bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Examination strategies of experienced and novice clinicians viewing the retina
Authors: Stainer Matthew J. , Anderson Andrew J. , Denniss Jonathan 
Published: May 2015

AbstractPurposeExpertise in viewing medical images is thought to be due to the ability to process holistic image information. Eye care clinicians can inspect photographs of the retina to search for signs of disease. However, they commonly also view the eye in vivo using the restricted view of a slit lamp, which removes the potential benefits of holistic processing. We investigated how expert and novice clinicians inspect the fundus using these two methods.MethodsTwenty clinicians (10 experienced, 10 novices) examined 64 photographs of human retinae. Each participant viewed half of the images as fundus photographs while having their eye position recorded. The other half were viewed via a simple slit lamp simulation, whereby a computer mouse was used to control the position of a viewing window that revealed the underlying fundus photograph.ResultsExperienced clinicians made decisions significantly faster than novices, with faster decision‐making when viewing the fundus photograph compared to via the slit lamp simulation. The distribution of inspection was similar, although novices spent longer examining the optic nerve head than other regions. Experienced clinicians showed significantly earlier inspection of the optic nerve head when it was judged to be unhealthy.ConclusionsOur results support the idea that experienced eyecare clinicians use holistic image information, if available, when inspecting the fundus. This was particularly prominent for the optic nerve head region, which was the region that novices spent most of their time examining. Holistic processing benefits were only present in experts’ free‐viewing fundus photographs; the limited field of view from the slit lamp disrupts such global image benefits.
13CO2/12CO2 exchange fluxes in a clamp‐on leaf cuvette: disentangling artefacts and flux components
Authors: Gong Xiao Ying , Schäufele Rudi , Feneis Wolfgang , Schnyder Hans 
Published: May 2015

AbstractLeaks and isotopic disequilibria represent potential errors and artefacts during combined measurements of gas exchange and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ). This paper presents new protocols to quantify, minimize, and correct such phenomena. We performed experiments with gradients of CO2 concentration (up to ±250 μmol mol−1) and δ13CCO2 (34‰), between a clamp‐on leaf cuvette (LI‐6400) and surrounding air, to assess (1) leak coefficients for CO2, 12CO2, and 13CO2 with the empty cuvette and with intact leaves of Holcus lanatus (C3) or Sorghum bicolor (C4) in the cuvette; and (2) isotopic disequilibria between net photosynthesis and dark respiration in light. Leak coefficients were virtually identical for 12CO2 and 13CO2, but ∼8 times higher with leaves in the cuvette. Leaks generated errors on Δ up to 6‰ for H. lanatus and 2‰ for S. bicolor in full light; isotopic disequilibria produced similar variation of Δ. Leak errors in Δ in darkness were much larger due to small biological : leak flux ratios. Leak artefacts were fully corrected with leak coefficients determined on the same leaves as Δ measurements. Analysis of isotopic disequilibria enabled partitioning of net photosynthesis and dark respiration, and indicated inhibitions of dark respiration in full light (H. lanatus: 14%, S. bicolor: 58%).
Bed Sharing, SIDS Research, and the Concept of Confounding: A Review for Public Health Nurses
Authors: Keys Elizabeth M. , Rankin James A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractConfounding is an important concept for public health nurses (PHNs) to understand when considering the results of epidemiological research. The term confounding is derived from Latin, confundere, which means to “mix‐up” or “mix together”. Epidemiologists attempt to derive a cause and effect relationship between two variables traditionally known as the exposure and disease (e.g., smoking and lung cancer). Confounding occurs when a third factor, known as a confounder, leads to an over‐ or underestimate of the magnitude of the association between the exposure and disease. An understanding of confounding will facilitate critical appraisal of epidemiological research findings. This knowledge will enable PHNs to strengthen their evidence‐based practice and better prepare them for policy development and implementation. In recent years, researchers and clinicians have examined the relationship between bed sharing and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The discussion regarding the risk of bed sharing and SIDS provides ample opportunity to discuss the various aspects of confounding. The purpose of this article is to use the bed sharing and SIDS literature to assist PHNs to understand confounding and to apply this knowledge when appraising epidemiological research. In addition, strategies that are used to control confounding are discussed.
Quantitative trait loci associated with constitutive traits control water use in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]
Authors: Aparna K. , Nepolean T. , Srivastsava R. K. , Kholová J. , Rajaram V. , Kumar S. , Rekha B. , Senthilvel S. , Hash C.T. , Vadez V. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThere is substantial genetic variation for drought adaption in pearl millet in terms of traits controlling plant water use. It is important to understand genomic regions responsible for these traits. Here, F7 recombinant inbred lines were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) and allelic interactions for traits affecting plant water use, and their relevance is discussed for crop productivity in water‐limited environments. Four QTL contributed to increased transpiration rate under high vapour pressure deficit (VPD) conditions, all with alleles from drought‐sensitive parent ICMB 841. Of these four QTL, a major QTL (35.7%) was mapped on linkage group (LG) 6. The alleles for 863B at this QTL decreased transpiration rate and this QTL co‐mapped to a previously detected LG 6 QTL, with alleles from 863B for grain weight and panicle harvest index across severe terminal drought stress environments. This provided additional support for a link between water saving from a lower transpiration rate under high VPD and drought tolerance. 863B alleles in this same genomic region also increased shoot weight, leaf area and total transpiration under well‐watered conditions. One unexpected outcome was reduced transpiration under high VPD (15%) from the interaction of two alleles for high VPD transpiration (LG 6 (B), 40.7) and specific leaf mass and biomass (LG 7 (A), 35.3), (A, allele from ICMB 841, B, allele from 863B, marker position). The LG 6 QTL appears to combine alleles for growth potential, beneficial for non‐stress conditions, and for saving water under high evaporative demand, beneficial under stressful conditions. Mapping QTL for water‐use traits, and assessing their interactions offers considerable potential for improving pearl millet adaptation to specific stress conditions through physiology‐informed marker‐assisted selection.
Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies associated with the crucifer white leaf spot pathogen, Pseudocercosporella capsellae, in Western Australia
Authors: Gunasinghe N. , You M. P. , Barbetti M. J. 
Published: May 2015

Pseudocercosporella capsellae (white leaf spot disease) is an important disease on crucifers. Fifty‐four single‐conidial isolates collected from Brassica juncea (Indian mustard), B. napus (oilseed rape), B. rapa (turnip), and Raphanus raphanistrum (wild radish) across Western Australia were investigated for differences in pathogenicity and virulence using cotyledon screening tests, genetic differences using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, and growth rates on potato dextrose, V8 juice and malt extract agars. All isolates from the four crucifer hosts were pathogenic on the three test species: B. juncea, B. napus and R. raphanistrum, but showed differences in levels of virulence. Overall, isolates from B. juncea, B. napus and B. rapa showed greatest virulence on B. juncea, least on R. raphanistrum and intermediate virulence on B. napus. Isolates from R. raphanistrum showed greatest virulence on B. juncea, least on B. napus and intermediate virulence on R. raphanistrum. Growth and production of a purple‐pink pigment indicative of cercosporin was greatest on malt extract agar and cercosporin production on V8 juice agar was positively correlated with virulence of isolates on B. juncea and B. napus. ITS sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates collected from B. napus, B. juncea and B. rapa, in general and with few exceptions, had a high degree of genetic similarity. In contrast, isolates from R. raphanistrum were clearly differentiated from isolate groups collected from Brassica hosts. Pseudocercosporella capsellae reference isolates from other countries generally grouped into a single separate cluster, highlighting the genetic distinctiveness of Western Australian isolates.
God and Marriage: The Impact of Religious Identity Priming on Attitudes Toward Same‐Sex Marriage*
Authors: Harrison Brian F. , Michelson Melissa R. 
Published: May 2015

ObjectiveWe hypothesize that priming a shared in‐group identity can lead to openness to attitudinal change, even on highly polarized issues. Specifically, we test whether priming a shared identity as a religious person can generate willingness to voice support for same‐sex marriage.MethodsWe conduct a randomized survey experiment using the SocialSci platform, exposing religious and secular respondents to religious and anonymous primes about same‐sex marriage.ResultsIndividuals who are religious and who are exposed to the treatment prime are more likely to say that they support marriage equality and would vote for a ballot initiative in their state that would allow same‐sex marriage.ConclusionDespite widespread opposition to marriage equality among people of faith, having that religious identity primed through an elite religious cue has a significant and often dramatic effect on attitudes toward marriage equality.
Accelerated statistical reconstruction for C‐arm cone‐beam CT using Nesterov's method
Authors: Wang Adam S. , Stayman J. Webster , Otake Yoshito , Vogt Sebastian , Kleinszig Gerhard , Siewerdsen Jeffrey H. 
Published: May 2015

Purpose:To accelerate model‐based iterative reconstruction (IR) methods for C‐arm cone‐beam CT (CBCT), thereby combining the benefits of improved image quality and/or reduced radiation dose with reconstruction times on the order of minutes rather than hours.Methods:The ordered‐subsets, separable quadratic surrogates (OS‐SQS) algorithm for solving the penalized‐likelihood (PL) objective was modified to include Nesterov's method, which utilizes “momentum” from image updates of previous iterations to better inform the current iteration and provide significantly faster convergence. Reconstruction performance of an anthropomorphic head phantom was assessed on a benchtop CBCT system, followed by CBCT on a mobile C‐arm, which provided typical levels of incomplete data, including lateral truncation. Additionally, a cadaveric torso that presented realistic soft‐tissue and bony anatomy was imaged on the C‐arm, and different projectors were assessed for reconstruction speed.Results:Nesterov's method provided equivalent image quality to OS‐SQS while reducing the reconstruction time by an order of magnitude (10.0 ×) by reducing the number of iterations required for convergence. The faster projectors were shown to produce similar levels of convergence as more accurate projectors and reduced the reconstruction time by another 5.3 ×. Despite the slower convergence of IR with truncated C‐arm CBCT, comparison of PL reconstruction methods implemented on graphics processing units showed that reconstruction time was reduced from 106 min for the conventional OS‐SQS method to as little as 2.0 min with Nesterov's method for a volumetric reconstruction of the head. In body imaging, reconstruction of the larger cadaveric torso was reduced from 159 min down to 3.3 min with Nesterov's method.Conclusions:The acceleration achieved through Nesterov's method combined with ordered subsets reduced IR times down to a few minutes. This improved compatibility with clinical workflow better enables broader adoption of IR in CBCT‐guided procedures, with corresponding benefits in overcoming conventional limits of image quality at lower dose.
A new redundancy weighting scheme for nonstationary data for computed tomography
Authors: Taguchi Katsuyuki , Cammin Jochen 
Published: May 2015

Purpose:The same projection data (or line integrals) are often measured multiple times, e.g., twice from opposite directions during one gantry rotation. The redundant data must be normalized by applying redundancy weighting such as the halfscan algorithm, which assumes that the noise of the data is uniform. This assumption, however, is not correct when a tube current modulation technique is employed. The variance of line integrals, which is inversely related to the tube current, could vary significantly. The purpose of this work is to improve how the projection data are used during analytical reconstruction when the tube current is modulated during the scan.Methods:The authors developed a new redundancy weighting scheme. It not only takes into account the data statistics but also can control how much to weigh the statistics from 100% (αs = 1.0) to 0% (αs = 0.0) by a parameter αs. The proposed weighting scheme reduces to the conventional redundancy weighting scheme when αs = 0.0. The authors evaluated the performance of the proposed scheme using computer simulations targeting at myocardial perfusion CT imaging. The image quality was evaluated in terms of the image noise and halfscan artifacts, and perfusion defect detection performance was evaluated by the positive predictive value (PPV) and the area‐under‐the‐receiver operating characteristic‐curve (AUC) value.Results:Results showed a tradeoff between the image noise and halfscan artifacts. The normalized noise standard deviation was 1.00 with halfscan, 0.89 with αs = 1.0, 0.97 with αs = 0.5, and 1.20 with αs = 0.0 when projections over one rotation (75% of projections are acquired with full dose, 25% with 1/10 of the full dose) are used. The halfscan artifacts were 13.4 Hounsfield unit (HU) with halfscan, 8.2 HU with αs = 1.0, 4.5 HU with αs = 0.5, and 3.1 HU with αs = 0.0. Both the PPVs and AUCs were improved from the halfscan method: PPV, 69.0%–70.6% vs 58.0%, P < 0.003; AUC, 0.935–0.938 vs 0.908, P < 0.003.Conclusions:The new redundancy weight allows for decreasing the image noise and controlling the tradeoff between the image noise and artifacts.
Sequential Combination Therapy with Pegylated Interferon Leads to Loss of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatitis B e Antigen (HBeAg) Seroconversion in HBeAg-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Receiving Long-Term Entecavir Treatment
Authors: Li Guo-Jun , Yu Yi-Qi , Chen Shao-Long , Fan Ping , Shao Ling-Yun , Chen Jia-Zhen , Li Chang-Shui , Yi Bin , Chen Wei-Cun , Xie Shu-Yuan , Mao Xiao-Na , Zou He-Hui , Zhang Wen-Hong 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Nucleos(t)ide analogues rarely result in a durable off-treatment response in chronic hepatitis B infection, whereas pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) induces a long-lasting response only in a subset of patients. We assessed the effect of sequential combination therapy with Peg-IFN-α2a and entecavir in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with prior long-term entecavir therapy and investigated the predictors of response to treatment. HBeAg-positive individuals who did not achieve HBeAg seroconversion during previous long-term entecavir therapy, receiving Peg-IFN-α2a added to ongoing entecavir therapy (sequential combination [S-C] therapy;
n
= 81) for 48 weeks or remaining on entecavir monotherapy (
n
= 116), were retrospectively included. A matched pair was created at a 1:1 ratio from each treatment group. The primary endpoint was HBeAg seroconversion at week 48. Subgroup analysis of response prediction was conducted for 81 patients with S-C therapy. More patients in the S-C therapy group achieved HBeAg seroconversion than those in the entecavir group (44% versus 6%;
P
< 0.0001). An HBeAg level of <200 signal-to-cutoff ratio (S/CO) at baseline was a strong predictor for higher HBeAg seroconversion than that achieved when HBeAg was ≥200 S/CO (64.2% versus 17.9%;
P
< 0.0001). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels at baseline and the decrease in HBsAg levels predicted HBsAg loss in the S-C therapy group. The combination of baseline HBeAg of <200 S/CO and HBsAg of <1,000 IU/ml and an HBsAg decline at week 12 of ≥0.5 log
10
IU/ml provided the highest rate of HBeAg seroconversion (92.31%) and HBsAg loss (83.3%) at week 48. Patients receiving sequential combination therapy have a higher rate of HBeAg seroconversion and are more likely to experience HBsAg clearance than do those continuing entecavir monotherapy. Sequential combination therapy can be guided by baseline HBsAg/HBeAg levels and on-treatment HBsAg dynamics.
Metronidazole- and Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Isolated in Rochester, Minnesota, in 2014
Authors: Sadarangani Sapna P. , Cunningham Scott A. , Jeraldo Patricio R. , Wilson John W. , Khare Reeti , Patel Robin 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Emerging antimicrobial resistance in members of the
Bacteroides fragilis
group is a concern in clinical medicine. Although metronidazole and carbapenem resistance have been reported in
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
, a member of the
B. fragilis
group, they have not, to the best of our knowledge, been reported together in the same
B. thetaiotaomicron
isolate. Herein, we report isolation of piperacillin-tazobactam-, metronidazole-, clindamycin-, ertapenem-, and meropenem-resistant
B. thetaiotaomicron
from a patient with postoperative intra-abdominal abscess and empyema. Whole-genome sequencing demonstrated the presence of
nimD
with at least a portion of IS
1169
upstream, a second putative
nim
gene, two β-lactamase genes (one of which has not been previously reported), two
tetX
genes,
tetQ
,
ermF
, two
cat
genes, and a number of efflux pumps. This report highlights emerging antimicrobial resistance in
B. thetaiotaomicron
and the importance of identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of selected anaerobic bacteria.
Aggressive Emerging Pathovars of Xanthomonas arboricola Represent Widespread Epidemic Clones Distinct from Poorly Pathogenic Strains, as Revealed by Multilocus Sequence Typing
Authors: Fischer-Le Saux Marion , Bonneau Sophie , Essakhi Salwa , Manceau Charles , Jacques Marie-Agnès 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Deep and comprehensive knowledge of the genetic structure of pathogenic species is the cornerstone on which the design of precise molecular diagnostic tools is built.
Xanthomonas arboricola
is divided into pathovars, some of which are classified as quarantine organisms in many countries and are responsible for diseases on nut and stone fruit trees that have emerged worldwide. Recent taxonomic studies of the genus
Xanthomonas
showed that strains isolated from other hosts should be classified in
X. arboricola
, extending the host range of the species. To investigate the genetic structure of
X. arboricola
and the genetic relationships between highly pathogenic strains and strains apparently not relevant to plant health, we conducted multilocus sequence analyses on a collection of strains representative of the known diversity of the species. Most of the pathovars were clustered in separate monophyletic groups. The pathovars pruni, corylina, and juglandis, responsible for pandemics in specific hosts, were highly phylogenetically related and clustered in three distinct clonal complexes. In contrast, strains with no or uncertain pathogenicity were represented by numerous unrelated singletons scattered in the phylogenic tree. Depending on the pathovar, intra- and interspecies recombination played contrasting roles in generating nucleotide polymorphism. This work provides a population genetics framework for molecular epidemiological surveys of emerging plant pathogens within
X. arboricola
. Based on our results, we propose to reclassify three former pathovars of
Xanthomonas campestris
as
X. arboricola
pv. arracaciae comb. nov.,
X. arboricola
pv. guizotiae comb. nov., and
X. arboricola
pv. zantedeschiae comb. nov. An emended description of
X. arboricola
Vauterin et al. 1995 is provided.
Soil Conditions That Can Alter Natural Suppression of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Ohio Specialty Crop Soils
Authors: Williams Michele L. , LeJeune Jeffrey T. , McSpadden Gardener Brian 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Food-borne pathogen persistence in soil fundamentally affects the production of safe vegetables and small fruits. Interventions that reduce pathogen survival in soil would have positive impacts on food safety by minimizing preharvest contamination entering the food chain. Laboratory-controlled studies determined the effects of soil pH, moisture content, and soil organic matter (SOM) on the survivability of this pathogen through the creation of single-parameter gradients. Longitudinal field-based studies were conducted in Ohio to quantify the extent to which field soils suppressed
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 survival. In all experiments, heat-sensitive microorganisms were responsible for the suppression of
E. coli
O157 in soil regardless of the chemical composition of the soil. In laboratory-based studies, soil pH and moisture content were primary drivers of
E. coli
O157 survival, with increases in pH after 48 h (
P
= 0.02) and decreases in moisture content after 48 h (
P
= 0.007) significantly increasing the log reduction of
E. coli
O157 numbers. In field-based experiments,
E. coli
O157 counts from both heated and unheated samples were sensitive to both season (
P
= 0.004 for heated samples and
P
= 0.001 for unheated samples) and region (
P
= 0.002 for heated samples and
P
= 0.001 for unheated samples). SOM was observed to be a more significant driver of pathogen suppression than the other two factors after 48 h at both planting and harvest (
P
= 0.002 at planting and
P
= 0.058 at harvest). This research reinforces the need for both laboratory-controlled experiments and longitudinal field-based experiments to unravel the complex relationships controlling the survival of introduced organisms in soil.
Extracellular Vesicles of the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon “Thermococcus onnurineus” NA1
T
Authors: Choi Dong Hee , Kwon Yong Min , Chiura Hiroshi Xavier , Yang Eun Chan , Bae Seung Seob , Kang Sung Gyun , Lee Jung-Hyun , Yoon Hwan Su , Kim Sang-Jin 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by a sulfur-reducing, hyperthermophilic archaeon, “
Thermococcus onnurineus
” NA1
T
, were purified and characterized. A maximum of four EV bands, showing buoyant densities between 1.1899 and 1.2828 g cm
−3
, were observed after CsCl ultracentrifugation. The two major EV bands, B (buoyant density at 25°C [ρ
25
] = 1.2434 g cm
−3
) and C (ρ
25
= 1.2648 g cm
−3
), were separately purified and counted using a qNano particle analyzer. These EVs, showing different buoyant densities, were identically spherical in shape, and their sizes varied from 80 to 210 nm in diameter, with 120- and 190-nm sizes predominant. The average size of DNA packaged into EVs was about 14 kb. The DNA of the EVs in band C was sequenced and assembled. Mapping of the
T. onnurineus
NA1
T
EV (ToEV) DNA sequences onto the reference genome of the parent archaeon revealed that most genes of
T. onnurineus
NA1
T
were packaged into EVs, except for an ∼9.4-kb region from TON_0536 to TON_0544. The absence of this specific region of the genome in the EVs was confirmed from band B of the same culture and from bands B and C purified from a different batch culture. The presence of the 3′-terminal sequence and the absence of the 5′-terminal sequence of TON_0536 were repeatedly confirmed. On the basis of these results, we hypothesize that the unpackaged part of the
T. onnurineus
NA1
T
genome might be related to the process that delivers DNA into ToEVs and/or the mechanism generating the ToEVs themselves.