bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuronal and grey modelling of milk drying in spouted bed
Authors: de Souza Nascimento Bruna , Freire Fábio Bentes , Freire José Teixeira 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe chemical composition of pastes is one of the factors responsible for the behaviour of the paste during the drying process in spouted bed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the drying process of paste in spouted bed for four types of milk: whole, skimmed, semi‐skimmed and low lactose content milk, which have different concentrations of sugar and fat. A neuronal model was proposed in order to describe the influence of the presence of pastes on the spouted bed fluid dynamics. The change of moisture content of the powder during the drying process and of the heat and mass transfer phenomena were estimated using a hybrid model based on the global balance of mass and energy and a phase‐coupling term given by a neural network.
Geographical‐Based Sewerage Needs Prioritization of Rural Areas: A Case Study of Wielkopolska Region (Poland)
Authors: Stępniewska Małgorzata 
Published: July 2013

AbstractCurrently, the global challenges concerning access to basic sanitation mostly relate to rural areas. Despite encouraging progress in regards to this, the world is still far from meeting the Millennium Development Goal for sanitation. Due to the vast and growing investment needs in the sector and budgetary limits, hard choices are entailed in the allocation of public funds, including their assignment to different geographical regions. The aim of this paper is to develop a methodology prioritization for sewerage infrastructure in rural areas, taking into account both the current state of the sewage management system in place and geographical factors related to said system. A set of factors describing the environmental and settlement differentiation has been proposed in terms of the commissioning of sewage management. Environmental factors include various types of water protection and nature conservation areas. Factors of spatial settlement structure include the size, concentration, and shape of built‐up areas. These factors were used to classify 207 rural areas in Wielkopolska (Poland), in regards to the investment needs for sewage management. The study provides a useful strategic decision‐making tool for assigning priorities and determining the financial distribution of support for investment projects from public funds. It is a proposal for good sewage management practices, aimed at the utilization of solutions, which combine ecological effectiveness and economic efficiency to the fullest extent possible.
Anatomic subsite of primary colorectal cancer and subsequent risk and distribution of second cancers
Authors: Phipps Amanda I. , Chan Andrew T. , Ogino Shuji 
Published: July 2013

BACKGROUNDIndividuals with a history of colorectal cancer (CRC) have an increased risk of subsequent cancer. In this study, the authors used cancer registry data to evaluate whether this increased risk of cancer after CRC differed by anatomic subsite of a first CRC.METHODSIndividuals diagnosed with a first primary CRC between 1992 and 2009 were identified from 12 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by comparing the incidence of subsequent cancers in these patients who had an index CRC versus the cancer incidence rates in the general population. SIRs were calculated for cancers at anatomic sites within and outside the colorectum in analyses stratified by subsite of the index CRC.RESULTSCancer incidence rates were significantly higher in individuals who had a previous CRC than in the general population (SIR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.13‐1.16). Individuals with an index CRC located between the transverse and descending colon experienced the greatest increased risk both overall (SIR, 1.29‐1.33) and particularly with respect to the risk of a second CRC (SIR, 2.53‐3.35). The incidence of small intestinal cancer was elevated significantly regardless of the index CRC subsite (SIR, 4.31; 95% CI, 3.70‐4.77), and the incidence of endometrial cancer was elevated in those who had an index CRC in the proximal colon (SIR, 1.37‐1.79).CONCLUSIONSThe risk of second cancer after CRC differs by anatomic site of the first tumor and is particularly pronounced for those with prior CRC located in the transverse to descending colon. The mechanisms underlying this pattern of second cancer risk remain unknown. Cancer 2013;119:3140–3147. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
A partial transmit sequence technique with error correction capability and low computation
Authors: Liang Hsin‐Ying , Chu Hung‐Chi , Lin Chuan‐Bi , Lin Kuang‐Hao 
Published: July 2013

SUMMARYOrthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a popular transmission technique in wireless communication. Although already widely addressed in many studies, OFDM still has flaws, one of which is the occurrence of high peak‐to‐average power ratio (PAPR) in the transmission signal. The partial transmit sequence (PTS) technique is one method adopted to reduce high PAPR in OFDM systems. However, as PTS utilizes phase factors to generate multiple candidate signals, large amounts of calculation and time are required to search the candidate signal with the minimal PAPR, which will then be adopted as the final transmission signal. This paper proposes a novel PAPR reduction method, which can be applied in OFDM systems with M‐ary phase‐shift keying modulation. It not only requires less computation but also possesses error correction capabilities. More precisely, the proposed method is to divide a block‐coded modulation code into the direct sum of a correcting subcode for encoding information bits and a scrambling subcode for generating phase factors. Our proposed method is a suboptimal technique with low computation, because it uses a genetic algorithm with a partheno‐crossover operator as the transmitted signal selection mechanism. Simulation results show our proposed method has better PAPR performance than the GA‐PTS scheme. Based on the simulation results in Figures 5 and 6, it is evident that our proposed method can be employed in any OFDM system by using M‐PSK modulation.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystallization and polymorphic behavior of shea stearin and the effect of removal of polar components
Authors: Ray Joydeep , Smith Kevin W. , Bhaggan Krishnadath , Nagy Zoltan K. , Stapley Andrew G. F. 
Published: July 2013

The crystallization of shea stearin was investigated both before and after pre‐treatment with silica to remove a small amount (0.7 wt%) of diacylglycerols (DAGs) and oxidized material. NMR (for solid fat content), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), polarized light microscopy, confocal Raman microscopy, and non‐isothermal, isothermal and “stop‐and‐return” differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques were used. Four major polymorphs previously found with 1,3‐distearoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycerol (StOSt) were detected: α, γ, β′, and β; whilst evidence for a further (δ) polymorph was found by DSC and possibly XRD but not Raman spectroscopy. Isothermal crystallization of shea stearins by DSC at 20°C produced α and δ forms within 5 min which then transformed to γ. Microscope images showed that after 1 day these had transformed into β′ with a few crystals of β, with further conversion to β after one week. Silica treated samples showed a faster initial crystallization, with faster transformation or direct crystallization into δ and then γ and β′ forms. Non‐isothermal DSC also showed a faster transformation into γ from α on the subsequent remelt. However, further transformation into β appeared to occur at reasonably similar rates for both types, suggesting that DAGs have less influence on this transformation and may be excluded from higher forms.Practical applications: This paper has two main practical applications: (i) Provides knowledge and understanding of the crystallization and polymorphic behavior of commercial shea stearin, which is a widely used fat in the confectionery, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. (ii) The presence of small amounts of DAGs significantly delays the crystallization process of shea stearin, particularly of the lower polymorphs.
Properties of the thundercloud discharges responsible for terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes
Authors: Dwyer Joseph R. , Liu Ningyu , Rassoul Hamid K. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe source of terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) has been an active area of research since their discovery by Compton Gamma‐Ray Observatory/Burst and Transient Source Experiment in 1994. These intense bursts of gamma rays originate within thunderclouds via the rapid production of relativistic runaway electrons, accelerated by thundercloud/lightning electric fields to multi‐MeV energies. Recent studies have shown that electrical discharges within thunderclouds caused by these runaway electrons can generate currents that rival those of lightning and so could serve as an alternative discharge path for thunderclouds. In particular, the discharges responsible for TGFs produce some of the largest amplitude VLF‐LF radio pulses from thunderstorms and, indeed, were previously misidentified as lightning. In this article, we shall provide a brief review of TGFs and present calculations of their electrical properties inside thunderclouds and their gamma‐ray and optical emissions. We shall show that the lightning‐like events responsible for TGFs emit relatively little visible light and, thus, are inherently dark.
Effects of Weight-Bearing Activities on Bone Mineral Content and Density in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Behringer Michael , Gruetzner Sebastian , McCourt Molly , Mester Joachim 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis and associated fractures are a major health concern in Western industrialized nations. Exercise during growth is suggested to oppose the involutional bone loss later in life by increasing peak bone mass. The primary aim of the present meta-analysis was to provide a robust estimate of the effect of weight-bearing activities (WBAs) on bone mineral content (BMC) and areal bone mineral density (aBMD), during childhood and adolescence. To locate relevant studies up to June 2012, computerized searches of multiple bibliographic databases and hand searches of key journals and reference lists were performed. Results were extracted by two independent reviewers. The quality of the included trials was assessed via the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score. The study group effect was defined as the difference between the standardized mean change for the treatment and control groups divided by the pooled pretest SD. From 109 potentially relevant studies, only 27 met the inclusion criteria. The analyzed training programs were capable of significantly increasing BMC and aBMD during growth. However, the weighted overall effect sizes (ESs) for changes in BMC (ES 0.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05–0.29; p &lt; 0.05) and aBMD (ES 0.26; 95% CI, 0.02–0.49) were small. Stepwise backward regression revealed that more than one-third of the observed variance (r2 = 0.35) between subgroups of the BMC dataset could be explained by differences in the amount of habitual calcium intake per day (beta 0.54, p &lt; 0.01) and the maturational stage (beta −0.28, p &lt; 0.01) at baseline. No significant moderators were identified for aBMD, possibly due to the small number of trials investigating WBAs on aBMD. The results of this meta-analysis conclude that WBAs alongside high calcium intake provide a practical, relevant method to significantly improve BMC in prepubertal children, justifying the application of this exercise form as an osteoporosis prophylaxis in this stage of maturity. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
High-Sensitivity CRP Is an Independent Risk Factor for All Fractures and Vertebral Fractures in Elderly Men: The MrOS Sweden Study
Authors: Eriksson Anna L , Movérare-Skrtic Sofia , Ljunggren Östen , Karlsson Magnus , Mellström Dan , Ohlsson Claes 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

Epidemiological studies have shown low-grade inflammation measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to be associated with fracture risk in women. However, it is still unclear whether hs-CRP is also associated with fracture risk in men. We therefore measured serum levels of hs-CRP in 2910 men, mean age 75 years, included in the prospective population-based MrOS Sweden cohort. Study participants were divided into tertile groups based on hs-CRP level. Fractures occurring after the baseline visit were validated (average follow-up 5.4 years). The incidence for having at least one fracture after baseline was 23.9 per 1000 person-years. In Cox proportional hazard regression analyses adjusted for age, hs-CRP was related to fracture risk. The hazard ratio (HR) of fracture for the highest tertile of hs-CRP, compared with the lowest and the medium tertiles combined, was 1.48 (95% CI, 1.20–1.82). Multivariate adjustment for other risk factors for fractures had no major effect on the associations between hs-CRP and fracture. Results were essentially unchanged after exclusion of subjects with hs-CRP levels greater than 7.5 mg/L, as well as after exclusion of subjects with a first fracture within 3 years of follow-up, supporting that the associations between hs-CRP and fracture risk were not merely a reflection of a poor health status at the time of serum sampling. Femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) was not associated with hs-CRP, and the predictive role of hs-CRP for fracture risk was essentially unchanged when femoral neck BMD was added to the model (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.09–1.72). Exploratory subanalyses of fracture type demonstrated that hs-CRP was clearly associated with clinical vertebral fractures (HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.12–2.29). We demonstrate, using a large prospective population-based study, that elderly men with high hs-CRP have increased risk of fractures, and that these fractures are mainly vertebral. The association between hs-CRP and fractures was independent of BMD. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Delayed Bone Regeneration Is Linked to Chronic Inflammation in Murine Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Abou-Khalil Rana , Yang Frank , Mortreux Marie , Lieu Shirley , Yu Yan-Yiu , Wurmser Maud , Pereira Catia , Relaix Frédéric , Miclau Theodore , Marcucio Ralph S , Colnot Céline 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients exhibit skeletal muscle weakness with continuous cycles of muscle fiber degeneration/regeneration, chronic inflammation, low bone mineral density, and increased risks of fracture. Fragility fractures and associated complications are considered as a consequence of the osteoporotic condition in these patients. Here, we aimed to establish the relationship between muscular dystrophy and fracture healing by assessing bone regeneration in mdx mice, a model of DMD with absence of osteoporosis. Our results illustrate that muscle defects in mdx mice impact the process of bone regeneration at various levels. In mdx fracture calluses, both cartilage and bone deposition were delayed followed by a delay in cartilage and bone remodeling. Vascularization of mdx fracture calluses was also decreased during the early stages of repair. Dystrophic muscles are known to contain elevated numbers of macrophages contributing to muscle degeneration. Accordingly, we observed increased macrophage recruitment in the mdx fracture calluses and abnormal macrophage accumulation throughout the process of bone regeneration. These changes in the inflammatory environment subsequently had an impact on the recruitment of osteoclasts and the remodeling phase of repair. Further damage to the mdx muscles, using a novel model of muscle trauma, amplified both the chronic inflammatory response and the delay in bone regeneration. In addition, PLX3397 treatment of mdx mice, a cFMS (colony stimulating factor receptor 1) inhibitor in monocytes, partially rescued the bone repair defect through increasing cartilage deposition and decreasing the number of macrophages. In conclusion, chronic inflammation in mdx mice contributes to the fracture healing delay and is associated with a decrease in angiogenesis and a transient delay in osteoclast recruitment. By revealing the role of dystrophic muscle in regulating the inflammatory response during bone repair, our results emphasize the implication of muscle in the normal bone repair process and may lead to improved treatment of fragility fractures in DMD patients. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Usefulness of Thiopurine Metabolites in Predicting Azathioprine Resistance in Pediatric IBD Patients
Authors: Nguyen Thi‐Van‐Anh , Nguyen Thi‐Mai‐Hoang , Lachaux Alain , Boulieu Roselyne 
Published: July 2013

AbstractFew data on azathioprine (AZA) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exist for children. We evaluated whether the 6‐thioguanine nucleotides (6‐TGN) level predicts AZA refractoriness in children with IBD and whether children benefit an AZA dose escalation. Seventy‐eight children with IBD initially treated with an AZA dose of 1.5–2.5 mg/kg/day were retrospectively included. The dose was adjusted based on the clinical status. The receiver operating characteristic curve and logistic regression were used to determine predictors for AZA resistance. Initially, 18 of 40 (45%) patients receiving a dose of <2 mg/kg/day and 11 of 38 (28.9%) patients receiving a dose of 2–2.5 mg/kg/day achieved remission. The 6‐TGN level above 250 pmol/8.108 RBCs was associated with a higher remission rate, though non‐significant. Among 35 patients with a dose escalation due to treatment failure, 12 (34.3%) achieved remission (the median 6‐TGN level increased from 260 to 394 pmol/8.108 RBCs [P = .002]), 23 (67.6%) were AZA refractory. A 6‐TGN level above 405 pmol/8.108 RBCs was the only predictor for AZA resistance (sensitivity 78.3%, specificity 75%, OR 10.8 [95% CI: 2.1–55.7, P = .004]). Serial metabolite monitoring is useful to identify children with IBD resistant to AZA. Children who cannot achieve remission despite a 6‐TGN level above 405 pmol/8.108 RBCs should receive alternative therapies than dose increase.
Modeling DCE‐MRI at low temporal resolution: A case study on rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Ledsam Joseph R. , Hodgson Richard , Moots Robert J. , Sourbron Steven P. 
Published: July 2013

PurposeTo identify the optimal tracer‐kinetic modeling strategy for dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) data acquired at low temporal resolution.Materials and MethodsDCE‐MRI was performed on 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the hand before and after anti‐tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) therapy, using a 3D sequence with a temporal resolution of 13 seconds, imaging for 4 minutes postcontrast injection. Concentration–time curves were extracted from regions of interest (ROIs) in enhancing synovium and fitted to the 3‐parameter modified Tofts model (MT) and the 4‐parameter two‐compartment exchange model (2CXM). To assist the interpretation of the data, the same analysis was applied to simulated data with similar characteristics.ResultsBoth models fitted the data closely, and showed similar therapy effects. The MT plasma volume was significantly lower than with 2CXM, but the differences in permeability and interstitial volume were not significant. 2CXM was less precise than MT, with larger standard deviations relative to the mean in most parameters. The additional perfusion parameter determined with 2CXM did not provide a statistically significant trend due to low precision.ConclusionThe standard MT model is the optimal modeling strategy at low temporal resolution. Advanced models improve the accuracy and generate an additional parameter, but these benefits are offset by low precision. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:1554–1563. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Noncovalent Chiral Functionalization of Graphene with Optically Active Helical Polymers
Authors: Ren Chonglei , Chen Yu , Zhang Haiyang , Deng Jianping 
Published: July 2013

Optically active helical substituted (co)polyacetylenes containing pendent pyrene groups are prepared and then noncovalently immobilized on graphene via π–π interactions. The resulting graphene composite is characterized by XRD, FTIR, Raman, circular dichroism, UV‐vis absorption, TEM, TGA, and fluorescent spectroscopy techniques. The helical polyacetylene endows graphene with the desired optical activity. Also interestingly, the dispersibility of the functionalized graphene in tetrahydrofuran is remarkably improved due to the presence of the helical polymer chains. The present methodology opens new opportunities and serves as a versatile platform toward preparing novel graphene‐based materials.
image
Adaptive responses of TRPC1 and TRPC3 during skeletal muscle atrophy and regrowth
Authors: Zhang Bao‐Ting , Yeung Simon S. , Cheung Kwok‐Kuen , Chai Zacary Y. , Yeung Ella W. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTIntroduction: We assessed the time‐dependent changes of transient receptor potential canonical type 1 (TRPC1) and TRPC3 expression and localization associated with muscle atrophy and regrowth in vivo. Methods: Mice were subjected to hindlimb unloading for 7 or 14 days (7U, 14U) followed by 3, 7, or 14 days of reloading (3R, 7R, 14R). Results: Soleus muscle mass and tetanic force were reduced significantly at 7U and 14U and recovered by 14R. Recovery of muscle fiber cross‐sectional area was observed by 28R. TRPC1 mRNA was unaltered during the unloading‐reloading period. However, protein expression remained depressed through 14R. Decreased localization of TRPC1 to the sarcolemma was observed. TRPC3 mRNA and protein expression levels were decreased significantly during the early phase of reloading. Conclusions: Given the known role of these channels in muscle development, changes observed in TRPC1 and TRPC3 may relate closely to muscle atrophy and remodeling processes. Muscle Nerve 49: 691–699, 2014
Optimal integral sliding mode control for a class of uncertain discrete‐time systems
Authors: Sun Nana , Niu Yugang , Chen Bei 
Published: July 2013

SUMMARYThis paper considers the problem of sliding mode control for a class of uncertain discrete‐time systems. Firstly, an optimal control law for the nominal system is derived to satisfy linear quadratic performance index. And then, an optimal integral sliding surface is designed to ensure the robustness for sliding dynamics. By combining with the discrete reaching law, the existence condition of the sliding mode is proved, and the bandwidth of the quasi‐sliding mode is given. It is shown that the present method utilizes a lower control gain to attain stronger robustness and eliminate the chattering. Finally, illustrative simulation results are provided. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.