bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Projected prevalence of age‐related macular degeneration in Scandinavia 2012–2040
Authors: Lindekleiv Haakon , Erke Maja Gran 
Published: May 2012

Abstract.Purpose:  To project the number of persons with late age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) in Scandinavia through 2040.Methods:  Age‐ and sex‐specific prevalence rates of late AMD (choroidal neovascularization and geographic atrophy) from the European Eye Study and the Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group were applied to the projected Danish, Norwegian and Swedish population from 2012 to 2040.Results:  A total of 187 000 persons aged ≥65 years in Scandinavia are currently affected by late AMD: 47 000 in Denmark, 43 000 in Norway and 97 000 in Sweden. Owing to an ageing population, the number of persons affected by late AMD will increase 75% to 328 000 in 2040.Conclusion:  The number of patients with late AMD in Scandinavia is expected to increase substantially over the next three decades, resulting in increased demand for ophthalmic health services.
Nitrogen and harvest management of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grassland for sustainable biomass feedstock production
Authors: Lee Do Kyoung , Aberle Ezra , Chen Chengci , Egenolf Josh , Harmoney Keith , Kakani Gopal , Kallenbach Robert L. , Castro Joseph C. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe Biomass Regional Feedstock Partnership has identified grasslands planted under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) as a potential source for herbaceous bioenergy feedstock. The goal of this project is to assess the yield potential of CRP grasslands across diverse regions. Consistent with that goal, the objective of this project was to establish yield potential and quality parameters for several different CRP grasslands, representative of different growing environments. Standard field scale agricultural practices were used as management guidelines at each location. The test locations were identified and established based on known regions containing concentrated tracts of CRP grassland and represented variable climatic parameters and production histories. Biomass production potential for CRP land dominated by either warm‐ or cool‐season grass mixtures in each location was evaluated over the course of three growing seasons (2008, 2009, and 2010). Specifically, a mixture of warm‐season perennial grasses was evaluated in North Dakota, Kansas, and Oklahoma, while a cool‐season mixture was evaluated in Montana, Georgia, and Missouri. Maximum biomass yields for the three warm‐season CRP sites ranged from 4.0 to 7.2 Mg ha−1 and for the three cool‐season CRP sites 3.4–6.0 Mg ha−1. Our results demonstrate that CRP grassland has potential as a bioenergy feedstock resource if the appropriate management practices are followed.
A new method for real‐time monitoring of soil CO2 efflux
Authors: Lavoie Martin , Owens Jen , Risk Dave 
Published: May 2012

Summary1. A better understanding of temporal and spatial variability of soil CO2 fluxes is essential to improve model predictions of soil effluxes. To accomplish that goal, high‐frequency and long‐term data sets for model development and validation are needed. However, the cost and high maintenance associated with the current technology make high‐frequency measurements for small or large spatially distributed grids difficult to achieve. Here, we describe a new observational infrastructure for monitoring soil CO2 efflux, which is attractive because of its low cost and low power consumption compared to traditional methods.2. Three observational stations equipped with forced diffusion (FD) chambers were deployed in the summer of 2010 across a 1000‐km transect in Atlantic Canada. At half‐hourly resolution, each observational station recorded soil carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux from two flux chambers and from a suite of meteorological sensors and peripherals. Each station was equipped with telemetry, and data were continuously downloaded for c. 1 year.3. The average power consumption for each station was roughly a third of a LI‐COR LI‐8100 system. The FD chambers were approximately four times more affordable than conventional equipment and were also reliable with <1% of the data lost because of power failure.4. High‐frequency observations from the three sites showed that the systems were extremely dynamic, with CO2 efflux dependency to temperature and moisture on many time‐scales. For instance, the data showed pronounced increases in soil CO2 efflux after major rain events. The results from the FD chambers also highlighted the role of other biological and physical factors on soil CO2 efflux.5. Overall, this new method was very successful in key areas including survivability, management intensity and cost. The high‐frequency data hold many interesting features that are not captured in synoptic data sets and which will be useful for tuning our understanding of soil carbon dynamics.
Effect of hypaconitine combined with liquiritin on the expression of calmodulin and connexin43 in rat cardiac muscle in vivo
Authors: Yi Mingjing , Peng Wei , Chen Xiaomin , Wang Junjun , Chen Yong 
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Objectives
To study the effects of hypaconitine used alone and combined with liquiritin on calmodulin (CaM) expression and connexin43 (Cx43) phosphorylation on serine368 (Ser368), as well as to investigate the intervention of liquiritin on these hypaconitine-induced effects.

Methods
Adult Wistar rats were orally administered hypaconitine (0.23, 0.69, 2.07 mg/kg per day), liquiritin (20 mg/kg per day), or hypaconitine (2.07 mg/kg per day) plus liquiritin (20 mg/kg per day) for seven consecutive days. The mRNA expression levels of CaM and Cx43 in rat myocardial tissue were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. The protein contents of CaM and phosphorylated Cx43 (Ser368) were determined by Western blot.

Key findings
The results indicated that the mRNA and protein expression levels of CaM were significantly decreased by hypaconitine used alone and combined with liquiritin. Although CaM mRNA expression level was inhibited by liquiritin, its protein expression level was upregulated. Meanwhile, although no obvious effect on Cx43 mRNA expression was observed after the drug administration, the phosphorylation level of Cx43 (Ser368) was significantly inhibited. Furthermore, the coadministration of hypaconitine and liquiritin significantly reduced hypaconitine-induced inhibitory action on Cx43 (Ser368) phosphorylation.

Conclusions
The study indicated that hypaconitine could inhibit CaM expression and Cx43 (Ser368) phosphorylation, and liquiritin could interfere with this kind of effect by synergistically inhibiting CaM expression and by antagonizing Cx43 (Ser368) dephosphorylation induced by hypaconitine.
Trajectories of BMI from early childhood through early adolescence: SES and psychosocial predictors
Authors: Lane Sean P. , Bluestone Cheryl , Burke Christopher T. 
Published: May 2012

Objectives. This study examined the ways in which body mass index (BMI) percentile – an identified risk factor for overweight and cardiovascular disease in adulthood – develops from birth through early adolescence. In addition, we examined whether psychosocial factors, such as parenting style and maternal depression, mediated the link between socio‐economic status (SES) and BMI growth.Design. Data were obtained from phases 1–3 of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) – a longitudinal study that followed children from 10 communities in the United States from birth to age 11.Methods. We applied growth mixture models to identify distinct subtypes of BMI development. Within these models, we performed between‐ and within‐class mediation analyses to examine whether SES predicted class membership or differences in development within each class via maternal depression and parenting styles.Results. Results identified three prototypic trajectories of BMI percentile growth, elevated, steady increase, and stable. We found evidence for both between‐ and within‐class mediation, suggesting multiple pathways by which SES can affect BMI development.Conclusions. These findings add to the research that suggests that being in a family with a low SES is associated with falling into patterns of development characterized by early and lasting increases in BMI relative to one's peers, and that this association is partly accounted for by maternal depression and parenting styles.Statement of ContributionWhat is already known? Past research has found evidence that patterns of childhood overweight are impacted by socioeconomic status through psychosocial factors like parenting and depression. This evidence is often limited to individual points in time where neglectful, permissive, and authoritarian parenting and higher levels of maternal depression are associated with higher levels of overweight status among children from infancy to adolescence. However, little research has linked together whether the children who receive non‐authoritative parenting and are overweight in infancy are the same children who are overweight in adolescence.What does this study add?

Evidence for 3 different prototypes of BMI percentile growth over the course of childhood approaching adolescence.

Adds complexity re the influence of parenting styles as an influence on patterns of weight gain.

Buttresses existing research as to early and lasting effects of SES on patterns of BMI.
A simplified approach to characterizing a kilovoltage source spectrum for accurate dose computation
Authors: Poirier Yannick , Kouznetsov Alexei , Tambasco Mauro 
Published: May 2012

Purpose:To investigate and validate the clinical feasibility of using half‐value layer (HVL) and peak tube potential (kVp) for characterizing a kilovoltage (kV) source spectrum for the purpose of computing kV x‐ray dose accrued from imaging procedures. To use this approach to characterize a Varian® On‐Board Imager® (OBI) source and perform experimental validation of a novel in‐house hybrid dose computation algorithm for kV x‐rays.Methods:We characterized the spectrum of an imaging kV x‐ray source using the HVL and the kVp as the sole beam quality identifiers using third‐party freeware Spektr to generate the spectra. We studied the sensitivity of our dose computation algorithm to uncertainties in the beam's HVL and kVp by systematically varying these spectral parameters. To validate our approach experimentally, we characterized the spectrum of a Varian® OBI system by measuring the HVL using a Farmer‐type Capintec ion chamber (0.06 cc) in air and compared dose calculations using our computationally validated in‐house kV dose calculation code to measured percent depth‐dose and transverse dose profiles for 80, 100, and 125 kVp open beams in a homogeneous phantom and a heterogeneous phantom comprising tissue, lung, and bone equivalent materials.Results:The sensitivity analysis of the beam quality parameters (i.e., HVL, kVp, and field size) on dose computation accuracy shows that typical measurement uncertainties in the HVL and kVp (±0.2 mm Al and ±2 kVp, respectively) source characterization parameters lead to dose computation errors of less than 2%. Furthermore, for an open beam with no added filtration, HVL variations affect dose computation accuracy by less than 1% for a 125 kVp beam when field size is varied from 5 × 5 cm2 to 40 × 40 cm2. The central axis depth dose calculations and experimental measurements for the 80, 100, and 125 kVp energies agreed within 2% for the homogeneous and heterogeneous block phantoms, and agreement for the transverse dose profiles was within 6%.Conclusions:The HVL and kVp are sufficient for characterizing a kV x‐ray source spectrum for accurate dose computation. As these parameters can be easily and accurately measured, they provide for a clinically feasible approach to characterizing a kV energy spectrum to be used for patient specific x‐ray dose computations. Furthermore, these results provide experimental validation of our novel hybrid dose computation algorithm.
On using 3D γ‐analysis for IMRT and VMAT pretreatment plan QA
Authors: Wu Chuan , Hosier Kelly E. , Beck Kristen E. , Radevic Marlyn B. , Lehmann Joerg , Zhang Hao H. , Kroner Aaron , Dutton Sharon C. , Rosenthal Seth A. , Bareng Jonathan K. , Logsdon Mark D. , Asche David R. 
Published: May 2012

Purpose:To investigate using 3D γ analysis for IMRT and VMAT QA.Methods:We explored and studied 3D γ‐analysis by comparing TPS computed and EPID back‐projection reconstructed doses in patient's CT images. Two 3D γ quantities, γPTV and γ10, were proposed and studied for evaluating the QA results, and compared to 2D γ (MapCheck composite: γMC).Results:It was found that when 3%(global)/3 mm criteria was used, all IMRT and 90% of VMAT plans passed QA with a γ pass rate ≥90%. A significant statistical correlation was observed between 3D and 2D γ‐analysis results for IMRT QA if γ10 and γMC are concerned, but no significant relation is found between γPTV and γMC.Conclusions:3D γ analysis based on EPID dose back‐projection may provide a feasible tool for IMRT and VMAT pretreatment plan QA.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Sphingomonas sp., an Endosymbiotic Bacterium Isolated from an Arctic Lichen Umbilicaria sp
Authors: Lee Jungeun , Shin Seung Chul , Kim Su Jin , Kim Bum-Keun , Hong Soon Gyu , Kim Eun Hye , Park Hyun , Lee Hyoungseok 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Sphingomonas
sp. strain PAMC 26617 has been isolated from an Arctic lichen
Umbilicaria
sp. on the Svalbard Islands. Here we present the draft genome sequence of this strain, which represents a valuable resource for understanding the symbiotic mechanisms between endosymbiotic bacteria and lichens surviving in extreme environments.
Genome Sequence of Klebsiella oxytoca 11492-1, a Nosocomial Isolate Possessing a FOX-5 AmpC β-Lactamase
Authors: Hazen Tracy H. , Robinson Gwen L. , Harris Anthony D. , Rasko David A. , Johnson J. Kristie 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Klebsiella oxytoca
strain 11492-1 was isolated from a perianal swab culture from a patient at the University of Maryland Medical Center in 2005. The
K. oxytoca
11492-1 draft genome contains multiple antibiotic resistance genes, including a FOX-5 AmpC β-lactamase encoded on a large IncA/C plasmid.
Complete Genome Sequence of Melissococcus plutonius DAT561, a Strain That Shows an Unusual Growth Profile and Is Representative of an Endemic Cluster in Japan
Authors: Okumura Kayo , Arai Rie , Okura Masatoshi , Kirikae Teruo , Takamatsu Daisuke , Osaki Makoto , Miyoshi-Akiyama Tohru 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

We report the complete genome sequence of
Melissococcus plutonius
DAT561, which is a causative agent of European foulbrood.
M. plutonius
DAT561 is a representative of nonfastidious strains isolated in Japan. The addition of potassium phosphate was not required for normal growth, unlike for typical
M. plutonius
strain/isolates.
Validity of self-reported prevalent cases of stroke and acute myocardial infarction in the Spanish cohort of the EPIC study
Authors: Machón Monica , Arriola Larraitz , Larrañaga Nerea , Amiano Pilar , Moreno-Iribas Concepción , Agudo Antonio , Ardanaz Eva , Barricarte Aurelio , Buckland Genevieve , Chirlaque MªDolores , Gavrila Diana , Huerta José María , Martínez Carmen , Molina Esther , Navarro Carmen , Quiros José Ramón , Rodríguez Laudina , Sanchez María José , González Carlos Alberto , Dorronsoro Miren 
Published: May 2012

BackgroundInformation on the validity of self-reported cases of stroke and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is varied. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and agreement of self-reported prevalent cases of stroke and AMI in the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).MethodsAt recruitment, 1992–1996, and in the follow-up (3 years after recruitment), each participant in the Spanish EPIC cohort (15 630 men and 25 808 women) was asked if a doctor had ever said that they had had a stroke or AMI, and the results were compared with information available in medical records. Validity of self-reported prevalent cases of stroke and AMI was examined by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and κ statistics.ResultsThe sensitivity of self-reported prevalent cases of stroke was 81.3% and that for AMI was 97.7%. The positive predictive value was 22.2% and 60.7% for stroke and AMI, respectively, whereas specificity was very high (>99%) for both diseases. The agreement between self-report questionnaire results and medical records was substantial (κ=0.75) for AMI but not for stroke (κ=0.35).ConclusionSelf-reported information on stroke and AMI included in the EPIC questionnaire is a valid instrument for the assessment of AMI disease but should be used with caution in stroke.
Whole exome sequencing identifies a splicing mutation in NSUN2 as a cause of a Dubowitz-like syndrome
Authors: Martinez Fernando Jose , Lee Jeong Ho , Lee Ji Eun , Blanco Sandra , Nickerson Elizabeth , Gabriel Stacey , Frye Michaela , Al-Gazali Lihadh , Gleeson Joseph G 
Published: May 2012

BackgroundDubowitz syndrome (DS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the constellation of mild microcephaly, growth and mental retardation, eczema and peculiar facies. Over 140 cases have been reported, but the genetic basis is not understood.MethodsWe enrolled a multiplex consanguineous family from the United Arab Emirates with many of the key clinical features of DS as reported in previous series. The family was analyzed by whole exome sequencing. RNA splicing was evaluated with reverse-transcriptase PCR, immunostaining and western blotting was performed with specific antibodies, and site-specific cytosine-5-methylation was studied with bisulfite sequencing.ResultsWe identified a homozygous splice mutation in the NSUN2 gene, encoding a conserved RNA methyltransferase. The mutation abolished the canonical splice acceptor site of exon 6, leading to use of a cryptic splice donor within an AluY and subsequent mRNA instability. Patient cells lacked NSUN2 protein and there was resultant loss of site-specific 5-cytosine methylation of the tRNA(Asp GTC) at C47 and C48, known NSUN2 targets.ConclusionOur findings establish NSUN2 as the first causal gene with relationship to the DS spectrum phenotype. NSUN2 has been implicated in Myc-induced cell proliferation and mitotic spindle stability, which might help explain the varied clinical presentation in DS that can include chromosomal instability and immunological defects.
Simulated diagnostic cerebral angiography in neurosurgical training: a pilot program
Authors: Spiotta Alejandro M , Rasmussen Peter A , Masaryk Thomas J , Benzel Edward C , Schlenk Richard 
Published: May 2012

IntroductionSurgical simulation provides a zero-risk setting in which technical skills can be obtained through repetition. The feasibility and utility of simulated diagnostic cerebral angiography among neurosurgical residents and fellows was studied using an endovascular biplane angiography simulator.MethodsTen neurosurgical residents and four endovascular neurosurgery fellows were recruited into a standardized training protocol consisting of a didactic, demonstration and hands-on learning environment using the Simbionix simulator. Participants were instructed to catheterize the right internal carotid artery, left internal carotid artery and left vertebral artery. The task was repeated five times.ResultsAll participants demonstrated improvement over the five trials. Residents performed actions that were perceived as potentially dangerous (n=8) while fellows performed the procedure with superior technique. Residents performed the task with an initial total procedure and fluoroscopy time of 6.6±4.3 min and 4.9±3.7 min, respectively, and improved on the fifth trial to 3.4±1.3 min (p=0.03) and 2.3±0.78 min (p=0.004), respectively. Residents approximated the efficiency of fellows for the third and fourth trial.ConclusionsIncorporating an endovascular simulator is feasible for training purposes in a neurosurgical residency program. This study provides objective documentation of the facilitation of technical angiography skill acquisition by the use of simulation technology.
TWO LOCAL STRATEGY ITERATION SCHEMES FOR PARITY GAME SOLVING
Authors: FRIEDMANN OLIVER , LANGE MARTIN 
Published: May 2012

The problem of solving a parity game is at the core of many problems in model checking, satisfiability checking and program synthesis. Some of the best algorithms for solving parity game are strategy iteration algorithms. These are global in nature since they require the entire parity game to be present at the beginning. This is a distinct disadvantage because in many applications one only needs to know which winning region a particular node belongs to, and a witnessing winning strategy may cover only a fractional part of the entire game graph. We present two local strategy iteration algorithms which explore the game graph on-the-fly whilst performing the improvement steps. We also compare them empirically with existing global strategy iteration algorithms and the currently only other local algorithm for solving parity games. It turns out that local strategy iteration can outperform these others significantly.
THE ABSOLUTE POSITIVE PARTIAL TRANSPOSE PROPERTY FOR RANDOM INDUCED STATES
Authors: COLLINS BENOIT , NECHITA ION , YE DEPING 
Published: May 2012

In this paper, we first obtain an algebraic formula for the moments of a centered Wishart matrix, and apply it to obtain new convergence results in the large dimension limit when both parameters of the distribution tend to infinity at different speeds. We use this result to investigate APPT (absolute positive partial transpose) quantum states. We show that the threshold for a bipartite random induced state on Cd = Cd1 ⊗ Cd2, obtained by partial tracing a random pure state on Cd ⊗ Cs, being APPT occurs if the environmental dimension s is of order s0 = min (d1, d2)3 max (d1, d2). That is, when s ≥ Cs0, such a random induced state is APPT with large probability, while such a random states is not APPT with large probability when s ≤ cs0. Besides, we compute effectively C and c and show that it is possible to replace them by the same sharp transition constant when min (d1, d2)2 ≪ d.
Ultrasensitive Measurement of Hotspot Mutations in Tumor DNA in Blood Using Error-Suppressed Multiplexed Deep Sequencing
Authors: Narayan Azeet , Carriero Nicholas J. , Gettinger Scott N. , Kluytenaar Jeannie , Kozak Kevin R. , Yock Torunn I. , Muscato Nicole E. , Ugarelli Pedro , Decker Roy H. , Patel Abhijit A. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Detection of cell-free tumor DNA in the blood has offered promise as a cancer biomarker, but practical clinical implementations have been impeded by the lack of a sensitive and accurate method for quantitation that is also simple, inexpensive, and readily scalable. Here we present an approach that uses next-generation sequencing to quantify the small fraction of DNA molecules that contain tumor-specific mutations within a background of normal DNA in plasma. Using layers of sequence redundancy designed to distinguish true mutations from sequencer misreads and PCR misincorporations, we achieved a detection sensitivity of approximately 1 variant in 5,000 molecules. In addition, the attachment of modular barcode tags to the DNA fragments to be sequenced facilitated the simultaneous analysis of more than 100 patient samples. As proof-of-principle, we showed the successful use of this method to follow treatment-associated changes in circulating tumor DNA levels in patients with non–small cell lung cancer. Our findings suggest that the deep sequencing approach described here may be applied to the development of a practical diagnostic test that measures tumor-derived DNA levels in blood. Cancer Res; 72(14); 3492–8. ©2012 AACR.