bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geometrical feature analysis of Co-Cr-Mo single tracks after selective laser melting processing
Authors: Monroy Karla , Delgado Jordi , Sereno Lidia , Ciurana Joaquim , Hendrichs Nicolas J 
Published: April 2015

Purpose
– Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the relationships between the processing parameters and the geometric form of the produced single tracks, in order to control dimensional quality in future experimentations. The quality of the deposited single track and layer is of prime importance in the selective laser melting (SLM) process, as it affects the product quality in terms of dimensional precision and product performance.

Design/methodology/approach
– In this paper, a vertical milling machining center equipped with an Ytterbium-fiber laser was used in the SLM experimentation to form single cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) tracks. The different geometric features and the influence of the scanning parameters on these morphologic characteristics were studied statistically by means of ANOVA.

Findings
– Evidently, track height (h1) inaccuracy reduced in layer thicknesses between 100 and 200 μm. The re-melt depth (h2) was determined by the energy parameters, with laser power of 325-350 W and scanning speed (SS) of 66.6-83.3 mm/s being the most favorable parameters to obtain the required anchoring. Moreover, a contact angle of 117° was proposed as optimal, as it permitted an adequate overlapping region and a full densification, and, finally, an SS of 50 mm/s and a layer thickness of 250 were suggested for its development.

Originality/value
– The comprehension of the phenomena inherent to the process is related to the single track geometrical characteristics, which allow the definition of an optimal value for each factor for a further proposal of processing conditions that can finally derive a higher precision, wetting, density and mechanical properties.
Resilience of palm populations to disturbance is determined by interactive effects of fire, herbivory and harvest
Authors: Mandle Lisa , Ticktin Tamara , Zuidema Pieter A. 
Published: April 2015

Summary

Little is known about the interactive effects of multiple forms of disturbance – natural or anthropogenic – on plant population dynamics. This limits our ability to understand the drivers of these dynamics and effectively manage plant populations in the face of changing disturbance regimes.

Fire, grazing and harvest of wild plants are three widespread, commonly co‐occurring land management activities in the tropics that contribute to altered disturbance regimes. In this study, we investigate the effects of and interactions among these activities on mountain date palm (Phoenix loureiroi) populations in the Western Ghats, India with data from 14 palm populations, including over 2300 palm ramets monitored from 2009 to 2011.

We construct integral projection models (IPMs) of palm population dynamics based on the response of palm individuals to fire and varying intensities of grazing and leaf harvest and carry out Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations to understand the implications of different scenarios of disturbance for population persistence.

We find that palm individuals and populations were resilient to low levels of fire, grazing and harvest. There are also important interactions among these forms of disturbance: intensities of harvest and grazing are highest in populations one to two years after fire, and the intensity of harvest is lower in heavily grazed populations.

These interactions mean that the combined effects of multiple forms of disturbance differ from what would be assumed from simply adding their separate effects. While simulations show that sustained high intensities of harvest and grazing would have severely negative consequences for palm populations, interactions between these two forms of disturbance prevent palm populations from actually experiencing such extreme conditions. On the other hand, because intensities of grazing and harvest both increase moderately following fire, their combined negative effects on population growth rates are exacerbated by fire. Thus, multiple, interacting disturbances determine the resilience of these palm populations and the sustainability of their management.

Synthesis. This study illustrates the importance of explicitly incorporating realistic interactions among multiple forms of disturbance when evaluating plant populations' resilience to changing disturbance regimes and the sustainability of plant harvest.
Contrast‐enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) and contrast enhanced MRI (CEMRI): Patient preferences and tolerance
Authors: Hobbs Max M , Taylor Donna B , Buzynski Sebastian , Peake Rachel E 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIntroductionContrast‐enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) may have similar diagnostic performance to Contrast‐enhanced MRI (CEMRI) in the diagnosis and staging of breast cancer. To date, research has focused exclusively on diagnostic performance when comparing these two techniques. Patient experience is also an important factor when comparing and deciding on which of these modalities is preferable. The aim of this study is to compare patient experience of CESM against CEMRI during preoperative breast cancer staging.MethodsForty‐nine participants who underwent both CESM and CEMRI, as part of a larger trial, completed a Likert questionnaire about their preference for each modality according to the following criteria: comfort of breast compression, comfort of intravenous (IV) contrast injection, anxiety and overall preference. Participants also reported reasons for preferring one modality to the other. Quantitative data were analysed using a Wilcoxon sign‐rank test and chi‐squared test. Qualitative data are reported descriptively.ResultsA significantly higher overall preference towards CESM was demonstrated (n = 49, P < 0.001), with faster procedure time, greater comfort and lower noise level cited as the commonest reasons. Participants also reported significantly lower rates of anxiety during CESM compared with CEMRI (n = 36, P = 0.009). A significantly higher rate of comfort was reported during CEMRI for measures of breast compression (n = 49, P = 0.001) and the sensation of IV contrast injection (n = 49, P = 0.003).ConclusionOur data suggest that overall, patients prefer the experience of CESM to CEMRI, adding support for the role of CESM as a possible alternative to CEMRI for breast cancer staging.
PIPITS: an automated pipeline for analyses of fungal internal transcribed spacer sequences from the Illumina sequencing platform
Authors: Gweon Hyun S. , Oliver Anna , Taylor Joanne , Booth Tim , Gibbs Melanie , Read Daniel S. , Griffiths Robert I. , Schonrogge Karsten 
Published: April 2015

Summary

Studying fungal biodiversity using data generated from Illumina MiSeq sequencing platforms poses a number of bioinformatic challenges with the analysis typically involving a large number of tools for each analytical step from quality filtering to generating identified operational taxonomic unit (OTU) abundance tables.

Here, we introduce PIPITS, an open‐source stand‐alone suite of software for automated processing of Illumina MiSeq sequences for fungal community analysis. PIPITS exploits a number of state of the art applications to process paired‐end reads from quality filtering to producing OTU abundance tables.

We provide detailed descriptions of the pipeline and show its utility in the analysis of 9 396 092 sequences generated on the MiSeq platform from Illumina MiSeq.

PIPITS is the first automated bioinformatics pipeline dedicated for fungal ITS sequences which incorporates ITSx to extract subregions of ITS and exploits the latest RDP Classifier to classify sequences against the curated UNITE fungal data set.
History and current status of bariatric and metabolic surgeries in East Asia
Authors: Umemura Akira , Lee Wei‐Jei , Sasaki Akira , Wakabayashi Go 
Published: April 2015

AbstractMorbid obesity and obesity‐related comorbidities are major public health problems around the world, including in East Asia. Although Asian populations have been shown to have an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia at a relatively lower BMI than Western populations, the Asian perspective on bariatric and metabolic surgeries has not been actively discussed until recently. Bariatric surgery in East Asia has undergone a paradigm shift since the first laparoscopic vertical bariatric surgery was performed in Taiwan in 1998, which was subsequently followed by the introduction of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass, and mini‐gastric bypass. Since 2006, use of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has remarkably increased because of its ease, speed, and safety. With regard to metabolic surgery, a randomized controlled trial in Taiwan demonstrated that laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass is more effective than laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for surgical treatment of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. In this article, we describe the history of bariatric procedures, revision surgeries, weight‐loss effect, and metabolic surgeries in Asian populations, and we also discuss minimally invasive bariatric surgery with some important citations.
Incretin secretion in obese Korean children and adolescents with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
Authors: Park So Hyun , Jung Min Ho , Cho Won Kyoung , Park Mi Sun , Suh Byung Kyu 
Published: April 2015

SummaryObjectiveThe role of incretins in type 2 diabetes is controversial. This study investigated the association between incretin levels in obese Korean children and adolescents newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.DesignWe performed a 2‐hr oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in obese children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes and with normal glucose tolerance.PatientsTwelve obese children and adolescents with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (DM group) and 12 obese age‐matched subjects without type 2 diabetes (NDM group) were included.MeasurementsAn OGTT was conducted and insulin, C‐peptide, glucagon, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) were measured during the OGTT.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 13·8 ± 2·0 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) Z‐score was 2·1 ± 0·5. The groups were comparable in age, sex, BMI Z‐score and waist:hip ratio. The DM group had significantly lower homeostasis model assessment of β and insulinogenic index values (P < 0·001). The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index was not different between the two groups. Insulin and C‐peptide secretions were significantly lower in the DM group than in the NDM group (P < 0·001). Total GLP‐1 secretion was significantly higher in the DM group while intact GLP‐1 and GIP secretion values were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionImpaired insulin secretion might be important in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in obese Korean children and adolescents, however, which may not be attributed to incretin secretion.
Cerebral glucose metabolism in the striate cortex positively correlates with fractional anisotropy values of the optic radiation in patients with glaucoma
Authors: Murai Hideki , Suzuki Yukihisa , Kiyosawa Motohiro , Tokumaru Aya M , Ishiwata Kiichi , Ishii Kenji 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundIt has recently become clear that glaucoma is not only an ocular disease, but involves central visual pathways as well. The purpose of this study was to examine functional and structural alterations in the brains of glaucoma patients.DesignCase–control study in a hospital.ParticipantsA total of 32 glaucoma patients and 19 healthy controls.MethodsAll participants underwent positron emission tomography with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose, diffusion‐tensor magnetic resonance imaging, and the 30‐2 program of the Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer.Main Outcome MeasuresFractional anisotropy values of the optic radiation were compared between the two groups by defining regions of interests. Cerebral glucose metabolism was compared using statistical parametric mapping software. The correlation coefficients were calculated between the average of the total deviation of hemivisual fields of both eyes, fractional anisotropy values of the contralateral optic radiation and glucose metabolism in the contralateral striate cortex.ResultsFractional anisotropy values in the bilateral optic radiations were significantly lower in patients with glaucoma. A significant glucose hypometabolism in the bilateral striate cortex was also observed in the glaucoma group. Regression analyses for glaucoma patients demonstrated that the average of the total deviation of hemivisual fields significantly correlated with both fractional anisotropy value of the contralateral optic radiation and glucose metabolism in the contralateral striate cortex. Moreover, there were significant correlations between fractional anisotropy values of the optic radiation and ipsilateral striatal glucose metabolism.ConclusionWe observed structural alterations in the bilateral optic radiations and glucose hypometabolism in the bilateral striate cortex of glaucoma patients.
Growth patterns of Chinese patients with Prader‐Willi syndrome
Authors: Yang Hongbo , Zhang Mengqi , Song Hongmei , Zhu Huijuan , Pan Hui 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to investigate the spontaneous development of growth and weight gain of patients with Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS) in Mainland China. We retrospectively analyzed 120 cases of PWS diagnosed from 1994 to 2014 in Mainland China. Scatter diagram of the growth data was compared to standardized growth curve. The length at birth was similar to the normal population and the mean birthweight is under the 50th centile of normal population. Heights in 43% (27/62) of patients had dropped off below the 3rd centile of their peers after 5 years of age. Weights in 65.9% (58/88) of patients had exceeded the 97th centile of their peers after 3 years of age. Early obesity is obvious in 92.9% (66/71) of patients with body mass index (BMI) up the 97th centile of their peers from 2–3 years of age. Final mean height is 149.3 ± 11.2 cm for females (n = 7) and 146.2 ± 9.8 cm for males (n = 6), showing 11.3 cm and 26.6 cm below the average height for normal Chinese girls and boys. The growth pattern of PWS in Mainland China is comparable to those in Caucasians. Early intervention with recombinant human growth hormone is warranted considering the early onset of growth retardation and obesity.
Characteristics of 2p15‐p16.1 microdeletion syndrome: Review and description of two additional patients
Authors: Shimojima Keiko , Okamoto Nobuhiko , Yamamoto Toshiyuki 
Published: April 2015

AbstractMany new microdeletion syndromes have been characterized in the past decade, including 2p15‐p16.1 microdeletion syndrome. More than 10 patients with this syndrome have been described. Recently, we encountered two additional patients with 2p15‐p16.1 microdeletion syndrome. All patients showed variable degrees of intellectual disability, with the autistic features characteristic of this syndrome. Seven out of 16 patients (44%) showed structural abnormalities in the brain, which is also an important feature of this syndrome. The shortest region of microdeletion overlap among the patients includes two genes, USP34 and XPO1. Although these genes have some functional relevance to cancer, they have not been associated with neurological functions. Diagnosis of additional patients with 2p15‐p16.1 microdeletion syndrome and identification of pathogenic mutations in this region will help identify the genes responsible for the neurological features of the syndrome.
Serum antinuclear antibody may be associated with less severe disease activity in neuromyelitis optica
Authors: Masuda H. , Mori M. , Uzawa A. , Muto M. , Uchida T. , Kuwabara S. 
Published: April 2015

Background and purposeAntinuclear antibody‐positive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have shorter disease duration and lower Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and laboratory features between MS and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients with and without autoantibodies and to investigate the prognosis of NMO in patients with and without autoantibodies.MethodsThe frequencies of antinuclear, anti‐Sjögren's syndrome A (SSA)/Ro, anti‐Sjögren's syndrome B (SSB)/La and anti‐thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies in the sera of 75 NMO patients and 131 MS patients were compared. Clinical and laboratory profiles were also compared between NMO patients with and without autoantibodies, including annual relapse rate and time from onset of NMO to EDSS scores of 4.0 (limited walking but without aid) and 6.0 (walking with unilateral aid).ResultsMore NMO than MS patients had antinuclear and anti‐SSA/Ro antibodies (31% vs. 10%, P < 0.001, and 21% vs. 3%, P < 0.001, respectively). Antinuclear antibody‐positive NMO patients had a lower annual relapse rate from disease onset to serum sampling compared with antinuclear antibody‐negative NMO patients, independent of treatment regimen. Antinuclear antibody‐negative NMO patients reached an EDSS score of 6.0 earlier than antinuclear antibody‐positive NMO patients (P = 0.026). Cerebrospinal fluid cell counts were higher in anti‐SSA/Ro‐positive than in anti‐SSA/Ro‐negative NMO patients. More anti‐TPO antibody‐positive than anti‐TPO antibody‐negative NMO patients had oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands (60% vs. 11%, P = 0.048).ConclusionsAutoantibodies possibly modulate the pathophysiology of NMO. Antinuclear antibody may be associated with less severe disease activity or less disability in NMO.
Cognitive impairment in a population‐based study of patients with multiple sclerosis: differences between late relapsing−remitting, secondary progressive and primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Authors: Planche V. , Gibelin M. , Cregut D. , Pereira B. , Clavelou P. 
Published: April 2015

Background and purposeFew studies have investigated the differences in cognitive skills between the three subtypes of multiple sclerosis (MS) and they confounded the course of the disease with the duration of the disease and the physical disability. Moreover, they were not population based.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of cognitive testing from the database of a French programme for MS care. The pattern and the frequency of cognitive impairment in secondary progressive (SP), primary progressive (PP) and late relapsing−remitting (LRR, disease duration of more than 10 years) MS were compared.ResultsA total of 101 patients with MS (41 LRRMS, 37 SPMS, 23 PPMS) were included. 63.0% had a significant cognitive impairment. After controlling for age, sex, Expanded Disability Status Scale, disease duration and education level, patients with SPMS were at least 2‐fold more frequently impaired than patients with LLRMS in information processing speed (P = 0.005), executive functions (P = 0.04), verbal fluency (P = 0.02), verbal episodic memory (P = 0.04), working memory (P = 0.02) and visuospatial construction (P = 0.01). The number of patients with at least one or two deficient cognitive domain(s) was higher in the SPMS group than in the LRRMS group (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001). Patients with PPMS were more frequently impaired in verbal fluency (P = 0.046) than patients with LRRMS and they more often presented at least one impaired cognitive domain (P = 0.03). SPMS and PPMS groups differed only for visuospatial construction (P = 0.02).ConclusionIn this population‐based study, patients with a progressive subtype of MS were more frequently and more severely impaired than patients with RRMS, even after more than 10 years of disease.
Early magnetic resonance imaging predictors of clinical progression after 48 months in clinically isolated syndrome patients treated with intramuscular interferon β‐1a
Authors: Uher T. , Horakova D. , Kalincik T. , Bergsland N. , Tyblova M. , Ramasamy D. P. , Seidl Z. , Vaneckova M. , Krasensky J. , Havrdova E. , Zivadinov R. 
Published: April 2015

Background and purposeOur aim was to identify early imaging surrogate markers of clinical progression in patients after the first demyelinating event suggestive of multiple sclerosis treated with weekly intramuscular interferon β‐1a. In a prospective observational study, the predictive role of baseline and 6‐month changes in magnetic resonance imaging outcomes was investigated with respect to relapse activity and development of confirmed disability progression in patients after 48 months.MethodsThis study examined 210 patients. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyse predictors of relapse activity and confirmed disability progression after 48 months.ResultsGreater T2 lesion volume [hazard ratio (HR) 1.81; P = 0.005] and the presence of contrast‐enhancing lesions (HR 2.13; P < 0.001) at baseline were significantly associated with increased cumulative risk of a second clinical attack over 48 months. A greater decrease of the corpus callosum volume (HR 2.74; P = 0.001) and greater lateral ventricle volume enlargement (HR 2.43; P = 0.002) at 6 months relative to baseline were associated with increased cumulative risk of a second clinical attack between months 6 and 48. In addition, increased risk of confirmed disability progression over 48 months in patients with greater lateral ventricle volume enlargement between baseline and 6 months (HR 4.70; P = 0.001) was detected.ConclusionsA greater T2 lesion volume, the presence of contrast‐enhancing lesions at baseline, decrease of corpus callosum volume and lateral ventricle volume enlargement over the first 6 months in patients after the first demyelinating event treated with weekly intramuscular interferon β‐1a may assist in identification of patients with the highest risk of a second clinical attack and progression of disability.
Longitudinal assessment of probable rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Bjørnarå K. A. , Dietrichs E. , Toft M. 
Published: April 2015

Background and purposeRapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is frequently present in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and may have prognostic implications. There are few longitudinal studies of RBD in patients with PD. Our aim was to investigate whether RBD was a persistent feature in a follow‐up study of 107 patients with PD.MethodsAfter a mean follow‐up time of 3 years, 96 patients were available for reassessment. Probable RBD (pRBD) was diagnosed by the REM sleep behaviour disorder screening questionnaire.ResultsAt follow‐up, pRBD was found in 49% of the patients, versus 38% at baseline. The pRBD status remained unchanged in three‐quarters of the patients, whilst 17% had new pRBD symptoms. Disease duration was longer in the pRBD group, 9.4 vs. 7.6 years (P = 0.02).ConclusionsProbable RBD is a persistent feature in PD and probably increases over time.