bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Macroecology of global bryophyte invasions at different invasion stages
Authors: Essl Franz , Dullinger Stefan , Moser Dietmar , Steinbauer Klaus , Mang Thomas
Published: September 2014

In this study we provide the first comprehensive assessment of the environmental and anthropogenic factors driving bryophyte invasions worldwide. We compiled data of alien bryophyte distributions from 82 regions on five continents and oceanic islands and region specific variables. For each species, we collected data on its region‐specific invasion stage, i.e. casual (ephemeral) vs naturalized (persistent) occurrences, and we differentiated between known aliens and those which are likely to be alien (cryptogenic). We used these data to test how species attributes, environmental and socio‐economic conditions of the study areas as well as introduction effort affect invasion probabilities at different invasion stages and of known alien vs cryptogenic species. We collected information on species’ attributes (native range size and location, niche breadth, habitat affiliation), and calculated variables characterising the environmental, biogeographic and socio‐economic features of the native and recepient regions. Subsequently, we related the probability of alien occurrence across different invasion stages with these species‐ and region‐wise predictor variables using generalized linear mixed effects models.

Greater native range size raised the likelihood that a species becomes alien or cryptogenic. Islands are more invaded by alien (and cryptogenic) bryophytes than continental regions. Native range size and socio‐economic activity increase the likelihood that a species becomes alien or cryptogenic elsewhere. Interestingly, among alien bryophytes naturalizations occur more frequently in regions of the complementary hemisphere than in regions of their native hemisphere. In general, regions in the Southern Hemisphere have higher numbers of naturalized bryophytes.

We conclude that there is a conspicuous change in factors determining bryophyte invasions at different invasion stages. Whereas alien and cryptogenic bryophyte species occurrences are more frequent on islands and depend on native range size, and hence probably propagule pressure, naturalized bryophytes are more frequent in areas which are biogeographically separated but climatically similar to the native ranges.
Food plant and herbivore host species affect the outcome of intrinsic competition among parasitoid larvae
Authors: POELMAN ERIK H. , GOLS RIETA , GUMOVSKY ALEX V. , CORTESERO ANNE‐MARIE , DICKE MARCEL , HARVEY JEFFREY A.
Published: September 2014

1. In nature, several parasitoid species often exploit the same stages of a common herbivore host species and are able to coexist despite competitive interactions amongst them. Less is known about the direct effects of resource quality on intrinsic interactions between immature parasitoid stages. The present study is based on the hypothesis that variation in the quality or type of plant resources on which the parasitoids indirectly develop may be complementary and thus facilitate niche segregation favouring different parasitoids in intrinsic competition under different dietary regimes.

2. The present study investigated whether two herbivore species, the cabbage butterflies Pieris brassicae and Pieris rapae (Pieridae), and the quality of two important food plants, Brassica oleracea and Brassica nigra (Brassicaceae), affect the outcome of intrinsic competition between their primary larval endoparasitoids, the gregarious Cotesia glomerata (Braconidae) and the solitary Hyposoter ebeninus (Ichneumonidae).

3. Hyposoter ebeninus is generally an intrinsically superior competitor over C. glomerata. However, C. glomerata survived more antagonistic encounters with H. ebeninus when both developed in P. brassicae rather than in P. rapae caterpillars, and while its host was feeding on B. nigra rather than B. oleracea. Moreover, H. ebeninus benefitted from competition by its higher survival in multiparasitised hosts.

4. These results show that both plant and herbivore species mediate the battleground on which competitive interactions between parasitoids are played out and may affect the outcomes of these interactions in ways that enable parasitoids to segregate their niches. This in turn may promote coexistence among parasitoid species that are associated with the same herbivore host.
Excessive disgust caused by brain lesions or temporary inactivations: mapping hotspots of the nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum
Authors: Ho Chao‐Yi , Berridge Kent C.
Published: September 2014

Disgust is a prototypical type of negative affect. In animal models of excessive disgust, only a few brain sites are known in which localized dysfunction (lesions or neural inactivations) can induce intense ‘disgust reactions’ (e.g. gapes) to a normally pleasant sensation such as sweetness. Here, we aimed to map forebrain candidates more precisely, to identify where either local neuronal damage (excitotoxin lesions) or local pharmacological inactivation (muscimol/baclofen microinjections) caused rats to show excessive sensory disgust reactions to sucrose. Our study compared subregions of the nucleus accumbens shell, ventral pallidum, lateral hypothalamus, and adjacent extended amygdala. The results indicated that the posterior half of the ventral pallidum was the only forebrain site where intense sensory disgust gapes in response to sucrose were induced by both lesions and temporary inactivations (this site was previously identified as a hedonic hotspot for enhancements of sweetness ‘liking’). By comparison, for the nucleus accumbens, temporary GABA inactivations in the caudal half of the medial shell also generated sensory disgust, but lesions never did at any site. Furthermore, even inactivations failed to induce disgust in the rostral half of the accumbens shell (which also contains a hedonic hotspot). In other structures, neither lesions nor inactivations induced disgust as long as the posterior ventral pallidum remained spared. We conclude that the posterior ventral pallidum is an especially crucial hotspot for producing excessive sensory disgust by local pharmacological/lesion dysfunction. By comparison, the nucleus accumbens appears to segregate sites for pharmacological disgust induction and hedonic enhancement into separate posterior and rostral halves of the medial shell.
Habitat associations of dolphinfish larvae in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Kitchens Larissa L. , Rooker Jay R.
Published: September 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the northern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) as essential habitat of common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and pompano dolphinfish (C. equiselis) during early life and to characterize conditions in which they were found. Eight ichthyoplankton surveys were conducted during the summer months from 2007 to 2010 in northern Gulf waters off Texas and Louisiana (26–28°N, 87–93°W), during which 1145 dolphinfish larvae were collected. C. hippurus, the dominant dolphinfish species, were collected in 57% of sampling sites with an overall mean density of 0.73 larvae 1000 m−3, whereas C. equiselis were only collected at 18% of sites with a mean density of 0.12 larvae 1000 m−3. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to examine the relationship between several environmental parameters and C. hippurus presence/absence and density. Both presence/absence and density GAMs indicated that catches of C. hippurus larvae increased near fronts and eddies and that increased abundances were most strongly associated with higher salinities and cooler temperatures. In addition, our models showed that C. hippurus larvae were positively associated with C. equiselis larvae, suggesting that C. hippurus and C. equiselis use similar habitats. Results of this study indicate that the Gulf may represent important spawning and/or nursery habitat of dolphinfishes and that mesoscale features and physicochemical conditions influence the distribution and abundance of C. hippurus larvae in this region.
Analyzing the Configuration of Multimodal Urban Networks
Authors: Gil Jorge
Published: September 2014

This article proposes urban network models as instruments to measure urban form, structure, and function indicators for the assessment of the sustainable mobility of urban areas, thanks to their capacity to describe the detail of a local environment in the context of a wider city‐region. Drawing from the features of existing street network models that offer disaggregate, scalable, and relational analysis of the spatial configuration of urban areas, it presents a multimodal urban network (MMUN) model that describes an urban environment using three systems—private transport (i.e., car, bicycle, and pedestrian), public transport (i.e., rail, tram, metro, and bus), and land use. This model offers a unifying framework that allows the use of a range of analysis metrics and conceptions of distance (i.e., physical, topological, and cognitive), and aims to be simple and applicable in practice. An implementation of theMMUNis created for the Randstad city‐region in theNetherlands. This is analyzed with network centrality measures in a series of experiments, testing its performance against empirical data. The experiments yield conclusions regarding the use of different distance parameters, the choice of network centrality metrics, and the relevant combinations of multimodal layers to describe the structure and configuration of a city‐region.
Microscale Prediction of Near‐Future Crime Concentrations with Street‐Level Geosurveillance
Authors: Shiode Shino , Shiode Narushige
Published: September 2014

This article proposes a new type of geosurveillance method for monitoring elevated crime activities recorded at the disaggregate street address level. It is a prospective method that combines on a recently developed retrospective method for network‐based space–time hot spot detection with a concept used in syndromic surveillance in epidemiology. This method detects emerging concentrations of crime activities at the street level by repeatedly sweeping across a street network using a flexible search window as new incidents are reported. Empirical analysis of drug incident data using a set of search windows with the same spatial extent but different temporal durations suggests that, while all window sizes raise an alarm against a sudden outburst of crime activities, the window with a longer temporal duration is more effective in the early detection of hot spots that are recurrent in nature as well as those that are slow in forming a concentration. A distribution of simulated hot spots is also used for examining the performance of the method in the form of days to detect. It shows that searches with a shorter temporal window can furnish a better performance in detecting hot spots that exhibit a sudden outburst with no recurrent pattern.
Transport of Groundwater, Heat, and Radiogenic He in Topography‐Driven Basins
Authors: Han Weon Shik , Kim Kue‐Young , Jung Na‐Hyun , Park Eungyu , Solomon D.K.
Published: September 2014

The goal of the study is to assess the feasibility of characterizing the caprock integrity by utilizing sampled helium (He) concentration in fluids and temperature measurement prior to CO2 injection. A series of simulations representing pre‐CO2 injection phase was conducted to reveal the spatial distribution of groundwater, temperature, and He concentration under various geologic conditions of topographically driven basin. Then, their profiles in preinjection conditions were compared with dynamic signatures of both injection‐induced pressure and leaked brine concentration at post‐CO2 injection conditions. In the topographic basin, He and heat transports generally show analogous transport except the low‐permeability basin where the conductive heat and diffusive solute transports are the primary transport mechanisms. The transition occurred at permeabilities between 10−15 and 10−14 m2. Inclusion of low‐k layer (low‐k layer: 10−16 m2 and surrounding basin: 10−13 m2) segregates shallow and deep groundwater system and creates a 3‐km single large free convection of groundwater driven by unevenly distributed thermal profile of basin. Finally, He and temperature profiles with high‐k pathways at pre‐CO2 injection scenarios and NaCl mass fractions at post‐CO2 injection showed systematic trends and relationships, suggesting that proper understanding of these trends will aid to identify the seal integrity.
Analysis of the Groundwater Monitoring Controversy at the Pavillion, Wyoming Natural Gas Field
Authors: Stephens Daniel B.
Published: September 2014

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was contacted by citizens of Pavillion, Wyoming 6 years ago regarding taste and odor in their water wells in an area where hydraulic fracturing operations were occurring. EPA conducted a field investigation, including drilling two deep monitor wells, and concluded in a draft report that constituents associated with hydraulic fracturing had impacted the drinking water aquifer. Following extensive media coverage, pressure from state and other federal agencies, and extensive technical criticism from industry, EPA stated the draft report would not undergo peer review, that it would not rely on the conclusions, and that it had relinquished its lead role in the investigation to the State of Wyoming for further investigation without resolving the source of the taste and odor problem. Review of the events leading up to EPA's decision suggests that much of the criticism could have been avoided through improved preproject planning with clear objectives. Such planning would have identified the high national significance and potential implications of the proposed work. Expanded stakeholder involvement and technical input could have eliminated some of the difficulties that plagued the investigation. However, collecting baseline groundwater quality data prior to initiating hydraulic fracturing likely would have been an effective way to evaluate potential impacts. The Pavillion groundwater investigation provides an excellent opportunity for improving field methods, report transparency, clarity of communication, and the peer review process in future investigations of the impacts of hydraulic fracturing on groundwater.
A qualitative insight of HIV/AIDS patients' perspective on disease and disclosure
Authors: Syed Imran Ahmed , Syed Sulaiman Syed Azhar , Hassali Mohammad Azmi , Thiruchelvum Kaeshalya , Lee Christopher K.C.
Published: September 2014

Background

Understanding patients' knowledge and belief towards disease could play a vital role from an outcome perspective of disease management and HIV/AIDS patients are not exception to that.

Methods

Qualitative methodology was used to explore Malaysian HIV/AIDS patients' perspectives on disease and status disclosure. A semi structured interview guide was used to interview the patients and a saturation point was reached after the 13th interview. All interviews were audio‐recorded and subjected to a standard content analysis framework.

Results

Understandings and beliefs towards HIV/AIDS and Perspective on disease disclosures were two main themes derived from patients' data. Beliefs towards causes and cure emerged as sub‐themes under disease understandings while reasons for disclosure and non‐disclosure were resulted as main sub‐themes under disease disclosure. Majority of patients apprehended HIV/AIDS and its causes to acceptable extent, there were elements of spirituality and lack of education involved with such understandings. Though beliefs existed that knowing status is better than being ignorant, fear of stigma and discrimination, social consequences and family emotions were found important elements linked to disease non‐disclosure.

Conclusions

The outcomes provided basic information about patients' perceptions towards disease and status disclosure among HIV/AIDS patients which can help in the designing and improvising existing strategies to enhance disease awareness and acceptance and will also serve as baseline data for future research further focusing on this subject.
Novel Lead‐free Glass/Ceramics System with Low Permittivity, Low Loss for LTCC Application
Authors: Zeng Dongqing , Xu Jian , Chen Yibin , Chen Wenwei , Yu Yanping , Wang Haohao , Zeng Renjie
Published: September 2014

The lead‐free, low‐softening point ZnO‐Bi2O3‐B2O3 glass with low permittivity, low loss and small coefficient of thermal expansion was prepared by melt‐quenching method. ZnO‐Bi2O3‐B2O3 glass + Al2O3 system were prepared below 850°C by the conventional ceramic route. Sintering behavior and microstructure of this system were investigated using X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopic techniques. Results revealed that ZnO‐Bi2O3‐B2O3 glass and Al2O3 reacted during the firing process, which led to the formation of ZnAl2O4. Glass concentration needed to be 65 wt% for better densification. The dense system sintered at 825°C for 30 min exhibited good dielectric properties: small permittivity of 5.73 and low loss tangent of 8.94 × 10−4 at 1 MHz. Its coefficient of thermal expansion (5.57 × 10−6/K) well matched to that of GaAs chip (5.6 × 10−6/K). The bending strength was also characterized (129.9 MPa). The prepared system was suitable for LTCC application.
Aortic Augmentation Index in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Catalano Mariella , Scandale Giovanni , Carzaniga Gianni , Cinquini Michela , Minola Marzio , Antoniazzi Valeria , Dimitrov Gabriel , Carotta Maria
Published: September 2014

Aortic augmentation index (AIx) is used to investigate arterial stiffness. The authors tested the hypothesis that patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) demonstrate a higher AIx and also evaluated several related factors. In 97 patients with PAD, identified by ankle‐brachial pressure index (ABPI ≤0.9), and 97 controls (ABPI ≥0.91<1.4), AIx (%) was determined using tonometry of the radial artery. There was no significant difference between patients and controls in characteristics of age, sex, height, diastolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, and heart rate. AIx was higher in patients with PAD (32±9 vs 28±9; P=.001). In multivariate regression analysis, AIx was independently associated with heart rate (β=−0.40, P=.0005). This study showed that AIx increased in patients with PAD and that heart rate is a determinant of AIx. Further studies are necessary to assess the pathophysiological and clinical importance of AIx in patients with PAD.
Incidence of peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis in edentulous patients with an implant‐retained mandibular overdenture during a 10‐year follow‐up period
Authors: Meijer Henny J. A. , Raghoebar Gerry M. , de Waal Yvonne C. M. , Vissink Arjan
Published: September 2014

Objectives

The aim of this sub‐analysis of two prospective studies was to assess the incidence of peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis in fully edentulous patients with an implant‐retained mandibular overdenture during a 10‐year follow‐up period.

Material and Methods

One hundred and fifty edentulous patients with two endosseous implants to support a mandibular overdenture were available from two prospective studies. Clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed at 5 and 10 years of functional loading. Incidence of peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis were calculated at implant level and patient level following the Consensus of the Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology on peri‐implant diseases.

Results

Incidence of peri‐implant mucositis at patient level was 51.9% after 5 years of evaluation and 57.0% after 10 years. Incidence of peri‐implantitis at patient level was 16.9% after 5 years of evaluation and 29.7% after 10 years.

Conclusion

Peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis do occur in totally edentulous patients and incidence numbers are high.
Phylogenetic Position of the Genus Cyrtostrombidium, with a Description of Cyrtostrombidium paralongisomum nov. spec. and a Redescription of Cyrtostrombidium longisomum Lynn & Gilron, 1993 (Protozoa, Ciliophora) Based on Live Observation, Protargol Impregnation, and 18S rDNA Sequences
Authors: Tsai Sheng‐Fang , Chen Wei‐Ting , Chiang Kuo‐Ping
Published: September 2014

We redescribe Cyrtostrombidium longisomum Lynn & Gilron, 1993, the type species of the genus Cyrtostrombidium, and describe the new species Cyrtostrombidium paralongisomum n. sp. using live observation, protargol staining and molecular data. The morphological characters of these two species are clearly distinct, i.e., dikinetid numbers in the girdle and ventral kineties; however, it is difficult to separate them by 18S rDNA sequences because they differ by only 8 bp, indicating that 18S rDNA sequences are insufficient for separating different species in the genus Cyrtostrombidium. We not only observed the position of the oral primordium in the genus Cyrtostrombidium but also observed a possibly homoplasious trait, a dorsal split in the girdle kinety, in (1) Apostrombidium, (2) Varistrombidium, and (3) Cyrtostrombidium/Williophrya. This partially supports the hypothesis of somatic ciliary pattern evolution recently put forth by Agatha and Strüder‐Kypke.
From the Genome to the Phenome: Tools to Understand the Basic Biology of Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Webster Wesley A. J. , McFadden Geoffrey I.
Published: September 2014

Malaria plagues one out of every 30 humans and contributes to almost a million deaths, and the problem could worsen. Our current therapeutic options are compromised by emerging resistance by the parasite to our front line drugs. It is thus imperative to better understand the basic biology of the parasite and develop novel drugs to stem this disease. The most facile approach to analyse a gene's function is to remove it from the genome or inhibit its activity. Although genetic manipulation of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is a relatively standard procedure, there is no optimal method to perturb genes essential to the intraerythrocytic development cycle—the part of the life cycle that produces the clinical manifestation of malaria. This is a severe impediment to progress because the phenotype we wish to study is exactly the one that is so elusive. In the absence of any utilitarian way to conditionally delete essential genes, we are prevented from investigating the parasite's most vulnerable points. This review aims to focus on the development of tools identifying essential genes of P. falciparum and our ability to elicit phenotypic mutation.
Relationships between Chemical Composition and Quality‐Related Characteristics in Bread Making with Wheat Flour–Fine Bran Blends
Authors: Pavlovich‐Abril Alán , Rouzaud‐Sández Ofelia , Romero‐Baranzini Ana Lourdes , Vidal‐Quintanar Reyna Luz , Salazar‐García María Guadalupe
Published: September 2014

The present study investigated the relationships between chemical composition and bread‐making quality parameters of white flour substituted with 30% of fine bran from two wheat genotypes. Fine bran with particle diameters ranging from 265 to 155 μm was sifted into two fractions (265–180 and 180–155 μm) and was studied in an experiment with a full factorial design. Each fine bran fraction with its natural chemical composition was found to have a significant effect on bread volume and texture, achieving higher specific volumes and softer breads with 180‐ to 155‐μm fraction (lowest fiber and protein content, but highest starch content) compared with the 265‐ to 180‐μm fraction (highest fiber and protein content, but lowest starch content), at fixed water absorption of 62.5% during mixing. The study showed that the effect on bread‐making quality characteristics in flour with fine bran is significantly related to dietary fiber, starch and protein contents.

Practical Applications

Fiber fractions of different particle sizes are available, thus permitting different approaches to adding fiber to bread products. Here, we prove the usefulness of using fine bran from different types of wheat as an ingredient in bread flour formulations, and show the differences in bran composition based on wheat type and particle size. The present results expose the influences of different components of fine bran and its fractions. Flour replacement with 30% fiber from either of two different wheat grains significantly changes the qualitative and quantitative dough pattern of the resulting hydrated flour–fiber blends, allowing the development of quality fiber‐enriched bread.
Impacts of Withdrawal Periods of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles on Quality Attributes of Fresh Pork Bratwursts and Bacon
Authors: King Amanda M. , Ohman Clairyce E. , Hemelryk Brad Van , Park Sungyong , Richards Mark P. , Crenshaw Thomas D. , Sindelar Jeffrey J.
Published: September 2014

Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), which have partially replaced traditional livestock feedstuffs in recent years, contain unsaturated dietary fat that can lead to changes in the characteristics of pork fat with subsequent effects on further processed meat products. The objective of this study was to determine the impact that swine diets with varying levels (control, high, withdrawal, step down, and low concentrations) of DDGS had on the quality of fresh bratwursts and bacon. Iodine values showed that meat from animals fed higher concentrations of DDGS contained more unsaturated fats, and texture profile analysis confirmed that bacon fat was firmer in the control. In fresh bratwursts, increased dietary concentrations of DDGS negatively impacted color stability, lipid oxidation and texture of bratwursts. While fewer negative quality impacts were observed in bacon than in bratwursts, this study indicated that DDGS fed at these levels can negatively impact certain processed meat quality attributes.

Practical Applications

Dietary dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) are known to affect quality of fresh pork fat, predominantly by increasing the amount of unsaturated fatty acids. As an important component of processed meat products, it is critical to understand the impact of this altered fat on processed meat quality. Pork from pigs fed varied concentrations of DDGS was used to manufacture fresh bratwursts and bacon, which were evaluated for quality factors such as color, texture and lipid oxidation. Traditional laboratory analysis methods were followed along with novel, simple methods that would allow the evaluation of pork fat quality by small meat processors who may not have access to sophisticated equipment for more advanced analysis. This study not only reports impacts of DDGS on bacon and fresh bratwurst quality but also provides novel methods for fat quality analysis to be applied by the meat industry.
Improved oxidative tolerance in suspension‐cultured cells of C4‐pepctransgenic rice by H2O2 and Ca2+ under PEG‐6000
Authors: Qian Baoyun , Li Xia , Liu Xiaolong , Wang Man
Published: September 2014

To understand the molecular responses of PC (Overexpressing the maize C4‐pepc gene, which encodes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC)), to drought stress at cell level, we analyzed changes in the levels of signaling molecules (hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), calcium ion (Ca2+), and nitric oxide (NO)) in suspension‐cultured PC and wild‐type (WT) rice (Oryza sativa L.) cell under drought stress induced by 20% polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG‐6000). Results demonstrated that PC improved drought tolerance by enhancing antioxidant defense, retaining higher relative water content, survival percentages, and dry weight of cells. In addition, PEPC activity in PC under PEG treatment was strengthened by addition of H2O2 inhibitor, dimethylthiourea (DMTU) and NO synthesis inhibitor, 2‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide (cPTIO), respectively, while that in PC was weakened by addition of free calcium chelator, ethylene glycol‐bis(b‐aminoethylether)‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid (EGTA) + calcium channel outflow inhibitor, ruthenium red (RR) + plasma membrane channel blocker La(NO3)3, but EGTA + RR did not. Results also showed that NO and Ca2+ was lying downstream of H2O2 in drought‐induced signaling. Calcium ion was also involved in the expression of C4‐pepc in PC. These results suggested that PC could improve oxidative tolerance in suspension‐cultured cells and the acquisition of this tolerance required downregulation of H2O2 and the entry of extracellular Ca2+ into cells across the plasma membrane for regulation of PEPC activity and C4‐pepc expression.
Recovering from Anorexia Nervosa by Machine
Authors: Södersten Per , Bergh Cecilia
Published: September 2014

Any healthy person can develop anorexia nervosa. Prolonged dieting causes reversible endocrine changes that emerge to combat starvation, the main threat to survival. Animals have evolved to develop strategies to cope with this challenge, assisted by hormonal systems that facilitate food hoarding but which can also inhibit eating, reinforcing the anorexic state. However, a simple machine that provides feedback on how to eat can allow patients to escape from anorexia and restore their health.
Spirituality as a Predictive Factor for Signing an Organ Donor Card
Authors: Bortz Anat Peles , Ashkenazi Tamar , Melnikov Semyon
Published: September 2014

Purpose

To examine differences in spirituality, purpose in life, and attitudes toward organ donation between people who signed and those who did not sign an organ donor card.

Design

A descriptive cross‐sectional survey conducted in Israel with a sample of 312 respondents from the general population, of whom 220 (70.5%) signed an organ donor card. Data were collected during April–June 2013.

Methods

Participants completed a paper questionnaire and a Web‐based questionnaire consisting of four sections: spiritual health, purpose in life, attitudes toward organ donation, and social‐demographic questions. Descriptive statistics, t test, chi‐square test, and a logistic regression analysis were performed.

Findings

Differences in mean scores between respondents who signed an organ donor card and those who did not were indicated in transcendental spirituality (p < .01), purpose in life (p < .05), and attitudes toward organ donation (p < .01). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the overall spirituality mean score. The spiritual transcendental dimension, individual's purpose in life, and attitudes toward organ donation explained 34.3% of the variance of signing an organ donor card.

Conclusions

Signing an organ donor card was found to be correlated with high purpose in life, positive attitudes toward organ donation, and low level of transcendental spirituality.

Clinical Relevance

Nurses should assess the patient's spiritual needs in order to construct appropriate programs for promoting signing an organ donor card. Nurses who signed an organ donor card should be encouraged to share this information with their patients.
Urban Vibrancy and Corporate Growth
Authors: DOUGAL CASEY , PARSONS CHRISTOPHER A. , TITMAN SHERIDAN
Published: September 2014

We find that a firm's investment is highly sensitive to the investments of other firms headquartered nearby, even those in very different industries. A firm's investment also responds to fluctuations in the cash flows and stock prices (q) of local firms outside its sector. These patterns do not appear to reflect exogenous area shocks such as local shocks to labor or real estate values, but rather suggest that local agglomeration economies are important determinants of firm investment and growth.
Obstetricians and gynecologists: Which characteristics do Israeli lesbians prefer?
Authors: Amir Hadar , Gophen Ruth , Amir Levy Yifat , Hasson Joseph , Gordon David , Amit Ami , Azem Foad
Published: September 2014

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore lesbians' preferences when choosing obstetricians/gynecologists.

Material and Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 100 lesbian and 100 heterosexual women. A 40‐item questionnaire assessed the correlation between a patient's sexual identity and her specific preferences for obstetricians/gynecologists.

Results

The top five most important parameters for both groups in choosing obstetricians/gynecologists overlapped greatly. Four of those were experience, ability, knowledge and personality. Only one parameter differed: lesbians ranked ‘sexually tolerant’ as the third most important characteristic while heterosexuals ranked ‘availability’ as the fifth most important characteristic. Lesbians rated ‘sexual tolerance’ significantly higher than heterosexuals (P < 0.001). More lesbians (56%) preferred female obstetricians/gynecologists compared to heterosexuals (21%) (P < 0.001). When compared to heterosexuals, more lesbians preferred female obstetricians/gynecologists for intimate and non‐intimate procedures (P < 0.001). But within the lesbian population, a higher percentage of subjects showed a preference for female obstetricians/gynecologists only for intimate procedures. Lesbians used the following to describe their preference for female obstetricians/gynecologists: feeling more comfortable; gentle; sympathetic; patient; more understanding of women's health; better physicians in general; and more sexually tolerant (P < 0.001 vs heterosexual). However, when we looked only at the lesbian population, the majority did not exhibit a preference for a female obstetrician/gynecologist for any of these reasons. The main reason given by the 56% of the lesbians who said they prefer female obstetricians/gynecologists was feeling more comfortable.

Conclusion

Overwhelmingly lesbians prefer sexually tolerant obstetricians/gynecologists regardless of their gender; however, only a small number of lesbian subjects in this study considered their obstetricians/gynecologists as displaying this characteristic.
Temporary balloon occlusion of the uterine arteries to control hemorrhage during hysterectomy in a case of uterine arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Yamamoto Naoko , Koga Kaori , Akahane Masaaki , Wada‐Hiraike Osamu , Fujii Tomoyuki , Osuga Yutaka
Published: September 2014

Arteriovenous fistula is any abnormal connection between an artery and a vein that bypasses the normal capillary bed and shunts arterial blood directly to the venous circulation. Uterine arteriovenous fistula (UAVF) is a potentially life‐threatening condition by causing massive bleeding. This report describes a case of UAVF with massive hemorrhage. Prior to surgery, endovascular catheters for balloon occlusion were placed within bilateral uterine arteries. During surgery, the surgeon requested temporary balloon inflation for navigating and identifying inflow arteries. The balloon was kept inflated during the ligation of the vessels. Once ligation was completed, the balloon was deflated to confirm hemostasis. A total hysterectomy with removal of the UAVF was successfully achieved without significant blood loss. The fistula, in the resected specimen, was confirmed histologically with Elastica van Gieson staining. The preoperative placement of endovascular balloon‐occlusion catheters should be considered when hysterectomy is planned where UAVF is located at the cardinal ligament.
Magnetic Flux Density of Different Types of New Generation Magnetic Attachment Systems
Authors: Akin Hakan
Published: September 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to analyze the static magnetic flux density of different types of new generation laser‐welded magnetic attachments in the single position and the attractive position and to determine the effect of different corrosive environments on magnetic flux density.

Material and Methods

Magnetic flux densities of four magnetic attachment systems (Hyper slim, Hicorex slim, Dyna, and Steco) were measured with a gaussmeter. Then magnetic attachment systems were immersed in two different media, namely 1% lactic acid solution (pH 2.3), and 0.9% NaCl solution (pH 7.3). Magnetic flux densities of the attachment systems were measured with a gaussmeter after immersion to compare with measurements before immersion (α = 0.05). The data were statistically evaluated with one‐way ANOVA, paired‐samples t‐test, and post hoc Tukey‐Kramer multiple comparisons tests (α = 0.05).

Results

The highest magnetic flux density was found in Dyna magnets for both single and attractive positions. In addition, after the magnets were in the corrosive environments for 2 weeks, they had a significant decrease in magnetic flux density (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between corrosive environments (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The leakage flux of all the magnetic attachments did not exceed the WHO's guideline of 40 mT. The magnets exhibited a significant decrease in magnetic flux density after aging in corrosive environments including lactic acid and NaCl.
DEVELOPING AN INTERVENTION TO PREVENT ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY: USING THE PLAN, DO, STUDY, ACT (PDSA) SERVICE IMPROVEMENT APPROACH
Authors: Byrne Jo , Xu Gang , Carr Sue
Published: September 2014

Background

In the UK, recent National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for acute kidney injury point to the need for interventions to help prevent this condition. Effective medicines management is of prime importance in reducing the risk of AKI. Part of this challenge is to increase patients' awareness of their medicines and the possible need to temporarily withhold certain medications when acutely unwell.

Objectives

The objectives were to use a service improvement approach (the Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle) to develop an intervention and to evaluate current delivery of acute kidney injury management and to test and generate new ideas relating to patients' needs.

Design

A postal feedback form sent to a random sample of over 200 patients with chronic kidney disease.

Measurements

The feedback form collected information on: what patients know about acute kidney injury and managing medicines; where patients get their information from; whether patients want more information and where from; and what patients feel about self‐managing their medicines.

Results

Completed feedback forms were received from 113 participants. Of these, 92% said they had received no advice, 77% of respondents wanted more advice but only 17% said they would feel comfortable to stop their own medication without medical consent.

Conclusions

The PDSA cycle offered a very useful framework to evaluate the current service delivery and to test and generate new ideas for the development of an AKI intervention. Our findings highlighted that the current service is limited and more robust research is needed.
On the Vector Autoregressive Sieve Bootstrap
Authors: Meyer Marco , Kreiss Jens‐Peter
Published: September 2014

The concept of autoregressive sieve bootstrap is investigated for the case of vector autoregressive (VAR) time series. This procedure fits a finite‐order VAR model to the given data and generates residual‐based bootstrap replicates of the time series. The paper explores the range of validity of this resampling procedure and provides a general check criterion, which allows to decide whether the VAR sieve bootstrap asymptotically works for a specific statistic or not. In the latter case, we will point out the exact reason that causes the bootstrap to fail.

The developed check criterion is then applied to some particularly interesting statistics.
Comparison of Serum Concentrations of Symmetric Dimethylarginine and Creatinine as Kidney Function Biomarkers in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Hall J.A. , Yerramilli M. , Obare E. , Yerramilli M. , Jewell D.E.
Published: September 2014

Background

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) has been shown to be an accurate and precise biomarker for calculating estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in humans, as well as a more sensitive biomarker than serum creatinine concentration (sCr) for assessing renal dysfunction.

Objectives

The purpose of this retrospective study was to report on the utility of measuring serum SDMA concentrations in cats for detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) before diagnosis by conventional measurement of sCr.

Animals

Chronic kidney disease cats (n = 21) included those persistently azotemic for ≥3 months (n = 15), nonazotemic cats with GFR >30% decreased from median GFR of normal cats (n = 4), and nonazotemic cats with calcium oxalate kidney stones (n = 2). Healthy geriatric cats (n = 21) were selected from the same colony.

Methods

Symmetric dimethylarginine concentrations (liquid chromatography‐mass spectroscopy) and sCr (enzymatic colorimetry) were determined retrospectively from historical data or banked serum samples in azotemic cats or at the time GFR (iohexol clearance) was measured in nonazotemic cats.

Results

Serum SDMA (r = −0.79) and sCr (r = −0.77) concentrations were significantly correlated to GFR (both P < .0001). Symmetric dimethylarginine became increased before sCr in 17/21 cats (mean, 17.0 months; range, 1.5–48 months). Serum SDMA had higher sensitivity (100%) compared with sCr (17%), but lower specificity (91% versus 100%) and positive predictive value (86% versus 100%).

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Using serum SDMA as a biomarker for CKD allows earlier detection of CKD in cats compared with sCr, which may be desirable for initiating renoprotective interventions that slow progression of CKD.
Pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin trihydrate in cultured olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)
Authors: Seo J. S. , Jeon E. J. , Jung S. H. , Park M. A. , Kim N. Y.
Published: September 2014

The study was aimed at investigating the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin trihydrate (AMOX) in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) following oral, intramuscular, and intravenous administration, using high‐performance liquid chromatography following. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), following oral administration of 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight (b.w.), AMOX was 1.14 (Tmax, 1.7 h) and 0.76 μg/mL (Tmax, 1.6 h), respectively. Intramuscular administration of 30 and 60 mg/kg of AMOX resulted in Cmax values of 4 and 4.3 μg/mL, respectively, with the corresponding Tmax values of 29 and 38 h. Intravenous administration of 6 mg/kg AMOX resulted in a Cmax of 9 μg/mL 2 h after administration. Following oral administration of 40 and 80 mg/kg AMOX, area under the curve (AUC) values were 52.257 and 41.219 μg/mL·h, respectively. Intramuscular 30 and 60 mg/kg doses resulted in AUC values of 370.274 and 453.655 μg/mL·h, respectively, while the AUC following intravenous administration was 86.274 μg/mL·h. AMOX bioavailability was calculated to be 9% and 3.6% following oral administration of 40 and 80 mg/kg, respectively, and the corresponding values following intramuscular administration were 86% and 53%. In conclusion, this study demonstrated high bioavailability of AMOX following oral administration in olive flounder.
Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol after intravenous administration in Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide‐induced endotoxaemic sheep
Authors: Pérez R. , Palma C. , Drápela C. , Sepulveda M. , Espinoza A. , Peñailillo A. K.
Published: September 2014

Experiments in different animal species have shown that febrile conditions, induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), may alter the pharmacokinetic properties of drugs. The objective was to study the effects of a LPS‐induced acute‐phase response (APR) model on plasma pharmacokinetics of florfenicol (FFC) after its intravenous administration in sheep. Six adult clinically healthy Suffolk Down sheep, 8 months old and 35.5 ± 2.2 kg in body weight (bw), were distributed through a crossover factorial 2 × 2 design, with 4 weeks of washout. Pairs of sheep similar in body weight were assigned to experimental groups: Group 1 (LPS) was treated with three intravenous doses of 1 μg/kg bw of E. coli LPS before FFC treatment. Group 2 (control) was treated with an equivalent volume of saline solution (SS) at similar intervals as LPS. At 24 h after the first injection of LPS or SS, an intravenous bolus of 20 mg/kg bw of FFC was administered. Blood samples (5 mL) were collected before drug administration and at different times between 0.05 and 48.0 h after treatment. FFC plasma concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography. A noncompartmental pharmacokinetic model was used for data analysis, and data were compared using a Mann–Whitney U‐test. The mean values of AUC0–∞ in the endotoxaemic sheep (105.9 ± 14.3 μg·h/mL) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than values observed in healthy sheep (78.4 ± 5.2 μg·h/mL). The total mean plasma clearance (CLT) decreased from 257.7 ± 16.9 mL·h/kg in the control group to 198.2 ± 24.1 mL·h/kg in LPS‐treated sheep. A significant increase (P < 0.05) in the terminal half‐life was observed in the endotoxaemic sheep (16.9 ± 3.8 h) compared to the values observed in healthy sheep (10.4 ± 3.2 h). In conclusion, the APR induced by the intravenous administration of E. coli LPS in sheep produces higher plasma concentrations of FFC due to a decrease in the total body clearance of the drug.
Pharmacology of topical prostaglandin F2α analogs and their place in the treatment of glaucoma in small animals
Authors: Maślanka T.
Published: September 2014

A distinguishing feature of the most common types of glaucoma is an increased intra‐ocular pressure (IOP), which has a damaging effect on optic nerve axons, leading to the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells. Therefore, IOP‐lowering medications are the mainstay of glaucoma therapy. Topical prostaglandin F2α analogs (PGAs) are a relatively new class of ocular hypotensive drugs, which have made a huge impact on the treatment of glaucoma in dogs. This study summarizes the current state of knowledge on the mechanism of action of these agents and their effect on IOP in dogs and cats. It also discusses potential harmful side effects of PGAs and presents contemporary opinions about their role and place in the medical management of glaucoma in small animals.
Impact of age on hepatic cytochrome P450 of domestic male Camborough‐29 pigs
Authors: Hu S. X.
Published: September 2014

Swine is not only an important species in veterinary medicine research but also a popular animal model for human drug discovery. It is valuable to understand the impact of pig age on abundance and activity of porcine hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP450). Liver microsomes were prepared from Camborough‐29 intact male pigs at the age of 1 day and 2 weeks and the castrated male pigs at the age of 5, 10, and 20 weeks. HepaticCYP450 content in the liver microsomes was measured using aUV/visible spectroscopic method. The activities ofCYP450s were evaluated by metabolism of phenacetin, coumarin, tolbutamide, bufuralol, chlorzoxazone, and midazolam. The porcine hepaticCYP450 content increased with age with a plateau between age 2 and 5 weeks. Activities of allCYP450 enzymes increased with age of pigs too. The bufuralol 1’‐hydroxylase showed the highest hepatic activities compared with otherCYPenzymes at all ages of pigs. The average activities at the age of 20 weeks were about five times higher than those at the age of 5 weeks for most of theCYPenzymes. With compensation of the ratio of liver to body weights, the overallCYP450 metabolism capability of the pigs may be peaked around ages of 10 to 20 weeks. Those findings suggest that metabolism can be significantly different in growing phase of pigs and that the age may be an important factor in porcine medicine evaluation and pig model development.
Employers' Efforts to Deter Shirking in Teams: Evidence from Job Vacancies
Authors: Brenčič Vera
Published: September 2014

Employers can use profit sharing to elicit effort in teams as long as shirking is sufficiently costly. Analysis of descriptions of job vacancies from the online job board monster.com reveals that the threat of shirking does not deter employers from offering profit sharing to reward workers in teams. However, when team work is prevalent, employers are more likely to advertise a work environment where shirking is easier to detect and penalize. We do not find evidence of similar employers' efforts to deter shirking in teams if jobs entail: frequent interactions with a supervisor, volunteering, or work for a non‐profit organization.