bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antihypertensive Medication Use in Older Patients Transitioning from Chronic Kidney Disease to End-Stage Renal Disease on Dialysis
Authors: Chang Tara I. , Zheng Yuanchao , Montez-Rath Maria E. , Winkelmayer Wolfgang C. 
Published: June 2016

Background and objectives
The transition from CKD to ESRD can be particularly unstable, with high rates of death and hospitalizations. Few studies have examined medication use during this critical period. We examined patterns of antihypertensive medication use from the four quarters before and eight quarters after incident ESRD treated with maintenance dialysis.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
We used the US Renal Data System to identify patients aged ≥67 years initiating dialysis for ESRD between January 2008 and December 2010 with Medicare Part D and a low-income subsidy. We ascertained the incidence of AKI and hyperkalemia during each quarter on the basis of having at least 1 payment claim for the condition. We used Poisson regression with robust SEMs to formally test for changes in the trend and level of antihypertensive medication use in a series of intervention analyses.

Results
The number of antihypertensive drugs used increased as patients neared ESRD, peaking at an average of 3.4 in the quarter immediately preceding dialysis initiation, then declining to 2.2 medications by 2 years later. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker use was stable at approximately 40%, even among patients with coronary disease and systolic heart failure, and did not correlate with AKI or hyperkalemia. Dialysis initiation was associated with a 40% (95% confidence interval, 38% to 43%) lower adjusted level of diuretic use, which continued to decline after ESRD. Three- and four-drug combinations that included a diuretic were most common before ESRD, whereas after ESRD, one- and two-drug β-blocker or calcium-channel blocker–based combinations were most common.

Conclusions
The use of antihypertensive medications, particularly angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blockers and diuretics, may be suboptimal during the transition from CKD to ESRD, especially in patients with coronary disease or systolic heart failure. Future studies are needed to identify strategies to increase the appropriate use of antihypertensive medications during this critical transition period.
Nature, Science, and Politics in the Anthropocene
Authors: Heatherington Tracey 
Published: June 2016

Wapner, Paul. 2010. Living Through the End of Nature: The Future of American Environmentalism. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.Zehner, Ozzie. 2012. Green Illusions: The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
The Introduction of Historical and Cultural Values in the Sustainable Management of European Forests
Authors: Agnoletti Mauro 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
Document produced for the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forest in Europe by Mauro Agnoletti, Steven Anderson, Elisabeth Johann, Mart Kulvik, Andrey Kushlin, Peter Mayer, Cristina Montiel Molina, John Parrotta, Ian D. Rotherham, Eirini Saratsi
Species‐rich and polyploid‐poor: Insights into the evolutionary role of whole‐genome duplication from the Cape flora biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Oberlander Kenneth C. , Dreyer Léanne L. , Goldblatt Peter , Suda Jan , Linder H. Peter 
Published: June 2016

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:Whole‐genome duplication (WGD) in angiosperms has been hypothesized to be advantageous in unstable environments and/or to increase diversification rates, leading to radiations. Under the first hypothesis, floras in stable environments are predicted to have lower proportions of polyploids than highly, recently disturbed floras, whereas species‐rich floras would be expected to have higher than expected proportions of polyploids under the second. The South African Cape flora is used to discriminate between these two hypotheses because it features a hyperdiverse flora predominantly generated by a limited number of radiations (Cape clades), against a backdrop of climatic and geological stability.METHODS:We compiled all known chromosome counts for species in 21 clades present in the Cape (1653 species, including 24 Cape clades), inferred ploidy levels for these species by inspection or derived from the primary literature, and compared Cape to non‐Cape ploidy levels in these clades (17,520 species) usingGtests.KEY RESULTS:The Cape flora has anomalously low proportions of polyploids compared with global levels. This pattern is consistently observed across nearly half the clades and across global latitudinal gradients, although individual lineages seem to be following different paths to low levels of WGD and to differing degrees.CONCLUSIONS:This pattern shows that the diversity of the Cape flora is the outcome of primarily diploid radiations and supports the hypothesis that WGD may be rare in stable environments.
ULTRAVIOLET EMISSION LINES OF Si ii IN QUASARS—INVESTIGATING THE “Si ii DISASTER”
Authors: Laha Sibasish , Keenan Francis P. , Ferland Gary J. , Ramsbottom Catherine A. , Aggarwal Kanti M. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACT
The observed line intensity ratios of the Si ii
λ1263 and λ1307 multiplets to that of Si ii
λ1814 in the broad-line region (BLR) of quasars are both an order of magnitude larger than the theoretical values. This was first pointed out by Baldwin et al., who termed it the “Si ii disaster,” and it has remained unresolved. We investigate the problem in the light of newly published atomic data for Si ii. Specifically, we perform BLR calculations using several different atomic data sets within the CLOUDY modeling code under optically thick quasar cloud conditions. In addition, we test for selective pumping by the source photons or intrinsic galactic reddening as possible causes for the discrepancy, and we also consider blending with other species. However, we find that none of the options investigated resolve the Si ii disaster, with the potential exception of microturbulent velocity broadening and line blending. We find that a larger microturbulent velocity (

) may solve the Si ii disaster through continuum pumping and other effects. The CLOUDY models indicate strong blending of the Si ii
λ1307 multiplet with emission lines of O i, although the predicted degree of blending is incompatible with the observed λ1263/λ1307 intensity ratios. Clearly, more work is required on the quasar modeling of not just the Si ii lines but also nearby transitions (in particular those of O i) to fully investigate whether blending may be responsible for the Si ii disaster.
Les trois âges de la pauvreté postcoloniale : intégrée, assistée, contestée
Authors: Roinsard Nicolas 
Published: June 2016

Résumé Cet article décrit et analyse les trois âges historiques et sociologiques de la pauvreté dans les sociétés françaises d’outre-mer : une pauvreté longtemps intégrée dans l’organisation sociale des sociétés de plantation, assistée sous l’effet du déploiement tardif de l’économie de transfert, et plus récemment contestée , au travers de mouvements sociaux qui interrogent les mécanismes de la reproduction sociale en contexte postcolonial.
Changes in Urinary and Serum Levels of Novel Biomarkers after Administration of Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents
Authors: Mawad Habib , Laurin Louis-Philippe , Naud Jean-François , Leblond François A. , Henley Nathalie , Vallée Michel , Pichette Vincent , Leblanc Martine 
Published: June 2016

Objective The aim of our study is to describe the changes in urinary and serum levels of novel biomarkers after gadolinium contrast administration in patients with normal renal function. Methods We measured four biomarkers in 28 volunteers: interleukin-18 (IL-18), N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and cystatin C. Urinary and serum samples were collected at 0, 3, and 24 hours following gadolinium administration. Results Baseline serum creatinine was 57.8 ± 34.5 μmol/L and remained stable. Urinary IL-18 levels increased significantly at three hours (10.7 vs. 7.3 ng/mg creatinine; P < 0.05). Similarly, urinary NAG levels increased significantly at three hours (3.9 vs. 2.2 IU/mg creatinine; P < 0.001). For both these markers, the difference was no longer significant at 24 hours. No statistically significant differences were observed for urinary and serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels and for serum cystatin C levels. Conclusions Urinary IL-18 and NAG levels increased transiently after administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents in patients with normal renal function.
Monetary Policy and Output Growth Forecasting in a SVAR Perspective
Authors: Kutu Adebayo Augustine , Akinola Gbenga Wilfred , Nzimande Ntokozo Patrick 
Published: June 2016

<p>This paper presents a short-term forecasting model of monthly South African macroeconomic variables to estimate the effects of monetary policy on output growth from a Structural Vector Autoregression perspective. A set of forecasting experimentations are carried out to evaluate the out-of-sample static and dynamic forecast for the post-apartheid period. We carried out a combined forecast in order to compare the static with dynamic forecasting approach for improving output growth. The findings reveal that money supply is observed to exert a significant positive impact on output growth from about the eighth month. In addition, the dynamic forecasting is observed to have a more robust result and outperforms the static forecasting. It clearly brings out the growth patterns (increase and decrease) and can be justified and recommended to policymakers in calculating or in predicting the outcome of monetary policy actions for future development. However, in order to improve the predictive forecasting accuracy, the study recommends combined forecasting as dynamic forecasting is associated with risk and uncertainty that is central to its prediction and expected reliability.</p>
La Convention de Faro en perspective : analyse éthique du patrimoine culturel pour la société au Kosovo
Authors: Brianso Isabelle 
Published: June 2016

Cet article tente d’analyser les enjeux éthiques, politiques et interculturels du patrimoine culturel européen pour la société au prisme de la Convention-cadre sur la valeur du patrimoine culturel pour la société (2005) dite « Convention de Faro ». Ce texte normatif du Conseil de l’Europe (CoE), innovant et original, prône un dessein politique et sociétal ancré dans une démocratie participative en faveur d’un patrimoine commun de l’Europe. La « Convention de Faro » s’inscrit donc en tant que réponse sociale et patrimoniale pour la société civile (communautés patrimoniales) par l’émergence de nouveaux modèles de gouvernance locale dans le respect d’un dialogue entre les nations membres et celles candidates à l’entrée dans l’Union européenne (Balkans). L’espace européen est confronté à des défis majeurs (environnement, patrimoine, société, crises) devant conduire les citoyens à une responsabilité individuelle et collective à l’égard du patrimoine fondée sur les principes démocratiques issus des droits de l’Homme. Enfin, nous analysons trois concepts fondateurs de deux textes normatifs majeurs (CoE, UNESCO) afin de comprendre les nouvelles modalités de l’enquête (terrain, méthodes) et la circulation des savoirs entre institutions pionnières en matière patrimoniale et les acteurs du territoire (top-down). L’étude sémantique de ces textes nous permettra d’appréhender les enjeux interculturels appliqués à un espace urbain et patrimonial au Kosovo (observatoire) et de mesurer en quoi il constitue un défi local de portée européenne.
Reciproc vs. hand instrumentation in dental practice: a study in routine care
Authors: Bartols Andreas , Reutter Claudius A. , Robra Bernt-Peter , Walther Winfried 
Published: June 2016

Background.Little is known about the clinical impact of new root canal preparation systems in general dental practice under routine care conditions. Therefore, we compared hand instrumentation (H) with Reciproc (R) (VDW, Munich, Germany) preparation. The outcomes were endodontic related pain and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL), evaluation of the procedures by the patients and the strain felt by the dentists during root canal therapy.Methods. Six dentists participated in the trial as practitioner–investigators. In the first phase of the trial they prepared root canals with H and in the second phase with R. The patients documented their pain felt with a visual analogue scale (VAS 100) and OHRQoL with the German short version of the oral health impact profile (OHIP-G-14) before treatment and before the completion of therapy and answered questions about how they experienced the treatment. The dentists documented their physical strain during treatment.Results.A total of 137 patients were included in the evaluation. 66 patients were treated with H, 71 with R. Pain reduction was 32.6 (SD 32.9) VAS (H) vs. 29.4 (SD 26.9) VAS (R) (p= 0.550), and the improvement of the OHIP-14 score was 5.5 (SD 9.2) (H) vs. 6.7 (SD 7.4) (R) (p= 0.383). There were no statistical differences in both groups. Significantly fewer patients felt stressed by the duration of treatment with R as with H (p= 0.018). Significantly more dentists reported that their general physical strain and the strain on their fingers were less severe with R than with H (p= 0.013 andp< 0.001).Discussion.H as well as R effectively reduced endodontic related pain and OHRQoL without statistical differences. R has advantages in terms of how patients experience the treatment and regarding the physical strain felt by the dentists.
Carotid‐Ventricular Coupling During Exercise
Authors: Bianchini Elisabetta , Bruno Rosa Maria , Pitino Annalisa , Di Lascio Nicole , Petersen Christina , Molinaro Sabrina , Faita Francesco , Gemignani Vincenzo , Ghiadoni Lorenzo , Sicari Rosa 
Published: June 2016

ObjectivesTo evaluate carotid elasticity and left ventricular elastance during a graded bicycle semisupine exercise test in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease and compare them with a control group of healthy young volunteers.MethodsThirty‐six elderly patients and 18 young healthy volunteers were recruited. The right carotid diameter was estimated by an automatic system applied to B‐mode sonographic sequences, central mean blood and pulse pressures by radial artery tonometry, and cardiac volumes by 2‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography; from these direct measurements, the carotid cross‐sectional distensibility coefficient and left ventricular elastance index were obtained. Analyses were performed at rest, at peak stress, and during the recovery phase.ResultsThe elderly patients included 20 men (mean age ± SD, 61 ± 8 years); the volunteers included 9 men (mean age, 34 ± 3 years). The mean blood pressure (at rest: patients, 97 ± 7 mm Hg; controls, 93 ± 9 mm Hg; not significant) increased similarly in both groups during exercise and decreased during the recovery phase. The diameter was higher in patients than controls (7.5 ± 1.1 versus 6.2 ± 0.5 mm) and increased significantly with exercise only in the latter group (at peak: 6.5 ± 0.6 mm; P < .05). The distensibility coefficient and elastance index were lower in patients than controls during the test phases [at rest: 24.5 ± 10.2 versus 60.8 ± 21.3 × 10−3/kPa and 3.6 ± 1.4 versus 1.6 ± 0.8 mm Hg/(mL/m2)] and mostly changed in the controls, showing a decreased distensibility coefficient (peak: 40.6 ± 15.1 × 10−3/kPa) and an increased elastance index [peak: 5.9 ± 2.8 mm Hg/(mL/m2)].ConclusionsIn older patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors or established coronary artery disease, an abnormal carotid‐ventricular adaptation to exercise was observed when compared to young healthy individuals.
Ultrasound Quality Assurance for Singletons in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies
Authors: Hediger Mary L. , Fuchs Karin M. , Grantz Katherine L. , Grewal Jagteshwar , Kim Sungduk , Gore-Langton Robert E. , Buck Louis Germaine M. , D'Alton Mary E. , Albert Paul S. 
Published: June 2016

ObjectivesTo report on the ultrasound quality assurance program for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies and describe both its advantages and generalizability.MethodsAfter training on an ultrasound system and software, research sonographers were expected to capture blank (unmeasured) images in triplicate for crown‐rump length, biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length. A primary expert sonographer was designated and validated. A 5% sample (n = 740 of 14,785 scans) was randomly selected in 3 distinct rounds from within strata of maternal body mass index (round 1 only), gestational age, and research site. Unmeasured images were extracted from selected scans and measured with the ultrasound software by an expert sonographer. Correlations and coefficients of variation (CVs) were calculated, and the within‐measurement standard deviation (ie, technical error of the measurement), was calculated.ResultsThe reliability between the site sonographers and the expert was high, with correlations exceeding 0.99 for all dimensions in all rounds. The CV % values showed low variability, with the percentage differences being less than 2%, except for abdominal circumference in rounds 2 and 3, in which it averaged about 3%. Correlations remained high (>0.90) with increasing fetal size; there was a monotonic increase in technical errors of the measurement but without a corresponding increase in the CV %.ConclusionsUsing rigorous procedures for training sonographers, coupled with quality assurance oversight, we determined that the measurements acquired longitudinally for singletons are both accurate and reliable for establishment of an ultrasound standard for fetal growth.
Priapism and renal colic in a patient treated with duloxetine
Authors: Wilkening G. Lucy , Kucherer Shelly A. , Douaihy Antoine B. 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
Antidepressant medications are associated with a variety of genitourinary and adverse sexual effects, such as urinary hesitation, priapism, and delayed ejaculation. Here, we report a case of priapism and renal colic following initiation of duloxetine in a patient with history of tolerated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of priapism and renal colic associated with duloxetine use. This case contributes to the current body of evidence describing adverse genitourinary and sexual effects associated with antidepressant medications.
Drug-induced cognitive impairment: Effect of cardiovascular agents
Authors: Marvanova Marketa 
Published: June 2016

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular agents can be associated with a negative effect on cognition, especially in older adults, critically ill people, and those with baseline cognitive impairment. Negative effect on cognition is commonly reported as uncomplicated acute confusion and delirium and, less commonly, chronic cognitive changes due to drug-induced depression and/or dementia.

Methods: A literature review of case reports, case series, prospective cohort studies, clinical trials, and literature reviews were included in this study. Articles were located using online databases PubMed and Medline using the following keywords: antiarrhythmic agents, anticholinergic burden, antihypertensive agents, beta-blockers, cardiovascular agents, cognitive impairment, delirium, cognition, dementia, depression, digoxin, diuretics, and drug-induced cognitive impairment.

Results: In general, use of all antihypertensives, especially in the case of polypharmacy or inappropriate dosing, can lead to hypotension and/or bradycardia, and thus lead to mental/cognitive status change due to decreased cerebral perfusion. Use of diuretics can be associated with fluid/electrolyte and/or acid-base imbalance, resulting in the onset of confusion and delirium. In addition, cardiovascular agents with central bioavailability, such digoxin and select antiarrhythmics, and antihypertensives may carry a risk for cognitive impairment due to various mechanisms proposed, such as antagonism of central muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, neurotransmission imbalance in the brain, and disruption of physiologic function of sodium/potassium ATPase in the neuronal cells.

Discussion: When dealing with an individual who presents with acute, subacute, and chronic changes in cognitive function, one should perform a thorough medication history as the first step in order to aid in the identification of drug-induced cognitive impairment.
Biofilm effect on soil hydraulic properties: Experimental investigation using soil‐grown real biofilm
Authors: Volk Elazar , Iden Sascha C. , Furman Alex , Durner Wolfgang , Rosenzweig Ravid 
Published: June 2016

AbstractUnderstanding the influence of attached microbial biomass on water flow in variably saturated soils is crucial for many engineered flow systems. So far, the investigation of the effects of microbial biomass has been mainly limited to water‐saturated systems. We have assessed the influence of biofilms on the soil hydraulic properties under variably saturated conditions. A sandy soil was incubated with Pseudomonas Putida and the hydraulic properties of the incubated soil were determined by a combination of methods. Our results show a stronger soil water retention in the inoculated soil as compared to the control. The increase in volumetric water content reaches approximately 0.015 cm3 cm−3 but is only moderately correlated with the carbon deficit, a proxy for biofilm quantity, and less with the cell viable counts. The presence of biofilm reduced the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil by up to one order of magnitude. Under unsaturated conditions, the hydraulic conductivity was only reduced by a factor of four. This means that relative water conductance in biofilm‐affected soils is higher compared to the clean soil at low water contents, and that the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity curve of biofilm‐affected soil cannot be predicted by simply scaling the saturated hydraulic conductivity. A flexible parameterization of the soil hydraulic functions accounting for capillary and noncapillary flow was needed to adequately describe the observed properties over the entire wetness range. More research is needed to address the exact flow mechanisms in biofilm‐affected, unsaturated soil and how they are related to effective system properties.
Fabrication of Chiral‐Selective Nanotubular Heterojunctions through Living Supramolecular Polymerization
Authors: Ma Xiaojie , Zhang Yibin , Zhang Yifan , Liu Yin , Che Yanke , Zhao Jincai 
Published: June 2016

AbstractNovel, chiral‐selective linear nanotubular heterojunctions were achieved by living supramolecular polymerization of perylenediimide (PDI) derivatives. We demonstrate that the chiral seed can effectively bias achiral PDI molecules to polymerize on its ends in the identical helical sense. More interestingly, the chiral seed can bias the opposite enantiomers to grow expitaxially from its ends even in excess amounts relative to the seed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the biasing effect of the chiral seed on the opposite enantiomer is not dependent on the length of the chiral seed but is related to the intrinsic length of the elongated nanotube from the opposite enantiomer. The fabrication of chiral‐selective nanotubes was achieved by application of the unique biasing effect of the chiral seed in living supramolecular self‐assembly.