bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High‐intensity focused ultrasound applied to the placenta using a toroidal transducer: a preliminary ex‐vivo study
Authors: Caloone J. , Huissoud C. , Vincenot J. , Kocot A. , Dehay C. , Chapelon J. Y. , Rudigoz R. C. , Melodelima D. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo demonstrate in an ex‐vivo model the feasibility of applying high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) using a toroidal transducer for the creation of placental lesions.MethodsIn this study we used a toroidal transducer, composed of 32 ring‐shaped emitters with an ultrasound probe at the center, operating at a frequency of 2.5 MHz. We examined 45 human placentae, following either normal vaginal delivery or medical termination of pregnancy between 17 and 40 gestational weeks. First, the attenuation coefficients of 12 human placentae were measured and integrated into a numerical model for simulating HIFU lesions. Then, using acoustic parameters from this preliminary study, we performed ex‐vivo experiments with 33 human placentae, each overlain with an animal abdominal wall to simulate the maternal wall. We created single HIFU lesions in 25 of these placentae, and a series of six juxtaposed lesions in eight, studying these both sonographically and macroscopically.ResultsHuman placental attenuation coefficients of the 12 human placentae ranged from 0.072 to 0.098 Np/cm/MHz, according to gestational age. The 25 single HIFU lesions created had an average diameter of 7.1 ± 3.2 mm and an average depth of 8.2 ± 3.1 mm. The average diameter of the eight series of six juxtaposed HIFU lesions was 23.0 ± 5.0 mm and the average depth was 11.0 ± 4.7 mm. The average thickness of the abdominal walls was 10.5 ± 1.8 mm. No lesions or damage were observed in intervening tissues.ConclusionThis study demonstrates, using an ex‐vivo model, the feasibility, reproducibility, harmlessness and effectiveness of HIFU applied to the human placenta. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Synthesis of Microcrystalline Ce2O3 and Formation of Solid Solutions between Cerium and Lanthanum Oxides
Authors: Hamm Christin M. , Alff Lambert , Albert Barbara 
Published: April 2014

AbstractA new method of preparation of golden‐yellow, microcrystalline, and air‐sensitive single‐phase cerium(III) oxide, Ce2O3, from CeO2 and Ce was developed. Solid solutions (Ce1–xLax)O2–0.5x (0 < x < 0.55) in the system CeO2‐La2O3 and (Ce1–xLax)2O3 (0 < x < 1) in the system Ce2O3‐La2O3 were synthesized and investigated by means of X‐ray powder diffraction.
Characterization of functional domains of the cblD (MMADHC) gene product
Authors: Jusufi Jehona , Suormala Terttu , Burda Patricie , Fowler Brian , Froese D. Sean , Baumgartner Matthias R. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractIn humans vitamin B12 (cobalamin, Cbl) must be converted into two coenzyme forms, methylcobalamin (MeCbl) and adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl), in order to maintain intracellular homeostasis of homocysteine and methylmalonic acid, respectively. Previously we have shown that in cblD patients three types of MMADHC mutations exist: 1) null mutations N‐terminal to Met116 cause isolated methylmalonic aciduria (cblD‐MMA) due to AdoCbl deficiency; 2) null mutations across the C–terminus (p.Y140‐R250) cause combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria (cblD‐MMA/HC) due to AdoCbl and MeCbl deficiency; 3) missense mutations in a conserved C‐terminal region (p.D246‐L259) cause isolated homocystinuria (cblD‐HC) due to MeCbl deficiency. To better understand the domain boundaries related to MeCbl formation, we made selected point mutations and C‐terminal truncations in MMADHC and tested rescue of MeCbl and AdoCbl synthesis in immortalized cblD‐MMA/HC patient fibroblasts. Testing 20 mutations (15 missense and five C‐terminal truncations) across p.P154‐S287 revealed the presence of a region (p.R197‐D226) responsible for MeCbl synthesis, which gave a similar cellular phenotype as cblD‐HC. Further, mutation of the polypeptide stretch between the new and patient defined regions (p.D226‐D246) and directly C‐terminal to the patient region (p.L259‐R266), gave cellular phenotypes intermediate to those of cblD‐HC and cblD‐MMA/HC. Finally, C‐terminal truncation of more than 20 amino acids resulted in a cblD‐MMA/HC like cellular phenotype, while truncation of between ten and 20 amino acids resulted in a cblD‐HC like cellular phenotype. These data suggest that specific regions of MMADHC are involved in differential regulation of AdoCbl and MeCbl synthesis and help better define the boundaries of these regions.
Predictors of Genetic Testing Decisions: A Systematic Review and Critique of the Literature
Authors: Sweeny Kate , Ghane Arezou , Legg Angela M. , Huynh Ho Phi , Andrews Sara E. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractGenetic testing is increasingly available in medical settings and direct‐to‐consumer. However, the large and growing literature on genetic testing decisions is rife with conflicting findings, inconsistent methodology, and uneven attention across test types and across predictors of genetic testing decisions. Existing reviews of the literature draw broad conclusions but sacrifice nuanced analysis that with a closer look reveals far more inconsistency than homogeny across studies. The goals of this paper are to provide a systematic review of the empirical work on predictors of genetic testing decisions, highlight areas of consistency and inconsistency, and suggest productive directions for future research. We included all studies that provided quantitative analysis of subjective (e.g., perceived risk, perceived benefits of testing) and/or objective (e.g., family history, sociodemographic variables) predictors of genetic testing interest, intentions, or uptake, which produced a sample of 115 studies. From this review, we conclude that self‐reported and test‐related (as opposed to disorder‐related or objective) predictors are relatively consistent across studies but that theoretically‐driven efforts to examine testing interest across test types are sorely needed.
Dose-remission of pulsating electromagnetic fields as augmentation in therapy-resistant depression: a randomized, double-blind controlled study
Authors: Straasø Birgit , Lauritzen Lise , Lunde Marianne , Vinberg Maj , Lindberg Lone , Larsen Erik Roj , Dissing Steen , Bech Per 
Published: April 2014

ObjectiveTo evaluate to what extent a twice daily dose of Transcranial Pulsating ElectroMagnetic Fields (T-PEMF) was superior to once daily in patients with treatment-resistant depression as to obtaining symptom remission after 8 weeks of augmentation therapy.MethodsA self-treatment set-up of the T-PEMF device was used allowing self-administration by patients in own homes. All patients were treated for 30 min per T-PEMF session. The antidepressant medication the patients were receiving at baseline remained unchanged during the trial. The patients were randomised to either one T-PEMF dose (active dose in the morning and sham in the afternoon) or two T-PEMF doses (active dose both morning and afternoon) in a double-blind procedure. A score of 7 or less on the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D17) was the criterion of remission.ResultsIn total 34 patients received active T-PEMF once a day and 31 patients twice daily. After 5 weeks of therapy remission was obtained in 26.5% and 32.3% on one dose and two doses of T-PEMF, respectively. After 8 weeks the rate of remission was 73.5% and 67.7%, respectively. The side effects as measured by the Udvalget for Kliniske Undersøgelser scale showed a better toleration of the antidepresssive medication in both treatment groups, which was reflected by the WHO-5 well-being scale with increased scores in both groups of patients.ConclusionThe high remission rate obtained by the T-PEMF augmentation was not a dose effect (one versus two daily T-PEMF sessions) but was explained by the extension of the treatment period from 5 to 8 weeks.
ELLIPTIC CURVES ARISING FROM BRAHMAGUPTA QUADRILATERALS
Authors: IZADI FARZALI , KHOSHNAM FOAD , MOODY DUSTIN , ZARGAR ARMAN SHAMSI  
Published: April 2014

AbstractA Brahmagupta quadrilateral is a cyclic quadrilateral whose sides, diagonals and area are all integer values. In this article, we characterise the notions of Brahmagupta, introduced by K. R. S. Sastry [‘Brahmagupta quadrilaterals’, Forum Geom. 2 (2002), 167–173], by means of elliptic curves. Motivated by these characterisations, we use Brahmagupta quadrilaterals to construct infinite families of elliptic curves with torsion group $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}\times \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ having ranks (at least) four, five and six. Furthermore, by specialising we give examples from these families of specific curves with rank nine.
THE QUANTITATIVE DISTRIBUTION OF HECKE EIGENVALUES
Authors: WANG YINGNAN 
Published: April 2014

AbstractIn this paper, we prove that the Sato–Tate conjecture for primitive Maass forms holds on average. We also investigate the rate of convergence in the Sato–Tate conjecture and establish some estimates of the discrepancy with respect to the Sato–Tate measure on the average of primitive Maass forms.
THE END OF THE BAʿTHIST SOCIAL CONTRACT IN BASHAR AL-ASAD'S SYRIA: READING SOCIOPOLITICAL TRANSFORMATIONS THROUGH CHARITIES AND BROADER BENEVOLENT ACTIVISM
Authors: de Elvira Laura Ruiz , Zintl Tina 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThis article reads Bashar al-Asad's rule through the prism of social activism and, in particular, through the field of charities. The sociopolitical transformations Syria experienced between 2000 and 2010—the shift in state–society relations, the opening of the civic arena, and economic liberalization—are explored through the activities of charitable associations, including their interactions with other Syrian actors, and we argue that they reflect the unraveling of the old social contract. The Syrian leadership outsourced important state welfare functions to charities while also creating nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) under its own control and supporting developmental NGOs loyal to the regime. These NGOs differed from the existing charities in terms of their social base, financial backgrounds, motivations, modes of institutionalization, and public relations strategies, and enabled the authoritarian regime to pursue a new strategy of divide-and-rule politics. At the same time, subcontracting poor-relief measures to charities eroded the regime's political legitimacy and helped sow the seeds of the 2011 uprising.
Immune recognition ofOnchocerca volvulusproteins in the human host and animal models of onchocerciasis
Authors: Manchang T.K. , Ajonina-Ekoti I. , Ndjonka D. , Eisenbarth A. , Achukwi M.D. , Renz A. , Brattig N.W. , Liebau E. , Breloer M. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractOnchocerca volvulusis a tissue-dwelling, vector-borne nematode parasite of humans and is the causative agent of onchocerciasis or river blindness. Natural infections of BALB/c mice withLitomosoides sigmodontisand of cattle withOnchocerca ochengiwere used as models to study the immune responses toO. volvulus-derived recombinant proteins (OvALT-2,OvNLT-1,Ov103 andOv7). The humoral immune response ofO. volvulus-infected humans againstOvALT-2,OvNLT-1 andOv7 revealed pronounced immunoglobulin G (IgG) titres which were, however, significantly lower than against the lysate ofO. volvulusadult female worms. Sera derived from patients displaying the hyperreactive form of onchocerciasis showed a uniform trend of higher IgG reactivity both to the single proteins and theO. volvuluslysate. Sera derived fromL. sigmodontis-infected mice and from calves exposed toO. ochengitransmission in a hyperendemic area also contained IgM and IgG1 specific forO. volvulus-derived recombinant proteins. These results strongly suggest thatL. sigmodontis-specific andO. ochengi-specific immunoglobulins elicited during natural infection of mice and cattle cross-reacted withO. volvulus-derived recombinant antigens. MonitoringO. ochengi-infected calves over a 26-month period, provided a comprehensive kinetic of the humoral response to infection that was strictly correlated with parasite load and occurrence of microfilariae.
The intriguing host innate immune response: novel anti-parasitic defence by neutrophil extracellular traps
Authors: HERMOSILLA CARLOS , CARO TAMARA MUÑOZ , SILVA LILIANA M. R. , RUIZ ANTONIO , TAUBERT ANJA 
Published: April 2014

SUMMARYThe capacity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and other leucocytes of the innate immune system to expel their DNA in a controlled process into the extracellular environment to trap and kill pathogenic microorganisms led to a paradigm shift in our comprehension of host leucocyte-pathogen interactions. Formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) has recently been recognized as a novel effector mechanism of the host innate immune response against microbial infections. Meanwhile evidence has arisen that NET formation is a widely spread mechanism in vertebrates and invertebrates and extends not only to the entrapment of microbes, fungi and viruses but also to the capture of protozoan and metazoan parasites. PMN produce NETs after stimulation with mitogens, cytokines or pathogens in a controlled process which depends on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the induction of the Raf-MEK-ERK-mediated signalling pathway cascade. NETs consist of nuclear DNA as a backbone decorated with histones, antimicrobial peptides, and PMN-specific granular enzymes thereby providing an extracellular matrix capable of entrapping and killing invasive pathogens. This review is intended to summarize parasite-related data on NETs. Special attention will be given to NET-associated mechanisms by which parasites, in particular apicomplexa, might be hampered in their ability to reproduce within the host cell and complete the life cycle.
Associations of cannabis and cigarette use with psychotic experiences at age 18: findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
Authors: Gage S. H. , Hickman M. , Heron J. , Munafò M. R. , Lewis G. , Macleod J. , Zammit S. 
Published: April 2014

Background.A clearer understanding of the basis for the association between cannabis use and psychotic experiences (PEs) is required. Our aim was to examine the extent to which associations between cannabis and cigarette use and PEs are due to confounding.Method.A cohort study of 1756 adolescents with data on cannabis use, cigarette use and PEs.Results.Cannabis use and cigarette use at age 16 were both associated, to a similar degree, with PEs at age 18 [odds ratio (OR) 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–1.86 for cannabis and OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.31–1.98 for cigarettes]. Adjustment for cigarette smoking frequency (OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.91–1.76) or other illicit drug use (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.91–1.73) substantially attenuated the relationship between cannabis and PEs. The attenuation was to a lesser degree when cannabis use was adjusted for in the cigarette PE association (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.05–1.92). However, almost all of the participants used cannabis with tobacco, including those who classed themselves as non-cigarette smokers.Conclusions.Teasing out the effects of cannabis from tobacco is highly complex and may not have been dealt with adequately in studies to date, including this one. Complementary methods are required to robustly examine the independent effects of cannabis, tobacco and other illicit drugs on PEs.
Distributed collaborative 3D pose estimation of robots from heterogeneous relative measurements: an optimization on manifold approach
Authors: Knuth Joseph , Barooah Prabir 
Published: April 2014

SUMMARYWe propose a distributed algorithm for estimating the 3D pose (position and orientation) of multiple robots with respect to a common frame of reference when Global Positioning System is not available. This algorithm does not rely on the use of any maps, or the ability to recognize landmarks in the environment. Instead, we assume that noisy relative measurements between pairs of robots are intermittently available, which can be any one, or combination, of the following: relative pose, relative orientation, relative position, relative bearing, and relative distance. The additional information about each robot's pose provided by these measurements are used to improve over self-localization estimates. The proposed method is similar to a pose-graph optimization algorithm in spirit: pose estimates are obtained by solving an optimization problem in the underlying Riemannian manifold $(SO(3)\times{\mathcal R}^3)^{n(k)}$. The proposed algorithm is directly applicable to 3D pose estimation, can fuse heterogeneous measurement types, and can handle arbitrary time variation in the neighbor relationships among robots. Simulations show that the errors in the pose estimates obtained using this algorithm are significantly lower than what is achieved when robots estimate their pose without cooperation. Results from experiments with a pair of ground robots with vision-based sensors reinforce these findings. Further, simulations comparing the proposed algorithm with two state-of-the-art existing collaborative localization algorithms identify under what circumstances the proposed algorithm performs better than the existing methods. In addition, the question of trade-offs between cost (of obtaining a certain type of relative measurement) and benefit (improvement in localization accuracy) for various types of relative measurements is considered.
Foraging behaviour of Brown Boobies Sula leucogaster in Anguilla, Lesser Antilles: Preliminary identification of at-sea distribution using a time-in-area approach
Authors: SOANES LOUISE M. , BRIGHT JENNIFER A. , BOLTON MARK , MILLETT JAMES , MUKHIDA FARAH , GREEN JONATHAN A. 
Published: April 2014

SummarySeabird populations breeding in the UK Overseas Territories remain relatively understudied compared to UK seabird populations, despite their international importance. Here we present results from one of the first seabird tracking studies in the Caribbean region, of Brown Boobies Sula leucogaster breeding on the Important Bird Area (IBA) of Dog Island, Anguilla. Birds were tracked for 5–7 days during the chick-rearing period using GPS data loggers. We assess how representative the at-sea areas of use (utilisation distributions) identified from our sample of 16 birds are likely to be of those of the whole breeding colony, and examined the effect that grid cell size used in the ‘time-in-area’ analytical approach has on these predictions. We also assess the effectiveness of the BirdLife International’s seaward extension approach to marine IBA designation, where terrestrial IBAs are buffered a set distance using existing information on the foraging radii of the same or similar breeding species. Foraging trips were 125.3 ± 54.4 (SD) km long and lasted for 5.6 ± 1.95 hrs on average. Birds travelled into the waters of four neighbouring territories; Saint Martin, Saba, Saint Eustatius and Saint Barthelemy. Our models suggest that many more individuals would need to be tracked to fully identify important at-sea areas for this colony, although this depends on the scale that important areas are defined. Whilst a smaller grid cell size may be necessary for assessing fine-scale habitat use, a larger grid cell size may be more appropriate for marine spatial planning processes. Although the BirdLife Seaward extension approach using maximum foraging distance recorded from Brown Boobies at a Mexican colony predicted a smaller foraging area than that used by Dog Island birds this approach still incorporated at least 99% of their 50% UD, 98% of their 75% UD and 86% of the 95% UD.
Emergency Medical Services in India: The Present and Future
Authors: Sharma Mohit , Brandler Ethan S. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractIndia is the second most populous country in the world. Currently, India does not have a centralized body which provides guidelines for training and operation of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Emergency Medical Services are fragmented and not accessible throughout the country. Most people do not know the number to call in case of an emergency; services such as Dial 108/102/1298 Ambulances, Centralized Accident and Trauma Service (CATS), and private ambulance models exist with wide variability in their dispatch and transport capabilities. Variability also exists in EMS education standards with the recent establishment of courses like Emergency Medical Technician-Basic/Advanced, Paramedic, Prehospital Trauma Technician, Diploma Trauma Technician, and Postgraduate Diploma in EMS. This report highlights recommendations that have been put forth to help optimize the Indian prehospital emergency care system, including regionalization of EMS, better training opportunities, budgetary provisions, and improving awareness among the general community. The importance of public and private partnerships in implementing an organized prehospital care system in India discussed in the report may be a reasonable solution for improved EMS in other developing countries.SharmaM, BrandlerES. Emergency Medical Services in India: the present and future. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(3):1-4.
Recurrent Criminal Behavior and Executive Dysfunction
Authors: Barbosa Manuel Fernando Santos , Monteiro Luis Manuel Coelho 
Published: April 2014

Objective:To experimentally test the hypothesis that people who repeatedly participate in forms of non-violent crime exhibit an executive deficit detected in tests of high ecological validity, having changes in prefrontal functioning as neurophysiologic basis.Participants and Methods:A battery to assess executive dysfunction was administered – the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) –to an experimental group of 30 inmates convicted of crimes against property (mean age = 39.3, SD =9.98), and a control group of 30 (mean age = 32.7, SD = 11.8), all male.Results:The group of recurrent inmates performed significantly worse than the control group in their global scores on the battery, as well as in the majority of subscales.Conclusion:Without removing from consideration the fact that sample size was not very large and, primarily, alerting ourselves to the dangerous hypothesis of a “frontal criminogenesis,” the authors interpret criminal recurrence and resistance to penal measures in terms of the scarcity of control that individuals from the experimental group have over their behavior and its respective consequences.