bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of skin photoaging with reflectance confocal microscopy
Authors: Kutlu Haytoglu N. S. , Gurel M. S. , Erdemir A. , Falay T. , Dolgun A. , Haytoglu T. G. 
Published: February 2014

Background/PurposeIncreased interest in antiaging methods, mandates a development of reliable noninvasive technique to assess skin aging. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of photoaging at histopathologic resolution by means of reflectance confocal microscopy.MethodThe sun‐exposed malar area, the anterior aspect of ear lobule, and the sun‐protected posterior aspect of ear lobule had been evaluated in 120 volunteers from different age groups over 10 previously reported and new confocal parameters for skin aging.ResultThe sun‐exposed areas revealed more frequent irregular honeycomb pattern, polycylic papillary contours, coarse collagen, huddled collagen, curled bright structures with higher epidermal thickness, and furrow depth values. However, the incidence of thin reticulated collagen and the number of dermal papillae were statistically higher on the sun‐protected posterior aspect of ear lobule.ConclusionReflectance confocal microscopy is a reliable diagnostic technique for evaluation of skin photoaging with objective criteria. With the new emerging compact models it is possible to scan even the least accessible body parts with no discomfort to the patient, which offers the possibility to assess the effect of antiaging applications and to identify early signs of solar damage in cosmetically sensitive areas.
Comparison of skin elasticity test results from the Ballistometer® and Cutometer®
Authors: Woo M. S. , Moon K. J. , Jung H. Y. , Park S. R. , Moon T. K. , Kim N. S. , Lee B. C. 
Published: February 2014

BackgroundLong‐term exposure to sunlight changes skin features like amount of facial wrinkling and skin elasticity, which is useful in estimating skin health and age‐related changes. Skin elasticity is evaluated by quantitative methods such as the noninvasive suction device Cutometer®, which is widely used to evaluate regional body‐elasticity differences and correlate these findings with the results of other instrumental data. Few field studies have been done with the Ballistometer® device, another noninvasive method for measuring skin elasticity.MethodIn this study, we measured the skin elasticity of each subject's forehead, cheek, and volar forearm using two devices with different means of obtaining quantitative measurements – Ballistometer® (Diastron Ltd.) and Cutometer® (CK electronics).ResultsThe results from testing with the Ballistometer® and Cutometer® devices showed that the degree of skin elasticity of the volar forearm is greater than those found on the cheek and forehead. The parameters measured by the Ballistometer® showed high correlation patterns. On the cheek skin, the correlation coefficient between Ballisto‐parameters and R parameters (R0, R3, R8) was higher than other skin sites.ConclusionTaken together, R parameters measured by the Cutometer® device have been widely distributed in the evaluation of skin elasticity in research and cosmetics. Although the methodologies are different, the Ballistometer® device is also a useful tool to evaluate skin elasticity.
Preliminary phylogeny of the genus Copidosoma (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera
Authors: YU FANG , CHEN FU‐QIANG , YEN SHEN‐HORN , TU LI‐HONG , ZHU CHAO‐DONG , GUERRIERI EMILIO , ZHANG YAN‐ZHOU 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThe genus Copidosoma (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) is a diverse group of polyembryonic parasitoids of Lepidoptera, including species that have the potential to control agricultural and forestry pests. Moreover, some species of Copidosoma display polyembryony. Despite their economic and scientific importance, little is known about the phylogeny of Copidosoma and its relations to other groups of Encyrtidae. Here we infer the phylogenetic relationships of this genus from nucleotide sequences of two nuclear (18S and 28S) and one mitochondrial (COI) genes. Forty‐four species of Copidosoma and three species of Copidosomopsis plus two outgroup species are included in Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Copidosomopsis syn. n. is proposed as a junior synonym of Copidosoma based on phylogenetic analysis results. Each of nine identical clades, resulting from both analyses, is proposed as informal species group: cervius group (cervius, chalconotum and serricorne), recovered as the basal lineage of Copidosoma; nacoleiae group (nacoleaie, meridionalis and an undescribed species, formerly belonging to the genus Copidosomopsis); boucheanum group (boucheanum, terebrator, peticus, phaloniae, ancharus, tibiale and sosares); noyesi group (noyesi and probably undescribed related species); albipes group (albipes and coimbatorense); varicorne group (including varicorne and subalbicorne in one subclade, and aretas and fuscisquama in the other); thebe group (thebe and probably undescribed related species); exiguum group (exiguum and probably undescribed related species); floridanum group (floridanum, primulum, transversum, truncatellum and agrotis). Host associations of the genus and host specificity of recognized groups are discussed. The current work offers a foundation for a comprehensive phylogeny of Copidosoma and the possibility to reconstruct cophylogeny between Copidosoma and their lepidopteran hosts.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis: association between water and sanitation environment and maternal mortality
Authors: Benova Lenka , Cumming Oliver , Campbell Oona M. R. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo assess whether the lack of water or the lack of sanitation facilities in either the home or in health facilities is associated with an increased risk of maternal mortality and to quantify the effect sizes.MethodsSystematic review of published literature in Medline, Embase, Popline and Africa Wide EBSCO 1980.ResultsFourteen articles were found. Four of five ecological studies that considered sanitation found that poor sanitation was associated with higher maternal mortality. Meta‐analysis of adjusted estimates in individual‐level studies indicated that women in households with poor sanitation had 3.07 (95% CI 1.72–5.49) higher odds of maternal mortality. Four of six ecological studies assessing water environment found that poor water environment was associated with higher maternal mortality. The only individual‐level study looking at the adjusted effect of water showed a significant association with maternal mortality (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.10–2.10). Two ecological and one facility‐based study found an association between a combined measure of water and sanitation environment and maternal mortality.ConclusionsThere is evidence of association between sanitation and maternal mortality and between water and maternal mortality. Both associations are of substantial magnitude and are maintained after adjusting for confounders. However, these conclusions are based on a very small number of studies, few of which set out to examine sanitation or water as risk factors, and only some of which adjusted for potential confounders. Nevertheless, there are plausible pathways through which such associations may operate.
Treatment of nonhealing corneal ulcers in 60 horses with diamond burr debridement (2010–2013)
Authors: Lassaline‐Utter Mary , Cutler Tim J. , Michau Tammy M. , Nunnery Catherine M. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo review the signalment, clinical characteristics, and outcome of horses with nonhealing corneal ulcers treated with diamond burr debridement (DBD); and to evaluate the role of ulcer duration, size and location, and bandage contact lens (BCL) placement on healing.AnimalsFrom January 2012–April 2013, 60 horses were diagnosed with ulcers classified as nonhealing based on the presence of raised epithelial margins and duration of at least 7 days.ProcedureRetrospective record review.ResultsAverage age of included horses was 14.68 years, SD 8.17 years. There were three times as many males (45) as females (15), ( = 15, P = 0.001). Forty‐eight horses (80%) had nonhealing ulcers uncomplicated by associated corneal disease. In the remaining horses, associated corneal disease included esinophilic keratitis (10%), calcific band keratopathy (5%), endothelial decompensation (1.67%), habronemiasis(1.67%), and lid suture abrasion (1.67%). Average corneal ulcer duration prior to diamond burr debridement (DBD) was 29.0 days (n = 56). Ulcers occurred most commonly in the axial cornea (41%). Fifty‐five of 60 horses (92%) healed with DBD. Healing time, defined as time to epithelialization following DBD, averaged 15.5 days, SD 9.32 days, and was not correlated with patient age or ulcer duration, location, or size prior to or following DBD. Healing time was significantly longer for eyes in which a BCL had been placed (n = 28, 19.0 days) than for eyes without a BCL (n = 32, 12.9 days), F(1,58) = 5.543, P = 0.02. DBD was considered a failure for five horses (8%).ConclusionsDBD may be an effective treatment for nonhealing corneal ulcers in horses.
Anterior segment parameters of rabbits with rotating Scheimpflug camera
Authors: Yüksel Harun , Türkcü Fatih M. , Ari Şeyhmus , Çinar Yasin , Cingü Abdullah K. , Şahin Muhammed , Şahin Alparslan , Özkurt Zeynep , Çaça İhsan 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackgroundRabbit is one of the most commonly used experimental animals for corneal studies due to similarity of size to human cornea and ease of manipulation. In this study, we assessed anterior segment parameters of the healthy rabbit eyes with Pentacam HR (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany).MethodsSix‐month‐old, approximately 2.5–3 kg weighted, 30 female New Zealand rabbits were used in the study. Right eye of the each rabbit was imaged with Pentacam HR under intramuscular ketamine hydrochloride (Ketalar; Eczacibasi, Turkey) anesthesia (50 mg/kg). After the imaging, the rabbits with blinking errors, which results in low‐quality images, were excluded from the study. Keratometric readings, central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and anterior and posterior elevation values, and lens density were noted.ResultsIn this study, the flattest and the steepest keratometric values were found as 43.34 ± 1.86, 42.7 ± 2.0, and 43.9 ± 1.9 diopters, respectively. The mean CCT and ACD of rabbits were found as 388 ± 39 μm and 2.08 ± 0.16 mm, respectively. Mean of the anterior and posterior elevation at thinnest point was found as 1.29 ± 4.28 and 3.91 ± 6.17 μm, respectively.ConclusionsKeratometric readings and anterior and posterior elevation values of rabbits were similar to human; however, corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth (ACD) values were lower than humans.
Occurrence, Antibiotic Resistance and Molecular Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes in the Beef Chain in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Khen B. K. , Lynch O. A. , Carroll J. , McDowell D. A. , Duffy G. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryThis study investigated the occurrence, concentration and key characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes in beef chain samples (n = 1100) over a 2‐year period (July 2007–June 2009). Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from bovine hides (27%), pre‐chill carcasses (14%) and ground beef (29%), but not from ready‐to‐eat (RTE) beef. The concentration of the pathogen in the majority (95%) of contaminated samples was low and detected by enrichment only. The highest concentrations recovered (100–200 CFU/g) were in ground beef samples. The most commonly isolated serotype group was 1/2a (58%) followed by 4b (12%), 1/2b (10%) and 1/2c (6%). A small portion (<5%) isolates had demonstrated resistance to key anti‐microbials including ampicillin, vancomycin and gentamycin which are recommended treatment options for listeriosis. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis showed indistinguishable profiles for a number of isolates recovered from the hide and carcass (after slaughter and dressing) of the same animals, highlighting the role of hides as a source of contamination. Equally, indistinguishable pulsotypes for isolates recovered at different stages and time points (up to 6 months apart) in the beef chain demonstrated the persistence of specific clones in the factory, process and distribution environments. Overall, the study demonstrated a high prevalence of clinically significant L. monocytogenes entering and progressing along the beef chain and highlights the needs to control cross‐contamination during beef processing and distribution and the need for thorough cooking of raw beef products.
Global Sea Surface Temperature Forecasts Using an Improved Multimodel Approach
Authors: Kaiser Khan Mohammad Zaved , Mehrotra Rajeshwar , Sharma Ashish , Sankarasubramanian A. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWith the availability of hindcasts or real-time forecasts from a number of coupled climate models, multimodel ensemble forecasting systems have gained popularity in recent years. However, many models share similar physics or modeling processes, which may lead to similar (or strongly correlated) forecasts. Assigning equal weights to each model in space and time may result in a biased forecast with narrower confidence limits than is appropriate. Although methods for combining forecasts that take into consideration differences in model accuracy over space and time exist, they suffer from a lack of consideration of the intermodel dependence that may exist. This study proposes an approach that considers the dependence among models while combining multimodel ensemble forecast. The approach is evaluated by combining sea surface temperature (SST) forecasts from five climate models for the period 1960–2005. The variable of interest, the monthly global sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) at a 5° × 5° latitude–longitude grid, is predicted three months in advance using the proposed algorithm. Results indicate that the proposed approach offers consistent and significant improvements for all the seasons over the majority of grid points compared to the case in which the dependence among the models is ignored. Consequently, the proposed approach of combining multiple models, taking into account the interdependence that exists, provides an attractive strategy to develop improved SST forecasts.
Evaluation of the New Version of the Laser-Optical Disdrometer, OTT Parsivel2
Authors: Tokay Ali , Wolff David B. , Petersen Walter A. 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
A comparative study of raindrop size distribution measurements has been conducted at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center where the focus was to evaluate the performance of the upgraded laser-optical OTT Particle Size Velocity (Parsivel2; P2) disdrometer. The experimental setup included a collocated pair of tipping-bucket rain gauges, OTT Parsivel (P1) and P2 disdrometers, and Joss–Waldvogel (JW) disdrometers. Excellent agreement between the two collocated rain gauges enabled their use as a relative reference for event rain totals. A comparison of event total showed that the P2 had a 6% absolute bias with respect to the reference gauges, considerably lower than the P1 and JW disdrometers. Good agreement was also evident between the JW and P2 in hourly raindrop spectra for drop diameters between 0.5 and 4 mm. The P2 drop concentrations mostly increased toward small sizes, and the peak concentrations were mostly observed in the first three measurable size bins. The P1, on the other hand, underestimated small drops and overestimated the large drops, particularly in heavy rain rates. From the analysis performed, it appears that the P2 is an improvement over the P1 model for both drop size and rainfall measurements. P2 mean fall velocities follow accepted terminal fall speed relationships at drop sizes less than 1 mm. As a caveat, the P2 had approximately 1 m s−1 slower mean fall speed with respect to the terminal fall speed near 1 mm, and the difference between the mean measured and terminal fall speeds reduced with increasing drop size. This caveat was recognized as a software bug by the manufacturer and is currently being investigated.
On the Choice of an Optimal Localization Radius in Ensemble Kalman Filter Methods
Authors: Kirchgessner Paul , Nerger Lars , Bunse-Gerstner Angelika 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
In data assimilation applications using ensemble Kalman filter methods, localization is necessary to make the method work with high-dimensional geophysical models. For ensemble square root Kalman filters, domain localization (DL) and observation localization (OL) are commonly used. Depending on the localization method, appropriate values have to be chosen for the localization parameters, such as the localization length and the weight function. Although frequently used, the properties of the localization techniques are not fully investigated. Thus, up to now an optimal choice for these parameters is a priori unknown and they are generally found by expensive numerical experiments. In this study, the relationship between the localization length and the ensemble size in DL and OL is studied using twin experiments with the Lorenz-96 model and a two-dimensional shallow-water model. For both models, it is found that the optimal localization length for DL and OL depends linearly on an effective local observation dimension that is given by the sum of the observation weights. In the experiments no influence of the model dynamics on the optimal localization length was observed. The effective observation dimension defines the degrees of freedom that are required for assimilating observations, while the ensemble size defines the available degrees of freedom. Setting the localization radius such that the effective local observation dimension equals the ensemble size yields an adaptive localization radius. Its performance is tested using a global ocean model. The experiments show that the analysis quality using the adaptive localization is similar to the analysis quality of an optimally tuned constant localization radius.
Just what is narrative urgency?
Authors: Simpson Paul 
Published: February 2014

This article takes as its main point of departure a body of empirical research on reading and text processing, and makes particular reference to the type of experiments conducted in Egidi and Gerrig (2006) and Rapp and Gerrig (2006). Broadly put, these experiments (i) explore the psychology of readers’ preferences for narrative outcomes, (ii) examine the way readers react to characters’ goals and actions, and (iii) investigate how readers tend to identify with characters’ goals the more ‘urgently’ those goals are narrated. The present article signals how stylistics can productively enrich such experimental work. Stylistics, it is argued, is well equipped to deal with subtle and nuanced variations in textual patterns without losing sight of the broader cognitive and discoursal positioning of readers in relation to these patterns. Making particular reference to what might constitute narrative ‘urgency’, the article develops a model which amalgamates different strands of contemporary research in narrative stylistics. This model advances and elaborates three key components: a Stylistic Profile, a Burlesque Block and a Kuleshov Monitor. Developing analyses of, and informal informant tests on, examples of both fiction and film, the article calls for a more rounded and sophisticated understanding of style in empirical research on subjects’ responses to patterns in narrative.
The Information Content of Alternate Implied Volatility Models: Case of Indian Markets
Authors: Kumar A. Vinay , Jaiswal Shikha 
Published: February 2014

The information content to forecast the future realised volatility by model-based implied volatility and model free implied volatility has been an increasingly important area of research. There is a lot of literature suggesting that Black Scholes implied volatility is an efficient estimator ( Fleming 1998 ); on the contrary there are studies suggesting that model free measures like VIX could be more informative ( Jiang and Tian 2005 ). There is also a view, as evidenced in the earlier research, that there is a complete lack of relationship between them. The current study seeks to understand these dynamics in the Indian context and add to the debate by specifying market direction variables which could explain the relationship. The study tries to bring out the short-term relationship between the two volatilities. The present study finds evidence supporting Fleming ( 1998 ) and contrary to the evidence suggested by Jiang and Tian ( 2005 ), that is, Black Scholes implied volatility dominates the forecasting efficiency over the VIX even though both estimates are biased. JEL Classification: G12, G13, G14, C22
The Minimum Duration of Sensor Data From Which Glycemic Variability Can Be Consistently Assessed
Authors: Neylon Orla M. , Baghurst Peter A. , Cameron Fergus J. 
Published: February 2014

Background: Despite much discussion regarding the clinical relevance of glycemic variation (GV), little discourse has addressed the properties of the data set from which it is derived. We aimed to assess the minimum duration of data required using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) that most closely approximates to a gold standard 90-day measure. Methods: Data from 20 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes were examined. All participants had CGM data sets of 90 days duration, from which standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), mean amplitude of glycemic action (MAGE), and continuous overlapping net glycemic action (CONGA1-8) were calculated for the overall period and then investigational periods of 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 days. The percentage difference between each measure and the overall measure per time period was assessed. Results: As the duration of the CGM data set increased, the percentage error continued to decrease, giving a metric approximating more closely toward the overall measure. Median SD and CV differed from the overall measure by <10% at 12 days duration. The frequency of interruptions to the CGM trace rendered MAGE and CONGA unreliable, hence SD and CV were reported. Conclusions: We suggest that data sets used to infer GV should be of a minimum duration of 12 days. MAGE and CONGA exhibit poor performance in the setting of frequent trace interruption.
Uniqueness of positive solutions for several classes of sum operator equations and applications
Authors: Yang Chen , Zhai Chengbo , Hao Mengru 
Published: February 2014

AbstractIn this article we study several classes of sum operator equations on ordered Banach spaces and present some new existence and uniqueness results of positive solutions, which extend the existing corresponding results. Moreover, we establish some pleasant properties of nonlinear eigenvalue problems for several classes of sum operator equations. As applications, we utilize the main results obtained in this paper to study two classes nonlinear problems; one is the integral equationu(t)=λ∫abG(t,s)f(s,u(s))ds, wherefandGare both nonnegative,λ>0is a parameter; the other is the elliptic boundary value problem for the Lane-Emden-Fowler equation−Δu=λf(x,u),u(x)>0in Ω,u(x)=0on∂Ω, where Ω is a bounded domain with smooth boundary inRN(N≥1),λ>0andf(x,u)is allowed to be singular on∂Ω. The new results on the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions for these problems are given, which complement the existing results of positive solutions for these problems in the literature.MSC:47H10, 47H07, 45G15, 35J60, 35J65.