bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The presence of meniscal lesions is a strong predictor of neuropathic pain in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional pilot study
Authors: Roubille Camille , Raynauld Jean-Pierre , Abram François , Paiement Patrice , Dorais Marc , Delorme Philippe , Bessette Louis , Beaulieu André D , Martel-Pelletier Johanne , Pelletier Jean-Pierre 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Pain in osteoarthritis (OA) has been classically attributed to joint structural damage. Disparity between the degree of radiographic structural damage and the severity of symptoms implies that factors other than the joint pathology itself contribute to the pain. Peripheral and central sensitization have been suggested as two of the underlying mechanisms that contribute to pain in OA. The aim of this study was to explore in symptomatic knee OA patients, the structural changes assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that could be used as markers of neuropathic pain (NP).

Methods
This cross-sectional observational pilot study included 50 knee OA patients with moderate to severe pain (VAS ≥40) in the target knee. The presence of NP was determined based on the PainDETECT questionnaire. Among the 50 patients included, 25 had PainDETECT score ≤12 (unlikely NP), 9 had PainDETECT score between 13 and 18 (uncertain NP) and 16 had PainDETECT score ≥19 (likely NP). WOMAC, PainDETECT, and VAS pain scores as well as knee MRI were assessed.

Results
Data showed no significant difference in demographic characteristics between the three groups. However, a positive and statistically significant association was found between the WOMAC pain (P <0.001), function (P <0.001), stiffness (P = 0.007) and total (P <0.001) scores as well as higher VAS pain score (P = 0.023), and PainDETECT scores. Although no difference was found in the cartilage volume between groups, the presence of meniscal extrusion in both medial (P = 0.006) and lateral (P = 0.023) compartments, and presence of meniscal tears in the lateral compartment (P = 0.011), were significantly associated with increasing PainDETECT score. Moreover, the presence of bone marrow lesions in the lateral plateau and the extent of the synovial membrane thickness in the lateral recess were associated with increasing PainDETECT scores (P = 0.032, P = 0.027, respectively).

Conclusions
In this study, meniscal lesions, particularly extrusion, were found to be among the strongest risk factors for NP in knee OA patients.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01733277. Registered 16 November 2012.
Insight on automated lesion delineation methods for PET data
Authors: Firouzian Azadeh , Kelly Matthew D , Declerck Jérôme M 
Published: December 2014

Abstract

Background
Defining tumour volume for treatment response and radiotherapy planning is challenging and prone to inter- and intra-observer variability. Various automated tumour delineation methods have been proposed in the literature, each having abilities and limitations. Therefore, there is a need to provide clinicians with practical information on delineation method selection.

Methods
Six different automated positron emission tomography (PET) delineation methods were evaluated and compared using National Electrical Manufacturer Association image quality (NEMA IQ) phantom data and three in-house synthetic phantoms with clinically relevant lesion shapes including spheres with necrotic core and irregular shapes. The impact of different contrast ratios, emission counts, realisations and reconstruction algorithms on delineation performance was also studied using similarity index (SI) and percentage volume error (%VE) as performance measures.

Results
With the NEMA IQ phantom, contrast thresholding (CT) performed best on average for all sphere sizes and parameter settings (SI = 0.83; %VE = 5.65% ± 24.34%). Adaptive thresholding at 40% (AT40) was the next best method and required no prior parameter tuning (SI = 0.78; %VE = 23.22% ± 70.83%). When using SUV harmonisation filtering prior to delineation (EQ.PET), AT40 remains the best method without prior parameter tuning (SI = 0.81; %VE = 11.39% ± 85.28%).
For necrotic core spheres and irregular shapes of the synthetic phantoms, CT remained the best performing method (SI = 0.83; %VE = 26.31% ± 38.26% and SI = 0.62; %VE = 24.52% ± 46.89%, respectively). The second best method was fuzzy locally adaptive Bayesian (FLAB) (SI = 0.83; %VE = 29.51% ± 81.79%) for necrotic core sphere and AT40 (SI = 0.58; %VE = 25.11% ± 32.41%) for irregular shapes. When using EQ.PET prior to delineation, AT40 was the best performing method without prior parameter tuning for both necrotic core (SI = 0.83; %VE = 27.98% ± 59.58%) and complex shapes phantoms (SI = 0.61; %VE = 14.83% ± 49.39%).

Conclusions
CT and AT40/AT50 are recommended for all lesion sizes and contrasts. Overall, considering background uptake information improves PET delineation accuracy. Applying EQ.PET prior to delineation improves accuracy and reduces coefficient of variation (CV) across different reconstructions and acquisitions.
A cross-sectional assessment to detect type 2 diabetes with endothelial and autonomic nervous system markers using a novel system
Authors: Lewis John E , Lantigua Laura , Atlas Steven E , Lopez Johanna , Mendez Armando , Goldberg Sharon , Medici Sacha , Konefal Janet , Woolger Judi M , Tiozzo Eduard , Aliffe Karyem H 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Background
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is frequently unrecognized until complications appear. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is one of the early complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus, resulting in autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of ANS function indicators to screen for type 2 diabetes mellitus, as measured by the TM-Oxi and SudoPath system.

Methods
All enrolled participants completed a basic sociodemographic and medical history questionnaire including current medications. Healthy controls (n = 25) underwent a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to evaluate glucose, insulin, and insulin C-peptide. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 24) were assessed with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin. The TM-Oxi and SudoPath system evaluation was completed by all subjects. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22. Frequency and descriptive statistics were calculated on all variables. The criterion for statistical significance was α = 0.05.

Results
The twenty-five healthy controls had a mean age of 37.0 years. The twenty-four type 2 diabetes mellitus patients currently undergoing standard treatment had a mean age of 48.9 years. Based on the American Diabetes Association guidelines, we detected pre-diabetes in 4 subjects and diabetes in 1 subject, while all other subjects had normal FPG values. At 120 minutes, the correlations between the OGTT and cardiometabolic risk score (CMRS) were: r = 0.56 (p = 0.004) for glucose and r = 0.53 (p = 0.006) for insulin. At 120 minutes, the correlations between the OGTT and photoplethysmography index (PTGi) were: r = -0.56 (p = 0.003) for glucose and r = -0.41 (p = 0.04) for insulin. The CMRS, PTGi, and plethysmography total power index (PTGVLFi) differed significantly between the diabetes patients and healthy participants. The specificity and sensitivity for the CMRS, PTGi, and PTVLFi comparing the diabetes patients with healthy controls were high.

Conclusion
The TM-Oxi and SudoPath system shows promise as a valid, convenient, and non-invasive screening method for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The ANS function and CMR indicators measured by this system may be useful in guiding diabetes and cardiovascular health screening, treatment, and monitoring.
Disinfection of raw wastewater and activated sludge effluent using Fenton like reagent
Authors: Aslani Hassan , Nabizadeh Ramin , Alimohammadi Mahmood , Mesdaghinia Alireza , Nadafi Kazem , Nemati Reza , Ghani Maryam 
Published: December 2014

Abstract

Background and objectives
Water shortage problems have led to find either new water resources or improve wastewater treatment technologies in order to reuse. Due to less performance of previous units in microbial removal, disinfection has become a necessary step in wastewater treatment plants. In the present study performance of hydrogen peroxide (HP) and modified Fenton’s reagent (HP + Cu++) was considered for the disinfection of raw wastewater (RW) and activated sludge effluent (ASE).

Materials and methods
Plastic containers of 10-liter volume each were used for RW and ASE sampling. Microbiological analyses of the RW and ASE were performed in triplicate; before and after the disinfection process. Fecal coliforms were analyzed by the direct (without enrichment) multiple fermentation tube procedure.

Results
The results showed that using HP alone did not have any significant disinfection capability. In RW and ASE, the highest dose used in this study could reduce fecal coliforms (FC)s by only 1.54 and 1.16 log-inactivation, respectively. However, Maximum removal efficiency of modified Fenton in RW and ASE was 4.63 and 3.41 log-inactivation, respectively. The results suggested that Cu++ ions used in combination with H2O2 produced very rigorous synergistic effect, and HP disinfection capacity increased significantly.

Conclusion
Hydrogen peroxide, when applied alone, was not successful in disinfecting of either RW or ASE, and neither the WHO guideline nor the Iranian standard could be met. However, modified Fenton showed very significant disinfection potential and could reduce FCs under World Health Organization (WHO) guideline and Iranian national standard for agricultural irrigation.
Morphological, olfactory, and vocal development in big brown bats
Authors: Mayberry Heather W. , Faure Paul A. 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACT
Using a within subjects design, we documented morphological, bioacoustical and behavioral developmental changes in big brown bats. Eptesicus fuscus pups are born naked and blind but assume an adult-like appearance by post-natal day (PND) 45 and flight by PND 30. Adult females use spatial memory, acoustic and olfactory cues to reunite with offspring, but it is unclear if pups can recognize maternal scents. We tested the olfactory discrimination abilities of young E. fuscus pups and found they exhibited no odor preferences. Pups also emit distinct vocalizations called isolation calls (i-calls) that facilitate mother-offspring reunions, but how pups shift their vocalizations from i-calls to downward frequency modulated (FM) sweeps used in echolocation remains unclear. Between PND 0–9, pups emitted mainly long duration, tonal i-calls rich in harmonics, but after they switched to short duration, downward FM sweeps with fewer harmonics. Call maximum frequency and repetition rate showed minor changes across development. Signal duration, bandwidth, and number of harmonics decreased, whereas the maximum, minimum and bandwidth of the fundamental, and peak spectral frequency all increased. We recorded vocalizations during prolonged maternal separation and found that isolated pups called longer and at a faster rate, presumably to signal for maternal assistance. To assess how PND 13 pups alter their signals during interactions with humans we compared spontaneous and provoked vocalizations and found that provoked calls were spectrally and temporally more similar to those of younger bats suggesting that pups in distress emit signals that sound like younger bats to promote maternal assistance.
Computer simulations of the mouse spermatogenic cycle
Authors: Ray Debjit , Pitts Philip B. , Hogarth Cathryn A. , Whitmore Leanne S. , Griswold Michael D. , Ye Ping 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACT
The spermatogenic cycle describes the periodic development of germ cells in the testicular tissue. The temporal–spatial dynamics of the cycle highlight the unique, complex, and interdependent interaction between germ and somatic cells, and are the key to continual sperm production. Although understanding the spermatogenic cycle has important clinical relevance for male fertility and contraception, there are a number of experimental obstacles. For example, the lengthy process cannot be visualized through dynamic imaging, and the precise action of germ cells that leads to the emergence of testicular morphology remains uncharacterized. Here, we report an agent-based model that simulates the mouse spermatogenic cycle on a cross-section of the seminiferous tubule over a time scale of hours to years, while considering feedback regulation, mitotic and meiotic division, differentiation, apoptosis, and movement. The computer model is able to elaborate the germ cell dynamics in a time-lapse movie format, allowing us to trace individual cells as they change state and location. More importantly, the model provides mechanistic understanding of the fundamentals of male fertility, namely how testicular morphology and sperm production are achieved. By manipulating cellular behaviors either individually or collectively in silico, the model predicts causal events for the altered arrangement of germ cells upon genetic or environmental perturbations. This in silico platform can serve as an interactive tool to perform long-term simulation and to identify optimal approaches for infertility treatment and contraceptive development.
Influence of environmental information in natural scenes and the effects of motion adaptation on a fly motion-sensitive neuron during simulated flight
Authors: Ullrich Thomas W. , Kern Roland , Egelhaaf Martin 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACT
Gaining information about the spatial layout of natural scenes is a challenging task that flies need to solve, especially when moving at high velocities. A group of motion sensitive cells in the lobula plate of flies is supposed to represent information about self-motion as well as the environment. Relevant environmental features might be the nearness of structures, influencing retinal velocity during translational self-motion, and the brightness contrast. We recorded the responses of the H1 cell, an individually identifiable lobula plate tangential cell, during stimulation with image sequences, simulating translational motion through natural sceneries with a variety of differing depth structures. A correlation was found between the average nearness of environmental structures within large parts of the cell's receptive field and its response across a variety of scenes, but no correlation was found between the brightness contrast of the stimuli and the cell response. As a consequence of motion adaptation resulting from repeated translation through the environment, the time-dependent response modulations induced by the spatial structure of the environment were increased relatively to the background activity of the cell. These results support the hypothesis that some lobula plate tangential cells do not only serve as sensors of self-motion, but also as a part of a neural system that processes information about the spatial layout of natural scenes.
Sucrose non-fermenting related kinase enzyme is essential for cardiac metabolism
Authors: Cossette Stephanie M. , Gastonguay Adam J. , Bao Xiaoping , Lerch-Gaggl Alexandra , Zhong Ling , Harmann Leanne M. , Koceja Christopher , Miao Robert Q. , Vakeel Padmanabhan , Chun Changzoon , Li Keguo , Foeckler Jamie , Bordas Michelle , Weiler Hartmut , Strande Jennifer , Palecek Sean P. , Ramchandran Ramani 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACT
In this study, we have identified a novel member of the AMPK family, namely Sucrose non-fermenting related kinase (Snrk), that is responsible for maintaining cardiac metabolism in mammals. SNRK is expressed in the heart, and brain, and in cell types such as endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes (CMs). Snrk knockout (KO) mice display enlarged hearts, and die at postnatal day 0. Microarray analysis of embryonic day 17.5 Snrk hearts, and blood profile of neonates display defect in lipid metabolic pathways. SNRK knockdown CMs showed altered phospho-acetyl-coA carboxylase and phospho-AMPK levels similar to global and endothelial conditional KO mouse. Finally, adult cardiac conditional KO mouse displays severe cardiac functional defects and lethality. Our results suggest that Snrk is essential for maintaining cardiac metabolic homeostasis, and shows an autonomous role for SNRK during mammalian development.
Testing avian compass calibration: comparative experiments with diurnal and nocturnal passerine migrants in South Sweden
Authors: Åkesson Susanne , Odin Catharina , Hegedüs Ramón , Ilieva Mihaela , Sjöholm Christoffer , Farkas Alexandra , Horváth Gábor 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACT
Cue-conflict experiments were performed to study the compass calibration of one predominantly diurnal migrant, the dunnock (Prunella modularis), and two species of nocturnal passerine migrants, the sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), and the European robin (Erithacus rubecula) during autumn migration in South Sweden. The birds' orientation was recorded in circular cages under natural clear and simulated overcast skies in the local geomagnetic field, and thereafter the birds were exposed to a cue-conflict situation where the horizontal component of the magnetic field (mN) was shifted +90° or −90° at two occasions, one session starting shortly after sunrise and the other ca. 90 min before sunset and lasting for 60 min. The patterns of the degree and angle of skylight polarization were measured by full-sky imaging polarimetry during the cue-conflict exposures and orientation tests. All species showed orientation both under clear and overcast skies that correlated with the expected migratory orientation towards southwest to south. For the European robin the orientation under clear skies was significantly different from that recorded under overcast skies, showing a tendency that the orientation under clear skies was influenced by the position of the Sun at sunset resulting in more westerly orientation. This sun attraction was not observed for the sedge warbler and the dunnock, both orientating south. All species showed similar orientation after the cue-conflict as compared to the preferred orientation recorded before the cue-conflict, with the clearest results in the European robin and thus, the results did not support recalibration of the celestial nor the magnetic compasses as a result of the cue-conflict exposure.
Morphologic and physiologic retinal degeneration induced by intravenous delivery of vitamin A dimers in the leporid retina
Authors: Penn Jackie , Mihai Doina M. , Washington Ilyas 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The eye uses vitamin A as a cofactor to sense light, during this process a fraction of vitamin A dimerizes forming vitamin A dimers. A striking chemical signature of retinas undergoing degeneration in major eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease, is the accumulation of these dimers in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane (BM). However, it is not known whether dimers of vitamin A are merely secondary symptoms or primary insults that drive degeneration. Here, we present a chromatography free method to prepare gram quantities of the vitamin A dimer, A2E, and show that intravenous administration of A2E to the rabbit results in retinal degeneration. A2E damaged photoreceptors and RPE cells, triggered inflammation, induced remolding of the choroidal vasculature, and triggered a decline in the retina's response to light. Data suggest that vitamin A dimers are not bystanders, but can be primary drivers of retinal degeneration. Thus, preventing dimer formation could be a preemptive strategy to address serious forms of blindness.
Experimental Study of the Effect of RCC Specimen Size and Crack Depth Ratio on Double-K Fracture Parameters
Authors: Cui Xinzhuang , Zhang Jiong , Hou Fei , Gao Zhijun , Wang Zengtang , Sui Wei 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
When the height of roller compacted concrete (RCC) specimen is less than 400 mm, the specimen size and crack depth ratio will affect the double-K fracture parameters. In this paper, two groups of RCC specimens with different specimen size and crack depth ratio were investigated and the wedge splitting method was employed. Double-K fracture parameters were calculated employing the double-K fracture theory of concrete. It is indicated that when the crack depth ratio, α, increased from 0.4 to 0.6, the unstable fracture toughness, KICun, increases, while the initial fracture toughness, KICini, decreases. The crack depth ratio, α, has a continuous effect on KICini, however the effect on KICun decreases with the increase of α. When the height of the specimen, h, is less than 300 mm, the effect of specimen size on KICun is significant, but it decreases when h is greater than 300 mm and less than 500 mm.
Comparison between Laboratory and Field Stiffness by Wave Measurements
Authors: Martins João , Gomes Correia A. 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The present work aims to establish a relationship between field and laboratory moduli obtained from mechanical wave measurements. Spectral analysis of surface waves was performed on a clayey sand trial layer during tests in a full-scale trial. Laboratory triaxial tests involving S-wave measurements with bender elements and accelerometers were conducted on specimens under similar conditions, and the shear modulus was determined. Both laboratory and field methodologies for the determination of the shear modulus were based on S-wave propagation through the tested material; thus they involved similar stress and strain levels. A reasonable relationship was observed between field and laboratory moduli, taking into account field conditions (moisture content and void ratio) and stress state.
Field Response of High Speed Rail Box Tunnel During Horizontal Grouting
Authors: Ni James C. , Cheng Wen-Chieh 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The construction of two bored tunnels passing underneath an existing high speed rail (HSR) box tunnel needed to traverse obliquely through the diaphragm wall originally used for excavation and lateral support during construction of the HSR box tunnel. An access lift shaft was constructed adjacent to the HSR box tunnel diaphragm wall to provide access for the horizontal grouting equipment used to modify the surrounding soil to have sufficient water tightness and shear strength for safe tunnel eye creation and removal of steel H-beams left within the soil mixing wall. The grout block behind the tunnel eye was constructed first, followed by a long distance (up to 52 m) horizontal grouting (LDHG) program to form the other grout block around the steel H-beams. Since the grouted area was confined by a box tunnel on top and diaphragm walls on both sides, inappropriate grouting pressure could cause significant vertical movement of the HSR box tunnel above and potentially endanger the safety of the HSR service within. The grouting program was adjusted in accordance to real time box tunnel motion as detected by electronic beam sensors along the side walls of the box tunnel. Our strategies for overcoming the challenges associated with long distance horizontal wash boring through diaphragm walls, scattered with steel H-beams, and accompanying grouting strategy will be presented in this paper. The vertical movement of the HSR box tunnel during the LDHG program was well controlled to less than 4 mm, while the maximum lateral displacement of the shaft diaphragm wall was maintained below 9 mm.