bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and risk factors for biopsy‐proven non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis in a prospective cohort of adult patients with gallstones
Authors: García‐Monzón Carmelo , Vargas‐Castrillón Javier , Porrero José Luís , Alonso María Teresa , Bonachía Oscar , Castillo María José , Marcos Alberto , Quirós Esther , Ramos Beatriz , Sánchez‐Cabezudo Carlos , Villar Sol , Sáez Alicia , Rodríguez de Cía Javier , del Pozo Elvira , Vega‐Piris Lorena , Soto‐Fernández Susana , Lo Iacono Oreste , Miquilena‐Colina María Eugenia 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsRelationship between gallstones and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and largely non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is uncertain.AimTo determine the prevalence, non‐invasive fibrosis markers profile and risk factors for biopsy‐proven NAFLD and NASH among patients with gallstones.MethodsAnthropometric and laboratory evaluation, an abdominal ultrasound and a liver biopsy were performed to 215 consecutive patients with gallstones referred for cholecystectomy.ResultsPrevalence of NASH was 10.2% whereas that of simple steatosis (SS) was 41.4%. In the cohort of NAFLD patients, negative predictive values for advanced fibrosis of FIB‐4 and NAFLD fibrosis score were 96 and 95% respectively. Gallstone patients with NASH had a higher mean homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) score than those with SS (P = 0.015). Noteworthy, NASH was 2.5‐fold more frequent in patients with gallstones who had metabolic syndrome than in those who did not (P < 0.001). Fatty liver on ultrasound was observed in 90.9% of gallstone patients with NASH compared with 61.8% of those with SS (P = 0.044). Using multivariate logistic regression, increased HOMA score (OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.41–8.52; P = 0.007) and fatty liver on ultrasound (OR, 23.27; 95% CI, 4.15–130.55; P < 0.001) were the only factors independently associated with NASH.ConclusionsPrevalence of NASH among patients with gallstones is lower than estimated previously, but NASH is frequent particularly in those patients with concurrent metabolic syndrome. The combination of an increased HOMA score with fatty liver on ultrasound has a good accuracy for predicting NASH in patients with gallstones.
The APSES transcription factor LmStuA is required for sporulation, pathogenic development and effector gene expression in Leptosphaeria maculans
Authors: Soyer Jessica L. , Hamiot Audrey , Ollivier Bénédicte , Balesdent Marie‐Hélène , Rouxel Thierry , Fudal Isabelle 
Published: February 2015

SummaryLeptosphaeria maculans causes stem canker of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). The APSES transcription factor StuA is a key developmental regulator of fungi, involved in morphogenesis, conidia production and also more recently described as required for secondary metabolite production and for effector gene expression in phytopathogenic fungi. We investigated the involvement of the orthologue of StuA in L. maculans, LmStuA, in morphogenesis, pathogenicity and effector gene expression. LmStuA is induced during mycelial growth and at 14 days after infection, corresponding to the development of pycnidia on oilseed rape leaves, consistent with the function of StuA described so far. We set up the functional characterization of LmStuA using an RNA interference approach. Silenced LmStuA transformants showed typical phenotypic defects of StuA mutants with altered growth in axenic culture and impaired conidia production and perithecia formation. Silencing of LmStuA abolished the pathogenicity of L. maculans on oilseed rape leaves and also resulted in a drastic decrease in expression of at least three effector genes during in planta infection, suggesting either that LmStuA regulates, directly or indirectly, the expression of several effector genes in L. maculans or that the infection stage in which effectors are expressed is not reached when LmStuA expression is silenced.
Assessing pyloric sphincter pathophysiology using EndoFLIP in patients with gastroparesis
Authors: Malik Z. , Sankineni A. , Parkman H. P. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundPyloric dysfunction has been associated with gastroparesis, particularly diabetic gastroparesis. Endoscopic functional luminal imaging probe (EndoFLIP) uses 16 sensors inside a balloon that is inflated inside a sphincter to assess physiologic characteristics. The aim of this study was to measure the pressure, diameter, cross‐sectional area (CSA), and distensibility of the pylorus using EndoFLIP in patients with gastroparesis. In addition, the relationship between pyloric pathophysiology with gastroparesis etiology, symptoms, and gastric emptying was assessed.MethodsEndoFLIP was performed in 54 patients (39 idiopathic gastroparesis, 15 diabetic gastroparesis). The EndoFLIP catheter was passed endoscopically so that the balloon straddled the pylorus. Pressure, diameter, CSA, and distensibility of the pylorus were measured at 20, 30, 40, and 50 cc balloon volume.Key ResultsPyloric sphincter contour was seen best at 40 cc balloon distension (diameter 12.2 ± 0.44 mm, CSA 125.2 ± 9.15 mm2, pressure 18.0 ± 1.23 mmHg, length 1.59 ± 0.34 cm, distensibility 10.7 ± 2.57 mm2/mmHg). There was a wide range seen in diameter (5.6–22.1 mm) and distensibility (1–55 mm2/mmHg) of the pylorus. Symptoms of early satiety and postprandial fullness were inversely correlated with pyloric sphincter diameter and CSA. No significant difference was seen between diabetic and idiopathic gastroparetics.Conclusions & InferencesEndoFLIP is a novel technique that can be used to assess pyloric physiologic characteristics. Early satiety and postprandial fullness were inversely correlated with diameter and CSA of the pyloric sphincter. No significant differences were seen comparing diabetic and idiopathic gastroparetics. This technology may be of benefit to help select patients with pyloric sphincter abnormalities.
Finite Element Modelling for Assessing Effect of Acetabular Component Orientation on the Basic Stress Path above Acetabular Dome
Authors: Nie Yong , Pei Fu‐xing , Li Zong‐ming 
Published: February 2015

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of acetabular component orientation on the basic stress path above the acetabular dome in the recommended safe zone.MethodsA subject‐specific normal hip finite element model was generated and a convergence study carried out to determine the number of material properties for trabecular bone using a normal hip model. Four abduction angles (35°, 40°, 45° and 50°) and four anteversion angles (10°, 15°, 20° and 25°) from the recommended safe zone of acetabular cup orientation were chosen to simulate acetabular reconstruction. The distribution and level of periacetabular stress was assessed using a normal hip model as a control and 16 reconstructed acetabula in simulated single‐legged stances.ResultsThe error of the average stress between plans four and five (50 and 100 materials for trabecular bone respectively) was 4.8%, which is less than the previously defined 5% error. The effect of acetabular component orientation on stress distribution in trabecular bone was not pronounced. When the acetabular component was at 15° anteversion and the abduction angle was 40° or 45°, the stress level on posterolateral cortical bone above the acetabular dome was as stable as that in the normal hip model.ConclusionsAcetabular component orientation affects the basic stress path above the acetabular dome. Thus, orientation should be considered when attempting to restore normal biomechanics in the main load‐bearing area.
Combination Treatment with Whole Body Vibration and a Kidney‐tonifying Herbal Fufang Prevent Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Rats
Authors: Wei Qiu‐shi , Wang Hai‐bin , Wang Jun‐ling , Fang Bin , Zhou Guang‐Quan , Tan Xin , He Wei , Deng Wei‐min 
Published: February 2015

ObjectiveTo assess the ability of whole body vibration (WBV) with the kidney‐tonifying herbal Fufang (Bushen Zhuanggu Granules, BZG) to prevent osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.MethodsFifty 6‐month‐old female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups: sham‐operated (SHAM), ovariectomized (OVX), OVX with WBV (OVX + WBV), OVX with BZG (OVX + BZG), OVX with both WBV and BZG (OVX + WBV + BZG). The SHAM group received normal saline. After 12 weeks of treatment, the rats were killed, their serum concentrations of osteopontin (OPN), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand RANKL and bone turnover markers assayed and bone mineral density (BMD), histomorphometry and bone strength evaluated.ResultsConcentrations of OPN were significantly lower in the SHAM, OVX + WBV and OVX + WBV + BZG groups at 12 weeks, whereas concentrations of RANKL had decreased significantly in the SHAM, OVX + WBV, OVX + BZG and OVX + WBV + BZG groups. In the OVX + WBV, OVX + BZG and OVX + WBV + BZG groups the amount of bone turnover had been significantly antagonized. Compared with OVX group, BMD, % trabecular area (Tb.Ar), number of trabeculae (Tb.N) and assessed biomechanical variables were higher in OVX+WBV group, whereas and BMD, %Tb.Ar, Tb.N, maximal load and yield load were higher in the OVX + BZG group. All tested indices were significantly lower in the OVX + WBV and OVX + BZG groups than in the OVX + WBV + BZG group.ConclusionEither WBV or BZG alone prevents OVX‐induced bone loss. However, BZG enhances the effect of WBV by further enhancing BMD, bone architecture and strength.
Manipulating microRNAs for improved biomass and biofuels from plant feedstocks
Authors: Trumbo Jennifer Lynn , Zhang Baohong , Stewart Charles Neal 
Published: February 2015

SummaryPetroleum‐based fuels are nonrenewable and unsustainable. Renewable sources of energy, such as lignocellulosic biofuels and plant metabolite‐based drop‐in fuels, can offset fossil fuel use and reverse environmental degradation through carbon sequestration. Despite these benefits, the lignocellulosic biofuels industry still faces many challenges, including the availability of economically viable crop plants. Cell wall recalcitrance is a major economic barrier for lignocellulosic biofuels production from biomass crops. Sustainability and biomass yield are two additional, yet interrelated, foci for biomass crop improvement. Many scientists are searching for solutions to these problems within biomass crop genomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in almost all biological and metabolic process in plants including plant development, cell wall biosynthesis and plant stress responses. Because of the broad functions of their targets (e.g. auxin response factors), the alteration of plant miRNA expression often results in pleiotropic effects. A specific miRNA usually regulates a biologically relevant bioenergy trait. For example, relatively low miR156 overexpression leads to a transgenic feedstock with enhanced biomass and decreased recalcitrance. miRNAs have been overexpressed in dedicated bioenergy feedstocks such as poplar and switchgrass yielding promising results for lignin reduction, increased plant biomass, the timing of flowering and response to harsh environments. In this review, we present the status of miRNA‐related research in several major biofuel crops and relevant model plants. We critically assess published research and suggest next steps for miRNA manipulation in feedstocks for increased biomass and sustainability for biofuels and bioproducts.
Genome‐wide association of drought‐related and biomass traits with HapMap SNPs in Medicago truncatula
Authors: Kang Yun , Sakiroglu Muhammet , Krom Nicholas , Stanton‐Geddes John , Wang Mingyi , Lee Yi‐Ching , Young Nevin D. , Udvardi Michael 
Published: February 2015

AbstractImproving drought tolerance of crop plants is a major goal of plant breeders. In this study, we characterized biomass and drought‐related traits of 220 Medicago truncatula HapMap accessions. Characterized traits included shoot biomass, maximum leaf size, specific leaf weight, stomatal density, trichome density and shoot carbon‐13 isotope discrimination (δ13C) of well‐watered M. truncatula plants, and leaf performance in vitro under dehydration stress. Genome‐wide association analyses were carried out using the general linear model (GLM), the standard mixed linear model (MLM) and compressed MLM (CMLM) in TASSEL, which revealed significant overestimation of P‐values by CMLM. For each trait, candidate genes and chromosome regions containing SNP markers were found that are in significant association with the trait. For plant biomass, a 0.5 Mbp region on chromosome 2 harbouring a plasma membrane intrinsic protein, PIP2, was discovered that could potentially be targeted to increase dry matter yield. A protein disulfide isomerase‐like protein was found to be tightly associated with both shoot biomass and leaf size. A glutamate‐cysteine ligase and an aldehyde dehydrogenase family protein with Arabidopsis homologs strongly expressed in the guard cells were two of the top genes identified by stomata density genome‐wide association studies analysis.
Iterative Scaling in Curved Exponential Families
Authors: Klimova Anna , Rudas Tamás 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe paper describes a generalized iterative proportional fitting procedure that can be used for maximum likelihood estimation in a special class of the general log‐linear model. The models in this class, called relational, apply to multivariate discrete sample spaces that do not necessarily have a Cartesian product structure and may not contain an overall effect. When applied to the cell probabilities, the models without the overall effect are curved exponential families and the values of the sufficient statistics are reproduced by the MLE only up to a constant of proportionality. The paper shows that Iterative Proportional Fitting, Generalized Iterative Scaling, and Improved Iterative Scaling fail to work for such models. The algorithm proposed here is based on iterated Bregman projections. As a by‐product, estimates of the multiplicative parameters are also obtained. An implementation of the algorithm is available as an R‐package.
Innate and adaptive genetic pathways in HCV infection
Authors: Buchanan R. , Hydes T. , Khakoo S. I. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractInfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. This heterogeneity is underpinned by the host immune response and the genetic factors that govern it. Polymorphisms affecting both the innate and adaptive immunity determine the outcome of exposure. However the innate immune system appears to play a greater role in determining treatment‐associated responses. Overall the effects of IFNL3/4 appear dominant over other polymorphic genes. Understanding how host genetics determines the disease phenotype has not been as intensively studied. This review summarizes our current understanding of innate and adaptive immunogenetic factors in the outcome of HCV infection. It focuses on how they relate to resolution and the progression of HCV‐related liver disease, in the context of current and future treatment regimes.
Monetary Policy Independence under Flexible Exchange Rates: An Illusion?
Authors: Edwards Sebastian 
Published: February 2015

AbstractI analyse whether countries with flexible exchange rates are able to pursue an independent monetary policy, as suggested by traditional theory. I use data for three Latin American countries with flexible exchange rates, inflation targeting and capital mobility – Chile, Colombia and Mexico – to investigate the extent to which Federal Reserve actions are translated into local central banks' policy rates. The results indicate that there is significant ‘policy contagion’ and that these countries tend to ‘import’ Fed policies. The degree of monetary policy independence is lower than what traditional models suggest.
Consecutive Days of Prolonged Tennis Match Play: Performance, Physical, and Perceptual Responses in Trained Players
Authors: Gescheit Danielle T. , Cormack Stuart J. , Reid Machar , Duffield Rob 
Published: February 2015

Purpose:
To determine how consecutive days of prolonged tennis match play affect performance, physiological, and perceptual responses.

Methods:
Seven well-trained male tennis players completed 4-h tennis matches on 4 consecutive days. Pre- and postmatch measures involved tennis-specific (serve speed and accuracy), physical (20-m sprint, countermovement jump [CMJ], shoulder-rotation maximal voluntary contraction, isometric midthigh pull), perceptual (Training Distress Scale, soreness), and physiological (creatine kinase [CK]) responses. Activity profile was assessed by heart rate, 3D load (accumulated accelerations measured by triaxial accelerometers), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Statistical analysis compared within- and between-days values. Changes (± 90% confidence interval [CI]) ≥75% likely to exceed the smallest important effect size (0.2) were considered practically important.

Results:
3D load reduced on days 2 to 4 (mean effect size ± 90% CI –1.46 ± 0.40) and effective playing time reduced on days 3 to 4 (–0.37 ± 0.51) compared with day 1. RPE did not differ and total points played only declined on day 3 (–0.38 ± 1.02). Postmatch 20-m sprint (0.79 ± 0.77) and prematch CMJ (–0.43 ± 0.27) performance declined on days 2 to 4 compared with prematch day 1. Although serve velocity was maintained, compromised postmatch serve accuracy was evident compared with prematch day 1 (0.52 ± 0.58). CK increased each day, as did ratings of muscle soreness and fatigue.

Conclusions:
Players reduced external physical loads, through declines in movement, over 4 consecutive days of prolonged competitive tennis. This may be affected by tactical changes and pacing strategies. Alongside this, impairments in sprinting and jumping ability, perceptual and biochemical markers of muscle damage, and reduced mood states may be a function of neuromuscular and perceptual fatigue.
Standardization of the Dmax Method for Calculating the Second Lactate Threshold
Authors: Chalmers Samuel , Esterman Adrian , Eston Roger , Norton Kevin 
Published: February 2015

Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of 2 standardized methods for calculating speed at the second lactate-threshold point (LT2) based on the preexisting Dmax (LTD) and modified Dmax (LTMOD) procedures.

Methods:
13 trained male road runners and triathletes completed 2 incremental laboratory running tests to determine LT2, followed by separate time trials (5, 10, 15 km) on an outdoor running track. Two new methods were proposed for calculating the speed at LT2: (1) the single standardized lactate threshold (LTSDs) and (2) the paired standardized lactate threshold (LTSDp) for quantifying changes over time.

Results:
The LTSDs and LTSDp methods had high relative (ICC ≥ .98) and absolute (CV ≤ 1.9%) reliability in identifying the speed at LT2. The speed at LT2 according to the LTSDs and LTSDp methods had a strong correlation and was not different to the performance speed during the 10- and 15-km time trials (≤2.3%; ρc > 0.8; P > .05). The following natural logbased formula was created to estimate the percentage of LT2 speed (using the LTSDs method) that could be sustained for events ~15–75 min: y = –7.256(ln x) + 157.64, where y = %LT2 speed, x = time-trial performance (s), and ln = natural log.

Conclusions:
The standardized methods are reliable for determining LT2. The LTSDs and LTSDp methods for calculating the speed at LT2 from a near-maximal incremental test calculated speeds similar to those exhibited in 10- and 15-km running time trials. A prediction equation for estimating the percentage of LT2 that can be sustained for events of ~15–75 min was generated.
Sleep Disorders, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior Among U.S. Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Farnsworth James L. , Kim Youngdeok , Kang Minsoo 
Published: February 2015

Background:Disruptive sleeping patterns have been linked to serious medical conditions. Regular physical activity (PA) has a positive impact on health; however, few research have investigated the relationships between PA, body mass index (BMI), sedentary behaviors (SB), and sleep disorders (SD).Methods:Data from the 2005–2006 NHANES were analyzed for this study. Participants (N = 2989; mean age = 50.44 years) were grouped based upon responses to SD questions. Accelerometers were used to measure the average time spent in moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and SB. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between PA, SB, and SD after controlling for covariates and to explore potential moderation effects among common risk factors and the main study variables.Results:Among middle-aged adults, PA was significantly associated with SD [Wald χ2 (8) = 22.21; P < .001]. Furthermore, among adults in the highest tertile of SB, PA was significantly associated with SD [Wald χ2 (8) = 32.29; P < .001].Conclusions:These results indicate that middle-aged adults who are less active may have increased likelihoods of SD. It is important for health care professionals to continue developing methods for increasing PA to decrease the risk of SD.
Color Entanglement in Hadronic Processes for Transverse Momentum Dependent Parton Distribution Functions
Authors: Buffing M. G. A. , Mulders P. J. 
Published: February 2015

In the description of protons, we go beyond the ordinary collinear parton distribution functions (PDFs), by including transverse momentum dependent PDFs (TMDs). As such, we become sensitive to polarization modes of the partons and protons that one cannot probe without accounting for transverse momenta of partons, in particular when looking at azimuthal asymmetries. Hadronic processes require the inclusion of gluon contributions forming the gauge links, which are path-ordered exponentials tracing the color flow. In processes with two hadrons in the initial state, such as Drell-Yan (DY), the gauge links from different parts of the process get entangled. We show that in color disentangling this gauge link structure, one becomes sensitive to this color flow. After disentanglement, particular combinations of TMDs will require a different numerical color factor than one naively might have expected. Such color factors will even play a role for azimuthal asymmetries in the simplest hadronic processes such as DY.
Self-Organization of Control Circuits for Invariant Fiber Projections
Authors: Fernandes Tomas , von der Malsburg Christoph 
Published: February 2015

Assuming that patterns in memory are represented as two-dimensional arrays of local features, just as they are in primary visual cortices, pattern recognition can take the form of elastic graph matching (Lades et al., 1993 ). Neural implementation of this may be based on preorganized fiber projections that can be activated rapidly with the help of control units (Wolfrum, Wolff, Lücke, & von der Malsburg, 2008 ). Each control unit governs a set of projection fibers that form part of a coherent mapping. We describe a mathematical model for the ontogenesis of the underlying connectivity based on a principle of network self-organization as described by the Häussler system (Häussler & von der Malsburg, 1983 ), modified to be sensitive to pattern similarity and to support formation of multiple mappings, each under the command of a control unit. The process takes the form of a soft-winner-take-all, where units compete for the representation of maps. We show simulations for invariant point-to-point and feature-to-feature mappings.