bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urinary N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase levels in diabetic adults
Authors: Omozee Eiya Bibiana , Okaka Enajit Ibiene , Edo Andrew Efosa , Obika Leonard Fedinard 
Published: March 2019

AbstractDiabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be one of the most common causes of end-stage renal disease. The disease is usually not detected on time, because of the large functioning reserve of the kidney. Currently used markers (serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, urea, and electrolytes) remain relatively normal even when more than 50% of the renal nephron is not functioning. The aim of this study was to determine the level of urinary N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) in diabetic adults in comparison with some currently used markers. A total of 56 diabetic patients between the ages of 23 and 63 were used for this study and 30 nondiabetic between the ages of 18 and 62 were used as control. The diabetic patients were classified into three groups based on how long they have been diagnosed: <2 years (25), 2–5 years (30), and >5 years (25). Spot midstream urine samples were collected into sterile containers, and blood samples were collected into plain tubes. All the analyses were done spectrophotometrically. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the Cockcroft–Gault Equation. There was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in NAG values of 2–5 years and above 5 years and control. The urinary microalbumin concentration of controls was significantly different (P < 0.05) only with those who have had DM for <2 years. Urinary creatinine concentration of control was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than values of all the diabetic groups. There was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in creatinine clearance of control group and those who have had DM for <2 years. It is thus concluded that urinary NAG can be used as an early marker in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy since urinary NAG increases first before the other markers analyzed in this current study begins to increase.
Reconsidering azithromycin disc diffusion interpretive criteria for Salmonellae in view of azithromycin MIC creep among typhoidal and nontyphoidal salmonella
Authors: Khan Sadia , Kurup Parvathy , Vinod Vivek , Biswas Raja , Pillai Gopala Krishna , Kumar Anil 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
PURPOSE: Enteric fever continues to be an important public health challenge for the developing world. With the emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance in Salmonellae spp. azithromycin is increasingly being used for oral treatment of enteric fever. We investigated the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of azithromycin in Salmonellae spp. isolates from a tertiary care hospital to detect emerging resistance.
METHODS: The study assessed the reliability of disc diffusion as a screening test to detect azithromycin resistance by comparing it with the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the drug in 100 Salmonellae spp. strains. The strains of Salmonellae spp. showing resistance to azithromycin were further investigated for resistance markers – mphA, mphB, and mef B genes.
RESULTS: This study was conducted on 100 Salmonella enterica strains recovered from blood culture samples between 2013 and 2017. Among these isolates, 18 showed resistance to azithromycin by disc diffusion methodology with zones of inhibition <13 mm. MIC of 6 of these isolates were ≥32 mg/L. The mean MIC of azithromycin increased from 5 mg/L in 2013 to 24 mg/L in 2017. Azithromycin consumption as defined daily doses per 1000 patient days also showed an increase over the past 4 years.
CONCLUSION: Azithromycin disc diffusion diameter interpretations as recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute can mislabel a few sensitive strains as resistant. Azithromycin resistance is emerging in typhoidal and nontyphoidal Salmonella. MphA gene is associated with high MICs in nontyphoidal Salmonella spp.
The two-way feedback mechanism between unfavorable meteorological conditions and cumulative aerosol pollution in various haze regions of China
Authors: Zhong Junting , Zhang Xiaoye , Wang Yaqiang , Wang Jizhi , Shen Xiaojing , Zhang Hongsheng , Wang Tijian , Xie Zhouqing , Liu Cheng , Zhang Hengde , Zhao Tianliang , Sun Junying , Fan Shaojia , Gao Zhiqiu , Li Yubin , Wang Linlin 
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Accompanied by unfavorable meteorological conditions with stable
stratification in various haze regions of China, persistent heavy aerosol
pollution episodes (HPEs) lasting more than 3 consecutive days frequently
occur, particularly in winter. In the North China Plain (NCP), explosive
growth of fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm in
diameter (PM2.5), which occurs during some HPES, is dominated by
a two-way feedback mechanism between more unfavorable
meteorological conditions and cumulative aerosol pollution. However, the
existence of a two-way feedback mechanism such as this in other key haze regions in China is
uncertain; these regions include the Guanzhong Plain (GZP), the Yangtze River
Delta (YRD) region, the Two Lakes Basin (TLB; a large outflow basin connected to Hubei Province and Hunan Province), the Pearl River Delta (PRD)
region, the Sichuan Basin (SB), and the Northeast China Plain (NeCP). In this
study, using surface PM2.5 and radiation observations, radiosonde
observations, and reanalysis data, we observed the existence of a two-way
feedback mechanism in the six abovementioned regions. In the SB, this two-way feedback
mechanism is weak due to the suppression of cloudy mid-upper layers. In the
more polluted NCP, the GZP, and the NeCP, the feedback is more striking than
that in the YRD, the TLB, and the PRD. In these regions, the feedback of
worsened meteorological conditions on PM2.5 explains 60 %–70 % of
the increase in PM2.5 during the cumulative stages (CSs). For each
region, the low-level cooling bias becomes increasingly substantial with
increasing aerosol pollution and a closer distance to the ground surface.
With PM2.5 mass concentrations greater than 400 µg m−3,
the near-ground bias exceeded −4 ∘C in Beijing and reached up to
approximately −4 ∘C in Xi'an; this result was caused by
accumulated aerosol mass to some extent. In addition to the increase in
PM2.5 caused by the two-way feedback, these regions also suffer from the
regional transport of pollutants, including inter-regional transport in the
GZP, trans-regional transport from the NCP to the YRD and the TLB, and
southwesterly transport in the NeCP.
Improvement of airborne retrievals of cloud droplet number concentration of trade wind cumulus using a synergetic approach
Authors: Wolf Kevin , Ehrlich André , Jacob Marek , Crewell Susanne , Wirth Martin , Wendisch Manfred 
Published: March 2019

Abstract. In situ measurements of cloud droplet number concentration N are limited by
the sampled cloud volume. Satellite retrievals of N suffer from inherent
uncertainties, spatial averaging, and retrieval problems arising from the
commonly assumed strictly adiabatic vertical profiles of cloud
properties. To improve retrievals of N it is suggested in this paper to use
a synergetic combination of passive and active airborne remote sensing
measurement, to reduce the uncertainty of N retrievals, and to bridge the
gap between in situ cloud sampling and global averaging. For this purpose,
spectral solar radiation measurements above shallow trade wind cumulus were
combined with passive microwave and active radar and lidar observations
carried out during the second Next Generation Remote Sensing for Validation
Studies (NARVAL-II) campaign with the High Altitude and Long Range
Research Aircraft (HALO) in August 2016. The common technique to
retrieve N is refined by including combined measurements and retrievals of
cloud optical thickness τ, liquid water path (LWP), cloud droplet
effective radius reff, and cloud base and top altitude.
Three approaches are tested and applied to synthetic measurements and two
cloud scenarios observed during NARVAL-II. Using the new combined
retrieval technique, errors in N due to the adiabatic assumption have been
reduced significantly.
Insights from year-long measurements of air–water CH4 and CO2 exchange in a coastal environment
Authors: Yang Mingxi , Bell Thomas G. , Brown Ian J. , Fishwick James R. , Kitidis Vassilis , Nightingale Philip D. , Rees Andrew P. , Smyth Timothy J. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Air–water CH4 and CO2 fluxes were directly measured
using the eddy covariance technique at the Penlee Point Atmospheric
Observatory on the southwest coast of the United Kingdom from September 2015
to August 2016. The high-frequency, year-long measurements provide
unprecedented detail on the variability of these greenhouse gas fluxes from
seasonal to diurnal and to semi-diurnal (tidal) timescales. Depending on the
wind sector, fluxes measured at this site are indicative of air–water
exchange in coastal seas as well as in an outer estuary. For the open-water
sector when winds were off the Atlantic Ocean, CH4 flux was almost
always positive (annual mean of ∼0.05 mmol m−2 d−1) except
in December and January, when CH4 flux was near zero. At times of
high rainfall and river flow rate, CH4 emission from the
estuarine-influenced Plymouth Sound sector was several times higher than
emission from the open-water sector. The implied CH4 saturation
(derived from the measured fluxes and a wind-speed-dependent gas transfer
velocity parameterization) of over 1000 % in the Plymouth Sound is within
range of in situ dissolved CH4 measurements near the mouth of the
river Tamar. CO2 flux from the open-water sector was generally from
sea to air in autumn and winter and from air to sea in late spring and
summer, with an annual mean flux of near zero. A diurnal signal in
CO2 flux and implied partial pressure of CO2 in water
(pCO2) are clearly observed for the Plymouth Sound sector
and also evident for the open-water sector during biologically productive
periods. These observations suggest that coastal CO2 efflux may be
underestimated if sampling strategies are limited to daytime only. Combining
the flux data with seawater pCO2 measurements made in situ
within the flux footprint allows us to estimate the CO2 transfer
velocity. The gas transfer velocity and wind speed relationship at this
coastal location agrees reasonably well with previous open-water
parameterizations in the mean but demonstrates considerable variability. We
discuss the influences of biological productivity, bottom-driven turbulence
and rainfall on coastal air–water gas exchange.
Remote and local drivers of oxygen and nitrate variability in the shallow oxygen minimum zone off Mauritania in June 2014
Authors: Thomsen Soeren , Karstensen Johannes , Kiko Rainer , Krahmann Gerd , Dengler Marcus , Engel Anja 
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Upwelling systems play a key role in the global carbon and
nitrogen cycles and are also of local relevance due to their high productivity and fish
resources. To capture and understand the high spatial and temporal variability in
physical and biogeochemical parameters found in these regions, novel measurement
techniques have to be combined in an interdisciplinary manner. Here we use
high-resolution glider-based physical–biogeochemical observations in combination with
ship-based underwater vision profiler, sensor and bottle data to investigate the drivers
of oxygen and nitrate variability across the shelf break off Mauritania in June 2014.
Distinct oxygen and nitrate variability shows up in our glider data. High-oxygen and
low-nitrate anomalies were clearly related to water mass variability and probably linked
to ocean transport. Low-oxygen and high-nitrate patches
co-occurred with enhanced turbidity signals close to the seabed, which suggests locally
high microbial respiration rates of resuspended organic matter near the sea floor. This
interpretation is supported by high particle abundance observed by the underwater vision
profiler and enhanced particle-based respiration rate estimates close to the seabed.
Discrete in situ measurements of dissolved organic carbon and amino acids suggest the
formation of dissolved organic carbon due to particle dissolution near the seabed fueling
additional microbial respiration. During June an increase in the oxygen concentration on
the shelf break of about 15 µmol kg−1 was observed. These changes go
along with meridional circulation changes but cannot be explained by typical water mass
property changes. Thus our high-resolution interdisciplinary observations highlight the
complex interplay of remote and local physical–biogeochemical drivers of oxygen and
nitrate variability off Mauritania, which cannot be captured by classical shipboard
observations alone.
ANYCaRE: a role-playing game to investigate crisis decision-making and communication challenges in weather-related hazards
Authors: Terti Galateia , Ruin Isabelle , Kalas Milan , Láng Ilona , Cangròs i Alonso Arnau , Sabbatini Tommaso , Lorini Valerio 
Published: March 2019

Abstract. This study proposes a role-playing experiment to explore the value of modern
impact-based weather forecasts on the decision-making process to (i) issue
warnings and manage the official emergency response under uncertainty and
(ii) communicate and trigger protective action at different levels of the
warning system across Europe. Here, flood or strong-wind game simulations
seek to represent the players' realistic uncertainties and dilemmas
embedded in the real-time forecasting-warning processes. The game was first
tested in two scientific workshops in Finland and France, where European
researchers, developers, forecasters and civil protection representatives
played the simulations. Two other game sessions were organized afterwards
(i) with undergraduate university students in France and (ii) with Finnish
stakeholders involved in the management of hazardous weather emergencies.
First results indicate that multi-model developments and crowdsourcing tools
increase the level of confidence in the decision-making under pressure. We
found that the role-playing approach facilitates interdisciplinary
cooperation and argumentation on emergency response in a fun and interactive
manner. The ANYCaRE experiment was proposed, therefore, as a valuable learning
tool to enhance participants' understanding of the complexities and
challenges met by various actors in weather-related emergency management.
Onyeka Nubia, Blackamoores. Africans in Tudor England, Their Presence, Status and Origins (Londres, 2013).
Authors: Lopez Alba M. 
Published: March 2019

Reseña de libro: Onyeka Nubia, Blackamoores. Africans in Tudor England, Their Presence, Status and Origins. Londres, Narrative Eye, 2013, 463 pp.
Potentials of Egg Shell and Snail Shell Powder in Sorghum Beer Clarification
Authors: Iwouno Jude O. , Ofoedu Chigozie E. , Ofoedum Arinze F. 
Published: March 2019

Aim: Turbidity is one of the integral parameters used to ascertain beer quality and clarity. This has been achieved through a combination of filtration processes and utilization of kieselghur as filter aid. Kieselghur on the other hand is expensive and not readily available; therefore there is need to find potential filter aids from locally available materials. The aim of this research is to determine the effectiveness of egg shell powder and snail shell powder in sorghum beer clarification.
Study Design: This study was made to fit into using a combination of T-test and one way Analysis of Variance.
Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out at Department of Food Science and Technology Laboratory, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria, between May 2018 and November 2018.
Methodology: Sorghum grains were malted by adoption of barley malting protocols while snail shells and egg shells obtained from the market were processed into powders. Temperature programmed infusion mashing method was used to produce wort from sorghum malt that was germinated for 2 days and 3 days. The resulting worts were fermented using Saccharomyces carlsbergensis to obtain sorghum beer and the beer was clarified with kieselghur, egg shell powder and snail shell powder. Turbidity and other quality analyses were carried out on the sorghum wort, sorghum beer and clarified sorghum beer.
Results: The results showed that beers clarified with Kieselghur had better clarity than egg shell powder and snail shell powder clarified sorghum beers. Egg shell powder showed better clarification potentials than snail shell powder. There is a correlation between total solids and turbidity. Germination period significantly influenced the turbidity of sorghum beer.
Conclusion: This study showed that egg shell powder can serve as potential filter aid in beverage clarification.
Methanol Toxicity Presenting as Acute Abdomen: Case Report
Authors: Ali Yasser , Ismail Mazen , Shareif Maher , El-Din Mohanmmad Hosam , Taha Inass 
Published: March 2019

Background: Acute methanol poisoning is a fatal illness. Several Atypical presentations could make it difficult to suspect the diagnosis.
Case Report: A 50 years old male known chronic alcoholic presented to the emergency department with severe acute abdominal pain nausea and vomiting. He rapidly deteriorated within 2 hours to develop confusion and seizures, was found to have double gap severe metabolic acidosis and elevated serum methanol. The patient was managed with Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) and supportive measures. He gradually improved and was discharged with no neurological or visual complications.
Conclusion and Recommendations: Acute methanol toxicity should be expected if the alcoholic patient develops a rapid neurological deterioration and shows double anion gap acidosis.
Health authorities should provide the serum formic acid test for diagnosis and the fomepizole as a preferable antidote. Until then, supportive treatment, intravenous ethanol and CRRT should be immediately started in these patients.
Long Term Fertilizer Management Effect on Nutrient Dynamics in Rainfed Rice-lentil System in Transect 4 of IndoGangetic Plain
Authors: Kumar Jitendra , De Nirmal , Meena R. S. , Sharma Pallab , Pradhan A. K. , Chari G. Ravindra 
Published: March 2019

The present study analyzed the effect of different organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil nutrient dynamics in a long-term field experiment under rainfed rice-lentil system. The experiment was operative at Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, B.H.U Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Carbon dynamics was investigated on surface soil on the basis of distribution of Walkley & Black Carbon, in active pool (AP) or labile carbon (oxidisable at low concentration of H2SO4) in relation to passive pool (PP) or non labile carbon (oxidisable at high concentration of H2SO4) and its indices carbon management index (CMI). The effect of eight different treatments including unfertilized, 100% N from farm yard manure, 100% recommended dose of fertilizer, 50% RDF + 50% N Foliar), 50% RDF, 50% RDF + 50% N FYM), 50% N FYM and Farmers practices i.e. application of 20kg N ha-1 The availability & uptake of major nutrients were studied. The results revealed: That mixed application of inorganic fertilizers and FYM substantially increase the soil organic carbon pool, sustainability index over remaining treatments. Higher fertilizer application rates resulted in higher and sustained crop yields which had been reflected in sustainability yield index. A significant Pearson correlation was found between SOC, AP, PP, exchangeable K2O content, soil microbial biomass carbon and SYI. (The result indicated to adopt conjunctive use of nutrient management which promote the SOC more labile and, induce availability of other nutrients coupled with SMBC that translate into higher crop yields.
Occurrence of Anthracnose Disease of Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum) at Bunso, Eastern Region, Ghana
Authors: Adongo B. A. , Akrofi S. , Osei-Owusu E. , Ahiatsi E. N. 
Published: March 2019

Aims: To identify the causal agent of anthracnose disease of Solanum torvum, determine whether the pathogen is seedborne and also to ascertain the cross infection potential of the pathogen on other Solanaceous crops of economic importance.
Place and Duration of Study: Bunso, in the East Akim District of the Eastern Region of Ghana, between January and October, 2017.
Methodology: The disease symptoms on matured fruits, leaves, stems and flowers of Solanum torvum were carefully observed for documentation with magnifying glasses and the naked eyes. The pathogen was isolated on PDA after incubation for five days and the identification was based on the colony, morphology and conidial characteristics with reference to laboratory manuals. The virulence of the fungal isolates from the S. torvum fruits was determined through pathogenicity tests. A seed health test was conducted in accordance with the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) to determine whether the pathogen is seedborne. Conidial suspension of Colletotrichum acutatum (1×103 per ml) was used to inoculate pepper and eggplant fruits in a cross infectivity test.
Results: Colletotrichum acutatum was repeatedly isolated and identified as the causal agent of the disease on the fruits and was also seedborne. In cross infectivity studies, the pathogen produced characteristic anthracnose symptoms on both eggplant and pepper which happens to belong to the same Solanaceae family just as the turkey berry.
Conclusion: The anthracnose disease of Solanum torvum at Bunso, in the Eastern Region of Ghana is caused by Colletotrichum acutatum that has the potential to cross infect other Solanaceous species. This study is the first scientific report of the occurrence of anthracnose disease of S. torvum in Ghana.
Analytic flexibility in laboratory aggression paradigms: Relations with personality traits vary (slightly) by operationalization of aggression
Authors: Hyatt Courtland S. , Chester David S. , Zeichner Amos , Miller Joshua D. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractCompetitive reaction time tasks (CRTTs) have been used widely in social science research, but recent criticism has been directed at the flexible quantification strategies used with this methodology. A recent review suggests that over 150 different quantification strategies have been used in this literature, and there is evidence to suggest that different operationalizations can affect the results and interpretations of experiments using CRTTs. In the current investigation, we reanalyze data from four existing samples from two different sites (total N = 600) to examine how the relations between a range of personality traits and aggression vary based on how aggression is operationalized. Our results suggest that there is a modest degree of heterogeneity in effect size and direction for these relations, and that effect size and direction were most consistent for traits more generally related to lab aggression (e.g., psychopathy, low Five‐Factor Model agreeableness). In addition, profile matching analyses suggest that different operationalizations yield empirical correlates that are quite similar to one another, even when quantifying absolute rather than relative similarity. These results were consistent across site, methodology, and type of sample, suggesting that these issues are likely generalizable across most labs using CRTTs. We conclude with suggestions for future directions, particularly emphasizing the need for adequately‐powered samples, and for researchers to preregister a plan for how CRTT data will be analyzed.