bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term effects of fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality and yields in a sub‐humid tropical rice‐rice system
Authors: Shahid M. , Nayak A. K. , Shukla A. K. , Tripathi R. , Kumar A. , Mohanty S. , Bhattacharyya P. , Raja R. , Panda B. B. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractWidespread yield stagnation and productivity declines in the rice–rice cropping system have been reported and many of the associated issues are related to soil quality. A long‐term experimental study was initiated in 1969 to assess the impact of continuous cultivation of rice as a single crop grown in wet as well as dry seasons using varying levels of chemical fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality indicators (physical, chemical and biological), a sustainable yield index (SYI) and a soil quality index (SQI). The treatments comprised chemical fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) either alone or in combination viz. control, N, NP, NK, NPK, FYM, N+FYM, NP+FYM, NK+FYM and NPK+FYM, laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil samples were collected after the wet season rice harvest in 2010 and were analysed for physical, chemical and biological indicators of soil quality. A SYI based on long‐term yield data and SQI using principal component analysis (PCA) and nonlinear scoring functions were calculated. Application of NPK fertilizers in combination with FYM significantly increased the average grain yield of rice in both wet and dry seasons and enhanced the sustainability of the system compared to the control and plots in receipt of fertilizers. The SYI for the control was higher in the wet season than in the dry one, whereas the reverse was true for NPK+FYM treatment. The value of the dimensionless SQI varied from 1.46 in the control plot to 3.78 in the NPK+FYM one. A greater SYI and SQI in the NPK+FYM treatment demonstrated the importance of using a chemical fertilizer in combination with FYM. For the six soil quality indicators selected as a minimum data set (MDS), the contribution of DTPA‐Zn, available‐N and soil organic carbon to the SQI was substantial ranging from 59.4 to 85.7 per cent in NPK+FYM and control plots, respectively. Thus, these soil parameters could be used to monitor soil quality in a subhumid tropical rice–rice system.
An updated phylogeny of Anisoptera including formal convergence analysis of morphological characters
Authors: BLANKE ALEXANDER , GREVE CAROLA , MOKSO RAJMUND , BECKMANN FELIX , MISOF BERNHARD 
Published: May 2013

AbstractFamily interrelationships among Anisoptera (dragonflies) are unresolved. Molecular markers applied thus far have not been particularly useful for resolving relationships at the family level. Previous morphological studies have depended heavily on characters of wing venation and articulation which are believed to display considerable degrees of homoplasy due to adaptations to different flight modes. Here, we present a comprehensive anatomical dataset of the head morphology of Anisoptera focusing on muscle organization and endoskeletal features covering nearly all families. The characters are illustrated in detail and incorporated into an updated morphological character matrix covering all parts of the dragonfly body. Phylogenetic analysis recovers all families as monophyletic clades except Corduliidae, Gomphidae as sister group to all remaining Anisoptera, and Austropetaliidae as sister group to Aeshnidae (=Aeshnoidea). The position of Petaluridae and Aeshnoidea to each other could not be resolved. Libelluloidea is monophyletic with Neopetalia and Cordulegastridae as first splits. Chlorogomphidae is sister to monophyletic [Synthemistidae + (‘Corduliidae’ + Libellulidae)]. In addition, we applied a recently published formal approach to detect concerted convergence in morphological data matrices and uncover possible homoplasies. Analyses show that especially head and thorax characters may harbour homoplasies. After exclusion of possible homoplastic characters, Gomphidae is corroborated as sister group to all remaining Anisoptera.
Diabetes is a strong predictor of mortality during tuberculosis treatment: a prospective cohort study among tuberculosis patients from Mwanza, Tanzania
Authors: Faurholt‐Jepsen Daniel , Range Nyagosya , PrayGod George , Jeremiah Kidola , Faurholt‐Jepsen Maria , Aabye Martine G. , Changalucha John , Christensen Dirk L. , Grewal Harleen M. S. , Martinussen Torben , Krarup Henrik , Witte Daniel R. , Andersen Aase B. , Friis Henrik 
Published: May 2013

AbstractObjectiveStrong evidence suggests diabetes may be associated with tuberculosis (TB) and could influence TB treatment outcomes. We assessed the role of diabetes on sputum culture conversion and mortality among patients undergoing TB treatment.MethodsA total of 1250 Tanzanian TB patients were followed prospectively during TB treatment with sputum culture after 2 and 5 months. Survival status was assessed at least 1 year after initiation of treatment. At baseline, all participants underwent testing for diabetes and HIV, and the serum concentration of the acute phase reactant alpha‐1 glycoprotein (AGP) was determined.ResultsThere were no differences between participants with and without diabetes regarding the proportion of positive cultures at 2 (3.8% vs. 5.8%) and 5 (1.3% vs. 0.9%) months (P > 0.46). However, among patients with a positive TB culture, relatively more patients with diabetes died before the 5‐month follow‐up. Within the initial 100 days of TB treatment, diabetes was associated with a fivefold increased risk of mortality (RR 5.09, 95% CI 2.36; 11.02, P < 0.001) among HIV uninfected, and a twofold increase among HIV co‐infected patient (RR 2.33 95% CI 1.20; 4.53, P = 0.012), while diabetes was not associated with long‐term mortality. Further adjustment with AGP did not change the estimates.ConclusionDiabetes considerably increases risk of early mortality during TB treatment. The effect may not be explained by increased severity of TB, but could be due to impaired TB treatment response. Research is needed to clarify the mechanism and to assess whether glycaemic control improves survival.
Comparison of a gel column blood typing method and a point‐of‐care cartridge forDogErythrocyteAntigen 1.1
Authors: Blois Shauna L. , Richardson Danielle M. , Abrams‐Ogg Anthony C. G. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackgroundBlood typing for the presence ofDogErythrocyteAntigen (DEA) 1.1 is recommended in all donor and recipient dogs prior to transfusion of blood products. The objective of this study was to determine if a point‐of‐careDEA1.1 blood typing cartridge could be used in place of the gel column typing method.Study DesignDetection ofDEA1.1 was performed using a laboratory‐based gel column method and a point‐of‐care cartridge. A convenience sample of 30 healthy blood donors, 13 dogs with immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) (3 of which had concurrent immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia [IMT]), and 44 dogs with other diseases was included in the study.Key FindingsAgreement was observed between the tests for normal dogs and dogs with nonimmune‐mediated disease in 74/74 cases. Two dogs in theIMHAgroup had indeterminate gel column blood typing results; 1 dog in this group had a negative gel column test result but a positive cartridge test result.SignificanceThere was good agreement between the 2 methods for normal dogs and dogs with nonimmune‐mediated disease. Blood typing methods in dogs withIMHAshould be further investigated.
Automatic quantitative analysis of in‐stent restenosis using FD‐OCT in vivo intra‐arterial imaging
Authors: Mandelias Kostas , Tsantis Stavros , Spiliopoulos Stavros , Katsakiori Paraskevi F. , Karnabatidis Dimitris , Nikiforidis George C. , Kagadis George C. 
Published: May 2013

Purpose:A new segmentation technique is implemented for automatic lumen area extraction and stent strut detection in intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) images for the purpose of quantitative analysis of in‐stent restenosis (ISR). In addition, a user‐friendly graphical user interface (GUI) is developed based on the employed algorithm toward clinical use.Methods:Four clinical datasets of frequency‐domain OCT scans of the human femoral artery were analyzed. First, a segmentation method based on fuzzy C means (FCM) clustering and wavelet transform (WT) was applied toward inner luminal contour extraction. Subsequently, stent strut positions were detected by utilizing metrics derived from the local maxima of the wavelet transform into the FCM membership function.Results:The inner lumen contour and the position of stent strut were extracted with high precision. Compared to manual segmentation by an expert physician, the automatic lumen contour delineation had an average overlap value of 0.917 ± 0.065 for all OCT images included in the study. The strut detection procedure achieved an overall accuracy of 93.80% and successfully identified 9.57 ± 0.5 struts for every OCT image. Processing time was confined to approximately 2.5 s per OCT frame.Conclusions:A new fast and robust automatic segmentation technique combining FCM and WT for lumen border extraction and strut detection in intravascular OCT images was designed and implemented. The proposed algorithm integrated in a GUI represents a step forward toward the employment of automated quantitative analysis of ISR in clinical practice.
Fear of Acupuncture Enhances Sympathetic Activation to Acupuncture Stimulation
Authors: Lee In-Seon , Jo Hee-Jin , Lee Soon-Ho , Lee Hyangsook , Lee Hyejung , Park Hi-Joon , Chae Younbyoung 
Published: May 2013

Background Acupuncture treatment frequently evokes both pain and fear, causing patients to be hesitant about undergoing the procedure. This study investigated individual differences in autonomic response to acupuncture stimulation and its relationship to fear of the procedure. Methods Twenty-seven participants filled out the acupuncture fear scale (AFS) questionnaire and underwent acupuncture stimulation at the LI4 acupuncture point. Autonomic responses were measured by recording the skin conductance response (SCR) throughout acupuncture stimulation. Pearson correlation analysis was performed between the self-reported AFS scores and changes in SCR. Results After acupuncture stimulation, SCR significantly increased and there were greater individual differences in enhanced sympathetic activations to acupuncture stimulation. Changes in SCR correlated with scores for the painful sensation domain of the AFS. Conclusions Our results indicate that fear of acupuncture-induced pain is associated with physiological arousal when people receive acupuncture stimulation. Fear of pain is the dominant factor in acupuncture-related fear and it should be considered in practice and in research.
Improving uptake of the copper intrauterine device for emergency contraception by educating pharmacists in the community
Authors: Clement Kathryn M , Mansour Diana J 
Published: May 2013

ObjectivesThe copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) is the most effective method of emergency contraception (EC) and provides ongoing contraception, yet few women choose this option. This study evaluates the impact of an educational initiative involving pharmacists on uptake of Cu-IUDs for EC in an integrated sexual health clinic in the North East of England.MethodsSince November 2010, local pharmacists have received intensive education detailing EC options including Cu-IUDs. At the same time a rapid access referral pathway for fitting of an emergency Cu-IUD was established. The impact of this initiative has been assessed by analysing case notes of women attending a large city centre sexual health service who received an emergency Cu-IUD during September and October 2010 (prior to the initiative) and the same 2 months in 2011 (9 months after the start of the intervention).ResultsThe number of women fitted with an emergency Cu-IUD increased by almost three-fold from 11 fitted in September and October 2010 to 30 fitted in these 2 months in 2011. One woman was referred from a pharmacist to the service in the first audit period compared with 17 in the second. No pregnancies occurred in the first month after Cu-IUD insertion in these 41 women.ConclusionsEducating pharmacists has increased referral and uptake of Cu-IUD used for EC and this has the potential to reduce unintended pregnancies now and in the future.
The Relationship Between Proactive Management of Core Competencies and Business Performance
Authors: Garcia-Zambrano Lidia , Rodriguez-Castellanos Arturo , García-Merino Jose Domingo 
Published: May 2013

Intangible resources drive economic growth, and are considered the fundamental source of business value. Intangibles have become key factors in generating competitive advantages, despite the fact that traditional financial reporting continues to focus on tangible assets. This is primarily due to the fact that the majority of intangible resources are invisible and considered a current expense on financial statements.Top level management on the other hand may be discouraged from investing in intangible resources, even though numerous studies link investments in R&D, advertising, and training, to the performance of the company. Studies also suggested that core competencies, as a form of intangible human capital, are critical competitive factors and essential elements of corporate competitive advantage. Despite that, few studies analyse the relationship between investments in core competencies and corporate performance. The main objective of this study is to attempt to fill the gap in this area of the current literature and test the extent to which investments in core competences, translates into direct improved organisational performance.The field study was conducted by making telephone calls to the financial managers of different Basque Country companies. Their responses and the financial performance of their companies was analysed and reported in this study. Results from the study show that firms with managers whom affirm their investment in intangible resources have better overall growth and sustained economic development.
The Neural Basis of Inhibitory Effects of Semantic and Phonological Neighbors in Spoken Word Production
Authors: Mirman Daniel , Graziano Kristen M. 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Theories of word production and word recognition generally agree that multiple word candidates are activated during processing. The facilitative and inhibitory effects of these “lexical neighbors” have been studied extensively using behavioral methods and have spurred theoretical development in psycholinguistics, but relatively little is known about the neural basis of these effects and how lesions may affect them. This study used voxel-wise lesion overlap subtraction to examine semantic and phonological neighbor effects in spoken word production following left hemisphere stroke. Increased inhibitory effects of near semantic neighbors were associated with inferior frontal lobe lesions, suggesting impaired selection among strongly activated semantically related candidates. Increased inhibitory effects of phonological neighbors were associated with posterior superior temporal and inferior parietal lobe lesions. In combination with previous studies, these results suggest that such lesions cause phonological-to-lexical feedback to more strongly activate phonologically related lexical candidates. The comparison of semantic and phonological neighbor effects and how they are affected by left hemisphere lesions provides new insights into the cognitive dynamics and neural basis of phonological, semantic, and cognitive control processes in spoken word production.
rTMS of Medial Parieto-occipital Cortex Interferes with Attentional Reorienting during Attention and Reaching Tasks
Authors: Ciavarro Marco , Ambrosini Ettore , Tosoni Annalisa , Committeri Giorgia , Fattori Patrizia , Galletti Claudio 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Unexpected changes in the location of a target for an upcoming action require both attentional reorienting and motor planning update. In both macaque and human brain, the medial posterior parietal cortex is involved in both phenomena but its causal role is still unclear. Here we used on-line rTMS over the putative human V6A (pV6A), a reach-related region in the dorsal part of the anterior bank of the parieto-occipital sulcus, during an attention and a reaching task requiring covert shifts of attention and planning of reaching movements toward cued targets in space. We found that rTMS increased RTs to invalidly cued but not to validly cued targets during both the attention and reaching task. Furthermore, we found that rTMS induced a deviation of reaching endpoints toward visual fixation and that this deviation was larger for invalidly cued targets. The results suggest that reorienting signals are used by human pV6A area to rapidly update the current motor plan or the ongoing action when a behaviorally relevant object unexpectedly occurs in an unattended location. The current findings suggest a direct involvement of the action-related dorso-medial visual stream in attentional reorienting and a more specific role of pV6A area in the dynamic, on-line control of reaching actions.
Intramyocardial Angiogenic Cell Precursors in Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Arom Kitipan V , Ruengsakulrach Permyos , Belkin Michael , Tiensuwan Montip 
Published: May 2013

To determine the efficacy of intramyocardial injection of angiogenic cell precursors in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, 35 patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy underwent injections of angiogenic cell precursors into the left ventricle (cell group). Seventeen patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy were matched from the heart failure database to form a control group that was treated medically. Angiogenic cell precursors were obtained from autologous blood, cultured in vitro, and injected into all free-wall areas of the left ventricle in the cell group. After these injections, New York Heart Association functional class improved significantly by 1.1 ± 0.7 classes at 284.7 ± 136.2 days, and left ventricular ejection fraction improved in 71.4% of patients (25/35); the mean increase in left ventricular ejection fraction was 4.4% ± 10.6% at 192.7 ± 135.1 days. Improved quality of life was demonstrated by better physical function, role-physical, general health, and vitality domains in a short-form health survey at the 3-month follow-up. In the control group, there were no significant improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction or New York Heart Association class which increased by 0.6 ± 0.8 classes. It was concluded that intramyocardial angiogenic cell precursor injection is probably effective in the treatment of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Disclosures and Freedom of Investigation Professor Michael Belkin is an advisory board member, a minor shareholder, and receives a consulting fee from TheraVitae Co. Ltd. However, the authors had full control of the study, methods used, outcome measurements, data analysis, and production of the written report.
Beating heart as an alternative for closure of secundum atrial septal defect
Authors: Thapmongkol Siraphop , Sayasathid Jarun , Methrujpanont Jessada , Namchaisiri Jule 
Published: May 2013

We repaired secundum atrial septal defect in 135 consecutive patients from February 2003 to December 2010. There were 98 females and 37 males, with a mean age of 22.92 ±17.46 years (range, 3–55 years). To prevent myocardial dysfunction and systemic embolism caused by the conventional technique, the operation was performed with a beating heart under cardiopulmonary bypass in 63 cases, and compared the data retrospectively with cases treated under aortic crossclamping, to determine the safety of the beating-heart technique and to evaluate risk factors for embolism in stroke patients. Patient age and size of defect were similar in both groups. There was no death and no residual shunt in either group. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 36.84 ± 9.8 min in the beating-heart group and 43.13 ± 16.7 min in the crossclamp group. The ejection fraction and the incidence of postoperative arrhythmia were similar in both groups. There were no differences in blood products transfused, intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, or perioperative morbidity. In our experience, the results of the beating-heart technique were not different from the conventional technique.
Treatment outcomes for ischemic heart disease in dialysis-dependent patients
Authors: Yeates Alexander , Hawley Carmel , Mundy Julie , Pinto Nigel , Haluska Brian , Shah Pallav 
Published: May 2013

Objective: To compare outcomes following intervention in dialysis-dependent patients with ischemic heart disease. Background: Ischemic heart disease is a major cause of mortality in dialysis-dependent patients. Coronary revascularization and medical modification to relieve symptoms is common, however, there is no clear consensus regarding optimal treatment. Method: Ninety dialysis-dependent patients with ischemic heart disease were prospectively assessed between 1999 and 2009, with a median follow-up of 24 months; 35 received best medical management, 31 had percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stenting, and 24 had coronary artery bypass grafting. Results: By multivariate analysis, higher body mass index and lower logistic EuroSCORE were associated with having either procedure compared to medical management. Using the time-to-event Kaplan-Meier method, both stenting and coronary bypass grafting had lower risks of an adverse outcome than best medical management. Mortality was 40/90 (44.4%). Multivariate predictors of mortality were smoking and a logistic EuroSCORE of 7–14. Overall mortality was not different among groups, however, the stent group had a survival advantage at 30-days and 1-year compared to the coronary bypass group. Composite median survival was 52.3 months. SF-36 questionnaires showed quality of life after bypass grafting was significantly better than medical management or stenting. Physical function was better after bypass grafting compared to medical management or stenting. Conclusion: Dialysis-dependent patients with ischemic heart disease have poor survival despite intervention. Coronary artery bypass achieves fewer composite adverse events and better quality of life than stenting. Symptoms and coronary anatomy should dictate treatment decisions in dialysis-dependent patients.
Return to work after coronary artery bypass in patients aged under 50 years
Authors: Pinto Nigel , Shah Pallav , Haluska Brian , Griffin Rayleene , Holliday Julie , Mundy Julie 
Published: May 2013

Background: This study was designed to identify factors associated with return to work and quality of life in patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass at age <50 years. Methods: 172 patients <50-years old underwent primary coronary artery bypass between January 2000 and December 2006. Predictors of return to work were analysed from variables in a prospectively collected database and on follow-up by the SF-36 questionnaire in 129 (75%) patients. Results: 136 (79%) patients were working prior to surgery. The educational level was: primary 14.5%, secondary 47%, trade 22%, tertiary 13%, and postgraduate 3%. Type of occupation was blue collar 51%, white collar 41%, pensioner 27%, and unspecfied 8%. The mean follow-up was 86.4 ± 23.4 months. One hundred and twenty-six (69%) patients attended cardiac rehabilitation. Forty (23%) patients experienced recurrence of symptoms; 11 (6%) required reintervention. One hundred and twenty-seven (93%) patients returned to work postoperatively. Univariate predictors of return to work were male sex, blue-collar work, and working prior to surgery. Independent predictors of return to work were working prior to surgery and blue-collar work. Patients who returned to work had significantly higher scores in all 8 domains on the SF36-Questionnaire compared to those who did not return to work. Conclusions: Preoperative employment and blue collar occupation were associated with a higher rate of return to work after coronary artery bypass in patients of working age. Patients who returned to work had significantly better measured quality of life than those who did not.