bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization and Processing Relevance of Food Particulate Materials
Authors: Ortega‐Rivas Enrique 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe food industry is one of the largest commercial enterprises in the world today representing important contributions of the gross national product of many countries. Numerous raw materials and products in this industry are in powdered or particulate form, and their optimum characterization, for processing purposes rely heavily in a deep knowledge of particle technology. Characterization and processing aspects of unit operations involving granular solids of particular relevance to the food industry are discussed in this article. Theoretical considerations, operating principles, and applications in characterization and processing of different food particulates are reviewed. The food industry should make more efficient use of its many processes involving powders and particulates in order to provide high quality products. In this sense, future competitiveness may be critically dependent on knowledge originated by research activities in particle technology applied to food materials.
HOW PROXIMITY OF LAND USE AFFECTS STREAM FISH AND HABITAT
Authors: Stanfield L. W. , Kilgour B. W. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTThis study quantified the unique variation in stream fish and habitat and a land use disturbance index (LDI) at a variety of spatial scales: catchment, eight riparian polygons that varied in width and length (e.g. 50 m to all upstream reaches), upstream polygons of 1.6 and 3.2 km and the residual upland area of each site watershed not accounted for by each polygon. The analyses confirmed a hockey stick‐shaped relationship between the fish community and the LDI, with sensitive species only present below an LDI of 11. The largest variation for most metrics was explained by the largest polygons, suggesting that local riparian conditions were not as important predictors of stream condition. LDI in upland areas, where zero‐order streams occur, was also an important predictor of fish biomass and taxa richness. Contrary to expected, additive models with both catchment and riparian corridors provided minimal increases in predictive power, and no improvement in model performance occurred when data sets were stratified into sites below the LDI threshold. Finally, there was considerable covariation in the template and stressor predictor variables that made it difficult to quantify the unique variation in biological and physical responses accounted for by land use. That the 1600‐m proximal polygon provided the best predictor of the fish community and temperature is supportive of there being some proximal effects of land use. Overall, our findings suggest that stream management must consider processes that occur in the entire upstream catchment and the entire riparian corridor, including the headwaters for success. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stochastic methodology for prognostics under continuously varying environmental profiles
Authors: Bian Linkan , Gebraeel Nagi 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWe present a stochastic modeling framework for sensor‐based degradation signals that predicts, in real time, the residual lifetime of individual components subjected to a time‐varying environment. We investigate the future environmental profile that is deterministic and evolves continuously. Unique to our model is the union of historical data with real‐time sensor‐based data to update the degradation model and the residual life distribution (RLD) of the component within a Bayesian framework. The performance of our model is evaluated on the basis of degradation signals from both numerical experiments and a case study using real bearing data. The results show that our approach accurately estimates the RLD by incorporating the environmental effects and utilizing the real‐time observations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 6: 260–270, 2013
Three‐dimensional ultrasound of pelvic floor: is there a correlation with delivery mode and persisting pelvic floor disorders 18–24 months after first delivery?
Authors: Falkert A. , Willmann A. , Endress E. , Meint P. , Seelbach‐Göbel B. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveThree‐dimensional (3D) transperineal ultrasound has been shown to be a reliable and reproducible method for visualization of morphological changes in the female levator ani muscle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between persisting pelvic floor disorders 18–24 months after first delivery, biometric measurements of the pelvic floor and mode of delivery.MethodsIn this prospective observational study, we recruited on their second day after delivery 130 primiparous women. All were Caucasian and their pregnancies had been singleton with cephalic presentation. 3D transperineal ultrasound was performed, with standardized settings, on the second day (results published previously) and 18–24 months after delivery. Volumes were obtained at rest and on Valsalva maneuver and biometric measurements of the levator hiatus were determined in the axial plane. Obstetric and constitutional parameters were obtained from our clinical files and, 18–24 months after the delivery, a standardized questionnaire was used to evaluate persisting pelvic floor disorders. Ultrasound measurements at 18–24 months were compared according to clinical symptoms of pelvic floor disorders and mode of delivery, including a subgroup analysis of vaginal (spontaneous vs operative vaginal) and Cesarean (primary i.e. elective vs secondary i.e. after onset of labor) delivery groups.ResultsSeventy‐seven (59%) women had complete follow‐up at 18–24 months. Biometric measurements showed a significantly larger hiatal area in the vaginal delivery group than in the Cesarean section group 2 years after delivery (P < 0.01), whereas subgroup analysis within the vaginal and Cesarean delivery groups did not show significant differences. Although there was no statistical correlation between delivery mode and persisting stress urinary incontinence, women with persisting stress urinary incontinence 2 years after delivery had a larger hiatal area than did women without this clinical symptom (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in hiatal dimensions in women with bladder urgency or dyspareunia.Conclusions3D transperineal ultrasound, which is easily accessible, can provide useful information on morphological changes of the female pelvic floor. Women with a spontaneous or operative vaginal first delivery had a significantly larger hiatal area and axial distension than did women whose first delivery was by Cesarean section, even 2 years after delivery. Performing 3D ultrasound after the first delivery may help to identify women at high risk for persisting pelvic floor disorders.
Reproducibility of assessment of severity of pelvic endometriosis using transvaginal ultrasound
Authors: Holland T. K. , Hoo W. L. , Mavrelos D. , Saridogan E. , Cutner A. , Jurkovic D. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo examine the reproducibility of assessment of severity of pelvic endometriosis by transvaginal sonography (TVS).MethodsThis was a prospective observational study conducted from August 2006 to July 2009 in two academic departments of obstetrics and gynecology. Women with clinically suspected or proven pelvic endometriosis were invited to join the study. All patients included underwent TVS performed by two observers and a laparoscopic assessment of pelvic endometriosis. The ultrasound observers were blinded to each other's results. The reproducibility of TVS was examined by evaluation of interobserver agreement for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) score by Bland–Altman analysis and the stage and the diagnosis of deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) by calculation of kappa coefficients. Agreement between the findings on TVS for each observer and those on laparoscopy was also evaluated.ResultsThirty‐four patients were recruited to the study, and TVS was performed by two ultrasound observers. Of these patients, one did not undergo laparoscopy and was therefore excluded from the final analysis. No endometriosis was found in 12 (36.4%) patients. One patient (3%) had minimal disease, one (3%) had mild disease, five (15.2%) had moderate disease and 14 (42.4%) had severe disease. Interobserver agreement was very good for disease classification on TVS (Cohen's kappa, 0.931). Agreement between TVS and laparoscopy findings was also very good (Cohen's kappa, 0.955 and 0.966 for the two examiners). For ASRM score on TVS, the interobserver 95% limits of agreement were –16.6 to 12.7, with a mean difference of –1.9 (95% CI, –4.35 to 0.71).ConclusionTVS is a reproducible method for assessment of the severity of pelvic endometriosis and shows good agreement with findings on laparoscopy.
Magnetic resonance diffusion‐weighted imaging: reproducibility of regional apparent diffusion coefficients for the normal fetal brain
Authors: Boyer A. C. , Gonçalves L. F. , Lee W. , Shetty A. , Holman A. , Yeo L. , Romero R. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo evaluate the reproducibility of regional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements of the normal fetal brain in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.MethodsFifty normal singleton fetuses from healthy pregnant women between 19 and 37 weeks' gestation were studied without sedation. Single‐shot diffusion‐weighted images of the fetal brain were obtained using a 1.5‐Tesla magnetic resonance scanner and a six‐channel body array coil. ADC maps were created using 0 and 1000 b‐values along three orthogonal directions. Two examiners independently measured ADC values in the cerebellar hemispheres (CH), pons, thalamus, basal ganglia (BG), centrum semiovale (CSO), and frontal (FWM), parietal (PWM), temporal (TWM) and occipital (OWM) white matter. Correlation between ADC values and menstrual age was assessed by linear regression analysis. The bias and agreement of ADC measurements were determined using Bland–Altman plots.ResultsADC values either remained constant (BG, FWM, PWM, TWM, OWM, CSO) or decreased (CH, pons, thalamus) with advancing menstrual age. Mean intraobserver bias for ADC measurements was not significantly different from zero. Small interobserver differences in mean ADC measurements (i.e. a small mean bias) were detected for CH (1.26 ± 0.20 vs 1.20 ± 0.18 μm2/ms, P = 0.006), PWM (1.37 ± 0.29 vs 1.33 ± 0.26 μm2/ms, P = 0.02) and CSO (1.36 ± 0.29 vs 1.33 ± 0.28 μm2/ms, P < 0.0001). Measurement agreement was acceptable.ConclusionsADC measurements in normal unsedated fetuses in the second and third trimesters are reproducible except for small differences for PWM, CH and CSO between examiners.
Fetal growth profiles of macrosomic and non‐macrosomic infants of women with pregestational or gestational diabetes
Authors: Hammoud N. M. , Visser G. H. A. , Peters S. A. E. , Graatsma E. M. , Pistorius L. , de Valk H. W. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess fetal growth profiles in an unselected group of pregnant women with either Type‐1 diabetes (DM1), Type‐2 diabetes (DM2) or gestational diabetes (GDM), with emphasis on intergroup differences and development of disproportionate fetal growth and macrosomia.MethodsSecond‐ and third‐trimester longitudinal ultrasound measurements of fetal growth were made in 77 women with DM1, 68 women with DM2 and in 99 women with GDM. Altogether 897 ultrasound examinations were performed and 145 uncomplicated pregnancies with 843 ultrasound examinations were included as controls. Ultrasound data included head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL) and HC/AC ratio.ResultsThe AC, but not HC and FL, evolved differently in diabetic pregnancies, with a smaller AC in early pregnancy and larger AC at term (significant for DM1 and DM2). The most striking differences were found for the HC/AC ratio, especially in DM1 pregnancies. HC/AC growth trajectories of both macrosomic and non‐macrosomic fetuses differed from that of the controls, and the HC/AC ratio at term was lower in all diabetic subgroups except in non‐macrosomic DM2 cases.ConclusionWe found altered (disproportionate) fetal growth in macrosomic and non‐macrosomic fetuses of women with DM1, DM2 and GDM. This indicates that the abnormal intrauterine environment affects the majority of these infants. Growth profiles differed among these groups, the most prominent growth deviations being found in the fetuses of women with DM1. The latter was most probably caused by poor glucose control. In monitoring fetal growth in diabetic pregnancies the HC/AC ratio should be used to assess altered fetal growth. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of ultrasound in the clinical evaluation of women following colpocleisis
Authors: Eisenberg V. H. , Alcalay M. , Steinberg M. , Weiner Z. , Schiff E. , Itskovitz‐Eldor J. , Lowenstein L. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess the role of transperineal ultrasound in the postoperative evaluation of patients undergoing colpocleisis.MethodsPatients who underwent colpocleisis between July 2009 and January 2011 completed the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory questionnaire (PFDI‐20) and underwent pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP‐Q) examination and four‐dimensional (4D) transperineal ultrasound. Volumes were analyzed offline for assessment of pelvic organ descent, levator hiatal dimensions, levator avulsion trauma and the location of the colpocleisis scar.ResultsThe study included 16 women, of mean ± SD age 75.7 ± 2.9 years, median body mass index 28 (range, 21–32) kg/m2 and median parity 2 (range, 0–5); one woman was nulliparous. Nine (56.2%) women were posthysterectomy. The median interval from surgery to ultrasound examination was 6.5 (range, 2–19) months. Most patients did not have symptoms of prolapse. The median Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory (POPDI‐6) score was 37.5 (range, 0–75) and the median postoperative clinical POP‐Q stage was 1 (range, 0–2). Ultrasound demonstrated clear visualization in all patients. Ten had avulsion defects (six were bilateral). Ultrasound estimated greater prolapse descent for all compartments when compared with the clinical examination. However, this difference was significant for anterior and posterior descent, but not for apical descent. In two women urethral diverticulum was detected on ultrasound; it was neither symptomatic nor clinically apparent.Conclusions4D transperineal ultrasound seems to be a potentially effective tool for the evaluation of vaginal anatomic and functional changes following colpocleisis surgery. Future investigation of the association between ultrasound findings and patients' subjective symptoms in a larger cohort is warranted. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction of coarctation of the aorta in the second half of pregnancy
Authors: Gómez‐Montes E. , Herraiz I. , Mendoza A. , Escribano D. , Galindo A. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo determine which combination of cardiac parameters provides the best prediction of postnatal coarctation of the aorta (CoAo) in fetuses with cardiac asymmetry.MethodsWe selected all cases of disproportion of the ventricles and great vessels prenatally diagnosed between 2003 and 2010 at the Hospital Universitario ‘12 de Octubre’, Madrid, Spain. Only appropriate‐for‐gestational age liveborn fetuses with isolated cardiac asymmetry and with complete postnatal follow‐up were included in the study. Eighty‐five cases were retrieved and analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to select the best predictors of CoAo. Optimal cut‐offs for these parameters were identified and the corresponding likelihood ratios used to calculate the post‐test probability of CoAo in each fetus.RESULTSCoAo was confirmed in 41/85 neonates (48%). The parameters selected by logistic regression and their cut‐off values were: gestational age at diagnosis ≤ 28 weeks, Z‐score of diameter of the ascending aorta ≤ −1.5, pulmonary valve/aortic valve diameters ratio ≥ 1.6 and Z‐score of the aortic isthmus diameter in the three vessels and trachea view ≤ −2. We divided the study group into two subgroups: Group A, in whom the diagnosis was made at ≤ 28 weeks' gestation (80% CoAo (32/40)); and Group B, in whom the diagnosis was made at > 28 weeks (20% CoAo (9/45)). The mean post‐test probabilities of CoAo were higher in fetuses with CoAo than in normal fetuses in both subgroups (Group A, 82 vs 55%; P = 0.002 and Group B, 51 vs 20%; P < 0.001). In addition, a rate of growth of the aortic valve of ≤ 0.24 mm/week provided 80% sensitivity and 100% specificity for predicting CoAo in Group A.ConclusionsWe have derived a multiparametric scoring system, combining size‐based cardiac parameters and gestational age at diagnosis, which may improve the accuracy of fetal echocardiography for the stratification of the risk of CoAo. The objectivity and simplicity of its components may allow its implementation in fetal cardiology units.Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scan statistics on graphs
Authors: Marchette David 
Published: June 2012

AbstractScan statistics are used in spatial statistics and image analysis to detect regions of unusual or anomalous activity. A scan statistic is a maximum (or minimum) of a local statistic—one computed on a local region of the data. This is sometimes called ‘moving window analysis’; in the Engineering literature. The idea is to ‘slide’ a window around the image (or map or whatever spatial structure the data have), compute a statistic within each window, and look for outliers—anomalously high (or low) statistics. We discuss extending this idea to graphs, in which case the local region is defined in terms of the connectivity of the graph—the neighborhoods of vertices. WIREs Comput Stat 2012 doi: 10.1002/wics.1217This article is categorized under:

Data: Types and Structure > Graph and Network Data
Data: Types and Structure > Social Networks
Peptide and protein‐based nanotubes for nanobiotechnology
Authors: Petrov Anna , Audette Gerald F. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe development of biologically relevant nanosystems such as biomolecular probes and sensors requires systems that effectively interface specific biochemical environments with abiotic architectures. The most widely studied nanomaterial, carbon nanotubes, has proven challenging in their adaptation for biomedical applications despite their numerous advantageous physical and electrochemical properties. On the other hand, development of bionanosystems through adaptation of existing biological systems has several advantages including their adaptability through modern recombinant DNA strategies. Indeed, the use of peptides, proteins and protein assemblies as nanotubes, scaffolds, and nanowires has shown much promise as a bottom‐up approach to the development of novel bionanosystems. We highlight several unique peptide and protein systems that generate protein nanotubes (PNTs) that are being explored for the development of biosensors, probes, bionanowires, and drug delivery systems. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2012, 4:575–585. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1180This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Peptide-Based Structures
Global vorticity shedding for a shrinking cylinder
Authors: Weymouth G. D. , Triantafyllou M. S. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWe study numerically the viscous flow around a steadily moving two-dimensional cylinder undergoing a rapid reduction in its diameter as a model problem for force production through shape change which is encountered in the locomotion of certain animals. We consider first the case of a rapidly collapsing circular cylinder in steady translation, starting from an original diameter and reaching a final, smaller diameter under prescribed kinematics. We show that the difference in added mass energy is recovered by the body, and the boundary layer vorticity is reduced through annihilation with opposite-sign vorticity generated during the reduction phase. Next we consider a steadily moving circular cylinder which undergoes rapid but orderly melting, resulting in the same reduction of its diameter but which exhibits radically different flow patterns compared to the collapsing cylinder. The original vorticity in the boundary layer is shed instantaneously and globally in the fluid at the start of the melting phase, and then rapidly rolls up to form a pair of strong vortices, which contain the energy difference between the original and final cylinder states. The formation of the vortices in the melting cylinder takes less than a third of the time required by a rigid translating cylinder to form such vortices.
Reflections on Proportionality, Military Necessity and the Clausewitzian War
Authors: Giladi Rotem M 
Published: June 2012

This article explores the significance of the reference, in proportionality analyses, to proper purpose and legitimate ends, given the traditional aversion of international humanitarian law (IHL) to questions of (political) legitimacy. It demonstrates the centrality of that aversion in doctrinal assertions concerning the goals, characteristics and operational strategy of IHL yet argues that, at its historical and conceptual foundations, the law draws on a construction of war that presupposes legitimacy of the political type. That construction remains embedded, though implicit, in contemporary proportionality analyses.Thus, the instrumental understanding of war by Carl von Clausewitz poses several challenges to entrenched contemporary doctrinal claims about the law, how it operates and the effects it produces. This provides an impetus for critical reassessment of the aversion to politics and the interaction between the humanitarian, military and political spheres in the operation of IHL norms. Such critique helps to identify novel strategies of humanitarian protection in war outside the confines demarcated by orthodox doctrine.
Geoarchaeological importance of sub-Arctic bird perches dated by lee side turf mound accumulation and identified by lichen plumes
Authors: Julig P.J. , Mahaney W.C. , Kalm V. , Earl-Goulet J.R. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTOrganic-rich turf mounds, fertilised with bird droppings, may develop in the lee of obstacles, including either natural or human-made structures, boulders and rock cairns in exposed mountain and sub-Arctic and Arctic periglacial/proglacial environments. These boulder-leeside deposits consist mainly of organic materials intermixed with loess trapped in baffling agents (turf), and may sometimes contain archaeological features. Certain animal and bird species may also contribute to turf-mounds by frequenting these locations. Boulders and other natural and human-made obstructions are observed to have lichen plumes, principally Xanthoria spp?, lacing the tops and downwind side of the mound and fertilised by defecating birds and mammals. Turf mounds, consisting of organic soil, can be used for both relative and chronometric age dating, the buried peat providing 14C dates for archaeological context for specific mountain sites when artefacts are recovered. In addition, field and laboratory analyses of soils provide important palaeoenvironmental and geoarchaeological information about the sites. Examples are provided from a field site in the Norra Storfjället in the Swedish SubArctic.