bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Partial sequence and characterization of nitric oxide synthase gene from Hyphantria cunea
Authors: Kim Hong Ja , Kim Yong Il , Kwon Yong Min , Kang Young Jin , Cheon Hyang Mi , Ha Nam Gyu , Seo Sook Jae 
Published: November 2013

AbstractNitric oxide synthase (NOS) gene has been partially sequenced from Hyphantria cunea and compared with those already determined from insects. Hyphantria cunea NOS possesses putative recognition sites for co‐factors heme, BH4, CaM, FMN, FAD, and NADPH common to NOS. The deduced amino acid sequence of H. cunea NOS cDNA showed 70.3% identity to Manduca sexta NOS and 57.6–69.5% identity to NOS sequences from other insects. Nitric oxide synthase is expressed in all tissues of H. cunea, except in hemocytes. The NOS expression in midgut, fat body, epidermis, and Malpighian tubule strongly increased against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacterial infection. These results suggest that NOS may play an important role in insect defense system against bacterial infection.
Kinetics of the Thermal Degradation of Patulin in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid
Authors: Kokkinidou S. , Floros J. D. , LaBorde L. F. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractDegradation of the mycotoxin patulin between 25 and 85 °C without and with added ascorbic acid was studied, and the effectiveness of linear and nonlinear models for predicting reaction rates was compared. In agreement with previous reports, ascorbic acid significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) the rate of patulin degradation at all temperatures studied. The data for patulin degradation in the absence of ascorbic acid were adequately modeled using a zero‐order linear kinetic model. However, the predictive abilities of zero and higher‐order linear models were not adequate to describe the more complex reactions that likely occurred when ascorbic acid was added. In contrast, the nonlinear Weibull model adequately described the patulin‐ascorbic acid reaction throughout the temperature range studied. Zero‐order rate constants and Weibull scale values for each of the respective reactions followed the Arrhenius law. Activation energies of 58.7 ± 3.9 and 29.6 ± 1.9 kJ mol−1 for the reaction without and with ascorbic acid, respectively, confirmed decreased patulin stability in the presence of ascorbic acid and suggested that the mechanisms for the 2 degradation reactions were different.
Changes in temperature affect the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture
Authors: Brightwell Robert E. , Choong Andrew M. T. L. , Barnett Adrian G. , Walker Philip J. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundThere is a well‐established link between exposure to hot and cold temperatures and an increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalization or death. There is also contrasting evidence of a seasonal increase in aortic ruptures related to atmospheric pressure, but an association with environmental temperature has never been formally modelled.MethodsUsing a prospective database, we identified 295 patients who were operated in a single centre for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in south‐east Queensland between 1990 and 2010. We matched patients to their nearest weather station to estimate their exposure to temperature and air pressure in the days leading up to their rupture. We used the case–crossover method to estimate the risks of temperature, which we allowed to be non‐linear (increased risks at high and low temperatures) and delayed by up to 25 days.ResultsThere was an immediate increase in risk after exposure to cold, and a delayed risk after exposure to heat. An increased risk after exposure to high pressures disappeared after adjusting for temperature. At a mean temperature of 19°C (66°F), the odds ratio for rupture was 1.73 (95% confidence interval: 1.09, 2.76) compared with the reference temperature of 24°C.ConclusionThis is the first study to demonstrate an association between temperature and risk of aortic aneurysm rupture in the Southern Hemisphere. The physiological changes caused by thermoregulation may be a trigger for those people with a fragile aneurysm.
Efficacy and safety of low‐dose celecoxib in reducing post‐operative paralytic ileus after major abdominal surgery
Authors: Raju Devinder P. , Hakendorf Paul , Costa Marcello , Wattchow David A. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundA number of interventions have been used to decrease the incidence of post‐operative paralytic ileus. A secondary outcome of a randomized controlled study showed that COX‐2 inhibitors decreased the incidence of paralytic ileus. We sought to study a large cohort of patients undergoing major abdominal operations who were treated with a COX‐2 inhibitor.MethodsThis is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. All eligible patients were given a COX‐2 inhibitor – celecoxib 100 mg – twice daily starting on the day of surgery until the seventh day post‐operatively or discharge, whichever was earlier. The rate of paralytic ileus was calculated and compared with historical data. Secondary outcome measures were the effect of using COX‐2 inhibitors on renal function, electrolytes and haemoglobin, morbidity and leak rates.ResultsTwo hundred and fifty‐two patients were treated with celecoxib; the control arm consisted of 67 historical patients. Of the 252 patients, we had complete data for 235 patients and ileus in 17 patients (7.23%) compared with 13.4% in the control group (P = 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed ileus in 5.45% of colectomy patients and 6.36% of patients who have had a colectomy and high anterior resection. There was no detriment of measured blood tests. There were leaks in two treated patients, both of whom did not require a laparotomy.ConclusionsThe use of low‐dose COX‐2 inhibitor over a short period of time decreases the paralytic ileus rates and does not cause any significant morbidity.
The viscoelastic properties of the cervical mucus plug
Authors: Bastholm Sara K. , Becher Naja , Stubbe Peter R. , Chronakis Ioannis S. , Uldbjerg Niels 
Published: November 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo characterize the viscoelastic properties of cervical mucus plugs (CMPs) shed during labor at term.DesignExperimental research.SettingDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.Population/SampleSpontaneously shed CMPs from 18 healthy women in active labor.MethodsViscoelastic properties of CMPs were investigated with a dynamic oscillatory rheometer using frequency and stress sweep experiments within the linear viscoelastic region.Main outcome measuresThe rheological variables obtained were as follows: elastic modulus (G′), viscous modulus (G″) and tan delta (G″/G′). Random‐effects regression was used for statistical analysis.ResultsAll CMPs showed solid‐like viscoelastic behavior. This was substantiated by the elastic modulus which was three to four times greater than the viscous modulus and by tan delta, which was <1 at all frequencies. Mean tan delta at 0.01 Hz was 0.38 (95% CI 0.34–0.43) and 0.27 (95% CI 0.23–0.32) at 1 Hz. The elastic modulus could be described by the relation G′(ω) = KωA [mean R2 0.95 (95% CI 0.93–0.98)]. Despite relatively large variation in the rheological properties within CMPs, rheological variables obtained from frequency sweeps differed significantly among CMPs (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe CMPs are solid‐like viscoelastic structures. These rheological characteristics are probably essential for the CMP's ability to form and sustain a plug in the cervical canal during pregnancy, thereby reducing the risk of ascending infections. The technique described here might be used for evaluation of an association between CMP viscoelasticity and preterm delivery.
The regulation of gastric acid secretion – clinical perspectives
Authors: Waldum H. L. , Hauso Ø. , Fossmark R. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe purpose of this review, based upon 40 years of research, is to clear old controversies. The gastric juice is a strong acid with active enzymes (pepsin and lipase); ideal for killing swallowed microorganisms. Totally isolated rat stomach and histamine determination. Human gastric carcinomas were examined for ECL cell differentiation because tumours found in rodents after dosing with inhibitors of acid secretion were reclassified to be of ECL cell origin. The gastrin receptor is localized to the ECL cell only, where gastrin stimulates the function and growth. Drug‐induced hypo‐acidity induces hypergastrinaemia and ECL cell hyperplasia responsible for rebound acid hypersecretion. Every condition with long‐term hypergastrinaemia disposes to ECL cell neoplasia. In man, both atrophic gastritis and gastrinoma lead to ECL cell carcinoids. Proton pump inhibitors induce hypergastrinaemia with ECL cell hyperplasia and ECL cell carcinoids that disappear when stopping treatment. The gastrin antagonist netazepide induces regression of ECL cell carcinoids due to atrophic gastritis. Human gastric carcinomas of diffuse type, particularly the signet‐ring subtype, show ECL cell differentiation, suggesting involvement of gastrin in the carcinogenesis. Helicobacter pylori (Hp) causes gastritis and peptic ulcer, and when infecting the antrum only gives a slight hypergastrinaemia with acid hypersecretion predisposing to duodenal ulcer, but protecting from gastric cancer. When Hp infection spreads to oxyntic mucosa, it induces atrophy, reduced acid secretion and marked hypergastrinaemia and cancer.It is remarkable that the interaction between Hp and gastrin may explain the pathogenesis of most diseases in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Respiratory hamartoma in a cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)
Authors: Rosenwax AC , Gabor M , Reece RL 
Published: November 2013

Case reportAn 8‐year‐old female cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) was presented with coelomic distension. Palpation revealed an irregular intracoelomic mass. An exploratory coeliotomy was performed and the mass successfully removed. Histopathology determined the mass to be a respiratory hamartoma.ConclusionThe bird recovered uneventfully and 2 years later showed no evidence of recurrence.
A feline anaesthetic death associated with equipment incompatibility
Authors: O'Hagan BJ , McKinnon C 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundA juvenile cat was anaesthetised for ovariohysterectomy. After intubation, the endotracheal tube was connected to an end‐tidal CO2 (ETCO2) in‐line adapter and then to a non‐rebreathing anaesthetic system. Immediately on connection to the non‐rebreathing system, the patient developed abdominal distension. The endotracheal tube was removed and found to be supplying a continuous flow of oxygen while connected to the ETCO2 monitor adapter and rebreathing system. The adapter was removed from the rebreathing line and the endotracheal tube re‐inserted. Despite resuscitation attempts, the cat died.ResultsNecropsy revealed barotrauma to the lungs and separation of the diaphragm from the dorsal body wall, with retroperitoneal gas accumulation. Close inspection of the gas delivery system revealed the creation of a plastic‐to‐plastic seal between the internal fresh gas pipe of the non‐rebreathing system and the ETCO2 adapter, preventing overflow of excess gas.ConclusionCareful assessment of equipment compatibility before every anaesthetic event is essential.
Impact of prior rituximab on outcomes of autologous stem‐cell transplantation in patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B‐cell lymphoma: a multicentre retrospective Spanish group of lymphoma/autologous bone marrow transplant study
Authors: Redondo Alba M. , Pomares Helena , Vidal María J. , Pascual María J. , Quereda Belén , Sancho Juan M. , Polo Marta , López Javier , Conde Eulogio , Jarque Isidro , Alonso Natalia , Ramírez María J. , Fernández Pascual , Sayas María J. , Requena María J. , Salar Antonio , González José D. , González‐Barca Eva , Arranz Reyes , Caballero Dolores , Martín Alejandro 
Published: November 2013

SummaryThe use of highly effective rituximab‐containing therapy for treating diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) makes it more difficult to salvage relapsed or refractory patients. Autologous stem‐cell transplantation (ASCT) is the reference treatment for these patients, but the impact of previous exposure to rituximab on the subsequent results of ASCT remains unknown. We analysed 248 patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL or grade 3B follicular lymphoma pre‐treated with rituximab as part of first‐line therapy (R+ group) who received ASCT, in comparison with a control group of 127 patients without previous exposure to rituximab (R− group). The complete remission (CR) rates were similar in both groups. Multivariate analysis identified age‐adjusted International Prognostic Index at diagnosis, extranodal involvement and disease status at transplant, and the number of previous chemotherapy lines as independent factors with a negative influence on CR rate. Compared with R− patients, those in the R+ group had a significantly better progression‐free survival (63% vs. 48% at 5 years) and overall survival (72% vs. 61% at 5 years). This observation was independent of other prognostic factors that affected these outcomes. In conclusion, ASCT is no less effective in patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B‐cell lymphoma pre‐treated with first‐line rituximab‐containing therapy than in rituximab‐naive patients.
Vesico‐ureteric reflux (VUR) management and screening patterns: are paediatric urologists following the 2010 American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines?
Authors: Sunaryo Peter L. , Cambareri Gina M. , Winston Dock G. , Hanna Moneer K. , Stock Jeffrey A. 
Published: November 2013

ObjectiveTo evaluate the current practice patterns of vesico‐ureteric reflux (VUR) management and screening among paediatric urologists and their relationship with the current American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines in managing and treating VUR.Subjects and MethodsA 17‐question survey was sent out to 476 paediatric urologists who are members of the Society for Pediatric Urology (SPU). In all, 133 respondents answered the survey and results were included for all questions.ResultsPaediatric urologists who were surveyed were consistent with the 2010 AUA guidelines in the initial evaluation of children with VUR, continuous antibiotic prophylaxis for the child aged < or >1 year, and follow‐up evaluation in children with VUR. Most paediatric urologists do not obtain a serum creatinine on initial screening of children with VUR. The new guidelines address screening of siblings of patients with VUR and most paediatric urologists were consistent with these recommendations. Almost one third of responders screened all neonates diagnosed with prenatal hydronephrosis regardless of clinical history or findings on imaging despite the recommendations of the new guidelines.ConclusionWe conclude that based on our present sample, most paediatric urologists follow the 2010 AUA guidelines on VUR management.
The MCH1 receptor, an anti‐obesity target, is allosterically inhibited by 8‐methylquinoline derivatives possessing subnanomolar binding and long residence times
Authors: Sakurai T , Ogawa K , Ishihara Y , Kasai S , Nakayama M 
Published: November 2013

Background and PurposeMelanin‐concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCH1 receptor) antagonists are being considered as anti‐obesity agents. The present study reports a new class of MCH1 receptor antagonists with an 8‐methylquinoline scaffold. The molecular mechanism of MCH1 receptor blockade by these antagonists was examined.Experimental ApproachThe pharmacological properties of the 8‐methylquinolines as exemplified by MQ1 were evaluated by use of multiple biophysical and cell‐based functional assays.Key ResultsMultiple signalling pathways for Gαi and Gαq, and β‐arrestin were inhibited by MQ1. Furthermore, MQ1 produced an insurmountable antagonism, causing a rightward shift of the curve for concentration‐dependent binding of MCH along with a progressive reduction of the maximal response. The dissociation kinetics for MQ1 were determined from washout experiments as well as by affinity selection‐MS. In short, MQ1 was shown to be a slowly dissociating reversible MCH1 receptor blocker with a low Koff value.Conclusion and ImplicationsThis is the first time that a slowly dissociating negative allosteric modulator of the MCH1 receptor has been demonstrated to inhibit the numerous signalling pathways of this receptor. The characteristics of MQ1 are superior and distinct from previously reported MCH1 receptor antagonists, making members of this chemotype attractive as drug candidates.
How good is a morning cortisol in predicting an adequate response to intramuscular synacthen stimulation?
Authors: Yo Wee Shuan , Toh Li‐Mae , Brown Suzanne J. , Howe Warwick D. , Henley David E. , Lim Ee Mun 
Published: November 2013

SummaryContextPrevious studies have demonstrated that a morning serum cortisol of <100 nmol/l makes further dynamic testing such as the Synacthen stimulation test (SST) unnecessary to confirm adrenal insufficiency. The morning cortisol level that reliably predicts adrenal sufficiency (AS) is less well established, and values ranging from 300 to 500 nmol/l have been proposed.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the ambulatory morning cortisol level that predicts adrenal sufficiency, as defined by an adequate response to SST, using a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.DesignObservational retrospective cross‐sectional study.Method & SubjectsWe conducted a retrospective audit of SST performed at PathWest Laboratory QEII from January 2006 to August 2008. A total of 761 results were obtained. Patients who were acutely ill or in intensive care, on glucocorticoid therapy, and those with inadequate data or multiple records were excluded from the analysis leaving 505 available for analysis. Baseline serum was obtained prior to intramuscular injection of 250 mcg Synacthen, and a second sample was obtained 30 min post‐Synacthen. AS was defined as a 30‐min post‐Synacthen cortisol of >550 nmol/l; values ≤550 nmol/l were considered inadequate.ResultsBased on SST criteria, of the 505 patients included in the study, 350 patients (69%) were adrenal sufficient and 155 (31%) had adrenal insufficiency. Using the minimum ROC distance criterion, a basal cortisol value of >236 nmol/l was identified to predict AS with sensitivity 84% and specificity 71%. However, to increase the specificity to 95%, we recommend a basal cortisol cut‐off of >375 nmol/l. For patients with known pituitary disease (n = 152), basal cortisol of >214 nmol/l (sensitivity 85% and specificity 71%) may obviate the need for SST in the appropriate clinical context, although 330 nmol/l gives a specificity of 95%.ConclusionBasal morning cortisol is a viable first step in the evaluation of patients with suspected adrenal insufficiency.
Dynamic Comics for Hierarchical Abstraction of 3D Animation Data
Authors: Choi Myung Geol , Noh Seung‐Tak , Komura Taku , Igarashi Takeo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractImage storyboards of films and videos are useful for quick browsing and automatic video processing. A common approach for producing image storyboards is to display a set of selected key‐frames in temporal order, which has been widely used for 2D video data. However, such an approach cannot be applied for 3D animation data because different information is revealed by changing parameters such as the viewing angle and the duration of the animation. Also, the interests of the viewer may be different from person to person. As a result, it is difficult to draw a single image that perfectly abstracts the entire 3D animation data. In this paper, we propose a system that allows users to interactively browse an animation and produce a comic sequence out of it. Each snapshot in the comic optimally visualizes a duration of the original animation, taking into account the geometry and motion of the characters and objects in the scene. This is achieved by a novel algorithm that automatically produces a hierarchy of snapshots from the input animation. Our user interface allows users to arrange the snapshots according to the complexity of the movements by the characters and objects, the duration of the animation and the page area to visualize the comic sequence. Our system is useful for quickly browsing through a large amount of animation data and semi‐automatically synthesizing a storyboard from a long sequence of animation.
Hair Interpolation for Portrait Morphing
Authors: Weng Yanlin , Wang Lvdi , Li Xiao , Chai Menglei , Zhou Kun 
Published: November 2013

AbstractIn this paper we study the problem of hair interpolation: given two 3D hair models, we want to generate a sequence of intermediate hair models that transform from one input to another both smoothly and aesthetically pleasing. We propose an automatic method that efficiently calculates a many‐to‐many strand correspondence between two or more given hair models, taking into account the multi‐scale clustering structure of hair. Experiments demonstrate that hair interpolation can be used for producing more vivid portrait morphing effects and enabling a novel example‐based hair styling methodology, where a user can interactively create new hairstyles by continuously exploring a “style space” spanning multiple input hair models.
Fast Image‐Based Modeling of Astronomical Nebulae
Authors: Wenger Stephan , Lorenz Dirk , Magnor Marcus 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAstronomical nebulae are among the most complex and visually appealing phenomena known outside the bounds of the Solar System. However, our fixed vantage point on Earth limits us to a single known view of these objects, and their intricate volumetric structure cannot be recovered directly. Recent approaches to reconstructing a volumetric 3D model use the approximate symmetry inherent to many nebulae, but require several hours of computation time on large multi‐GPU clusters. We present a novel reconstruction algorithm based on group sparsity that reaches or even exceeds the quality of prior results while taking only a fraction of the time on a conventional desktop PC, thereby enabling end users in planetariums or educational facilities to produce high‐quality content without expensive hardware or manual modeling. In principle, our approach can be generalized to other transparent phenomena with arbitrary types of user‐specified symmetries.
Robust Denoising using Feature and Color Information
Authors: Rousselle Fabrice , Manzi Marco , Zwicker Matthias 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe propose a method that robustly combines color and feature buffers to denoise Monte Carlo renderings. On one hand, feature buffers, such as per pixel normals, textures, or depth, are effective in determining denoising filters because features are highly correlated with rendered images. Filters based solely on features, however, are prone to blurring image details that are not well represented by the features. On the other hand, color buffers represent all details, but they may be less effective to determine filters because they are contaminated by the noise that is supposed to be removed. We propose to obtain filters using a combination of color and feature buffers in an NL‐means and cross‐bilateral filtering framework. We determine a robust weighting of colors and features using a SURE‐based error estimate. We show significant improvements in subjective and quantitative errors compared to the previous state‐of‐theart. We also demonstrate adaptive sampling and space‐time filtering for animations.