bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inter‐sector water allocation in Israel, 2011–2050: urban consumption versus farm usage
Authors: Hadas Efrat , Gal Yoav 
Published: November 2012

AbstractAccording to the Water Authority of Israel, Israel's water economy is on the brink of a crisis. Demands are increasing, exceeding the capacity of the natural sources, which are being depleted. Water, as a resource in short supply, necessitated administrative actions in order to attain its efficient utilization, in accordance with the goals set by the state. In addition, the issue of water allocation in Israel is strongly connected to internal politics and not necessarily to a clear overall policy. This article presents a simulation model which examined a large number of different scenarios and returns the possible outcomes of water allocations in a routine situation of uncertainty. The findings show that even under ideal conditions, a water shortage in Israel is inevitable and urban consumption will demand the largest allocation of water. As a result, the Israeli rural sector will be required to reorganize the water allocation system and production structure.
A Monte Carlo tool to study the mortality reduction due to breast screening programs
Authors: Zamora Luis I. , Forastero Cristina , Guirado Damián , Martínez‐Luna Rafael J. , Lallena Antonio M. 
Published: November 2012

Purpose:To develop a Monte Carlo tool that permits to study the reduction in breast cancer mortality rate due to breast screening programs.Methods:Simulations implement woman histories undergoing a screening program, include a model of survival after local treatment of invasive cancers and use distributions of time gained due to screening detection against symptomatic detection and overall sensitivity of the screening obtained previously. Mortalities for the whole woman population and for those women with ages within the range considered in the program have been calculated.Results:For the whole woman population, a reduction in breast cancer mortality up to 29% has been found for a configuration that includes women aged between 50 and 70 years, with a screening interval of two years and 100% acceptance rate. If an acceptance of 70% is considered, this percentage reduces to 20%. If, in the same conditions, the program starts at 40 years, the reduction of the mortality reaches 24% while if the screening interval is one year, this percentage raises to 28%. If mortalities are calculated for those women with ages within the range included in the program these reductions are greater and no significant differences are found between the programs with age ranges [50–70] and [40–70]. In the model, radio‐induced cancers have no effect in survival.Conclusions:The results agree reasonably well with those of different trials. Mortality reductions of 12%–20% (between two and four deaths per year and 105 women) are obtained only for acceptances above 50%. This could be considered as a threshold for the acceptance, which appears to be a critical parameter.
The second‐order differential phase contrast and its retrieval for imaging with x‐ray Talbot interferometry
Authors: Yang Yi , Tang Xiangyang 
Published: November 2012

Purpose:The x‐ray differential phase contrast imaging implemented with the Talbot interferometry has recently been reported to be capable of providing tomographic images corresponding to attenuation‐contrast, phase‐contrast, and dark‐field contrast, simultaneously, from a single set of projection data. The authors believe that, along with small‐angle x‐ray scattering, the second‐order phase derivativeΦ″s(x) plays a role in the generation of dark‐field contrast. In this paper, the authors derive the analytic formulae to characterize the contribution made by the second‐order phase derivative to the dark‐field contrast (namely, second‐order differential phase contrast) and validate them via computer simulation study. By proposing a practical retrieval method, the authors investigate the potential of second‐order differential phase contrast imaging for extensive applications.Methods:The theoretical derivation starts at assuming that the refractive index decrement of an object can be decomposed into δ = δs + δf, where δf corresponds to the objectˈs fine structures and manifests itself in the dark‐field contrast via small‐angle scattering. Based on the paraxial Fresnel‐Kirchhoff theory, the analytic formulae to characterize the contribution made by δs, which corresponds to the objectˈs smooth structures, to the dark‐field contrast are derived. Through computer simulation with specially designed numerical phantoms, an x‐ray differential phase contrast imaging system implemented with the Talbot interferometry is utilized to evaluate and validate the derived formulae. The same imaging system is also utilized to evaluate and verify the capability of the proposed method to retrieve the second‐order differential phase contrast for imaging, as well as its robustness over the dimension of detector cell and the number of steps in grating shifting.Results:Both analytic formulae and computer simulations show that, in addition to small‐angle scattering, the contrast generated by the second‐order derivative is magnified substantially by the ratio of detector cell dimension over grating period, which plays a significant role in dark‐field imaging implemented with the Talbot interferometry.Conclusions:The analytic formulae derived in this work to characterize the second‐order differential phase contrast in the dark‐field imaging implemented with the Talbot interferometry are of significance, which may initiate more activities in the research and development of x‐ray differential phase contrast imaging for extensive preclinical and eventually clinical applications.
Sport concussion knowledge base, clinical practises and needs for continuing medical education: a survey of family physicians and cross-border comparison
Authors: Lebrun Constance M , Mrazik Martin , Prasad Abhaya S , Tjarks B Joel , Dorman Jason C , Bergeron Michael F , Munce Thayne A , Valentine Verle D 
Published: November 2012

ContextEvolving concussion diagnosis/management tools and guidelines make Knowledge Transfer and Exchange (KTE) to practitioners challenging.ObjectiveIdentify sports concussion knowledge base and practise patterns in two family physician populations; explore current/preferred methods of KTE.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingFamily physicians in Alberta, Canada (CAN) and North/South Dakota, USA.ParticipantsCAN physicians were recruited by mail: 2.5% response rate (80/3154); US physicians through a database: 20% response rate (109/545).Intervention/instrumentOnline survey.Main and secondary outcome measuresDiagnosis/management strategies for concussions, and current/preferred KTE.ResultsMain reported aetiologies: sports/recreation (52.5% CAN); organised sports (76.5% US). Most physicians used clinical examination (93.8% CAN, 88.1% US); far fewer used the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT1/SCAT2) and balance testing. More US physicians initially used concussion-grading scales (26.7% vs 8.8% CAN, p=0.002); computerised neurocognitive testing (19.8% vs 1.3% CAN; p<0.001) and Standardised Assessment of Concussion (SAC) (21.8% vs 7.5% CAN; p=0.008). Most prescribed physical rest (83.8% CAN, 75.5% US), while fewer recommended cognitive rest (47.5% CAN, 28.4% US; p=0.008). Return-to-play decisions were based primarily on clinical examination (89.1% US, 73.8% CAN; p=0.007); US physicians relied more on neurocognitive testing (29.7% vs 5.0% CAN; p<0.001) and recognised guidelines (63.4% vs 23.8% CAN; p<0.001). One-third of Canadian physicians received KTE from colleagues, websites and medical school training. Leading KTE preferences included Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses and online CME.ConclusionsExisting published recommendations regarding diagnosis/management of concussion are not always translated into practise, particularly the recommendation for cognitive rest; predicating enhanced, innovative CME initiatives.
Have serological tests changed the face of childhood coeliac disease? A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Garnier-Lengliné Hélène , Brousse Nicole , Candon Sophie , Goulet Olivier , Ruemmele Frank M , Schmitz Jacques 
Published: November 2012

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate if the use of antitransglutaminase (tTG) and antiendomysium (EM) antibodies has modified the profile of coeliac disease (CD) in children.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingMonocentric study, in one major tertiary centre in Paris. Two cohorts of patients were compared; the first included patients before the use of antibodies, and the second included patients after the use of antibodies.ParticipantsAll patients from the same physician diagnosed with a CD between 1976 and 1992 (historical cohort), and between 1994 and 2007, were included in the study. 56 patients were included in the historical cohort, 59 in the recent cohort.Primary and secondary outcome measuresClinical, biological and histological profiles at diagnosis have been studied.ResultsThe recent cohort diagnosis of CD was based in 27% on a systematic screening (type I diabetes, n=10; CD in siblings, n=6). On comparison of CD patients in the historical to the recent cohort, the following significant differences were observed: Median age at diagnosis increased from 1 year to 2.7 years (p<0.0001). Patients in the historical cohort had more gastrointestinal symptoms (93% vs 63%, p=0.0001) and failure to thrive (98% vs 80%, p=0.0025). Nutritional deficiencies and morphological lesions were more severe in the historical cohort (90% subtotal or total villous atrophy vs 51%, p<0.0001). Differences observed between the two cohorts were mainly due to the presence of screened patients.ConclusionsA new type of patients, with a paucisymptomatic or asymptomatic CD, has been identified using serological tests. Silent disease has been diagnosed by screening in a target population. In the other patients of the recent cohort, symptoms were similar but less severe than those observed before. Long-term risks of untreated silent CD are not well determined as yet, and have to be evaluated in prospective studies.
Fluoxetine inhibits monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial remodeling involved in inhibition of RhoA–Rho kinase and Akt signalling pathways in rats
Authors: Wang Han-Ming , Wang Yun , Liu Ming , Bai Yang , Zhang Xin-Hua , Sun Ying-Xian , Wang Huai-Liang 
Published: November 2012

Activation of the small GTPase Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) are important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors inhibit activation of RhoA and ROCK in vitro, and ameliorate PAH and pulmonary arterial remodeling in vivo. However, little is known about whether the RhoA–ROCK signalling pathway is involved in the treatment of PAH with fluoxetine in vivo. The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of the RhoA–ROCK signalling pathway in the protective effect of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine against monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial remodeling. MCT was applied to establish PAH in male Wistar rats. Fluoxetine was administered by gastric gavage once a day for 21 d. The results showed that MCT induced pulmonary arterial remodeling, raised the serotonylation and membrane translocation of RhoA in the lungs, and increased serotonin transporter (5-HTT), RhoA, and ROCK2 expression, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt phosphorylation in the pulmonary arteries and the lungs. Fluoxetine markedly inhibited these MCT-induced changes. The findings suggest that fluoxetine inhibits MCT-induced pulmonary arterial remodeling in rats by inhibition of the RhoA–ROCK and Akt signalling pathways.
Systemic and renal haemodynamic changes in renal schemia/reperfusion injury: impact of erythropoietin
Authors: Hussein Abdel-Aziz M. , Barakat Nashwa , Awadalla Amira , Shokeir Ahmed A. 
Published: November 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on systemic and renal hemodynamics in a rat model of renal ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We used 30 male Sprague–Dawley rats distributed among the following 3 groups (10 rats per group): (i) the sham-operated group, (ii) the control group (I/R injury only), and (iii) the EPO-treated group (I/R injury with 1500 U EPO·(kg body mass)–1on day 0, and 500 U·kg–1on days 2 and 4 after ischemia). Renal function, arterial blood pressure (ABP), renal plasma flow (RPF), renal blood flow (RBF), and renal vascular resistance (RVR) were measured on days 1, 2, and 7 after ischemia. The expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and histopathology of kidney were evaluated on day 7. The contractility of aortic strips was recorded from the different groups. The results show that renal function and histopathology were significantly improved after treatment with EPO. Compared with the control group, the EPO-treated group showed a significant increase in RPF, RBF, haematocrite, ABP, eNOS expression, and a decrease in RVR (p < 0.05).The response of aortic strips to the relaxant effect of acetylcholine was improved in the EPO-treated group. In conclusion, treatment with EPO improves renal function and renal haemodynamics in renal I/R injury, and causes significant rise of ABP and haematocrite value.
Contraction-induced signaling: evidence of convergent cascades in the regulation of muscle fatty acid metabolism
Authors: Turcotte Lorraine P. , Abbott Marcia J. 
Published: November 2012

The regulation of fatty acid utilization during muscle contraction and exercise remains to be fully elucidated. Evidence suggests that the metabolic responses of skeletal muscle induced by the contraction-induced changes in energy demand are mediated by the activation of a multitude of intracellular signaling cascades. This review addresses the roles played by 3 intracellular signaling cascades of interest in the regulation of fatty acid uptake and oxidation in contracting skeletal muscle; namely, the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs), and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) signaling cascades. Data delineating the potential role of AMPK in cross-talk with CaMKII, CaMK kinase (CaMKK), and ERK1/2 are presented. Collectively, data show that in perfused rodent muscle, regulation of fatty acid uptake and oxidation occurs via (i) CaMKII signaling via both AMPK-dependent and -independent cascades, (ii) CaMKK signaling via both AMPK-dependent and -independent cascades, (iii) AMPK signaling in a time- and intensity-dependent manner, and (iv) ERK1/2 signaling in an intensity-dependent manner.
The impact of doxorubicin and dexrazoxane injection of prepubertal female rats on pregnancy outcome and cardiac function postpartum
Authors: Calvé Annie , Noiles William , Sebag Igal A. , Chalifour Lorraine E. 
Published: November 2012

Childhood cancer survivors can develop significant cardiac dysfunction in adulthood as a consequence of their cancer treatment. Studies have linked heart failure during pregnancy to childhood doxorubicin (DOX) exposure. We hypothesized that DOX injection would reduce cardiac function peripartum and that DOX-treated dams would show greater cardiac remodeling postweaning. Weanling female Sprague–Dawley rats were injected with phospate-buffered saline, DOX (3 mg/kg), or DOX plus the cardioprotectant dexrazoxane (DEX; 60 mg/kg) and followed for 2 pregnancies. DOX and DOX:DEX dams were fertile, but had fewer pups and more pup losses. Echocardiography, 1-day postpartum after each pregnancy, revealed greater increases in cardiac mass and eccentric hypertrophy in DOX-treated dams and early dilation in DOX:DEX dams. The expression of calcium homeostasis proteins can change after DOX treatment and cardiac remodeling. SERCA2a expression did not change. Reductions in phospholamban and phospho-serine 16-specific phospholamban expression in DOX dams were not relieved by DEX coinjection. DOX binds and inactivates calsequestrin 2 expression so increased calsequestrin 2 expression in DOX:DEX-treated dams suggests some DEX compensation. The eccentric hypertrophy and dilation development, despite compensatory changes in proteins controlling calcium cycling, suggest DOX damage with repeat pregnancy that was not alleviated fully by DEX.
CB1 and CB2 contribute to antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of electroacupuncture on experimental arthritis of the rat temporomandibular joint
Authors: Gondim Delane Viana , Araújo Joana Cláudia Bezerra , Cavalcante André Luiz Cunha , Havt Alexandre , Quetz Josiane da Siva , Brito Gerly Anne de Castro , Ribeiro Ronaldo de Albuquerque , Lima Vale Mariana 
Published: November 2012

Electroacupuncture (EA) and cannabinoids have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in animal models of arthritis. Male Wistar rats were injected with saline or zymosan (2 mg) into the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). EA (10 Hz, 30 min) was performed 2 h after or 1 h before zymosan administration. AM251 or AM630 (3 mg/kg, i.p.)were administered before EA treatment. Mechanical hypernociception was accessed after zymosan administration. Rats were sacrificed 6 h after zymosan administration and the joint was removed for histopathological analysis. The gene expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors was assessed after sacrifice of the TMJ arthritic animals. EA inhibited zymosan-induced hypernociception (p < 0.05). AM251 reversed significantly the antinociceptive effect of EA, suggesting that the CB1 receptor is involved in this effect. AM630 reversed the anti-inflammatory effect of EA. CB1 and CB2 receptor gene expression was upregulated 6 h after zymosan-induced arthritis in the EA-treated group. We observed downregulation of CB2 receptor gene expression in the EA group at the 24th hour compared with the 6th hour. Higher CB1 receptor gene expression was also found compared with the 6th hour. EA produced antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects, and these effects appeared to be mediated through CB1 and CB2 receptor activation.
Potential net clinical benefit of population-wide implementation of apixaban and dabigatran among European patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Pisters Ron , Nieuwlaat Robby , Lane Deirdre , Crijns Harry , Lip Gregory 
Published: November 2012

SummaryVitamin K antagonists (e.g. warfarin) are commonly underutilised, due to limitations such as the need for monitoring, in high-risk atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. We therefore aimed to model the potential impact on clinical outcomes in patients with AF with the use of the novel oral anticoagulant (OAC) drugs, apixaban and dabigatran. We identified all high-risk (CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2) patients with non-valvular AF and known one-year follow-up from the EuroHeart Survey on AF (EHS-AF). We modelled the expected numbers of clinical events on the novel OACs using published hazard ratios from their respective phase 3 clinical trials and calculated the numbers needed to treat and the mathematical net clinical benefit. Our analysis included 3,400 patients [39% females; mean (SD) age 67 (12) years; CHA2DS2-VASc score 3.0 (1.8)] of which 330 were excluded from the modelling analysis due to concomitant use of OAC and antiplatelet drugs. During one-year follow- up, 108 (3.2%) patients experienced thromboembolism, 51 (1.5%) major bleeds and 146 (4.3%) died. Compared to current treatments (i.e. warfarin, aspirin or nothing) the use of apixaban in highrisk patients would have potentially prevented an additional 17 deaths, 27 strokes and eight major bleeds within this cohort. With use of dabigatran 150 mg BID, 34 strokes could have been prevented and for dabigatran110 mg BID, 16 strokes and six major bleeds would be avoided. Extrapolation of the data from the EHS-AF to the whole of Europe would translate into the prevention of an additional 64,573 major cardiovascular events and deaths each year among patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2, by the use of apixaban, 43,235 with the use of dabigatran 150 mg bid and 27,272 with the use of dabigatran 110 mg bid. In conclusion, based on this modelling exercise, the utilisation of apixaban and dabigatran for thromboprophylaxis could provide a profound annual mathematical net clinical benefit on stroke and major bleeds, in European AF patients.Note: The editorial process for this paper was fully handled by Prof. C. Weber, Editor in Chief.
Informing Decisions with a Climate Synthesis Product: Implications for Regional Climate Services
Authors: Guido Zack , Hill Dawn , Crimmins Michael , Ferguson Daniel 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
The demand for regional climate information is increasing and spurring efforts to provide a broad slate of climate services that inform policy and resource management and elevate general knowledge. Routine syntheses of existing climate-related information may be an effective strategy for connecting climate information to decision making, but few studies have formally assessed their contribution to informing decisions. During the 2010–11 winter, drought conditions expanded and intensified in Arizona and New Mexico, creating an opportunity to develop and evaluate a monthly regional climate communication product—La Niña Drought Tracker—that synthesized and interpreted drought and climate information. Six issues were published and subsequently evaluated through an online survey. On average, 417 people consulted the publication each month. Many of the survey respondents indicated that they made at least one drought-related decision, and the product at least moderately influenced the majority of those decisions, some of which helped mitigate economic losses. More than 90% of the respondents also indicated that the product improved their understanding of climate and drought, and that it helped the majority of them better prepare for drought. The results demonstrate that routine interpretation and synthesis of existing climate information can help enhance access to and understanding and use of climate information in decision making, fulfilling the main goals for the provision of climate services.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between angiotensin II type 1 receptor A1166C gene polymorphism and myocardial infarction susceptibility
Authors: Feng Xu , Zheng Bao-Shi , Shi Jun-Jie , Qian Jun , He Wei , Zhou Hua-Fu 
Published: November 2012

Background and aim: Many reported studies have been conducted to investigate the association of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) A1166C gene polymorphism with myocardial infarction (MI) susceptibility. However, the results from those reports are still conflicting. This meta-analysis was performed to study the relationship between AT1R A1166C gene polymorphism and MI risk. Method: The databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched as of 1 March 2012, and eligible investigations were recruited into this meta-analysis. Results: Eighteen investigations were identified for the analysis of association between AT1R A1166C gene polymorphism and MI risk, 11 in Caucasians, three in Asians, two in Africans, one in the population of Brazil and one in the population of Durban, South Africa . There was a marked association between AT1R C allele and MI susceptibility for overall populations (odds ratio (OR)=1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.25, p=0.03), and AT1R AA genotype was associated with a lower risk of MI in overall populations (OR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.78–0.98, p=0.02). However, AT1R A1166C gene polymorphism was not associated with MI risk in the sub-groups of Caucasians, Asians, Africans, Brazil and Durban populations. Conclusions: C allele is a risk factor for the MI susceptibility in overall populations, and AA genotype might be a protective factor against the MI risk in overall populations. However, more case-control association investigations on larger, stratified populations are required in the future.