bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcome of Jehovah's Witnesses after adult cardiac surgery: systematic review and meta‐analysis of comparative studies
Authors: Vasques Francesco , Kinnunen Eeva‐Maija , Pol Marek , Mariscalco Giovanni , Onorati Francesco , Biancari Fausto 
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUNDThe objective was to evaluate the early outcome after adult cardiac surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) compared with controls not refusing blood transfusions.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSA literature review was performed through PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify any comparative study evaluating the outcome of JWs and patients not refusing blood transfusion after adult cardiac surgery.RESULTSSix studies comparing the outcome of 564 JWs and 903 controls fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this study. All series included a matched control cohort. Baseline characteristics of these two cohorts were similar, but JWs had higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels as reported in three studies. Pooled analysis of postoperative outcomes showed that JWs had higher postoperative levels of Hb (data from four studies: mean, 11.5 g/L vs. 9.8 g/L; p < 0.001) and significantly less postoperative blood loss (mean, 402 mL vs. 826 mL; p < 0.001) compared to controls. JWs and controls had similar early outcome. However, JWs had a nonsignificant trend toward decreased early mortality (2.6% vs. 3.6%; p = 0.318), reoperation for bleeding (3.2% vs. 4.7%; p = 0.070), atrial fibrillation (9.9% vs. 14.3%; p = 0.056), stroke (2.2% vs. 3.1%; p = 0.439), myocardial infarction (0.4% vs. 1.4%; p = 0.203), and length of stay in the intensive care unit (1.5 days vs. 2.0 days; p = 0.081).CONCLUSIONJWs undergoing adult cardiac surgery have a nonsignificant trend toward better early outcome than controls receiving or not blood transfusions. The suboptimal quality of available studies prevents conclusive results on the possible benefits of a transfusion‐free strategy in patients not refusing blood transfusion.
Defect of the mitochondrial DNA hypervariable region as a risk factor for canine mammary tumour
Authors: Surdyka M. , Slaska B. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe aim of this study was to identify mutations in the hypervariable region of mitochondrial DNA in canine mammary tumours and to determine their association with the process of neoplastic transformation. A total of 93 biological samples, including blood as well as normal and neoplastic tissue samples from 31 dogs with diagnosed malignant canine mammary tumours were analysed. DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing of the D‐loop as well as bioinformatic and statistical analyses were performed. In the mitochondrial D‐loop sequence, 26 polymorphic loci and 5 mutations were identified. For the first time, D‐loop length heteroplasmy was detected in dogs with mammary tumours. The malignancy grade exerted no effect on the presence of nucleotide changes. A statistically significant association between the presence of mutations and polymorphisms and the size of dogs was demonstrated. The 100% frequency of length heteroplasmy may imply that this is a hotspot mutation of canine mammary tumour.
Association of breed and histopathological grade in canine mast cell tumours
Authors: Mochizuki H. , Motsinger‐Reif A. , Bettini C. , Moroff S. , Breen M. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between breed and the histopathological grade of canine mast cell tumours (MCTs). A retrospective survey of pathology data of 9375 histopathologically confirmed diagnoses of cutaneous MCTs in the US was evaluated in the context of breed prevalence in over two million registered purebred dogs. Association of histopathological grade with breed, age, sex and spay/neuter status was assessed. The data indicate that the proportion of high‐grade tumours increases with advancing age, and that male and intact dogs have increased odds of developing high‐grade tumours. A significant difference in the proportion of high‐grade tumours between breeds was detected. The Pug was at significantly increased risk of developing low/intermediate‐grade tumours, but not high‐grade tumours, resulting in preponderance of less aggressive MCTs in this breed. The results of this study suggest a genetic association for the development of high‐grade MCTs.
The frequently used intraperitoneal hyponatraemia model induces hypovolaemic hyponatraemia with possible model‐dependent brain sodium loss
Authors: Overgaard‐Steensen Christian , Stødkilde‐Jørgensen Hans , Larsson Anders , Tønnesen Else , Frøkiær Jørgen , Ring Troels 
Published: May 2016

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
The brain response to acute hyponatraemia is usually studied in rodents by intraperitoneal instillation of hypotonic fluids (i.p. model). The i.p. model is described as ‘dilutional’ and ‘syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH)’, but the mechanism has not been explored systematically and might affect the brain response. Therefore, in vivo brain and muscle response were studied in pigs.

What is the main finding and its importance?
The i.p. model induces hypovolaemic hyponatraemia attributable to sodium redistribution, not dilution. A large reduction in brain sodium is observed, probably because of the specific mechanism causing the hyponatraemia. This is not accounted for in current understanding of the brain response to acute hyponatraemia.

Hyponatraemia is common clinically, and if it develops rapidly, brain oedema evolves, and severe morbidity and even death may occur. Experimentally, acute hyponatraemia is most frequently studied in small animal models, in which the hyponatraemia is produced by intraperitoneal instillation of hypotonic fluids (i.p. model). This hyponatraemia model is described as ‘dilutional’ or ‘syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH)’, but seminal studies contradict this interpretation. To confront this issue, we developed an i.p. model in a large animal (the pig) and studied water and electrolyte responses in brain, muscle, plasma and urine. We hypothesized that hyponatraemia was induced by simple water dilution, with no change in organ sodium content. Moderate hypotonic hyponatraemia was induced by a single i.v. dose of desmopressin and intraperitoneal instillation of 2.5% glucose. All animals were anaesthetized and intensively monitored. In vivo brain and muscle water was determined by magnetic resonance imaging and related to the plasma sodium concentration. Muscle water content increased less than expected as a result of pure dilution, and muscle sodium content decreased significantly (by 28%). Sodium was redistributed to the peritoneal fluid, resulting in a significantly reduced plasma volume. This shows that the i.p. model induces hypovolaemic hyponatraemia and not dilutional/SIADH hyponatraemia. Brain oedema evolved, but brain sodium content decreased significantly (by 21%). To conclude, the i.p. model induces hypovolaemic hyponatraemia attributable to sodium redistribution and not water dilution. The large reduction in brain sodium is probably attributable to the specific mechanism that causes the hyponatraemia. This is not accounted for in the current understanding of the brain response to acute hyponatraemia.
Radial basis function neural networks: a topical state-of-the-art
survey
Authors: Dash Ch. Sanjeev Kumar , Behera Ajit Kumar , Dehuri Satchidananda , Cho Sung-Bae 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Radial basis function networks (RBFNs) have
gained widespread appeal amongst researchers and have
shown good performance in a variety of application domains.
They have potential for hybridization and demonstrate
some interesting emergent behaviors. This paper
aims to offer a compendious and sensible survey on RBF
networks. The advantages they offer, such as fast training
and global approximation capability with local responses,
are attracting many researchers to use them in diversified
fields. The overall algorithmic development of RBF networks
by giving special focus on their learning methods,
novel kernels, and fine tuning of kernel parameters have
been discussed. In addition, we have considered the recent
research work on optimization of multi-criterions in
RBF networks and a range of indicative application areas
along with some open source RBFN tools.
Milling strategies evaluation when simulating the
forming dies’ functional surfaces production
Authors: Ižol Peter , Tomáš Miroslav , Beňo Jozef 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
The paper deals with selection and evaluation
of milling strategies, available in CAM systems and applicable
when complicated shape parts are produced, such
as forming dies. A method to obtain samples is proposed
and this stems from real forming die surface machined by
proper strategies. The strategy applicability for the whole
part – forming die – is reviewed by the particular specimen
evaluation. The presented methodology has been verified
by machining model die and comparing it to the production
procedure proposed in other CAM systems.
Calibrator device for the extrusion of cable
coatings
Authors: Garbacz Tomasz , Dulebová Ľudmila , Spišák Emil , Dulebová Martina 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
This paper presents selected results of theoretical
and experimental research works on a new calibration
device (calibrators) used to produce coatings of electric
cables. The aim of this study is to present design solution
calibration equipment and present a new calibration
machine, which is an important element of the modernized
technology extrusion lines for coating cables. As a result
of the extrusion process of PVC modified with blowing
agents, an extrudate in the form of an electrical cable
was obtained. The conditions of the extrusion process
were properly selected, which made it possible to obtain a
product with solid external surface and cellular core.
Spectral Quasi-linearization Method for
Homogeneous-Heterogeneous Reactions on
Nonlinear Convection Flow of Micropolar Fluid
Saturated Porous Medium with Convective
Boundary Condition
Authors: RamReddy Chetteti , Pradeepa Teegala 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Based on the nonlinear variation of density with
temperature (NDT) in the buoyancy term, the mixed convection
flow along a vertical plate of a micropolar fluid saturated
porous medium is considered. In addition, the effect
of homogeneous-heterogeneous reaction and convective
boundary condition has been taken into account. Using
lie scaling group transformations, the similarity representation
is attained for the system of partial differential
equations, prior to being solved by a spectral quasilinearization
method. The results show that in the presence
of aiding and opposing flow situations, both the
species concentration and mass transfer rate decreases
when the strength of homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction
parameters are enhanced.
Yield Stability of Yellow Maize Hybrids in the Savannas of West Africa
Authors: Meseka Silvestro , Menkir Abebe , Olakojo Samuel , Jalloh Alpha , Coulibaly Ntji , Bossey Olubunmi 
Published: May 2016

There is growing interest for yellow maize among farmers and the food and feed industries in West Africa. Testing of maize hybrids in multi‐location trials is crucial for identifying adapted high‐yielding candidates for quick release. This study was designed to evaluate yield stability of three‐way cross yellow maize hybrids across 17 diverse environments in the savannas of West Africa. Highly significant differences (P < 0.001) were observed among hybrids across locations. The interaction between genotypes and environments was significant for grain yield and most other agronomic traits, with high repeatability (0.68) for grain yield across the test environments. The hybrid A1001‐19 was found to be the highest yielding, with yield advantage of 10% over the commercial hybrid Oba Super 2. The genotype, genotype by environment biplot identified hybrid A1001‐7 as the most stable hybrid with above‐average grain yield, followed by A1001‐10. However, A1001‐19 was relatively stable and was the best hybrid in 12 of the 17 environments across Mali, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Kudu and Zaria 2013 were the most discriminating locations for the hybrids. The stable yield performance of A1001‐7 and A1001‐10, and to a larger extent A1001‐19, would benefit farmers and seed producers with limited capacity to handle single‐cross hybrids. Hybrid A1001‐10 was released by partners, and hybrids A1001‐7 and A1001‐19 have been evaluated in national performance and on‐farm trials for potential release. This would provide more food for resource‐poor farmers and raw materials for food and feed industries and would result in increased household incomes of smallholder farmers in West Africa.Core Ideas

There is growing interest for yellow maize among farmers, food, and feed industries.
Testing maize hybrids in several locations is crucial for identifying best candidates.
Highly significant differences were observed among the hybrids across 17 locations.
Three hybrids were relatively stable across locations compared with a commercial hybrid.
These will benefit producers with limited capacity to handle single‐cross hybrids.
Dementia in a tribal landlocked elderly population at high altitude: What explains the lower
prevalence?
Authors: Raina Sunil Kumar , Chander Vishav , Bhardwaj Amit 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Studies across the populations have suggested that dementia is differentially distributed with a lower prevalence in developing regions than the developed ones. A comparison in the prevalence of dementia across populations may provide an insight into its risk factors. Earlier, we reported on the prevalence of dementia in elderly population in migrant, urban, rural, and tribal populations. The present study was conducted with a view to estimating the prevalence of dementia in Tribal Landlocked Elderly Population at high altitude and therefore to draw some conclusions on the differential distribution of dementia across populations. Methods: A cross-sectional comprehensive two-phase survey of all residents aged 60 years and older was conducted. Phase 1 involved screening of all individuals aged 60 and above with the help of a cognitive screen specifically developed for the tribal population. Phase 2 involved clinical examination of individuals who were suspected of dementia as per the developed cognitive screening test. Results: The results revealed that six individuals out of a total of 481 studied above 60 years of age in the studied population scored between 17 and 23, thus qualifying as suffering from mild cognitive impairment. Importantly, none of the individuals above 60 years of age scored <17. Discussion: The current study is in conformity with our previous study conducted on urban, rural, and migrant areas of the state of Himachal Pradesh again emphasizing on dementia being rare in tribal populations and thereby pointing to the presence of some protective factors among tribal people.
Malnutrition as a cause of mental retardation: A population-based study from Sub-Himalayan India
Authors: Raina Sunil Kumar , Sharma Shailja , Bhardwaj Ashok , Singh Mitasha , Chaudhary Sanjeev , Kashyap Vipasha 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACT
Background: Mental retardation is one of the most common disabilities of childhood. The research on childhood malnutrition and its relationship with cognitive functioning suggests that malnutrition alone does not cause mental retardation. Objective: To identify the relation between malnutrition and cognition among children from a Sub-Himalayan state in North India. Materials and Methods: A two-phase cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural, urban, and slum area of district Kangra. A 30-cluster sampling technique was used to screen a population of children 1–10 years of age from five randomly selected panchayats (village government units) of district Kangra. The screening was based on a modified version of the ten questions screen, adapted to the local population. In the first phase, a door-to-door survey was done to identify suspects of mental retardation. In the second phase, the children found positive in the first phase were called for clinical examination to confirm mental retardation. Anthropometric assessment of all study children was done by measuring weight and height. The nutritional assessment was done by categorizing them according to Waterlow classification for malnutrition. Results: Out of the total 5300 children, 1.7% were diagnosed as mentally retarded. No positive association was reported with different types of malnutrition and mental retardation. A weakly positive association existed between nutritional status and mental retardation (correlation coefficient-0.04). Children who were both wasted and stunted had the highest risk (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval - 5.57, 2.29–10.36) of mental retardation as compared to normal. Conclusion: Malnutrition may be one of the causes but certainly not the only cause of mental retardation. Other causes may be contributing more significantly toward it.
Assessment of intracranial metastases from neuroendocrine tumors/carcinoma
Authors: Shalaby Ahmad M. Ragab , Kazuei Hoshi , Koichi Honma , Naguib Saeed , Al-Menawei Lubna A. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACT
Background: The most common sites of origin for neuroendocrine carcinoma are gastrointestinal tract and its accessory glands, and lungs. Materials and Methods: One.hundred fifty cases diagnosed with metastatic brain lesions were retrieved from hospital records within 5 years. For these cases, the primary neoplasm, histopathological classification, metastasis, treatment, and fate all were studied. Results: Intracranial deposits were detected in 10%. The primary lesion was in the lungs in 87% of patients, and 1 patient in the breast and 1 in esophagus. Pathological classification of the primary lesion was Grade 2 (MIB.1: 3.20%) in 1 patient and neuroendocrine carcinoma (MIB.1: .21%) in 14 patients. The median period from onset of the primary lesion up to diagnosis of brain metastasis was 12.8 months. About 33% of patients had a single metastasis whereas 67% patients had multiple metastases. Brain metastasis was extirpated in 33% of patients. Stereotactic radiotherapy alone was administered in 20% of patients, and brain metastasis was favorably controlled in most of the patients with coadministration of cranial irradiation as appropriate. The median survival period from diagnosis of brain metastasis was 8.1 months. Conclusion: Most of patients with brain metastasis from neuroendocrine carcinoma showed the primary lesion in the lungs, and they had multiple metastases to the liver, lymph nodes, bones, and so forth at the time of diagnosis of brain metastasis. Theguidelines for accurate diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine carcinoma should be immediately established based on further analyses of those patients with brain metastasis
Palaeoclimatic oscillations in the Pliensbachian (Early Jurassic) of the Asturian Basin (Northern Spain)
Authors: Gómez Juan J. , Comas-Rengifo María J. , Goy Antonio 
Published: May 2016

Abstract. One of the main controversial themes in palaeoclimatology involves elucidating whether climate during the Jurassic was warmer than the present day and if it was the same over Pangaea, with no major latitudinal gradients. There has been an abundance of evidence of oscillations in seawater temperature throughout the Jurassic. The Pliensbachian (Early Jurassic) constitutes a distinctive time interval for which several seawater temperature oscillations, including an exceptional cooling event, have been documented. To constrain the timing and magnitude of these climate changes, the Rodiles section of the Asturian Basin (Northern Spain), a well exposed succession of the uppermost Sinemurian, Pliensbachian and Lower Toarcian deposits, has been studied. A total of 562 beds were measured and sampled for ammonites, for biochronostratigraphical purposes, and for belemnites, to determine the palaeoclimatic evolution through stable isotope studies. Comparison of the recorded latest Sinemurian, Pliensbachian and Early Toarcian changes in seawater palaeotemperature with other European sections allows characterization of several climatic changes that are likely of a global extent. A warming interval partly coinciding with a δ13Cbel negative excursion was recorded at the Late Sinemurian. After a “normal” temperature interval, with temperatures close to average values of the Late Sinemurian–Early Toarcian period, a new warming interval containing a short-lived positive δ13Cbel peak, developed during the Early–Late Pliensbachian transition. The Late Pliensbachian represents an outstanding cooling interval containing a δ13Cbel positive excursion interrupted by a small negative δ13Cbel peak. Finally, the Early Toarcian represented an exceptional warming period, which has been pointed out as being responsible for the prominent Early Toarcian mass extinction.
The Kuroshio bifurcation associated with islands at the Luzon Strait
Authors: Sun Ruili , Wang Guihua , Chen Changlin 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBased upon a suite of satellite and hydrology data along with numerical model simulations, the Kuroshio is found to be separated into two branches. The two branches are located on the western and eastern sides of the Batanes Islands. The western branch, which is the main branch of the Kuroshio, is estimated to carry roughly 68% of the transport, while the eastern branch, which has not been reported before, carries the remainder. Both branches bring warmer water northward, producing two separate warm tongues east of the Luzon Strait. The western warm tongue has an obvious seasonal variation due to the seasonal variation of the Kuroshio in the northern Luzon Strait, while the eastern warm tongue is associated with Pacific mesoscale eddies. As an anticyclonic (a cyclonic) eddy approaches the Batanes Islands from the east, the eastern branch of the Kuroshio is strongly intensified (weakened), and a more (less) pronounced warm tongue is induced. Consequently, interannual variability of Pacific mesoscale eddies affects the strength of the eastern branch.
Spatiotemporal patterns in methane flux and gas transfer velocity at low wind speeds: Implications for upscaling studies on small lakes
Authors: Schilder J. , Bastviken D. , van Hardenbroek M. , Heiri O. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractLakes contribute significantly to the global natural emissions of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide. However, to accurately incorporate them into the continental carbon balance more detailed surveys of lacustrine greenhouse gas emissions are needed, especially in respect to spatiotemporal variability and to how this affects the upscaling of results. We investigated CH4 flux from a small, wind‐shielded lake during 10 field trips over a 14 month period. We show that floating chambers may be used to calibrate the relationship between gas transfer velocity (k) and wind speed at 10 m height (U10) to the local system, in order to obtain more accurate estimates of diffusive CH4 flux than by applying general models predicting k based on U10. We confirm earlier studies indicating strong within‐lake spatial variation in this relationship and in ebullitive CH4 flux within the lake basin. However, in contrast to the pattern reported in other studies, ebullitive CH4 flux was highest in the central parts of the lake. Our results indicate positive relationships between k and U10 at very low U10 (0–3 m s−1), which disagrees with earlier suggestions that this relationship may be negligible at low U10 values. We estimate annually averaged open water CH4 emission from Lake Gerzensee to be 3.6–5.8 mmol m−2 d−1. Our data suggest that estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from aquatic systems to the atmosphere based on the upscaling of short‐term and small‐scale measurements can be improved if both spatial and temporal variabilities of emissions are taken into account.