bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unsteady flow affects swimming energetics in a labriform fish (Cymatogaster aggregata)
Authors: Roche Dominique G. , Taylor Mark K. , Binning Sandra A. , Johansen Jacob L. , Domenici Paolo , Steffensen John F. 
Published: October 2013

Summary
Unsteady water flows are common in nature, yet the swimming performance of fishes is typically evaluated at constant, steady speeds in the laboratory. We examined how cyclic changes in water flow velocity affect the swimming performance and energetics of a labriform swimmer, the shiner surfperch, Cymatogaster aggregata. Using intermittent-flow respirometry, we measured critical swimming speed (Ucrit), oxygen consumption rate (ṀO2) and pectoral fin use in steady flow versus unsteady flows with either low (0.5 body lengths per second; BLs-1) or high amplitude (1.0 BLs-1) velocity fluctuations, with a 5 s period. Individuals in low amplitude unsteady flow performed as well as fish in steady flow. However, swimming costs in high amplitude unsteady flow were on average 25.3 % higher than in steady flow and 14.2% higher than estimated values obtained from simulations based on the non-linear relationship between swimming speed and oxygen consumption rate in steady flow. Time-averaged pectoral fin use (fin beat frequency measured over 300 s) was similar among treatments. However, measures of instantaneous fin use (fin beat period) and body movement in high amplitude unsteady flow indicate that individuals with greater variation in the duration of their fin beats were better at holding station and consumed less oxygen than fish with low variation in fin beat period. These results suggest that the costs of swimming in unsteady flows are context dependent in labriform swimmers, and may be influenced by individual differences in the ability of fishes to adjust their fin beats to the flow environment.
Pegylated leptin antagonist with strong orexigenic activity in mice is not effective in chickens
Authors: Gertler Arieh , Shinder Dmitri , Yosefi Sara , Shpilman Michal , Rosenblum Charles I. , Ruzal Mark , Seroussi Eyal , Friedman-Einat Miriam 
Published: October 2013

SummaryA chicken gene orthologous to human leptin receptor (LEPR) has been characterized and found to be active in leptin signaling in vitro in response to a variety of recombinant leptins and leptin-containing blood samples. However, the endogenous ligand of chicken LEPR (cLEPR) - the putative chicken leptin - has been reported by us and others to be undetectable at the DNA, mRNA, protein and activity levels. These reports have raised questions as to cLEPR's role. Here we analyzed the effects of a pegylated superactive mouse leptin antagonist (PEG-SMLA) in chicken. We showed that the leptin antagonist efficiently and specifically blocks leptin signaling through the cLEPR in vitro. The effect of the leptin antagonist was then studied in vivo by daily administration of 10 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days to White Leghorn female chickens (G. gallus), at the age of two weeks. Despite the efficient attenuation of the cLEPR in vitro, no effect was observed on body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency or fat accumulation in the treated birds. Since similar treatment in rodents leads to a highly pronounced increase in appetite and body weight that are observed from the first day of treatment, it is concluded that the cLEPR is not implicated in the control of appetite or adipose homeostasis in chickens.
Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in the Allocation of Expanded Criteria Donor Kidneys
Authors: Mohandas Rajesh , Casey Michael J. , Cook Robert L. , Lamb Kenneth E. , Wen Xuerong , Segal Mark S. 
Published: October 2013

Summary

Background and objectives
In carefully selected individuals, receiving expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys confer a survival advantage over remaining on dialysis. However, wait lists for ECD kidneys often include a significant proportion of young patients, who have no predictable survival benefit from ECD kidneys. This study hypothesized that educational and socioeconomic factors might influence a younger patient’s decision to accept an ECD kidney.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
This study was a retrospective analysis of all first single-kidney transplants in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database from 2000 to 2009 in patients aged 18–40 years and waitlisted <3 years. The primary outcome measured was the odds of receiving an ECD kidney compared with an standard criteria donor kidney in different demographic subgroups. Race, income, and education were analyzed in main-effect and two-way interaction models, corrected for candidate panel reactive antibodies and sex.

Results
Of 13,615 ECD transplants, 591 kidneys (4.3%) went to recipients aged between 18 and 40 years who were waitlisted <3 years. African Americans (odds ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.26 to 2.33) or those with low education (odds ratio, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 3.89) were more likely to receive an ECD kidney than Caucasians or those with a college degree, respectively. However, African Americans with higher education levels did not have significantly higher odds of receiving an ECD kidney than Caucasians with a college degree.

Conclusions
In patients aged <40 years and waitlisted <3 years, African Americans and those with lower educational status and low income are more likely to receive an ECD kidney than Caucasians or those with higher education. It is important that health care providers and patients understand such disparities to facilitate a more rational use of ECD kidneys.
Effect of the preparation route on the structure and microstructure of LaCoO3
Authors: Andoulsi Refka , Horchani-Naifer Karima , Férid Mokhtar 
Published: October 2013

AbstractLanthanum cobaltite oxide, LaCoO3, was prepared by the evaporation technique and the amorphous metal complex method. Powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and surface area measurements. The effect of the synthesis route on the phase purity, particle size, surface area, and morphology of the powders was studied. A single perovskite phase was synthesized at 700°C using the amorphous metal complex route. However, the evaporation technique required higher temperature for LaCoO3 crystallization. Based on the characterization results, low temperature formation of LaCoO3 was attributed to the homogeneity of the precursors. Such behavior also results in different microstructures. Powder synthesized by the amorphous metal complex method exhibited the highest surface area and the lowest particle size.
“Green synthesis” of benzothiazepine library of indeno analogues and their in vitro antimicrobial activity
Authors: Acharya Ashok , Kamble Rahul , Patil Snehalkumar , Hese Shrikant , Yemul Omprakash , Patil Sudhakar , Halale Shivshankar , Dawane Bhaskar 
Published: October 2013

AbstractA novel series of indeno-benzothiazepine derivatives was synthesised via a “green” route. Synthesis of these compounds involves the treatment of dinucleophiles such as 2-aminobenzenethiols with α,β-unsaturated ketones in poly(oxyethylene) (poly(ethylene glycol), PEG-400) catalysed by acetic acid. The synthone α,β-unsaturated ketones were obtained by Claisen-Schmidt condensation of indan-1-one with substituted pyrazole-2-carbaldehydes prompted by bleaching earth (pH 12.5) as catalyst and PEG-400 as “green” reaction solvent. Screening of all the synthesised compounds for antimicrobial activity revealed that most of these compounds exhibited moderate to significant antimicrobial activity.
Physical Examination Tests for the Diagnosis of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kopkow Christian , Freiberg Alice , Kirschner Stephan , Seidler Andreas , Schmitt Jochen 
Published: October 2013

Study Design Systematic literature review. Objectives To summarize and evaluate research on the accuracy of physical examination tests for diagnosis of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear. Background Rupture of the PCL is a severe knee injury that can lead to delayed rehabilitation, instability, or chronic knee pathologies. To our knowledge, there is currently no systematic review of studies on the diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination tests to evaluate the integrity of the PCL. Methods A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE from 1946, Embase from 1974, and the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database from 1985 until April 30, 2012. Studies were considered eligible if they compared the results of physical examination tests performed in the context of a PCL physical examination to those of a reference standard (arthroscopy, arthrotomy, magnetic resonance imaging). Methodological quality assessment was performed by 2 independent reviewers using the revised version of the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. Results The search strategy revealed 1307 articles, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria for this review. In these studies, 11 different physical examination tests were identified. Due to differences in study types, different patient populations, and methodological quality, meta-analysis was not indicated. Presently, most physical examination tests have not been evaluated sufficiently enough to be confident in their ability to either confirm or rule out a PCL tear. Conclusions The diagnostic accuracy of physical examination tests to assess the integrity of the PCL is largely unknown. There is a strong need for further research in this area. Level of Evidence Diagnosis, level 3a. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2013;43(11):804–813. Epub 10 October 2013. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4906
Comparison of hypertonic saline-sodium hydroxide method with modified Petroff’s method for the decontamination and concentration of sputum samples
Authors: Chaudhary SK , Mishra B 
Published: October 2013

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis is one of the major health problems particularly in developing countries. For definitive diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis identification of tubercle bacilli in sputum by microscopy and culture is essential. For decontamination and concentration of sputum, the commonly used method in the laboratory is Modified Petroff’s method but the Hypertonic saline–sodium hydroxide (HS-SH) method is known to be better for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by culture. This study was aimed to compare a novel method for the improvement of decontamination and concentration of sputum samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 confirmed smear positive sputum samples from pulmonary TB patients who visited at St. John’s Medical College and Hospital during 2009 to 2010, were processed for the decontamination process. Each sample was decontaminated by Modified Petroff’s and HS-SH method separately. Treated samples were cultured in Lowenstein-Jensen media in microbiology laboratory. RESULTS: The culture positive percents of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the L-J medium treated with HS-SH and Modified Petroff’s method were 84.0% and 70.0%, respectively. A notable feature is that by HS-SH method more samples were positive by 4th week, statistically significant (Chi- square value-11.26 with p-value < 0.05) compare to Modified Petroff’s method. The difference for 3+ grades of L-J growths found slightly higher by Modified Petroff’s method but at lower grades of growths HS-SH method performed better. CONCLUSIONS: HS-SH method is better for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by culture when compared with the Modified Petroff’s method. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijim.v2i3.8664 Int J Infect Microbiol 2013;2(3):78-81
Occurrence of urinary tract infection among children attending Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center, Pokhara, Nepal
Authors: Gautam G , Regmi S , Magar NT , Subedi B , Sharma T , Regmi SM 
Published: October 2013

INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is considered as the most common bacterial infectious disease seen among the pediatric patients. Most commonly, members of Enterobacteriaceae, particularly uropathogenic strains of E. coli and Enterobacter spp. are the primary causative pathogens of UTI in the different part of the world. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance rates among pathogens recovered from urinary tract infections is an increasing problem in the specific region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prevalence and anti microbial susceptibility pattern of the bacterial uropathogens isolated from the children attending Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Reserch Center (GMC) Nepal. A total of 155 children aged upto 15 years were included in this study. Urine cultures were carried out and the isolates were identified by Gram staining and conventional biochemical methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). RESULTS: In the present study 21.3 % of the sample size, showed significant bacterial growth. E. coli was the most frequently occurring pathogen (39.40%), followed by Proteus spp. 21.2%, Citrobacter spp. and Streptococcus faecalis (12.1%) Klebsiella spp. (9.1%), and Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter (3.0%). Susceptibility rate of E. coli were 69.2% to Gentamycin and Amikacin, 53.8% to Norfloxacin, 38.4% to Nalidixic acid and Norfloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric urine culture isolates were becoming increasingly resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Finally, we suggest that empirical antibiotic selection should be based on knowledge of the local prevalence of bacterial organisms and antibiotic sensitivities rather than on universal guidelines. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijim.v2i3.8665 Int J Infect Microbiol 2013;2(3):82-86
Misdirection and guidance of regenerating axons after experimental nerve injury and repair
Authors: de Ruiter Godard C. W. , Spinner Robert J. , Verhaagen Joost , Malessy Martijn J. A. 
Published: October 2013

Misdirection of regenerating axons is one of the factors that can explain the limited results often found after nerve injury and repair. In the repair of mixed nerves innervating different distal targets (skin and muscle), misdirection may, for example, lead to motor axons projecting toward skin, and vice versa—that is, sensory axons projecting toward muscle. In the repair of motor nerves innervating different distal targets, misdirection may result in reinnervation of the wrong target muscle, which might function antagonistically. In sensory nerve repair, misdirection might give an increased perceptual territory. After median nerve repair, for example, this might lead to a dysfunctional hand.
Different factors may be involved in the misdirection of regenerating axons, and there may be various mechanisms that can later correct for misdirection. In this review the authors discuss these different factors and mechanisms that act along the pathway of the regenerating axon. The authors review recently developed evaluation methods that can be used to investigate the accuracy of regeneration after nerve injury and repair (including the use of transgenic fluorescent mice, retrograde tracing techniques, and motion analysis). In addition, the authors discuss new strategies that can improve in vivo guidance of regenerating axons (including physical guidance with multichannel nerve tubes and biological guidance accomplished using gene therapy).
Surgical management and clinical outcomes of multiple-level symptomatic herniated thoracic discs
Authors: Oppenlander Mark E. , Clark Justin C. , Kalyvas James , Dickman Curtis A. 
Published: October 2013

Object
Symptomatic herniated thoracic discs (HTDs) are rare, and patients infrequently require treatment of 2 or more disc levels. The authors assess the surgical management and outcomes of patients with multiple-level symptomatic HTDs.

Methods
A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed of 220 consecutive patients treated surgically for symptomatic HTDs. Clinical and surgical results were compared between patients with single-level disease and patients with multiple-level disease and also among the different approaches used for surgical decompression.

Results
Between 1992 and 2012, 56 patients (mean age 48 years; 26 male, 30 female) underwent 62 procedures for 130 HTDs. Forty-six patients (82%) had myelopathy, and 36 (64%) had thoracic radiculopathy; 24 patients had both conditions in varying degree. Symptom duration averaged 28 months. The surgical approach was dictated by disc size, consistency, and location. Twenty-three thoracotomy, 26 thoracoscopy, and 13 posterolateral procedures were performed. Five patients required a combination of approaches. Patients underwent 2-level (n = 44), 3-level (n = 7), 4-level (n = 4), or 5-level (n = 1) discectomies. Instrumented fusion was performed in 36 patients (64%). Thirteen patients harbored 19 additional discs, which were deemed asymptomatic/nonoperative.
The mean hospital stay was 6.5 days. Complete disc resection was verified with postoperative imaging in every patient. The procedural complication rate was 23%, and the nature of complications differed based on approach. No patients had surgery-related spinal cord injury or new myelopathy.
At a mean follow-up of 48 months, myelopathy and radiculopathy had resolved or improved at a rate of 85% and 92%, respectively. Using a general linear model, preoperative symptom duration (p = 0.037) and perioperative hospital length of stay (p = 0.004) emerged as negative predictors of myelopathy improvement. Most patients (96%) were satisfied with the surgical results.
Compared with 164 patients who underwent single-level HTD decompression, patients requiring surgery for multiple-level HTDs were more often myelopathic (p = 0.012). Surgery for multiple-level HTDs was more likely to require a thoracotomy approach (p = 0.00055) and instrumented fusion (p < 0.0001) and resulted in greater blood loss (p = 0.0036) and higher complication rates (p = 0.0069). The rates of resolution for myelopathy (p = 0.24) and radiculopathy (p = 1.0), however, were similar between the 2 patient groups.

Conclusions
The management of multiple-level symptomatic HTDs is complex, requiring individualized clinical decision making. The surgical approaches must be selected to minimize manipulation of the compressed thoracic spinal cord, and a patient may require a combination of approaches. Excellent surgical results can be achieved in this unique and challenging patient population.
Une idée sur le déclin ?
Authors: Pellizzoni Luigi , Vannini Laurent 
Published: October 2013

La démocratie délibérative s’est répandue à toute vitesse, sans distinction de tradition politique ou étatique. Un débat s’est développé tout aussi rapidement à propos de ses vertus et limites ; il s’est orienté progressivement de la théorie vers la pratique ; son centre de gravité s’est déplacé des arènes de la délibération vers leur contexte politique et institutionnel ; mais il n’a pas remis en question la nature et les implications fondamentalement bénéfiques de la délibération publique. Néanmoins, il semble que nous soyons aujourd’hui à un tournant. Un nombre grandissant de travaux académiques développe un autre type de critique, plus virulente, au centre de laquelle se trouvent non pas la revitalisation de la démocratie et le rôle joué par les forums délibératifs dans la « nouvelle ère » de la gouvernance, mais la « néolibéralisation de la société », et l’intégration, à l’œuvre dans ce processus, de la démocratie délibérative dans une rationalité de gouvernement. Par conséquent, certaines questions posées depuis longtemps y sont interprétées ou hiérarchisées différemment, tandis que d’autres sont soulevées avec plus d’insistance, notamment celles qui traitent de la politique et « du politique ». Cet article analyse les principaux arguments propres à cette seconde catégorie de travaux, qui font voir « faiblesses » et « désavantages » non pas comme des éléments fortuits et corrigibles, mais comme des qualités en grande partie intentionnelles, et responsables du succès même de la délibération. Néanmoins, plutôt que de souligner le destin tragique auquel serait vouée par nature la démocratie délibérative, cette étude suggère une refonte du programme de recherche qui en a fait son objet.
On Crowd-verification of Biological Networks
Authors: Ansari Sam , Binder Jean , Boue Stephanie , Di Fabio Anselmo , Hayes William , Hoeng Julia , Iskandar Anita , Kleiman Robin , Norel Raquel , O'neel Bruce , Peitsch Manuel C. , Poussin Carine , Pratt Dexter , Rhrissorrakrai Kahn , Schlage Walter K. , Stolovitzky Gustavo , Talikka Marja 
Published: October 2013

Biological networks with a structured syntax are a powerful way of representing biological information generated from high density data; however, they can become unwieldy to manage as their size and complexity increase. This article presents a crowd-verification approach for the visualization and expansion of biological networks. Web-based graphical interfaces allow visualization of causal and correlative biological relationships represented using Biological Expression Language (BEL). Crowdsourcing principles enable participants to communally annotate these relationships based on literature evidences. Gamification principles are incorporated to further engage domain experts throughout biology to gather robust peer-reviewed information from which relationships can be identified and verified. The resulting network models will represent the current status of biological knowledge within the defined boundaries, here processes related to human lung disease. These models are amenable to computational analysis. For some period following conclusion of the challenge, the published models will remain available for continuous use and expansion by the scientific community.