bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intraoperative Protective Mechanical Ventilation for Prevention of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications
Authors: Güldner Andreas , Kiss Thomas , Serpa Neto Ary , Hemmes Sabrine N. T. , Canet Jaume , Spieth Peter M. , Rocco Patricia R. M. , Schultz Marcus J. , Pelosi Paolo , Gama de Abreu Marcelo
Published: June 2015

AbstractAbstract

Postoperative pulmonary complications are associated with increased morbidity, length of hospital stay, and mortality after major surgery. Intraoperative lung-protective mechanical ventilation has the potential to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. This review discusses the relevant literature on definition and methods to predict the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complication, the pathophysiology of ventilator-induced lung injury with emphasis on the noninjured lung, and protective ventilation strategies, including the respective roles of tidal volumes, positive end-expiratory pressure, and recruitment maneuvers. The authors propose an algorithm for protective intraoperative mechanical ventilation based on evidence from recent randomized controlled trials.

Postoperative pulmonary complications increase morbidity and mortality, but can be reduced by lung-protective mechanical ventilation. Different strategies using low tidal volumes, positive end-expiratory pressure, recruitment maneuvers, and a combination of these have been suggested, but only a few of them are based on evidence. This review proposes an algorithm for protective intraoperative mechanical ventilation that builds on utmost recent randomized clinical trials.
Modeling small RNA competition inC. elegans
Authors: Elkington Joshua M.
Published: June 2015

Website Summary

Small RNAs are important regulators of gene expression; however, the relationship between small RNAs is poorly understood. Studying the crosstalk between small RNA pathways can help understand how gene expression is regulated. One hypothesis suggests that small RNA competition arises from limited enzymatic resources. Therefore, a model was created in order to gain insights into this competition.

Small RNAs have been determined to have an essential role in gene regulation. However, competition between small RNAs is a poorly understood aspect of small RNA dynamics. Recent evidence has suggested that competition between small RNA pathways arises from a scarcity of common resources essential for small RNA activity. In order to understand how competition affects small RNAs inC. elegans, a system of differential equations was used. The model recreates normal behavior of small RNAs and uses random sampling in order to determine the coefficients of competition for each small RNA class. The model includes endogenous small-interfering RNAs (endo-siRNA), exogenous small-interfering RNAs (exo-siRNA), and microRNAs (miRNA). The model predicts that exo-siRNAs is dominated by competition between endo-siRNAs and miRNAs. Furthermore, the model predicts that competition is required for normal levels of endogenous small RNAs to be maintained. Although the model makes several assumptions about cell dynamics, the model is still useful in order to understand competition between small RNA pathways.
Connecting small RNAs and Aging
Authors: Elkington Joshua
Published: June 2015

Website Summary

Small RNAs are important gene regulators of stress response, aging, and many other things. More analysis needs to be done in order to gain a better understanding of these molecules to find connections between small RNAs and important things like aging.

Small RNAs are a diverse population of gene regulators, but their role in the cell is not fully characterized. Bioinformatics was used to prove their connection with aging and expand current knowledge for these molecules.

Small RNAs have a wide range of functions and recent studies have found connections between these molecules and aging pathways. However, the process to systematically characterize this relationship is slow. Prediction tools can be used to expedite this process by finding new genes and pathways that cross talk with each other. Using phylogenetic and systems analysis, connections between small RNAs and aging were proven and new genes that may be related to aging were identified. This type of analysis can be applied to many different pathways in order to fully characterize the role of small RNAs.
Crystal structure of (E)-dodec-2-enoic acid
Authors: Sonneck Marcel , Peppel Tim , Spannenberg Anke , Wohlrab Sebastian
Published: June 2015

The crystal structure of (E)-dodec-2-enoic acid, C12H22O2, an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid with a melting point (295 K) near room temperature, is characterized by carboxylic acid inversion dimers linked by pairs of O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The carboxylic acid group and the following three carbon atoms of the chain of the (E)-dodec-2-enoic acid molecule lie almost in one plane (r.m.s. deviation for the four C atoms and two O atoms = 0.012 Å), whereas the remaining carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon chain adopt a nearly fully staggered conformation [moduli of torsion angles vary from 174.01 (13) to 179.97 (13)°].
Crystal structure ofcatena-poly[[diaquacobalt(II)]-bis[μ-5-(4-carboxyylatophenyl)picolinato]-κ3N,O2:O5;κ3O5:N,O2-[diaquacobalt(II)]-μ-1-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]-1H-imidazole-κ2N3:N3′]
Authors: Xu Guo-Wang , Wang Ye-Nan , Wang Hai-Bing , Wang Zhong-Long
Published: June 2015

The asymmetric unit of the title polymeric CoIIcomplex, [Co2(C13H7NO4)2(C12H10N4)(H2O)4]n, contains a CoIIcation, a 5-(4-carboxylatophenyl)picolinate dianion, two coordination water molecules and half of 1-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]-1H-imidazole ligand. The CoIIcation is coordinated by two picolinate dianions, two water molecules and one 1-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]-1H-imidazole molecule in a distorted N2O4octahedral coordination geometry. The two picolinate dianions are related by an inversion centre and link two CoIIcations, forming a binuclear unit, which is further bridged by the imidazole molecules, located about an inversion centre, into the polymeric chain propagating along the [-1-11] direction. In the crystal, the three-dimensional supramolecular architecture is constructed by O—H...O hydrogen bonds between the coordinating water molecules and the non-coordinating carboxylate O atoms of adjacent polymeric chains.
An equity management and planning tool for cooperatives
Authors: Royer Jeffrey
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe an equity management and planning tool used by rural electric cooperatives (RECs) and based on the times-interest-earned ratio (TIER). The objectives of the paper are to construct a mathematical model that provides a rigorous foundation for the TIER approach, modify the approach so the rate of return on equity is a function of the cooperative’s equity position, demonstrate how elements of the model can be used by RECs in setting electric rates that will enable them to accelerate the retirement of member equity, and derive a generalized form of the “modified Goodwin formula” that can be used by both RECs and agricultural cooperatives.

Design/methodology/approach

– Mathematical and graphical expressions of the TIER approach are developed. Simulations are used to demonstrate how RECs can set electric rates according to a target revolving period. The modified Goodwin formula is generalized to include the payment of cash patronage refunds through use of a growth model of an agricultural cooperative developed in Royer (1993).

Findings

– This paper demonstrates how TIER analysis and the modified Goodwin formula can be used by cooperatives to aid their decisions regarding debt and equity financing and their choices regarding cash patronage refunds, equity retirement, and growth. The paper demonstrates that cooperatives that fail to recognize the functional relationship between the rate of return on equity and the equity position may substantially underestimate the equity position necessary to meet interest coverage requirements and overestimate their ability to grow and retire equity. It also shows that RECs may be able to make substantial improvements in equity revolvement with only modest increases in electric rates.

Research limitations/implications

– The model developed in this paper has been simplified to focus on fundamental financial relationships. To apply this model, cooperatives may need to modify it to accommodate the complexities of their business operations.

Practical implications

– TIER analysis can provide a useful equity management and planning tool for both RECs and agricultural cooperatives. It also can be used by lending institutions to assess the financial health of individual cooperative organizations.

Originality/value

– Constructing a mathematical model that provides a foundation for TIER analysis, modifying the approach so that the rate of return on equity is a function of the equity position, demonstrating how RECs can use the model to set electric rates according to a target revolving period, and generalizing the modified Goodwin formula so it can be used by agricultural cooperatives are all original contributions.
Valuing new random genetically modified (GM) traits with real options
Authors: Wilson William , Shakya Sumadhur , Dahl Bruce
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical model to value traits at different developmental phases and to determine the value of drought tolerance (DT) in wheat using GM technology.

Design/methodology/approach

– A stochastic binomial real-options model of GM traits was developed to estimate the value of a DT wheat trait.

Findings

– The results indicate that the value of DT wheat using GM technology is in-the-money at each development phase. The greatest value would accrue for the Prairie Gateway and Northern Great Plains regions in the USA.

Research limitations/implications

– The approach is useful for valuing high-cost risky investments in technology and results provide guidance for development strategies.

Originality/value

– The model is original and its applications to wheat are unique.
The long-term linkages between direct and indirect property in Australia
Authors: Yong Jaime , Khoi Pham Anh
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Investment in Australia’s property market, whether directly or indirectly through Australian real estate investment trusts (A-REITs), grew remarkably since the 1990s. The degree of segregation between the property market and other financial assets, such as shares and bonds, can influence the diversification benefits within multi-asset portfolios. This raises the question of whether direct and indirect property investments are substitutable. Establishing how information transmits between asset classes and impacts the predictability of returns is of interest to investors. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors study the linkages between direct and indirect Australian property sectors from 1985 to 2013, with shares and bonds. This paper employs an Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average (ARFIMA) process to de-smooth a valuation-based direct property index. The authors establish directional lead-lag relationships between markets using bi-variate Granger causality tests. Johansen cointegration tests are carried out to examine how direct and indirect property markets adjust to an equilibrium long-term relationship and short-term deviations from such a relationship with other asset classes.

Findings

– The authors find the use of appraisal-based property data creates a smoothing bias which masks the extent of how information is transmitted between the indirect property sector, stock and bond markets, and influences returns. The authors demonstrate that an ARFIMA process accounting for a smoothing bias up to lags of four quarters can overcome the overstatement of the smoothing bias from traditional AR models, after individually appraised constituent properties are aggregated into an overall index. The results show that direct property adjusts to information transmitted from market-traded A-REITs and stocks.

Practical implications

– The study shows direct property investments and A-REITs are substitutible in a multi-asset portfolio in the long and short term.

Originality/value

– The authors apply an ARFIMA(p,d,q) model to de-smooth Australian property returns, as proposed by Bond and Hwang (2007). The authors expect the findings will contribute to the discussion on whether direct property and REITs are substitutes in a multi-asset portfolio.
Prosthetic heart valves in pregnancy, outcomes for women and their babies: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lawley CM , Lain SJ , Algert CS , Ford JB , Figtree GA , Roberts CL
Published: June 2015

Background

Historically, pregnancies among women with prosthetic heart valves have been associated with an increased incidence of adverse outcomes.

Objectives

Systematic review to assess risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes among women with a prosthetic heart valve(s) over the last 20 years.

Search strategy

Electronic literature search of Medline, The Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Embase to find recent studies.

Selection criteria

Studies of pregnant women with heart valve prostheses including trials, cohort studies and unselected case series.

Data collection and analysis

Primary analysis calculated absolute risks and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for pregnancy outcomes using a random effects model. The Freeman–Tukey transformation was utilised in secondary analysis due to the large number of individual study outcomes with zero events.

Main results

Eleven studies capturing 499 pregnancies among women with heart valve prostheses, including 256 mechanical and 59 bioprosthetic, were eligible for inclusion. Pooled estimate of maternal mortality was 1.2/100 pregnancies (95% CI 0.5–2.2), for mechanical valves subgroup 1.8/100 (95% CI 0.5–3.7) and bioprosthetic subgroup 0.7/100 (95% CI 0.1–4.5), overall pregnancy loss 20.8/100 pregnancies (95% CI 9.5–35.1), perinatal mortality 5.0/100 births (95%CI 1.8–9.8) and thromboembolism 9.3/100 pregnancies (95% CI 4.0–16.5).

Conclusions

Women with heart valve prostheses experienced higher rates of adverse outcomes than expected in a general obstetric population; however, lower than previously reported. Women with bioprostheses had significantly fewer thromboembolic events compared to women with mechanical valves. Women should be counselled pre‐pregnancy about risk of maternal death and pregnancy loss. Vigilant surveillance by a multidisciplinary team throughout the perinatal period remains warranted for these women and their infants.

Tweetable abstract

Metaanalysis suggests improvement in #pregnancy outcomes among women with #heartvalveprostheses.
The Association between High‐Deductible Health Plan Transition and Contraception and Birth Rates
Authors: Graves Amy J. , Kozhimannil Katy B. , Kleinman Ken P. , Wharam J. Frank
Published: June 2015

Objective

To evaluate the association between employer‐mandated enrollment into high‐deductible health plans (HDHPs) and contraception and birth rates among reproductive‐age women.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Using data from 2002 to 2008, we examined 1,559 women continuously enrolled in a Massachusetts health plan for 1 year before and after an employer‐mandated switch from an HMO to a HDHP, compared with 2,793 matched women contemporaneously enrolled in an HMO.

Study Design

We used an individual‐level interrupted time series with comparison series design to examine level and trend changes in clinician‐provided contraceptives and a differences‐in‐differences design to assess annual birth rates.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Employer, plan, and member characteristics were obtained from enrollment files. Contraception and childbirth information were extracted from pharmacy and medical claims.

Principal Findings

Monthly contraception rates were 19.0–24.0 percent at baseline. Level and trend changes did not differ between groups (p = .92 and p = .36, respectively). Annual birth rates declined from 57.1/1,000 to 32.7/1,000 among HDHP members and from 61.9/1,000 to 56.2/1,000 among HMO controls, a 40 percent relative reduction in odds of childbirth (odds ratio = 0.60; p = .02).

Conclusions

Women who switched to HDHPs experienced a lower birth rate, which might reflect strategies to avoid childbirth‐related out‐of‐pocket costs under HDHPs.
The Effect of pH and Temperature on Cabbage Volatiles During Storage
Authors: Akpolat Hacer , Barringer Sheryl Ann
Published: June 2015

During storage of shredded cabbage, characteristic sulfurous volatile compounds are formed affecting cabbage aroma both negatively and positively. Selected ion flow tube‐mass spectrometry (SIFT‐MS) was used to measure the concentration of cabbage volatiles during storage. The volatile levels of cabbage samples were measured at pH 3.3 to 7.4 at 4 °C for 14 d, and pH 3.3 at 25 °C for 5 d in order to determine the effect of pH and temperature. Aroma intensity, best aroma, freshness, and off odor were evaluated in a sensory test of the samples at 4 °C. The desirable volatile allyl isothiocyanate was lower in high pH samples (pH 7.4 and 6.4), whereas higher concentrations were detected in low pH samples (pH 3.3 and 4.6). Lipoxygenase volatiles, which produce a fresh green and leafy aroma in cabbage, were generated in very low amounts at any pH value. High pH samples generated significantly higher concentrations of off odors such as dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, and methanethiol. Sensory tests showed that higher pH samples had significantly stronger off odor and lower desirable cabbage aroma than lower pH samples. Thus, sensory results matched the volatile results in that samples at higher pH levels formed the highest amount of undesirable volatiles and the least amount of desirable volatiles. Storage at 25 °C produced similar concentrations of allyl isothiocyanate, but significantly higher levels of off odors, than at 4 °C. Shredded cabbage products should be stored in low pH dressings to minimize formation of off odors and maximize formation of characteristic, desirable cabbage odor.
Comparison of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy versus sorafenib monotherapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kawaoka Tomokazu , Aikata Hiroshi , Hyogo Hideyuki , Morio Reona , Morio Kei , Hatooka Masahiro , Fukuhara Takayuki , Kobayashi Tomoki , Naeshiro Noriaki , Miyaki Daisuke , Hiramatsu Akira , Imamura Michio , Kawakami Yoshiiku , Takahashi Shoichi , Waki Koji , Tsuji Keiji , Kohno Hirotaka , Kohno Hiroshi , Moriya Takashi , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: June 2015

Objectives

Sorafenib is the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with distant metastasis, unresectable HCC, and those refractory to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or with macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI). The application of sorafenib has been approved by the Japanese Government‐sponsored Medicare for unresectable HCC. In this retrospective cohort study we aimed to compare various aspects of HAIC with sorafenib in the treatment of Child–Pugh A patients with advanced HCC who were otherwise free of extrahepatic metastasis.

Methods

Altogether 177 patients with advanced HCC at Child–Pugh class A who were free of extrahepatic metastasis were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were divided into the HAIC group (n = 136) and the sorafenib group (n = 41), and were followed up until their death or withdrawal of therapy. Responses to treatment and overall survival were determined and compared between the two groups.

Results

The proportion of patients with complete response, partial response, stable disease and progressive disease were 5.9%, 25.0%, 40.4% and 21.3% in the HAIC and 2.4%, 2.4%, 43.9% and 41.5% in the sorafenib group, respectively. The response rate was higher in the HAIC group than in the sorafenib group (30.9% vs 4.8%). The median survival time was 10 months in both HAIC and sorafenib groups. In patients with macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI) by the case‐control method, the response rate was higher in the HAIC group than in the sorafenib group. Overall survival was longer in the HAIC group than in the sorafenib group (14 months vs 7 months, P = 0.005). Multivariate analysis identified MVI (hazard ratio 2.4, P = 0.018) as an independent prognostic factor of survival in the sorafenib group.

Conclusions

Response rate to HAIC was higher than that to sorafenib monotherapy. Prognosis was favorable in HAIC responders despite MVI. HAIC might be a potential treatment option for advanced HCC without extrahepatic metastasis.
Endocrine‐disrupting chemicals, risk of type 2 diabetes, and diabetes‐related metabolic traits: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Song Yan , Chou Elizabeth L. , Baecker Aileen , You Nai‐Chieh Y. , Song Yiqing , Sun Qi , Liu Simin
Published: June 2015

Background

Elevated blood or urinary concentrations of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be related to increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of the present study was to assess the role of EDCs in affecting risk of T2D and related metabolic traits.

Methods

MEDLINE was searched for cross‐sectional and prospective studies published before 8 March 2014 into the association between EDCs (dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyl [PCB], chlorinated pesticide, bisphenol A [BPA], phthalate) and T2D and related metabolic traits. Three investigators independently extracted information on study design, participant characteristics, EDC types and concentrations, and association measures.

Results

Forty‐one cross‐sectional and eight prospective studies from ethnically diverse populations were included in the analysis. Serum concentrations of dioxins, PCBs, and chlorinated pesticides were significantly associated with T2D risk; comparing the highest to lowest concentration category, the pooled relative risks (RR) were 1.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44–2.54) for dioxins, 2.39 (95% CI 1.86–3.08) for total PCBs, and 2.30 (95% CI 1.81–2.93) for chlorinated pesticides. Urinary concentrations of BPA and phthalates were also associated with T2D risk; comparing the highest to lowest concentration categories, the pooled RR were 1.45 (95% CI 1.13–1.87) for BPA and 1.48 (95% CI 0.98–2.25) for phthalates. Further, EDC concentrations were associated with indicators of impaired fasting glucose and insulin resistance.

Conclusions

Persistent and non‐persistent EDCs may affect the risk of T2D. There is an urgent need for further investigation of EDCs, especially non‐persistent ones, and T2D risk in large prospective studies.
A Review of Fluid Inclusions in Diagenetic Systems
Authors: MERNAGH Terrence P.
Published: June 2015

The study of fluid inclusions can help constrain the conditions at which diagenetic minerals precipitated, leading to a better understanding of the geologic controls and relative timing of changes in porosity and/or mineralising events. Many of the diagenetic minerals are easily deformed and it is important to check for any post‐entrapment changes to the inclusions. Possible post‐entrapment changes include reaction with the host crystal, necking down, nucleation metastability and thermal re‐equilibration. The recommended method of detecting these problems is to examine individual fluid inclusion assemblages (FIAs) and report data for each individual FIA.

These studies have been enhanced by the development of new micro‐analytical techniques such as micro‐fluorescence spectroscopy, micro‐infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, various mass spectrometry techniques and the analysis of individual fluid inclusions using laser ablation/decrepitation methods. Special techniques have been developed for hydrocarbon‐bearing inclusions such as the Grains containing Oil Inclusions (GOI), Fluid Inclusion Stratigraphy (FIS), and the Molecular Composition of Inclusions (MCI) techniques. The fluid inclusions that form in some minerals during diagenesis provide the only direct means of examining the fluids present in these systems. They provide useful temperature, pressure, and fluid composition data that cannot be obtained by other means.
Investigations on the Possible Re‐equilibration of Aqueous Fluid Inclusions in Barite: A Study of Barite and Calcite from the Hutti Gold Deposit, Karnataka, India
Authors: BADHE K.V. , PANDALAI H.S.
Published: June 2015

Re‐equilibration of fluid inclusions in crystals takes place by loss or gain of solvents and solutes from fluid inclusions and by changes in their volumes. Volume change of fluid inclusions are primarily dictated by elastic properties and available slip planes of host crystals. In the present study, the phase‐behavior of fluids entrapped in co‐precipitated calcite and barite is studied. While calcite contains only biphase fluid inclusions, barite has predominantly monophase fluid inclusions. Fluid inclusion petrography, microthermometry and leachate analysis are used to establish the nature of entrapped fluids and entrapment temperature is substantiated through independent sulfur isotope geothermometry using coexisting barite and pyrite. Phase transitions in the monophase fluid inclusions in barite are explained in terms of over‐pressuring of fluids in these fluid inclusions relative to fluids entrapped in calcite owing to the low bulk modulus of barite.
Compositions and Pressure–Temperature Conditions of Metamorphic Fluids Overprinting the Talate VMS Pb–Zn Deposit, Southern Altay, China
Authors: Hui ZHANG , Jiuhua XU , Xihui CHENG , Xuji GUO , Longhua LIN , Rui YANG , Chunjing BIAN
Published: June 2015

The Talate Pb–Zn deposit, located in the east of the NW–SE extending Devonian Kelan volcanic‐sedimentary basin of the southern Altaides, occurs in the metamorphic rock series of the upper second lithological section of the lower Devonian lower Kangbutiebao Formation (D1k12). The Pb–Zn orebodies are stratiform and overprinted by late sulfide–quartz veins. Two distinct mineralization periods were identified: a submarine volcanic sedimentary exhalation period and a metamorphic hydrothermal mineralization period. The metamorphic overprinting period can be further divided into two stages: an early stage characterized by bedding‐parallel lentoid quartz veins developed in the chlorite schist and leptite of the ore‐bearing horizon, and a late stage represented by pyrite–chalcopyrite–quartz veins crosscutting chlorite schist and leptite or the massive Pb–Zn ores. Fluid inclusions in the early metamorphic quartz veins are mainly CO2–H2O–NaCl and carbonic (CO2±CH4±N2) inclusions with minor aqueous inclusions. The CO2–H2O–NaCl inclusions have homogenization temperatures of 294–368° C, Tm,CO2 of –62.6 to –60.5°C, Th,CO2 of 7.7 to 29.6°C (homogenized into liquid), and salinities of 5.5–7.4 wt% NaCl eqv. The carbonic inclusions have Tm,CO2 of –60.1 to –58.5°C, and Th, CO2 of –4.2 to 20.6°C. Fluid inclusions in late sulfide quartz veins are also dominated by CO2–H2O–NaCl and CO2±CH4 inclusions. The CO2–H2O–NaCl inclusions have Th,tot of 142 to 360°C, Tm,CO2 of –66.0 to –56.6°C, Th,CO2 of –6.0 to 29.4°C (homogenized into liquid) and salinities of 2.4–16.5 wt% NaCl eqv. The carbonic inclusions have Tm, CO2 of –61.5 to –57.3°C, and Th, CO2 of –27.0 to 28.7°C. The aqueous inclusions (L‐V) have Tm,ice of –9.8 to –1.3°C and Th,tot of 205 to 412°C. The P–T trapping conditions of CO2‐rich fluid inclusions (100–370 MPa, 250–368°C) are comparable with the late‐ to post‐regional metamorphism conditions. The CO2‐rich fluids, possibly derived from regional metamorphism, were involved in the reworking and metal enrichment of the primary ores. Based on these results, the Talate Pb–Zn deposit is classified as a VMS deposit modified by metamorphic fluids. The massive Pb–Zn ores with banded and breccia structures were developed in the early period of submarine volcanic sedimentary exhalation associated with an extensional subduction‐related back‐arc basin, and the quartz veins bearing polymetallic sulfides were formed in the late period of metamorphic hydrothermal superimposition related to the Permian–Triassic continental collision.
Characteristics of Hydrocarbon Fluid Inclusions and Their Significance for Evolution of Petroleum Systems in the Dabashan Foreland, Central China
Authors: Rongxi LI , Xiaoli QIN , Shuwen DONG , Shuwen LIU
Published: June 2015

Field investigation combined with detailed petrographic observation indicate that abundant oil, gas, and solid bitumen inclusions were entrapped in veins and cements of sedimentary rocks in the Dabashan foreland, which were used to reconstruct the oil and gas migration history in the context of tectonic evolution. Three stages of veins were recognized and related to the collision between the North China block and the Yangtze block during the Indosinian orogeny from Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (D1), the southwest thrusting of the Qinling erogenic belt towards the Sichuan basin during the Yanshanian orogeny from Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (D2), and extensional tectonics during Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (D3), respectively. The occurrences of hydrocarbon inclusions in these veins and their homogenization temperatures suggest that oil was generated in the early stage of tectonic evolution, and gas was generated later, whereas solid bitumen was the result of pyrolysis of previously accumulated hydrocarbons. Three stages of hydrocarbon fluid inclusions were also identified in cements of carbonates and sandstones of gas beds in the Dabashan foreland belt and the Dabashan foreland depression (northeastern Sichuan basin), which recorded oil/gas formation, migration, accumulation and destruction of paleo‐reservoirs during the D2. Isotopic analysis of hydrocarbon fluid inclusions contained in vein minerals shows that δ13C1 of gas in fluid inclusions ranges from –17.0‰ to –30.4‰ (PDB) and δD from –107.7‰ to –156.7‰ (SMOW), which indicates that the gas captured in the veins was migrated natural gas which may be correlated with gas from the gas‐fields in northern Sichuan basin. Organic geochemical comparison between bitumen and potential source rocks indicates that the Lower Cambrian black shale and the Lower Permian black limestone were the most possible source rocks of the bitumen. Combined with tectonic evolution history of the Dabashan foreland, the results of this study suggest that oil was generated from the Paleozoic source rocks in the Dabashan area under normal burial thermal conditions before Indosinian tectonics and accumulated to form paleo‐reservoirs during Indosinian collision between the North China block and the Yangtz block. The paleo‐reservoirs were destroyed during the Yanshanian tectonic movement when the Dabashan foreland was formed. At the same time, oil in the paleo‐reservoirs in the Dabashan foreland depression was pyrolyzed to transform to dry gas and the residues became solid bitumen.
Raman Micro‐Spectroscopic Study of Sulfate Ion in the System Na2SO4 – H2O
Authors: Dongliang ZHU , Ziang ZHU , Junyi PAN , Junying DING , Pei NI
Published: June 2015

This work aims to quantify sulfate ion concentrations in the system Na2SO4‐H2O using Raman micro‐spectroscopy. Raman spectra of sodium sulfate solutions with known concentrations were collected at ambient temperature (293 K) and in the 500 cm−1–4000 cm−1 spectral region. The results indicate that the intensity of the SO42– band increases with increasing concentrations of sulfate ion. A linear correlation was found between the concentration of SO42– (c) and parameter I1, which represents the ratio of the area of the SO42– band to that of the O‐H stretching band of water (As/AW): I1 = –0.00102+0.01538c. Furthermore, we deconvoluted the O‐H stretching band of water (2800 cm−1–3800 cm−1) at 3232 and 3430 cm−1 into two sub‐Gaussian bands, and then defined Raman intensity of the two sub‐bands as AB1 (3232 cm−1) and AB2 (3430 cm−1), defined the full width of half maximum (FWHM) of the two sub‐bands as WB1 (3232 cm−1) and WB2 (3430 cm−1). A linear correlation between the concentration of SO42– (c) and parameter I2, which represents the ratio of Raman intensity of SO42– (As) (in 981 cm−1) to (AB1+AB2), was also established: I2=–0.0111+0.3653c. However, no correlations were found between concentration of SO42–(c) and FWHM ratios, which includes the ratio of FWHM of SO42– (Ws) to WB1, WB2 and WB1+B2 (the sum of WB1 and WB2), suggesting that FWHM is not suitable for quantitative studies of sulfate solutions with Raman spectroscopy. A comparison of Raman spectroscopic studies of mixed Na2SO4 and NaCl solutions with a constant SO42– concentration and variable Cl− concentrations suggest that the I1 parameter is affected by Cl−, whereas the I2 parameter was not Therefore, even if the solution is not purely Na2SO4‐H2O, SO42– concentrations can still be calculated from the Raman spectra if the H2O band is deconvoluted into two sub‐bands, making this method potentially applicable to analysis of natural fluid inclusions.
A Preliminary Review of Metallogenic Regularity of Molybdenum Deposits in China
Authors: Fan HUANG , Xinxing LIU , Denghong WANG , Chenghui WANG
Published: June 2015

Molybdenum is one of the dominant minerals in China because of its rich reserves. In recent years, outstanding breakthroughs have been made in molybdenum prospecting in China, and the distribution of molybdenum deposits in China is found to have a “planar pattern”. In general, the molybdenum deposits are concentrated in eastern China, including the largest molybdenum reserves of Henan Province. In terms of the scale of molybdenum deposits, the identified resources of the superlarge deposits are the most important, which account for about 53% of the whole country, and those of the large deposits account for about 30%, those of the medium‐sized deposits account for about 14%, those of the small‐sized deposits, mine spots and mineralization account for about 3%. The molybdenum deposits are mainly classified as porphyry type, skarn type, hydrothermal (vein) type and sedimentary (metamorphic) type in genesis, and the identified resources of these types account for 85.75%, 8.83%, 2.79% and 2.63% of the total resources respectively. Based on the statistics of precise chronology data of molybdenites Re‐Os, Mo‐mineralization can be divided into 6 periods in Chinese geological history, which are Precambrian (>800 Ma), Cambrian‐Silurian (540–415 Ma, Caledonian), Devonian‐Permian (400–290 Ma, Hecynian), Triassic (260–200 Ma, Indosinian), Jurassic‐Cretaceous (195–70 Ma, Yanshanian) and Paleogene‐Neogene (65–10 Ma, Himalayan). Mo mineralization during the Yanshanian period is the strongest one, in which about 76.69% of the Chinese total identified resources was formed. The second is the Himalayan period. According to spatial‐temporal distribution characteristics of molybdenum deposits, the metallogenic regularity of molybdenum deposits was preliminarily summarized, and 41 level‐III molybdenum‐forming belts, 13 level‐II molybdenum‐forming provinces and 4 level‐I molybdenum‐forming domains were ascertained in the mainland of China. There are 39 metallogenic series of and 60 sub‐series of molybdenum deposits with molybdenum as the dominant metal and corresponding representative molybdenum deposits proposed. Metallogenic lineages of molybdenum deposits were also established. Spatial‐temporal evolution of different types of molybdenum deposits, and the relationship between Mo‐mineralization and tectonic evolution have been discussed in this paper. On this basis, the authors think that element Mo is an effective tracer for recording the crustal evolution history of China. At present, there are some problems in the exploration of Mo deposits in China, such as uneven exploration degrees in eastern and western China, shallow exploration depth, low and uneven grade, complex associated components, difficulty of mineral development and utilization, increasing costs of prospecting, and so on. According to successful experience of superficial and deep prospecting and considering also the discussion above, some suggestions are proposed for the prospecting of molybdenum deposits in the future.
A Preliminary Review of Metallogenic Regularity of Tin Deposits in China
Authors: Zhenghui CHEN , Jifu SHENG , Lijun LIU , Denghong WANG , Ting LIANG , Chenghui WANG
Published: June 2015

China is rich in tin resources, and contains many types of tin deposits. Among the tin deposit types, the cassiterite‐sulfide type, skarn type and quartz vein type occupy a large proportion of tin resources and reserves. From the aspect of exploitation and utilization, the most important types are cassiterite‐sulfide type and quartz vein type. The cassiterite‐sulfide type tin deposits are mainly located in Northern Guangxi and Eastern Yunnan, skarn type deposits are mainly distributed in the ore‐concentration areas of South Hunan in Middle Nanling, and the quartz vein type tin deposits are mainly distributed in South China, such as Western Fujian, Middle Jiangxi, Northern Guangzhou and Southern Hunan. The most important metallogenic epoch for tin deposits is the Mesozoic era. The metallogenic geotectonic background is mainly continental environments after orogeny process, with strong tectonic changes, interlaced deep fracture and frequent magmatism. And the most distinctive feature is the well developed Mesozoic granites, which have a close relationship with tin mineralization. Based on the detailed study of the data from 873 tin deposits in China, this paper summarized the metallogenic regularity of tin deposits, classified 20 important metallogenic series of tin or tin‐associated deposits, and inferred that the cassiterite‐sulfide type, skarn type, quartz vein type and greisen type are the main prediction types of tin resources. Forty‐four tin‐mineralization belts were divided, among which, 19 belts are the most important. In addition, a series of maps about tin metallogenic belts and tin metallogenic regularity were compiled, aiming to provide theoretical basis for potential estimation and prediction of tin mineral resources.
Audit Report Restrictions in Debt Covenants
Authors: Menon Krishnagopal , Williams David D.
Published: June 2015

While the debt‐contracting literature has extensively examined financial covenants, there has been little attention paid to audit‐related covenants. We focus on a covenant that restricts the borrower from receiving a going‐concern audit report (GCAR covenant). We hypothesize that a debt agreement is more likely to include a GCAR covenant as the borrower's credit quality decreases and the length of the loan period increases, and that it is more likely to impose a covenant restricting the choice of auditor when the debt includes a GCAR covenant. Also, we expect that an audit client with a GCAR covenant will be charged a higher audit fee and is more likely to receive a going‐concern audit report. We test these hypotheses on a sample of firms that issue private debt. Our results generally support our hypotheses. Our study suggests that lenders rely on the auditor's assessment in contracting, and audit‐related covenants influence auditor behavior.
Effect sizes and standardization in neighbourhood models of forest stands: potential biases and misinterpretations
Authors: Stoll Peter , Murrell David J. , Newbery David M.
Published: June 2015

Effects of conspecific neighbours on survival and growth of trees have been found to be related to species abundance. Both positive and negative relationships may explain observed abundance patterns. Surprisingly, it is rarely tested whether such relationships could be biased or even spurious due to transforming neighbourhood variables or influences of spatial aggregation, distance decay of neighbour effects and standardization of effect sizes.

To investigate potential biases, communities of 20 identical species were simulated with log‐series abundances but without species‐specific interactions. No relationship of conspecific neighbour effects on survival or growth with species abundance was expected. Survival and growth of individuals was simulated in random and aggregated spatial patterns using no, linear, or squared distance decay of neighbour effects.

Regression coefficients of statistical neighbourhood models were unbiased and unrelated to species abundance. However, variation in the number of conspecific neighbours was positively or negatively related to species abundance depending on transformations of neighbourhood variables, spatial pattern and distance decay. Consequently, effect sizes and standardized regression coefficients, often used in model fitting across large numbers of species, were also positively or negatively related to species abundance depending on transformation of neighbourhood variables, spatial pattern and distance decay.

Tests using randomized tree positions and identities provide the best benchmarks by which to critically evaluate relationships of effect sizes or standardized regression coefficients with tree species abundance. This will better guard against potential misinterpretations.
Alcohol Attributable Fraction for Injury Morbidity from the Dose‐Response Relationship of Acute Alcohol Consumption: Emergency Department Data from 18 Countries
Authors: Cherpitel Cheryl J. , Ye Yu , Bond Jason , Borges Guilherme , Monteiro Maristela , Chou Patricia , Hao Wei
Published: June 2015

Aims

To calculate the alcohol‐attributable fraction (AAF) of injury morbidity by volume of consumption prior to injury based on newly reported relative risk (RR) estimates.

Design

AAF estimates based on the dose‐response RR estimates obtained from previous pair‐matched case‐crossover fractional polynomial analysis of mean volume in volume categories were calculated from the prevalence of drinking prior to injury in each volume category.

Setting

Thirty‐seven emergency departments (EDs) across 18 countries.

Participants

Probability samples of patients, with equal representation of each shift for each day of the week, totaling 14,026 who arrived at the ED within six hours of injury from ED studies conducted between 2001 and 2011.

Measurements

AAF was analyzed by gender, age (18‐30; >30), cause of injury (traffic, assault, fall, other), and country detrimental drinking pattern (DDP).

Findings

For the EDs analyzed, 16.4% of all injuries were estimated to be attributable to alcohol, and the AAF did not vary by age but was over twice as large for males (20.6%; 19.3‐21.8) than for females (8.6%; 7.5‐9.7%). While females were at greater risk of injury than males at higher volume levels, lower prevalence of women drinking at higher levels contributed to overall lower AAF for women. Assault‐related injuries showed the largest AAF (44.1%; 37.6‐42.6). AAF was slightly higher for injuries from falls (14.3%; 12.9‐15.7) than motor vehicle crashes (11.1%; 9.3‐12.9). AAF was higher in those countries with a DDP of 3 (18.6; 17.5‐19.7) and 4 (19.4%; 17.3‐21.6) than those with a DDP of 2 (12.0%; 10.5‐13.5).

Conclusions

Alcohol‐attributable injuries presenting in emergency departments are higher for males than females, for violence‐related injuries compared with other types of injury, and for countries with more detrimental drinking patterns compared with those with less detrimental patterns.
Farm exposures are associated with lower percentage of circulating myeloid dendritic cell subtype 2 at age 6
Authors: Martikainen M.‐V. , Kääriö H. , Karvonen A. , Schröder P. C. , Renz H. , Kaulek V. , Dalphin J.‐C. , von Mutius E. , Schaub B. , Pekkanen J. , Hirvonen M.‐R. , Roponen M.
Published: June 2015

Background

Early life farm exposures have been shown to decrease the risk of allergic diseases. Dendritic cells (DCs) may mediate asthma‐protective effect of farm exposures as they play an important role in the development of immunity and tolerance. Our aim was to investigate whether the numbers and phenotypes of circulating DCs at age 6 are associated with farming, asthma, and atopy in a selected sample of French and Finnish children from the PASTURE study.

Methods

We studied 82 farm and 86 nonfarm children with and without asthma. Using flow cytometry, BDCA1+ CD11c+ myeloid DC1s (mDC1), BDCA3+high mDC2s and BDCA2+  plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) were identified and expressions of CD86, immunoglobulin‐like transcript 3 (ILT3) and ILT4 were analyzed. Questionnaires were used to assess prenatal and lifetime patterns of farm exposures and to define asthma. Atopic sensitization was defined by specific IgE measurements.

Results

The percentage of mDC2 cells was lower in farm children (0.033 ± 0.001) than in nonfarm children (0.042 ± 0.001; P = 0.008). Similar associations were found between mDC2 percentage and prenatal (P = 0.02) and lifetime exposure to farm milk (P = 0.03) and stables (P = 0.003), but these associations were not independent from farming. Asthma was positively associated with ILT4 +  mDCs (P = 0.04) and negatively with CD86 +  pDCs (P = 0.048) but only in nonfarm children.

Conclusions

Inverse association between farm exposure and mDC2 percentage suggest that this DC subset may play a role in farm‐related immunoregulation.
Cell proliferation, measured as flow cytometric S‐phase fraction, is a strong prognostic indicator in FIGO stage I endometrioid endometrial carcinoma: a population‐based study
Authors: Green Rasmus W. , Engblom Sanna , Baldetorp Bo , Hartman Linda , Måsbäck Anna , Bjurberg Maria
Published: June 2015

Introduction

In early‐stage endometrial carcinoma, there is controversy regarding the prognostic value of the flow cytometric variables DNA ploidy (diploid vs. aneuploid) and S‐phase fraction. In Sweden, the former is included in national guidelines despite poor scientific support and the latter is not used clinically. This study investigates the prognostic properties of these variables, together with classical histopathological variables, in multivariate analysis in a stringently stratified material.

Material and methods

Consecutive, population‐based patient material restricted to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 stage I endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (n = 1140) was retrospectively collected from routinely reported data from medical records. Data on age, FIGO stage, degree of differentiation, S‐phase fraction, DNA ploidy status, and adjuvant treatment were included in the study. Cumulative incidence curves with other causes of death as a competing risk were used for univariable analysis for the primary endpoint endometrial cancer death. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used for multivariate modeling of all endpoints, and for univariable analysis for the secondary endpoints overall survival and time to progression.

Results

An S‐phase fraction value of >5.5% was associated with worse outcome (for endometrial cancer death: hazard ratio 2.25; 95% CI 1.38−3.67; p = 0.001, adjusted) and DNA ploidy status was not, for all endpoints tested.

Conclusions

In FIGO stage I endometrioid endometrial carcinoma, DNA ploidy status had no prognostic value, whereas the S‐phase fraction may be used to identify those with a higher risk of adverse clinical outcome.