bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Skeletal muscle metaboreflex in patients with chronic renal failure
Authors: Vieira Paulo J. C. , Silva Leonardo R. , Maldamer Vinicius Z. , Cipriano Gerson , Chiappa Adriana M. G. , Schuster Rodrigo , Boni Victor H. F. , Grandi Tatiani , Wolpat Andiara , Roseguini Bruno T. , Chiappa Gaspar R. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe sympathetic nervous system is affected in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). This study tested the hypothesis that patients with CRF have an altered skeletal muscle metaboreflex. Twenty patients with CRF and 18 healthy subjects of similar age participated in the study. The muscle metaboreflex was determined based on heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure, calf blood flow and calf vascular resistance (CVR) in response to handgrip exercise. The control of vascular resistance in the calf muscle mediated by the metaboreflex was estimated by subtracting the area under the curve with circulatory occlusion from that without occlusion. Arterial pressure and HR responses during exercise and recovery were similar in two groups of subjects. In the control group, CVR increased during exercise and remained elevated during circulatory occlusion, whereas no significant change was seen in the patients. Thus, the index of the metaboreflex was 7·82 ± 9·57 in the patients versus16·52 ± 14 units in the controls. The findings demonstrate that patients with CRF have a decreased vascular resistance response in the calf during the handgrip exercise, which suggests that CRF condition attenuates this reflex.
Closing the Loop: An Empirical Analysis of the Dynamic Decisions Affecting Product Variety
Authors: Wan Xiang , Dresner Martin E. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTProduct variety decisions have become a key issue in managing new product development and innovation. The marketing literature highlights how product variety influences consumer demand. The operations and supply chain management literature discusses the impact of product variety on production and operational costs. However, very little has been found about how these past performance outcomes may influence present variety decisions. We consider product variety and performance outcomes in a dynamic decision loop by testing the forward impacts of product variety on demand and cost, as well as the reverse influences of past performance on present product variety decisions. Using archival data from the distribution network of a U.S.‐based soft drink bottler, we develop a balanced panel dataset of 3,666 observations over three years containing product variety, cost, and demand data. Our results suggest that both past demand and past cost outcomes may influence present variety decisions, with the demand impact occurring more rapidly than the impact of cost. Moreover, we investigate curvilinear impacts of product variety on the performance measures and find that product variety influences both demand and cost performance at diminishing marginal rates. From a theoretical perspective, our study better models the interplay between product variety and performance outcomes, while from a professional perspective, we help supply chain managers to better plan for the outcomes of their product variety decisions.
When the Exception Is the Rule: School Shootings, Bare Life, and the Sovereign Self
Authors: Shapiro Harvey 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMuch discourse on school shootings tends to imply a binary separation between what is considered normal and exceptional, between an expected course of human events and sociohistorical aberrations. In this article Harvey Shapiro suggests the need for new directions in our responses: First, he shows how responses to school shootings tend to expropriate and (paradoxically) dismiss certain kinds of violence in order to articulate a vision of the self as sovereign, exerting power over bodily life, exercising a self‐removal from community conversations, and thus claiming what Giorgio Agamben and others call the “sovereign exception.” Second, he suggests how Agamben's development of Walter Benjamin's concept of “divine violence” can unmask prevailing states of exception and can inform education's efforts to challenge binaries of good and evil, urban and suburban, individual and community, justice and law, normal and exceptional, that confound our deliberations and long‐term responses to mass shootings.
Agro‐ecosystem services and dis‐services in almond orchards are differentially influenced by the surrounding landscape
Authors: SCHÄCKERMANN JESSICA , PUFAL GESINE , MANDELIK YAEL , KLEIN ALEXANDRA‐MARIA 
Published: August 2015

1. The simultaneous influence of specific habitats on agro‐ecosystem services, dis‐services, and their interactions are largely unknown. Natural and semi‐natural habitats surrounding cropland may support ecosystem services and dis‐services and their net balance is important to guide decision‐making in agriculture.2. It was tested how natural and semi‐natural habitats surrounding almond orchards in Israel influence: pest control services by parasitoids, pest predation dis‐services by the Almond wasp, and seed predation dis‐services by granivorous birds. The latter could provide sanitation services when consuming almonds infested by Almond wasps after harvest.3. Seventeen almond orchards were surveyed, surrounded by varying percentages of natural and semi‐natural habitats. We harvested almonds to identify Almond wasp infestation and parasitoid abundance, monitored bird‐feeding marks, and observed birds.4. Almond wasp predation was positively influenced by semi‐natural habitat and highest at orchard edges. Parasitoid abundance was not influenced by natural or semi‐natural habitats. Granivorous bird abundance was negatively influenced by semi‐natural habitats but did not influence bird seed predation of harvestable or overwintered almonds.5. Natural habitats did not influence the studied ecosystem services or dis‐services in almond orchards in Israel. Therefore, protecting natural habitats for conservation is not necessarily disadvantageous for farmers. Semi‐natural habitats increased insect pests, but no direct link to services or dis‐services by birds was observed. Therefore, a more holistic approach by accounting for several services and dis‐services and their connection to different habitat types to manage agriculture more sustainably is advocated.
More than just fish food: ecosystem services provided by freshwater insects
Authors: MACADAM CRAIG R. , STOCKAN JENNI A. 
Published: August 2015

1. Freshwater ecosystems cover less than 1% of the planet's surface but support up to 10% of known species. Around 25% of freshwater invertebrate species are under threat of extinction. Such a decline in species richness is likely to lead to adverse effects on the delivery of services. However, the effect of species loss on ecosystem goods and services can only be assessed once the link between species diversity and ecosystem goods and services has been established and better understood.2. Using a flexible systematic literature review search protocol, we were able to identify a range of ecosystem goods and services provided by freshwater insects in the categories of provisioning, supporting, and cultural services.3. The ecosystem services and benefits provided by freshwater insects are diverse and unexpectedly wide‐ranging including decomposition and nutrient cycling, food for a wider range of species including humans, and the inspiration for art, music, and literature. Several of these have clear economic values but are not currently fully exploited.4. The identification of goods and services may bring greater appreciation and impetus to understanding the scale of their importance, economic value, and conservation. In the absence of freshwater insects, few other service providers could replicate the same level and degree of service.
Effects of manure‐ and lignocellulose‐derived biochars on adsorption and desorption of zinc by acidic types of soil with different properties
Authors: Dai Z. , Meng J. , Shi Q. , Xu B. , Lian Z , Brookes P. C. , Xu J.‐M. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThere is limited information on zinc (Zn2+) adsorption and desorption by different types of soil, especially acidic ones following amendment with manure‐ and lignocellulose‐derived biochars. The novelty of this research is a comparison of the mechanisms of adsorption and desorption of Zn2+ by different types of acidic soil amended with biochar derived from either swine manure or rape straw. Both biochars were prepared at a pyrolysis temperature of 500°C before being incorporated into four types of soil with low pH (pHH2O from 4.61 to 5.91) at an incorporation rate of 3%. Following incubation for 360 days, we carried out batch experiments of Zn2+ adsorption and desorption. The dual‐mode model (DMM) was more suitable for describing the adsorption isotherms of the four soil types following biochar incorporation than the distributed reactivity model (DRM). Swine‐manure biochar enhanced Zn2+ adsorption by soil more than rape‐straw biochar. The increases in Zn2+ adsorption by the different soil types following biochar incorporation were in the order Psammaquent > Plinthudult > Paleudalf > Argiustoll soil, whereas it was most difficult to desorb the Zn2+ already present, in reverse order: Argiustoll > Paleudalf > Plinthudult > Psammaquent soil. This could be attributed to differences in soil pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil texture. Both non‐electrostatic and electrostatic adsorption mechanisms were identified in the four soil types. The negative surface charge of biochar is responsible for the electrostatic adsorption, whereas functional oxygen groups and mineral components of biochar were responsible for non‐electrostatic adsorption. Non‐electrostatic adsorption was more important for the swine‐manure biochar than for the rape‐straw biochar, which was attributed to the larger content of mineral components (phosphate and silicate anions) of the former. In conclusion, the biochar effects on Zn2+ adsorption depended on the initial Zn2+ concentration, soil pH, soil type and biochar origin.
Emergence of nutrient co‐limitation through movement in stoichiometric meta‐ecosystems
Authors: Marleau Justin N. , Guichard Frédéric , Loreau Michel 
Published: August 2015

AbstractEvidence that ecosystems and primary producers are limited in their productivity by multiple nutrients has caused the traditional nutrient limitation framework to include multiple limiting nutrients. The models built to mimic these responses have invoked local mechanisms at the level of the primary producers. In this paper, we explore an alternative explanation for the emergence of co‐limitation by developing a simple, stoichiometrically explicit meta‐ecosystem model with two limiting nutrients, autotrophs and herbivores. Our results show that differences in movement rates for the nutrients, autotrophs and herbivores can allow for nutrient co‐limitation in biomass response to emerge despite no local mechanisms of nutrient co‐limitation. Furthermore, our results provide an explanation to why autotrophs show positive growth responses to nutrients despite ‘nominal’ top‐down control by herbivores. These results suggest that spatial processes can be mechanisms for nutrient co‐limitation at local and regional scales, and can help explain anomalous results in the co‐limitation literature.
The role of aldo‐keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3)‐mediated prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) metabolism in keloids
Authors: Mantel Alon , Newsome Austin , Thekkudan Theresa , Frazier Robert , Katdare Meena 
Published: August 2015

AbstractKeloids are progressively expanding scars, mostly prevalent in individuals of African descent. Previous data identified increased mast cell number and activation state in keloids suggesting a role in disease progression. The major eicosanoid secreted by mast cells is prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), a relatively unstable pro‐inflammatory mediator which can be spontaneously converted to 15‐deoxy‐(Delta12,14)‐prostaglandin J2(15d‐PGJ2) or enzymatically metabolized to 9α,11β‐PGF2 by aldo‐keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3). In this work, we investigated the possible role of PGD2 and its metabolites in keloids using CRL1762 keloid fibroblasts (KF) and immunohistochemical staining. Our data suggested approximately 3‐fold increase of tryptase‐positive mast cell count in keloids compared with normal skin. Furthermore, AKR1C3 was overexpressed in the fibrotic area of keloids while relatively weak staining detected in normal skin. Metabolism of PGD2 to 9α,11β‐PGF2 by both, KF and normal fibroblasts, was dependent on AKR1C3 as this reaction was attenuated in the presence of the AKR1C3 inhibitor, 2′‐hydroxyflavanone, or in cells with decreased AKR1C3 expression. 15d‐PGJ2, but not the other tested PGs, inhibited KF proliferation, attenuated KF‐mediated collagen gel contraction and increased caspase‐3 activation. In addition, treatment with 15d‐PGJ2 activated P38‐MAPK, induced reactive oxygen species and upregulated superoxide dismutase‐1 (SOD‐1). Finally, inhibition of P38‐MAPK further augmented 15d‐PGJ2‐induced caspase‐3 cleavage and attenuated its effect on SOD‐1 transcription. This work suggests that localized dual inhibition of AKR1C3 and P38‐MAPK may inhibit keloid progression. Inhibiting AKR1C3 activity may generate oxidative environment due to redirection of PGD2 metabolism towards 15d‐PGJ2 while inhibition of P38‐MAPK will sensitize keloid cells to ROS‐induced apoptosis.
A fatigue driving energy approach to high‐cycle fatigue life estimation under variable amplitude loading
Authors: Peng Z. , Huang H‐Z. , Zhu S‐P. , Gao H. , Lv Z. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractIn this paper, a concept of fatigue driving energy is formulated to describe the process of fatigue failure. The parameter is taken as a combination of the fatigue driving stress and strain energy density. By assessing the change of this parameter, a new non‐linear damage model is proposed for residual life estimation within high‐cycle fatigue regime under variable amplitude loading. In order to consider the effects of loading histories on damage accumulation under such condition, the load interaction effects are incorporated into the new model, and a modified version is thus developed. Life predictions by these two models and Miner rule are compared using experimental data from literature. The results show that the proposed model gives lower deviations than the Miner rule, while the modified model shows better prediction performances than the others. Moreover, the proposed model and its modifications are ease of implementation with the use of S–N curve.
Visual Snow in Migraine With Aura: Further Characterization by Brain Imaging, Electrophysiology, and Treatment – Case Report
Authors: Unal‐Cevik Isin , Yildiz F. Gokcem 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate characteristics of visual snow accompanied by migraine and special interest on occipital bending, electrophysiological properties, and response to treatment.BackgroundVisual snow is characterized by continuous dynamically flickering dots in the visual field. Most patients also have comorbid migraine. Cortical hyperexcitability is a feature of migraine. Recent studies indicate an association between occipital bending with psychiatric disorders such as depression. Here, we demonstrate a patient with visual snow, migraine with aura, left occipital bending, and cortical hyperexcitability. Treatment response to lamotrigine was objectively assessed by repetitive pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (rVEP).MethodsA 25‐year‐old woman with a 10‐year history of migraine with aura (2‐3 attacks/week) admitted for 1‐year history of visual snow. She reported continuous bright and colorful lights, palinopsia, floaters, nyctalopsia, and photopsia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. Visual habituation response was assessed before and after lamotrigine treatment by rVEP.ResultsBrain MRI revealed left occipital bending. On rVEP study, there was potentiation response. After lamotrigine treatment, the patient had no more complaints of visual snow, was able to sleep, and the frequency of migraine decreased to 2 attacks/month. Electrophysiologically, the cortical hyperexcitability was improved.ConclusionsThe visual snow and loss of habituation ability in migraine associated with occipital bending can be improved with lamotrigine treatment. This report may provide new insights on “visual snow” pathophysiology in migraine.
Maximising the diagnostic potential of APTT‐based screening assays for activated protein C resistance
Authors: Moore G. W. , Chege E. , Culhane A. P. , Hunt B. J. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryIntroductionActivated protein C resistance (APC‐R) due to FV Leiden is the most common hereditary thrombophilia. Rarer FV mutations can also confer APC‐R, and acquired APC‐R is encountered in a number of conditions. APC‐R screening with clotting tests is common, yet they are prone to interferences and elevated baseline clotting times can invalidate testing.MethodsAPTT‐based classic APC‐R (CAPC‐R) screening, and modified screening (MAPC‐R) employing dilution in FV‐deficient plasma were performed on an automated analyser. Baseline clotting times and APC‐R ratios of 1340 patients being screened for hereditary and acquired thrombophilia were assessed for analytical and diagnostic validity.ResultsMost patients (1117/1340) had normal baseline clotting times, and in 270 of these cases, this was despite the presence of a lupus anticoagulant (LA). FV Leiden was genetically confirmed in all patients with reduced CAPC‐R and MAPC‐R ratios. A subgroup with normal CAPC‐R but reduced MAPC‐R also identified FV Leiden, but also other patients with minimally reduced MAPC‐R ratios not due to FV Leiden. Reduced CAPC‐R and normal modified APC‐R identified possible acquired APC‐R in 49 patients. LA‐positive patients with elevated baseline clotting times did not affect distinction between APC‐R and normality, although therapeutic anticoagulation did invalidate CAPC‐R, and occasionally MAPC‐R too.ConclusionsMany departments only screen with MAPC‐R to detect just FV mutations. Concurrent performance of CAPC‐R and MAPC‐R increases diagnostic capability by detecting acquired APC‐R. Elevated baseline clotting times can invalidate APC‐R ratios, although prolongation by LA alone may not.
Early unclamping might reduce the risk of renal artery pseudoaneurysm after robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy
Authors: Kondo Tsunenori , Takagi Toshio , Morita Satoru , Omae Kenji , Hashimoto Yasunobu , Kobayashi Hirohito , Iizuka Junpei , Yoshida Kazuhiko , Fukuda Norihiro , Tanabe Kazunari 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo determine the influence of the early unclamping technique on the risk of renal artery pseudoaneurysm during robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.MethodsFrom January 2013 to October 2014, 96 patients underwent robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for renal masses at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Computed tomography angiography was carried out 3–4 days after surgery. Early in the series, renal hilum was left unclamped and renorrhaphy was subsequently carried out (conventional unclamping technique). An early unclamping technique has been used since November 2013.ResultsA total of 61 patients underwent robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with early unclamping, and 35 patients underwent robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with conventional unclamping. Ischemia time was significantly shorter in the early unclamping group (16.5 vs 23.1 min; P < 0.01). The early unclamping group showed a significantly lower incidence of asymptomatic renal artery pseudoaneurysm relative to the conventional unclamping group (11.4% vs 28.6%; P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that the early unclamping technique was a significant independent factor in reducing the risk of renal artery pseudoaneurysm (hazard ratio 0.27; P = 0.01).ConclusionsThe present findings suggest that an early unclamping technique might reduce ischemic time and risk of renal artery pseudoaneurysm. The absence of arterial bleeding before renorrhaphy is likely to be a key step in preventing renal artery pseudoaneurysm during robot‐assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.
Critical care nursing organizations and activities: a fourth worldwide review
Authors: Williams G. , Fulbrook P. , Kleinpell R. , Schmollgruber S. , Alberto L. 
Published: August 2015

AimTo examine the activities and concerns of critical care nurses and professional critical care nursing organizations around the world and to identify expectations held of nursing leaders and policy makers to help address their concerns.BackgroundThis study is the fourth worldwide review of its type. Previous surveys were undertaken in 2001, 2005 and 2009.MethodsAn online descriptive survey was emailed to 88 potential participants from countries with critical care nursing organizations or known critical care nursing leaders. Responses were downloaded into Survey Monkey™ (Version 22) and analysed by geographical region and income level.ResultsFifty‐nine respondents from 58 countries completed the questionnaire, of whom 43 had critical care nursing organizations established in their countries and 29 were members of the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses. The services provided by the organizations to be of most value were national conferences, website, professional representation, and practice standards and guidelines. Professional policies had been developed by some organizations on workforce, education and practice, while almost half provided their members with either a newsletter or journal. Collectively, the most important issues for critical care nurses were working conditions, provision of formal practice guidelines and competencies, staffing levels and access to quality education programmes.ConclusionsImportant issues continue to challenge the specialty of critical care nursing as new developments, priorities, clinical issues and other global events and influences impact critical care nursing worldwide.Implications for Nursing and Health PolicyThis study will help guide nursing leaders and policy makers to address the needs of critical care nurses and their patients. Collaborative approaches between the specialty, nursing leaders and health policy advisors will assist to inform appropriate change in areas recommended for further action.
Porous PZT Ceramics with Aligned Pore Channels for Energy Harvesting Applications
Authors: Zhang Yan , Bao Yinxiang , Zhang Dou , Bowen Chris R. 
Published: August 2015

In this study, aligned porous lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics with high pyroelectric figures‐of‐merit were successfully manufactured by freeze casting using water‐based suspensions. The introduction of aligned pores was demonstrated to have a strong influence on the resultant porous ceramics, in terms of mechanical, dielectric, and pyroelectric properties. As the level of porosity was increased, the relative permittivity decreased, whereas the Curie temperature and dielectric loss increased. The aligned porous structure exhibited improvement in the compressive strength ranging from 19 to 35 MPa, leading to easier handling, better processability and wider applications for such type of porous material. Both types of pyroelectric harvesting figures‐of‐merit (FE and F′E) of the PZT ceramics with a porosity level of 25–45 vol% increased in all porous ceramics, for example, from 11.41 to 12.43 pJ/m3/K2 and 1.94 to 6.57 pm3/J, respectively, at 25°C, which were shown to be higher than the dense PZT counterpart.