bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Imported Intermediates, Absorptive Capacity and Productivity: Evidence from Ghanaian Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Okafor Luke Emeka , Bhattacharya Mita , Bloch Harry 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis paper analyses whether the use of imported intermediates improves productivity using firm‐level panel data of manufacturing firms in Ghana covering the period between 1991 and 2002. This includes examining the importance of absorptive capacity (ABC) in enhancing the productivity gains from imported intermediates. We propose lagged relative productivity as a new measure of ABC. For any given period, ABC is defined as the natural logarithm of a firm's total factor productivity (TFP) in the previous period relative to the firm's initial TFP. An alternative measure of ABC considers real value added per worker in lieu of TFP. Overall, we find that firms with high levels of ABC derive productivity gains from the contemporaneous and prior use of imported intermediates, particularly for firms operating in the input‐intensive industries. Our findings are robust to different specifications of the base model and different estimation techniques.
Sequence analysis ofRASandRAFmutation hot spots in canine carcinoma
Authors: Mochizuki H. , Breen M. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractRecent discovery of theBRAFV595Emutation in a variety of canine cancers indicates that mutantBRAFmay represent a novel therapeutic target. Presence ofRASmutations is associated with poor tumour response toBRAFinhibition but has not been investigated inBRAF‐mutated canine cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutational status of threeRASgenes (HRAS,KRASandNRAS) in four types of canine carcinoma with and without theBRAFV595Emutation. NovelHRASmutations were identified in 18% (3/17) of oral squamous cell carcinoma, whereas 17% (3/18) of pulmonary carcinoma carriedKRASorNRASmutations. TheseRASmutations andBRAFV595Ewere mutually exclusive, indicating similar functional consequence of these mutations (e.g.MAPKpathway activation). In contrast,RASmutations were absent in 39 urothelial carcinoma and 19 prostatic carcinoma, adding another rational forBRAF‐targeted therapy for these canine cancers.
Canine panuveitis: a retrospective evaluation of 55 cases (2000–2015)
Authors: Bergstrom Benjamin E. , Stiles Jean , Townsend Wendy M. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the most common etiologies of panuveitis in a group of dogs, patient response to therapy, and visual outcome.DesignRetrospective study.Materials and methodsMedical records of 55 dogs diagnosed with panuveitis at the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between December 2000 and December 2015 were reviewed. Data collected included signalment, season of diagnosis, descriptions of ocular lesions, diagnostic testing, treatment protocols, etiologic diagnoses (when determined), and visual outcome.ResultsThe most common clinical sign in the anterior segment was aqueous flare and in the posterior segment was serous retinal detachment. The most common diagnosis was idiopathic/immune‐mediated disease followed by systemic blastomycosis, lymphoma, and other causes (leptospirosis, aspergillosis, and histoplasmosis). Of the 43 dogs for which follow‐up was available, 40% of dogs had resolution of visible inflammation and retinal reattachment, 32% of dogs had slight to moderate improvement, and 28% of dogs had no improvement or deterioration of lesions. Mean follow‐up time was 11 months, and mean time to resolution of visible inflammation and retinal reattachment was 32 days. Sixty‐five percent of dogs either retained or regained vision in one or both diseased eyes with initial medical therapy.ConclusionsIdiopathic/immune‐mediated panuveitis was the most common diagnosis. Dogs with idiopathic/immune‐mediated panuveitis tended to respond more favorably to medical therapy than dogs with infectious panuveitis. Visual outcome was favorable in those dogs that responded to initial medical therapy, but long‐term therapy was required in many dogs to maintain vision and prevent recurrence of disease.
Augmented Repair of an Achilles Tendon Rupture Using the Flexor Digitorum Lateralis Tendon in a Toy Poodle
Authors: Katayama Masaaki 
Published: October 2016

ObjectiveTo report appositional augmentation of Achilles tendon rupture in a toy breed dog with an intact flexor digitorum lateralis (FDL) muscle tendon.Study DesignClinical case report.AnimalsTwo‐year‐old spayed female Toy Poodle with Achilles tendon rupture.MethodsThe Achilles tendon was accidentally ruptured by hair clippers during grooming. The dog demonstrated a plantigrade stance without digital flexion of the right hind limb. The ruptured gastrocnemius and superficial digital flexor tendons were sutured to their respective cut ends using a simple locking loop pattern under a surgical microscope. The repair site was appositionally augmented by the caudally retracted intact FDL. An aluminum splint was applied on the plantar aspect to immobilize the tarsal joint for the first 2 weeks, after which a soft bandage was applied for another 2 weeks.ResultsAt the 7 month follow‐up no lameness was detected during walking and no complications associated with decreased FDL function such as digital contracture were observed. The range of motion of the tarsal joint had improved and could be flexed to ∼60° and extended fully.ConclusionUse of the FDL is feasible for augmenting Achilles tendon repair in toy breed dogs.
Combining magnesium ammonium phosphate precipitation with membrane processes for ammonia removal from methanogenic leachates
Authors: Ramaswami Sreenivasan , Behrendt Joachim , Wang Ge , Eggers Susanne , Otterpohl Ralf 
Published: October 2016

AbstractChemical precipitation of ammonia as magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) from methanogenic leachates can be a competitive alternative to biological ammonia removal. Potential for trading of the precipitate as a fertiliser defines the economics of the process. The precipitate from a landfill leachate often containing organics and heavy metals as impurities with unknown risks limits its possibility for agricultural use. This study combines MAP precipitation with membrane processes and investigates the influence of wastewater matrix, solution pH and dosage ratio of chemicals (Mg2+ :
) on the precipitate purity through lab scale semibatch experiments. Under similar experimental conditions (pH 8.5 and 1 : 1 Mg2+ :
molar dosage), the precipitates from raw leachate and nanofiltration (NF) permeate showed MAP contents of 65 and 90%, respectively, correspondingly with about 8300 and 1600 mg TOC/kgprecipitate. For precipitation from NF permeate, precipitation at pH 8.0 with 1 : 1 dosage ratio and pH 8.5 with 1 : 0.9 dosage ratio gave precipitates each with about 97% purity.
New insights into the elucidation of angiotensin‐(1–7) in vivo antiarrhythmic effects and its related cellular mechanisms
Authors: Joviano‐Santos Julliane Vasconcelos , Santos‐Miranda Artur , Joca Humberto Cavalcante , Cruz Jader Santos , Ferreira Anderson José 
Published: October 2016

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Recently, there have been many studies exploring the biological effects of angiotensin‐(1–7), which has been proved to have cardioprotective actions. However, the effects of this peptide on cardiac arrhythmias in vivo and details regarding its mechanism of action are still undetermined.
What is the main finding and its importance?
We investigated protective effects of angiotensin‐(1–7) on cardiac arrhythmias in vivo, which were not properly explored in terms of cellular mechanisms. To verify effects of angiotensin‐(1–7), we used different but complementary experimental approaches. Our data provide new evidence on the cellular mechanism and an in vivo demonstration of the acute antiarrhythmic effect of angiotensin‐(1–7).
Angiotensin‐(1–7) [Ang‐(1–7)] has been proved to have cardioprotective effects. However, the effects of this peptide on cardiac arrhythmias in vivo and details regarding its mechanism of action are still undetermined. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Ang‐(1–7) against cardiac arrhythmias, its in vivo effects and cellular mechanism of action. We analysed the ECG upon inducement of arrhythmias in vivo in rats using a combination of halothane and adrenaline. To analyse the effects of Ang‐(1–7) on cells, fresh mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated. The cardiomyocytes were superfused with a solution containing halothane and isoprenaline as a model to induce arrhythmias and used in three different approaches, namely a contractility assay, patch‐clamp technique and confocal microscopy. The in vivo ECG showed that the injection of Ang‐(1–7) (4 nm i.v.) significantly reduced cardiac arrhythmias [before, 49 ± 43 arrhythmic events versus after Ang‐(1–7), 16 ± 14 arrhythmic events]. This effect was blocked by injection of A‐779 and l‐NAME, without changes in haemodynamic parameters. In addition, contractility experiments showed that Ang‐(1–7) significantly decreased the number of arrhythmic events without changing the fractional shortening. This protection was associated with a reduction of the action potential repolarization and membrane hyperpolarization. Moreover, Ang‐(1–7) decreased the number of calcium waves without any changes in the amplitude of the calcium transient, despite a significant reduction in the decay rate. Our data provide new evidence on the cellular mechanism together with an in vivo demonstration of the antiarrhythmic effects of Ang‐(1–7).
Synaptic vesicle pool‐specific modification of neurotransmitter release by intravesicular free radical generation
Authors: Afuwape Olusoji A. T. , Wasser Catherine R. , Schikorski Thomas , Kavalali Ege T. 
Published: October 2016

Key points
Synaptic transmission is mediated by the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles in response to stimulation or through the spontaneous fusion of a synaptic vesicle with the presynaptic plasma membrane.
There is growing evidence that synaptic vesicles undergoing spontaneous fusion versus those fusing in response to stimuli are functionally distinct.
In this study, we acutely probe the effects of intravesicular free radical generation on synaptic vesicles that fuse spontaneously or in response to stimuli.
By targeting vesicles that preferentially release spontaneously, we can dissociate the effects of intravesicular free radical generation on spontaneous neurotransmission from evoked neurotransmission and vice versa.
Taken together, these results further advance our knowledge of the synapse and the nature of the different synaptic vesicle pools mediating neurotransmission.
AbstractEarlier studies suggest that spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release processes are maintained by synaptic vesicles which are segregated into functionally distinct pools. However, direct interrogation of the link between this putative synaptic vesicle pool heterogeneity and neurotransmission has been difficult. To examine this link, we tagged vesicles with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) – a haem‐containing plant enzyme – or antibodies against synaptotagmin‐1 (syt1). Filling recycling vesicles in hippocampal neurons with HRP and subsequent treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) modified the properties of neurotransmitter release depending on the route of HRP uptake. While strong depolarization‐induced uptake of HRP suppressed evoked release and augmented spontaneous release, HRP uptake during mild activity selectively impaired evoked release, whereas HRP uptake at rest solely potentiated spontaneous release. Expression of a luminal HRP‐tagged syt1 construct and subsequent H2O2 application resulted in a similar increase in spontaneous release and suppression as well as desynchronization of evoked release, recapitulating the canonical syt1 loss‐of‐function phenotype. An antibody targeting the luminal domain of syt1, on the other hand, showed that augmentation of spontaneous release and suppression of evoked release phenotypes are dissociable depending on whether the antibody uptake occurred at rest or during depolarization. Taken together, these findings indicate that vesicles that maintain spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release preserve their identity during recycling and syt1 function in suppression of spontaneous neurotransmission can be acutely dissociated from syt1 function to synchronize synaptic vesicle exocytosis upon stimulation.
Vestibular feedback maintains reaching accuracy during body movement
Authors: Smith Craig P. , Reynolds Raymond F. 
Published: October 2016

Key points
Reaching movements can be perturbed by vestibular input, but the function of this response is unclear.
Here, we applied galvanic vestibular stimulation concurrently with real body movement while subjects maintained arm position either fixed in space or fixed with respect to their body.
During the fixed‐in‐space conditions, galvanic vestibular stimulation caused large changes in arm trajectory consistent with a compensatory response to maintain upper‐limb accuracy in the face of body movement.
Galvanic vestibular stimulation responses were absent during the body‐fixed task, demonstrating task dependency in vestibular control of the upper limb.
The results suggest that the function of vestibular‐evoked arm movements is to maintain the accuracy of the upper limb during unpredictable body movement, but only when reaching in an earth‐fixed reference frame.
AbstractWhen using our arms to interact with the world, unintended body motion can introduce movement error. A mechanism that could detect and compensate for such motion would be beneficial. Observations of arm movements evoked by vestibular stimulation provide some support for this mechanism. However, the physiological function underlying these artificially evoked movements is unclear from previous research. For such a mechanism to be functional, it should operate only when the arm is being controlled in an earth‐fixed rather than a body‐fixed reference frame. In the latter case, compensation would be unnecessary and even deleterious. To test this hypothesis, subjects were gently rotated in a chair while being asked to maintain their outstretched arm pointing towards either earth‐fixed or body‐fixed memorized targets. Galvanic vestibular stimulation was applied concurrently during rotation to isolate the influence of vestibular input, uncontaminated by inertial factors. During the earth‐fixed task, galvanic vestibular stimulation produced large polarity‐dependent corrections in arm position. These corrections mimicked those evoked when chair velocity was altered without any galvanic vestibular stimulation, indicating a compensatory arm response to a sensation of altered body motion. In stark contrast, corrections were completely absent during the body‐fixed task, despite the same chair movement profile and arm posture. These effects persisted when we controlled for differences in limb kinematics between the two tasks. Our results demonstrate that vestibular control of the upper limb maintains reaching accuracy during unpredictable body motion. The observation that such responses occurred only when reaching within an earth‐fixed reference frame confirms the functional nature of vestibular‐evoked arm movement.
Metastable Liquid Cavitation Control (With Memory) Apparatus, Methodology, and Results: For Radiation Detection, Reactor Safety, and Other Industrial Applications
Authors: Taleyarkhan Rusi P. , Webster Jeffrey A. , Sansone Anthony , Archambault Brian C. , Reames Randall , West Colin D. 
Published: October 2016

We present a method to simultaneously pressurize fluid filled containers from outside and within, results of experiments with temporary 2 h of fluid precompression followed by overpressure removal before testing for cavitation strength and sensitivity to neutron radiation of multi-mL quantities of widely used unfiltered and undegassed liquids, such as water, ethanol, and dodecane (a surrogate jet fuel), enclosed within containers using glass, epoxy, and steel. We found that in contrast to prior methods involving laborious degassing and purification, a straightforward one-step approach using only a modest 2 h precompression treatment at a pressure of 0.7+ MPa enabled us, reproducibly, to reach directly the highest attainable “negative” (subvacuum) pressures attainable in our apparatus (−0.7  MPa)—enabling efficient sensitivity to neutron-type radiation. Cavitation strength results are explained on theoretical grounds. However, surprisingly using the technique of this paper, the 2-h precompressed (unfiltered, undegassed) fluid also retained memory of this property, after the overpressure was removed, even 3 months later—thereby suggesting that active cavitation nuclei suppression can be extended to long periods of time. Successful results for cavitation suppression (in the absence of ionizing radiation) through −0.7  MPa were also attainable for fluids in simultaneous contact with a combination of glass, steel, and epoxy surfaces. The relative importance of cavitation strength retention at liquid–wall interfaces versus within the bulk of the fluids is reported along with implications for high-efficiency nuclear particle detection and spectroscopy, and nuclear fission water reactor safety thermal-hydraulic assessments for blowdown transients.
Effects of Plyometric Versus Concentric and Eccentric Conditioning Contractions on Upper-Body Postactivation Potentiation
Authors: Ulrich Gert , Parstorfer Mario 
Published: October 2016

Purpose:There are limited data on postactivation potentiation’s (PAP) effects after plyometric conditioning contractions (CCs), especially in the upper body. This study compared plyometric CCs with concentric-eccentric and eccentric CCs aiming to improve upper-body power performance due to a PAP effect.Methods:Sixteen resistance-trained males completed 3 experimental trials in a randomized order that comprised either a plyometric (PLY), a concentric-eccentric (CON), or an eccentric-only (ECC) CC. Maximal muscle performance, as determined by a ballistic bench-press throw, was measured before (baseline) and 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 min after each CC.Results:Compared with baseline, bench-press power was significantly enhanced only in CON (P = .046, ES = 0.21) after 8 min of recovery. However, the results obtained from the comparisons between baseline power performance and the individual best power performance for each subject after each CC stimulus showed significant increases in PLY (P < .001, ES = 0.31) and CON (P < .001, ES = 0.38). There was no significant improvement in ECC (P = .106, ES = 0.11).Conclusions:The results indicate that only CON CCs generated increases in bench-press power after 8 min of rest. However, considering an individual rest interval, PLY CCs led to an enhanced power performance in the bench-press exercise, and this increase was comparable to that induced by CON CCs. Due to the easy practical application before a competition, PLY CCs might be an interesting part of warm-up strategies aiming to improve upper-body power performance by reason of PAP.
Day-to-Day Heart-Rate Variability Recordings in World-Champion Rowers: Appreciating Unique Athlete Characteristics
Authors: Plews Daniel J. , Laursen Paul B. , Buchheit Martin 
Published: October 2016

Purpose:Heart-rate variability (HRV) is a popular tool for monitoring autonomic nervous system status and training adaptation in athletes. It is believed that increases in HRV indicate effective training adaptation, but these are not always apparent in elite athletes.Methods:Resting HRV was recorded in 4 elite rowers (rowers A, B, C, and D) over the 7-wk period before their success at the 2015 World Rowing Championships. The natural logarithm of the square root of the mean sum of the squared differences (Ln rMSSD) between R–R intervals, Ln rMSSD:R-R ratio trends, and the Ln-rMSSD–to–R-R-interval relationship were assessed for each championship-winning rower.Results:The time course of change in Ln rMSSD was athlete-dependent, with stagnation and decreases apparent. However, there were consistent substantial reductions in the Ln rMSSD:R-R ratio: rower A, baseline toward wk 5 (–2.35 ± 1.94); rower B, baseline to wk 4 and 5 (–0.41 ± 0.48 and –0.64 ± 0.65, respectively); rower C, baseline to wk 4 (–0.58 ± 0.66); and rower D, baseline to wk 4, 5, and 6 (–1.15 ± 0.91, –0.81 ± 0.74, and –1.43 ± 0.69, respectively).Conclusions:Reductions in Ln rMSSD concurrent with reductions in the Ln rMSSD:R-R ratio are indicative of parasympathetic saturation. Consequently, 3 of 4 rowers displayed substantial increases in parasympathetic activity despite having decreases in Ln rMSSD. These results confirm that a combination of indices should be used to monitor cardiac autonomic activity.
Evaluation of the Abbott RealTi
m
e MTB and RealTi
m
e MTB INH/RIF Assays for Direct Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex and Resistance Markers in Respiratory and Extrapulmonary Specimens
Authors: Hofmann-Thiel Sabine , Molodtsov Nikolay , Antonenka Uladzimir , Hoffmann Harald 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACT

The Abbott RealTi
m
e MTB (RT MTB) assay is a new automated nucleic acid amplification test for the detection of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex (MTBC) in clinical specimens. In combination with the RealTi
m
e MTB INH/RIF (RT MTB INH/RIF) resistance assay, which can be applied to RT MTB-positive specimens as an add-on assay, the tests also indicate the genetic markers of resistance to isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF). We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of RT MTB using different types of respiratory and extrapulmonary specimens and to compare performance characteristics directly with those of the FluoroType MTB assay. The resistance results obtained by RT MTB INH/RIF were compared to those from the GenoType MTBDR
plus
and from phenotypic drug susceptibility testing. A total of 715 clinical specimens were analyzed. Compared to culture, the overall sensitivity of RT MTB was 92.1%; the sensitivity rates for smear-positive and smear-negative samples were 100% and 76.2%, respectively. The sensitivities of smear-negative specimens were almost identical for respiratory (76.3%) and extrapulmonary (76%) specimens. Specificity rates were 100% and 95.8% for culture-negative specimens and those that grew nontuberculous mycobacteria, respectively. RT MTB INH/RIF was applied to 233 RT MTB-positive samples and identified resistance markers in 7.7% of samples. Agreement with phenotypic and genotypic drug susceptibility testing was 99.5%. In conclusion, RT MTB and RT MTB INH/RIF allow for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in different types of specimens and reliably indicate resistance markers. The strengths of this system are the comparably high sensitivity with paucibacillary specimens, its ability to detect INH and RIF resistance, and its high-throughput capacities.