bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Right across the tree of life: The evolution of left–right asymmetry in the Bilateria
Authors: Namigai Erica K.O. , Kenny Nathan J. , Shimeld Sebastian M. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractDirectional left/right (LR) asymmetries, in which there are consistent, heritable differences in morphology between the left and right sides of bilaterally symmetrical organisms, are found in animals across the Bilateria. For many years, we have lacked evidence for shared mechanisms underlying their development. This led to the supposition that the mechanisms driving establishment of LR asymmetries, and consequently the asymmetries themselves, had evolved separately in the three major Superphyla that constitute the Bilateria. The recent discovery that the transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐B) ligand Nodal plays a role in the regulation of LR asymmetry in both Deuterostomia and Lophotrochozoa has reignited debate in this field, as it suggests that at least this aspect of the development of the LR axis is conserved. In this review, we discuss evidence for shared mechanisms of LR asymmetry establishment across the bilaterian tree of life and consider how these mechanisms might have diverged across the Metazoa over the last 500 million years or so of evolution. As well as the likelihood that Nodal is an ancestral mechanism for regulating LR asymmetry, we reemphasize cytoskeletal architecture as a potential shared mechanism underlying symmetry breaking. However, convergent evolution remains a distinct possibility and study of a wider diversity of species will be needed to distinguish between conserved and lineage‐specific mechanisms. genesis 52:458–470, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increased Capacity of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2–Li[Li1/3Mn2/3]O2 Cathodes by MnOx‐surface Modification for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Wang Jun , He Xin , Kloepsch Richard , Wang Sihui , Hoffmann Bjoern , Jeong Sangsik , Yang Yong , Li Jie 
Published: February 2014

AbstractMnOx‐surface‐modified Li1.2Ni0.4/3Co0.4/3Mn1.6/3O2 cathode materials have been prepared by solid‐state reaction with varying post‐annealing temperatures. The MnOx coating layers are homogeneous and crystalline with a thickness of 10 nm. Below a current rate of 0.1 C and in the voltage range of 2.0–4.8 V, the MnOx‐modified material, which has been post‐annealed at 300 °C, shows high discharge capacities of 308, 320, and 363 mAh g−1 at 20, 40, and 60 °C, respectively. Meanwhile, this sample shows good rate capability that can deliver discharge capacities of 278 and 178 mAh g−1, respectively, at 1 C and 10 C, both tested at 20 °C. However, the modified sample displays more serious capacity degradation compared to the pristine sample. The significantly higher extent of the transition metal dissolution from the modified sample is proved by compositional analysis. Cycling performance could be improved by replacing the conventional electrolyte with an ionic‐liquid‐based electrolyte.
Technical Aspects of Ethyl Tert‐Butyl Ether (ETBE) for Large‐Scale Use as Gasoline Improver
Authors: Bardin M. E. , El‐Dein Hussin A. M. T. A. , Gushchin P. A. , Vinokurov V. A. , Burluka A. A. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractEthyl tert‐butyl ether (ETBE) is a promising gasoline improver and this study shows its comparison with other prospective oxygenated fuel additives. ETBE synthesis and its economics are reviewed with emphasis on sustainable production. Furthermore, an experimental investigation is performed on the impact of employing relatively large proportions of ETBE in fuel blends and a particular emphasis is put on the magnitude of cyclic variations at different operating conditions. Tests involved a primary reference fuel (95PRF and two mixtures of ethyl tert‐butyl ether (ETBE) with 95PRF. To provide a baseline for comparison, a commercial gasoline fuel containing 5 % by volume of ethanol (E05) was also tested. The experiments were performed by using a well‐controlled single‐cylinder research engine, which has a disc‐shaped combustion chamber with a full‐bore overhead optical access. The pressure recording method was used simultaneously with natural‐light video photography for recording the flame propagation. To quantify the cyclic variations, the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP), the peak pressure and the crank value at which it is attained, and the time for 90 % mass fraction burnt (MFB) were used. Increasing proportion of ETBE in the fuel has very little effect on both the average rate of combustion and its cyclic variability, regardless of what parameter is chosen to characterize the it.
Nitrogen‐Containing Polycyclic Quinones as Cathode Materials for Lithium‐ion Batteries with Increased Voltage
Authors: Shimizu Akihiro , Tsujii Yutaka , Kuramoto Hiroki , Nokami Toshiki , Inatomi Yuu , Hojo Nobuhiko , Yoshida Jun‐ichi 
Published: February 2014

AbstractAlthough organic cathode materials have received significant research interest as cathode materials of lithium‐ion batteries because of sustainability and flexibility, they suffer from lower voltages compared to inorganic materials. To increase the voltage of batteries using organic cathode materials without decreasing the capacity, we studied the effect of the replacement of the CH moieties β to the carbonyl group of quinones with nitrogen atoms. The coordination of N to Li in the reduced forms and the greater electronegativity of N compared to C make reduction energetically more favorable. The lithium batteries based on the nitrogen analogues of quinones as cathode materials exhibited voltages higher than 3.0 V (the first stage).
Scaling of Recovery by Cocurrent Spontaneous Imbibition in Fractured Petroleum Reservoirs
Authors: Mirzaei‐Paiaman Abouzar , Masihi Mohsen 
Published: February 2014

AbstractCocurrent spontaneous imbibition (COCSI) of an aqueous phase into matrix blocks arising from capillary forces is an important mechanism for petroleum recovery from fractured petroleum reservoirs. In this work, the analytical solution to the COCSI is used to develop the appropriate scaling equations. In particular, the backflow production of the nonwetting phase at the inlet face is considered. The resulting scaling equations incorporate all factors that influence the process and are found in terms of the Darcy number (Da) and capillary number, (Ca). The proposed scaling equations are validated against the published experimental data from the literature.
Performance enhancement of respiratory tumor motion prediction using adaptive support vector regression: Comparison with adaptive neural network method
Authors: Choi SeungWook , Chang Yongjun , Kim Namkug , Park Sung Ho , Song Si Yeol , Kang Heung Sik 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTThe breathing motion moves internal organs and targeted regions determined by radiation therapy planning. For the radiation therapy, accurate prediction for breathing motion is of great interest as the outer targeted region treatment could endanger sensitive tissue. In this study, the use of a prediction algorithm with adaptive support vector regression (aSVR) was proposed and compared with the adaptive neural network (ANN) algorithm considering the prediction accuracy and training and predicting time. Respiration data from 87 patients treated by radiation therapy, were acquired with an optical marker at 30 Hz. Five types of prediction filters with the ANN or aSVR filters, were implemented and their performance was compared according to the size of the sliding window (2.5 and 5.0 sec), and the prediction latencies (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 msec). Training and testing of the prediction algorithms with aSVR and ANN were performed. The root mean square error (RMSE) was used as the accuracy metric. The aSVR with an RBF kernel outperformed other prediction filters, including not only various types of ANN filters but also the aSVR with a linear kernel. A sliding window of 2.5 sec significantly and independently enhanced the overall accuracy. Otherwise, the training and prediction testing times were significantly prolonged in case of aSVR with an RBF kernel. The aSVR filter with the RBF kernel is in all cases superior to other filters regarding its accuracy; it also shows clinically applicable results from the viewpoint of training and predicting time, which may be effective for predicting patient breathing motion and thus enhancing the efficacy of radiation therapy.
Reversal effect of low‐intensity ultrasound on adriamycin‐resistant human hepatoma cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Xia Wenfei , Ma Xiaopeng , Li Xingrui , Lu Chao , Yang Xiaowei , Zhu Zhi , Yi Jilin 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to determine whether the ultrasound, with a dosage that did not lead to acute and delayed inhibition, could potentiate the cytotoxicity of adriamycin to human hepatoma resistant cell line HepG2 both in vitro and in vivo. In order to determine whether low‐intensity ultrasound could reverse resistance in adriamycin‐resistant human hepatoma cell line HepG2/ADM in vitro, cells were subjected to a variable level of ultrasound. The results showed that survival rates were decreased in groups in which ultrasound and adriamycin were exerted. The same effect of low‐intensity ultrasound was also observed in the xenograft tumor experiment. Furthermore, transmission electron microscope revealed the cavitation effects play the determining role in accelerating transmembrane transportation, suggesting that low‐intensity ultrasound altered the cell membrane thus resulting in change in adriamycin uptake into HepG2/ADM cells. Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms showed that the reversal effect of low‐intensity ultrasound on adriamycin‐resistant human hepatoma cells was attributed to the downregulation of the multidrug resistant genes, MDR1 and MRP1, in both mRNA and protein expression. In addition, downregulation of MDR1 and MRP1 was detected in HepG2/ADM xenograft tumor treated with adriamycin and ultrasound. These observations suggest the use of ultrasound could increase cytotoxicity attributable to adriamycin in chemoresistant human hepatoma cancer cells. Ultrasound is a promising therapeutic modality for refractory hepatoma patients.
A variational level set segmentation formulation based on signal model for images in the presence of intensity inhomogeneity
Authors: Yang Hongzhe , Zhao Lihui , Tang Songyuan , Wang Yongtian 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTBiological images with significant intensity inhomogeneity are considerably difficult for the tissue segmentation. To overcome the difficulties caused by the intensity inhomogeneity, this study presents a variational level set method to simultaneous bias field estimation and tissue segmentation for images in the presence of intensity inhomogeneity. An energy function is defined in terms of two data fitting terms which incorporate the local clustering properties into the global region information. First, depended on the observed image mode, the local cluster property based on the observed signal is simplified to a criterion function which is similar to the Mumford‐Shah model. The local criterion energy is then integrated with a global region measure, which is based on intensity difference of the true signal. The energy is minimized in a variational level set formulation with a regularity term, thus avoiding the expensive computation of the level set reinitialization and keeping the curve close to the signal distance function. Experiment results on biological images show desirable performance and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Robust brain MRI denoising and segmentation using enhanced non‐local means algorithm
Authors: Aksam Iftikhar Muhammad , Jalil Abdul , Rathore Saima , Hussain Mutawarra 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTImage denoising is an integral component of many practical medical systems. Non‐local means (NLM) is an effective method for image denoising which exploits the inherent structural redundancy present in images. Improved adaptive non‐local means (IANLM) is an improved variant of classical NLM based on a robust threshold criterion. In this paper, we have proposed an enhanced non‐local means (ENLM) algorithm, for application to brain MRI, by introducing several extensions to the IANLM algorithm. First, a Rician bias correction method is applied for adapting the IANLM algorithm to Rician noise in MR images. Second, a selective median filtering procedure based on fuzzy c‐means algorithm is proposed as a postprocessing step, in order to further improve the quality of IANLM‐filtered image. Third, different parameters of the proposed ENLM algorithm are optimized for application to brain MR images. Different variants of the proposed algorithm have been presented in order to investigate the influence of the proposed modifications. The proposed variants have been validated on both T1‐weighted (T1‐w) and T2‐weighted (T2‐w) simulated and real brain MRI. Compared with other denoising methods, superior quantitative and qualitative denoising results have been obtained for the proposed algorithm. Additionally, the proposed algorithm has been applied to T2‐weighted brain MRI with multiple sclerosis lesion to show its superior capability of preserving pathologically significant information. Finally, impact of the proposed algorithm has been tested on segmentation of brain MRI. Quantitative and qualitative segmentation results verify that the proposed algorithm based segmentation is better compared with segmentation produced by other contemporary techniques.
Vagus nerve modulation using focused pulsed ultrasound: Potential applications and preliminary observations in a rat
Authors: Juan Eduardo J. , González Rafael , Albors Gabriel , Ward Matthew P. , Irazoqui Pedro 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTThe use of focused ultrasonic waves to modulate neural structures has gained recent interest due to its potential in treating neurological disorders noninvasively. While several articles have focused on the use of ultrasound neuromodulation on peripheral nerves, none of these studies have been performed on the vagus nerve. We present preliminary observations on the effects of focused pulsed ultrasound (FPUS) on the conduction of the left cervical vagus nerve of a Long Evans rat. Ultrasound energy was applied at a frequency of 1.1 MHz, and at spatial‐peak, temporal average intensities that ranged from 13.6 to 93.4 W/cm2. Vagus nerve inhibition was observed in most cases. Results of this preliminary study suggested that there is a proportional relationship between acoustic intensity and the level of nerve inhibition.
Rapid method for assessing relative tissue stiffness using MR acoustic radiation force imaging
Authors: Hertzberg Yoni , Hugeri Mali , Navon Gil , Azhari Haim 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTAcoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI) has been suggested as a tool for remote palpation. In this study an MR‐ARFI sequence, based on echo‐planar‐imaging, is introduced, for remote semi‐quantitative assessment of local tissue stiffness. The focal zone of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is positioned at the region of interest and a single HIFU burst is transmitted. The method then measures the entire time integral of the resulting displacement at the focal zone. Combining this measurement with the Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic tissue model, a local stiffness index is obtained. The method was implemented on gel phantoms, ex‐vivo bovine brain and chicken liver specimens. The results have demonstrated the ability to evaluate the relative local stiffness within 600 ms and to distinguish between different tissues on the basis of their stiffness index. The method may potentially be used for remote palpation of suspicious regions for diagnostic purposes, or for providing a mechanical feedback during therapeutic procedures, such as thermal ablation.
Intralesional therapy with PV‐10 (Rose Bengal) for in‐transit melanoma
Authors: Ross Merrick I. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractRose Bengal is a novel injectable agent that has been evaluated as a rational treatment strategy for melanoma patients with recurrent unresectable local/regional metastases accessible for intralesional injection. PV‐10 (10% Rose Bengal) has completed phase 1 and phase 2 multi‐center clinical trials demonstrating significant local/regional disease control and also responses in non‐injected regional bystander lesions and distant metastases. The published results of studies that have assessed PV‐10 are presented, and the rationale for combining its use with recently approved immunotherapeutic agents is discussed. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:314–319. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intraoperative radiation therapy for locally advanced primary and recurrent colorectal cancer: Ten‐year institutional experience
Authors: Hyngstrom John R. , Tzeng Ching‐Wei D. , Beddar Sam , Das Prajnan , Krishnan Sunil , Delclos Marc E. , Crane Christopher H. , Chang George J. , You Y. Nancy , Feig Barry W. , Skibber John M. , Rodriguez‐Bigas Miguel A. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTBackgroundWe evaluated the role of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) during radical resection of locally advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated all patients with CRC treated with IORT at our institution from 2001 to 2010. IORT was delivered using high‐dose‐rate brachytherapy (median 12.5‐Gy). We analyzed factors associated with postoperative morbidity, local control (LC), and overall survival (OS).ResultsOne hundred patients were evaluated with 70% received IORT for recurrent tumors. R0 resection rate was 58%. Postoperative Grade ≥3 complications (33%) were independently associated with transfusions ≥3 units packed red blood cells (P = 0.016) and body mass index (BMI) ≥35 (P = 0.0499). Eighty‐two patients underwent external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) before IORT. Five‐year LC was 94%, for primary and 56%, for recurrent tumors, respectively (P = 0.007). Microscopic positive (R1) margins were not associated with LC (P = 0.316). BMI ≥30 (P = 0.048) and post‐discharge complications (P = 0.041) were independent risk factors for worse LC. Median post‐IORT OS was 67.7 (95% CI 51.1–84.3) months for all patients.ConclusionFor patients with primary or recurrent locally advanced CRC, treatment with radical surgery and IORT achieved excellent LC outcomes irrespective of microscopic margin status. IORT may be indicated for tumors suspected to have close or positive microscopic margins. J. Surg. Oncol 2014; 109:652–658. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simulation Study of the Impact of Permanent Groundcover on Soil and Water Changes in Jujube Orchards on Sloping Ground
Authors: Huang Jun , Wang Juan , Zhao Xining , Li Hongbin , Jing Zilong , Gao Xiaodong , Chen Xiaoli , Wu Pute 
Published: February 2014

AbstractLand degradation is recognized as a major environmental problem in rainfed fruit orchards on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Six treatments were used to investigate surface runoff and soil moisture by means of simulated rainfall experiments: (i) a control (clean cultivation) (CC); (ii) strip cock's foot (Dactylis glomerata L.) cover (SCF); (iii) strip crown vetch (Coronilla varia L.) cover (SCV); (iv) strip bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) cover (SBF); (v) strip white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cover (SWC); and (vi) complete white clover cover (WCC). The time to runoff was significantly longer under WCC than under other treatments (p < 0·05). The total runoff volume and sediment yield were significantly greater under CC than under the vegetation cover treatments (p < 0·05). The mean infiltration rate under WCC and CC was the largest and lowest and differed significantly from that under other treatments (p < 0·05). The change of soil water storage was the largest under WCC and the least under CC. The soil moisture was significantly greater under SCF than under other treatments (p < 0·05). Treatment SCF seemed to be the best groundcover for rainfed sloping jujube orchards on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vector connectivity in graphs
Authors: Boros Endre , Heggernes Pinar , van 't Hof Pim , Milanič Martin 
Published: February 2014

AbstractMotivated by challenges related to domination, connectivity, and information propagation in social and other networks, we initiate the study of the VECTOR CONNECTIVITY problem. This problem takes as input a graph G and an integer kv for every vertex v of G, and the objective is to find a vertex subset S of minimum cardinality such that every vertex v either belongs to S, or is connected to at least kv vertices of S by disjoint paths. If we require each path to be of length exactly 1, we get the well‐known VECTOR DOMINATION problem, which is a generalization of the famous DOMINATING SET problem and several of its variants. Consequently, our problem becomes NP‐hard if an upper bound on the length of the disjoint paths is also supplied as input. Due to the hardness of these domination variants even on restricted graph classes, like split graphs, VECTOR CONNECTIVITY seems to be a natural problem to study for drawing the boundaries of tractability for this type of problems. We show that VECTOR CONNECTIVITY can actually be solved in polynomial time on split graphs, in addition to cographs and trees. We also show that the problem can be approximated in polynomial time within a factor of on all n‐vertex graphs.Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 63(4), 277–285 2014
ADMET reactions in miniemulsion
Authors: Cardoso Priscilla B. , Musyanovych Anna , Landfester Katharina , Sayer Claudia , de Araújo Pedro H. H. , Meier Michael A. R. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTThis work investigates acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization reactions in aqueous miniemulsion. Different types of ruthenium‐based catalysts and different surfactants (anionic, cationic, and nonionic) were evaluated. A Ru‐indenylidene catalyst (Umicore M2) showed higher activity in water if compared to the Ru‐benzylidene catalysts (Hoveyda Grubbs second generation and Grubbs first generation). Moreover, the catalyst activity was affected by the type of the surfactant. In summary, the Umicore M2 catalyst and the nonionic poly(ethylene oxide) based surfactant Lutensol AT80 were found to be the most suitable combination for ADMET reactions in miniemulsion allowing the preparation of polymers with number average molecular weight (Mn) of up to 15 kDa. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 1300–1305