bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hedonic product discounts: When is the price right?
Authors: Luong Alexandra , Slegh David 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of price discounts on products perceived to provide hedonic value vs those perceived to evoke displeasure. Also examined were the effects of various discount levels on consumer intentions to purchase.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study design was a 2 (emotion-evoked) × 2 (price) × 3 (level of discount) mixed-factorial design. In this study, 182 participants were presented with several products and indicated whether they would shop with a competitor offering various price discounts on pleasure- vs displeasure-evoking products.

Findings
– ANOVA results indicated a significant main effect of price discounts on intention to purchase and a significant interaction between price discount and type/price of product. Discounts mattered more between certain levels (10 and 50 per cent) than others (50 versus 70 per cent). Discounts mattered more for hedonic products (pleasure-evoking) than those that evoked displeasure; however, price trumped all factors such that discounts mattered most when price of product is high.

Research limitations/implications
– Limitations include age range of participants and that intentions to shop were measured. Future research should examine price effects on other socio-demographic groups and actual behavior.

Practical implications
– Retailers would benefit from using price discounts as a competitive strategy, with attention given to the “percentage-off” levels that are perceived to be steeper. Discounts are more effective when the product offers hedonic value or when price is high.

Originality/value
– To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between “percentage-off” price discounts on hedonic products. This study contributes to the literature on pricing affect.
Effect of oil composition on fluid substitution in heavy oil reservoirs
Authors: Shamsa Amir , Lines Larry 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTUnlike light oils, heavy oils do not have a well‐established scheme for modelling elastic moduli from dynamic reservoir properties. One of the main challenges in the fluid substitution of heavy oils is their viscoelastic nature, which is controlled by temperature, pressure, and fluid composition. Here, we develop a framework for fluid substitution modelling that is reliable yet practical for a wide range of cold and thermal recovery scenarios in producing heavy oils and that takes into account the reservoir fluid composition, grounded on the effective‐medium theories for estimating elastic moduli of an oil–rock system. We investigate the effect of fluid composition variations on oil–rock elastic moduli with temperature changes. The fluid compositional behaviour is determined by flash calculations. Elastic moduli are then determined using the double‐porosity coherent potential approximation method and the calculated viscosity based on the fluid composition. An increase in temperature imposes two opposing mechanisms on the viscosity behaviour of a heavy‐oil sample: gas liberation, which tends to increase the viscosity, and melting, which decreases the viscosity. We demonstrate that melting dominates gas liberation, and as a result, the viscosity and, consequently, the shear modulus of the heavy oils always decrease with increasing temperature. Furthermore, it turns out that one can disregard the effects of gas in the solution when modelling the elastic moduli of heavy oils. Here, we compare oil–rock elastic moduli when the rock is saturated with fluids that have different viscosity levels. The objective is to characterize a unique relation between the temperature, the frequency, and the elastic moduli of an oil–rock system. We have proposed an approach that takes advantage of this relation to find the temperature and, consequently, the viscosity in different regions of the reservoir.
Colonization of rice roots with methanogenic archaea controls photosynthesis‐derived methane emission
Authors: Pump Judith , Pratscher Jennifer , Conrad Ralf 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThe methane emitted from rice fields originates to a large part (up to 60%) from plant photosynthesis and is formed on the rice roots by methanogenic archaea. To investigate to which extent root colonization controls methane (CH4) emission, we pulse‐labeled rice microcosms with 13CO2 to determine the rates of 13CH4 emission exclusively derived from photosynthates. We also measured emission of total CH4 (12+13CH4), which was largely produced in the soil. The total abundances of archaea and methanogens on the roots and in the soil were analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction of the archaeal 16S rRNA gene and the mcrA gene coding for a subunit of the methyl coenzyme M reductase respectively. The composition of archaeal and methanogenic communities was determined with terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP). During the vegetative growth stages, emission rates of 13CH4 linearly increased with the abundance of methanogenic archaea on the roots and then decreased during the last plant growth stage. Rates of 13CH4 emission and the abundance of methanogenic archaea were lower when the rice was grown in quartz‐vermiculite with only 10% rice soil. Rates of total CH4 emission were not systematically related to the abundance of methanogenic archaea in soil plus roots. The composition of the archaeal communities was similar under all conditions; however, the analysis of mcrA genes indicated that the methanogens differed between the soil and root. Our results support the hypothesis that rates of photosynthesis‐driven CH4 emission are limited by the abundance of methanogens on the roots.
Surveillance for Toxoplasma gondii in California mussels (Mytilus californianus) reveals transmission of atypical genotypes from land to sea
Authors: Shapiro Karen , VanWormer Elizabeth , Aguilar Beatriz , Conrad Patricia A. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryCoastal habitat contamination with Toxoplasma gondii is a health risk to humans and marine wildlife, with infections documented in both nearshore and pelagic marine mammals. Due to lack of sensitive methods for detection of T. gondii in water, this study utilized an alternative surveillance approach for evaluating marine habitat contamination using wild mussels. The objectives of this study were to (i) validate sensitive molecular tools for T. gondii detection in mussels and (ii) apply optimized methods in a surveillance study to determine the prevalence and genotype(s) of T. gondii in mussels. Simplex polymerase chain reaction screening and multiplex genotyping assays were validated and then applied on 959 wild‐caught mussels collected from central California. Thirteen mussels (1.4%) had detectable T. gondii DNA and the presence of T. gondii in mussels was significantly associated with proximity to freshwater run‐off and collection during the wet season. Molecular characterization revealed alleles from T. gondii types I, II/III, X at the B1 locus, and a novel atypical B1 allele that was recently documented in T. gondii‐infected carnivores from California. Findings demonstrate higher than previously reported T. gondii contamination of California coastlines, and describe novel strains of the parasite that further link terrestrial sources with marine contamination.
Bacterial networks and co‐occurrence relationships in the lettuce root microbiota
Authors: Cardinale Massimiliano , Grube Martin , Erlacher Armin , Quehenberger Julian , Berg Gabriele 
Published: November 2014

SummaryLettuce is one of the most common raw foods worldwide, but occasionally also involved in pathogen outbreaks. To understand the correlative structure of the bacterial community as a network, we studied root microbiota of eight ancient and modern Lactuca sativa cultivars and the wild ancestor Lactuca serriola by pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries. The lettuce microbiota was dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteriodetes, as well as abundant Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria. Cultivar specificity comprised 12.5% of the species. Diversity indices were not different between lettuce cultivar groups but higher than in L. serriola, suggesting that domestication lead to bacterial diversification in lettuce root system. Spearman correlations between operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed that co‐occurrence prevailed over co‐exclusion, and complementary fluorescence in situ hybridization‐confocal laser scanning microscopy (FISH‐CLSM) analyses revealed that this pattern results from both potential interactions and habitat sharing. Predominant taxa, such as Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium and Sphingomonadaceae rather suggested interactions, even though these are not necessarily part of significant modules in the co‐occurrence networks. Without any need for complex interactions, single organisms are able to invade into this microbial network and to colonize lettuce plants, a fact that can influence the susceptibility to pathogens. The approach to combine co‐occurrence analysis and FISH‐CLSM allows reliably reconstructing and interpreting microbial interaction networks.
Combined effects of zooplankton grazing and dispersal on the diversity and assembly mechanisms of bacterial metacommunities
Authors: Berga Mercè , Östman Örjan , Lindström Eva S. , Langenheder Silke 
Published: November 2014

SummaryEffects of dispersal and the presence of predators on diversity, assembly and functioning of bacterial communities are well studied in isolation. In reality, however, dispersal and trophic interactions act simultaneously and can therefore have combined effects, which are poorly investigated. We performed an experiment with aquatic metacommunities consisting of three environmentally different patches and manipulated dispersal rates among them as well as the presence or absence of the keystone species Daphnia magna. Daphnia magna reduced both local and regional diversity, whereas dispersal increased local diversity but decreased beta‐diversity having no net effect on regional diversity. Dispersal modified the assembly mechanisms of bacterial communities by increasing the degree of determinism. Additionally, the combination of the D. magna and dispersal increased the importance of deterministic processes, presumably because predator‐tolerant taxa were spread in the metacommunity via dispersal. Moreover, the presence of D. magna affected community composition, increased community respiration rates but did not affect bacterial production or abundance, whereas dispersal slightly increased bacterial production. In conclusion, our study suggests that predation by a keystone species such as D. magna and dispersal additively influence bacterial diversity, assembly processes and ecosystem functioning.
Intervention during pregnancy to reduce excessive gestational weight gain—a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Ronnberg AK , Ostlund I , Fadl H , Gottvall T , Nilsson K 
Published: November 2014

ObjectiveTo evaluate if a feasible, low‐cost intervention could decrease the percentage of women gaining weight above the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations on gestational weight gain (GWG) compared with standard maternity care.DesignA randomised controlled interventional design.SettingAntenatal clinics (n = 14) in Örebro county, Sweden, participated.PopulationHealthy women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥19 kg/m2, age ≥18 years and adequate knowledge of Swedish language who signed in for maternity care at ≤16 weeks of gestation.MethodsStandard care was compared with a composite intervention consisting of education on recommended GWG according to IOM, application of personalised weight graph, formalised prescription of exercise and regular monitoring of GWG at every antenatal visit.OutcomeThe proportion of women gaining weight above IOM guidelines (1990) and mean GWG (kg) was compared between groups.ResultsIn all, 445 women were randomised and 374 women remained for analysis after delivery. A majority of the women analysed were normal weight (72%). The intervention reduced the proportion of women who exceeded the IOM guidelines (41.1% versus 50.0%). The reduction was, however, not statistically significant (P = 0.086). Mean GWG was significantly lower among women receiving the intervention, 14.2 kg (SD 4.4) versus 15.3 kg (SD 5.4) in the standard care group (P = 0.029).ConclusionsThe low‐cost intervention programme tested did significantly reduce the mean GWG but the proportion of women who exceeded the IOM recommendations for GWG was not significantly lower.ClinicalTrials.gov Id NCT00451425 http://clinicaltrials.gov
Efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection for residual or recurrent superficial colorectal tumors after endoscopic mucosal resection
Authors: Rahmi Gabriel , Tanaka Shinwa , Ohara Yoshiko , Ishida Tsukasa , Yoshizaki Tetsuya , Morita Yoshinori , Toyonaga Takashi , Azuma Takeshi 
Published: November 2014

ObjectiveSuperficial colorectal tumors can be treated effectively by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Few data are available on using ESD for residual or recurrent tumors after the first endoscopic resection. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ESD for these lesions.MethodsIn all, 28 patients with residual or recurrent superficial colorectal tumors were referred to the Kobe University Hospital for ESD. The therapeutic outcomes and the possible factors predictive of procedure difficulties for ESD were analyzed.ResultsIn total, 27 (96.4%) patients were successfully treated using ESD. There was no related immediate complication. One patient had a delayed perforation which was then treated surgically. En bloc R0 resection was possible in all the patients and curative resection in 26 patients (92.9%). One invasive cancer was treated surgically. More than one previous endoscopic resection was the only significant predictive factor for the difficulty in performing ESD. None of the patients experienced recurrence during a follow‐up of 22 months (range 3–41 months).ConclusionsThe use of ESD allowed a high rate of en bloc resection for residual or locally recurrent colorectal tumors. Furthermore, these lesions should be treated by ESD as a first‐line treatment.
Confidence intervals for ratios of proportions: implications for selection ratios
Authors: Aho Ken , Bowyer R. Terry 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThe selection ratio (proportional resource use divided by proportional availability) is often used by ecologists to measure the degree to which individuals and populations are selective in their food sources and habitats. Yet, confidence interval approaches for this metric are scarce and poorly evaluated.In this paper, we compare 13 methods that can be used to construct simultaneous confidence intervals for selection ratios. Seven of the methods are applicable when availabilities are unknown. These are bootstrapping and six methods adapted from relative risk (Katz‐log, adjusted‐log, Bailey, inverse hyperbolic sine, Koopman and Noether). The other six approaches are applicable when availabilities are known. These are bootstrapping, two existing methods for relative risk (Wald‐adjusted, Noether‐fixed) and three straightforward new methods (fixed‐log, Agresti–Coull‐adjusted and Bayes‐beta). None of the 13 approaches have been previously evaluated in the context of selection ratios.In simulations with unknown availabilities, the Koopman method performed best, and the currently recommended Noether method performed worst. In simulations with fixed availabilities, the new Agresti–Coull‐adjusted, fixed‐log, Bayes‐beta methods all outperformed the currently recommended Wald‐adjusted method. In the context of real ecological data sets, the Noether and Wald‐adjusted methods produced anomalous results that putatively would alter management decisions. We note that our findings, including those for new methods, are directly conferrable to relative risk, allowing extension of our work to the many branches of biology that rely on this measure.The poor performance of the Noether and Wald‐adjusted methods is troubling because these are currently the most widely used procedures for calculating confidence intervals for type I resource‐selection designs. Based on our findings, we recommend that the Noether method be replaced with the Koopman method, and the Wald‐adjusted method be replaced with the Agresti–Coull‐adjusted method.
Cutaneous drug toxicity from 2,4‐dinitrophenol (DNP): Case report and histological description
Authors: Le Patricia , Wood Benjamin , Kumarasinghe Sujith Prasad 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe use of 2,4‐dinitrophenol (DNP) has regained popularity as a weight loss aid in the last two decades due to increased marketing to bodybuilders and the increasing availability of this banned substance via the Internet. 2,4‐DNP is a drug of narrow therapeutic index and toxicity results in hyperthermia, diaphoresis, tachycardia, tachypnoea and possible cardiac arrest and death. Skin toxicity from 2,4‐DNP has not been reported since the 1930s. We report a case of a 21‐year‐old bodybuilding enthusiast who presented with a toxic exanthem after taking 2,4‐DNP, and describe the first skin biopsy findings in a case of 2,4‐DNP toxicity.
Objective assessment of vitiligo with a computerised digital imaging analysis system
Authors: Shamsudin Norashikin , Hussein Suraiya H , Nugroho Hermawan , Ahmad Fadzil Mohd Hani 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAn objective tool to quantify treatment response in vitiligo is currently lacking. This study aimed to objectively evaluate the treatment response in vitiligo by using a computerised digital imaging analysis system (C‐DIAS) and to compare it with the physician's global assessment (PGA). Tacrolimus ointment 0.1% (Protopic; Astellas Pharma Tech,Toyama, Japan) was applied twice daily on selected lesions which were photographed every 6 weeks for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy end‐point was the mean percentage of repigmentation (MPR), as assessed by the digital method (MPR‐C‐DIAS) or by the PGA. The response was categorised into none (0%), mild (1–25%), moderate (26–50%), good (51–75%) and excellent (76–100%). MPR‐C‐DIAS: Out of 56 patients, 44 (79%) responded. Overall, the response was mild in 22 (39%), moderate in 21(40%) and good in one (2%) patient(s). A total of 39 (70%) patients responded as measured by PGA. The repigmentation was mild in 27(48%), moderate in 10 (18%) and good to excellent in two (4%) patients. The κ test of consistency was 0.17 (P = 0.053), which shows poor agreement between the two assessment methods, although this is not statistically significant. The C‐DIAS can be used to perform an objective analysis of repigmentation or depigmentation in vitiligo skin lesions in response to treatment.
Paraneoplastic subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus associated with cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Jenkins David , McPherson Tess 
Published: November 2014

AbstractSubacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a dermatosis that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals. The exogenous stimulus that triggers this condition is usually unknown; however, medication is often implicated. Malignancy is a rare cause. We present a case of paraneoplastic SCLE to cholangiocarcinoma and briefly review the features of this interesting entity.
Role of nanocrystalline silver dressings in the management of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and TEN/Stevens–Johnson syndrome overlap
Authors: Smith Saxon D , Dodds Annabel , Dixit Shreya , Cooper Alan 
Published: November 2014

AbstractToxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) are severe mucocutaneous eruptions. There is currently no defined optimal approach to wound care. The objective of this study was to evaluate silver dressings in the wound‐care management of TEN and SJS/TEN syndrome overlap with a retrospective case review of nine patients with TEN and SJS/TEN overlap presenting to our institution. Nanocrystalline silver dressings appear to be useful in the rapid commencement of healing in these patients. TEN and SJS/TEN overlap are rare conditions. This contributed to a relatively small number of cases included in the study. The ease of application, antimicrobial properties and low frequency of change make nanocrystalline silver dressings ideal in TEN/SJS.
Paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the mediastinum: A favourable response to treatment and review of the literature
Authors: Ghandi Narges , Ghanadan Alireza , Azizian Mohammad‐Reza , Hejazi Pardis , Aghazadeh Nessa , Tavousi Parvin , Daneshpazhooh Maryam 
Published: November 2014

AbstractParaneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoimmune blistering disorder that occurs in association with an underlying neoplasm. Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) is a rare low‐grade sarcoma of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts associated with inflammatory cells, most commonly occurring in the lung. In this study, a case of PNP associated with IMT of the mediastinum is reported. The patient had a favourable outcome following surgical resection and treatment with a systemic steroid, azathioprine, and i.v. immunoglobulin. The occurrence of PNP with sarcomas, specifically IMT, is noteworthy although it is not well studied in the existing literature.
Dependency of Exercise‐Induced T‐Wave Alternans Predictive Power for the Occurrence of Ventricular Arrhythmias from Heart Rate
Authors: Burattini Laura , Man Sumche , Fioretti Sandro , Di Nardo *† Francesco , Swenne Cees A. 
Published: November 2014

BackgroundT‐wave alternans (TWA) is a noninvasive index of risk for the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias. It is known that TWA amplitude (TWAA) increases with heart rate (HR) but how the TWA predictive power varies with HR remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the dependency of exercise‐induced TWA predictive power for the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias from HR.MethodsTWA was identified using our HR adaptive match filter in exercise ECGs from 248 patients with implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD), of which 72 developed ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation during the 4 year follow‐up (ICD_Cases) and 176 did not (ICD_Controls). TWA predictive power was evaluated at HRs from 80 to 120 bpm by computing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) obtained using the maximum TWAA (maxTWAA) and the TWAA ratio (TWAAratio; i.e., the ratio between TWAA at a specific HR and at 80 bpm).ResultsTWAA increased with HR. At 80 bpm maxTWAA was lower than at 120 bpm in both ICD_Cases (22 μV vs 41 μV; P < 10−2) and ICD_ Controls (16 μV vs 36 μV; P < 10−4). However, only at 80 bpm ICD_Cases showed significantly higher maxTWAA than ICD_Controls (AUC = 0.6486; P = 0.0080). TWAAratio was higher in ICD_Controls than ICD_Cases for all HR but 120 bpm, and its predictive power was maximum at 115 bpm (AUC = 0.6914; P < 0.05).ConclusionsExercise‐induced TWA predictive power for the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias, quantified using both maxTWAA and TWAAratio, was higher at low rather than at high HR.