bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A randomised controlled trial of the effects of Brain Wave Vibration training on mood and well-being
Authors: Bowden Deborah E. , McLennan Danielle , Gruzelier John 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Background: The goal was to investigate the effects of Brain Wave Vibration (BWV), a meditation practised in a class involving rhythmic movements of the head, neck and body practised with related yoga-style exercises, and to isolate the rhythmic effects.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted with assessments pre- and post-trial and immediately before and after each session. Thirty-one healthy adults were assessed for mood, sleep, mindfulness, health and well-being, and pre- and post-class activation–deactivation. Participants were randomly assigned to either BWV in toto or a control group having similar yoga exercises without the rhythmic components. Participants completed eight to twelve 75-min classes of BWV or control training over 8–12 weeks. To control for expectation participants were told only that the aim was to compare two subtly different styles of Korean yoga.

Results: The BWV group had comparatively greater improvements in sleep duration and efficiency, although they had higher baseline inefficiency, and post-trial they had better global sleep and well-being and fewer illness symptoms, and better tiredness and energy post-class. Both groups benefitted in mood, mindfulness and vitality post-trial with improved tension and calmness post-class.

Conclusions: The participants of both interventions had better mood and well-being on the whole following the trial and were more relaxed immediately after a class. However, BWV training was unique in its benefits to sleep, health, well-being, energy and tiredness, warranting further research.
The effect of zeolite particle modified by PEG on rubber composite properties
Authors: Fang Qinghong , Liu Xiaochen , Wang Na , Ma Chi , Yang Feng 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the surface modification of zeolite with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the modified zeolite as a reinforcing filler partly replacing carbon black (CB) into rubber to prepare the rubber composites. The surface characteristics of zeolite modified by PEG and the unmodified zeolite were characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the evaluations of the zeolite/rubber composite were carried out on characteristics such as tensile property, abrasion loss, and hysteresis heat generation with different amounts of zeolite and PEG. The results showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break of the composites were improved, and the abrasion and lag heat generation were reduced when 5–8 phr zeolite modified by 3 wt% PEG was filled into rubber. These results indicated that the modified zeolite has a good compatibility and dispersion in rubber.
Pattern of Mutation Rates in the Germline of Drosophila melanogaster Males from a Large-Scale Mutation Screening Experiment
Authors: Gao Jian-Jun , Pan Xue-Rong , Hu Jing , Ma Li , Wu Jian-Min , Shao Ye-Lin , Ai Shi-Meng , Liu Shu-Qun , Barton Sara A , Woodruff Ronny C , Zhang Ya-Ping , Fu Yun-Xin 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The sperm or eggs of sexual organisms go through a series of cell divisions from the fertilized egg; mutations can occur at each division. Mutations in the lineage of cells leading to the sperm or eggs are of particular importance because many such mutations may be shared by somatic tissues and also may be inherited, thus having a lasting consequence. For decades, little has been known about the pattern of the mutation rates along the germline development. Recently it was shown from a small portion of data that resulted from a large-scale mutation screening experiment that the rates of recessive lethal or nearly lethal mutations differ dramatically during the germline development of Drosophila melanogaster males. In this paper the full data set from the experiment and its analysis are reported by taking advantage of a recent methodologic advance. By analyzing the mutation patterns with different levels of recessive lethality, earlier published conclusions based on partial data are found to remain valid. Furthermore, it is found that for most nearly lethal mutations, the mutation rate at the first cell division is even greater than previous thought compared with those at other divisions. There is also some evidence that the mutation rate at the second division decreases rapidly but is still appreciably greater than those for the rest of the cleavage stage. The mutation rate at spermatogenesis is greater than late cleavage and stem-cell stages, but there is no evidence that rates are different among the five cell divisions of the spermatogenesis. We also found that a modestly biased sampling, leading to slightly more primordial germ cells after the eighth division than those reported in the literature, provides the best fit to the data. These findings provide conceptual and numerical basis for exploring the consequences of differential mutation rates during individual development.
Identification of a QTL in Mus musculus for Alcohol Preference, Withdrawal, and Ap3m2 Expression Using Integrative Functional Genomics and Precision Genetics
Authors: Bubier Jason A , Jay Jeremy J , Baker Christopher L , Bergeson Susan E , Ohno Hiroshi , Metten Pamela , Crabbe John C , Chesler Elissa J 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Extensive genetic and genomic studies of the relationship between alcohol drinking preference and withdrawal severity have been performed using animal models. Data from multiple such publications and public data resources have been incorporated in the GeneWeaver database with &gt;60,000 gene sets including 285 alcohol withdrawal and preference-related gene sets. Among these are evidence for positional candidates regulating these behaviors in overlapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapped in distinct mouse populations. Combinatorial integration of functional genomics experimental results revealed a single QTL positional candidate gene in one of the loci common to both preference and withdrawal. Functional validation studies in Ap3m2 knockout mice confirmed these relationships. Genetic validation involves confirming the existence of segregating polymorphisms that could account for the phenotypic effect. By exploiting recent advances in mouse genotyping, sequence, epigenetics, and phylogeny resources, we confirmed that Ap3m2 resides in an appropriately segregating genomic region. We have demonstrated genetic and alcohol-induced regulation of Ap3m2 expression. Although sequence analysis revealed no polymorphisms in the Ap3m2-coding region that could account for all phenotypic differences, there are several upstream SNPs that could. We have identified one of these to be an H3K4me3 site that exhibits strain differences in methylation. Thus, by making cross-species functional genomics readily computable we identified a common QTL candidate for two related bio-behavioral processes via functional evidence and demonstrate sufficiency of the genetic locus as a source of variation underlying two traits.
Meso-scale Simulations of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Grafted Architectures
Authors: Deshmukh Sanket A. , Kamath Ganesh , Mancini Derrick C. , Sankaranarayanan Subramanian K.R.S. , Jiang Wei 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACTPoly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) is a thermosensitive polymer that is well-known for its behavior at a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) around 305 K. Below the LCST, PNIPAM is soluble in water, and above this temperature, polymer chains collapse and transform into a globule state. The conformational dynamics of single chains of polymer in a solution is known to be different from those of grafted structures that comprise of an ensemble of such single chains. In this study, we have carried out MD simulations of a mesoscopic nanostructure of PNIPAM polymer chains consisting of 60 monomer units grafted onto gold nanoparticles of different diameters, to study the effect of temperature and core particle size on the polymer conformations. Additionally, we have also studied the effect of grafting density on the coil-to-globule transition exhibited by PNIPAM through the LCST. The systems investigated consisted of ∼3 and ∼6 million atoms. Simulations were carried out below and above the LCST of PNIPAM, at 275K and 325K. Simulation trajectories were analyzed for radius of gyration of PNIPAM chains.
Kinetics of the In-Situ Upgrading of Heavy Oil by Nickel Nanoparticle Catalysts and Its Effect on Cyclic-Steam-Stimulation Recovery Factor
Authors: Hamedi-Shokrlu Yousef , Babadagli Tayfun 
Published: June 2014

Summary
The effect of nickel nanoparticles on in-situ upgrading of heavy oil (HO) during aquathermolysis and the effect of this process on the recovery through cyclic steam injection were studied. High-temperature experiments were conducted with a benchtop reactor to study the kinetics of the reactions among oil, water, and sandstones in the presence and absence of the nickel nanoparticles. Eighteen experiments were conducted at three different temperatures and at three different lengths of time, and the evolved hydrogen sulfide during the reaction was analyzed. The kinetic analysis showed that nickel nanoparticles reduce the activation energy of the reactions corresponding to the generation of hydrogen sulfide by approximately 50%. This reaction was the breakage of C-S bonds in the organosulfur compounds of the HO. The maximal catalysis effect was observed to be at a temperature of approximately 270°C. Also, the simulated-distillation gas-chromatography (GC) analysis of the oil sample, after the aquathermolysis reactions, confirmed the catalysis effect of nickel nanoparticles. According to this analysis, by catalytic process, the concentration of the components lighter than C30 increased whereas the concentration of heavier components decreased.
Next, the effect of the catalytic aquathermolysis on the recovery factor of the steam-stimulation technique was studied. The stimulation experiments consisted of three injection/soaking/production phases. The results showed that the nickel nanoparticles increased the recovery factor by approximately 22% when the nanoparticles were injected with a cationic surfactant and xanthan-gum polymer. This increase of recovery was approximately 7% more than that of the experiment conducted with the surfactant and polymer only.
Kinetics of Nutrient Removal by Nano Zero‐Valent Iron under Different Biochemical Environments
Authors: Xu Shengnan , Hu Zhiqiang 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of nano zero‐valent iron (NZVI; an average size of 55 nm at a concentration of 200 mg Fe/L) in nutrient removal was determined under anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic conditions. Compared to the rate of reduction of nitrate nitrogen (‐N) to ammoniacal nitrogen ( ‐N) by NZVI alone, the presence of activated sludge increased the rate of complete reduction by 300%. About 31% of ‐N was converted to ‐N through NZVI‐facilitated dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, while 56% of ‐N was removed by heterotrophic denitrification. The presence of sludge reduced the rates of phosphorus removal by NZVI, with the first‐order reaction rate constants of 0.06/hour, 0.42/hour, and 0.18/hour under anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic conditions, respectively. The highest phosphorus removal efficiency (95%) by NZVI was observed under anoxic abiotic conditions, whereas the efficiency dropped to 31% under anaerobic biotic conditions, which was attributed to significant sludge‐facilitated NZVI agglomeration.
The concentration of molybdenum and copper in rocks, soils and plants in the area of Jabłonki (Eastern Beskids Mts.) / Zawartość molibdenu i miedzi w skałach, glebach i roślinach w okolicy Jabłonek (Beskidy Wschodnie)
Authors: Stojek Małgorzata 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Molybdenum is one of the major trace elements for plants, but its excess and the deficiency of copper in soils can lead to the production of feed that may be toxic to animals and cause molybdenosis. Menilite shales that occur in the Eastern Beskids Mts. are characterised by an elevated content of this element. The concentration of molybdenum and copper has been determined in samples of bedrock, soils and plants (Trifolium hybridum L. and Plantago major L. plants), taken in the area of occurrence of menilite shales and the Otryt Sandstones. The molybdenum concentration in rocks varies from 0.80 to 40 mg/kg, in soils - from 1.97 to 19.58 mg/kg, and in plant material - from 0.54 to 11.76 mg/kg. The copper concentration in rocks ranges from 11 to 111 mg/kg, in soils - from 23 to 76 mg/kg, and in plants - up to 20 mg/kg. The average Mo concentration in all kinds of plants is significantly higher in the area of occurrence of menilite shales than in the area where the Otryt Sandstones are dominant. The higher content of Mo in the samples collected from clover was accompanied by the lower Cu/Mo ratio, which may cause a molybdenosis disease in animals in the study area.
The influence of particular biostimulators on some biochemical parameters in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Var. Botrytis italica plenck) / Wpływ wybranych biostymulatorów na kształtowanie się parametrów biochemicznych u brokułu (Brassica oleracea L. Var. Botrytis italica Plenck)
Authors: Smolik Beata , Miśkowiec Agata , Rekowska Ewa , Zakrzewska Helena , Śnioszek Martyna 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of biostimulators: Kelpak, Asahi SL and Goëmar Goteo on some biochemical parameters-proline and MDA concentration in leaves and florets of Monaco F1cultivars of broccoli grown under field conditions. Biostimulators applied in the experiment caused changes of some biochemical parameters in the plants. Kelpak and Goëmar Goteo significantly increased the oxidative stress parameters like the concentration of proline and malondialdehyde in leaves and florets of broccoli cultivar Monaco F1. Although, Asahi SL affected the content of chosen biochemical parameters although not seriously.
Evaluation of the total concentration of iron, manganese, cadmium and nickel and their DTPA extractable forms in the common dandelion rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil of the lower Vistula river floodplain grasslands / Ocena całkowitej zawartości żelaza, manganu, kadmu i niklu oraz ich form ekstrahowanych DTPA w glebie ryzosferowej mniszka lekarskiego oraz glebie pozaryzosferowej użytków zielonych z terenów zalewowych Doliny Dolnej Wisły
Authors: Kobierski Mirosław 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soils were collected from six topsoils of grasslands in the Lower Vistula River Valley. The research covered the areas of the floodplains between the stream channel of the Vistula River and the flood embankment within the mesoregions of the Fordon Valley and the Grudziądz Basin. The research area, found in the Chełmiński and Nadwiślański Complex of Landscape Parks, is exposed to annual floods. The fluvial sediments are deposited during short-term and, most frequently spring, high discharges of the Vistula River. The amount of the material deposited in the floodplain valleys depends on the range of the flood and landscape-specific local conditions. In the rhizospheric soil of the common dandelion, a higher content of the clay fraction and organic matter was found, as compared with the non-rhizospheric soil material. The total content of Fe, Mn, Cd and Ni and their forms extractable with the DTPA solution differed between the rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil. A lower total concentration of the metals was noted in the rhizospheric soil at all the sampling sites. The concentrations of FeDTPA and MnDTPA forms in Fluvisols were much higher than the concentration defined as the deficit one. A relatively high content of organic matter and the clay fraction in rhizospheric soil makes the metals bound by the sorption complex, thus limiting their bioavailability. Under Regulation of Minister of the Environment of 9 September 2002, concerning soil quality standards for protected areas compliant with nature protection laws, the total concentration of Cd and Ni in non-rhizospheric soil was slightly higher than the admissible value (1.0 and 35.0 mg • kg−1, respectively). Since no unfavourable effect of trace elements on the environment was demonstrated and as the floodplain areas are under agricultural use, to evaluate the pollution, the standards applicable for agricultural land were assumed. According to those criteria, the soils are not classified as polluted with cadmium and nickel.
Third-generation oxygen amperometric biosensor based on Trametes hirsuta laccase covalently bound to graphite electrode
Authors: Gutierrez-Sanchez Cristina , Shleev Sergey , De Lacey Antonio L. , Pita Marcos 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe response of low-density graphite electrodes hosting Trametes hirsuta laccase in a direct electron transfer regime is presented for real-time analysis of O
Influences of Wheelchair-Related Efficacy on Life-Space Mobility in Adults Who Use a Wheelchair and Live in the Community
Authors: Sakakibara Brodie M. , Miller William C. , Eng Janice J. , Backman Catherine L. , Routhier François 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundSelf-efficacy has important implications for health and functioning in people with limited mobility. However, the influence of self-efficacy on mobility in adults who use wheelchairs has yet to be investigated.ObjectiveThe study objective was to: (1) estimate the direct association between wheelchair use self-efficacy and life-space mobility and (2) investigate an indirect effect through wheelchair skills.DesignThis was a cross-sectional study.MethodsParticipants (N=124) were adults who use a wheelchair, live in the community, and were 50 years of age and older (X̅=59.67, range=50–84), with at least 6 months of experience with manual wheelchair use; 60% were men. The 20-item Life-Space Assessment, the 65-item Wheelchair Use Confidence Scale, and the 32-item Wheelchair Skills Test-Questionnaire were used to measure life-space mobility, self-efficacy, and wheelchair skills, respectively.ResultsSelf-efficacy had a statistically significant association with life-space mobility (nonstandardized regression coefficient=0.23, 95% confidence interval=0.07, 0.39) after controlling for sex, number of comorbidities, geographic location, and assistance with using a wheelchair. This model accounted for 37.1% of the life-space mobility variance, and the unique contribution of self-efficacy was 3.5%. The indirect effect through wheelchair skills was also statistically significant (point estimate=0.21, 95% bootstrapped confidence interval=0.05, 0.43) and accounted for 91.3% of the direct effect of self-efficacy on life-space mobility. This model accounted for 39.2% of the life-space mobility variance.LimitationsCausality could not be established because of the study design. The self-report nature of data from volunteers may be influenced by recall bias, social desirability, or both.ConclusionsWheelchair use self-efficacy had both direct and indirect associations with life-space mobility after controlling for confounding variables. Interventions targeted toward improving self-efficacy may lead to improvements in life-space mobility.
Jugulotympanic paragangliomas treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery: a single-center review of 58 cases
Authors: Gandía-González Maria Luisa , Kusak M. Elena , Moreno Nuria Martínez , Sárraga Jorge Gutiérrez , Rey Germán , Álvarez Roberto Martínez 
Published: June 2014

Object
Jugulotympanic paragangliomas (JTPs) are rare benign tumors whose surgical treatment is usually associated with partial resection of the lesion, high morbidity, and even death. Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has been reported as a useful treatment option. The goal of this retrospective study is to analyze the role of GKRS in tumor volume control and clinical outcomes of these patients.

Methods
A total of 75 patients with JTPs were treated with GKRS at the authors' center from 1995 to 2012. The authors analyzed those treated during this period to allow for a minimal observation time of 2 years. The MR images and clinical reports of these patients were reviewed to assess clinical and volumetric outcomes of the tumors. The radiological and clinical assessments, along with a group of prognostic factors measured, were analyzed using descriptive methods. The time to volumetric and clinical progression was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were identified using log-rank statistics and multivariate Cox regression models.

Results
The mean follow-up was 86.4 months. The authors observed volumetric tumor control in 94.8% of cases. In 67.2% of cases, tumor volume decreased by a mean of 40.1% from the original size. Of patients with previous tinnitus, 54% reported complete recovery. Improvement of other symptoms was observed in 34.5% of cases. Overall, clinical control was achieved in 91.4% of cases. Previous embolization and familial history of paraganglioma were selected as significant prognostic factors for volumetric response to GKRS treatment in the univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, no factors were significantly correlated with progression-free survival. No patient died of side effects related to GKRS treatment or tumor progression.

Conclusions
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is an effective, safe, and efficient therapeutic option for the treatment of these tumors as a first-line treatment or in conjunction with traditional surgery, endovascular treatment, or conventional fractionated radiotherapy.
A reduction in errors is associated with prospectively recording them
Authors: Oremakinde Adetunji A. , Bernstein Mark 
Published: June 2014

Object
Error recording and monitoring is an important component of error prevention and quality assurance in the health sector given the huge impact of medical errors on the well-being of patients and the financial loss incurred by health institutions. With this in mind, assessing the effect of reporting errors should be a cause worth pursuing. The object in this study was to examine the null hypothesis that recording and publishing errors do not affect error patterns in a clinical practice.

Methods
Intraoperative errors and their characteristics were prospectively recorded between May 2000 and May 2013 in the neurosurgical practice of the senior author (M.B.). The error pattern observed between May 2000 and August 2006, which has been previously described (Group A), was compared with the error pattern observed between September 2006 and May 2013 (Group B).

Results
A total of 1108 cases in Group A and 974 cases in Group B were surgically treated. A total of 2684 errors were recorded in Group A, while 1892 errors were recorded in Group B. The ratios of cranial to spinal procedures performed in Groups A and B were 3:1 and 10:1, respectively, while the ratios of general to local anesthesia in the two groups were 2:1 and 1.3:1, respectively (p < 0.0001 for both). There was a significantly decreased proportion of cases with error (87% to 83%, p < 0.006), mean errors per case (2.4 to 1.9, p < 0.0001), proportion of error-related complications (16.7% to 5.5%, p < 0.002), and clinical impacts of error (2.7% to 1.0%, p < 0.0001) in Group B compared with Group A. Errors in Group B tended to be more preventable than those in Group A (85.8% vs 78.5%, p < 0.0001). A significant reduction was also noticed with most types of error. A descending trend in the mean errors per case was demonstrated from the years 2001 to 2012; however, an increased severity of errors (22.6% to 29.5%, p < 0.0001) was recorded in Group B compared with Group A.

Conclusions
Data in this study showed that the act of recording errors might alter behaviors, resulting in fewer errors.