bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Infrared Thermal Imaging as a Rapid Tool for Identifying Water‐Stress Tolerant Maize Genotypes of Different Phenology
Authors: Zia S. , Romano G. , Spreer W. , Sanchez C. , Cairns J. , Araus J. L. , Müller J. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe main task of this research was to evaluate canopy temperature and Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) by assessing genotype variability of maize performance for different water regimes. To that end, three hundred tropical and subtropical maize hybrids with different phenology in terms of date of anthesis were evaluated. The influence of phenology on the change in canopy temperatures and CWSI was not equal during the three dates of measurement. At the end of vegetative growth (82 days after sowing, DAS) and at the blister stage (DAS 97), a high significant difference in temperatures and CWSI (P < 0.001) were obtained between the early‐ and late‐maturity genotypes. During anthesis (DAS 89), phenology had a significant effect (P < 0.01) only for the well‐watered genotypes, while under water‐stress conditions, no differences were found between early and late genotypes in terms of canopy temperature and CWSI. High significant differences (P < 0.001) in stomatal conductance (gs) between early and late genotypes for different treatments were observed. A relationship (R2 = 0.62) between gs and canopy temperature was obtained. Under a water‐stress canopy, temperature was measured at anthesis, which was negatively correlated with grain yield of the early (r = −0.55)‐ and late (r = −0.46)‐maturity genotypes in the water‐stressed condition.
Humidity‐controlled cold storage of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae): effects on male survival and reproductive ability
Authors: Ghazy N. A. , Suzuki T. , Amano H. , Ohyama K. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractHumidification can suppress water loss from an organism and has great potential for improving the cold storage of short‐lived arthropods, such as predatory mites. The effectiveness of humidity‐controlled cold storage was recently verified for Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) females but was not examined for males. Combining both males and females in one storage protocol might increase the predator population because it would enhance the opportunity for multiple mating, which is necessary for females to maximize their egg production. Newly emerged adult males were stored at an air temperature of 5°C and relative humidity (RH) of 100% or 80%. The median survival time (LT50) was 32 days at 100% RH and 14 days at 80% RH; the survival curves differed significantly. Males stored at 100% RH for 0, 10, 20 and 30 days were introduced to virgin females for mating at 25°C to evaluate their reproductive ability. The pre‐oviposition period was significantly prolonged in the females mated with males stored for ≥20 days. No negative effects of storage were observed on the oviposition period, total number of eggs or net reproduction rate (R0) in the females mated with males stored for ≤20 days or on the mean generation time (T) for those stored for 30 days. A slight decrease in the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was observed in the females mated with males stored for ≥20 days. Our storage method can preserve N. californicus males for 20 days with only a minor reduction in their survival and reproductive ability.
Transient sputum eosinophilia may occur over time in non‐eosinophilic asthma and this is not prevented by salmeterol
Authors: BACCI ELENA , LATORRE MANUELA , CIANCHETTI SILVANA , BARTOLI MARIALAURA , COSTA FRANCESCO , DI FRANCO ANTONELLA , MALAGRINÒ LAURA , NOVELLI FEDERICA , VAGAGGINI BARBARA , DENTE FEDERICO L. , PAGGIARO PIERLUIGI 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and Objective:  Symptomatic, steroid‐naïve asthmatic patients may have low sputum eosinophil numbers. The aim of the study was to determine whether low sputum eosinophil numbers persisted over time, during treatment with salmeterol monotherapy.Methods:  Forty steroid‐naïve, symptomatic asthmatic patients, with sputum eosinophils <3%, were randomized to receive open‐label salmeterol (50 µg twice a day, n = 30) or fluticasone (125 µg twice a day, n = 10) and were then assessed at 1, 3 and 6 months. All patients underwent spirometry, a methacholine challenge test and sputum induction at each visit. Symptom scores and peak expiratory flow were recorded throughout the study. Patients were permitted to withdraw from the study at any time, if they experienced exacerbations or deterioration of symptoms.Results:  The average sputum eosinophil percentage remained normal (≤1.9%) in both groups over the study period. The eosinophil percentages were ≤1.9% in 65 of the 80 samples obtained from salmeterol‐treated patients throughout the study period. Eight patients had an asthma exacerbation or deterioration, during which one developed sputum eosinophilia. Twelve patients, 11 of whom were randomized to salmeterol and one to fluticasone, developed transient sputum eosinophilia at least once during the study. This was not associated with asthma exacerbation (except for one patient). Sputum neutrophil percentage did not change in either group.Conclusions:  Low sputum eosinophil numbers persisted over 6 months in a majority of patients with non‐eosinophilic asthma who received salmeterol monotherapy. However, transient sputum eosinophilia occurred in 40% indicating that non‐eosinophilic asthma may not be a stable phenotype.
The +252A/G polymorphism in the Lymphotoxin‐α gene increases the risk of asthma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: YANG MIN , FU XIAOWEI , ZHANG YONGGANG , ZHANG JIE , HE JIE , TIAN CAN , HUANG JIN , FAN HONG 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and Objective:  A number of studies have shown that the +252A/G polymorphism (rs909253) in the lymphotoxin‐α (LT‐α) gene is implicated in susceptibility to asthma. However, the findings have been inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the +252A/G polymorphism in the LT‐α gene and the risk of asthma by performing a meta‐analysis.Methods:  The Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for all studies relating to this polymorphism and the risk of asthma. Statistical analyses were performed using the Revman4.2 and STATA 10.0 software.Results:  Thirteen case‐control studies that included a total of 2220 cases and 6428 controls were included in the meta‐analysis. There was no significant association between this polymorphism and the risk of asthma in the all‐combined analysis (odds ratio (OR) 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89–1.45 for GG+GA vs AA). In a subgroup analysis by ethnicity, no significant association with asthma risk was identified in Asians (OR 1.31, 95% CI: 0.97–1.77) or Europeans (OR 1.08, 95% CI: 0.77–1.53). In a subgroup analysis by age, a significantly increased risk was identified among adults (OR 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03–1.50) but not children (OR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.28–3.89). In a subgroup analysis by atopic status, a significantly elevated risk was identified among atopic (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.28–1.87) but not non‐atopic individuals (OR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.53–1.68).Conclusions:  This meta‐analysis suggested that the +252A/G polymorphism in the LT‐α gene is a risk factor for asthma in adults and atopic populations.
Mitigation of radiation induced pulmonary vascular injury by delayed treatment with captopril
Authors: MOLTHEN ROBERT C. , WU QINGPING , FISH BRIAN L. , MOULDER JOHN E. , JACOBS ELIZABETH R. , MEDHORA MEETHA M. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and Objective:  A single dose of 10 Gy radiation to the thorax of rats results in decreased total lung angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) activity, pulmonary artery distensibility and distal vascular density while increasing pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) at 2 months post‐exposure. In this study, we evaluate the potential of a renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) modulator, the ACE inhibitor captopril, to mitigate this pulmonary vascular damage.Methods:  Rats exposed to 10 Gy thorax only irradiation and age‐matched controls were studied 2 months after exposure, during the development of radiation pneumonitis. Rats were treated, either immediately or 2 weeks after radiation exposure, with two doses of the ACE inhibitor, captopril, dissolved in their drinking water. To determine pulmonary vascular responses, we measured pulmonary haemodynamics, lung ACE activity, pulmonary arterial distensibility and peripheral vessel density.Results:  Captopril, given at a vasoactive, but not a lower dose, mitigated radiation‐induced pulmonary vascular injury. More importantly, these beneficial effects were observed even if drug therapy was delayed for up to 2 weeks after exposure.Conclusions:  Captopril resulted in a reduction in pulmonary vascular injury that supports its use as a radiomitigator after an unexpected radiological event such as a nuclear accident.
Pemetrexed plus platinum or gemcitabine plus platinum for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer: final survival analysis from a multicentre randomized phase II trial in the East Asia region and a meta‐analysis
Authors: ZHANG XINJI , LU JIAN , XU JINFANG , LI HUI , WANG JINGYI , QIN YINGYI , MA PILIN , WEI LIXIN , HE JIA 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and Objective:  Pemetrexed plus platinum has shown efficacy as a first‐line treatment for advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but little is known about its efficacy and safety in East Asian patients. We report the final analysis of overall survival (OS) from a multicentre, randomized, phase II trial in chemotherapy‐naive Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC. An additional meta‐analysis was performed to systematically evaluate pemetrexed/platinum as first‐line treatment for advanced NSCLC.Methods:  Eligible patients received up to six cycles of pemetrexed, 500 mg/m2 plus cisplatin, 75 mg/m2 (day 1) or gemcitabine, 1000 mg/m2 (days 1 and 8) plus cisplatin, 75 mg/m2 (day 1). OS and toxicity were assessed.Results:  A total of 254 patients were randomized, and 251 were eligible for inclusion in the efficacy and safety analyses. Median OS in the pemetrexed/cisplatin arm was 15.3 months, compared with 16.9 months in the gemcitabine/cisplatin arm [hazard ratio (HR) 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–1.48; log‐rank P = 0.4888). There was a trend towards improved survival in both arms. Patients in the pemetrexed/cisplatin arm showed a lower incidence of drug‐related grade 3 to 4 leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Meta‐analysis showed that pemetrexed‐platinum treatment was associated with 19% longer survival among females (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.69–0.96) and 17% longer survival among patients with non‐squamous cell lung cancer (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.73–0.95).Conclusions:  In Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC, pemetrexed/cisplatin treatment resulted in comparable OS outcomes and was better tolerated than gemcitabine/cisplatin. Meta‐analysis supports the use of pemetrexed‐platinum as first‐line treatment for female patients and those with the non‐squamous cell subtype of advanced NSCLC.
A continuous damage fracture model to predict formability of sheet metal
Authors: NGUYEN N‐T. , KIM D‐Y. , KIM H. Y. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTA continuous damage fracture model, which consists of a fracture criterion and a continuum damage constitutive law was proposed in this paper to calculate formability of sheet metal. In this model, an extension of the McClintock void growth model was selected as the fracture criterion to be incorporated with a coupled damage‐plasticity Gurson‐type constitutive law. Also, by introducing a Lode angle dependent parameter to define the loading asymmetry condition, the shear effect was phenomenologically taken into account. The proposed fracture model was implemented in user defined material subroutines in ABAQUS. The model was calibrated and correlated by the uniaxial tension, shear and notched specimens tests. Application of the fracture criterion for the Limit dome height tests was discussed and the simulation results were compared with the experimental data.
Identification of fatigue crack growth mechanisms in IN100 superalloy as a function of temperature and frequency
Authors: ADAIR B. S. , JOHNSON W. S. , ANTOLOVICH S. D. , STAROSELSKY A. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTA study is undertaken to investigate the fatigue crack growth rate properties of polycrystalline IN100 through the identification of crack growth mechanisms as a function of temperature, frequency and ΔK. An additional goal is to determine the stress free activation energy of IN100. Constant amplitude, load controlled tests are performed at room temperature (22 °C), 316 °C, 482 °C and 649 °C under two different loading frequencies of 20 and 0.33 Hz. These specimens are then analysed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine failure mechanisms. SEM shows that, as temperature increased from room temperature to 649 °C, the fracture mechanism transitions from transgranular to intergranular. The fracture mechanism is shown to transition from intergranular to transgranular at elevated temperatures as da/dN increases as a result of growing ΔK. Scanning electron microscopy shows that, as frequency decreases from 20 to 0.33 Hz at 649 °C, the fracture mechanism transitions from transgranular to intergranular.
Failure analysis of connecting bolts in collapsed tower crane
Authors: KIM E. S. , CHOI S. K. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTThe use of tower cranes can cause critical accidents during large building construction projects. Failure of the tower crane results in critical injuries to crane operators and other workers at the construction site. Issues that often cause the fatal collapse of tower cranes include the damage and fracture of the mast (or tower) and turntable parts, and the tower crane slewing‐unit‐support fleeing. Without systematic investigations and proper prevention procedures in place, this type of crane accident, which often leads to worker fatalities, will continue to occur. Therefore, more proactive, specialized and systematic research needs to be performed in terms of forensic engineering to minimize the occurrence of similar disasters. In this research, the tower crane collapse accidents are thoroughly investigated and the exact cause of the damaged crane parts is also identified using fractography and mechanical/chemical characterizations techniques, including visual inspections, field research, scanning electron microscopes and optical microscopes. Specifically, instrumented indentation technique is employed to evaluate the material properties, and energy spectrum analysis is used to determine the chemical characteristics. Based on thorough investigations, it has been identified that the connecting bolts of the tower crane are very vulnerable. It is recommended to improve the reliability of the bolts and to implement additional regulations to check their maintenance and safety. This research clearly provides guidance for investigating crane collapse accidents and contributes to the prevention of similar types of accidents. Several corrective actions and recommendations are suggested to reduce the risk of the tower crane failures.
Identification of stiffness and periodic excitation forces of a transverse switching crack in a Laval rotor
Authors: SHRAVANKUMAR C. , TIWARI R. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTThis work involves model‐based identification of rotor crack. A Laval rotor with a transverse surface crack and disc unbalance is studied. Viscous damping, disc eccentricity and additive stiffness due to crack are the parameters considered for identification. The linear system equations of motion together with the switching crack excitation function are used for developing the identification algorithm. Furthermore, the algorithm is extended for a novel attempt of estimating the coefficients of switching crack excitation function, which constitute the crack excitation force. This estimation could be used to provide valuable information on the actual opening/closing profile of the switching crack. The proposed algorithms are illustrated through numerical examples. They are tested against measurement noise and found to be reasonably robust.
Choice between prostatectomy and radiotherapy when men are eligible for both: a randomized controlled trial of usual care vs decision aid
Authors: van Tol‐Geerdink Julia J. , Willem Leer Jan , Weijerman Philip C. , van Oort Inge M. , Vergunst Henk , van Lin Emile N. , Alfred Witjes J. , Stalmeier Peep F. 
Published: August 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?
Many patients are eligible for more than one treatment option for prostate cancer. In usual care, urologists have a large influence on the treatment choice. Decision aids, providing balanced information on the pros and cons of different treatment options, improve the match between patient preferences and treatment received.
In men eligible for both surgery and external beam radiotherapy, treatment choice differed by hospital. Across the participating hospitals, the decision aid consistently led to fewer patients remaining undecided on their treatment preference and more patients choosing brachytherapy.
Objectives
To examine the treatment choice for localized prostate cancer in selected men who were eligible for both prostatectomy and radiotherapy.
To examine whether increased patient participation, using a decision aid, affected the treatment choice.
Patients and Methods
From 2008 to 2011, 240 patients with localized prostate cancer were enrolled from three separate hospitals.
They were selected to be eligible for both prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy. Brachytherapy was a third option for about half of the patients.
In this randomized controlled trial, patients were randomized to a group which only discussed their treatment with their specialist (usual care group) and a group which received additional information from a decision aid presented by a researcher (decision aid group). The decision aid was based on a literature review.
Predictors of treatment choice were examined.
Results
Treatment choice was affected by the decision aid (P = 0.03) and by the hospital of intake (P < 0.001).
The decision aid led to more patients choosing brachytherapy (P = 0.02) and fewer patients remaining undecided (P < 0.05).
Prostatectomy remained the most frequently preferred treatment.
Age, tumour characteristics or pretreatment urinary, bowel or erectile functioning did not affect the choice in this selected group.
Patients choosing brachytherapy assigned more weight to convenience of the procedure and to maintaining erectile function.
Conclusions
Traditionally, patient characteristics differ between surgery and radiotherapy groups, but not in this selected group of patients.
Men eligible for both prostatectomy and radiotherapy mostly preferred prostatectomy, and the treatment choice was influenced by the hospital they visited.
Giving patients evidence‐based information, by means of a decision aid, led to an increase in brachytherapy.
The Assessment of Recovery Capital: Properties and psychometrics of a measure of addiction recovery strengths
Authors: Groshkova Teodora , Best David , White William 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIntroduction and AimsSociological work on social capital and its impact on health behaviours have been translated into the addiction field in the form of ‘recovery capital’ as the construct for assessing individual progress on a recovery journey. Yet there has been little attempt to quantify recovery capital. The aim of the project was to create a scale that assessed addiction recovery capital.Design and MethodsInitial focus group work identified and tested candidate items and domains followed by data collection from multiple sources to enable psychometric assessment of a scale measuring recovery capital.ResultsThe scale shows moderate test–retest reliability at 1 week and acceptable concurrent validity. Principal component analysis determined single factor structure.Discussion and ConclusionsThe Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) is a brief and easy to administer measurement of recovery capital that has acceptable psychometric properties and may be a useful complement to deficit‐based assessment and outcome monitoring instruments for substance dependent individuals in and out of treatment.
Deriving problem frames from business process and object analysis models
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Sun Jie , Yang Xiaohu , Wang Ye , Li Shanping , Kavs Aleksander J. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWhile Problem Frames have become a useful approach for requirements analysis, little research has been made to explore how to derive them from a complex problem context. The purpose of this paper is to propose such an approach. The proposed approach consists of three steps to drive the development of Problem Frames. In the first step, business process models are developed to capture the behavioural view of the problem context. In the second step, object analysis models are used to capture the structural view of the problem context. Together, these two views collectively and adequately capture the early context knowledge. These two types of model will then be used in the third step to construct context diagrams and derive Problem Frames. A complex real‐world problem – equity trading problem – is used to illustrate this approach.
A hybrid neural network/genetic algorithm applied to breast cancer detection and recurrence
Authors: Belciug Smaranda , Gorunescu Florin 
Published: August 2012

AbstractGenetic algorithms (GAs) and neural networks (NNs) are both inspired by computation in biological systems and many attempts have been made to combine the two methodologies to boost theNNs performance. This paper deals with the evolutionary training of a feedforwardNNfor both breast cancer detection and recurrence. A multi‐layer perceptron (MLP) has been designed for this purpose, using aGAroutine to set weights, and aJava implementation of this hybrid model has been made. Four databases concerning cancer detection and recurrence have been used, two databases containing numerical attributes only, one database containing ordinal (categorical) attributes solely and one database with mixed attributes. In comparison to some standardNNs, the performance of this approach using the same databases is shown to be superior. Moreover, this hybridMLP/GAmodel is very flexible in terms of providing accurate classification, even with different types of attributes, which is usually found in medical studies.
Using simple scenarios for wheelchair driving assistance
Authors: Cablé Baptiste , Loriette Sophie , Nigro Jean‐Marc 
Published: August 2012

AbstractArtificial intelligence can be used to recognize and anticipate dynamic situations. Several computational methods based on mathematical tools already exist, but most of the time their implementation is complex and takes a long time to execute.In this article, we propose another learning and anticipation method in order to assist users in dynamic situations. We call it ‘scenario‐based reasoning’ algorithm. It is inspired by case‐based reasoning. It works with symbolic data and its aim is to make real‐time predictions. To do so, manipulated knowledge is specially designed to limit our solution's complexity and to facilitate learning and anticipation.