bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sleep quality and duration are related to microvascular function: the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study
Authors: Bonsen Thomas , Wijnstok Nienke J. , Hoekstra Trynke , Eringa Etto C. , Serné Erik H. , Smulders Yvo M. , Twisk Jos W. R. 
Published: November 2014

SummarySleep and sleep disorders are related to cardiovascular disease, and microvascular function is an early cardiovascular disease marker. Therefore, the relationship of sleep (measured in sleep quality and duration) with microvascular function was examined in healthy adults. Sleep quality was assessed with the validated Sleep Wake Experience List (SWEL) questionnaire. Duration of sleep was self‐reported in an additional question. Microvascular function was measured using nailfold capillaroscopy. Linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between sleep and microvascular function. Potential confounders included physical activity, smoking, blood pressure, body mass index and several biochemical parameters. Analyses were performed in 259 participants (116 men). For women reporting insufficient (<7 h) sleep duration, microvascular function (post‐ischaemic capillary recruitment) was significantly lower (b = −11.17; P = 0.04) compared to women reporting sufficient sleep duration. There was no relationship between sleep quality and microvascular function in females. In males, a trend towards lower capillary recruitment was found in those reporting a combination of poor sleep quality and insufficient duration (b = −7.54; P = 0.09), compared to those reporting good sleep quality as well as sufficient duration. This study suggests an association between sleep and microvascular function. Which aspects of sleep exactly affect microvascular function, and if indeed the association is different between males and females in other samples, needs further research.
Association between chronic hepatitis C virus infection and low muscle mass in US adults
Authors: Gowda C. , Compher C. , Amorosa V. K. , Lo Re V. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryGiven that low muscle mass can lead to worse health outcomes in patients with chronic infections, we assessed whether chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was associated with low muscle mass among US adults. We performed a cross‐sectional study of the National Health Examination and Nutrition Study (1999–2010). Chronic HCV‐infected patients had detectable HCV RNA. Low muscle mass was defined as <10th percentile for mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of low muscle mass associated with chronic HCV. Among 18 513 adults, chronic HCV‐infected patients (n = 303) had a higher prevalence of low muscle mass than uninfected persons (13.8% vs 6.7%; aOR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.39–3.56), and this association remained when analyses were repeated among persons without significant liver fibrosis (aOR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.30–3.47). This study demonstrates that chronic HCV infection is associated with low muscle mass, as assessed by MUAC measurements, even in the absence of advanced liver disease.
Do ketogenic diets really suppress appetite? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Gibson A. A. , Seimon R. V. , Lee C. M. Y. , Ayre J. , Franklin J. , Markovic T. P. , Caterson I. D. , Sainsbury A. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryVery‐low‐energy diets (VLEDs) and ketogenic low‐carbohydrate diets (KLCDs) are two dietary strategies that have been associated with a suppression of appetite. However, the results of clinical trials investigating the effect of ketogenic diets on appetite are inconsistent. To evaluate quantitatively the effect of ketogenic diets on subjective appetite ratings, we conducted a systematic literature search and meta‐analysis of studies that assessed appetite with visual analogue scales before (in energy balance) and during (while in ketosis) adherence to VLED or KLCD. Individuals were less hungry and exhibited greater fullness/satiety while adhering to VLED, and individuals adhering to KLCD were less hungry and had a reduced desire to eat. Although these absolute changes in appetite were small, they occurred within the context of energy restriction, which is known to increase appetite in obese people. Thus, the clinical benefit of a ketogenic diet is in preventing an increase in appetite, despite weight loss, although individuals may indeed feel slightly less hungry (or more full or satisfied). Ketosis appears to provide a plausible explanation for this suppression of appetite. Future studies should investigate the minimum level of ketosis required to achieve appetite suppression during ketogenic weight loss diets, as this could enable inclusion of a greater variety of healthy carbohydrate‐containing foods into the diet.
Nivalenol‐producing Fusarium cerealis associated with fusarium head blight in winter wheat in Manitoba, Canada
Authors: Amarasinghe C. C. , Tittlemier S. A. , Fernando W. G. D. 
Published: November 2014

Fusarium head blight (FHB) in small grain cereals is primarily caused by the members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex. These produce mycotoxins in infected grains, primarily deoxynivalenol (DON); acetylated derivatives of DON, 3‐acetyl‐DON (3‐ADON) and 15‐acetyl‐DON (15‐ADON); and nivalenol (NIV). This study reports the isolation of Fusarium cerealis in infected winter wheat heads for the first time in Canada. A phylogenetic analysis based on the TRI101 gene and F. graminearum species‐specific primers revealed two species of Fusarium: F. graminearum sensu stricto (127 isolates) and F. cerealis (five isolates). Chemotype determination based on the TRI3 gene revealed that 65% of the isolates were 3‐ADON, 31% were 15‐ADON and 4% were NIV producers. All the F. cerealis isolates were of NIV chemotype. Fusarium cerealis isolates can often be misidentified as F. graminearum as the morphological characteristics are similar. Although the cultural and macroconidial characteristics of F. graminearum and F. cerealis isolates were similar, the aggressiveness of these isolates on susceptible wheat cultivar Roblin and moderately resistant cultivar Carberry differed significantly. The F. graminearum 3‐ADON isolates were most aggressive, followed by F. graminearum 15‐ADON and F. cerealis NIV isolates. The findings from this study confirm the continuous shift of chemotypes from 15‐ADON to 3‐ADON in North America. In Canada, the presence of NIV is limited to barley samples and the discovery of NIV‐producing F. cerealis species in Canadian wheat fields may pose a serious concern to the Canadian wheat industry in the future.
Bioethics in Islamic Thought
Authors: Shabana Ayman 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThis article gives an overview of Islamic ethical thought and its relationship to bioethical issues. It argues that Islamic bioethics can be viewed both as a cumulative tradition building on the Islamic ethical resources and as an ongoing discourse that captures the effort to understand and implement Islamic moral precepts pertaining to a wide range of issues including the beginning and end of human life, treatment of the human body, and proper attitudes towards the environment. After a brief introduction on the term ‘bioethics’ and its history, the article is divided into three main sections exploring the foundations of Islamic (bio)ethics, the evolution and development of medical ethics in the Islamic tradition, and the main challenges confronting contemporary Islamic bioethical discourses.
Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Agonist Attenuates Pain Related Behavior in Rats with Chronic Alcohol/High Fat Diet Induced Pancreatitis
Authors: Zhang Liping , Kline Robert H , McNearney Terry A , Johnson Michael P , Westlund Karin N 
Published: November 2014

Background: Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) is a complex and multifactorial syndrome. Many contributing factors result in development of dysfunctional pain in a significant number of patients. Drugs developed to treat a variety of pain states fall short of providing effective analgesia for patients with chronic pancreatitis, often providing minimal to partial pain relief over time with significant side effects. Recently, availability of selective pharmacological tools has enabled great advances in our knowledge of the role of the cannabinoid receptors in pathophysiology. In particular, cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) has emerged as an attractive target for management of chronic pain, as demonstrated in several studies with inflammatory and neuropathic preclinical pain models. In this study, the analgesic efficacy of a novel, highly selective CB2 receptor agonist, LY3038404 HCl, is investigated in a chronic pancreatitis pain model, induced with an alcohol/high fat (AHF) diet. Results: Rats fed the AHF diet developed visceral pain-like behaviors detectable by week 3 and reached a maximum at week 5 that persists as long as the diet is maintained. Rats with AHF induced chronic pancreatitis were treated with LY3038404 HCl (10 mg/kg, orally, twice a day for 9 days). The treated animals demonstrated significantly alleviated pain related behaviors after 3 days of dosing, including increased paw withdrawal thresholds (PWT), prolonged abdominal withdrawal latencies (ABWL), and decreased nocifensive responses to noxious 44°C hotplate stimuli. Terminal histological analysis of pancreatic tissue sections from the AHF chronic pancreatitis animals demonstrated extensive injury, including a global pancreatic gland degeneration (cellular atrophy), vacuolization (fat deposition), and fibrosis. After the LY3038404 HCl treatment, pancreatic tissue was significantly protected from severe damage and fibrosis. LY3038404 HCl affected neither open field exploratory behaviors nor dark/light box preferences as measures of higher brain and motor functions. Conclusion: LY3038404 HCl, a potent CB2 receptor agonist, possesses tissue protective and analgesic properties without effects on higher brain function. Thus, activation of CB2 receptors is suggested as a potential therapeutic target for visceral inflammation and pain management.
Uncertainty Quantification of Channelized Reservoir Using Ensemble Smoother with Selective Measurement Data
Authors: Lee Kyungbook , Jung SeungPil , Shin Hyundon , Choe Jonggeun 
Published: November 2014

Ensemble smoother (ES) assimilates all available dynamic data without iterations as global update. Therefore, ES is much faster than ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), which uses recursive updates. Iterative concepts are introduced for ES to increase accuracy of history matching. However, they lose advantages of simulation time and cost over EnKF. We propose ES with selective use of observation data in assimilation to improve history matching results and to keep simulation time short. Three methods, EnKF with all data, ES with all data, and the proposed, are applied to 2D synthetic channelized reservoirs with a nine spot waterflooding. Ensemble-based methods interpret the reason of reduced oil production rate after water breakthrough as low permeability. In this research, we suggest selective measurement data to manage misinterpretable data for the ensemble-based methods. As a logical choice, oil production rate before water breakthrough and water cut after water breakthrough are used for assimilation. EnKF with all data cannot predict true performances of oil and water productions on each well. ES with all data shows severe overshooting and filter divergence problems, which are two typical problems in the ensemble-based methods. However, the proposed method overcomes the two problems and shows good history matching results. It provides reliable uncertainty quantification of reservoir performances for both each well production and field total productions. Simulation cost of the proposed method is about 2.2% of that of EnKF, which uses 45 times update. It has clear advantage over EnKF or iterative ES methods.
Geochemical Characterization of Jurassic Source Rocks from Cuba: 2. Constancia Formation in Onshore Varadero Oils Fields
Authors: González B. M. , Barrionuevo Simone , Peralba Maria do Carmo , Kalkreuth Wolfgang 
Published: November 2014

Samples collected from the Upper Jurassic Constancia Formation in the Varadero oilfields, located in the Northern Marginal Basin of Cuba were analyzed to evaluate the type and origin of the organic matter and their source rock potential. This study is based on geochemical analyses of whole rock (total organic carbon content (TOC), Rock-Eval pyrolysis), petrographical analyses (vitrinite reflectance, spore colouration index (SCI), palynofacies) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results obtained from 25 core samples collected from four petroleum exploration wells indicate that these rocks have organic carbon contents ranging from 0.13 wt% to high 5.84 wt%. The average hydrocarbon generation potential as determined by Rock-Eval pyrolysis potential (S2) is between 0.34–5 mg HC/g rock for samples with low TOC, suggesting good to excellent potential to generate oil and 5–49.9 mg HC/g rock for samples with high TOC. Based on palynofacies analyses three organic assemblages have been identified. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of palynofacies show that the Constancia Formation of Jurassic age, represent oxic proximal and suboxic-anoxic/marine restricted environment. The Amorphous organic matter is the dominant element of the particulate organic matter in the assemblages I, followed by structured terrestrial organic matter and spores/pollen in the assemblages III. The results of Rrandom and SCI suggest a maturity level of the organic matter ranging from immature to marginally mature. The Constancia extract rock are immature to early maturity evaluated from the C29-αα20S/(S + R) and C29–20R ββ/(ββ + αα) sterane indices.
Preliminary Investigation of the Possibility for Implementation of Modified Pharmacopoeial HPLC Methods For Quality Control Of Metronidazole And Ciprofloxacin In Medicinal Products Used In Veterinary Medicine
Authors: Piponski Marjan , Bakovska Tanja , Naumoska Marina , Rusevska Tatjana , Serafimovska Gordana Trendovska , Andonoska Hristina 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Quality control of veterinary medicine products containing two different frequently used antibiotics metronidazole and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, was considered and performed, using modified pharmacopoeial HPLC methods. Three different HPLC systems were used: Varian ProStar, Perkin Elmer Series and UPLC Shimadzu Prominence XR. The chromatographic columns used were LiChropher RP Select B 75 mm × 4 mm with 5 μm particles and Discovery C18 100 mm × 4,6 mm with 5 μm particles. Chromatographic methods used for both analytes were compendial, with minor modifications made for experimental purposes. Minor modifications of the pharmacopoeia prescribed chromatographic conditions, in both cases, led to better chromatographic parameters, good resolution and shorter analysis times. Optimized methods can be used for: determination of metronidazole in gel formulation, for its simultaneous quantification with preservatives present in the formulation and even for identification and quantification of its specified impurity, 2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole; determination of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride in film coated tablets and eye drops and identification and quantification of its specified impurities. These slightly modified and optimized pharmacopoeial methods for quality control of metronidazole and ciprofloxacin dosage forms used in veterinary medicine can be successfully applied in laboratories for quality control of veterinary medicines.
Spillover Effects of Drug Safety Warnings on Preventive Health Care Use
Authors: Meltem Daysal N. , Orsini Chiara 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
We examine how new medical information on drug safety impacts preventive health care use. We exploit the release of the findings of the Women’s Health Initiative Study (WHIS) – the largest randomized controlled trial of women’s health – which demonstrated in 2002 the health risks associated with the long-term use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We first show that, after the release of the WHIS findings, HRT use dropped sharply among post-menopausal women. We then estimate the spillover effects of the WHIS findings on preventive care by means of a difference-in-differences methodology comparing changes in preventive care use among 60 to 69 year-old women (who have high rates of HRT use) with the change among women aged 75 and above (who have much lower rates of HRT use). Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for the period 1998–2007, we find that women aged 60–69 had statistically and economically significant declines in their annual mammography checks, checkups, cholesterol checks and blood stool tests, when compared to older women.
Nonlinear Phase Shift due to Stimulated Brillouin Scattering in Strong Saturation Regime for Different Types of Fibers
Authors: Al-Asadi H. A. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractWe have developed a theoretical model that analytically predicts the nonlinear phase shift, which is due to Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) in two different types of optical fibers, a Standard Single-mode fiber (SMF) and a conventional Dispersion Compensating (DCF) fibre. Theoretical analysis based on the SBS effect yields a good description of the nonlinear phase shift of the output pump and Stokes wave characteristics in a strong saturation regime. A comparison of the two optical fibers is presented. With input pump power of 16 dBm, optical fiber length 11 km at the power ratio of 0.05, the predicted nonlinear phase shift of the output pump power and the Stokes power of SMF and DCF are about 79.58° and 97.92°, respectively. The nonlinear phase shift of the output pump power and of the Stokes power is higher when 11 km (6.7 km) DCF fiber length is used, as compared to the SMF of the same length. The nonlinear phase shift to the output pump power (the Stokes power) of DCF was less (more) than 8% (5%) for SMF at maximum input pump power.
Effect of Gain and Noise Figure on DPSK Modulated Long-haul Optical Communication System
Authors: Kaur Iqbal , Bhatia K. S. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIn this paper, the transmission of signal with DPSK modulation with variation of duty ratio to 66% and 33% is demonstrated and performance of the system is analysed by varying the gain and noise figure value of an EDFA amplifier.
Genetic Parameters of Conformation Traits in Young Polish Holstein-Friesian Bulls
Authors: Otwinowska-Mindur Agnieszka , Ptak Ewa , Jagusiak Wojciech , Żarnecki Andrzej 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters of conformation traits in Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls evaluated for registration in the herd book and for entry into progeny testing. Data were 8 linearly scored (1-9 scale) and 6 composite (scored from 50 to 100) conformation traits of 2,738 young bulls born between 2001 and 2011. The multiple-trait REML method was applied for (co)variance component estimation. The linear model included fixed linear regressions on age at evaluation (from 10 to 23 months), fixed effects of year of birth, fixed effects of herd-classifier, and random animal effect. Heritability estimates for all analysed traits were within the range of 0.04-0.37. Among the 6 composite type traits, heritability was highest for size and for overall conformation score. The lowest heritability was for feet and legs. Among the linearly scored traits, heritability was the lowest for rear legs - side view and foot angle, and the highest for rump angle and muscularity of front end. Composite traits showed the highest genetic correlations with muscularity and final score playing the dominant role. Genetic correlations among linear traits were low and moderate (0.02-0.53). The relatively low genetic and phenotypic correlations indicated that no conformation trait of bulls can be improved by indirect selection alone. More research is needed to establish relationship between bull conformation traits and the conformation of their progeny.
Gender differences in the Achilles tendon load during the fencing lunge
Authors: Sinclair Jonathan Kenneth , Bottoms Lindsay 
Published: November 2014

AbstractRecent epidemiological analyses in fencing have shown that injuries and pain linked specifically to fencing training/competition were evident in 92.8% of fencers. Specifically the prevalence of Achilles tendon pathology has increased substantially in recent years, and males have been identified as being at greater risk of Achilles tendon injury compared to their female counterparts. This study aimed to examine gender differences in Achilles tendon loading during the fencing lunge.Achilles tendon load was obtained from eight male and eight female club level epee fencers using a 3D motion capture system and force platform information as they completed simulated lunges. Independent t-tests were performed on the data to determine whether differences existed.The results show that males were associated with significantly greater Achilles tendon loading rates in comparison to females.This suggests that male fencers may be at greater risk from Achilles tendon pathology as a function of fencing training/ competition.
Segmentation and motivations of the attendees’ of the Mediaschool Festival in Łódź, Poland
Authors: Cudny Waldemar , Ogórek Patrycja 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
The article presents the case study of the Mediaschool Film Festival held in Łódź, a large Polish post-industrial and post-socialist city. The authors’ main goals were to establish the number of the festival visitors, as well as investigate their structure, main motivations to attend the festival, and the level of satisfaction with the festival services. As a result, the authors draw conclusions concerning the role of the festival as a place of the film culture consumption, as well as its role in the development of social capital. The basic method of study was the survey, conducted among the festival visitors in 2011. It contained questions concerning the structure of the festival audience, the evaluation of the event, and the main motivations to attend it. The method was adapted from the event studies, which was a tactical move in order to place the research on the borderline between cultural geography and event studies. Other methods typical of cultural geography and used in the present study included participant observation and semi-structured interview with the festival organisers. The event is one of the urban festivals created after the fall of communism. It is visited mainly by young people, often connected with the Łódź film school. First of all, the festival satisfies the need for contact with culture and film art, thus contributing to the creation of social capital and the development of the film school in Łódź (a part of the cluster of film institutions in the city). The event is a meeting point for film people from Łódź, Poland and abroad. Thus it could be also described as an obligatory point of passage in film-related network of connections.