventeen patients completed PRWE and DASH questionnaires with a mean of 14.6 years following surgery (range 2–32 years). Subjective outcomes tended to be superior in those patients treated with ligament reconstruction versus partial or complete wrist fusion; however, comparisons were not statistically significant. Conclusion Radiocarpal dislocations result in significant osseous and ligamentous injury to the distal radius and carpus. Early recognition and treatment of radiocarpal dislocations with open reduction, internal fixation, and repair of ligaments may result in improved long-term functional outcomes when compared to acute partial or complete wrist arthrodesis.
The Effects of Mortality on Fertility: Population Dynamics After a Natural Disaster
Authors: Nobles Jenna , Frankenberg Elizabeth , Thomas Duncan 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Understanding how mortality and fertility are linked is essential to the study of population dynamics. We investigate the fertility response to an unanticipated mortality shock that resulted from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed large shares of the residents of some Indonesian communities but caused no deaths in neighboring communities. Using population-representative multilevel longitudinal data, we identify a behavioral fertility response to mortality exposure, both at the level of a couple and in the broader community. We observe a sustained fertility increase at the aggregate level following the tsunami, which was driven by two behavioral responses to mortality exposure. First, mothers who lost one or more children in the disaster were significantly more likely to bear additional children after the tsunami. This response explains about 13 % of the aggregate increase in fertility. Second, women without children before the tsunami initiated family-building earlier in communities where tsunami-related mortality rates were higher, indicating that the fertility of these women is an important route to rebuilding the population in the aftermath of a mortality shock. Such community-level effects have received little attention in demographic scholarship.
Whey protein isolate decreases murine stomach weight and intestinal length and alters the expression of Wnt signalling-associated genes
Authors: McAllan Liam , Speakman John R. , Cryan John F. , Nilaweera Kanishka N. 
Published: January 2015

The present study examined the underlying mechanisms by which whey protein isolate (WPI) affects energy balance. C57BL/6J mice were fed a diet containing 10 % energy from fat, 70 % energy from carbohydrate (35 % energy from sucrose) and 20 % energy from casein or WPI for 15 weeks. Mice fed with WPI had reduced weight gain, cumulative energy intake and dark-phase VO2 compared with casein-fed mice (P< 0·05); however, WPI intake had no significant effects on body composition, meal size/number, water intake or RER. Plasma levels of insulin, TAG, leptin, glucose and glucagon-like peptide 1 remained unchanged. Notably, the intake of WPI reduced stomach weight and both length and weight of the small intestine (P< 0·05). WPI intake reduced the gastric expression of Wingless/int-1 5a (Wnt5a) (P< 0·01) and frizzled 4 (Fzd4) (P< 0·01), with no change in the expression of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (Ror2) and LDL receptor-related protein 5 (Lrp5). In the ileum, WPI increased the mRNA expression of Wnt5a (P< 0·01) and caused a trend towards an increase in the expression of Fzd4 (P= 0·094), with no change in the expression of Ror2 and Lrp5. These genes were unresponsive in the duodenum. Among the nutrient-responsive genes, WPI specifically reduced ileal mRNA expression of peptide YY (P< 0·01) and fatty acid transporter protein 4 (P< 0·05), and decreased duodenal mRNA expression of the insulin receptor (P= 0·05), with a trend towards a decreased expression of Na–glucose co-transporter 1 (P= 0·07). The effects of WPI on gastrointestinal Wnt signalling may explain how this protein affects gastrointestinal structure and function and, in turn, energy intake and balance.
Under-reporting of dietary energy intake in five populations of the African diaspora
Authors: Orcholski Lindsay , Luke Amy , Plange-Rhule Jacob , Bovet Pascal , Forrester Terrence E. , Lambert Estelle V. , Dugas Lara R. , Kettmann Elizabeth , Durazo-Arvizu Ramon A. , Cooper Richard S. , Schoeller Dale A. 
Published: January 2015

Studies on the role of diet in the development of chronic diseases often rely on self-report surveys of dietary intake. Unfortunately, many validity studies have demonstrated that self-reported dietary intake is subject to systematic under-reporting, although the vast majority of such studies have been conducted in industrialised countries. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not systematic reporting error exists among the individuals of African ancestry (n324) in five countries distributed across the Human Development Index (HDI) scale, a UN statistic devised to rank countries on non-income factors plus economic indicators. Using two 24 h dietary recalls to assess energy intake and the doubly labelled water method to assess total energy expenditure, we calculated the difference between these two values ((self-report − expenditure/expenditure) × 100) to identify under-reporting of habitual energy intake in selected communities in Ghana, South Africa, Seychelles, Jamaica and the USA. Under-reporting of habitual energy intake was observed in all the five countries. The South African cohort exhibited the highest mean under-reporting ( − 52·1 % of energy) compared with the cohorts of Ghana ( − 22·5 %), Jamaica ( − 17·9 %), Seychelles ( − 25·0 %) and the USA ( − 18·5 %). BMI was the most consistent predictor of under-reporting compared with other predictors. In conclusion, there is substantial under-reporting of dietary energy intake in populations across the whole range of the HDI, and this systematic reporting error increases according to the BMI of an individual.