bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postoperative analgesic effects of epidural administration of neostigmine alone or in combination with morphine in dogs undergoing orthopedic surgery of the pelvic limbs
Authors: Marucio Rodrigo L. , Monteiro Eduardo R. , Moroz Ludmila R. , Fantoni Denise T.
Published: October 2014

Objective—To evaluate the postoperative analgesic effects of epidural administration of morphine and neostigmine, either alone or in combination, in dogs.

Animals—30 dogs undergoing orthopedic surgery on a pelvic limb.

Procedures—Anesthetic protocols were standardized. At the end of surgery, 10 dogs each received 1 of 3 epidural treatments: morphine (0.1 mg/kg), neostigmine (5 μg/kg), or morphine plus neostigmine (0.1 mg/kg and 5 μg/kg, respectively). Postoperative pain scores and the need for rescue analgesia were evaluated for 24 hours.

Results—Pain scores were higher in the neostigmine group, compared with scores for the morphine-neostigmine group, at 2 and 24 hours after surgery and higher in the morphine group than in the morphine-neostigmine group at 2 and 4 hours. During 24 hours, rescue analgesia was provided for 4, 7, and 2 of 10 dogs each in the morphine, neostigmine, and morphine-neostigmine groups, respectively. The number of dogs given rescue analgesia was significantly different among groups at 2, 3, 4, and 6 hours after surgery. Dogs in the morphine and morphine-neostigmine groups had a lower probability of receiving rescue analgesia within 24 hours than did dogs in the neostigmine group.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—When administered epidurally, morphine alone or in combination with neostigmine provided effective postoperative analgesia in most dogs after orthopedic surgery, whereas neostigmine alone did not. Findings for this study suggested a potential role for neostigmine as an adjuvant for epidural analgesia in dogs undergoing orthopedic surgeries on the pelvic limbs.
Effects of a dexmedetomidine constant rate infusion and atropine on changes in global perfusion variables induced by hemorrhage followed by volume replacement in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs
Authors: Cândido Thaísa D. , Teixeira-Neto Francisco J. , Diniz Miriely S. , Zanuzzo Felipe S. , Teixeira Lídia R. , Fantoni Denise T.
Published: October 2014

Objective—To evaluate the effects of a dexmedetomidine constant rate infusion (CRI) and atropine on changes in global perfusion variables induced by hemorrhage and volume replacement (VR) in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs.

Animals—8 adult dogs.

Procedures—Each dog was anesthetized twice, with a 2-week interval between anesthetic sessions. Anesthesia was maintained with 1.3 times the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane with and without dexmedetomidine (1.6 μg/kg, IV bolus, followed by 2 μg/kg/h, CRI). Dogs were mechanically ventilated and received an atracurium neuromuscular blockade during both sessions. During anesthesia with isoflurane and dexmedetomidine, atropine was administered 30 minutes before baseline measurements were obtained. After baseline data were recorded, 30% of the total blood volume was progressively withdrawn and VR was achieved with an equal proportion of autologous blood.

Results—Following hemorrhage, cardiac index, oxygen delivery index, and mixed-venous oxygen saturation were significantly decreased and the oxygen extraction ratio was significantly increased from baseline. The anaerobic threshold was not achieved during either anesthetic session. When dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane and dexmedetomidine, they had a significantly lower heart rate, cardiac index, and mixed-venous oxygen saturation during VR than they did when anesthetized with isoflurane alone. Plasma lactate concentration, mixed venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide difference, base excess, and anion gap were unaltered by hemorrhage and VR and did not differ between anesthetic sessions.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that the use of a dexmedetomidine CRI combined with atropine in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs that underwent volume-controlled hemorrhage followed by VR did not compromise global perfusion sufficiently to result in anaerobic metabolism.
Multivoxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of inflammatory and neoplastic lesions of the canine brain at 3.0 T
Authors: Stadler Krystina L. , Ober Christopher P. , Feeney Daniel A. , Jessen Carl R.
Published: October 2014

Objective—To describe findings of 3.0-T multivoxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in dogs with inflammatory and neoplastic intracranial disease and to determine the applicability of 1H-MRS for differentiating between inflammatory and neoplastic lesions and between meningiomas and gliomas.

Animals—33 dogs with intracranial disease (19 neoplastic [10 meningioma, 7 glioma, and 2 other] and 14 inflammatory).

Procedures—3.0-T multivoxel 1H-MRS was performed on neoplastic or inflammatory intracranial lesions identified with conventional MRI. N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline, and creatine concentrations were obtained retrospectively, and metabolite ratios were calculated. Values were compared for metabolites separately, between lesion categories (neoplastic or inflammatory), and between neoplastic lesion types (meningioma or glioma) by means of discriminant analysis and 1-way ANOVA.

Results—The NAA-to-choline ratio was 82.7% (62/75) accurate for differentiating neoplastic from inflammatory intracranial lesions. Adding the NAA-to-creatine ratio or choline-to-creatine ratio did not affect the accuracy of differentiation. Neoplastic lesions had lower NAA concentrations and higher choline concentrations than inflammatory lesions, resulting in a lower NAA-to-choline ratio, lower NAA-to-creatine ratio, and higher choline-to-creatine ratio for neoplasia relative to inflammation. No significant metabolite differences between meningiomas and gliomas were detected.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—1H-MRS was effective for differentiating inflammatory lesions from neoplastic lesions. Metabolite alterations for 1H-MRS in neoplasia and inflammation in dogs were similar to changes described for humans. Use of 1H-MRS provided no additional information for differentiating between meningiomas and gliomas. Proton MRS may be a beneficial adjunct to conventional MRI in patients with high clinical suspicion of inflammatory or neoplastic intracranial lesions.
Problems of “Draw-a-Person: A Quantitative Scoring System” (DAP:QSS) as a Measure of Intelligence
Authors: Troncone Alda
Published: October 2014

There has been some ongoing debate on whether the DAP:QSS can be used to measure intelligence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concurrent validity of the DAP:QSS with Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) and the DAP:QSS's accuracy as a predictor of RCPM scores and academic achievement. 184 children from two elementary schools in a region of Southern Italy was evaluated by the DAP:QSS, the RCPM, the Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test (GH), and school marks. Drawings' scores, school marks, and RCPM scores were subjected to a Pearson's correlation. Stepwise regression analyses were carried out to identify significant predictors of RCPM scores and school marks. After controlling for socioeconomic status, the DAP:QSS showed a significant correlation with the RCPM and GH tests and academic achievement. However, the modest correlations with the RCPM, the small amount of variance in RCPM scores accounted for by the DAP:QSS ( R2 = .24), and the errors of the DAP:QSS in correctly classifying participants with borderline/deficient intellectual functioning advise against the use of the DAP:QSS as a measure of intelligence.
Aerobic Exercise, Ball Sports, Dancing, and Weight Lifting as Moderators of the Relationship between Stress and Depressive Symptoms: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study with Swiss University Students
Authors: Gerber Markus , Brand Serge , Elliot Catherine , Holsboer-Trachsler Edith , Pühse Uwe
Published: October 2014

This exploratory study was designed to compare four types of exercise activities in Swiss university students. A sample of 201 medical students (136 women, 65 men; M age = 23.2 yr., SD = 2.4) and 250 exercise and health sciences students (144 women, 106 men; M age = 22.3 yr., SD = 2.2) participated in the study. They completed the Perceived Stress Scale, the Depression Scale, and the Office in Motion Questionnaire. Interaction effects between stress and exercise activities were analysed using hierarchical regression analyses, after controlling for age, sex, and academic discipline. Frequent participation in ball sports and dancing were associated with decreased depressive symptoms among students with elevated perceived stress, whereas no such relationship existed among their peers with lower perceived stress. No stress-moderating effect was found for aerobic exercise. Weight lifting was only associated with lower depressive symptoms among students with low perceived stress. The present findings suggest that, among Swiss university students, certain exercises may have better potential to moderate the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms than others. Future research could analyze whether personalized exercise programs created to satisfy participants' individual needs are more beneficial for stress management.
Developmental Timing of the Male-Female Health-Survival Paradox
Authors: Draper Thomas W. , Abrahamson Hayley
Published: October 2014

A sample of 200,000 men and women was used to examine the paradoxical observation that in old age there are more women than men but the men are in better health. Insofar as subsequent one-year survivability can be used as an index of health, the paradox was partially supported. After 99 years of age, there was a period of time when men's health compared to women's was improving relative to what it was previously. But there was never a time when it was actually better. The possibilities remain that earlier reports of the paradox might be the result of (a) sample limitations, (b) a focus on types of health that are unrelated to subsequent survival, or (c) local behaviors or conditions, such as smoking or air pollution, that can influence the health of men and women differently.
Haptic Perception of Rod Length When Exploration is Self-Determined, other-Determined, and Self-other Co-Determined
Authors: Park In-Jo , Rie Ju-Il
Published: October 2014

Previous research has shown that when estimating accuracy of an object property like shape, haptic perception is better when exploration is active rather than passive. To further investigate this finding, participants estimated the length of a rod under differing exploration conditions: self-determined, other-determined, and self-other co-determined. During the self-determined exploration, participants moved their end of the rod while the experimenter held the other end of the rod stationary. During the other-determined exploration, the participant held the rod while the experimenter moved the other end. During the self-other co-determined exploration, both the participant and the experimenter moved the rod at the same time. It was hypothesized that judgments of rod length would be significantly more accurate in the self-determined condition than in the other two conditions. Participants were 10 students (6 men, 4 women; M age = 20.6 yr., SD = 1.8) who judged the lengths of five rods (30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 cm long) under the three exploration conditions. For rod length estimation accuracy, self-determined exploration was better than the other-determined or the self-other co-determined exploration. Superiority of self-determined exploration for judging rod lengths has three alternative explanations: (1) anatomical receptors involved in haptic perception, (2) intention to perceive a certain rod property, and (3) need for cognition.
Self-Talk Functions: Portrayal of an Elite Power Lifter
Authors: Cutton David M. , Hearon Christopher M.
Published: October 2014

The study presents the results of a case study with a repeated data collection design: a recent and former world champion power lifter provided weekly e-mails, during approximately 6 mo. of training and competition, with a description of his ‘self-determined self-talk.’ The instruction used for self-talk (ST) mentioned its associations with emotions, staying focused, maintaining motivation, and improving exercise skills. The obtained e-mails were coded using categories indicating functions of ‘self-determined self-talk’ mainly based on previous literature. The frequency of the functions during training and competition were compared and discussed following the qualitative research tradition.
Stages of the Baltic Sea evolution in the geochemical record and radiocarbon dating of sediment cores from the Arkona Basin
Authors: Kostecki Robert
Published: October 2014

Four sediment cores from the southern part of the Arkona Basin were analyzed in terms of their geochemical composition, age and stratigraphy. The main stages of the Baltic Sea: the Baltic Ice Lake, the Ancylus Lake and the Littorina Sea were identified in all the analyzed cores. The data confirmed the high water fluctuation and significant environmental changes during the Baltic Sea evolution in the Late-Glacial and the Holocene. The signs of the second regression of the Baltic Ice Lake, dated at around 11 000 cal BP, were identified at a depth of 24 m b.s.l. Regression of the Ancylus Lake, dated at 9300 cal BP, was identified at a depth of 23 m b.s.l. The most pronounced period was the transition stage between the Ancylus Lake and the Littorina Sea. The record of the Littorina Sea onset in the sediments of the Arkona Basin is marked as a sudden increase in loss on ignition, biogenic silica, magnesium, calcium, iron and strontium. The age of the Littorina Sea in the Arkona Basin was estimated as younger than 8200 cal BP.
Geostatistical methods for estimation of toxicity of marine bottom sediments based on the Gdańsk Basin area
Authors: Witt Maria , Kobusińska Marta , Maciak Joanna , Niemirycz Elżbieta
Published: October 2014

Toxicity assessment of environmental compartments, in particular sediments as a highly complex matrix, provides a more direct way to assess potential adverse effects of pollutants present in a sample in contrast to chemical analysis estimating only a quantitative level of xenobiotics. Interactions between chemicals, formations of derivatives and the influence of chemical properties of sediments such as the organic matter content causing the intensified sorption of hydrophobic pollutants suggest that a traditional approach to the sediment quality, based only on chemical analysis may be insufficient. The presented study describes the vertical and horizontal variability of toxicity of Gdańsk Basin sediments. Based on 128 surface sediments samples and using geostatistical methods, a prediction map for the EC50 parameter was created. This allowed the evaluation of the toxicity of the surface sediment layer at any selected point of the study area. The applied analysis can be functional for many other locations worldwide. In the present study, the hypothesis about the location of toxic sediments in the vicinity of Gdańsk Deep, outer Puck Bay and close to Vistula River mouth was further confirmed.
Diatom indices in the biological assessment of the water quality based on the example of a small lowland river
Authors: Szczepocka Ewelina , Szulc Bogusław , Szulc Katarzyna , Rakowska Barbara , Żelazna-Wieczorek Joanna
Published: October 2014

The aim of the study was to compare the biological analyzes of the Linda River (Central Poland), which were based on three diatom indices: IO, GDI and IPS in order to select the best diatom index for the biological assessment of the lotic water quality. Additionally, the summary of the selected results of the biological and chemical analyzes was presented to show how precise the biological analyzes are as a basic tool in the assessment of the ecological status of the lotic waters. The results showed that each of the indices assessed the water in the Linda River to a specific but different quality class. The IO index showed class II of the water quality, while the IPS and GDI — class III. Statistical analysis conducted with the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test for independent samples (Kruskal, Wallis 1952) showed that differences in the values of individual indices at different sites were not statistically significant. It should be noticed that the IPS and GDI indices gave values that classify the water in the Linda River at least one class below. The obtained results confirmed that the biological methods are most reliable in the assessment of the water quality. These methods are less sensitive to a single impact of the environmental factors, therefore they permit accurate determination of the ecological status of the water ecosystems.
Diatomological aspects of the Fenn’s and Whixall Mosses complex (Shropshire, UK)
Authors: Szulc Katarzyna , Besenyei Lynn , Szulc Bogusław , Rakowska Barbara
Published: October 2014

Peat bogs are unique and important habitats for biodiversity at the species and ecosystem level where low pH of water plays a major role. The main objective of the present study was to compare the benthic diatom assemblage structure of the selected part of the Fenn’s and Whixall Mosses complex in order to verify whether selected sampling sites differ from each other. The complex is a cut-over, lowland raised mire, which is a National Nature Reserve (NNR) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Altogether 92 diatom species were identified in 72 benthic samples collected between September 2008 and August 2009 from six selected sampling sites. Statistical cluster analysis was used to classify diatom samples and to observe the structure of diatom assemblages. The results of this analysis grouped the data set into 3 clusters with 24 samples from each of the two sampling sites in one cluster. Such a clear division shows that pH of water has an impact on the species composition, the richness and diversity of benthic diatom assemblages.
Spatial and seasonal variations of large tintinnid ciliates in Shenhu Bay of China
Authors: Wang Yibo , Zhang Wenjing , Lin Yuanshao , Zheng Lianming , Cao Wenqing , Yang Jun
Published: October 2014

In this study, the spatial distribution and seasonal variation of large tintinnids (>76 μm) were investigated in Shenhu Bay during three seasons of 2012. Of the 36 species identified, 9 were dominant (i.e. Tintinnopsis radix, Leprotintinnus simplex, Tintinnopsis japonica, Tintinnopsis tubulosoides, Leprotintinnus nordqvisti, Tintinnopsis beroidea, Stenosemella parvicollis, Tintinnidium primitivum, Tintinnopsis nana). A clear seasonal shift of the taxonomic composition as well as the lorica size of the dominant species was observed. The highest numbers of tintinnid species occurred in spring, while the highest abundance and biomass occurred in summer. Clustering indicated that the seasonal variations of the community structure were more obvious than spatial variations. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that density of phytoplankton prey had a significant impact on the tintinnid abundance. Redundancy analysis (RDA) illustrated that temperature, salinity and the nutrient level were the most important abiotic factors affecting the spatial and seasonal pattern of tintinnid communities in Shenhu Bay.
Comparative study of ecophysiological and biochemical variation between the Baltic and North Sea populations of the invasive soft shell clam Mya arenaria (L. 1758)
Authors: Lasota Rafał , Pierścieniak Karolina , Miąc Justyna , Wołowicz Maciej
Published: October 2014

Seasonal variations of environmental factors, such as temperature and salinity, require metabolic acclimatization in sedentary benthic fauna distributed over a wide geographical range. The soft-shell clam Mya arenaria inhabits the coastal waters of the North Atlantic including North America and Europe. In Europe, M. arenaria populations are distributed from Iceland to the Mediterranean Sea, including the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. Seasonal changes in physiological parameters (gonad index, condition index, biochemical composition and respiration rate) of M. arenaria from the Baltic Sea (the Gulf of Gdańsk, Poland), and the North Sea (Versee Meer, the Netherlands) were studied. The sex ratio of both populations did not differ from 1:1 and the seasonal gonad index was higher in the Baltic population. The average condition index changed seasonally at both studied sites, and was also higher in the Baltic population (except the autumn) compared to the North Sea. In both studied populations, the content of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates in the soft tissue followed the seasonal variations, and it was higher in the Baltic population. The respiration rate was lower in the Baltic population, and seasonal changes in the respiration rate seem to be correlated with changes in the water temperature. Based on the results obtained in the present study, we suggest that Mya arenaria is characterized by a large phenotypic plasticity and differences in the observed physiological traits are due to acclimatization to ambient environmental conditions.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in bottom sediments of the Port of Gdansk
Authors: Lewandowski Krzysztof , Witt Maria , Kobusińska Marta , Niemirycz Elżbieta
Published: October 2014

Combustion processes are considered to be the main source of the dioxin emission in the Baltic region. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its derivatives, pentachlorophenyl laurate (PCPL) and sodium pentachlorophenate (NaPCP) are known as precursors of dioxins. The research was conducted to obtain the first data on the concentration of PCDD/Fs and PCP in the bottom sediments of the Port of Gdansk. Toxicity (the Microtox® test) as well as several sediment parameters have been examined.

In the surface layer of bottom sediments from the Port of Gdansk, all congeners of PCDD/Fs have been detected using GC-MS/MS. The highest concentration was obtained for OCDD (224.0–271.0 pg g−1 d.w.) and HpCDD (51.0–36.0 pg g−1 d.w.). The content of ΣPCDDs prevailed over ΣPCDFs. This may indicate that anthropogenic pollution from the land-based thermal sources has the strongest impact on the concentration of dioxins in the port sediments. The concentration of 17 dioxin congeners (WHO-TEQ) did not exceed the probable effect level (PEL) of 21.5 pg TEQ g−1 d.w. The concentration of PCP ranged from bellow the LOD (< 0.85 ng g−1 d.w.) to 12.4 ng g−1 d.w.

The positive correlation between toxicity and physico-chemical properties of the analyzed bottom sediments confirms that these parameters are important in terms of environment contamination.
Tracks in snow and population size estimation: the wolf Canis lupus in Finland
Authors: Kojola Ilpo , Helle Pekka , Heikkinen Samuli , Lindén Harto , Paasivaara Antti , Wikman Marcus
Published: October 2014

The estimation of large carnivore populations presents major logistical challenges. We examined trends in the wolf Canis lupus population in Finland using two independent methods. We compared track indices from an annual wildlife winter census based on a constant, nationwide network of transect lines (wildlife triangles) with the number of reproductions confirmed to occur in the same year during 1996 to 2009. Nationwide, and in the eastern management zone, which is the core area of Finnish wolves, the frequency of wolf tracks in wildlife triangles (% of all triangles counted in a given year having wolf tracks) predicted quite well the log transformed number of reproductions taken place in these areas (adjusted R2‐values for linear regression models 0.59 and 0.68, respectively), while not for the western management zone (R2 = 0.38). However, although mean wolf densities were low (< 1 wolf/1000 km2 nationwide and <3 wolves/1000 km2 in the eastern zone), track indices could detect the major trends in Finland's wolf population. A clear reason for this was the substantial changes in population size during the study period.
Wellsite selection by grizzly bears Ursus arctos in west—central Alberta
Authors: McKay Tracy , Sahlén Ellinor , St⊘en Ole‐Gunnar , Swenson Jon E. , Stenhouse Gordon B.
Published: October 2014

Oil and gas development is widespread in west—central Alberta, yet little is known about the potential impacts of oil and gas activities on grizzly bear habitat use. Focusing on the impacts of one component of energy development, we studied the selection patterns of radio‐collared grizzly bears in relation to oil and gas wellsites in the Kakwa region of west—central Alberta. For each grizzly bear foraging season (spring, summer, and fall), we calculated a population level resource selection function (RSF) to assess the probability that bears would select for wellsites versus non‐wellsite habitat. We used mixed‐effects logistic regression and model selection to examine factors that could influence the probability of wellsite use, including: grizzly bear reproductive status, wellsite age, wellsite operational status, surrounding road and wellsite densities, adjacent forest canopy cover, and adjacent habitat. Bear reproductive status, surrounding road and wellsite densities, and adjacent canopy cover had the most influence on the probability of wellsite use. Females used wellsites more than expected in all seasons, and males selected for wellsites in summer and fall. Males used wellsites less than females, and females with young used wellsites more than both single females and males. Bears were more likely to use wellsites that had lower densities of disturbance (roads and wellsites) in the surrounding area. In the fall, older wellsites were also more likely to be used by bears. In areas with human access, grizzly bears attracted to anthropogenic features are at a higher risk of human‐caused mortality; therefore, their use of wellsites could have negative results for this threatened population.
Capture—recapture of white‐tailed deer using DNA from fecal pellet groups
Authors: Goode Matthew J. , Beaver Jared T. , Muller Lisa I. , Clark Joseph D. , van Manen Frank T. , Harper Craig A. , Basinger P. Seth
Published: October 2014

Traditional methods for estimating white‐tailed deer population size and density are affected by behavioral biases, poor detection in densely forested areas, and invalid techniques for estimating effective trapping area. We evaluated a noninvasive method of capture—recapture for white‐tailed deerOdocoileus virginianusdensity estimation using DNA extracted from fecal pellets as an individual marker and for gender determination, coupled with a spatial detection function to estimate density (spatially explicit capture—recapture, SECR). We collected pellet groups from 11 to 22 January 2010 at randomly selected sites within a 1‐km2area located on Arnold Air Force Base in Coffee and Franklin counties, Tennessee. We searched 703 10‐m radius plots and collected 352 pellet‐group samples from 197 plots over five two‐day sampling intervals. Using only the freshest pellets we recorded 140 captures of 33 different animals (15M:18F). Male and female densities were 1.9 (SE = 0.8) and 3.8 (SE = 1.3) deer km‐2, or a total density of 5.8 deer km‐2(14.9 deer mile‐2). Population size was 20.8 (SE = 7.6) over a 360‐ha area, and sex ratio was 1.0 M: 2.0 F (SE = 0.71). We found DNA sampling from pellet groups improved deer abundance, density and sex ratio estimates in contiguous landscapes which could be used to track responses to harvest or other management actions.
Estimating the population size of the endangered Cantabrian brown bear through genetic sampling
Authors: Méndez Trinidad Pérez , Naves Javier , Vázquez José Fernando , Fernández‐Gil Alberto , Seijas Juan , Albornoz Jesús , Revilla Eloy , Delibes Miguel , Domínguez Ana
Published: October 2014

The Cantabrian brown bearUrsus arctospopulation can be seen as a paradigm in conservation biology due to its endangerment status and genetic uniqueness. Therefore, the need to obtain basic demographic data to inform management actions for conservation is imperative. Despite this, empirical data on the size and trends of the Cantabrian bear population are scarce. Here we present the first estimates of population size (Nc) and effective population size (Ne) of the whole Cantabrian brown bear population. We genotyped 270 non‐invasive samples collected during 2006 throughout the entire range of the population and subsequently identified 130 individuals. Different model estimators of Ncbased on capture—markrecapture (CMR) procedures were compared. The average for the best three models (Mh Chao, Mh Darroch and CAPWIRE TIRM) yielded a total estimate of Nc= 223 individuals (CI95%= 183–278) and Ne50 (CI95%= 36–75) providing an Ne/ Ncratio of 0.22. Estimates for the two subpopulations commonly recognized in the Cantabrian range were Nc= 203 (CI95%= 168–260) and Ne= 47 (CI95%= 36–70) for the western subpopulation and Nc= 19 (CI95%= 12–40) and Ne= 9 (CI95%= 8–12) for the eastern subpopulation. These data suggest that the Cantabrian brown bear population has increased recently, mainly in the western subpopulation, after a long period of decline and isolation which lead to the split of the population at the beginning of the 20th century. Population sizes in the early 1990s were thought to be only 60 individuals for the western subpopulation and 14 individuals in the eastern one. The efforts to improve conservation policies made since then have probably contributed, to some extent, to the population increase during the last couple of decades.
Ireland in Charlotte Brontë’s Villette
Authors: Donovan Julie
Published: October 2014

Ireland has been examined as a focus in Charlotte Brontë’s oeuvre, but not in a sustained discussion about how Ireland pertains to Brontë’s 1853 novel, Villette. This essay seeks to address an oversight in the current scholarship by analyzing how Ireland insinuates itself into the more obvious continental setting of Brontë’s text, taking as a starting point a significant encounter between Brontë’s heroine, Lucy Snowe, and an Irishwoman named Mrs Sweeny. As Lucy vanquishes Mrs Sweeny in order to rise, Brontë sets in train a number of oblique narratives demonstrating how Ireland remains contiguous to Villette's preoccupation with the probing of national allegiances.
‘He devours her with his gaze’: Maurice Leitch's Stamping Ground and the Politics of the Visual
Authors: Magennis Caroline
Published: October 2014

This essay is a critical reappraisal of Maurice Leitch's 1975 novel Stamping Ground through theories of the gender, sexuality, and the visual. The novel will be read as a disruptive critique of hegemonic Unionist identity and the rural idyll in Northern Irish cultural discourse but, importantly, the limits of using gendered metaphors in the case will be considered. For, although this novel seeks to critique ideology built around a certain kind of masculine dominance it does so using tropes which will be deconstructed through theories of the body, sexuality, and the visual aesthetic. For Leitch, the Ulster countryside is recast as not the authentic space reconstructed by both Nationalist or Unionist ideology but rather as a nightmarish world of voyeurs, sexual assault, and bodily terror.
Seismic Collapse Assessment of a 20-Story Steel Moment-Resisting Frame Structure
Authors: Mathiasson Annika , Medina Ricardo
Published: October 2014

The 2010 edition of the load standard in the United States (U.S.), ASCE 7-10, (Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures) introduced risk-targeted spectral acceleration values for the estimation of seismic design loads. In this study, a 20-story steel moment resisting frame structure located in Century City, CA, USA was designed based on ASCE 7-10 and a probabilistic seismic collapse assessment was conducted. The main goals of this study are: (a) to evaluate whether the design of a typical steel moment-frame structure based on risk-targeted spectral accelerations fulfills the target design collapse level of 1% probability of collapse in 50 years; and (b) to quantify the collapse potential of a tall steel structure design based on the most current U.S. seismic code provisions. The probability of collapse was estimated for two sets of 104 and 224 recorded ground motions, respectively. An evaluation of the results demonstrated that for this specific structure the code-prescribed collapse performance target was reasonably met.
Ambiguity Reduction by Objective Model Selection, with an Application to the Costs of the EU 2030 Climate Targets
Authors: Tol Richard
Published: October 2014

I estimate the cost of meeting the EU 2030 targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction, using statistical emulators of ten alternative models. Assuming a first-best policy implementation, I find that total and marginal costs are modest. The statistical emulators allow me to compute the risk premiums, which are small, because the EU is rich and the policy impact is small. The ensemble of ten models allows me to compute the ambiguity premium, which is small for the same reason. I construct a counterfactual estimate of recent emissions without the climate policy and use that to test the predictive skill of the ten models. The models that show the lowest cost of emission reduction also have the lowest skill for Europe in recent times.
Carbonyl Compounds Generated from Electronic Cigarettes
Authors: Bekki Kanae , Uchiyama Shigehisa , Ohta Kazushi , Inaba Yohei , Nakagome Hideki , Kunugita Naoki
Published: October 2014

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are advertised as being safer than tobacco cigarettes products as the chemical compounds inhaled from e-cigarettes are believed to be fewer and less toxic than those from tobacco cigarettes. Therefore, continuous careful monitoring and risk management of e-cigarettes should be implemented, with the aim of protecting and promoting public health worldwide. Moreover, basic scientific data are required for the regulation of e-cigarette. To date, there have been reports of many hazardous chemical compounds generated from e-cigarettes, particularly carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and glyoxal, which are often found in e-cigarette aerosols. These carbonyl compounds are incidentally generated by the oxidation of e-liquid (liquid in e-cigarette; glycerol and glycols) when the liquid comes in contact with the heated nichrome wire. The compositions and concentrations of these compounds vary depending on the type of e-liquid and the battery voltage. In some cases, extremely high concentrations of these carbonyl compounds are generated, and may contribute to various health effects. Suppliers, risk management organizations, and users of e-cigarettes should be aware of this phenomenon.
Long-Term Spinal Ventral Root Reimplantation, but not Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Treatment, Positively Influences Ultrastructural Synapse Recovery and Motor Axonal Regrowth
Authors: Barbizan Roberta , Castro Mateus , Ferreira Rui , Barraviera Benedito , Oliveira Alexandre
Published: October 2014

We recently proposed a new surgical approach to treat ventral root avulsion, resulting in motoneuron protection. The present work combined such a surgical approach with bone marrow mononuclear cells (MC) therapy. Therefore, MC were added to the site of reimplantation. Female Lewis rats (seven weeks old) were subjected to unilateral ventral root avulsion (VRA) at L4, L5 and L6 levels and divided into the following groups (n = 5 for each group): Avulsion, sealant reimplanted roots and sealant reimplanted roots plus MC. After four weeks and 12 weeks post-surgery, the lumbar intumescences were processed by transmission electron microscopy, to analyze synaptic inputs to the repaired α motoneurons. Also, the ipsi and contralateral sciatic nerves were processed for axon counting and morphometry. The ultrastructural results indicated a significant preservation of inhibitory pre-synaptic boutons in the groups repaired with sealant alone and associated with MC therapy. Moreover, the average number of axons was higher in treated groups when compared to avulsion only. Complementary to the fiber counting, the morphometric analysis of axonal diameter and “g” ratio demonstrated that root reimplantation improved the motor component recovery. In conclusion, the data herein demonstrate that root reimplantation at the lesion site may be considered a therapeutic approach, following proximal lesions in the interface of central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), and that MC therapy does not further improve the regenerative recovery, up to 12 weeks post lesion.
Antimicrobial Activity of Isothiocyanates from Cruciferous Plants against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Authors: Dias Carla , Aires Alfredo , Saavedra Maria
Published: October 2014

Purified isothiocyanates from cruciferous plants (Brassicacea, Syn. Cruciferae) plants were evaluated against 15 isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolated from diabetic foot-ulcer patients aiming the study of the potential usage of allyl-isothiocyanate, benzyl-isothiocyanate and 2-phenylethyl-isothiocyanate against this important bacteria. Disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration methods were used to access the antimicrobial activity. The index (Ia) and rate (Ra) of the antibacterial activity for each compound were calculated. The results showed a highly dose-dependent compound and chemical structure antibacterial effectiveness. The results showed a strong relation between the chemical structure of isothiocyanates and its antibacterial effectiveness. The benzyl-isothiocyanate was the most effective with a minimum inhibitory concentration varying between 2.9 and 110 µg·mL−1 with an antibacterial activity rate up to 87%. Moreover, their antibacterial activity was mainly bactericidal. This study provides scientific evidence that isothiocyanates have an interesting biological value and must be considered as an important tool to be used against MRSA.
Competing Intramolecular vs. Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonds in Solution
Authors: Nagy Peter
Published: October 2014

A hydrogen bond for a local-minimum-energy structure can be identified according to the definition of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC recommendation 2011) or by finding a special bond critical point on the density map of the structure in the framework of the atoms-in-molecules theory. Nonetheless, a given structural conformation may be simply favored by electrostatic interactions. The present review surveys the in-solution competition of the conformations with intramolecular vs. intermolecular hydrogen bonds for different types of small organic molecules. In their most stable gas-phase structure, an intramolecular hydrogen bond is possible. In a protic solution, the intramolecular hydrogen bond may disrupt in favor of two solute-solvent intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The balance of the increased internal energy and the stabilizing effect of the solute-solvent interactions regulates the new conformer composition in the liquid phase. The review additionally considers the solvent effects on the stability of simple dimeric systems as revealed from molecular dynamics simulations or on the basis of the calculated potential of mean force curves. Finally, studies of the solvent effects on the type of the intermolecular hydrogen bond (neutral or ionic) in acid-base complexes have been surveyed.
OCT4 Expression and Vasculogenic Mimicry Formation Positively Correlate with Poor Prognosis in Human Breast Cancer
Authors: Liu Tieju , Sun Baocun , Zhao Xiulan , Li Yanlei , Gu Qiang , Dong Xueyi , Liu Fang
Published: October 2014

To evaluate the prognostic value of OCT4 expression and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in human breast cancer, we examined OCT4 expression and VM formation using immunohistochemistry and CD31/PAS (periodic acid-schiff) double staining on 90 breast cancer specimens. All patients were followed up for five–149 months following surgery. Survival curves were generated using Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression model to assess the prognostic values. Results showed positive correlation between OCT4 expression and VM formation (p < 0.05). Both OCT4 expression and VM were also positively correlated with lymph node metastasis, higher histological grade, and Nottingham prognostic index (p < 0.05). Patients with OCT4 expression or VM formation exhibited poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than OCT4-negative or VM-negative patients (p < 0.05). OCT4-positive/VM-positive patients also had the worst OS and DFS (p < 0.05). In multivariate survival analysis, VM, Nottingham prognostic index (NPI), and Her2 were independent prognostic factors related to OS and OCT4-positive/VM-positive patients, whereas NPI and Her2 were independent predictors of DFS. These results suggest that a combined OCT4 expression/VM could improve the prognostic judgment for breast cancer patients.
Endothelial Semaphorin 7A Promotes Inflammation in Seawater Aspiration-Induced Acute Lung Injury
Authors: Zhang Minlong , Wang Li , Dong Mingqing , Li Zhichao , Jin Faguang
Published: October 2014

Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of seawater aspiration-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Although several studies have shown that Semaphorin 7A (SEMA7A) promotes inflammation, there are limited reports regarding immunological function of SEMA7A in seawater aspiration-induced ALI. Therefore, we investigated the role of SEMA7A during seawater aspiration-induced ALI. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were underwent seawater instillation. Then, lung samples were collected at an indicated time for analysis. In addition, rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (RPMVECs) were cultured and then stimulated with 25% seawater for indicated time point. After these treatments, cells samples were collected for analysis. In vivo, seawater instillation induced lung histopathologic changes, pro-inflammation cytokines release and increased expression of SEMA7A. In vitro, seawater stimulation led to pro-inflammation cytokine release, cytoskeleton remodeling and increased monolayer permeability in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. In addition, knockdown of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α inhibited the seawater induced increase expression of SEMA7A. Meanwhile, knockdown of SEMA7A by specific siRNA inhibited the seawater induced aberrant inflammation, endothelial cytoskeleton remodeling and endothelial permeability. These results suggest that SEMA7A is critical in the development of lung inflammation and pulmonary edema in seawater aspiration-induced ALI, and may be a therapeutic target for this disease.
Spectral Analysis of Two Coupled Diatomic Rotor Molecules
Authors: Crogman Horace , Harter William
Published: October 2014

In a previous article the theory of frame transformation relation between Body Oriented Angular (BOA) states and Lab Weakly Coupled states (LWC) was developed to investigate simple rotor–rotor interactions. By analyzing the quantum spectrum for two coupled diatomic molecules and comparing it with spectrum and probability distribution of simple models, evidence was found that, as we move from a LWC state to a strongly coupled state, a single rotor emerges in the strong limit. In the low coupling, the spectrum was quadratic which indicates the degree of floppiness in the rotor–rotor system. However in the high coupling behavior it was found that the spectrum was linear which corresponds to a rotor deep in a well.
Critical Success Factors in Capturing Knowledge for Retention in IT-Supported Repositories
Authors: Aggestam Lena , Durst Susanne , Persson Anne
Published: October 2014

In this paper, the authors demonstrate the suitability of IT-supported knowledge repositories for knowledge retention. Successful knowledge retention is dependent on what is stored in a repository and, hence, possible to share. Accordingly, the ability to capture the right (relevant) knowledge is a key aspect. Therefore, to increase the quality in an IT-supported knowledge repository, the identification activity, which starts the capture process, must be successfully performed. While critical success factors (CSFs) for knowledge retention and knowledge management are frequently discussed in the literature, there is a knowledge gap concerning CSFs for this specific knowledge capture activity. From a knowledge retention perspective, this paper proposes a model that characterizes CSFs for the identification activity and highlights the CSFs’ contribution to knowledge retention.
Incidence, Etiology and Outcomes of Hyponatremia after Transsphenoidal Surgery: Experience with 344 Consecutive Patients at a Single Tertiary Center
Authors: Barber Sean , Liebelt Brandon , Baskin David
Published: October 2014

Hyponatremia is often seen after transsphenoidal surgery and is a source of considerable economic burden and patient-related morbidity and mortality. We performed a retrospective review of 344 patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery at our institution between 2006 and 2012. Postoperative hyponatremia was seen in 18.0% of patients at a mean of 3.9 days postoperatively. Hyponatremia was most commonly mild (51.6%) and clinically asymptomatic (93.8%). SIADH was the primary cause of hyponatremia in the majority of cases (n = 44, 71.0%), followed by cerebral salt wasting (n = 15, 24.2%) and desmopressin over-administration (n = 3, 4.8%). The incidence of postoperative hyponatremia was significantly higher in patients with cardiac, renal and/or thyroid disease (p = 0.0034, Objective Risk (OR) = 2.60) and in female patients (p = 0.011, OR = 2.18) or patients undergoing post-operative cerebrospinal fluid drainage (p = 0.0006). Treatment with hypertonic saline (OR = −2.4, p = 0.10) and sodium chloride tablets (OR = −1.57, p = 0.45) was associated with a non-significant trend toward faster resolution of hyponatremia. The use of fluid restriction and diuretics should be de-emphasized in the treatment of post-transsphenoidal hyponatremia, as they have not been shown to significantly alter the time-course to the restoration of sodium balance.
N'-[2-(7,8-Dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydrobenzo[g]pteridin-10(2H)-yl)ethylidene]-4-nitrobenzohydrazide
Authors: Morikawa Masayuki , Kino Katsuhito , Asada Eriko , Katagiri Kosuke , Mori-Yasumoto Kanami , Suzuki Masayo , Kobayashi Takanobu , Miyazawa Hiroshi
Published: October 2014

The title compound, N'-[2-(7,8-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydrobenzo[g]pteridin- 10(2H)-yl)ethylidene]-4-nitrobenzohydrazide (1), was obtained by the reaction of formylmethylflavin and p-nitrobenzohydrazide. The product 1 inhibited the DNA binding of nuclear factor-κB, and was characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, IR and UV.
Morphological Characterization and Effective Thermal Conductivity of Dual-Scale Reticulated Porous Structures
Authors: Ackermann Simon , Scheffe Jonathan , Duss Jonas , Steinfeld Aldo
Published: October 2014

Reticulated porous ceramic (RPC) made of ceria are promising structures used in solar thermochemical redox cycles for splitting CO2 and H2O. They feature dual-scale porosity with mm-size pores for effective radiative heat transfer during reduction and µm-size pores within its struts for enhanced kinetics during oxidation. In this work, the detailed 3D digital representation of the complex dual-scale RPC is obtained using synchrotron submicrometer tomography and X-ray microtomography. Total and open porosity, pore size distribution, mean pore diameter, and specific surface area are extracted from the computer tomography (CT) scans. The 3D digital geometry is then applied in direct pore level simulations (DPLS) of Fourier’s law within the solid and the fluid phases for the accurate determination of the effective thermal conductivity at each porosity scale and combined, and for fluid-to-solid thermal conductivity from 10−5 to 1. Results are compared to predictions by analytical models for structures with a wide range of porosities 0.09–0.9 in both the strut’s µm-scale and bulk’s mm-scale. The morphological properties and effective thermal conductivity determined in this work serve as an input to volume-averaged models for the design and optimization of solar chemical reactors.