bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
After‐sales services of home appliances: evidence from Sri Lanka
Authors: Wickramasinghe Vathsala , Mathusinghe Kenneth 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe provision of after‐sales services is considered as a source of product differentiation leading to competitive advantage of a firm. As a consequence, there is a need of monitoring and measuring the activities of after‐sales service departments to ensure that the objectives of their existence are satisfied. Yet, it is very rare to find previous studies that investigated after‐sales service provision. We investigated different dimensions of after‐sales service provision of home appliances in the Sri Lankan context. The study operationalized different dimensions of after‐sales service provision from three different perspectives and used multiple parameters to evaluate the nature of provision.
Effects of Zataria multiflora boiss essential oil, ultraviolet radiation and their combination on Listeria monocytogenes biofilm in a simulated industrial model
Authors: Tajik Hossein , Naghili Hossein , Ghasemmahdi Hadi , Moradi Mehran , Badali Armen 
Published: June 2015

SummaryThe objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of Zataria multiflora boiss essential oils (ZEOs), ultraviolet (UV) radiation and their combination against Listeria monocytogenes biofilm in a simulated industrial model (SIM). The effect of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and sub‐MIC concentration of ZEOs, different contact time of UV and their combination was evaluated in a SIM on 6‐ and 12‐day‐old L. monocytogenes biofilm. In a SIM, 0.3% ZEOs were adequate to completely eliminate 6‐ and 12‐day‐old biofilm grown on stainless steel coupons. The population of viable L. monocytogenes biofilm cells under a 15‐ to 45‐min contact time of UV treatment declined significantly at 6‐ and 12‐day‐old biofilm. The combined effect of ZEO and UV showed antagonist effects. These findings indicated that in the single use, ZEO and UV revealed a suitable antilisteria biofilm activity, while combining them is not a promising method to remove listeria biofilms from stainless steel surfaces.
Indwelling peritoneal catheters in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites
Authors: Kathpalia P. , Bhatia A. , Robertazzi S. , Ahn J. , Cohen S. M. , Sontag S. , Luke A. , Durazo‐Arvizu R. , Pillai A. A. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in hospitalised cirrhotics with ascites is 10–30%. Treatment for refractory ascites includes paracenteses, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt or drain placement; the latter is discouraged due to a perceived infection risk.AimThis study aimed to evaluate the risk of bacterial peritonitis (BP) with peritoneal drains in patients with Child–Pugh class B or C cirrhosis and determine their impact on survival.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) patients with non‐malignant, refractory ascites who had peritoneal drains placed for ≥3 days at Loyola University between 1999 and 2009. Cell counts were performed at drain placement and within 72 h. BP was defined as ascitic polymorphonuclear neutrophils >250/mm3. Univariate analysis assessed the association between demographics, laboratory markers and development of BP. Kaplan–Meier curve estimates by infection were constructed and survival distributions were compared using log–rank statistic.ResultsThere were 227 drain placements during the study period. Twenty‐two per cent were diagnosed with BP (12% had SBP at drain placement; 10% developed BP within 72 h). There was no association between BP and baseline characteristics. Patients who developed BP within 72 h of drain placement had 50% mortality at 5 months compared with 50 months in those without infection (log–rank P ≤ 0.003).ConclusionIn ESLD patients who received an indwelling peritoneal catheter, there was 10% risk of developing BP and significant mortality increase. Though placing drains is not the mainstay of treatment for refractory ascites, we confirm the theoretical adverse risk of peritoneal drains on infection and survival in cirrhotics.
Rapid evidence assessment: increasing the transparency of an emerging methodology
Authors: Varker Tracey , Forbes David , Dell Lisa , Weston Adele , Merlin Tracy , Hodson Stephanie , O'Donnell Meaghan 
Published: June 2015

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesWithin the field of evidence‐based practice, policy makers, health care professionals and consumers require timely reviews to inform decisions on efficacious health care and treatments. Rapid evidence assessment (REA), also known as rapid review, has emerged in recent years as a literature review methodology that fulfils this need. It highlights what is known in a clinical area to the target audience in a relatively short time frame.MethodsThis article discusses the lack of transparency and limited critical appraisal that can occur in REA, and goes on to propose general principles for conducting a REA. The approach that we describe is consistent with the principles underlying systematic review methodology, but also makes allowances for the rapid delivery of information as required while utilizing explicit and reproducible methods at each stage.ResultsOur method for conducting REA includes: developing an explicit research question in consultation with the end‐users; clear definition of the components of the research question; development of a thorough and reproducible search strategy; development of explicit evidence selection criteria; and quality assessments and transparent decisions about the level of information to be obtained from each study. In addition, the REA may also include an assessment of the quality of the total body of evidence.ConclusionsTransparent reporting of REA methodologies will provide greater clarity to end‐users about how the information is obtained and about the trade‐offs that are made between speed and rigour.
Expanding the Entamoeba Universe: New Hosts Yield Novel Ribosomal Lineages
Authors: Jacob Alison S. , Busby Eloise J. , Levy Abigail D. , Komm Natasha , Clark C. Graham 
Published: June 2015

AbstractRemoving the requirement for cell culture has led to a substantial increase in the number of lineages of Entamoeba recognized as distinct. Surveying the range of potential host species for this parasite genus has barely been started and it is clear that additional sampling of the same host in different locations often identifies additional diversity. In this study, using small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, we identify four new lineages of Entamoeba, including the first report of Entamoeba from an elephant, and extend the host range of some previously described lineages. In addition, examination of microbiome data from a number of host animals suggests that substantial Entamoeba diversity remains to be uncovered.
Ovarian function in captive owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae and A. vociferans)
Authors: Mayor Pedro , Takeshita Rafaela S.C. , Coutinho Leandro Nassar , Sánchez Nofre , Gálvez Hugo , Ique Carlos , Monteiro Frederico Ozanan Barros 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackgroundOvarian function and morphology of owl monkeys (Aotus spp.) is inadequately known, but it is essential to describe this organ in detail to better understand reproductive patterns of the species.MethodsThis study reports the anatomical and histological features of the ovaries from 41 owl monkeys, considering their reproductive status and parity.ResultsThe corpora lutea (CL) and reproductive state had a significant effect on ovarian volume. Follicles were observed in both pregnant and non‐pregnant subjects. All females in the luteal phase and pregnant females showed at least one cyclic or pregnancy CL. Mean ovulation rate was 1.89 CL/female, and the mean ovum mortality was 37.5%. There were no significant differences in ovarian volume related to parity.ConclusionsThese results contribute to the scarce information available on the reproductive biology of owl monkeys and can aid in the development of biotechnologies involved in assisted reproduction.
Successful pharmaceutical‐grade streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced hyperglycemia in a conscious tethered baboon (Papio hamadryas) model
Authors: Frost Patrice A. , Chen Shuyuan , Mezzles Marguerite J. , Voruganti Venkata Saroja , Nava‐Gonzalez Edna J. , Arriaga‐Cazares Hector E. , Freed Katy A. , Comuzzie Anthony G. , DeFronzo Ralph A. , Kent Jack W. , Grayburn Paul A. , Bastarrachea Raul A. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackgroundNon‐human primate (NHP) diabetic models using chemical ablation of β‐cells with STZ have been achieved by several research groups. Chemotherapeutic STZ could lead to serious adverse events including nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and mortality.MethodsWe implemented a comprehensive therapeutic strategy that included the tether system, permanent indwelling catheter implants, an aggressive hydration protocol, management for pain with IV nubain and anxiety with IV midazolam, moment‐by‐moment monitoring of glucose levels post‐STZ administration, and continuous intravenous insulin therapy.ResultsA triphasic response in blood glucose after STZ administration was fully characterized. A dangerous hypoglycemic phase was also detected in all baboons. Other significant findings were hyperglycemia associated with low levels of plasma leptin, insulin and C‐peptide concentrations, hyperglucagonemia, and elevated non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations.ConclusionsWe successfully induced frank diabetes by IV administering a single dose of pharmaceutical‐grade STZ safely and without adverse events in conscious tethered baboons.
A coordinated cross‐disciplinary research initiative to address an increased incidence of narcolepsy following the 2009–2010 Pandemrix vaccination programme in Sweden
Authors: Feltelius N. , Persson I. , Ahlqvist‐Rastad J. , Andersson M. , Arnheim‐Dahlström L. , Bergman P. , Granath F. , Adori C. , Hökfelt T. , Kühlmann‐Berenzon S. , Liljeström P. , Maeurer M. , Olsson T. , Örtqvist Å. , Partinen M. , Salmonson T. , Zethelius B. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIn response to the 2009–2010 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic, a mass vaccination programme with the AS03‐adjuvanted influenza A(H1N1) vaccine Pandemrix was initiated in Sweden. Unexpectedly, there were a number of narcolepsy cases amongst vaccinated children and adolescents reported. In this review, we summarize the results of a joint cross‐disciplinary national research effort to investigate the adverse reaction signal from the spontaneous reporting system and to better understand possible causative mechanisms. A three‐ to fourfold increased risk of narcolepsy in vaccinated children and adolescents was verified by epidemiological studies. Of importance, no risk increase was observed for the other neurological and autoimmune diseases studied. Genetic studies confirmed the association with the allele HLA‐DQB1*06:02, which is known to be related to sporadic narcolepsy. Furthermore, a number of studies using cellular and molecular experimental models investigated possible links between influenza vaccination and narcolepsy. Serum analysis, using a peptide microarray platform, showed that individuals who received Pandemrix exhibited a different epitope reactivity pattern to neuraminidase and haemagglutinin, as compared to individuals who were infected with H1N1. Patients with narcolepsy were also found to have increased levels of interferon‐gamma production in response to streptococcus‐associated antigens. The chain of patient‐related events and the study results emerging over time were subjected to intense nationwide media attention. The importance of transparent communication and collaboration with patient representatives to maintain public trust in vaccination programmes is also discussed in the review. Organizational challenges due to this unexpected event delayed the initiation of some of the research projects, still the main objectives of this joint, cross‐disciplinary research effort were reached, and important insights were acquired for future, similar situations in which a fast and effective task force may be required to evaluate vaccination‐related adverse events.
Reproductive performance of layer chickens reared on deep litter system with or without access to grass or legume pasture
Authors: Oke O. E. , Ladokun A. O. , Onagbesan O. M. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryDespite several studies carried out to investigate the effects of access to pasture on poultry performance, there is a dearth of information on the comparative benefit of grass and legumes. This study investigated the effects of rearing systems [deep litter system (DL), deep litter with access to legumes (LP) or grass (GP) pastures] on the performance of ISA Brown layers. Two hundred and forty 12‐week‐old pullets were housed for this study. They were reared until 60 weeks of age. Eighty birds were assigned to each treatment; each treatment had four replicates of 20 birds each. Two birds per replicate were slaughtered at weeks 20, 35 and 58 for determination of the weights of liver, ovary, oviduct and the number of follicles. Daily egg production records were kept from the day of first egg to 42 weeks in lay. Body weights were recorded weekly. Results indicated that at 20 weeks of age, the hens kept in the LP had higher (p < 0.05) ovary weight (g) (34.98 ± 1.4), oviduct weight (52.55 ± 2.28) and oviduct length (cm) (49.73 ± 11.34), and higher number of large yellow follicles (3.75 ± 1.31) and small yellow follicles (12.75 ± 5.17) than those in the GP (0.83 ± 0.02, 1.68 ± 0.19, 16.38 ± 1.14, 0.00 and 0.00), and DL (1.03 ± 0.11, 1.48 ± 0.48, 14.43 ± 0.58, 0.00 and 0.00) respectively. The age (days) at first oviposition was earlier (p < 0.05) in the LP (139.25 ± 0.85) than that in the GP (146.75 ± 0.48) and DL (146.75 ± 0.48). The hen‐day egg production was lower (p < 0.05) in GP (74.19 ± 1.25) than that in the DL (78.82 ± 0.78) and LP (79.93 ± 1.13) at mid‐laying phase. Concentrate feed intake was lower (p < 0.05) in LP and GP than DL suggesting economic benefit. It was concluded that access to LP enhanced the performance of layers than DL and GP as indicated by the parameters measured.
Differential transcriptional responses underlie dietary induction of intestinal carbohydrase activities in house sparrow nestlings
Authors: Gatica‐Sosa C. , Brzęk P. , Chediack J. G. , Cid F. D. , Karasov W. H. , Caviedes‐Vidal E. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryMany species show diet‐induced flexibility of activity of intestinal enzymes; however, molecular and genetic mechanisms responsible for such modulation are less known, particularly in altricial birds. The goal of our study was to test whether a diet‐induced increase in activity of intestinal maltase and sucrase in house sparrow nestlings is matched with an increase in maltase–glucoamylase (MG) and sucrase–isomaltase (SI) complex mRNAs respectively. Both enzyme activities were significantly higher in mid‐intestine of nestlings fed a medium‐starch (MS) diet compared to those fed a starch‐free (SF) diet. In contrast to the similar pattern of dietary induction for both enzyme activities, diet MS elevated significantly only the level of MG mRNA, but not SI mRNA. The coordinated increase in activity of maltase and in MG mRNA is consistent with the hypothesis that dietary induction of this enzyme is under transcriptional control. In contrast, the lack of such coordination for changes in activity of sucrase and SI mRNA suggests that upregulation of this enzyme may be achieved by post‐translational factor(s). We conclude that genetic mechanisms responsible for diet‐induced flexibility of digestive enzymes in birds may differ from that observed in mammals.
Digestive physiology, metabolism and methane production of captive Linné's two‐toed sloths (Choloepus didactylus)
Authors: Vendl C. , Frei S. , Dittmann M. T. , Furrer S. , Osmann C. , Ortmann S. , Munn A. , Kreuzer M. , Clauss M. 
Published: June 2015

SummarySloths are renowned for their low metabolic rate, low food intake and low defecation frequency. We investigated factors of digestive physiology and energy metabolism in four captive individuals (mean body mass 10.0 ± SD 3.7 kg) of a hitherto mostly unstudied sloth species, Linné's two‐toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus), in a 2‐week digestion recording and 23‐h respiration experiment on animals fed a standard zoo diet of vegetables and starchy components. Dry matter intake, defecation frequency and particle mean retention time (MRT) in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) were 12 ± 3 g/(kg0.75 day), once every 5 days and >140 h in three individuals, but 53 g/(kg0.75 day), daily and 82 h in one individual that was apparently compensating for a period of weight loss prior to the experiment. In all animals, solute marker was eliminated at a faster rate than the particle marker, indicating ‘digesta washing’ in the sloths’ GIT. The overall metabolic rate calculated from oxygen consumption matched the metabolisable energy intake in three individuals [173 ± 22 vs. 168 ± 44 kJ/(kg0.75 day)] but not in the fourth one [225 vs. 698 kJ/(kg0.75 day)], supporting the interpretation that this animal was replenishing body stores. In spite of the low food intake and the low‐fibre diet (209 ± 26 g neutral detergent fibre/kg dry matter), methane production was rather high accounting for 9.4 ± 0.8% of gross energy intake (2.7% in the fourth individual), which exceeded literature data for ruminants on forage‐only diets. These results corroborate literature reports on low intake, low defecation frequency, low metabolic rate and long MRT in other sloth species. The long MRT is probably responsible for the comparatively high methane production, providing more opportunity for methanogenic archaea than in other non‐ruminant mammals to produce significant amounts of methane.
The art of destruction: revealing the proteolytic capacity of bacterial caspase homologs
Authors: Asplund‐Samuelsson Johannes 
Published: June 2015

SummaryCaspases are proteases that initiate and execute programmed cell death in animal tissues, thereby facilitating multicellular development and survival. While caspases are unique to metazoans and specifically cleave substrates at aspartic acid residues, homologs are found in protozoa, plants, algae, fungi, bacteria and archaea, and show specificity for basic residues. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Klemenčič and colleagues present the first biochemical characterization of a bacterial caspase homolog, classified as an orthocaspase. By expressing the gene MaOC1 from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 in Escherichia coli, the authors discovered specificity for substrates with arginine in the P1 position. The protein requires autocatalytic processing to become active and is dependent on an intact histidine–cysteine dyad. These results significantly extend our knowledge of the specificities of bacterial caspase homologs, which are known to be highly diverse in protein domain architectures and active site mutations. Although bacterial programmed cell death is one possible area of action, the function of most bacterial caspase homologs remains unexplored. Cyanobacteria represent the best studied group in terms of prokaryotic caspase‐like proteins both genomically and experimentally, and thereby provide a suitable platform for further investigations into activation, regulation and physiological roles of orthocaspases.
Very high resolution image matching based on local features and k‐means clustering
Authors: Sedaghat Amin , Ebadi Hamid 
Published: June 2015

AbstractImage matching is a critical process in photogrammetry and remote sensing. Automatic and reliable feature matching using well‐distributed points in very high resolution images is a difficult task due to significant relief displacement caused by tall buildings and ground relief. In this paper a robust and efficient image‐matching approach is proposed, consisting of two main steps. In the first step, three sets of local features – Harris points, UR‐SIFT and MSER – are extracted over the entire image. A SIFT (scale‐invariant feature transform) descriptor is then created for each extracted feature, and an initial cross‐matching verification is performed using the Euclidean distance between feature descriptors. In the second step, an approach based on k‐means clustering is performed to achieve accurate matching without mismatched features, followed by a consistency check using a local affine transformation model for each cluster. The proposed method is successfully applied to matching various aerial and satellite images and the results demonstrate its robustness and capability.
Stable Isotopic Geochemical and Geochronological Constraints on the Formation of theShihu Gold Deposit: The Intracontinental Metallogeny of theTaihangTectonic Belt, EasternChina
Authors: Wang Shuzhi , Hu Jianzhong , Song Yang , Cai Xiao , Wang Tao 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe Early CretaceousShihu gold deposit is located in the northern segment of theTaihangTectonic belt, which extends across the central part of theNorthChinaCraton. The deposit is hosted predominantly by the Archean metamorphic crystalline units, and is spatially and temporally related to quartz diorite porphyry present extensively throughout the gold deposit. We studied the geology, geochronology and stable isotopic geochemistry. ZirconU–PbLA–ICP–MSages of the quartz diorite porphyry at deposit range from 134 ± 1 to 131 ± 2 Ma, which are coeval and probably genetically related to the mineralization. The majority of the sulfides of the gold deposit have δ34S values ranging from −1 to 2‰, which suggest an homogeneous magmatic source. In addition, the isotopic compositions of δ18Ofluidand δ18Dfluidvary from 2.1 to 7.0‰ and −93 to −65‰, respectively, suggesting that the magmatic fluids mingled with meteoric water. ThePb isotopic analyses reveal that both the ore‐forming materials and the quartz diorite porphyry originated from the lower crust and may have been mixed with mantle material. The87Sr/86Sriand143Nd/144Nd (143Nd/144Nd)iratios for the quartz diorite porphyry demonstrate that there was mixing of two end‐member (crust and the mantle) isotopic compositions. These results suggest that the ore‐forming fluids and materials were derived from lower‐crustal melting induced by mantle processes. Processes associated with the formation of theShihu gold deposit differ significantly from those that characterize orogenic gold deposits, and instead are representative of formation in an intracontinental tectonic environment.
Geological Features and Formation Processes of the Makeng Fe Deposit, China
Authors: Zhang Zhenjie , Zuo Renguang , Cheng Qiuming 
Published: June 2015

AbstractRecent studies have revealed that the Makeng Fe deposit is a skarn type deposit. However, the skarns in Makeng, occurring primarily between limestone and sandstone, are not typically associated with limestone and plutons. Different periods of intrusions, e.7. Hercynian mafic intrusions and Yanshanian (i.e. early Cretaceous) Dayang–Juzhou granitic intrusion, occurred in the Makeng deposit district. In this study, the formation processes of the skarns and Fe mineralization are constrained by detailed fieldwork, petrology, geochronology, and geochemistry. Skarns and Fe mineralization intersecting the Hercynian mafic intrusions are observed in consecutive specimens from the 106# tunnel. They suggest that the skarn formation and Fe mineralization occurred after the Hercynian mafic intrusions and are related to the later Yanshanian Dayang–Juzhou granitic intrusion. The geochronological characteristics of weakly skarn‐altered diabases, the decreasing nature of Fe contents in altered diabase, and the major element compositions of pyroxenes and garnets also support that Hercynian mafic intrusions are strongly reformed by Yanshanian granitic magmas and the Fe migrated from mafic intrusion was responsible for formation of iron ore.