bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Organic molecular tracers in the atmospheric aerosols from Lumbini, Nepal, in the northern Indo-Gangetic Plain: influence of biomass burning
Authors: Wan Xin , Kang Shichang , Li Quanlian , Rupakheti Dipesh , Zhang Qianggong , Guo Junming , Chen Pengfei , Tripathee Lekhendra , Rupakheti Maheswar , Panday Arnico K. , Wang Wu , Kawamura Kimitaka , Gao Shaopeng , Wu Guangming , Cong Zhiyuan 
Published: July 2017

Abstract. To better understand the characteristics of biomass burning in the northern Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), total suspended particles were collected in a rural site, Lumbini, Nepal, during April 2013 to March 2014 and analyzed for the biomass burning tracers (i.e., levoglucosan, mannosan, vanillic acid). The annual average concentration of levoglucosan was 734 ± 1043 ng m−3 with the maximum seasonal mean concentration during post-monsoon season (2206 ± 1753 ng m−3), followed by winter (1161 ± 1347 ng m−3), pre-monsoon (771 ± 524 ng m−3) and minimum concentration during monsoon season (212 ± 279 ng m−3). The other biomass burning tracers (mannosan, galactosan, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid and dehydroabietic acid) also showed the similar seasonal variations. There were good correlations among levoglucosan, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), indicating significant impact of biomass burning activities on carbonaceous aerosol loading throughout the year in Lumbini area. According to the characteristic ratios, levoglucosan ∕ mannosan (lev ∕ man) and syringic acid ∕ vanillic acid (syr ∕ van), we deduced that the high abundances of biomass burning products during non-monsoon seasons were mainly caused by the burning of crop residues and hardwood while the softwood had less contribution. Based on the diagnostic tracer ratio (i.e., lev ∕ OC), the OC derived from biomass burning constituted large fraction of total OC, especially during post-monsoon season. By analyzing the MODIS fire spot product and 5-day air-mass back trajectories, we further demonstrated that organic aerosol composition was not only related to the local agricultural activities and residential biomass usage but also impacted by the regional emissions. During the post-monsoon season, the emissions from rice residue burning in western India and eastern Pakistan could impact particulate air pollution in Lumbini and surrounding regions in southern Nepal. Therefore, our finding is meaningful and has a great importance for adopting the appropriate mitigation measures, not only at the local level but also by involving different regions and nations, to reduce the biomass burning emissions in the broader IGP region nations.
Evaluation of extensive floods in western/central Europe
Authors: Gvoždíková Blanka , Müller Miloslav 
Published: July 2017

Abstract. This paper addresses the identification and evaluation of extreme flood events in the transitional area between western and central Europe in the period 1951–2013. Floods are evaluated in terms of three variants on an extremity index that combines discharge values with the spatial extent of flooding. The indices differ in the threshold of the considered maximum discharges; the flood extent is expressed by a length of affected river network. This study demonstrates that using the index with a higher flood discharge limit changes the floods' rankings significantly. It also highlights the high severity events. In general, we detected an increase in the proportion of warm half-year floods when using a higher discharge limit. Nevertheless, cold half-year floods still predominate in the lists because they generally affect large areas. This study demonstrates the increasing representation of warm half-year floods from the northwest to the southeast.
Th17/Regulatory T Cell Imbalance in Sepsis Patients with Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome: Attenuated by High-volume Hemofiltration
Authors: Guo Jiguang , Tao Wu , Tang Dan , Zhang Jianbin 
Published: July 2017

Background We assessed the Th17 (T-helper cell)/Treg (Regulatory T cell) imbalance in sepsis patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and the clinical benefits of continuous high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF). Methods 48 sepsis patients, including 22 patients with MODS (MODS group, n = 22) and 26 without (non-MODS group, n = 26), and 20 healthy volunteer controls were enrolled. The patients in MODS group were randomly divided into the continuous blood purification (CBP) group (n = 11) receiving conventional comprehensive treatment plus high-volume hemofiltration and the non-CBP group (n = 11) receiving conventional comprehensive treatment only. At day 28, all 48 patients were divided into the survival group (n = 36) and the non-survival group (n = 12). Venous blood samples, collected at 0, 6, 12 and 24 hours during hemofiltration (or equivalent times in the non-CBP group), were assessed by flow cytometry to detect the Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood. Serum cytokines (such as IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, IL-10 and TGF-β1) were detected by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Results Th17%, Treg%, Th17/Treg, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, IL-10 and TGF-β1 were significantly higher in MODS and non-MODS group than in the health control (p<0.05), while Th17%, Treg%, Th17/Treg and measured cytokines were significantly higher in the MODS group compared to the non-MODS group (p<0.05). After HVHF treatment, Th17%, Treg%, Th17/Treg, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-10 were significantly reduced (p<0.05), while there were no significant changes in the non-CBP group (p>0.05). In addition, APACHE II and SOFA scores decreased markedly after HVHF treatment. Baseline Th17%, Treg%, Th17/Treg, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, IL-10 and TGF-β1 were significantly higher in the non-survival group compared to the survival group. Both Th17% and Th17/Treg were positivity correlated with concentration of IL-6 and APACHE II score (p<0.01). Conclusions The level of Th17/Treg imbalance in sepsis is related to the occurrence and prognosis of MODS. High-volume hemofiltration can attenuate the Th17/Treg imbalance in sepsis patients, possibly by removing inflammatory mediators.
High sensitivity troponin might be a marker of subclinical scleroderma heart involvement: a preliminary study
Authors: Barsotti Simone , Stagnaro Chiara , d'Ascanio Anna , Parma Alice , Emdin Michele , Conti Umberto , Mosca Marta , Della Rossa Alessandra 
Published: July 2017

Introduction Although often asymptomatic, cardiac involvement is common in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate whether high-sensitivity troponin (HSTn) might represent a useful tool to detect subclinical scleroderma heart involvement (SHI) in SSc. Methods We enrolled 65 consecutive SSc patients who performed HSTn test, electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram within six months of HSTn test. We acquired also data about N-terminal segment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI). We excluded patients with overt pulmonary arterial hypertension. We defined as subclinical SHI the presence of the following conditions: diastolic dysfunction, pericardial effusion, conduction abnormalities/arrhythmias, oedema and/or T2 weighted non-ischemic pattern showed by cMRI. Results Twelve patients showed SHI, and 23 and 29, respectively, had high levels of HSTn and of NT-proBNP. SHI is correlated with high levels of HSTn (p = 0.02) with a significant difference between HSTn values in patients with or without SHI (59 vs. 13 ng/mL; p = 0.0097). Moreover, among patients with abnormal NT-proBNP, 18 also had out of range HSTn (Spearman rank correlation 0.5; p<0.0001). According to ROC curve analysis, the best HSTn cut-off value in distinguishing between patients with and patients without SHI was 16 ng/mL (sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 83%; area under the curve: 0.77 (95% CI: 0.65-0.87) p<0.001. Conclusions Our data show a close relationship between HSTn and NT-proBNP in SSc patients with SHI. HSTn might be a marker of SHI while NT-proBNP seems to be less specific for heart dysfunction.
Patient Satisfaction and Acceptance of Their Totally Implanted Central Venous Catheter: A French Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Marcy Pierre-Yves , Schiappa Renaud , Ferrero Jean-Marc , Dahlet Christian , Brenet Olivier , Yazbec Gabriel , Dubois Pierre-Yves , Salm Bernard , Fouche Yves , Mari Veronique , Montastruc Marion , Lebrec Nathalie , Ancel Benoit , Paillocher Nicolas , Dupoiron Denis , Rangeard Olivier , Gal Jocelyn , Ettaiche Marc , Chateau Yann , Chamorey Emmanuel 
Published: July 2017

Introduction Most cancer patients require a totally implanted central venous catheter (TIVAD) for their treatment. In a previous study, we developed and validated a questionnaire dubbed QASICC (Questionnaire for Acceptance of, and Satisfaction with, Implanted Central Venous Catheter) assessing patient satisfaction with, and acceptance of, their TIVAD. In the present study, we conducted a large, prospective, multicenter study in cancer patients aimed to analyze factors that could influence patients’ acceptance of, and satisfaction with, their device. Methods The QASICC is composed of 22 items assessing 5 dimensions. The construction and validation of the questionnaire was achieved using validated methodology to determine its psychometric characteristics. The questionnaire was submitted to 720 patients in 11 French institutions; 567 answers were analyzed. Results Younger patients had the most difficulties in coping with their TIVAD, especially regarding daily activities and their body image and private life compared to older patients. Sex was significantly related to patient satisfaction, with worse scores in women. Breast tumor location was also correlated with low TIVAD acceptance. TIVAD on the right side also positively influenced satisfaction and acceptance of the device. Conclusions QASICC has proved to be efficient, and to detect known issues regarding daily activities and body image. As our population was mostly composed of women with breast cancer, our results reflect specific aspects of this population. The TIVAD remains generally well-accepted and our questionnaire should help health-care workers to better address the specific needs of their patients based on the answers provided.
Significance of Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio in Western Advanced EGFR-mutated Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving a Targeted Therapy
Authors: Meriggi Fausto , Codignola Claudio , Beretta Giordano D. , Ceresoli Giovanni L. , Caprioli Alberto , Scartozzi Mario , Fraccon Anna P. , Prochilo Tiziana , Ogliosi Chiara , Zaniboni Alberto 
Published: July 2017

Purpose Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide and, although targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors has dramatically improved the rates of response and survival in advanced EGFR-mutated adenocarcinoma, the overall outcome remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, new prognostic factors, preferably simple, inexpensive, and easy to reproduce on a large scale, are needed. We performed a retrospective analysis of our database including 63 western Caucasian patients with advanced EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma and receiving gefitinib, erlotinib, or afatinib as first- or second-line therapy. Several studies demonstrated a strong link between elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and poor prognosis both in early and advanced stages of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods From January 2011 to December 2015, 63 consecutive elegible patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC were included in this analysis from 5 institutions. The NLR was derived from the absolute neutrophil and the absolute lymphocyte counts of a full blood count and the cutoff value was determined according to the mean NLR level. Results Despite the small sample analyzed, we found that NLR has a prognostic role for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), reaching a statistically significant difference with a better PFS and OS in the lower NLR group. Conclusions Pretreatment NLR seems to represent a reliable, simple, and easy to reproduce laboratory tool to predict outcome and response to cancer therapies in this setting of Western Caucasian patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC.
Truncated Weibull-G More Flexible and More Reliable than Beta-G Distribution
Authors: Najarzadegan Hossein , Alamatsaz Mohammad Hossein , Hayati Saied 
Published: July 2017

Our purpose in this study includes introducing a new family of distributions as an alternative to beta-G (B-G) distribution with flexible hazard rate and greater reliability which we call Truncated Weibull-G (TW-G) distribution. We shall discuss several submodels of the family in detail. Then, its mathematical properties such as expansions, probability density function and cumulative distribution function, moments, moment generating function, order statistics, entropies, unimodality, stochastic comparison with the B-G distribution and stress-strength reliability function are studied. Moreover, we study shape of the density and hazard rate functions, and based on the maximum likelihood method, estimate parameters of the model. Finally, we apply the model to a real data set and compare B-G distribution with our proposed model.
Poesía peruana post-Vallejo: de los indigenismos a las opacidades
Authors: Granados Agüero Pedro 
Published: July 2017

César Vallejo sepultó con su obra poética --aunque valiéndose también de sus persuasivas crónicas y ensayos-- todos los indigenismos; y sacó adelante un concepto y una práctica que podríamos motejar como Indigenismo-3, pero que preferimos --junto con Édouard Glissant-- denominar “opacidad”. Esto en primer lugar. Luego, o en segundo lugar, aunque acaso sea lo más importante aquí, proponer una metodología de lo “opaco” lo más discreta posible y, esperamos, lo más productiva también. Por último, o en tercer lugar, aplicar dicho método en nuestro análisis de algunos hitos de la poesía post-Vallejo: Magdalena Chocano (1957), Vladimir Herrera (1950), Rocío Castro Morgado (1959) y Juan de la Fuente Umetsu (1963), fundamentalmente.
Tiempo y medida en Purgatorio de Raúl Zurita
Authors: Rowe William 
Published: July 2017

En este trabajo se rechazan las lecturas tradicionales que ignoran la crisis del lenguaje para investigar en Zurita la relación entre las técnicas artísticas y las formas de producción de la coyuntura socio-histórica. Para hacer esta lectura radical, que se produce en conflicto con otro tipo de lecturas, se examinan críticamente tres elementos: el Yo, incluyendo su derivado, el "hablante lírico"; el paisaje, entendido como marco pre-existente; y, en tercer lugar, lo trascendente tradicional (es decir, religioso o mítico o el que se ha heredado de la poesía romántica). De esta manera, se llega a la conclusión de que los elementos clave para leer esta poesía sólo pueden ser comprendidos en una relación de tensión y de paradoja.
Desfechos clínicos de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca em um hospital do noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Santos Miquéias Bogado Kasctin dos , Silveira Camila Rieffel , Moraes Maria Antonieta Pereira de , Souza Emiliane Nogueira de 
Published: July 2017

Objetivo: Analisar os desfechos clínicos dos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca em um hospital de alta complexidade. Método: Estudo descritivo, longitudinal histórico, no qual foram analisados prontuários de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca no período de um ano. Resultados: Entre os 137 prontuários analisados, a cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio foi a mais prevalente 85(62%). A média de tempo de internação na unidade de terapia intensiva foi de 2,93±4,53 dias, e na unidade de internação clinica/cirúrgica foi de 3,77±3,53 dias. As drogas mais utilizadas foram as vasoativas. As intercorrências mais prevalentes, no período pós-operatório, foram a hipotensão arterial 50(36,6%), sangramento 17(12,4%) e hiperglicemia 10(7,3%). O tempo médio de permanência do dreno de tórax foi de 51h43min, do uso de ventilação mecânica foi de 16h38min e do tubo orotraqueal foi de 16h48min. Conclusão: Os principais desfechos clínicos no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca relacionam-se com a condição hemodinâmica do paciente.
A compreensão de professores de educação física acerca dos métodos de ensino e das propostas críticas em escolas campos de estágio
Authors: Bianco Montegutti Berti Mirelli 
Published: July 2017

O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi analisar quais os conhecimentos de professores de Educação Física, que atuam em escolas de Criciúma/SC, acerca dos métodos de ensino e das propostas pedagógicas críticas da Educação Física. Assim, efetivamos uma pesquisa de campo, tendo como instrumento de coleta de dados, um questionário. Participaram da pesquisa nove professores de Educação Física. Concluímos que a maioria desses professores compreende a importância e a finalidade dos métodos de ensino. Alguns professores, porém, confundem métodos de ensino compropostas pedagógicas da Educação Física. Ademais, seis desses professores dizem organizar suas aulas por meio da proposta crítico-superadora. Palavras chave: Métodos de ensino. Educação Física escolar. Propostas críticas.
In vitro assessment of anti-proliferative effect induced by α-mangostin from Cratoxylum arborescens on HeLa cells
Authors: El habbash Aisha I. , Mohd Hashim Najihah , Ibrahim Mohamed Yousif , Yahayu Maizatulakmal , Omer Fatima Abd Elmutaal , Abd Rahman Mashitoh , Nordin Noraziah , Lian Gwendoline Ee Cheng 
Published: July 2017

Natural medicinal products possess diverse chemical structures and have been an essential source for drug discovery. Therefore, in this study, α-mangostin (AM) is a plant-derived compound was investigated for the apoptotic effect on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). The cytotoxic effects of AM on the viability of HeLa and human normal ovarian cell line (SV40) were evaluated by using MTT assay. Results showed that AM inhibited HeLa cells viability at concentration- and time-dependent manner with IC50 value of 24.53 ± 1.48 µM at 24 h. The apoptogenic effects of AM on HeLa were assessed using fluorescence microscopy analysis. The effect of AM on cell proliferation was also studied through clonogenic assay. ROS production evaluation, flow cytometry (cell cycle) analysis, caspases 3/7, 8, and 9 assessment and multiple cytotoxicity assays were conducted to determine the mechanism of cell apoptosis. This was associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and elevation in ROS production. AM induced mitochondrial apoptosis which was confirmed based on the significant increase in the levels of caspases 3/7 and 9 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the MMP disruption and increased cell permeability, concurrent with cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol provided evidence that AM can induce apoptosis via mitochondrial-dependent pathway. AM exerted a remarkable antitumor effect and induced characteristic apoptogenic morphological changes on HeLa cells, which indicates the occurrence of cell death. This study reveals that AM could be a potential antitumor compound on cervical cancer in vitro and can be considered for further cervical cancer preclinical and in vivo testing.
A laid-back trip through the Hennigian Forests
Authors: Mavrodiev Evgeny V. , Dell Christopher , Schroder Laura 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundThis paper is a comment on the idea of matrix-free Cladistics. Demonstration of this idea’s efficiency is a major goal of the study. Within the proposed framework, the ordinary (phenetic) matrix is necessary only as “source” of Hennigian trees, not as a primary subject of the analysis. Switching from the matrix-based thinking to the matrix-free Cladistic approach clearly reveals that optimizations of the character-state changes are related not to the real processes, but to the form of the data representation.MethodsWe focused our study on the binary data. We wrote the simple ruby-based script FORESTER version 1.0 that helps represent a binary matrix as an array of the rooted trees (as a “Hennigian forest”). The binary representations of the genomic (DNA) data have been made by script1001. The Average Consensus method as well as the standard Maximum Parsimony (MP) approach has been used to analyze the data.Principle findingsThe binary matrix may be easily re-written as a set of rooted trees (maximalrelationships). The latter might be analyzed by the Average Consensus method. Paradoxically, this method, if applied to the Hennigian forests,in principlecan help to identify cladesdespitethe absence of the direct evidence from the primary data. Our approach may handle the clock- or non clock-like matrices, as well as the hypothetical, molecular or morphological data.DiscussionOur proposal clearly differs from the numerous phenetic alignment-free techniques of the construction of the phylogenetic trees. Dealing with the relations, not with the actual “data” also distinguishes our approach from all optimization-based methods, if the optimization is defined as a way to reconstruct the sequences of the character-state changes on a tree, either the standard alignment-based techniques or the “direct” alignment-free procedure. We are not viewing our recent framework as an alternative to the three-taxon statement analysis (3TA), but there are two major differences between our recent proposal and the 3TA, as originally designed and implemented: (1) the 3TA deals with the three-taxon statements or minimal relationships. According to the logic of 3TA, the set of the minimal trees must be established as a binary matrix and used as an input for the parsimony program. In this paper, we operate directly with maximal relationships written just as trees, not as binary matrices, while also using the Average Consensus method instead of the MP analysis. The solely ‘reversal’-based groups can always be found by our method without the separate scoring of the putative reversals before analyses.
Link between Indian monsoon rainfall and physical erosion in the Himalayan system during the Holocene
Authors: Joussain Ronan , Liu Zhifei , Colin Christophe , Duchamp‐Alphonse Stéphanie , Yu Zhaojie , Moréno Eva , Fournier Léa , Zaragosi Sébastien , Dapoigny Arnaud , Meynadier Laure , Bassinot Franck 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMineralogical and geochemical analyses conducted on cores located on the active channel‐levee system of the northern Bengal Fan are used to establish changes in the weathering pattern and the sediment transport of the Himalayan system, and evaluate the effect of Indian summer monsoon rainfall during the Holocene. Our data indicate that during the Holocene, sediments from the northern Bengal Fan originate mainly from the G‐B river system without any significant changes in the relative contribution of these rivers. From 9.8 to around 6 ka, relatively low smectite/(illite+chlorite) ratios and relatively high K/Si* ratios indicate high physical denudation rates of the Himalayan highlands together with a rapid transfer of the detrital material to the Bengal Fan. The period between 9.2 and 7 ka is associated to lower values of K/Si* and corresponds to the maximum of Indian monsoon rainfall which indicates a more important chemical weathering material that rapidly transits by the G‐B river system without a long storage in the Indo‐Gangetic plain. From 6.0 ka to present day, higher smectite/(illite+chlorite) ratio and lower K/Si* ratio document a gradual increase of sediments originated from the Indo‐Gangetic plain, characterized by higher degree of chemical weathering. During the last 2.5 ka, the drastic increase in the smectite/(illite+chlorite) ratio could be associated to enhanced alteration of the plain soils due to anthropogenic activity. The comparison of mineralogical and geochemical data with previous reconstructions of the Indian monsoon dynamic indicates a rapid response of erosion and sediment transfer of the G‐B river system to changes of monsoon rainfall intensity.