bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantitative peptidomic analysis by a newly developed one‐step direct transfer technology without depletion of major blood proteins: Its potential utility for monitoring of pathophysiological status in pregnancy‐induced hypertension
Authors: Araki Yoshihiko , Nonaka Daisuke , Tajima Atsushi , Maruyama Mayuko , Nitto Takeaki , Ishikawa Hitoshi , Yoshitake Hiroshi , Yoshida Emiko , Kuronaka Noriko , Asada Kyoichi , Yanagida Mitsuaki , Nojima Michio , Yoshida Koyo , Takamori Kenji , Hashiguchi Teruto , Maruyama Ikuro , Lee Lyang‐Ja , Tanaka Kenji 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWe have recently developed a new target plate (BLOTCHIP®) for MALDI‐MS. An advantage of this procedure is that it does not require the lowering of protein concentrations in test samples prior to analysis. Accordingly, this new technology enables the detection of peptides present in blood samples, including those that would otherwise be adsorbed to abundant blood proteins and would thus escape detection. Using this technology, we analyzed the peripheral blood of patients with pregnancy‐induced hypertension (PIH; the most common serious complication of pregnancy) to test a potential utility of the technology for monitoring of the pathophysiological status. In the present study, we found 23 characteristic peptides for PIH in the blood serum of pregnant women. Offline LC‐MALDI MS/MS identified 7 of the 23 peptides as fragments derived from kininogen‐1 (three peptides), fibrinogen‐α, complement component C4‐A/B, α‐2‐HS‐glycoprotein and inter‐α‐trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4. 2‐D scatter plots with combinations of the peptides found in the present study can be grouped for pregnant women with/without PIH, which would be satisfactory reflected for their status. Additionally, the levels of most of these peptides found were significantly decreased by albumin/IgG depletion prior to BLOTCHIP® analysis in accordance with conventional proteomics procedures. These results indicated that BLOTCHIP® analysis can be applied for discovery study of PIH biomarker candidates.
Force feedback in a piezoelectric linear actuator for neurosurgery
Authors: De Lorenzo Danilo , De Momi Elena , Dyagilev Ilya , Manganelli Rudy , Formaglio Alessandro , Prattichizzo Domenico , Shoham Moshe , Ferrigno Giancarlo 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundForce feedback in robotic minimally invasive surgery allows the human operator to manipulate tissues as if his/her hands were in contact with the patient organs. A force sensor mounted on the probe raises problems with sterilization of the overall surgical tool. Also, the use of off‐axis gauges introduces a moment that increases the friction force on the bearing, which can easily mask off the signal, given the small force to be measured.MethodsThis work aims at designing and testing two methods for estimating the resistance to the advancement (force) experienced by a standard probe for brain biopsies within a brain‐like material. The further goal is to provide a neurosurgeon using a master–slave tele‐operated driver with direct feedback on the tissue mechanical characteristics. Two possible sensing methods, in‐axis strain gauge force sensor and position–position error (control‐based method), were implemented and tested, both aimed at device miniaturization. The analysis carried out was aimed at fulfilment of the psychophysics requirements for force detection and delay tolerance, also taking into account safety, which is directly related to the last two issues. Controller parameters definition is addressed and consideration is given to development of the device with integration of a haptic interface.ResultsResults show better performance of the control‐based method (RMSE < 0.1 N), which is also best for reliability, sterilizability, and material dimensions for the application addressed.ConclusionsThe control‐based method developed for force estimation is compatible with the neurosurgical application and is also capable of measuring tissue resistance without any additional sensors. Force feedback in minimally invasive surgery allows the human operator to manipulate tissues as if his/her hands were in contact with the patient organs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinematic fundamentals of a biomechatronic laparoscopy system
Authors: Ortiz Simón J. L. , Minor Martínez A. , Ordorica Flores R. , Limón Aguilar J. L. , Suaste E. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundOptical assistance in laparoscopic surgery is essential for an optimal procedure. Unlike conventional surgery, it requires new systems to reduce spatial location time, navigation and cleanliness without compromising surgical quality. This article shows the kinematic analysis of a new bio‐mechatronic design to assist laparoscopic visual perspective in real time, either during training or in surgery.MethodsThe bio‐mechatronic system is analyzed in order to get the kinematic model of the system.ResultsThe set of kinematic equations for the bio‐mechatronic system are presented here. The system has been tested functionally in several surgical procedures successfully.ConclusionThe analysis shows the workspace under postural conditions of navigation in real time, where it is possible to get visually self assistance during training or specific surgeries. The new bio‐mechatronic system has been tested in training with inanimate and biological models, in veterinary surgery and pediatrics, with the appropriate consent and respecting the Treaty of Helsinki. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
JDAMA: Java database application mutation analyser
Authors: Zhou Chixiang , Frankl Phyllis 
Published: April 2011

AbstractDatabase application programs are ubiquitous; hence, good techniques for testing them are needed. Several approaches to testing database applications have been proposed recently, including test generation techniques and adequacy criteria. Tuya et al. proposed mutation‐based adequacy criteria for database queries and developed a set of mutation operators for Structured Query Language SELECT statements. This paper extends that approach by integrating it with analysis and instrumentation of the application bytecode. The design and implementation of a tool, Java Database Application Mutation Analyser (JDAMA), are described. JDAMA instruments application bytecode so as to compare the results of queries executed by the application under test to the results of mutants of those queries. JDAMA can be used to support mutation testing for Java database applications. A second, potentially more useful application of JDAMA is to support experiments evaluating testing techniques for database applications, in which query mutation is used to seed faults into subject applications. The paper illustrates these uses of JDAMA with experiments comparing two approaches to test generation and experiments evaluating coverage criteria. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous Quantification of Oil and Protein in Cottonseed by Low‐Field Time‐Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Horn Patrick J. , Neogi Purnima , Tombokan Xenia , Ghosh Supriyo , Campbell B. Todd , Chapman Kent D. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractModification of cottonseed quality traits is likely to be achieved through a combination of genetic modification, manipulation of nutrient allocation, and selective breeding. Oil and protein stores account for the majority of mass of cottonseed embryos. A more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between lint quality, lint yield, and embryo reserve accumulation will assist breeders in their efforts to improve seed value. Here we report the development of a rapid, nondestructive, simultaneous method for quantifying oil and protein levels within cottonseed by low‐field 1H time‐domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD‐NMR). This approach is suitable for a minimal amount of seed and represents an accurate (oil R2 = 0.998, protein R2 = 0.95), noninvasive alternative to conventional, time‐consuming chemical extractions. We demonstrate the value of this approach by surveying seed reserve content, identifying extremes of either protein and/or oil, in two sets of diverse germplasm.
Physics and engineering design of the accelerator and electron dump for SPIDER
Authors: Agostinetti P. , Antoni V. , Cavenago M. , Chitarin G. , Marconato N. , Marcuzzi D. , Pilan N. , Serianni G. , Sonato P. , Veltri P. , Zaccaria P. 
Published: April 2011

The ITER Neutral Beam Test Facility (PRIMA) is planned to be built at Consorzio RFX (Padova, Italy). PRIMA includes two experimental devices: a full size ion source with low voltage extraction called SPIDER and a full size neutral beam injector at full beam power called MITICA. SPIDER is the first experimental device to be built and operated, aiming at testing the extraction of a negative ion beam (made of H− and in a later stage D− ions) from an ITER size ion source. The main requirements of this experiment are a H−/D− extracted current density larger than 355/285 A m−2, an energy of 100 keV and a pulse duration of up to 3600 s.
Several analytical and numerical codes have been used for the design optimization process, some of which are commercial codes, while some others were developed ad hoc. The codes are used to simulate the electrical fields (SLACCAD, BYPO, OPERA), the magnetic fields (OPERA, ANSYS, COMSOL, PERMAG), the beam aiming (OPERA, IRES), the pressure inside the accelerator (CONDUCT, STRIP), the stripping reactions and transmitted/dumped power (EAMCC), the operating temperature, stress and deformations (ALIGN, ANSYS) and the heat loads on the electron dump (ED) (EDAC, BACKSCAT).
An integrated approach, taking into consideration at the same time physics and engineering aspects, has been adopted all along the design process. Particular care has been taken in investigating the many interactions between physics and engineering aspects of the experiment. According to the ‘robust design’ philosophy, a comprehensive set of sensitivity analyses was performed, in order to investigate the influence of the design choices on the most relevant operating parameters.
The design of the SPIDER accelerator, here described, has been developed in order to satisfy with reasonable margin all the requirements given by ITER, from the physics and engineering points of view. In particular, a new approach to the compensation of unwanted beam deflections inside the accelerator and a new concept for the ED have been introduced.
A systematic review of suicidal behaviour in old age: a gender perspective
Authors: Fung Yuen‐Ling , Chan Zenobia CY 
Published: April 2011

Aim.  This article presents the findings of a systematic review of the literature on suicidal behaviour in old age, specifically examining gender differences.Background.  Numerous studies have reported that older people are at a higher risk for suicide than other age groups in most countries. Rarely do they examine whether there are differences in suicidal behaviour among older males and females.Design.  Systematic review.Methods.  Electronic databases were systematically searched to identify English language reports of research about suicide and suicide attempts in old age. Studies were assessed for inclusion based on inclusion criteria. Key results concerning suicide in old age were extracted and synthesised.Results.  Twenty‐two gender‐specific studies on suicidal behaviour in old age were identified. All studies were of the quantitative type. Five factors affecting suicide by gender in old age were identified from the selected papers.Conclusions.  Most findings concluded that older males had a higher risk of suicide than older females. Some findings nevertheless revealed that the risk factors for one socio‐demographic group may be less relevant to others and that people operate differently in different social contexts. Further in‐depth exploration on the gender‐specific characteristics in old‐age suicide is recommended.Relevance to clinical practice.  Health professionals are encouraged to increase their knowledge of the risk factors leading to suicide in old age in their local contexts and to be able to identify potential victims and render timely and appropriate intervention. They should also be ready to open up their service boundaries and develop collaborative partnerships with local agencies and the general public.
Net haemoglobin increase from reinfusion of refrigerated vs. frozen red blood cells after autologous blood transfusions
Authors: Ashenden M. , Mørkeberg J. 
Published: April 2011

Background and Objectives  Two main blood storage procedures can be used for storing red blood cells: refrigeration and freezing. Nevertheless, the efficiency of these procedures measured as the increase in haemoglobin after reinfusion compared with baseline has never been examined. The main objective was to examine which storage procedure yielded the largest increase in circulating haemoglobin after reinfusion compared to baseline.Materials and Methods  Equal volumes of blood from 15 men were withdrawn and stored either frozen or refrigerated as packed red blood cells. Serial measures of circulating haemoglobin by carbon monoxide rebreathing provided an opportunity to monitor recovery from anaemia, as well as the net increase in circulating haemoglobin after transfusion.Results  The post‐thaw yield of haemoglobin in the bags was 72% after refrigerated storage compared with only 52% after freezing. Nevertheless, frozen storage allowed haemoglobin to fully recover before reinfusion, while the haemoglobin was 10% lower in the refrigerated group compared with baseline. After reinfusion, the haemoglobin levels were 11·5% higher than the baseline values in the group reinfused with frozen blood, while for the refrigerated group, haemoglobin levels were only 5·2% higher than baseline.Conclusion  The relatively larger recovery from anaemia in the frozen group during storage more than compensated for the larger loss of haemoglobin during freezing and resulted in a larger net gain in haemoglobin. Based on the average 23 g per week recovery of haemoglobin, extending refrigerated storage to 7–8 weeks may yield sufficient time for patients to fully replenish harvested haemoglobin from three bags of blood without reliance on frozen storage of RBC.
A spatial regression analysis of German community characteristics associated with voluntary non‐remunerated blood donor rates
Authors: Weidmann C. , Schneider S. , Litaker D. , Weck E. , Klüter H. 
Published: April 2011

Background and Objectives  Previous studies have shown substantial geographical variation in blood donation within developed countries. To understand this issue better, we identified community characteristics associated with blood donor rates in German municipalities in an ecological analysis.Materials and Methods  We calculated an aggregated rate of voluntary blood donors from each of 1533 municipalities in south‐west Germany in 2007 from a database of the German Red Cross Blood Service. A multiple linear regression model estimated the association between the municipality‐specific donor rate and several community characteristics. Finally, a spatial lag regression model was used to control for spatial autocorrelation that occurs when neighbouring units are related to each other.Results  The spatial lag regression model showed that a relatively larger population, a higher percentage of inhabitants older than 30 years, a higher percentage of non‐German citizens and a higher percentage of unemployed persons were associated with lower municipality‐specific donor rates. Conversely, a higher donor rate was correlated with higher voter turnout, a higher percentage of inhabitants between 18 and 24 years and more frequent mobile donation sites.Conclusions  Blood donation appears to be a highly clustered regional phenomenon, suggesting the need for regionally targeted recruiting efforts and careful consideration of the value of mobile donation sites. Our model further suggests that municipalities with a decreasing percentage of 18‐ to 24‐year‐olds and an increasing percentage of older inhabitants may experience substantial declines in future blood donations.
Evolution of animal multicellularity stimulated by dissolved organic carbon in early Ediacaran ocean: DOXAM hypothesis
Authors: KANO AKIHIRO , KUNIMITSU YOKO , TOGO TETSUHIRO , TAKASHIMA CHIDURU , SHIRAISHI FUMITO , WANG WEI 
Published: April 2011

AbstractOxygenation of the ocean is presumed to be an important factor stimulating the evolution of multicellular animals. The appearance of the Ediacaran‐type biota (ca 575 Ma) was assigned to the aftermath of the Gaskiers glaciation (ca 580 Ma), when substantial oceanic oxygenation is believed to have started. However, several lines of evidence reveal that at least sponges evolved before this oxygenation. For understanding the first stage of animal evolution, we propose the hypothesis that Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) Stimulated the evolution for Animal Multicellularity (DOXAM). Recent geochemical studies of the Ediacaran sedimentary sequences have indicated that a substantial DOC mass was developed in the stratified ocean after the Marinoan glaciation (655–635 Ma), and this was supported by the inorganic and organic carbon isotope profiles of the Doushantuo Formation in South China. The DOC mass was an oxygen consumer in the water column; however, it could have provided a food source for filter‐feeding animals such as sponges and cnidarians, and established a primitive food‐web. Such an ecological structure is recognized in modern deep‐sea coral mounds. Results from the integrated ocean drilling program (IODP) Expedition 307 for a mound in northeastern Atlantic suggested that organic carbon suspended around the density boundary in the water column is the key feature to feed the heterotrophic deep‐sea coral community. Our hypothesis is consistent with the fact that the two most primitive animal phyla (Porifera and Cnidaria) are filter feeders. The evolution of filter feeding ecosystems removed the DOC mass and may have contributed to ocean oxygenation in the terminal Neoproterozoic when animal evolution passed into the second stage, with the appearance of bilaterians.
Recognition and management of overweight and obese children: A questionnaire survey of general practitioners and parents in England
Authors: Gage Heather , Erdal Ebru , Saigal Priyanka , Qiao Yue , Williams Peter , Raats Monique M 
Published: April 2011

Aims:  To (i) compare the views of general practitioners (GPs) and parents about the causes, consequences and management of childhood overweight/obesity; and (ii) explore the extent to which they can identify overweight/obesity in children.Methods:  A questionnaire was mailed to all GPs in one Primary Care Trust and all parents in one primary school in southern England, 2008. Information was gathered on socio‐demographic background, views about causes, consequences and management of childhood overweight/obesity; judgements about the weight status of 14 images of children (seven boys, seven girls) in the Children's Body Image Scale (CBIS). Comparisons were made between GP and parents' responses using unpaired bivariate tests.Results:  The response rate was 33%. Differences exist between the views of GPs and parents about childhood weight management: 86.4% of parents felt GPs should be involved, compared to 73.3% of GPs (P < 0.001). Parents thought GPs should be more proactive than the GPs stated they would be. GPs were significantly more likely than parents to see a role for school nurses and dieticians. One third of respondents thought GPs lacked expertise in child weight management. Most GPs and parents correctly identified obese children from the images, but inaccuracies occurred at category margins.Conclusions:  Childhood overweight/obesity is a serious public health concern, and primary care has a role to play in tackling it. GPs in England need more training in childhood overweight/obesity management. Their role needs to be clarified in the context of multiagency approaches.
Acute suppurative thyroiditis in young children
Authors: Wongphyat Oranan , Mahachoklertwattana Pat , Molagool Sani , Poomthavorn Preamrudee 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWe report two children with acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST). They presented with typical features of AST, which include fever, painful goiter and biochemical euthyroidism. An anatomical defect predisposed to thyroid infection, pyriform sinus fistula, was identified in one patient. Both patients responded well to surgical pus drainage and antibiotic treatment. Anatomical defects must be sought in all children with AST to perform specific surgical treatment and prevent recurrent infection.
ROLE OF EUS IN THE EARLY DETECTION OF SMALL PANCREATIC CANCER
Authors: YASUDA ICHIRO , IWASHITA TAKUJI , DOI SHINPEI , NAKASHIMA MASANORI , MORIWAKI HISATAKA 
Published: April 2011

The prognosis of pancreatic cancer is extremely poor as a result of the difficulty in early detection of small pancreatic cancer and the intractable nature of appropriate anti‐cancer therapies. Computed tomography (CT) is generally used for initial screening, but imaging sensitivities are generally insufficient to detect small masses. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), in contrast, exhibits higher sensitivity than other imaging modalities for the detection of pancreatic cancers, because of the high resolution of images.Aims:  The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of EUS in the early detection of small pancreatic cancer.Methods:  We retrospectively reviewed the Gifu University Hospital EUS database (November 2007 to October 2010), and extracted the data of patients whose aim was to confirm the presence or absence of pancreatic cancer subsequent to no tumor detection by abdominal CT.Results:  In a 3 year period, 132 patients underwent EUS to confirm the presence or absence of small pancreatic cancer. All patients had previously tested negative for pancreatic mass using abdominal CT, but had showed pancreatic cancer risk factors, including increased serum carcinoembryonic antigen and/or CA 19–9 (n = 106), serum amylase (n = 38), and/or mild to moderate dilation of the main pancreatic duct as determined by imaging (n = 88). EUS detected pancreatic mass in three of these patients. The masses in all three patients were minute (≤10 mm) and their presence was correlated with the detection of mild dilation of the main pancreatic duct in earlier CT scans. Increase of tumor markers was observed in two patients and hyperamylasemia and aggravation of diabetes were observed in one patient.Conclusions:  EUS is strongly recommended for early detection of small pancreatic cancer in patients in whom the dilation of the main pancreatic duct was detected in previous imaging tests, with or without increase of pancreatic enzymes or tumor markers.
Plastic zone size estimation under cyclic loadings using in situ optical microscopy fatigue testing
Authors: ZHANG W. , LIU Y. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTAn in situ optical microscopy fatigue testing is proposed in this paper to investigate the forward and reversed plastic zone size under cyclic loadings for Al‐7075‐T6. This experimental study is used to verify the hypotheses in a recently developed small time scale formulation of fatigue crack growth. During the testing, the entire cyclic loading cycle is divided into a certain number of steps. Images of the crack tip are taken at each step. The full strain field around the crack tip is determined using the digital image correlation (DIC) technique. The plastic zone size is obtained by combining the DIC results and the material constitutive relationship. Experimental measurements from the proposed study are compared with theoretical predictions. It is observed that the crack closure has a large effect on the reversed plastic zone size. The plastic zone size remains almost constant when the unloading path is below a certain stress level, which is one of the hypotheses used in a previous crack growth model. Discussions are given for the modelling of plastic zone size variation under cyclic loadings and several conclusions are drawn based on the current investigation.