bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Volcanic tremor and frequency gliding during dike intrusions at Kı̄lauea—A tale of three eruptions
Authors: Unglert K. , Jellinek A. M. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractTo characterize syneruptive/intrusive deviations from background volcanic tremor at Kı̄lauea, Hawai‘i, we analyze the spatial and temporal properties of broadband tremor during dike intrusions into the East Rift Zone (ERZ) in 2007 and 2011, as well as during explosive eruptive activity at Kı̄lauea's summit in 2008. Background tremor was similar for each event, and the 2008 explosions did not affect its properties. In contrast, the intrusions were accompanied by departures from this background in the form of two phases of seismicity that were separated in space and time. In both 2007 and 2011, Phase I was characterized by a quick succession of discrete events, which were most intense at the onset of intrusion near the presumed locations of the dikes intruding into the ERZ. Phase II, marked by continuous broadband tremor around the summit, followed 10–14 h later. In 2007, Phase II tremor was accompanied by a monotonic downward shift (glide) of spectral peaks between ∼0.6 and 1.5 Hz over at least 15 h. During Phase II in 2011, a gradual upward and subsequent symmetric downward glide between ∼0.6 and 6.6 Hz occurred over 5–10 h, respectively. The spectra during both phases differed from the background and 2008, as well as from each other, indicating different physical mechanisms. Phase I in 2007 and 2011 is probably related to the mechanics of dike intrusion. Phase II tremor may be characteristic for evolving magma‐bubble dynamics related to the geometry of the plumbing system and the style of magma flow.
Remote versus local influence of ENSO on the California Current System
Authors: Frischknecht M. , Münnich M. , Gruber N. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractMuch of the observed interannual variability in the physical and biogeochemical state of the California Current System (CalCS) is associated with El Niño Southern Oscillation. Yet it is unclear whether this is primarily a result of atmospheric teleconnections forcing the ocean locally through changes in wind and fluxes of heat and freshwater, or whether this is a consequence of oceanic interior processes that transport tropical variability through, e.g., coastally trapped waves to the region. Here we investigate the relative contribution of these two mechanisms in the CalCS using a novel setup of the Regional Oceanic Modeling System coupled to a biogeochemical/ecological model. We conducted a hindcast simulation over the period 1979–2013 and contrast the results with those from sensitivity simulations with climatological atmospheric boundary conditions either for the U.S. West Coast or the rest of the Pacific. We find that remote forcing dominates the variability of the physical state in the nearshore region of the CalCS, explaining up to 80% of monthly mean sea‐surface height and temperature variability. In contrast, local processes tend to drive variations in the biogeochemical/ecological state, particularly along central and northern California, explaining up to 50% of the observed surface variability. Most of the remote forcing is a consequence of coastally trapped waves that travel northward at speeds of approximately 230 km d−1, and thereby alter sea‐level height, thermocline structure, and upwelling along California. Biogeochemically active tracers respond to this remote forcing as well, especially at depth, but are more strongly modulated by local atmospheric forcing, especially variations in upwelling‐favorable winds.
Yeast Mating Type
Authors: Montelone Beth A 
Published: January 2015

AbstractMating type in baker's yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been extensively studied as a model system for cell fate determination, gene regulation, chromosome structure and genetic recombination. This work has shown that mating type is determined by alleles of a single genetic locus that codes for regulatory proteins governing genes encoding mating pheromones, pheromone receptors and downstream effectors controlling cell type. Some yeast strains are capable of switching mating type, a process involving gene replacement by information transferred from silenced copies of the mating‐type locus found elsewhere in the genome. A combination of genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches has elucidated the mechanisms of silencing and mating‐type switching and has shown them to involve processes that are conserved throughout the eukaryotic kingdom.Key ConceptsMating type in baker's yeast is determined by alleles of a single gene.Products of the mating‐type locus are regulatory proteins that interact to control transcription at multiple other loci that determine cell fate.A genetic approach involving isolation of sterile mutants unable to mate provided the first clues to the structure and function of the mating‐type locus.Mating involves production of soluble protein mating factors and membrane‐bound receptors that trigger a signal transduction cascade upon binding of mating factor to receptor.Mating is coordinated with progression through the yeast cell cycle.Yeast can exist as either haploid or diploid cells with one or two sets of chromosomes; haploids can mate to form diploids.Some yeast strains are homothallic and can switch mating type.Mating‐type switching involves silent copies of the mating‐type locus and a site‐specific endonuclease that directs recombination between the active mating‐type locus and one of the silent copies.The silent copies of the mating‐type locus are present in a heterochromatin‐like configuration that prevents their expression.General recombination functions are required for mating‐type switching.
Codes of Ethics for Genetics Professionals
Authors: Shuster Julia , FitzGerald Kevin 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

The field of genetic research, technology, and application is rapidly advancing. While such advancement provides great promise to evaluate, diagnose and treat medical conditions, there are many ethical and regulatory questions and challenges that must be addressed. In this article, we attempt to highlight both government regulation and professional codes of ethics as they relate to biomedical genetic technology. This article starts by articulating the first genetic code of ethics published in Canada in 1986, as well as other North American organisations, followed by European Union organisations, efforts around the globe and, finally, published guidelines or ethical codes that serve genetic professionals on an international scale. We also highlight that as genetic technology constantly changes, professionals and their ethical guidelines must adapt as well.

Key Concepts

Molecular biologists, biochemists, informatics professionals, genomicists and clinical researchers as well as clinicians and genetic counsellors are using genetic technology.

Government regulation alone is not enough to ensure that this technology is being used appropriately.

Many independent and professional organisations are also contributing to this arena.

This review for genetic professionals attempts to provide an overview of both comprehensive formal codes and decisions by various bodies that guide ethical medical genetics practices and supplement federal regulations.

The spread of genetic technologies around the world is adding to the challenge of adequately addressing the ethical issues raised in various nations and cultures.
DNA
Technology: ‘Moratorium’ on Use and Asilomar Conference
Authors: Rasmussen Nicolas 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

In 1974, leading American molecular biologists called for a voluntary moratorium on the rapidly developing practice of recombinant
DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid), halting many types of experiments mainly because of concerns they might accidentally create a dangerous new pathogen. A year later, they convened an international meeting of involved scientists in Asilomar, California, to draft a proposed set of safety regulations governing genetic engineering. These proposals, with few modifications, quickly became funding agency regulations or laws in many countries, and they were rapidly relaxed. The 1975 Asilomar conference is seen a landmark in the history of genetic engineering, an event that served as an influential model for policy making at that time. Its role as a model for self‐regulation and citizen participation in policy making on risky technologies has been questioned, particularly because commercial interests have been seen as major influences on the field's rapid development.

Key Concepts

Molecular biologists in 1974 called attention to the dangers associated with their new methods of recombinant DNA (gene splicing) and declared a temporary halt to much work of this kind.

Leading biologists, together with scientific institutions such as the US National Institutes of Health and the National Academy of Sciences, organised a meeting in 1975 at Asilomar, California, where the biologists decided among themselves what restrictions should apply to various types of genetic manipulation, addressing only laboratory safety but not wider social concerns.

The restrictions on gene splicing proposed at Asilomar by the scientists practicing the techniques became the basis for regulations and laws in many countries, under which gene splicing re‐commenced in 1976.

Although admired at the time, the way in which the regulations rapidly relaxed, as private companies created by some of the same scientists who crafted the regulations moved forward with commercial genetic engineering, has since attracted criticism of Asilomar as a tactic to forestall more restrictive regulation.
Prediction of brain age suggests accelerated atrophy after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Cole James H. , Leech Robert , Sharp David J. ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: January 2015

ObjectiveThe long‐term effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) can resemble observed in normal ageing, suggesting that TBI may accelerate the ageing process. We investigate this using a neuroimaging model that predicts brain age in healthy individuals and then apply it to TBI patients. We define individuals' differences in chronological and predicted structural "brain age," and test whether TBI produces progressive atrophy and how this relates to cognitive function.MethodsA predictive model of normal ageing was defined using machine learning in 1,537 healthy individuals, based on magnetic resonance imaging–derived estimates of gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM). This ageing model was then applied to test 99 TBI patients and 113 healthy controls to estimate brain age.ResultsThe initial model accurately predicted age in healthy individuals (r = 0.92). TBI brains were estimated to be "older," with a mean predicted age difference (PAD) between chronological and estimated brain age of 4.66 years (±10.8) for GM and 5.97 years (±11.22) for WM. This PAD predicted cognitive impairment and correlated strongly with the time since TBI, indicating that brain tissue loss increases throughout the chronic postinjury phase.InterpretationTBI patients' brains were estimated to be older than their chronological age. This discrepancy increases with time since injury, suggesting that TBI accelerates the rate of brain atrophy. This may be an important factor in the increased susceptibility in TBI patients for dementia and other age‐associated conditions, motivating further research into the age‐like effects of brain injury and other neurological diseases. Ann Neurol 2015;77:571–581
Differential effects of deep brain stimulation target on motor subtypes in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Katz Maya , Luciano Marta San , Carlson Kimberly , Luo Ping , Marks William J. , Larson Paul S. , Starr Philip A. , Follett Kenneth A. , Weaver Frances M. , Stern Matthew B. , Reda Domenic J. , Ostrem Jill L. ,   and CSP 468 study group
Published: January 2015

ObjectiveThe Veterans Administration Cooperative Studies Program #468, a multicenter study that randomized Parkinson's disease (PD) patients to either subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus internus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS), found that stimulation at either target provided similar overall motoric benefits. We conducted an additional analysis of this data set to evaluate whether PD motor subtypes responded differently to the 2 stimulation targets.MethodsWe classified 235 subjects by motor subtype: tremor dominant (TD), intermediate (I), or postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD), based on pre‐DBS baseline Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores off‐medication. The primary outcome was change in UPDRS part III (UPDRS‐III) off‐medication scores from baseline to 24 months post‐DBS, compared among subjects with particular PD motor subtypes and by DBS target (STN vs GPi). Changes in tremor, rigidity, akinesia, and gait scores were also assessed using the UPDRS.ResultsTD patients had greater mean overall motor improvement, measured by UPDRS‐III, after GPi DBS, compared to STN DBS (17.5 ± 13.0 vs 14.6 ± 14.9, p = 0.02), with improvement in gait accounting for this difference. Regardless of stimulation target, PIGD subjects had lower mean overall improvement in UPDRS‐III scores compared with I or TD subjects (8.7 ± 12.2 vs 21.7 ± 11.2 vs 16.3 ± 13.8, p = 0.001).InterpretationOur results suggest that responsiveness to both GPi and STN DBS is similar among different PD motor subtypes, although the TD motor subtype may have a greater response to GPi DBS with respect to gait. PIGD patients obtained less overall benefit from stimulation. Ann Neurol 2015;77:710–719
Multi‐GCM by multi‐RAM experiments for dynamical downscaling on summertime climate change in Hokkaido
Authors: Inatsu Masaru , Sato Tomonori , Yamada Tomohito J. , Kuno Ryusuke , Sugimoto Shiori , Farukh Murad A. , Pokhrel Yadu N. , Kure Shuichi 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe experiments with three general circulation models (GCMs) by three regional atmospheric models (RAMs) for the dynamical downscaling (DDS) have been performed to evaluate the uncertainty in the global warming response during summertime in Hokkaido, Japan. The results of a 10‐year RAM integration nested into GCM under present or future climate conditions were synthesized after applying bias correction. For the target decades during which the global‐mean temperature increases by 2 K in each GCM, the DDS results indicate that surface air temperature and precipitation mostly depend on the GCM imposed as the lateral boundary condition.
Implication of Madden–Julian Oscillation phase on the Eastern Amazon climate
Authors: de Oliveira Juarez Ventura , Vitorino Maria Isabel , de Abreu Sá Leonardo Deane 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe Student's t‐test was used to statistically prove the existence of a significant difference between mean values of several meteorological variables for the active and inactive phases of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) in the Eastern Amazon. The wavelet transform was used to identify 14 cases of the MJO occurrence, in which the analyses were performed. The analysis shown that the variables influenced by the convection such as outgoing longwave radiation, mean and maximum temperature, and insolation presented differences, between each MJO phase, at significance levels of 95% or higher.
Systematic review of surgical innovation reporting in laparoendoscopic colonic polyp resection
Authors: Currie A , Brigic A , Blencowe N S , Potter S , Faiz O D , Kennedy R H , Blazeby J M 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

Background
The IDEAL framework (Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term study) proposes a staged assessment of surgical innovation, but whether it can be used in practice is uncertain. This study aimed to review the reporting of a surgical innovation according to the IDEAL framework.

Methods
Systematic literature searches identified articles reporting laparoendoscopic excision for benign colonic polyps. Using the IDEAL stage recommendations, data were collected on: patient selection, surgeon and unit expertise, description of the intervention and modifications, outcome reporting, and research governance. Studies were categorized by IDEAL stages: 0/1, simple technical preclinical/clinical reports; 2a, technique modifications with rationale and safety data; 2b, expanded patient selection and reporting of both innovation and standard care outcomes; 3, formal randomized controlled trials; and 4, long-term audit and registry studies. Each stage has specific requirements for reporting of surgeon expertise, governance details and outcome reporting.

Results
Of 615 abstracts screened, 16 papers reporting outcomes of 550 patients were included. Only two studies could be put into IDEAL categories. One animal study was classified as stage 0 and one clinical study as stage 2a through prospective ethical approval, protocol registration and data collection. Studies could not be classified according to IDEAL for insufficient reporting details of patient selection, relevant surgeon expertise, and how and why the technique was modified or adapted.

Conclusion
The reporting of innovation in the context of laparoendoscopic colonic polyp excision would benefit from standardized methods.
Biomechanical abdominal wall model applied to hernia repair
Authors: Lyons M , Mohan H , Winter D C , Simms C K 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackgroundMost surgical innovations require extensive preclinical testing before employment in the operative environment. There is currently no way to develop and test innovations for abdominal wall surgery that is cheap, repeatable and easy to use. In hernia repair, the required mesh overlap relative to defect size is not established. The aims of this study were to develop a biomechanical model of the abdominal wall based on in vivo pressure measurements, and to apply this to study mesh overlap in hernia repair.MethodsAn observational study of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) levels throughout abdominal surgery was conducted to identify the peak perioperative IAP in vivo. This was then applied in the development of a surrogate abdominal wall model. An in vitro study of mesh overlap for various defect sizes was then conducted using this clinically relevant surrogate abdomen model.ResultsThe mean peak perioperative IAP recorded in the clinical study was 1740 Pa, and occurred during awakening from anaesthesia. This was reproduced in the surrogate abdomen model, which was also able to replicate incisional hernia formation. Using this model, the mesh overlap necessary to prevent hernia formation up to 20 kPa was found, independent of anatomical variations, to be 2 × (defect diameter) + 25 mm.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that a surgically relevant surrogate abdominal wall model is a useful translational tool in the study of hernia repair. Surgical relevanceThis study examined the mesh overlap requirements for hernia repair, evaluated in a biomechanical model of the abdomen. Currently, mesh size is selected based on empirical evidence and may underpredict the requirement for large meshes.The study proposes a relationship between the defect size and mesh size to select the appropriate mesh size. Following further trials and investigations, this could be used in clinical practice to reduce the incidence of hernia recurrence.
Development of resorbable nanocomposite tracheal and bronchial scaffolds for paediatric applications
Authors: Teoh G Z , Crowley C , Birchall M A , Seifalian A M 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

Background
Congenital tracheal defects and prolonged intubation following premature birth have resulted in an unmet clinical need for tracheal replacement. Advances in stem cell technology, tissue engineering and material sciences have inspired the development of a resorbable, nanocomposite tracheal and bronchial scaffold.

Methods
A bifurcated scaffold was designed and constructed using a novel, resorbable nanocomposite polymer, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane poly(ϵ-caprolactone) urea urethane (POSS-PCL). Material characterization studies included tensile strength, suture retention and surface characteristics. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (bmMSCs) and human tracheobronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) were cultured on POSS-PCL for up to 14 days, and metabolic activity and cell morphology were assessed. Quantum dots conjugated to RGD (l-arginine, glycine and l-aspartic acid) tripeptides and anticollagen type I antibody were then employed to observe cell migration throughout the scaffold.

Results
POSS-PCL exhibited good mechanical properties, and the relationship between the solid elastomer and foam elastomer of POSS-PCL was comparable to that between the cartilaginous U-shaped rings and interconnective cartilage of the native human trachea. Good suture retention was also achieved. Cell attachment and a significant, steady increase in proliferation were observed for both cell types (bmMSCs, P = 0·001; HBECs, P = 0·003). Quantum dot imaging illustrated adequate cell penetration throughout the scaffold, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy.

Conclusion
This mechanically viable scaffold successfully supports bmMSC and HBEC attachment and proliferation, demonstrating its potential as a tissue-engineered solution to tracheal replacement.
Robotic surgery
Authors: Diana M , Marescaux J 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackgroundProficiency in minimally invasive surgery requires intensive and continuous training, as it is technically challenging for unnatural visual and haptic perceptions. Robotic and computer sciences are producing innovations to augment the surgeon's skills to achieve accuracy and high precision during complex surgery. This article reviews the current use of robotically assisted surgery, focusing on technology as well as main applications in digestive surgery, and future perspectives.MethodsThe PubMed database was interrogated to retrieve evidence-based data on surgical applications. Internal and external consulting with key opinion leaders, renowned robotics laboratories and robotic platform manufacturers was used to produce state-of-the art business intelligence around robotically assisted surgery.ResultsSelected digestive procedures (oesophagectomy, gastric bypass, pancreatic and liver resections, rectal resection for cancer) might benefit from robotic assistance, although the current level of evidence is insufficient to support widespread adoption. The surgical robotic market is growing, and a variety of projects have recently been launched at both academic and corporate levels to develop lightweight, miniaturized surgical robotic prototypes.ConclusionThe magnified view, and improved ergonomics and dexterity offered by robotic platforms, might facilitate the uptake of minimally invasive procedures. Image guidance to complement robotically assisted procedures, through the concepts of augmented reality, could well represent a major revolution to increase safety and deal with difficulties associated with the new minimally invasive approaches.