bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of Autoantibodies Against Actin Filaments in Celiac Disease
Authors: Porcelli B. , Ferretti F. , Vindigni C. , Scapellato C. , Terzuoli L. 
Published: January 2013

IntroductionSerum autoantibodies specifically directed toward intracellular cytoskeletal actin filaments (anti‐actin antibodies, AAA) were found to be associated with intestinal villous atrophy (IVA) in celiac disease (CD). The aim of this study was to assess IgA‐AAA with a commercial test that uses sections of rat intestinal epithelial cells in a well‐selected cohort of patients and to evaluate the relationship between the presence of serum IgA‐AAA and the severity of intestinal mucosa damage. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 27:21–26, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Materials and MethodsSerum samples from 70 CD patients and 150 controls subjects were analyzed retrospectively for the presence of IgA‐AAA.ResultsThe indirect immunofluorescence test that we used has a specificity of 100%; the sensitivity of the test is not high (25.7%). In this study we also show that serum AAA are more frequently positive in CD patients with total IVA (77.8%) and that this association is significantDiscussionIgA‐AAA certainly cannot take the place of much more sensitive tests such as a‐tTG and EMA in the diagnosis of CD because of their low sensitivity; nonetheless, these antibodies could be determined in a‐tTG and/or EMA positive patients who cannot undergo an intestinal biopsy because of a severe contraindication, or in the case of negative consensus regarding endoscopy, or when the histology interpretation is difficult.ConclusionIn conclusion, the IFI commercial test with intestinal epithelial cells as substrate offers a useful method for IgA‐AAA determination. Serum IgA‐AAA positivity is indicative of more severe intestinal histology damage and their assay could be a real help to the clinician, especially in the complicated cases.
Analysis of liver viscosity behavior as a function of multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography (MMRE) postprocessing
Authors: Leclerc Gwladys E. , Charleux Fabrice , Robert Ludovic , Ho Ba Tho Marie‐Christine , Rhein Colette , Latrive Jean‐Paul , Bensamoun Sabine F. 
Published: January 2013

PurposeTo analyze the relevance of the viscosity measurement as a liver diagnostic marker.Materials and MethodsTo determine the level of fibrosis, a Fibroscan test was performed on 40 subjects (10 healthy volunteers and 30 patients). Subsequently, multifrequency magnetic resonance elastography (MMRE) tests were made with a pneumatic driver at 60, 70, and 80 Hz. Phase images were analyzed with two different postprocessing methods, without (Method 1) and with (Method 2) the inversion algorithm (IA), using rheological models (Voigt, springpot) in order to characterize the viscoelastic properties (viscosity: η and elasticity: μ).ResultsMRE cartography of the viscous tendency (G″MRE_M2) measured within the region of interest (ROI) of the liver increased as a function of the level of fibrosis. Similar results were also obtained for the viscosity (ηmodels_M1) calculated with a postprocessing without IA. However, the viscosity (ηmodels_M2) remained constant with the stage of fibrosis when the postprocessing was composed of an IA. The experimental (μMRE_M1 and G′MRE_M2) and rheological (μmodels_M2 and μmodels_M1) elasticities always increased with the level of fibrosis regardless of the postprocessing method.ConclusionThe variation of the liver viscosity parameter as a function of postprocessing revealed that this parameter should be further investigated to demonstrate its relevance in clinical practice. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:422–428. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Radiofrequency field enhancement with high dielectric constant (HDC) pads in a receive array coil at 3.0T
Authors: Yang Qing X. , Rupprecht Sebastian , Luo Wei , Sica Christopher , Herse Zachary , Wang Jianli , Cao Zhipeng , Vesek Jeffrey , Lanagan Michael T. , Carluccio Giuseppe , Ryu Yeun‐Chul , Collins Christopher M. 
Published: January 2013

PurposeTo investigate the use of a new high‐dielectric constant (HDC) material for improving SNR and transmission efficiency for clinical MRI applications at 3 Tesla (T) with cervical spine imaging.Materials and MethodsHuman subjects were imaged using a commercial cervical spine receive array coil on a clinical system with and without pads containing Barium Titanate beads in deuterium water placed around the neck. Numerical electromagnetic field simulations of the same configuration were also performed.ResultsExperimental and simulated maps of transmit and receive fields showed greater efficiency for imaging the cervical spine when the pads were present. Experimental measurements showed a significant improvement in SNR with the pads present and an average input power reduction of 46%.ConclusionUse of HDC material can enhance SNR and transmission efficiency for clinical imaging of the cervical spine at 3.0T. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:435–440. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Left atrial flow velocity distribution and flow coherence using four‐dimensional FLOW MRI: A pilot study investigating the impact of age and Pre‐ and Postintervention atrial fibrillation on atrial hemodynamics
Authors: Fluckiger Jacob U. , Goldberger Jeffrey J. , Lee Daniel C. , Ng Jason , Lee Richard , Goyal Amita , Markl Michael 
Published: January 2013

Purpose:To use four‐dimensional (4D) flow MRI to characterize and quantify 3D blood flow in the left atria (LA) of patients with a history of atrial fibrillation (AF).Materials and Methods:The 4D flow MRI was acquired in 19 volunteers (n = 9<30 years, n = 10>50 years) and 10 patients with AF (62 ± 9.6 years; n = 4 in persistent AF, n = 6 postintervention). The LA in each dataset was segmented, and intra‐atrial blood flow velocity was quantified. Flow coherence was measured as the consistency of the net blood flow vector.Results:Quantification of atrial flow revealed significant differences in atrial hemodynamics between age groups. Postintervention AF patients had a mean blood flow of 0.22 ± 0.04 m/s, which was not significantly different than age‐matched volunteers (0.21 ± 0.03 m/s). Patients with persistent AF had a mean blood flow of 0.13 ± 0.01 m/s, lower than AF patients in sinus rhythm (0.22 ± 0.04 m/s, P = 0.005), or age‐matched volunteers (0.21 ± 0.03 m/s, P < 0.001). Flow coherence was significantly impaired in patients in AF.Conclusion:Flow‐sensitive MRI shows that patients with a history of AF had global hemodynamics in the LA similar to those of age‐matched volunteers. Additional studies with larger cohorts of AF patients and correlation with outcome are needed to further investigate the potential of atrial 4D flow MRI to flow patterns indicative of stroke risk in AF. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:580–587. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of 3‐point dixon imaging and fuzzy C‐means clustering methods for breast density measurement
Authors: Clendenen Tess V. , Zeleniuch‐Jacquotte Anne , Moy Linda , Pike Malcolm C. , Rusinek Henry , Kim Sungheon 
Published: January 2013

PurposeTo assess two methods of fat and fibroglandular tissue (FGT) segmentation for measuring breast MRI FGT volume and FGT%, the volume percentage of FGT in the breast, in longitudinal studies.Materials and MethodsNine premenopausal women provided one MRI per week for 4 weeks during a natural menstrual cycle for a total of 36 datasets. We compared a fuzzy c‐means (FC) and a 3‐point Dixon segmentation method for estimation of changes in FGT volume and FGT% across the menstrual cycle. We also assessed whether differences due to changes in positioning each week could be minimized by coregistration, i.e., the application of the breast boundary selected at one visit to images obtained at other visits.ResultsFC and Dixon FGT volume were highly correlated (r = 0.93, P < 0.001), as was FC and Dixon FGT% (r = 0.86, P = 0.01), although Dixon measurements were on average 10–20% higher. Although FGT measured by both methods showed the expected pattern of increase during the menstrual cycle, the magnitude, and for one woman the direction, of change varied according to the method used. Measurements of FGT for coregistered images were in close agreement with those for which the boundaries were determined independently.ConclusionThe method of segmentation of fat and FGT tissue may have an impact on the results of longitudinal studies of changes in breast MRI FGT. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:474–481. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An iterative ensemble square root filter and tests with simulated radar data for storm‐scale data assimilation
Authors: Wang Shizhang , Xue Ming , Schenkman Alexander D. , Min Jinzhong 
Published: January 2013

AbstractAn iterative procedure is designed to accelerate the ‘spin‐up’ of ensemble square‐root filter (EnSRF) data‐assimilation cycles when starting from a poor initial ensemble. Referred to as the iterative EnSRF (iEnSRF), this iterative procedure follows the ‘running in place’ (RIP) concept developed for the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF) but because of algorithm differences is implemented differently. The iEnSRF is a three‐step procedure: first, a backward EnSRF analysis is performed that updates the ensemble model states at an earlier time. Second, an ensemble of forecasts is run from these updated model states to the analysis time. These two steps are then repeated a prespecified number of times. The backward analysis is performed via an asynchronous ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), which is capable of assimilating observations collected at times different than the analysis time. Like RIP, the iEnSRF uses the same observations repeatedly during the initial assimilation cycles, allowing for the extraction of additional information from observations when estimated ensemble mean state and ensemble covariance are poor. The iEnSRF algorithm is tested using simulated radar data for an idealized supercell storm. In experiments with a perfect model and the correct storm environment, as well as in the presence of model and environmental errors, the iEnSRF reduces the analysis error in the first few cycles more quickly than the regular EnSRF, leading to improved subsequent short‐range forecasts. After the first few analysis cycles, continued use of iterations does not lead to further improvement. The better performance of the iEnSRF appears to be the result of improved background error covariance estimation as well as improved state estimation in the first few cycles, especially for correlations between observed and unobserved variables. Through iterations, the iEnSRF is also able to reach a steady level of state estimation error more quickly than the corresponding non‐iterated version.
Prenatal microarray analysis as second‐tier diagnostic test: single‐center prospective study
Authors: Schmid M. , Stary S. , Springer S. , Bettelheim D. , Husslein P. , Streubel B. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo evaluate the usefulness of chromosome microarrays as a second‐tier test in prenatal genetic testing.MethodsWe prospectively analyzed 75 high‐risk pregnancies undergoing invasive prenatal genetic testing in which the karyotype either was normal or had findings other than a common non‐mosaic autosomal aneuploidy.ResultsChromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) was performed successfully in all cases. Pathological copy‐number variations (CNVs) explaining the phenotypes were found in 11 cases (14.7%). Four cases were detected with an unbalanced translocation. In three of these cases, subsequent genetic analysis demonstrated that a parent was an unknown carrier of a balanced translocation. Among the 67 cases with normal karyo‐types, submicroscopic rearrangements with pathological significance were detected in five (7.5%) and CNVs of unclear significance were detected in one (1.5%). CMA was able to discriminate correctly between true mosaicism and confined or pseudomosaicism in all six mosaic cases.ConclusionCMA is a valuable second‐tier test in high‐risk pregnancies for which identification or further delineation of genetic aberrations is important. Its higher resolution results in a higher detection rate of aberrant cases, with a clear clinical benefit for estimation of risk of recurrence. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detecting Intervention Effects Using a Multilevel Latent Transition Analysis with a Mixture IRT Model
Authors: Cho Sun-Joo , Cohen Allan S. , Bottge Brian 
Published: January 2013

A multilevel latent transition analysis (LTA) with a mixture IRT measurement model (MixIRTM) is described for investigating the effectiveness of an intervention. The addition of a MixIRTM to the multilevel LTA permits consideration of both potential heterogeneity in students’ response to instructional intervention as well as a methodology for assessing stage sequential change over time at both student and teacher levels. Results from an LTA–MixIRTM and multilevel LTA–MixIRTM were compared in the context of an educational intervention study. Both models were able to describe homogeneities in problem solving and transition patterns. However, ignoring a multilevel structure in LTA–MixIRTM led to different results in group membership assignment in empirical results. Results for the multilevel LTA–MixIRTM indicated that there were distinct individual differences in the different transition patterns. The students receiving the intervention treatment outscored their business as usual (i.e., control group) counterparts on the curriculum-based Fractions Computation test. In addition, 27.4 % of the students in the sample moved from the low ability student-level latent class to the high ability student-level latent class. Students were characterized differently depending on the teacher-level latent class.
Alkyl Polyglucosides as Components of Water Based Lubricants
Authors: Sułek Marian Włodzimierz , Ogorzałek Marta , Wasilewski Tomasz , Klimaszewska Emilia 
Published: January 2013

AbstractWater can be used as an ecological lubricant base if it is possible to select additives which can beneficially modify its tribological and corrosion properties. Additionally, those additives should not be harmful to human health and the natural environment. These conditions limit or even eliminate the possibility for the application of the additives used in traditional oil bases as they are insoluble in water and often toxic. Alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) have been suggested as additives improving lubricating properties of water. They are biodegradable and do not have to be recycled. They exhibit surface activity. They produce micelles at low concentration and lyotropic liquid crystals at high concentration. Two types of alkyl polyglucosides differing in alkyl chain lengths and degrees of polymerization were used in this investigation. Tribological tests were carried out using a ball‐on‐disc T‐11 tester. The balls were made of steel, whereas the discs were made of steel, aluminium oxide, zirconium oxide, polyamide and poly(methyl methacrylate). The description of the device and the methods has been given in the literature (Szczerek and Tuszyński in TriboTest 8:273–284, 2002). The addition of APGs improves the lubricating properties of water. The relative decrease in motion resistance and wear depends both on the type of friction couple and on the kind of alkyl polyglucoside used. The tribological test results obtained were correlated with the activity of APGs measured as wettability of friction couples by their solutions.
Housing Tenure and Residential Segregation in Metropolitan America
Authors: Friedman Samantha , Tsao Hui-shien , Chen Cheng 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
Homeownership, a symbol of the American dream, is one of the primary ways through which families accumulate wealth, particularly for blacks and Hispanics. Surprisingly, no study has explicitly documented the segregation of minority owners and renters from whites. Using data from Census 2000, this study aims to fill this gap. Analyses here reveal that the segregation of black renters relative to whites is significantly lower than the segregation of black owners from whites, controlling for relevant socioeconomic and demographic factors, contrary to the notion that homeownership represents an endpoint in the residential assimilation process. The patterns for Hispanics and Asians conform more to expectations under the spatial assimilation model. The findings here suggest that race and ethnicity continue to be as important in shaping residential segregation as socioeconomic status, and raise concerns about the benefits of homeownership, particularly for blacks.
Differential effects of reduced protein diets on fatty acid composition and gene expression in muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue of Alentejana purebred and Large White × Landrace × Pietrain crossbred pigs
Authors: Madeira Marta S. , Pires Virgínia M. R. , Alfaia Cristina M. , Costa Ana S. H. , Luxton Richard , Doran Olena , Bessa Rui J. B. , Prates José A. M. 
Published: January 2013

The present study assessed the effect of pig genotype (fattyv.lean) and dietary protein and lysine (Lys) levels (normalv.reduced) on intramuscular fat (IMF) content, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) deposition, fatty acid composition and mRNA levels of genes controlling lipid metabolism. The experiment was conducted on sixty intact male pigs (thirty Alentejana purebred and thirty Large White × Landrace × Pietrain crossbred), from 60 to 93 kg of live weight. Animals were divided into three groups fed with the following diets: control diet equilibrated for Lys (17·5 % crude protein (CP) and 0·7 % Lys), reduced protein diet (RPD) equilibrated for Lys (13·2 % CP and 0·6 % Lys) and RPD not equilibrated for Lys (13·1 % CP and 0·4 % Lys). It was shown that the RPD increased fat deposition in the longissimus lumborum muscle in the lean but not in the fatty pig genotype. It is strongly suggested that the effect of RPD on the longissimus lumborum muscle of crossbred pigs is mediated via Lys restriction. The increase in IMF content under the RPD was accompanied by increased stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) andPPARGmRNA levels. RPD did not alter backfat thickness, but increased the total fatty acid content in both lean and fatty pig genotype. The higher amount of SAT in fatty pigs, when compared with the lean ones, was associated with the higher expression levels ofACACA,CEBPA,FASNandSCDgenes. Taken together, the data indicate that the mechanisms regulating fat deposition in pigs are genotype and tissue specific, and are associated with the expression regulation of the key lipogenic genes.
Margaret Tart, Lao She, and the Opium-Master's Wife: Race and Class among Chinese Commercial Immigrants in London and Australia, 1866–1929
Authors: Auerbach Sascha 
Published: January 2013

AbstractWhat little has been written about Chinese immigrants in the British Empire has focused mainly on laborers, commonly known as “coolies,” and their roles in imperial society, culture, and industry. Chinese commercial immigrants, though they loomed large in public dialogues about race, migration, and empire, have been virtually ignored. This article examines how such immigrants were represented, and how two prominent individuals represented themselves, in London and metropolitan Australia, respectively, during a high tide of British imperialism and Chinese global migration. By the 1920s, the ardent pro-British sentiment expressed by Mei Quong Tart, thede factorepresentative of the Chinese merchant class in Australia, had been superseded by the anti-colonial critique of Lao She, one of China's foremost modern novelists. Lao She's semi-autobiographical depiction of Chinese life in London condemned the violent and emasculating character of British imperialism, while also excoriating Chinese society's failure to modernize, cohere as a nation, and overcome internecine class conflicts. Both authors were concerned with social relations between Chinese men and white British women, as were British commentators throughout this period, and with differentiating themselves from laboring Chinese immigrants. Contrary to Stuart Hall's famous assertion that “race is the modality through which class is lived,” for these Chinese commercial immigrants class and gender proved to be more essential than were crude concepts of race to their experiences and self-identification, and ultimately to British society's rejection of their attempts to assimilate.
Trends in energy and nutrient supply in Trinidad and Tobago from 1961 to 2007 using FAO food balance sheets
Authors: Sheehy Tony , Sharma Sangita 
Published: January 2013

AbstractObjectiveTrinidad and Tobago has experienced an epidemiological transition over recent decades characterised by reduced rates of communicable diseases but rapidly increasing rates of obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases. The objective of the present study was to investigate the changes in energy and nutrient supply that have taken place in Trinidad and Tobago between 1961 and 2007.DesignFood balance sheets for each year between 1961 and 2007 were downloaded from the FAOSTAT database and daily per capita supply for seventeen food commodity groupings was calculated. After appropriate coding, energy and nutrient supply were determined using dietary analysis software.SettingFAO food balance sheets for Trinidad and Tobago from 1961 to 2007.SubjectsNone.ResultsThe food supply in 2007 provided an extra 1561 kJ (373 kcal)/capita per d than it did in 1961. Energy from carbohydrate as a percentage of total energy fell from 62 % in 1961 to 57 % in 2007, whereas energy from fat as a percentage of total energy increased from 26 % to over 30 % and now lies at the upper end of WHO recommendations. Sugars increased from 20 % to over 26 % of total energy and are well above WHO recommendations. When expressed on a nutrient density basis, supplies of vitamin A, folate and Ca are lower than WHO recommendations.ConclusionsNutritional imbalances in the Trinidadian food supply need to be addressed to combat the rise in nutrition-related chronic disease that is projected to cause increased disability and premature death in the country in the coming years.