bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Azimuthal variation of converted‐wave amplitude in a reservoir with vertically aligned fractures − a physical model study
Authors: Chang Chih‐Hsiung , Chang Young‐Fo , Tseng Po‐Yen 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTThe existence of fractures not only provides space for oil and gas to reside in but also creates pathways for their migration. Accurate description of a fractured reservoir is thus an important subject of exploration for geophysicists and petroleum engineers. In reflection seismology, a reservoir of parallel vertical fractures is often considered a transversely isotropic medium with its symmetry axis horizontally oriented and its physical properties varying in azimuth on the horizontal symmetry‐axis plane. In the history of fractured reservoir exploration, azimuthal variation in the P‐wave amplitude, velocity, and fractional difference of the split S‐waves have been popular seismic attributes used to delineate characteristics and extract information from the reservoir. Instead of analysing the reflection signatures of P‐wave and S‐wave, the objective of this study is to demonstrate the azimuthal variation of the converted wave (C‐wave) amplitude in a fractured reservoir. To facilitate our objective, both common offset and end‐on shooting reflection experiments were conducted in different azimuths on the horizontal symmetry‐axis plane of a horizontal transverse isotropic model. In the acquired profile, reflections of P‐wave, PS1‐wave (C1‐), and a mixture of PS2‐ (C2‐) and S1‐waves were observed and identified. Thereafter, the laboratory observations were Hilbert transformed to compute the reflectivity strength of the relative events. Results show that the reflectivity strengths of both P‐ and C1‐waves are consistently weakened from the direction of the layering strike to the layering normal. However, the azimuthal variation of the C1‐wave amplitude is more significant than that of the P‐wave and can be considered another effective seismic attribute for orienting the fracture strike of a reservoir that consists of vertically aligned fractures.
Reverse‐time migration from rugged topography using irregular, unstructured mesh
Authors: Liu Qiancheng , Zhang Jianfeng , Gao Hongwei 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTWe developed a reverse‐time migration scheme that can image regions with rugged topography without requiring any approximations by adopting an irregular, unstructured‐grid modelling scheme. This grid, which can accurately describe surface topography and interfaces between high‐velocity‐contrast regions, is generated by Delaunay triangulation combined with the centroidal Voronoi tessellation method. The grid sizes vary according to the migration velocities, resulting in significant reduction of the number of discretized nodes compared with the number of nodes in the conventional regular‐grid scheme, particularly in the case wherein high near‐surface velocities exist. Moreover, the time sampling rate can be reduced substantially. The grid method, together with the irregular perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary condition, enables the proposed scheme to image regions of interest using curved artificial boundaries with fewer discretized nodes. We tested the proposed scheme using the 2D SEG Foothill synthetic dataset.
Reducing Readmissions among Heart Failure Patients Discharged to Home Health Care: Effectiveness of Early and Intensive Nursing Services and Early Physician Follow‐Up
Authors: Murtaugh Christopher M. , Deb Partha , Zhu Carolyn , Peng Timothy R. , Barrón Yolanda , Shah Shivani , Moore Stanley M. , Bowles Kathryn H. , Kalman Jill , Feldman Penny H. , Siu Albert L. 
Published: August 2016

ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of two “treatments”—early, intensive home health nursing and physician follow‐up within a week—versus less intense and later postacute care in reducing readmissions among heart failure (HF) patients discharged to home health care.Data SourcesNational Medicare administrative, claims, and patient assessment data.Study DesignPatients with a full week of potential exposure to the treatments were followed for 30 days to determine exposure status, 30‐day all‐cause hospital readmission, other health care use, and mortality. An extension of instrumental variables methods for nonlinear statistical models corrects for nonrandom selection of patients into treatment categories. Our instruments are the index hospital's rate of early aftercare for non‐HF patients and hospital discharge day of the week.Data Extraction MethodsAll hospitalizations for a HF principal diagnosis with discharge to home health care between July 2009 and June 2010 were identified from source files.Principal FindingsNeither treatment by itself has a statistically significant effect on hospital readmission. In combination, however, they reduce the probability of readmission by roughly 8 percentage points (p < .001; confidence interval = −12.3, −4.1). Results are robust to changes in implementation of the nonlinear IV estimator, sample, outcome measure, and length of follow‐up.ConclusionsOur results call for closer coordination between home health and medical providers in the clinical management of HF patients immediately after hospital discharge.
Selective Plasma Exchange for Critically Ill Patients Accompanied With Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Nakae Hajime , Fukuda Hirokazu , Okuyama Manabu , Igarashi Toshiko 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSelective plasma exchange is a blood purification therapy in which simple plasma exchange is performed using a selective membrane plasma separator (pore size of 0.03 µm). Seven critically ill patients accompanied with thrombocytopenia were treated with selective plasma exchange using fresh frozen plasma. The total bilirubin levels and prothrombin time international normalized ratios decreased significantly after treatment. The total protein, albumin, and fibrinogen levels increased significantly after treatment. Selective plasma exchange may be a useful blood purification therapy for removing causal substances and retaining coagulation factors in patients accompanied with thrombocytopenia.
Removal Dynamics of Immunoglobulin and Fibrinogen by Conventional Plasma Exchange, Selective Plasma Exchange, and a Combination of the Two
Authors: Miyamoto Satoko , Ohkubo Atsushi , Seshima Hiroshi , Maeda Takuma , Itagaki Ayako , Kurashima Naoki , Iimori Soichiro , Naito Shotaro , Sohara Eisei , Rai Tatemitsu , Uchida Shinichi , Okado Tomokazu 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWhile plasma exchange (PE) can eliminate plasma proteins, including all immunoglobulin (Ig) and coagulation factors, selective plasma exchange (SePE) can retain fibrinogen (Fbg). Here, we investigated the removal dynamics of Ig and Fbg in 53 patients with immunological disorders by PE, SePE, and a combination of the two. When the mean processed plasma volume (PPV) was 0.9 plasma volume (PV), the mean percent reductions of Ig and Fbg by PE were both approximately 62%–65%. When the mean PPV was 1.1 PV, the mean percent reductions by SePE were 53.1% for IgG, 30.1% for IgA, 3.6% for IgM, and 19.0% for Fbg, respectively. In the three plasmapheresis sessions performed on alternate days, we classified treatments into three categories: PE group (PE–PE–PE, N = 2), SePE group (SePE–SePE–SePE, N = 14), and PE/SePE group (PE–SePE–SePE, N = 4). The mean percent reductions of IgG, IgA, IgM, and Fbg were 82.0%, 80.4%, 87.3%, and 80.9%, respectively, for the PE group; 76.4%, 57.7%, 43.3%, and 35.9%, respectively, for the PE/SePE group; and 75.4%, 50.6%, 3.2%, and 29.3%, respectively, for the SePE group. Plasmapheresis modalities can be combined according to clinical conditions, for instance, to achieve both the unspecific removal of pathogens by PE and retention of coagulation factors, such as Fbg, by SePE.
Removal Characteristics of Immunoadsorption With the Immusorba TR‐350 Column Using Conventional and Selective Plasma Separators
Authors: Ohkubo Atsushi , Okado Tomokazu , Miyamoto Satoko , Goto Keigo , Yamamoto Motoki , Maeda Takuma , Itagaki Ayako , Seshima Hiroshi , Kurashima Naoki , Sohara Eisei , Uchida Shinichi , Rai Tatemitsu 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn Japan, immunoadsorption (IA) is performed using a conventional plasma separator and Immusorba TR‐350 column (TR‐350) for the treatment of neurological immune diseases. By this method, TR‐350 has the limited maximal capacity of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) adsorption, and fibrinogen (Fbg) is reduced remarkably. Evacure EC‐4A10 (EC‐4A) is a selective plasma separator and the sieving coefficients of IgG and Fbg using EC‐4A were 0.5 and 0, respectively. Here, we investigated the removal characteristics of IgG and Fbg in IA by TR‐350 using two different plasma membrane separators: conventional plasma separator (PE‐IA) and EC‐4A (EC‐IA). In vitro filtration using plasma effluent was performed with a closed circuit. When the processed volume was 3 L, estimated removal amounts by PE‐IA were 3172 mg for IgG and 3329 mg for Fbg, respectively. When the processed volume was 3 L, estimated removal amounts by EC‐IA were 4946 mg and 1916 mg, respectively. EC‐IA can be considered useful for the removal of IgG, including auto‐antibodies, while retaining Fbg, thereby allowing even daily use.
Determinants of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) intolerance and angioedema in the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink
Authors: Mahmoudpour Seyed Hamidreza , Baranova Ekaterina Vitalievna , Souverein Patrick C. , Asselbergs Folkert W. , de Boer Anthonius , Maitland‐van der Zee Anke Hilse ,   on behalf of the PREDICTION‐ADR consortium
Published: August 2016

AimThe aim of the present study was to describe the occurrence and determinants of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (ACEI) intolerance and angioedema (AE) among patients initiating ACEI therapy in a real‐world primary care population.MethodsTwo nested case–control studies were conducted in a cohort of 276 977 patients aged ≥45 years initiating ACEIs from 2007 to 2014 in the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Cases of AE occurring for the first time during ACEI therapy (n = 416) were matched with AE‐free controls (n = 4335) on the duration of ACEI treatment. Documented switches to angiotensin‐II receptor blockers in the prescription records were used to identify ACEI‐intolerance cases (n = 24 709), and these were matched with continuous ACEI users (n = 84 238) on the duration of ACEI therapy. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the associations of demographic factors, comorbidities and comedication with AE and ACEI intolerance.ResultsAE during ACEI therapy was associated with age over 65 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07, 1.73], history of allergy (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.19, 1.96), use of calcium channel blockers (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.23; 2.01), use of antihistamines (OR 21.25, 95% CI 16.44, 27.46) and use of systemic corticosteroids (OR 4.52, 95% CI 3.26, 6.27). ACEI intolerance was significantly associated with more comorbidities and comedication compared with AE, including allergy (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.96, 2.09), use of antiasthmatic drugs (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.42, 1.61) and use of antihistamines (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.43, 1.63).ConclusionsAmong ACEI users developing AE or ACEI intolerance, several comorbidities and comedication classes were significantly more prevalent compared with ACEI users not developing these adverse reactions.
The Lost World's pristinity at risk
Authors: Rull Valentí , Vegas‐Vilarrúbia Teresa , Safont Elisabet 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe Guayana Highlands (GH) are virtually pristine environments and constitute a unique natural laboratory to study the biogeographical and evolutionary origin of the Neotropical biota. In addition, the GH provide most of the water of the Guayana region, which feeds the more important tributaries of the Orinoco and the Amazon basins. However, the biota and the ecosystems of the GH are in danger of being profoundly altered by current human activities. Recent studies have identified the presence of aggressive invader plant species (e.g. Poa annua and Polypogon elongatus) and infectious faecal bacteria (Helicobacter pilori), both carried by tourists, which could deeply affect biodiversity and ecological performance of terrestrial and aquatic GH ecosystems. If these hazards are not controlled as soon as possible, the potential consequences could disturb not only the GH ecosystems but also those of the rest of the Guayana region. We still have time to find solutions and implement specific regulations before the mentioned threats become uncontrollable. The GH are within a national park and other conservation figures but a management plan is lacking; therefore, current conservation rules are insufficient to deal with the newly detected menaces. We propose an international initiative, including all countries of the Guayana Shield, to take immediate actions. Otherwise, we are in danger of losing one of the few pristine biomes that remain in the world.
Predicting spatial extent of invasive earthworms on an oceanic island
Authors: Paudel Shishir , Wilson Gail W. T. , MacDonald Beau , Longcore Travis , Loss Scott R. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAimInvasions of non‐native earthworms into previously earthworm‐free regions are a major conservation concern because they alter ecosystems and threaten biological diversity. Little information is available, however, about effects of earthworm invasions outside of temperate and boreal forests, particularly about invasions of islands. For San Clemente Island (SCI), California (USA) – an oceanic island with numerous endemic and endangered plant and vertebrate species – we assessed the spatial extent and drivers of earthworm invasion and examined relationships between earthworms and plant and soil microbial communities.LocationSan Clemente Island, southern California,USA.MethodsUsing a stratified random sampling approach, we sampled earthworms, vegetation, soils and microbial communities acrossSCI. We examined the relationship between the presence of invasive earthworms and soil and landscape variables using logistic regression models and implemented a spatial representation of the best model to represent potential site suitability for earthworms. We evaluated the relationship between invasive earthworms and vegetation and microbial variables usingANOVA.ResultsWe found that the likelihood of encountering earthworms increased close to roads and streams and in high moisture conditions, which correspond to higher elevation and a north‐eastern aspect onSCI. The presence of earthworms was positively associated with total ground vegetation cover, grass cover and non‐native plant cover; however, there was no significant relationship between earthworms and microbial biomass. These results suggest that the earthworm invasion onSCIis at an early stage and closely tied to roads and high moisture conditions.Main conclusionsClimatic variables and potential sources of earthworm introduction and dispersal (e.g. roads and streams) should be broadly useful for predicting current and future sites of earthworm invasions on both islands and continents. Furthermore, the significant positive relationship between non‐native plant cover and invasive earthworm presence raises the possibility of an emerging invasional ‘meltdown’ onSCI. Additional study of earthworm invasions on human‐inhabited oceanic islands is necessary to identify additional invasions and their potential for negative impacts on unique insular biota.
Brain bases of morphological processing in Chinese‐English bilingual children
Authors: Ip Ka I , Hsu Lucy Shih‐Ju , Arredondo Maria M. , Tardif Twila , Kovelman Ioulia 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCan bilingual exposure impact children's neural circuitry for learning to read? To answer this question, we investigated the brain bases of morphological awareness, one of the key spoken language abilities for learning to read in English and Chinese. Bilingual Chinese‐English and monolingual English children (N = 22, ages 7–12) completed morphological tasks that best characterize each of their languages: compound morphology in Chinese (e.g. basket + ball = basketball) and derivational morphology in English (e.g. re + do = redo). In contrast to monolinguals, bilinguals showed greater activation in the left middle temporal region, suggesting that bilingual exposure to Chinese impacts the functionality of brain regions supporting semantic abilities. Similar to monolinguals, bilinguals showed greater activation in the left inferior frontal region [BA 45] in English than Chinese, suggesting that young bilinguals form language‐specific neural representations. The findings offer new insights to inform bilingual and cross‐linguistic models of language and literacy acquisition.
Na+ Retention in the Root is a Key Adaptive Mechanism to Low and High Salinity in the Glycophyte, Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. (Portulacaceae)
Authors: Assaha D. V. M. , Mekawy A. M. M. , Liu L. , Noori M. S. , Kokulan K. S. , Ueda A. , Nagaoka T. , Saneoka H. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractTalinum paniculatum is an important leafy vegetable and medicinal plant, used in many parts of South America, Africa and Asia. Its adaptation to abiotic stress has received little attention and therefore worthy of interest, especially as environmental conditions are rendering arable lands increasingly unfavourable for agriculture. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine the influence of salt stress on the vegetative growth of the plant by subjecting seedlings to 0, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mm NaCl stress for 10 days. The dry weight, ion concentrations, relative water content, oxidative damage, proline, osmotic potential and some antioxidants were determined. The plants were found to retain Na+ mainly in the root, with less affected leaf K+ concentration, and consequently very low shoot Na+/K+ ratios (<0.2) under all the stress treatments. The proline content significantly increased under the 100–300 mm treatments (18‐ to 244‐fold), with a corresponding significant reduction in osmotic potential and hence high osmotic adjustment. The antioxidant enzyme activities and non‐enzyme antioxidants showed significant increase only under the highest salinity. Taken together, these results suggest that shoot Na+ exclusion is characteristic of this plant and is mainly responsible for its adaptation to low salinity.
Biochemical changes and tissue distribution of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) in naturally and experimentally EHP‐infected whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931), in India
Authors: Santhoshkumar S , Sivakumar S , Vimal S , Abdul Majeed S , Taju G , Haribabu P , Uma A , Sahul Hameed A S 
Published: August 2016

AbstractStunted growth in pond‐reared Litopenaeus vannamei was observed in different farms located in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, India. No mortality was associated with stunted growth. PCR assay on these samples revealed the presence of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) in stunted shrimp. Tissue distribution of EHP in naturally and experimentally infected shrimp was studied by PCR and histology. Histological examination revealed the presence of EHP in hepatopancreas and gut, but not in other organs. The PCR assay revealed the presence of EHP in all the organs tested in both naturally and experimentally infected shrimp. Healthy shrimp were challenged with E. hepatopenaei by intramuscular injection and oral route, and no mortality was observed in both routes after 30 days post‐challenge. Different developmental stages of the microsporidian parasite were observed in the hepatopancreatic epithelial cells. Biochemical parameters such as total protein, albumin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase were measured in the haemolymph of naturally and experimentally EHP‐infected shrimp. All biochemical parameters mentioned were found to be significantly higher in EHP‐infected shrimp when compared to normal shrimp. This is the first report relating AST and ALT levels to EHP infection in naturally and experimentally infected shrimp.
Cloning and expression analysis of innate immune genes from red sea bream to assess different susceptibility to megalocytivirus infection
Authors: Jin J W , Kim Y C , Hong S , Kim M S , Jeong J B , Jeong H D 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAs suggested by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), fishes belonging to the genus Oplegnathus are more sensitive to megalocytivirus infection than other fish species including red sea bream (Pagrus major). To assess the roles of the innate immune response to these different susceptibilities, we cloned the genes encoding inflammatory factors including IL‐8 and COX‐2, and the antiviral factor like Mx from red sea bream for the first time and performed phylogenetic and structural analysis. Analysed expression levels of IL‐1β, IL‐8 and COX‐2 and the antiviral factor like Mx genes performed with in vivo challenge experiment showed no difference in inflammatory gene expression or respiratory burst activity between red sea bream and rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). However, the Mx gene expression levels in red sea bream were markedly higher than those in rock bream, suggesting the importance of type I interferon (IFN)‐induced proteins, particularly Mx, during megalocytivirus infection, rather than inflammation‐related genes. The in vitro challenge experiments using embryonic primary cultures derived from both fish species showed no difference in cytopathic effects (CPE), viral replication profiles, and inflammatory and Mx gene expression pattern between the two fish species.
A survey of the distribution of the PKD‐parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae (Cnidaria: Myxozoa: Malacosporea) in salmonids in Norwegian rivers – additional information gleaned from formerly collected fish
Authors: Mo T A , Jørgensen A 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe malacosporean Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae was detected in kidneys from Atlantic salmon parr in 64 of 91 sampled Norwegian rivers. Using real‐time PCR, this parasite was found to be present in Atlantic salmon parr in rivers along the whole coast, from the northernmost and southernmost areas of the country. In addition, T. bryosalmonae was found in kidneys from brown trout parr in 17 of 19 sampled rivers in south‐east Norway, and in Arctic charr sampled in the River Risfjordelva, located at the northernmost edge of the European mainland. In conclusion, T. bryosalmonae has a widespread distribution in salmonids in Norwegian watercourses. Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) caused by T. bryosalmonae and PKD‐induced mortality has been observed in salmonids in several Norwegian rivers and it can be speculated that more PKD outbreaks will occur as a result of climate change.