bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Unintended Consequences of Italy's Labour Laws: How Extensive Labour Regulation Distorts the Italian Economy
Authors: Melchiorre Matthew , Rocca Emilio 
Published: June 2013

AbstractSimple solutions to complex problems often have unintended and undesirable consequences. An example is Italy's approach to combating unemployment. Rigid laws designed to protect the employed perversely discourage businesses from hiring and people from working. They also encourage precarious temporary employment among young people, informal work, and under‐the‐table deals that compromise worker benefits. The numbers of Italy's unemployed and of those outside the workforce are much higher than official estimates suggest. Italy's employment protection legislation – arguably the most restrictive in Europe – creates that which it seeks to prevent: the insecurity of unemployment.
A Novel Echocardiographic Predictor of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence: L‐Wave
Authors: Ari Hasan , Ari Selma , Akkaya Mehmet , Yasar Sarigul O. , Emlek Nadir , Aydin Cihan , Çetinkaya Seçkin , Bozat Tahsin , Melek Mehmet 
Published: June 2013

Diastolic dysfunction leads to atrial fibrillation (AF) by increasing left atrial pressure and also increases recurrence rate after cardioversion. So, L‐wave, which is associated with severe diastolic dysfunction, could predict recurrent AF after cardioversion. The aim of this study was to investigate predictive value of L‐wave for AF recurrence at first month after electrical cardioversion. A total of 127 patients with persistent AF were evaluated for this study and finally 73 patients were included according to the study criteria. Echocardiographic examinations were performed for all patients before and at 24th hour after electrical cardioversion. Heart rates and rhythms were followed with electrocardiography monitor and 12‐lead ECG at first week and first month. Seventy patients achieved sinus rhythm (SR) after cardioversion and 3 patients who did not go into SR excluded from the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to having (group 1) or not having (group 2) L‐wave on echocardiography. Twenty‐two patients (6 men, 16 women) had L‐wave and 48 patients (19 men, 29 women) did not have L‐wave. Duration of AF was longer in group 1 as compared to group 2 (P = 0.03). Mean heart rate was lower in group 1 than in group 2 (P < 0.001). Duration of AF and presence of L‐wave were significant parameters for AF recurrence in univariate analysis, however, presence of L‐wave was the only significant parameter for AF recurrence in multivariate analysis. Ten patients in group 1 (45.5%) and 7 patients (14.6%) in group 2 (P = 0.005) had AF recurrence at the end of first month after cardioversion. L‐wave did predict AF recurrence with 59% sensitivity, 77% specificity, 45% positive predictive value, and 85% negative predictive value at 1 month. Echocardiographic L‐wave could predict the AF recurrence.
An Echocardiographic Presentation of a Massive, Reverse Flow Caused by an Electrical Failure of the Left Ventricular Assist Device. The Continuous Flow Device Dysfunction
Authors: Paluszkiewicz Lech , Morshuis Michiel , Gummert Jan 
Published: June 2013

Mini‐AbstractWe present a case of a 57‐year‐old patient, 32 months after continuous flow, left ventricular assist device implantation. He was admitted on emergency basis after he noticed a temporary pump stop. The echocardiographic examination revealed a massive reverse flow during diastole from the aorta into the left ventricle through outflow graft. The echocardiographic presentation of a pump stop depends on the cause of dysfunction. In cases of device thrombosis, the quantity of reverse flow depends on the size of the thrombus. In our case, device chamber was clot‐free and the volume of reverse flow is high. The device was successfully replaced.
Stress Cardiomyopathy with an “Inverse” Takotsubo Pattern in a Patient with Acute Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Waller Christine J. , Vandenberg Byron , Hasan David , Kumar Avinash B. 
Published: June 2013

BackgroundSubarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) induced myocardial dysfunction (often labeled neurogenic stunned myocardium) encompasses a spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from an isolated elevation of cardiac enzymes to cardiogenic shock.ObjectiveWe describe a case of stress cardiomyopathy in a patient following acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage that showed an “inverse” or reverse takotsubo pattern on echocardiography.Case ReportThe patient was a 46‐year‐old female who presented with acute cardiogenic shock following acute subarachnoid hemorrhage necessitating aggressive cardiorespiratory in the ICU. Her admission echo showed a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction of 25%. The basal 2/3 of the left ventricle (LV) was severely hypokinetic and the apical 1/3 of the LV was hypercontractile, i.e. the reverse or inverse takotsubo pattern of regional wall motion abnormality. With ongoing aggressive support her cardiovascular function steadily improved and on day 6 her follow up echo showed LV ejection fraction increased to 60–65% with resolution of the previous regional wall motion abnormality. The patient was discharged to a neuro‐rehabilitation facility on day 16.SummaryThe “inverse” or “reverse” takotsubo pattern of regional wall motion abnormalities, i.e. with preserved apical LV contractility and hypokinesis of the basal walls of the LV is more common in patients following acute SAH.
Cardiac Tamponade with only Left Heart Collapse in a Child with Severe Pulmonary Artery Hypertension
Authors: Varghese Mithun J. , Kothari Shyam S. 
Published: June 2013

Mini‐AbstractA 5‐year‐old child presented with severe hypotension and respiratory distress. Echocardiography demonstrated severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, pericardial effusion, and left ventricular (but not right atrial/right ventricular) collapse. Definite but transient hemodynamic improvement occurred with pericardiocentesi, but the patient succumbed to severe pulmonary artery hypertension and heart failure.
Reproducibility and Optimization of Analysis Parameters of Tissue Doppler–Derived Strain and Strain Rate Measurements for Very Low Birth Weight Infants
Authors: Helfer Sven , Schmitz Lothar , Bührer Christoph , Czernik Christoph 
Published: June 2013

AimsTo assess the effects of region of interest (ROI) size and strain length (SL) on the quality of analysis and to determine the feasibility and reproducibility of tissue Doppler–derived cardiac strain (S) and strain rate (SR) measurements for preterm infants <1500 g birth weight.Methods and ResultsThe beat‐to‐beat variation (BBV) for different combinations of ROI width (RW), ROI length (RL), and SL was determined from 60 good quality images of left and right free walls and the interventricular septum. We examined the impact of RW, RL, and SL on BBV and estimated inter‐ and intra‐operator variability. BBV was smallest for RW = 2 mm. Raising SL (even at the cost of RL) led to a decrease in BBV. Several combinations provided a low BBV without significant difference. Coefficients of variation for intra‐ and inter‐operator variability ranged from 15.1% to 65.2%. Both were lower for systolic than for diastolic values.ConclusionTissue Doppler imaging–derived S and SR measurements are feasible in very low birth weight infants. Reproducibility is comparable to older infants for systolic S and SR. For optimal analysis quality, SL and RW should be high while RL should be small (though inside segment size). Best results were obtained with RW = 2 mm, RL = 1 mm, and SL = 6 mm.
Plant neighbours mediate bird predation effects on arthropod abundance and herbivory
Authors: GIFFARD BRICE , BARBARO LUC , JACTEL HERVÉ , CORCKET EMMANUEL 
Published: June 2013

Tritrophic interactions among plants, herbivores and predators are expected to be influenced by the surrounding vegetation. Neighbouring plants can influence focal plant colonisation by herbivorous insects and the foraging behaviour of natural enemies, such as insectivorous birds.The aim of the experiment was to disentangle the interactive effects of neighbouring plants and avian predation on arthropod abundance and insect leaf damage in oak tree seedlings, using exclusion cages and vegetation removal.The presence or removal of surrounding herbaceous vegetation differentially mediated top‐down effects of insectivorous birds on distinct arthropod guilds and herbivore damage in seedlings. Avian predation reduced sawfly larval abundance regardless of the presence of plant neighbours; lepidopteran larval abundance only when plant neighbours were removed; and spider abundance only when plant neighbours were left intact. The removal of plant neighbours increased prey accessibility for foraging insectivorous birds and decreased chewer damage on seedlings. The density of concealed‐feeder insects (leaf miners) increased with plant neighbour removal and when seedlings were less damaged by chewer guild, suggesting intraguild competition.These results highlight the strong indirect effects of neighbouring vegetation on tritrophic interactions involving a focal plant species, its associated herbivores and the upper trophic level of predators.
unc5c haploinsufficient phenotype: striking similarities with the dcc haploinsufficiency model
Authors: Auger Meagan L. , Schmidt Ewoud R. E. , Manitt Colleen , Dal‐Bo Greg , Pasterkamp R. Jeroen , Flores Cecilia 
Published: June 2013

AbstractDCC and UNC5 homologs (UNC5H) are guidance cue receptors highly expressed by mesocorticolimbic dopamine neurons. We have shown that dcc heterozygous mice exhibit increased dopamine, but not norepinephrine, innervation and function in medial prefrontal cortex. Concomitantly, dcc heterozygotes show blunted mesolimbic dopamine release and behavioral responses to stimulant drugs. These changes appear only in adulthood. Recently, we found an adolescent emergence of UNC5H expression by dopamine neurons and co‐expression of DCC and UNC5H by single dopamine cells. Here, we demonstrate selective expression of unc5 homolog c mRNA by dopamine neurons in adulthood. We show that unc5c haploinsufficiency results in diminished amphetamine‐induced locomotion in male and female mice. This phenotype is identical to that produced by dcc haploinsufficiency and is observed after adolescence. Notably, and similar to dcc haploinsufficiency, unc5c haploinsufficiency leads to dramatic increases in tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the medial prefrontal cortex, but not in the nucleus accumbens. In contrast, medial prefrontal cortex dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase expression is not altered. We confirmed that UNC5C protein is reduced in the ventral tegmental area of unc5c heterozygous mice, but that DCC expression in this region remains unchanged. UNC5C receptors may also play a role in dopamine function and influence sensitivity to behavioral effects of stimulant drugs of abuse, at least upon first exposure. The striking similarities between the dcc and the unc5c haploinsufficient phenotypes raise the possibility that functions mediated by DCC/UNC5C complexes may be at play.
Genetic variation in adaptive traits and seed transfer zones for Pseudoroegneria spicata (bluebunch wheatgrass) in the northwestern United States
Authors: Bradley St. Clair John , Kilkenny Francis F. , Johnson Richard C. , Shaw Nancy L. , Weaver George 
Published: June 2013

AbstractA genecological approach was used to explore genetic variation in adaptive traits in Pseudoroegneria spicata, a key restoration grass, in the intermountain western United States. Common garden experiments were established at three contrasting sites with seedlings from two maternal parents from each of 114 populations along with five commercial releases commonly used in restoration. Traits associated with size, flowering phenology, and leaf width varied considerably among populations and were moderately correlated with the climates of the seed sources. Pseudoroegneria spicata populations from warm, arid source environments were smaller with earlier phenology and had relatively narrow leaves than those from mild climates with cool summers, warm winters, low seasonal temperature differentials, high precipitation, and low aridity. Later phenology was generally associated with populations from colder climates. Releases were larger and more fecund than most of the native ecotypes, but were similar to native populations near their source of origin. Differences among native populations associated with source climates that are logical for survival, growth, and reproduction indicate that genetic variation across the landscape is adaptive and should be considered during restoration. Results were used to delineate seed transfer zones and population movement guidelines to ensure adapted plant materials for restoration activities.
Gene flow and demographic history of leopards (Panthera pardus) in the central Indian highlands
Authors: Dutta Trishna , Sharma Sandeep , Maldonado Jesús E. , Wood Thomas C. , Panwar Hemendra S. , Seidensticker John 
Published: June 2013

AbstractGene flow is a critical ecological process that must be maintained in order to counteract the detrimental effects of genetic drift in subdivided populations, with conservation benefits ranging from promoting the persistence of small populations to spreading adaptive traits in changing environments. We evaluated historical and contemporary gene flow and effective population sizes of leopards in a landscape in central India using noninvasive sampling. Despite the dramatic changes in land‐use patterns in this landscape through recent times, we did not detect any signs that the leopard populations have been through a genetic bottleneck, and they appear to have maintained migration–drift equilibrium. We found that historical levels of gene flow (mean mh = 0.07) were significantly higher than contemporary levels (mean mc = 0.03), and populations with large effective population sizes (Satpura and Kanha Tiger Reserves) are the larger exporters of migrants at both timescales. The greatest decline in historical versus contemporary gene flow is between pairs of reserves that are currently not connected by forest corridors (i.e., Melghat‐Pench mh − mc = 0.063; and Kanha‐Satpura mh − mc = 0.054). We attribute this reduction in gene flow to accelerated fragmentation and habitat alteration in the landscape over the past few centuries, and suggest protection of forest corridors to maintain gene flow in this landscape.
Effect of orally administered sodium bicarbonate on caecal pH
Authors: Taylor E. A. , Beard W. L. , Douthit T. , Pohlman L. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryReasons for performing studyCaecal acidosis is a central event in the metabolic cascade that occurs following grain overload. Buffering the caecal acidosis by enterally administered sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) may be beneficial to affected horses.ObjectivesTo determine the effect and duration of enterally administered NaHCO3on caecal pHin healthy horses.Study designExperimental study using horses with caecal cannulas.MethodsNine horses had been previously fitted with a caecal cannula. Six horses received 1.0 g/kg bwt NaHCO3and 3 control horses were given 3 l of water via nasogastric tube. Clinical parameters, water consumption, venous blood gases, caecal pH, faecal pHand faecal water content were measured at 6 h intervals over a 36 h study period.ResultsHorses that received enterally administered NaHCO3had significantly increased caecal pHthat lasted the duration of the study. Treated horses increased their water intake, and developed metabolic alkalaemia, significantly increased plasma sodium concentrations and significantly decreased plasma potassium concentrations.ConclusionsEnterally administered NaHCO3may be beneficial in buffering caecal acidosis.
The treatment and diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders using high‐tech devices
Authors: Dodes John E 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundTemporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a collective term that embraces a number of clinical problems involving the masticatory muscles, jaw joint, associated structures or a combination of these structures. There are a number of devices currently utilised by dentists that claim to diagnose, treat, cure or ameliorate the symptoms of TMD.ObjectiveTo critically evaluate the evidence of safety and effectiveness for commonly used electronic diagnostic and treatment devices for TMD.MethodsPubMed and the authors' extensive library were searched for studies evaluating the safety and/or effectiveness of electronic diagnostic and treatment devices for TMD. Only controlled studies involving human subjects were included.ResultsThirty‐six articles were reviewed. The quality of the articles varied with the most rigorous studies presenting negative conclusions concerning the usefulness of high‐tech devices for the treatment and diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder.ConclusionThe scientific literature does not support the use of electronic diagnostic and treatment devices for TMD.
The impacts of climate change and human activities on biogeochemical cycles on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Chen Huai , Zhu Qiuan , Peng Changhui , Wu Ning , Wang Yanfen , Fang Xiuqing , Gao Yongheng , Zhu Dan , Yang Gang , Tian Jianqing , Kang Xiaoming , Piao Shilong , Ouyang Hua , Xiang Wenhua , Luo Zhibin , Jiang Hong , Song Xingzhang , Zhang Yao , Yu Guirui , Zhao Xinquan , Gong Peng , Yao Tandong , Wu Jianghua 
Published: June 2013

AbstractWith a pace of about twice the observed rate of global warming, the temperature on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (Earth's ‘third pole’) has increased by 0.2 °C per decade over the past 50 years, which results in significant permafrost thawing and glacier retreat. Our review suggested that warming enhanced net primary production and soil respiration, decreased methane (CH4) emissions from wetlands and increased CH4 consumption of meadows, but might increase CH4 emissions from lakes. Warming‐induced permafrost thawing and glaciers melting would also result in substantial emission of old carbon dioxide (CO2) and CH4. Nitrous oxide (N2O) emission was not stimulated by warming itself, but might be slightly enhanced by wetting. However, there are many uncertainties in such biogeochemical cycles under climate change. Human activities (e.g. grazing, land cover changes) further modified the biogeochemical cycles and amplified such uncertainties on the plateau. If the projected warming and wetting continues, the future biogeochemical cycles will be more complicated. So facing research in this field is an ongoing challenge of integrating field observations with process‐based ecosystem models to predict the impacts of future climate change and human activities at various temporal and spatial scales. To reduce the uncertainties and to improve the precision of the predictions of the impacts of climate change and human activities on biogeochemical cycles, efforts should focus on conducting more field observation studies, integrating data within improved models, and developing new knowledge about coupling among carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus biogeochemical cycles as well as about the role of microbes in these cycles.
Predicting species‐specific responses of fungi to climatic variation using historical records
Authors: Diez Jeffrey M. , James Timothy Y. , McMunn Marshall , Ibáñez Inés 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAlthough striking changes have been documented in plant and animal phenology over the past century, less is known about how the fungal kingdom's phenology has been changing. A few recent studies have documented changes in fungal fruiting in Europe in the last few decades, but the geographic and taxonomic extent of these changes, the mechanisms behind these changes, and their relationships to climate are not well understood. Here, we analyzed herbarium data of 274 species of fungi from Michigan to test the hypotheses that fruiting times of fungi depend on annual climate and that responses depend on taxonomic and functional groups. We show that the fungal community overall fruits later in warmer and drier years, which has led to a shift toward later fruiting dates for autumn‐fruiting species, consistent with existing evidence. However, we also show that these effects are highly variable among species and are partly explained by basic life‐history characteristics. Resulting differences in climate sensitivities are expected to affect community structure as climate changes. This study provides a unique picture of the climate dependence of fungal phenology in North America and an approach for quantifying how individual species and broader fungal communities will respond to ongoing climate change.
Changes in the timing of hay cutting in Germany do not keep pace with climate warming
Authors: Bock Anna , Sparks Tim H. , Estrella Nicole , Menzel Annette 
Published: June 2013

AbstractA unique long‐term phenological data set of over 110 000 records of 1st cutting dates for haymaking across Germany, spanning the years 1951–2011 was examined. In addition, we analyzed a long‐term data set in the beginning of flowering of meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) covering the last 20 years. We tested whether hay‐cutting dates (based on a human decision when to cut) showed trends, temperature relationships and spatial distribution similar to the development of this grassland species, and if these trends could be related to climate change. The timing of 1st hay cut was strongly influenced (P < 0.001) by altitude, latitude and longitude, revealing in particular an east‐west gradient. Over the past 60 years, there have been changes in the timing of hay cutting, with the majority of German federal states having significant (P < 0.05) advances of approximately 1 day per decade. Overall, the response to mean March–May temperature was highly significant (−2.87 days °C−1; P < 0.001). However, in the last 20 years, no federal state experienced a significant advance and two were even significantly delayed. The temperature response in this post‐1991 period became less or non‐significant for most of the federal states. We suggest that differences in agricultural land use and unequal uptakes of Agri‐Environment Schemes (AES, which encourage later cutting) were likely to be responsible for the regional differences, while the general increase in AES appears to have confounded the overall trend in hay cutting in the last 20 years. Trends over time and responses to temperature were small relative to those associated with the phenology of meadow foxtail. The advance in phenology of this species is greater than the advance in hay cutting, implying that hay cutting may not be keeping pace with a changing climate, which may have a positive effect on grassland ecology.