bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional versus two‐dimensional ultrasound for assessing levonorgestrel intrauterine device location: A pilot study
Authors: Andrade Carla Maria Araujo , Araujo Júnior Edward , Torloni Maria Regina , Moron Antonio Fernandes , Guazzelli Cristina Aparecida Falbo 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTPurposeTo compare the rates of success of two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) sonographic (US) examinations in locating and adequately visualizing levonorgestrel intrauterine devices (IUDs) and to explore factors associated with the unsuccessful viewing on 2D US.MethodsTransvaginal 2D and 3D US examinations were performed on all patients 1 month after insertion of levonorgestrel IUDs. The devices were considered adequately visualized on 2D US if both the vertical (shadow, upper and lower extremities) and the horizontal (two echogenic lines) shafts were identified. 3D volumes were also captured to assess the location of levonorgestrel IUDs on 3D US.ResultsThirty women were included. The rates of adequate device visualization were 40% on 2D US (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.6; 57.7) and 100% on 3D US (95% CI, 88.6; 100.0). The device was not adequately visualized in all six women who had a retroflexed uterus, but it was adequately visualized in 12 of the 24 women (50%) who had a nonretroflexed uterus (95% CI, −68.6; −6.8).ConclusionsWe found that 3D US is better than 2D US for locating and adequately visualizing levonorgestrel IUDs. Other well‐designed studies with adequate power should be conducted to confirm this finding. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:72–77, 2016
Transient elastography of the liver in children with Wilson's disease: Preliminary results
Authors: Stefanescu Ana Cristina , Pop Tudor Lucian , Stefanescu Horia , Miu Nicolae 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTPurposeIn chronic liver diseases, liver stiffness (LS) is increased, primarily because of liver fibrosis, but other factors, such as intrahepatic deposits, may also be involved. We hypothesized that intrahepatic copper accumulation occurring in Wilson's disease (WD) also leads to an increase in LS. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the changes in LS during treatment in pediatric patients with WD.MethodsConsecutive patients younger than 18 years old, whose WD was diagnosed between 2008 and 2013, were enrolled. All patients underwent testing for liver function and urinary copper excretion, and LS was measured on transient elastography at baseline and at 6‐ to 12‐month intervals during specific therapy.ResultsNine patients were included in the analysis; only two were diagnosed with cirrhosis. The median LS decreased during treatment from 15.1 kPa (range, 5.1–66 kPa) at baseline to 10 kPa (4–16.1 kPa) at follow‐up interval 1, and to 6.1 kPa (3.9–11.6 kPa) at follow‐up interval 2 (p < 0.0001). In parallel, the differences in urinary copper excretion over the follow‐up period were not statistically significant, although the decrease in LS correlated with the increase in urinary copper excretion (r = 0.6).ConclusionsIn pediatric patients with WD, LS is high at the time of diagnosis and decreases during specific treatment, in parallel with an increase in the urinary copper concentration. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:65–71, 2016
The semaphorontic view of homology
Authors: Havstad Joyce C. , Assis Leandro C.S. , Rieppel Olivier 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTThe relation of homology is generally characterized as an identity relation, or alternatively as a correspondence relation, both of which are transitive. We use the example of the ontogenetic development and evolutionary origin of the gnathostome jaw to discuss identity and transitivity of the homology relation under the transformationist and emergentist paradigms respectively. Token identity and consequent transitivity of homology relations are shown to be requirements that are too strong to allow the origin of genuine evolutionary novelties. We consequently introduce the concept of compositional identity that is grounded in relations prevailing between parts (organs and organ systems) of a whole (organism). We recognize an ontogenetic identity of parts within a whole throughout the sequence of successive developmental stages of those parts: this is an intra‐organismal character identity maintained throughout developmental trajectory. Correspondingly, we recognize a phylogenetic identity of homologous parts within two or more organisms of different species: this is an inter‐species character identity maintained throughout evolutionary trajectory. These different dimensions of character identity—ontogenetic (through development) and phylogenetic (via shared evolutionary history)—break the transitivity of homology relations. Under the transformationist paradigm, the relation of homology reigns over the entire character (‐state) transformation series, and thus encompasses the plesiomorphic as well as the apomorphic condition of form. In contrast, genuine evolutionary novelties originate not through transformation of ancestral characters (‐states), but instead through deviating developmental trajectories that result in alternate characters. Under the emergentist paradigm, homology is thus synonymous with synapomorphy.J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 578–587, 2015. © 2015 The Authors.Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolutionpublished by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tissue correction for GABA‐edited MRS: Considerations of voxel composition, tissue segmentation, and tissue relaxations
Authors: Harris Ashley D. , Puts Nicolaas A.J. , Edden Richard A.E. 
Published: July 2015

PurposeTo develop a tissue correction for GABA‐edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) that appropriately addresses differences in voxel gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fractions.Materials and MethodsSimulations compared the performance of tissue correction approaches. Corrections were then applied to in vivo data from 16 healthy volunteers, acquired at 3T. GM, WM, and CSF fractions were determined from T1‐weighted images. Corrections for CSF content, GM/WM GABA content, and water relaxation of the three compartments are combined into a single, fully corrected measurement.ResultsSimulations show that CSF correction increases the dependence of GABA measurements on GM/WM fraction, by an amount equal to the fraction of CSF. Furthermore, GM correction substantially (and nonlinearly) increases the dependence of GABA measurements on GM/WM fraction, for example, by a factor of over four when the voxel GM tissue fraction is 50%. At this tissue fraction, GABA is overestimated by a factor of 1.5. For the in vivo data, correcting for voxel composition increased measured GABA values (P < 0.001 for all regions), but did not reduce intersubject variance (P > 0.5 for all regions). Corrected GABA values differ significantly based on the segmentation procedure used (P < 0.0001) and tissue parameter assumptions made (P < 0.0001).ConclusionWe introduce a comprehensive tissue correction factor that adjusts GABA measurements to correct for different voxel compositions of GM, WM, and CSF. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;42:1431–1440.
Is there an optimal respiratory reference position for self‐navigated whole‐heart coronary MR angiography?
Authors: Piccini Davide , Bonanno Gabriele , Ginami Giulia , Littmann Arne , Zenge Michael O. , Stuber Matthias 
Published: July 2015

PurposeTo test the direct influence of the reference respiratory position on image quality for self‐navigated whole‐heart coronary MRI.MethodsSelf‐navigated whole‐heart coronary MRI was performed in 11 healthy adult subjects. Respiratory motion was compensated for by using three different respiratory reference positions of the heart: end‐inspiratory, end‐expiratory, and the mean of the entire respiratory excursion. All datasets were reconstructed without motion compensation for comparison. Image quality was assessed in all reconstructions using signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrst‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) measurements, as well as percentage vessel sharpness and visible length of the coronary arteries.ResultsWhile SNR and CNR remained close to constant in all reconstructions, a clear and significant improvement in vessel sharpness was identified in all motion corrected datasets with respect to their uncorrected counterpart (e.g., percentage sharpness of the proximal right coronary artery (RCA): 61.6 ± 8.2% for end‐inspiration, 64.1 ± 10.7% for end‐expiration, and 63.3 ± 7.0% for the mean respiratory position versus 55.0 ± 10.4 for the uncorrected datasets; P < 0.05). Among all motion corrected reconstructions, the use of an end‐expiratory reference position most consistently provided the highest image quality. In particular, some of the improvements in vessel sharpness and length measured for end‐expiration were statistically significant with respect to the reconstructions performed at end‐inspiration (e.g., percentage sharpness of the proximal left anterior descending coronary: 58.2 ± 7.4% versus 55.8 ± 8.4%; P < 0.05; and visible length of the RCA: 125.7 ± 25.9 mm versus 114.4 ± 27.4 mm; P < 0.05).ConclusionThe use of end‐expiration as a reference position for respiratory motion correction in free‐breathing self‐navigated whole heart coronary MRA significantly improves image quality. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;43:426–433.
Lithium chloride prevents interleukin‐1β induced cartilage degradation and loss of mechanical properties
Authors: Thompson Clare L. , Yasmin Habiba , Varone Anna , Wiles Anna , Poole C. Anthony , Knight Martin M. 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTOsteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease that affects the articular cartilage. Recent studies have demonstrated that lithium chloride exhibits significant efficacy as a chondroprotective agent, blocking cartilage degradation in response to inflammatory cytokines. However, conflicting literature suggests lithium may affect the physicochemical properties of articular cartilage and thus long‐term exposure may negatively affect the mechanical functionality of this tissue. This study aims to investigate the effect of lithium chloride on the biomechanical properties of healthy and interleukin‐1β treated cartilage in vitro and examines the consequences of long‐term exposure to lithium on cartilage health in vivo. Bovine cartilage explants were treated with lithium chloride for 12 days. Chondrocyte viability, matrix catabolism and the biomechanical properties of bovine cartilage explants were not significantly altered following treatment. Consistent with these findings, long term‐exposure (9 months) to dietary lithium did not induce osteoarthritis in rats, as determined by histological staining. Moreover, lithium chloride did not induce the expression of catabolic enzymes in human articular chondrocytes. In an inflammatory model of cartilage destruction, lithium chloride blocked interleukin‐1β signaling in the form of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 release and prevented matrix catabolism such that the loss of mechanical integrity observed with interleukin‐1β alone was inhibited. This study provides further support for lithium chloride as a novel compound for the treatment of osteoarthritis. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:1552–1559, 2015.
A diatom–conductivity transfer function for reconstructing past changes in the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds over the Southern Ocean
Authors: SAUNDERS KRYSTYNA M. , HODGSON DOMINIC A. , MCMURTRIE SHELLEY , GROSJEAN MARTIN 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTSub‐Antarctic islands are ideally placed to reconstruct past changes in Southern Hemisphere westerly wind behaviour. They lie within their core belt (50–60°S) and the strong winds deliver sea salt ions to the islands resulting in a west to east conductivity gradient in their water bodies. This means that the stronger (or weaker) the winds, the higher (or lower) the conductivity values measured in the water bodies. A survey of the water chemistry and diatom assemblages of lakes and ponds on sub‐Antarctic Campbell Island (52°32′S, 169°8′E) revealed that, similar to other sub‐Antarctic islands, conductivity was the most important, statistically significant ecological variable explaining turnover in diatom community structure. Based on this, a diatom–conductivity transfer function was developed (simple weighted averaging with inverse deshrinking: R2 = 0.86, R2jack = 0.66, RMSEP = 0.25 log10 μS cm−1). This transfer function will be applied to lake sediment cores from the western edge of the Campbell Island plateau to reconstruct past conductivity/sea spray and therefore directly reconstruct changes in Southern Hemisphere westerly wind strength within their core belt.
Use of descriptive analysis and preference mapping for early‐stage assessment of new and established apples
Authors: Cliff Margaret A , Stanich Kareen , Lu Ran , Hampson Cheryl R 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis research compared four new apple selections with 16 established apples using descriptive analysis (DA), instrumental analyses and preference mapping, in order to identify suitable selections for commercialization and further research.RESULTSDA revealed that the new apple selections (PARC1, PARC2, PARC3, PARC4) were very similar in texture/mouthfeel (T) but differed in their flavor (F) and appearance (A) characteristics. Preference mapping revealed that consumers' T preferences were driven primarily by crispness, juiciness and lack of skin toughness, while F preferences were driven by sweetness, lack of tartness and presence of fruity flavor. Consumers' A preferences were driven by a high percentage of red color and degree of striping. The majority of consumers had similar T (82–85%) and F (88–92%) preferences for the early‐ and mid/late‐harvest apples. In contrast, consumers' A preferences were differentiated into three subgroups (60%, 24%, 16%) for the early‐harvest apples, but not for the mid/late‐harvest apples. The new apple selections were among those most liked for T, F and A.CONCLUSIONThis early‐stage consumer research confirmed that the new apples were comparable, if not superior, to the established apples. As such, it provided the necessary feedback to industry to proceed with commercialization and optimization of cultural and storage practices. © 2015 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Utilization of magnetically responsive cereal by‐product for organic dye removal
Authors: Baldikova Eva , Politi Dorothea , Maderova Zdenka , Pospiskova Kristyna , Sidiras Dimitrios , Safarikova Mirka , Safarik Ivo 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDBarley straw, an agricultural by‐product, can also serve as a low‐cost and relatively efficient adsorbent of various harmful compounds. In this case, adsorption of four water‐soluble dyes belonging to different dye classes (specifically Bismarck brown Y, representing the azo group; methylene blue, quinone‐imine group; safranin O, safranin group; and crystal violet, triphenylmethane group) on native and citric acid–NaOH‐modified barley straw, both in magnetic and non‐magnetic versions, was studied.RESULTSThe adsorption was characterized using three adsorption models, namely Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips. To compare the maximum adsorption capacities (qmax), the Langmuir model was employed. The qmax values reached 86.5–124.3 mg of dye per g of native non‐magnetic straw and 410.8–520.3 mg of dye per g of magnetic chemically modified straw. Performed characterization studies suggested that the substantial increase in qmax values after chemical modification could be caused by rougher surface of adsorbent (observed by scanning electron microscopy) and by the presence of higher amounts of carboxyl groups (detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The adsorption processes followed the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model and thermodynamic studies indicated spontaneous and endothermic adsorption.CONCLUSIONThe chemical modification of barley straw led to a significant increase in maximum adsorption capacities for all tested dyes, while magnetic modification substantially facilitated the manipulation with adsorbent. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of feed moisture, extrusion temperature and screw speed on properties of soy white flakes based aquafeed: a response surface analysis
Authors: Singh Sushil K , Muthukumarappan Kasiviswanathan 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDSoy white flakes (SWF) is an intermediate product during soy bean processing. It is an untoasted inexpensive product and contains around 51% of crude protein. It can be a potential source of protein to replace fish meal for developing aquafeed. The extrusion process is versatile and is used for the development of aquafeed. Our objective was to study the effects of inclusion of SWF (up to 50%) and other extrusion processing parameters such as barrel temperature and screw speed on the properties of aquafeed extrudates using a single‐screw extruder.RESULTSExtrudate properties, including pellet durability index, bulk density, water absorption and solubility indices and mass flow rate, were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the process variables. SWF was the most significant variable with quadratic effects on most of the properties. Increasing temperature and screw speed resulted in increase in durability and mass flow rate of extrudates. Response surface regression models were established to correlate the properties of extrudates to the process variables.CONCLUSIONSWF was used as an alternative protein source of fish meal. Our study shows that aquafeed with high durability, lower bulk density and lower water absorption and higher solubility indices can be obtained by adding SWF up to 40%. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Wheat and barley differently affect porcine intestinal microbiota
Authors: Weiss Eva , Aumiller Tobias , Spindler Hanna K , Rosenfelder Pia , Eklund Meike , Witzig Maren , Jørgensen Henry , Bach Knudsen Knud Erik , Mosenthin Rainer 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDDiet influences the porcine intestinal microbial ecosystem. Barrows were fitted with ileal T‐cannulas to compare short‐term effects of eight different wheat or barley genotypes and period‐to‐period effects on seven bacterial groups in ileal digesta and faeces by qPCR.RESULTSWithin genotypes of wheat and barley, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in contents of analysed NSP, yet cereal types differed (P < 0.001) except for soluble arabinoxylans. Genotypes showed no effect on bacterial gene copy numbers. In ileal digesta of barley‐ compared to wheat‐fed pigs, log10 copy numbers were lower (P < 0.05) for total eubacteria (9.6–9.8), Bacteroides–Prevotella–Porphyromonas (6.5–6.8), Clostridium cluster IV (6.7–6.9), and Roseburia spp. (6.6–7.2), while higher copy numbers were found for Lactobacillus spp. (9.4–8.8). Enterobacteriaceae (7.0–7.8) and Bifidobacterium spp. (7.0–7.7) were lower (P < 0.001) in faeces of barley compared to wheat‐fed pigs. Ileal eubacteria, Clostridium cluster IV and Roseburia spp. linearly increased from period 1 to 8 for both cereals (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONWheat and barley differently influence microbial composition particularly in the small intestine, with barley increasing the Lactobacillus spp.:Enterobacteriaceae ratio, underlining its potential to beneficially manipulate the intestinal microbial ecosystem. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Habitat selection of gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) in a marine protected area in France
Authors: Huon Mathilde , Jones Esther L. , Matthiopoulos Jason , McConnell Bernie , Caurant Florence , Vincent Cécile 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTIn France, the first marine national park was set up in 2007 in the Iroise Sea, western Brittany, encompassing several Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The park is resident to 1 of only 3 gray seal colonies in France. The at‐sea habitat use of gray seals in the marine park is poorly understood and direct interactions with human activities are expected. We investigated habitat selection of gray seals within the marine park to provide spatial planning recommendations to local conservation management. We obtained data from 19 seals tracked between 2010 and 2013. We used generalized linear models to investigate their habitat selection using distance to haulout, distance to shore, bathymetry, tidal current, and sediment type as explanatory variables. The tracked individuals spent 67% of their time within the boundaries of the marine park. We investigated return trips to focus on habitat selection within the Iroise Sea. The deviance explained by the final model was 76%. Distance to haulout explained 47% of the deviance (seals selected short distances), bathymetry explained 40% (with bimodal selection for waters shallower than 50 m or deeper than 150 m), distance to shore explained 6% (selected distances less than 40 km), current explained 5% (selected weak currents), and sediment explained 2% (selected rocky areas). Habitat selection was concentrated in shallow waters located in the main archipelago of the marine park. The map of selected habitat will help identify potential conflicts of space use between seals and human activities such as fishing and leisure activities. This study has an important ecological and management value. It is the first of its kind in a marine park in France, and one of the few studies of gray seals at the periphery of their range. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Dissolved silicon isotopic compositions in the East China Sea: Water mass mixing vs. biological fractionation
Authors: Cao Zhimian , Frank Martin , Dai Minhan 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe present the first set of dissolved silicon isotope data in seawater (δ30SiSi(OH)4) from the East China Sea, a large and productive marginal sea significantly influenced by the Kuroshio Current and freshwater inputs from the Changjiang (Yangtze River). In summer (August 2009), the lowest surface δ30SiSi(OH)4 signatures of +2.1‰ corresponding to the highest Si(OH)4 concentrations (∼30.0 µmol L−1) were observed nearshore in Changjiang Diluted Water. During advection on the East China Sea inner shelf, surface δ30SiSi(OH)4 increased rapidly to +3.2‰ while Si(OH)4 became depleted, indicating increasing biological utilization of the Si(OH)4 originating from the Changjiang Diluted Water. This is also reflected in the water column profiles characterized by a general decrease of δ30SiSi(OH)4 and an increase of Si(OH)4 with depth on the East China Sea mid‐shelf and slope. In winter (December 2009–January 2010), however, the δ30SiSi(OH)4 was nearly constant at +1.9‰ throughout the water column on the East China Sea shelf beyond the nearshore, which was a consequence of enhanced vertical mixing of the Kuroshio subsurface water. Horizontal admixture of Kuroshio surface water, which is highly fractionated in Si isotopes, was observed only beyond the shelf break. Significant seasonal differences in δ30SiSi(OH)4 were detected in the surface waters beyond the Changjiang Diluted Water‐influenced region on the East China Sea shelf, where the winter values were ∼1.0‰ lower than those in summer, despite the same primary Si(OH)4 supply from the Kuroshio subsurface water during both seasons. This demonstrates significantly higher biological consumption and utilization of Si(OH)4 in summer than in winter.