bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Microfluidic Platform for the Characterisation of CNS Active Compounds
Authors: MacKerron Christopher , Robertson Graham , Zagnoni Michele , Bushell Trevor J. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractNew in vitro technologies that assess neuronal excitability and the derived synaptic activity within a controlled microenvironment would be beneficial for the characterisation of compounds proposed to affect central nervous system (CNS) function. Here, a microfluidic system with computer controlled compound perfusion is presented that offers a novel methodology for the pharmacological profiling of CNS acting compounds based on calcium imaging readouts. Using this system, multiple applications of the excitatory amino acid glutamate (10 nM–1 mM) elicited reproducible and reversible transient increases in intracellular calcium, allowing the generation of a concentration response curve. In addition, the system allows pharmacological investigations to be performed as evidenced by application of glutamatergic receptor antagonists, reversibly inhibiting glutamate-induced increases in intracellular calcium. Importantly, repeated glutamate applications elicited significant increases in the synaptically driven activation of the adjacent, environmentally isolated neuronal network. Therefore, the proposed new methodology will enable neuropharmacological analysis of CNS active compounds whilst simultaneously determining their effect on synaptic connectivity.
A continuous 13.3-ka record of seismogenic dust events in lacustrine sediments in the eastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Jiang Hanchao , Zhong Ning , Li Yanhao , Ma Xiaolin , Xu Hongyan , Shi Wei , Zhang Siqi , Nie Gaozhong 
Published: November 2017

AbstractLacustrine sediments on the eastern Tibetan Plateau (TP) contain a wealth of information on local and regional tectonic activity. High-resolution grain-size and magnetic susceptibility measurements were conducted on the 23.4-m-thick Lixian lacustrine sedimentary sequence spanning from 19.3 to 6.0 ka, revealing 70 prehistoric seismic events on the eastern TP. The seismic events caused intermittent increases in source materials that endowed the samples of an individual event layer with a gradual fining trend along the C = M line on a C (one percentile)-M (median diameter) plot. Grain-size distribution and end-member modeling imply that dust particles of <20 μm in size were transported primarily by long-term suspension, while medium to coarse silt and sand were transported primarily by short-term suspension, such as aeolian transport constrained by local topography. Provenance analysis based on U-Pb zircon ages indicates that dust particles generated by earthquakes at Lixian had no effect on dust deposition at Xinmocun and Diaolin, and vice versa. These prehistoric seismic events, revealed by variations in grain size and magnetic susceptibility, thus provide invaluable information on the long-term behavior of local seismic activity.
Microbial communities in the native habitats of Agaricus sinodeliciosus from Xinjiang Province revealed by amplicon sequencing
Authors: Zhou Jiemin , Bai Xuming , Zhao Ruilin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAgaricus sinodeliciosus is an edible species described from China and has been successfully cultivated. However, no studies have yet reported the influence factors implicated in the process of fructification. To better know abiotic and biotic factors, physiochemical characteristics and microbial communities were investigated in five different soil samples collected in the native habitats of specimens from northern Xinjiang, southern Xinjiang, and Zhejiang Province, respectively. There are major differences in texture and morphology among different specimens of A. sinodeliciosus from Xinjiang Province. A. sinodeliciosus from southern Xinjiang was the largest. Concentrations of DOC and TN and C/N ratio are not the main reason for the differences. Microbial communities were analyzed to find out mushroom growth promoting microbes (MGPM), which may lead to the differences. Functional microbes were picked out and can be divided into two categories. Microbes in the first category may belong to MGPM. There may be symbiotic relationships between microbes in the second category and A. sinodeliciosus. Certain analyses of microbial communities support the hypothesis that interactions between microbes and mushrooms would be implicated in morphological variation of the collected mushrooms. Redundancy analysis results indicate that high DOC/NH4+-N ratio and NH4+-N concentration can improve the yield of A. sinodeliciosus.
Computational Investigation of Homologous Recombination DNA Repair Deficiency in Sporadic Breast Cancer
Authors: Wang Yue , Ung Matthew H. , Cantor Sharon , Cheng Chao 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBRCAness has important implications in the management and treatment of patients with breast and ovarian cancer. In this study, we propose a computational framework to measure the BRCAness of breast and ovarian tumor samples based on their gene expression profiles. We define a characteristic profile for BRCAness by comparing gene expression differences between BRCA1/2 mutant familial tumors and sporadic breast cancer tumors while adjusting for relevant clinical factors. With this BRCAness profile, our framework calculates sample-specific BRCA scores, which indicates homologous recombination (HR)-mediated DNA repair pathway activity of samples. We found that in sporadic breast cancer high BRCAness score is associated with aberrant copy number of HR genes rather than somatic mutation and other genomic features. Moreover, we observed significant correlations of BRCA score with genome instability and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. More importantly, BRCA score provides significant prognostic value in both breast and ovarian cancers after considering established clinical variables. In summary, the inferred BRCAness from our framework can be used as a robust biomarker for the prediction of prognosis and treatment response in breast and ovarian cancers.
Akzeptanz onlinebasierter Therapieangebote bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit leichten bis mittelgradigen depressiven Störungen
Authors: Dockweiler Christoph , Kupitz Anna , Hornberg Claudia 
Published: November 2017

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund In den vergangenen Jahren lässt sich eine deutliche Zunahme an onlinebasierten Therapieangeboten für Menschen mit depressiven Erkrankungen beobachten. In einer Vielzahl von wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten konnten bereits die Wirksamkeit und Effizienz dieser Programme bestätigt werden. Einen wesentlichen Erfolgsfaktor für eine erfolgreiche Etablierung dieser neuen Versorgungsangebote stellt die Nutzerinnen- und Nutzerakzeptanz dar. Theoriebasierte Akzeptanzanalysen können für eine langfristige Einführung wertvolle Erkenntnisse liefern.
Methoden Im Rahmen einer bundesweiten Onlineerhebung wurden Einstellung und Haltung gegenüber internetgestützten Psychotherapieangeboten bei depressiven Erkrankungen, der aktuelle Wissenstand sowie die Nutzungsintention von 186 Studienteilnehmerinnen und -teilnehmern erfasst. Die Rekrutierung erfolgte über Selbsthilfegruppen für depressive Erkrankungen. Die in die binär logistische Regression einfließenden Determinanten der Nutzungsintention von Onlinetherapie beruhen auf der Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT).
Ergebnisse Fast zwei Drittel der Befragten können sich vorstellen, Onlinetherapieangebote zukünftig zu nutzen. Als signifikant einflussnehmende Prädiktoren auf die Nutzungsintention erwiesen sich die wahrgenommenen Leistungs- und Aufwandserwartungen. Hierzu zählen insbesondere die Bewertung des Einsatzes von E-Mental-Health als Hilfsmittel zur Krankheitsbewältigung, zur Aktivierung und besseren Einschätzung des eigenen Krankheitsverlaufes.
Schlussfolgerungen Ob E-Mental-Health-Angebote langfristig einen Beitrag zur Verbesserung der psychosozialen und psychotherapeutischen Versorgung leisten können, wird, neben technik- und rechtwissenschaftlichen Begutachtungen, ganz maßgeblich von Fragen der Evidenzbasierung und der Nutzerinnen- und Nutzerorientierung innerhalb von Forschung, Entwicklung und Implementation abhängen. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse bieten einen ersten theoriegeleiteten Ansatz im Bemühen um eine stärker nutzerinnen- und nutzerorientierte Technikforschung im Gesundheitswesen, innerhalb der zukünftig weitere Diversitätskriterien berücksichtigt werden müssen.
Aktuelle diagnostische und therapeutische Vorgehensweise bei Hallux-valgus-Deformität – Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Umfrage und Vergleich mit der internationalen Literatur
Authors: Arbab Dariusch , Schneider Lisa-Maria , Schnurr Christoph , Bouillon Bertil , Eysel Peer , König Dietmar 
Published: November 2017

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Die Hallux-valgus-Deformität ist eine der am häufigsten operativ behandelten Erkrankungen in der Fußchirurgie. Trotz zahlreicher wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen und strukturierter Kursprogramme der Fußgesellschaften besteht hinsichtlich diagnostischer und therapeutischer Verfahren keine einheitliche Vorgehensweise. Ziel unserer bundesweiten Umfrage war es, die aktuellen Versorgungsstrategien in Deutschland zu erfassen.
Material und Methoden Mitglieder der beiden Fußgesellschaften, der Deutschen Assoziation Fuß und Sprunggelenk e. V. (D. A. F.) und der Gesellschaft für Fuß- und Sprunggelenkchirurgie e. V. (GFFC) wurden eingeladen, an einer anonymen Umfrage zur Diagnostik und Therapie bei Hallux valgus per Mail teilzunehmen. Der Onlinefragebogen bestand aus 53 Fragen und 3 klinisch-radiologischen Fällen. Es wurden allgemeine Fragen zu Fachrichtung und Tätigkeitsfeld, diagnostischem Vorgehen, Durchführung der Operation und perioperativem Management gestellt. Die Teilnehmer sollten zudem ihr operatives Vorgehen bei 3 klinisch-radiologischen Fällen unterschiedlichen Schweregrads darstellen.
Ergebnisse Insgesamt nahmen 427 Fußchirurgen an der Umfrage teil, davon 247 als Mitglieder der D. A. F. und 267 als Mitglieder der GFFC. 388 Teilnehmer waren in ihren Fachgesellschaften zertifiziert. Hinsichtlich der diagnostischen Vorgehensweise wurden der Anamnese (78%), der prä- und postoperativen Röntgenuntersuchung (100 und 96%) sowie der präoperativen Winkelbestimmung (78%) ein hoher oder sehr hoher Stellenwert beigemessen. Die Verwendung prä- und postoperativer Scores dagegen wurde von weniger als 50% der Befragten durchgeführt. Operativ sind die offenen Verfahren weiterhin der Goldstandard, lediglich 7% der Befragten gaben an, auch minimalinvasive Hallux-valgus-Chirurgie durchzuführen.
Schlussfolgerung Die Versorgungsstrategien bei Hallux-valgus-Deformität zeigen eine große Variabilität, wobei die diagnostischen Standards (Anamnese und Bildgebung) weitgehend angewendet werden. Das therapeutische Vorgehen weist eine große Heterogenität auf. Die Kombination von knöchernen Korrekturen und distalen, periartikulären Weichteileingriffen findet abhängig vom Schweregrad regelhaft ihre Anwendung. Die achskorrigierende Arthrodese des tarsometatarsalen Gelenks scheint bereits bei moderaten Deformitäten häufig Methode der Wahl. Die minimalinvasive Hallux-valgus-Chirurgie wird derzeit nur von einem geringen Anteil der Befragten durchgeführt, welchen Stellenwert diese Techniken in Zukunft erlangen werden bleibt abzuwarten.
Minor groups and fossils.
Authors: Rohde K. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter consists of many sections dealing with a great variety of taxa: Porifera (sponges); Cnidaria and Ctenophora (cnidarians and comb jellies); Mesozoa Orthonectida (orthonectids); Mesozoa Dicyemida (dicyemids); Myzostomida (myzostomids); Polychaeta (bristle worms); Hirudinea (leeches); Cycliophora (wheel wearers); Nemertea (ribbon worms); Rotifera and Seison (rotifers); Nematomorpha (horse-hair worms); Acari (mites and ticks); Pycnogonida (pycnogonids); Insecta (insects); Tardigrada (water bears); Pentastomida (tongue worms); Mollusca (molluscs); Echiura (spoon worms); Echinodermata (echinoderms); Parasitic marine fishes (lampreys, Ceratioidei, cleaner fish mimics, Fangblennies (Plagiotremus spp.), scale feeders, cookiecutters, coral reef and deep-sea browsers, pearlfishes). Some taxa contain few parasites that have been little studied, others contain parasites with well-known and fascinating adaptations to a parasitic way of life. The approach chosen by different authors reflects this diversity: some sections out of necessity contain brief descriptions of morphological characters, others go into great detail in discussing behavioural adaptations, complex life cycles or epidemiological patterns. Parasitism is a very ancient way of life, but few parasite fossils are known because most parasites are small and soft-bodied and do not easily fossilise. Most evidence is indirect, based on galls, cysts and drill holes interpreted as resulting from parasite activity. Nevertheless, some parasites have fossilised, including larval pentastomids and crustaceans. The section on fossil parasites in this chapter covers the literature up to 2003.
Behavioural aspects of parasitism.
Authors: Rohde K. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

The behavioural aspects discussed in this chapter are not unique to marine parasites. Parasites do change the behaviour of their hosts in all environments, and cleaning symbiosis is widespread on land and in fresh water. The ability of some parasites to drastically change a host's behaviour, often leading to behaviour patterns favouring the parasite and ensuring its transmission to other hosts, has been known for some time. It is a fascinating area of research that deserves much greater attention in future work. As pointed out by the authors of this section, numerous examples of host manipulation by parasites remain to be discovered, but the examples already known show that manipulation has the potential to interfere with ecological and evolutionary processes. Research in this area may resolve important issues relating to ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. With regard to cleaning symbiosis, various birds pick off parasites from terrestrial mammals, and there are many freshwater cleaning fish. However, cleaning symbiosis has been best studied in the sea. Reasons are that diversity of cleaning associations that can easily be observed is greatest in the ocean and particularly in tropical seas; and that scuba diving, the method most widely used for studying cleaning behaviour, is best suited to clear subtropical and tropical marine waters. Numerous postgraduate students have, therefore, become involved in these studies, leading to a vast literature on cleaning symbiosis, which is very competently reviewed in this chapter. This section not only discusses current knowledge but also points the way to future studies.
Medical importance.
Authors: Rohde K. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Over 100 species of eukaryotic parasite species have been reported from humans. Some of them are among the most important agents of human disease. However, almost all important species have terrestrial and/or freshwater life cycles. Examples include the malaria parasites, blood flukes and various nematodes, infecting hundreds of millions of people with often fatal consequences. Nevertheless, many marine parasite species have been reported from humans as well, although all of them can complete their life cycle without involvement of humans. They include a few cestodes, many trematodes, some nematodes and many protistans. For most of these, humans are accidental hosts and the typical life cycle is either completed in marine mammals or birds, or they live primarily in fresh water and have only secondarily become marine, or infections are entirely or largely restricted to immunocompromised persons. Among the first group are many larval trematodes, some cestodes and nematodes, among the second group are also many trematode larvae, cestodes and nematodes, and among the third are an ever increasing number of protistans such as apicomplexans and microsporidians. Most important agents of disease are nematodes causing anisakiasis, acquired by eating raw or undercooked marine fish and invertebrates, and the nematode Trichinella acquired by eating undercooked marine mammals such as walrus. Schistosome cercariae may cause a severe dermatitis in marine and brackish waters, lungworms of the genus Angiostrongylus occur mainly in fresh water but may use marine invertebrates as transport hosts and cause severe symptoms and even death in infected persons, and cestodes and trematodes accidentally acquired may occasionally also cause symptoms of varying degrees of severity.
Energy and agriculture at the crossroads of a new future.
Authors: Collins K. J. , Duffield J. A. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter first examines the evolution of today's energy risks, and the challenge of energy risk for US agriculture. It continues with an overview of US agriculture as an energy producer and consumer. Sections discuss: the interaction between agriculture and energy markets; agriculture's response to energy market developments; agriculture's contribution to energy security; and the role of farm and energy policies. The chapter concludes with a brief summary of the major issues discussed at the conference entitled 'Agriculture as a producer and consumer of energy', held on 24-25 June 2004.
Ethanol policies, programmes and production in Canada.
Authors: Klein K. K. , Romain R. , Olar M. , Bergeron N. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter reviews the policies and programmes initiated in Canada to increase production of ethanol, and their progress to date. Fuel ethanol production capacity is examined, as well as the feedstock used, co-products, and ethanol production cost. It is revealed that although biodiesel is likely to become an important alternative fuel in the future, to date, little activity to develop biodiesel has taken place in Canada.
The supply of maize stover in the midwestern United States.
Authors: Nelson R. G. , Walsh M. E. , Sheehan J. J. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter presents a methodology to estimate the supply (quantity at a given price) of maize stover available for producing bioenergy and bioproducts, taking into consideration the need to limit to a tolerable level the soil erosion impacts that result from stover removal. Also discussed are the results of an application of the methodology to estimate stover supply from continuous maize rotation and three tillage practices (conventional, reduced/mulch, and no-till) by soil type for the 10 largest maize producing states in the USA. This analysis indicates that up to 98 million dt of stover (equivalent to 1.37 quads of primary energy or 1.5% of US current use) could be collected at costs less than $35/dt and 35 million dt (0.49 quads) could be collected at costs of less than $20/dt. Farmer premiums, transportation and storage costs are not included and could add an additional $10/dt to $40/dt to the cost of the stover.
Livestock watering with renewable energy systems.
Authors: Clark R. N. , Vick B. D. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter reports on research conducted in the USA (i) to develop wind-powered and solar-PV-powered water pumping systems (for livestock watering) that are reliable, low maintenance and cost competitive compared with current water pumping systems; and (ii) to design a controller that allows the use of standard electric motors and pumps when powered by remote wind or solar systems. Performance data are presented from two wind-electric pumping tests and two solar-PV pumping tests.
Life cycle assessment of integrated biorefinery-cropping systems: all biomass is local.
Authors: Kim S. D. , Dale B. E. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter compares the environmental performance of different cropping systems providing raw materials to an integrated biorefinery. The base case is continuous maize cultivation under no-tillage conditions. The effects of maize stover removal and planting winter cover crops are also included in the analysis. Two biobased products, ethanol and polyhydroxyalkanoates are considered.
The CAP/RDP in the context of EU spatial policy.
Authors: Shucksmith M. , Thomson K. J. , Roberts D. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter assesses the relationship between the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Rural Development Policy (RDP) on the one hand, and the EU spatial policy (as set out in the European Spatial Development Perspective) on the other hand. In particular, it examines: (1) to what extent the objectives and instruments of the CAP and RDP are compatible with the concepts of balanced polycentric urban development and new urban-rural partnerships; (2) to what extent the outcomes of CAP and RDP measures are in conformity with the EU cohesion objectives; (3) to what extent the CAP and RDP instruments support sustainable development, prudent management and protection of nature and cultural heritage; and (4) to what extent EU measures to promote parity of access to infrastructure and knowledge are compatible with the CAP and RDP.
Introduction.
Authors: Oskam A. , Burrell A. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

The study published in this book was completed at the end of November 2004 and examines Turkey's readiness to meet EU requirements in relation to agriculture, food and the rural economy. Information contained in this study constitutes a benchmark against which progress achieved by Turkey's agrifood sector during the pre-accession period can be gauged. The study's objective and research questions, the macroeconomic context, the evidence from other studies, the areas of uncertainty, the approach and structure of the study, and its limits, are discussed in this introductory chapter.
The institutional framework of Turkey and Turkish agriculture.
Authors: Temel T. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter covers institutional developments that have implications for the alignment of Turkish agricultural institutions with those of the EU. The first part of the chapter provides a brief history of the development of the institutional environment of modern Turkey. It describes formal and informal rules relating to political, social and economic development, competition, property rights, and education and science. The next section presents the institutional arrangements in three areas of Turkish agriculture: agricultural resources; agricultural research, technology and innovation; and agricultural markets and trade. The chapter concludes by highlighting potential institutional problems in light of Turkey's future EU accession.
Periphyton and aquatic production: an introduction.
Authors: Azim M. E. , Beveridge M. C. M. , Dam A. A. van , Verdegem M. C. J. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Periphyton community comprises bacteria, fungi, protozoa, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic organisms, organic detritus and a range of other invertebrates and their larvae. This introductory paper discusses the contribution of periphyton to aquatic productivity and the status of world aquaculture in terms of culture systems, production and trends. Three basic ecological processes in aquaculture can be distinguished: production, consumption and decomposition. The role of periphyton in aquaculture ponds and the three basic food webs (phytoplankton-based, periphyton-based and detritus-based) are reviewed, giving more emphasis on the periphyton-based food web. Fishes and crustaceans can also exploit the detritus-based food webs.