bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rocuronium in young adult and elderly patients undergoing elective surgery
Authors: Varrique Renan M , Lauretti Gabriela R , Matsumoto Julia A , Lanchote Vera L , de Moraes Natalia V 
Published: August 2016

Abstract

Objective
To evaluate the impact of advanced age on rocuronium kinetic disposition in ASA I–III patients undergoing elective surgeries.

Methods
Young adult (20–50 years, n = 15) and elderly patients (65–85 years, n = 14) submitted to surgery under general anaesthesia were investigated. All patients were induced with individual intravenous doses of midazolam, rocuronium, fentanyl and propofol. Rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block was monitored by train of four stimulations of the adductor muscle of the thumb on the ulnar nerve. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis. The relationship between rocuronium plasma concentration and the neuromuscular blockade was described by a sigmoidal Emax model.

Key-findings
Elderly patients presented decreased Cl (2.1 ml/kg per min vs 2.8 ml/kg per min; P = 0.0123); increased AUC/dose (507.8 μg min/ml (mg/kg) vs 392.2 μg min/ml/(mg/kg); P = 0.0168) and reduced volume of distribution (285.4 ml/kg vs 435.6 ml/kg, P = 0.0434) compared to young adults. The concentrations required to achieve 50% of maximum neuromuscular block (EC50) were similar for young adult (338.8 ng/ml) and elderly (462.7 ng/ml) patients (P &gt; 0.05).

Conclusions
Elderly patients showed increased AUC/D and reduced total Cl compared to young adult patients due to the age-related reduced renal function. Differences in the PK-PD properties of rocuronium in elderly population are due to changes in drug disposition rather than to alterations in the sensitivity to the drug.
Hepatitis C genotype distribution in patient and blood donor samples in South Africa for the period 2008–2012
Authors: Prabdial‐Sing N. , Chirwa T. , Thaver J. , Smuts H. , Vermeulen M. , Suchard M. , Puren A. J. 
Published: August 2016

SummaryThere are limited molecular epidemiological studies of hepatitis C at a national level in South Africa. The introduction of newer treatment modalities for hepatitis C requires knowledge of the genotypes as these may have different prognostic and therapeutic implications. This retrospective study describes genotype distributions of patients attending specialist clinics and a blood donor group studied during the period 2008–2012 in South Africa. Residual samples from diagnostic viral load testing from specialist clinics in South Africa (n=941) and from the South African National Blood Service (n=294) were analysed quantitatively by real‐time PCR and genotyped using the Versant line probe assay or sequencing. Genotype 1 was predominant in blood donors (34%), whilst genotype 5a was prevalent in patients (36%). In the blood donor group, genotype 4 was detected for the first time. Genotype 2 was rare in the patient group and not detected in blood donors. Genotype 1 was the predominant genotype in the younger age groups (less than 30 years), whereas genotype 5a was found at higher proportions in the older age groups for both the patient and blood donor groups, comprising more than 60% of genotypes in those older than 50 years. Genotypes 1 and 5 were at highest proportions across all provinces compared to other genotypes. In blood donors, genotype 1 was predominant among Caucasians (43%) and genotype 5a among Blacks (54%). Such information is required for planning the impact on the health sector with regard to newly emerging therapies for hepatitis C and burden of disease.
Identification of microbial populations driving biopolymer degradation in acidic peatlands by metatranscriptomic analysis
Authors: Ivanova Anastasia A. , Wegner Carl‐Eric , Kim Yongkyu , Liesack Werner , Dedysh Svetlana N. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractNorthern peatlands play a crucial role in the global carbon balance, serving as a persistent sink for atmospheric CO2 and a global carbon store. Their most extensive type, Sphagnum‐dominated acidic peatlands, is inhabited by microorganisms with poorly understood degradation capabilities. Here, we applied a combination of barcoded pyrosequencing of SSU rRNA genes and Illumina RNA‐Seq of total RNA (metatranscriptomics) to identify microbial populations and enzymes involved in degrading the major components of Sphagnum‐derived litter and exoskeletons of peat‐inhabiting arthropods: cellulose, xylan, pectin and chitin. Biopolymer addition to peat induced a threefold to fivefold increase in bacterial cell numbers. Functional community profiles of assembled mRNA differed between experimental treatments. In particular, pectin and xylan triggered increased transcript abundance of genes involved in energy metabolism and central carbon metabolism, such as glycolysis and TCA cycle. Concurrently, the substrate‐induced activity of bacteria on these two biopolymers stimulated grazing of peat‐inhabiting protozoa. Alveolata (ciliates) was the most responsive protozoa group as confirmed by analysis of both SSU rRNA genes and SSU rRNA. A stimulation of alphaproteobacterial methanotrophs on pectin was consistently shown by rRNA and mRNA data. Most likely, their significant enrichment was due to the utilization of methanol released during the degradation of pectin. Analysis of SSU rRNA and total mRNA revealed a specific response of Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria to chitin and pectin, respectively. Relatives of Telmatobacter bradus were most responsive among the Acidobacteria, while the actinobacterial response was primarily affiliated with Frankiales and Propionibacteriales. The expression of a wide repertoire of carbohydrate‐active enzymes (CAZymes) corresponded well to the detection of a highly diverse peat‐inhabiting microbial community, which is dominated by yet uncultivated bacteria.
Standing chromosomal variation in Lake Whitefish species pairs: the role of historical contingency and relevance for speciation
Authors: Dion‐Côté Anne‐Marie , Symonová Radka , Lamaze Fabien C. , Pelikánová Šárka , Ráb Petr , Bernatchez Louis 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe role of chromosome changes in speciation remains a debated topic, although demographic conditions associated with divergence should promote their appearance. We tested a potential relationship between chromosome changes and speciation by studying two Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) lineages that recently colonized postglacial lakes following allopatry. A dwarf limnetic species evolved repeatedly from the normal benthic species, becoming reproductively isolated. Lake Whitefish hybrids experience mitotic and meiotic instability, which may result from structurally divergent chromosomes. Motivated by this observation, we test the hypothesis that chromosome organization differs between Lake Whitefish species pairs using cytogenetics. While chromosome and fundamental numbers are conserved between the species (2n = 80, NF = 98), we observe extensive polymorphism of subtle karyotype traits. We describe intrachromosomal differences associated with heterochromatin and repetitive DNA, and test for parallelism among three sympatric species pairs. Multivariate analyses support the hypothesis that differentiation at the level of subchromosomal markers mostly appeared during allopatry. Yet we find no evidence for parallelism between species pairs among lakes, consistent with colonization effect or postcolonization differentiation. The reported intrachromosomal polymorphisms do not appear to play a central role in driving adaptive divergence between normal and dwarf Lake Whitefish. We discuss how chromosomal differentiation in the Lake Whitefish system may contribute to the destabilization of mitotic and meiotic chromosome segregation in hybrids, as documented previously. The chromosome structures detected here are still difficult to sequence and assemble, demonstrating the value of cytogenetics as a complementary approach to understand the genomic bases of speciation.
Treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability using the Broström-Gould procedure in athletes: long-term results
Authors: Russo Adriano , Giacchè Paolo , Marcantoni Enrico , Arrighi Annalisa , Molfetta Luigi 
Published: August 2016

Purpose: this study was conducted to evaluate longterm results following treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability using the Broström-Gould technique in athletes.
Methods: eighteen athletes involved in competitive sports at different levels, who suffered from chronic lateral ankle instability, underwent Broström-Gould ligamentoplasty between 2000 and 2005. The results of the surgery were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale.
Results: the results at 10-15 years of follow-up were excellent in 94.5% of these cases and good in the remaining 5.5%. An increase of 31.2 points in the AOFAS scale score was recorded at follow-up (with the score rising to 98.8, from 67.6 preoperatively). All the athletes returned to their respective sports at the same level as prior to the surgery. Imaging at longterm follow-up showed no signs of arthritic degeneration.
Conclusions: the results of this study show that the Broström-Gould technique is an effective procedure for the treatment of chronic lateral ankle instability in the athlete, giving excellent long-term results.
Level of evidence: therapeutic case series, level IV.
Novel low temperature sintered Li4Ti5O12 microwave dielectric ceramics with MoO2 addition
Authors: Liu Cheng , Zhang Huaiwu , Su Hua , Jin Lichuan , Li Jie , Liao Yulong , Jia Lijun , Li Yuanxun 
Published: August 2016

Li4Ti5O[Formula: see text] ceramics with different amount of MoO2addition were densified at 850[Formula: see text]C via a solid-state reaction route. Pure phases and dense crystal morphology were obtained. Our experimental results indicated that the [Formula: see text] value of the Li4Ti5O[Formula: see text] ceramic can be adjusted to near zero via adopting suitable amount of MoO2addition. Among all the modified Li4Ti5O[Formula: see text] specimens, the sample with 4 wt.% of MoO2addition (marked as LM4 in this paper) possessed good microwave dielectric properties: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] GHz (7.99 GHz), [Formula: see text] ppm/[Formula: see text]C. It is suggested that the MoO2modified Li4Ti5O[Formula: see text] ceramics are suitable candidates for LTCC applications in microwave devices.
Land-Cover Characterization and Aridity Changes of South America (1982–2006): An Attribution by Ecohydrological Diagnostics
Authors: Cai Danlu , Fraedrich Klaus , Sielmann Frank , Guan Yanning , Guo Shan 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
To quantify impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities on land surface dynamics a novel diagnostic tool is introduced, an application to the South American continent is presented, and the results are compared with observational studies. The diagnostics are performed in an ecohydrological state space spanned by surface flux ratios of excess energy U (loss by sensible heat H over supply by net radiation N) versus excess water W [loss by runoff (Ro) over gain by precipitation P]. The attribution of a changing state is deduced by rotating the (U, W) coordinates of its trajectory onto the external (or climate) and internal (or anthropogenic) forcings dependent of the regional state of aridity at the origin of the trajectory of change. Vegetation greenness (NDVI) is included in the attribution analysis as an active tracer. The first and second periods (1982–93 and 1994–2006; ERA-Interim) are chosen for change attribution analysis. 1) State space climates are characterized by a bimodal distribution with two distinct geobotanic regimes (forest and steppe) of high and moderate vegetation greenness. 2) Area changes between the first and second period are attributed to external (or climate)-induced (about 83%) and internal (or human)-induced (17%) processes. 3) In regions of significant (U, W) changes the significant vegetation greenness decreases in 36.2% (increases in 63.8%) of the area independent of vegetation type and aridity. 4) In these regions the water-limited areas tend to become drier, while energy-limited parts get wetter.
Reconstructions Improvements Using Iteratively Adjusted Statistics, Demonstrated Using Model-Output Annual SST Anomalies and Historical Sampling
Authors: Smith Thomas M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractHistorical reconstructions of climate fields, such as sea surface temperature (SST), are important for climate studies and monitoring. Reconstructions use statistics from a well-sampled base period to analyze a sparsely sampled historical period. Here a method is shown for adjusting the base-period statistics using the available historical data so that statistics better represent historical variations. The method is demonstrated using annual SST anomalies from a coupled GCM historical run, 1861–2005, forced by greenhouse gases and aerosols. Simulated data are constructed from the model’s SST using observed historical SST sampling with error estimates added. Reconstructions are performed using the simulated data, and the results are compared to the full model SST without added errors. The results from applying other reconstruction methods to the simulated data are compared. The tests show that the method improves annual SST reconstructions, especially in the early years, when sampling is most sparse and in the extratropics. In particular, the 1881–1900 correlation averaged over 30°–60°S and over 30°–60°N improves from about 0.4 using noniterative reconstruction to about 0.6 using iterative reconstruction. The correlations of annual values in the tropics are about 0.7 with both methods. Incorporating those improvements into an SST reconstruction could better represent extratropical climate variations in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and improve the value of the reconstruction for long-period climate studies and for validating climate models.
Additive methods for genomic signatures
Authors: Karamichalis Rallis , Kari Lila , Konstantinidis Stavros , Kopecki Steffen , Solis-Reyes Stephen 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Background
Studies exploring the potential of Chaos Game Representations (CGR) of genomic sequences to act as “genomic signatures” (to be species- and genome-specific) showed that CGR patterns of nuclear and organellar DNA sequences of the same organism can be very different. While the hypothesis that CGRs of mitochondrial DNA sequences can act as genomic signatures was validated for a snapshot of all sequenced mitochondrial genomes available in the NCBI GenBank sequence database, to our knowledge no such extensive analysis of CGRs of nuclear DNA sequences exists to date.

Results
We analyzed an extensive dataset, totalling 1.45 gigabase pairs, of nuclear/nucleoid genomic sequences (nDNA) from 42 different organisms, spanning all major kingdoms of life. Our computational experiments indicate that CGR signatures of nDNA of two different origins cannot always be differentiated, especially if they originate from closely-related species such as H. sapiens and P. troglodytes or E. coli and E. fergusonii. To address this issue, we propose the general concept of . One particular instance, the , combines information from nDNA fragments and organellar (mitochondrial, chloroplast, or plasmid) genomes. We demonstrate that, in this dataset, composite DNA signatures originating from two different organisms can be differentiated in all cases, including those where the use of CGR signatures of nDNA failed or was inconclusive. Another instance, the , combines information from many short DNA subfragments (e.g., 100 basepairs) of a given DNA fragment, to produce its signature. We show that an assembled DNA signature has the same distinguishing power as a conventionally computed CGR signature, while using shorter contiguous sequences and potentially less sequence information.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that, while CGR signatures of nDNA cannot always play the role of genomic signatures, composite and assembled DNA signatures (separately or in combination) could potentially be used instead. Such additive signatures could be used, e.g., with raw unassembled next-generation sequencing (NGS) read data, when high-quality sequencing data is not available, or to complement information obtained by other methods of species identification or classification.
SHIVA - a web application for drug resistance and tropism testing in HIV
Authors: Riemenschneider Mona , Hummel Thomas , Heider Dominik 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Background
Drug resistance testing is mandatory in antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients for successful treatment. The emergence of resistances against antiretroviral agents remains the major obstacle in inhibition of viral replication and thus to control infection. Due to the high mutation rate the virus is able to adapt rapidly under drug pressure leading to the evolution of resistant variants and finally to therapy failure.

Results
We developed a web service for drug resistance prediction of commonly used drugs in antiretroviral therapy, i.e., protease inhibitors (PIs), reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs and NNRTIs), and integrase inhibitors (INIs), but also for the novel drug class of maturation inhibitors. Furthermore, co-receptor tropism (CCR5 or CXCR4) can be predicted as well, which is essential for treatment with entry inhibitors, such as Maraviroc. Currently, provides 24 prediction models for several drug classes. can be used with single RNA/DNA or amino acid sequences, but also with large amounts of next-generation sequencing data and allows prediction of a user specified selection of drugs simultaneously. Prediction results are provided as clinical reports which are sent via email to the user.

Conclusions
represents a novel high performing alternative for hitherto developed drug resistance testing approaches able to process data derived from next-generation sequencing technologies. is publicly available via a user-friendly web interface.
A research on managerial satisfaction of municipal employees (Aliaga Municipality example)<p>Belediye çalışanlarının yönetsel memnuniyet araştırması (Aliağa Belediyesi örneği)
Authors: Kaya Ahmet , Esen Mehmet 
Published: August 2016

Municipalities are local and half autonomous goverments. That Individuals are looking solutions for their problems at the state level institutions are municipalities. Municipal employees are like interfaces in the execution of the service. It is not too hard to estimate the employee satisfaction is close relationship with the services offered to individuals. Managerial satisfaction of municipal employees are concerned both managers as well as the citizens. Mayors are elected every five years. If service is appreciated, they can be re-elected, otherwise, there is not a chance selected again.This study has been organized in order to put forth of satisfaction of municipal employees by Aliağa Municipality. In a broad range, with the usage of survey method, it is requested from employees, to evaluate the projects and managerial facilities. Moreover, it is queried how happy they are working in the business life, social, psychological situation and educational level of them. ÖzetBelediyeler, yerel ve yarı özerk yönetimlerdir. Bireylerin devlet katında en çok iç içe oldukları ve sorunlarına çözüm aradıkları kurumlar belediyelerdir. Belediye çalışanları, hizmetlerin yürütülmesinde görev yapan arayüzler gibidir. Çalışanların memnuniyeti ile bireylere sundukları hizmetler arasında yakın ilişki olduğunu tahmin etmek güç değildir. Belediye çalışanlarının yönetsel memnuniyeti, hem yöneticileri hem de vatandaşı ilgilendirmektedir. Belediye başkanı beş yılda bir seçim sandığında değerlendirilmektedir. Hizmetler beğenilmişse yeniden seçilme şansına sahip olunmakta, beğenilmemişse, seçilememe riski bulunmaktadır.Bu çalışma, Aliağa Belediye Başkanlığı tarafından çalışanların yönetsel memnuniyetlerini tespit etmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Geniş bir perspektif içerisinde anket yöntemi ile çalışanların belediye yönetimi ve projeleri değerlendirmeleri istenmiştir. Ayrıca, çalışanların iş yaşamlarında ne kadar mutlu oldukları, sosyal, psikolojik ve eğitim durumlarının hangi düzeyde olduğu araştırılmıştır.
Addressing barriers to healthcare access for Roma: A community development approach
Authors: Kirwan Gloria , Jacob Deirdre 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
The Roma community in Europe has experienced persistent marginalisation and disadvantage over many generations, with Roma regularly experiencing problems of access to healthcare, accommodation, education and employment within the European context. Ireland is a relatively new destination for Roma migration and, as yet, the experiences of Roma in Ireland are under-researched. However, problematic access to healthcare has emerged as an issue faced by the Roma community in Ireland. With reference to the work of the Tallaght Roma Integration Project (TRIP), this article aims to illuminate some of the challenges faced by Roma in this regard. The work of TRIP is informed by community development principles, including concepts of participation and social solidarity. This article explores how community development can offer a framework through which the Roma community can engage collaboratively with service providers in order to highlight need and mobilise change in service provision.
The multilingual turn as a critical movement in education: assumptions, challenges and a need for reflection
Authors: Meier Gabriela Sylvia 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
This study establishes the multilingual turn as part of a critical movement in education. It highlights the importance we ought to attach to how we understand the concepts of language, the learners and language learning and related terms, as such assumptions determine what language teachers and learners do in the classroom. A thematic decomposition analysis of 21 chapters, contained in two books both with phrase the multilingual turn in their title (Conteh and Meier 2014, The multilingual turn in languages education: Opportunities and challenges. Bristol: Multilingual Matters; May 2014a, The multilingual turn: Implications for SLA, TESOL and Bilingual education. New York: Routledge), confirms that new critical understandings of these concepts have developed in recent years. While there is not total accord, my findings showed that authors, associated with the multilingual turn, conceive languages as a resource for learning and as associated with status and power; the learners as diverse multilingual and social practitioners; and learning as a multilingual social practice based on theoretical pluralism, consistently guided by critical perspectives. While theoretically relatively well established, the multilingual turn faces important challenges that hamper its translation into mainstream practice, namely popularly accepted monolingual norms and a lack of guidance for teachers. The findings combined with previous research inform a framework to reflect on practice, which may, in the long term, help address the challenges identified.
Typhoid Fever Presenting With Acute Renal Failure And Hepatitis Simultaneously - A Rare Presentation
Authors: Rajput R. , Jain D. , Kumar A. , Mittal A. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Typhoid fever is an important health problem worldwide but its incidence is more in developing countries. Hepatic involvement is common, but both hepatic and renal involvement is rare in typhoid fever. We report a case of typhoid fever presenting with hepatitis and acute renal failure. A 17 year old male presenting with fever and pain abdomen was found to have raised blood urea, creatinine, liver enzymes and bilirubin. Widal and typhidot (IgM,IgG) test were positive. His symptoms subsided and deranged parameters resolved with treatment of typhoid fever.