bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ascites in a 13‐year‐old miniature horse mare with an ovarian granulosa theca‐cell tumour: A manifestation ofMeigs' syndrome?
Authors: Hector R. C. , Cruz A. M. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryA 13‐year‐old miniature horse mare presented for evaluation of ascites. Abdominal ultrasound showed severe free peritoneal fluid accumulation as well as a caudal abdominal mass. The peritoneal fluid was characterised as a transudate with no evidence of sepsis. Surgical exploration of the abdomen was performed; copious free peritoneal fluid and a large right ovarian mass were discovered. The abnormal ovary was removed, and the mass was determined histologically to be a benign granulosa theca‐cell tumour. Although there was mild peritoneal fluid accumulation in the immediate post operative period, the ascites effectively resolved with removal of the tumour, and the mare returned to a normal lifestyle. This is similar to reports ofMeigs' syndrome in human women, in which a benign ovarian mass of significant size causes ascites that resolves once the mass is removed.
Loosely Coupled Results Control in Dutch Municipalities
Authors: van Hengel Hugo , Budding Tjerk , Groot Tom 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis paper analyses the implementation of the ‘dual system’ in Dutch municipalities which was part of a package of New Public Management‐reforms. This system was stimulated by Dutch central government and called for more accountability for performance of municipal managers and the board of mayor and aldermen, as well as for the use of more output and outcome information. Interviews of participants on four different hierarchical levels in 12 municipalities show that the practices of output management at different hierarchical levels are only loosely coupled to each other (‘vertical loose coupling’). We also found some degree of ‘horizontal loose coupling’ at each hierarchical level between result orientation, the development of output indicators and the use of output information for performance evaluation. The paper analyses the reasons why municipalities encounter difficulties in designing a comprehensive and coherent performance management system.
Carbon adsorption onto Fe oxyhydroxide stalks produced by a lithotrophic iron‐oxidizing bacteria
Authors: Bennett S. A. , Toner B. M. , Barco R. , Edwards K. J. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIron (Fe)‐oxidizing bacteria have the potential to produce morphologically unique structures that may be used as biosignatures in geological deposits. One particular example is Mariprofundus ferrooxydans, which produces extracellular twisted ribbon‐like stalks consisting of ferrihydrite, co‐located with organic and inorganic elements. It is currently thought that M. ferrooxydans excrete and co‐precipitate polysaccharides and Fe simultaneously; however, the cellular production of these polysaccharides has yet to be confirmed. Here, we report on a time‐series study that used scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy and C 1s and Ca 2p near‐edge X‐ray adsorption fine structure spectroscopy to investigate production of polysaccharides over the growth cycle of M. ferrooxydans. The production and morphology of twisted iron stalks were consistent with previous observations, but unexpectedly, in the log phase, the carbon content of the stalks was extremely low. It was not until stationary growth phase that a significant component of carbon was detected on the stalks. During the log phase, low levels of carbon, only detectable when the stalks were thin, suggested that M. ferrooxydans produce an extracellular polysaccharide template onto which the Fe precipitates. By stationary phase, the increased carbon association with the stalks was a result of adsorption of organic compounds that were released during osmotic shock post‐stalk production. In the environment, elevated concentrations of DOC could adsorb onto the Fe stalks as well as a number of other elements, for example, Si, P, Ca, which, by preventing chemical interactions between the Fe nanoparticles, will prevent structural deformation during recrystallization and preserve the structure of these filaments in the rock record.
Periodontal disease associated with blood glucose levels in urban Koreans aged 50 years and older: the Dong‐gu study
Authors: Jung Young‐Suk , Shin Min‐Ho , Kweon Sun‐Seog , Lee Young‐Hoon , Kim Ok‐Joon , Kim Young‐Joon , Chung Hyun‐Ju , Kim Ok‐Su 
Published: January 2014

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of periodontal disease and the number of teeth present with the risk of prediabetes and diabetes as well as with blood glucose and HbA1c levels in adult Koreans.BackgroundThe relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes has not been fully elucidated.Materials and methodsCross‐sectional data from 5535 participants aged ≥50 years were obtained from 2008 to 2010. Periodontal status was measured as pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) recorded. The percentage of sites with a PD ≥4 mm, CAL ≥4 mm (CAL4) and BOP (BOP%) were recorded. Participants were divided into three groups according to PD4, CAL4 and BOP% measurements. Number of teeth present was divided into four groups. Participants were classified as normoglycaemic, prediabetic or diabetic based on HbA1c and fasting glucose levels.ResultsAfter full adjustment, the highest tertile of CAL4 (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.18–2.02, p < 0.001), PD4 (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.26–1.97, p < 0.001) and BOP% (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.07–1.75, p = 0.012) had significantly increased odds of diabetes. The number of teeth present was inversely related to diabetes (p < 0.001) and prediabetes (p = 0.032) risk. Periodontal disease severity was positively associated with HbA1c and glucose levels. The number of teeth present was positively associated with HbA1c, but not glucose, levels.ConclusionPeriodontal disease and the number of teeth present are associated with an increased risk of diabetes and increased blood glucose and HbA1c levels in Koreans aged ≥50 years.
Variations in vernalization requirements among ecotypes of Festuca hallii
Authors: Palit R. , Bai Y. , Romo J. , Coulman B. , St Pierre R. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractPlains rough fescue (Festuca hallii [Vasey] Piper) is an important forage grass species in the Northern Great Plains of Canada. Its seed is in demand for forage production and habitat restoration, but erratic seed production limits supply. A comprehensive understanding of factors influencing flowering and seed production in this species is needed. This study evaluated the morphological and phenological variation among six ecotypes of F. hallii from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Seeds were germinated, and seedlings were grown in the field and then transplanted to a greenhouse in November. Plants not flowering in the greenhouse were vernalized under 5°C and 8‐h light for 11 weeks. In a separate experiment, plants were subjected to temperature regimes of 15/5°C, 10/0°C and 5/−5°C with day‐length treatments of 12 h, 8 h and a gradually changing daylength from 12 to 8 h respectively. This study demonstrated the existence of considerable variation in morphological and phenological characteristics, and in growth and vernalization requirements among ecotypes of F. hallii. Vernalization requirements were not met for the ecotype from the Moist Mixed Grassland Ecoregion when it was grown under common conditions, whereas ecotypes from other ecoregions were vernalized in at least one of the 2 years in the field experiment. Northern ecotypes tended to flower earlier after artificial vernalization treatments. Overall, 15/5 to 5/−5°C d per night temperature regimes with photoperiods between 12 and 8 h were effective in inducing flowering. The seed source of F. hallii should be regarded as an important consideration affecting its use, both for habitat restoration and for forage production.
The Prevalence of Migraine in Restless Legs Syndrome
Authors: Gozubatik‐Celik Gokcen , Benbir Gulcin , Tan Funda , Karadeniz Derya , Goksan Baki 
Published: January 2014

ObjectiveWhile previous studies have investigated the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with migraine, we aimed to explore the prevalence and characteristics of migraine in adult patients diagnosed with RLS.BackgroundsThe association of primary headaches, especially of migraine, with RLS has recently attracted much attention. Migraine prevalence was reported to be higher in patients with RLS than in the general population, and the role of dopamine was strengthened.MethodsWe evaluated 265 consecutive adult RLS patients (137 males and 128 females) followed up in a Sleep Disorders Unit and diagnosed according to criteria defined by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG). RLS characteristics, and the severity, were performed by using the IRLSSG severity scale. The diagnosis of headache subtypes was defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Gender, age, age at RLS onset, duration of RLS, family history of RLS, family history of headache, presence of depression, any treatments given for RLS, and the change in headache following RLS treatment were questioned.ResultsThe mean age of the study population was 50.4 ± 12.8 years, mean age at RLS onset was 41.6 ± 13.2 years, and mean disease duration was 8.40 ± 8.6 years. Of these, 163 patients had headache; 40 of them were diagnosed to have migraine‐type headache (15.1%). The presence of migraine‐type headache was 9.4% in males with RLS, and 21.1% in female RLS patients. In RLS patients with migraine, 67.5% were females, while 48.0% of RLS patients with other types of headache were females (P = .032), and only 41.2% of RLS patients without headache were females (P = .005). The severity of RLS was significantly higher in patients with migraine compared with those without headache (P < .001). The presence of depression, the family history of RLS, and headache were also higher in patients with migraine compared with RLS patients with other types of headache or those without headache. Thirty‐six patients with headache reported partial or substantial benefit from RLS treatment.ConclusionsOur results did not suggest higher rates of migraine‐type headache in RLS patients when compared with population‐based prevalence studies from Turkey. Alternatively, the severity of RLS was significantly higher in patients with migraine. Although the increase in these scores does not constitute a relationship etiopathogenetic, it suggests a correlation between the type cross‐model nociceptive systems. Moreover, the family history of RLS was higher in patients with migraine. The prevalence of migraine in patients with RLS, however, waits to be better demonstrated.
Response of Cervicogenic Headaches and Occipital Neuralgia to Radiofrequency Ablation of the C2 Dorsal Root Ganglion and/or Third Occipital Nerve
Authors: Hamer John F. , Purath Traci A. 
Published: January 2014

ObjectiveThis article investigates the degree and duration of pain relief from cervicogenic headaches or occipital neuralgia following treatment with radiofrequency ablation of the C2 dorsal root ganglion and/or third occipital nerves. It also addresses the procedure's complication rate and patient's willingness to repeat the procedure if severe symptoms recur.MethodsThis is a single‐center retrospective observational study of 40 patients with refractory cervicogenic headaches and or occipital neuralgia. Patients were all referred by a headache specialty clinic for evaluation for radiofrequency ablation of the C2 dorsal root ganglion and/or third occipital nerves. After treatment, patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months to a year. Patient demographics and the results of radiofrequency ablation were recorded on the same day, after 3‐4 days, and at 6 months to 1 year following treatment.ResultsThirty‐five percent of patients reported 100% pain relief and 70% reported 80% or greater pain relief. The mean duration of improvement is 22.35 weeks. Complication rate was 12‐13%. 92.5% of patients reported they would undergo the procedure again if severe symptoms returned.ConclusionsRadiofrequency ablation of the C2 dorsal root ganglion and/or third occipital nerve can provide many months of greater than 50% pain relief in the vast majority of recipients with an expected length of symptom improvement of 5‐6 months.
D‐dimer use for deep venous thrombosis exclusion in elderly patients: a comparative analysis of three different approaches to establish cut‐off values for an assay with results expressed in D‐dimer units
Authors: Cini M. , Legnani C. , Frascaro M. , Sartori M. , Cosmi B. , Palareti G. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryIntroductionThe use of adapted cut‐off values in the elderly, combined with clinical probability (PTP), increases the proportion of patients in whom venous thromboembolism (VTE) can be safely excluded, compared with the conventional cut‐off value of 500 μg/L fibrinogen equivalent units (FEU). We evaluated the clinical performance of three different approaches to establish cut‐off values for a D‐dimer assay whose results are expressed in D‐dimer units (D‐DU).MethodsHemosIL D‐dimer HS assay (Instrumentation Laboratory) was performed in 279 consecutive outpatients with suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and nonhigh PTP.ResultsConsidering patients >60 years, the number of negative D‐dimer results increased using the modified (376 ng/mL if ≥60 years) and the age‐adjusted cut‐off (age years × 5 ng/mL if >50 years) compared to the conventional one (230 ng/mL for all patients; 54.6%, 58.2%, and 25.0%, respectively), with no false‐negative results. The higher increase was observed in patients >80 years (43.9%, 56.1%, and 8.8%, respectively).ConclusionFor the HemosIL D‐dimer HS, the use of specific cut‐off values in older subjects with suspected DVT and nonhigh PTP increases the number of patients in whom DVT can be safely excluded.
A ‘Glaring Misunderstanding'? Schleiermacher, Barth and the Nature of Speculative Theology
Authors: Gordon James 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBoth Friedrich Schleiermacher and Karl Barth attempted to keep Christian dogmatic theology free from abstract philosophical speculation. However, Barth thinks that Schleiermacher is guilty of the very speculative theology to which Schleiermacher is so averse. This article will defend the claim that Barth misreads Schleiermacher's Glaubenslehre, such that Schleiermacher's theological method and formulations are just as anti‐speculative as Barth's. To defend this claim, this article examines what Barth considers to be speculative theology as well as his accusation that Schleiermacher is guilty of such speculative proposals. After considering Barth's challenges, this article defends Schleiermacher's methodology and theology as anti‐speculative. Finally, several additional accusations against Schleiermacher (those of Bruce McCormack and Thomas Curran) are overcome.
A Broken Engagement: Reassessing Barth's Relationship to Kierkegaard on the Grounds of Subjectivity and Preaching
Authors: Edwards Aaron 
Published: January 2014

AbstractDespite Barth's initial appropriations of Kierkegaard, he famously discarded the Dane from the theological ‘canon’ due to the latter's alleged anthropocentric subjectivism. Yet Kierkegaard was himself a preacher and polemical homiletician, seeking merely to appropriate the objective truth of the proclaimed word. Barth's Basel prison sermons reveal this same endeavour to render the eternally significant message temporally significant for his hearers. In Kierkegaard's Christendom, a corrective focus on subjectivity was the only way to remain faithful to the ‘objective’ truth of the gospel. Barth and Kierkegaard are juxtaposed here not in contrast (as Barth might have preferred) but in affinity, in that both sought to evoke the dialectical subjectivity of objectivity through preaching.
Clinical Outcome After Intra‐Articular Administration of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in 33 Horses With Stifle Injury
Authors: Ferris Dora J. , Frisbie David D. , Kisiday John D. , McIlwraith C. Wayne , Hague Brent A. , Major Michael D. , Schneider Robert K. , Zubrod Chad J. , Kawcak Christopher E. , Goodrich Laurie R. 
Published: January 2014

ObjectiveTo report outcome of horses with femorotibial lesions (meniscal, cartilage or ligamentous) treated with surgery and intra‐articular administration of autologous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).Study DesignProspective case series.AnimalsHorses (n = 33).MethodsInclusion criteria included horses that had lameness localized to the stifle by diagnostic anesthesia, exploratory stifle arthroscopy and subsequent intra‐articular administration of autologous BMSCs. Case details and follow‐up were gathered from medical records, owner, trainer or veterinarian. Outcome was defined as returned to previous level of work, returned to work, or failed to return to work.ResultsFollow‐up (mean, 24 months) was obtained; 43% of horses returned to previous level of work, 33% returned to work, and 24% failed to return to work. In horses with meniscal damage (n = 24) a higher percentage in the current study (75%) returned to some level of work compared to those in previous reports (60–63%) that were treated with arthroscopy alone, which resulted in a statistically significant difference between studies (P = .038). Joint flare post injection was reported in 3 horses (9.0%); however, no long‐term effects were noted.ConclusionsIntra‐articular administration of BMSC postoperatively for stifle lesions appeared to be safe, with morbidity being similar to that of other biologic agents. Improvement in ability to return to work may be realized with BMSC treatment compared to surgery alone in horses with stifle injury.
BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH INTO PSYCHOSIS
Authors: van Praag H. M. , Korf J. 
Published: January 2014

A strategy is presented for biological psychosis research with neuroleptics acting as a point of crystallisation like antidepressants do in biological depression research.The neuroleptics chlorpromazine, haloperidol and oxypertine were studied, and it was found that they influence central catecholamine (CA) metabolism in man. An increased central dopamine (DA) turnover was found to occur in psychotic disorders, mostly in the form of motor agitation.As the first of a planned series of studies, chlorpromazine with presumed ability to reduce both DA‐ergic and noradrenaline (NA)‐ergic transmission and oxypertine as a more selective blocker of NA‐ergic transmission were selected for comparison. The overall therapeutic effect of oxypertine was inferior to that of chlorpromazine, whereas oxypertine proved more effective in cases where loss of initiative was predominant. On the other hand, chlorpromazine exerted a more marked influence on extrapyramidal motor functions than oxypertine. In chronic psychotic disorders with inertia, oxypertine thus seems to be a neuroleptic which is strong enough to prevent exacerbation of delusions and hallucinations while at the same time increasing the level of motivation. These findings were in accordance with our predictions.The comparative study is illustrative of the practical significance of the research approach in this study: The biochemical action profile of a neuroleptic seems to be a more reliable indicator of its clinical action than does its chemical structure.
Cardiac miR‐133a overexpression prevents early cardiac fibrosis in diabetes
Authors: Chen Shali , Puthanveetil Prasanth , Feng Biao , Matkovich Scot J. , Dorn Gerald W. , Chakrabarti Subrata 
Published: January 2014

AbstractDiabetic cardiomyopathy is a cascade of complex events leading to eventual failure of the heart and cardiac fibrosis being considered as one of its major causes. miR‐133a is one of the most abundantly expressed microRNAs in the heart. We investigated the role of miR‐133a during severe hyperglycaemia. And, our aim was to find out what role miR‐133a plays during diabetes‐induced cardiac fibrosis. We saw a drastic decrease in miR‐133a expression in the hearts of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic animals, as measured by RT‐qPCR. This decrease was accompanied by an increase in the transcriptional co‐activator EP300 mRNA and major markers of fibrosis [transforming growth factor‐β1, connective tissue growth factor, fibronectin (FN1) and COL4A1]; in addition, focal cardiac fibrosis assessed by Masson's trichome stain was increased. Interestingly, in diabetic mice with cardiac‐specific miR‐133aa overexpression, cardiac fibrosis was significantly decreased, as observed by RT‐qPCR and immunoblotting of COL4A1, ELISA for FN1 and microscopic examination. Furthermore, Cardiac miR‐133a overexpression prevented ERK1/2 and SMAD‐2 phosphorylation. These findings show that miR‐133a could be a potential therapeutic target for diabetes‐induced cardiac fibrosis and related cardiac dysfunction.
Nondestructive Analysis to Monitor Potato Quality during Cold Storage
Authors: Bianchi Giulia , Scalzo Roberto Lo , Testoni Armando , Maestrelli Andrea 
Published: January 2014

AbstractSamples of potatoes were harvested in 2007 in Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and were stored at 6.5C for 6 months to assess quality characteristics, mainly related to the sprouting trend of tubers. The quality changes during cold storage were monitored using conventional measures (i.e., weight, visual appearance, morphological control, number and length of buds, °Brix) and nondestructive methods (fluorometry and colorimetry). Among 17 cultivars, seven were stored at a lower temperature (0C) for 4 months and then 10C for 15 days to verify the reversible interconversion between starch and sugar induced by the storage temperature. The most important results were given by fluorometric analysis, which provided useful information for predicting the sprouting trend of tubers, as well as other objective analytical tests: the quantum yield had in most cultivars the minimum value in predicting sprouting time. After the low‐temperature storage, the quantum yield was irreversibly reduced.Practical ApplicationsNondestructive techniques based on chlorophyll fluorescence measurements are used to monitor quality changes during post harvest storage of fruit and vegetables. Fluorometric values give indications not only about the chlorophyll amount, but also on the physiological state of photosynthetic apparatus. Even if potato tubers in good storage conditions don't produce chlorophyll, they possess a photosynthetic apparatus whose physiological state can be measured by fluorometry. Potatoes stored at low temperatures are subject to the sweetening process, but starch is synthesized again when potatoes are transferred to normal temperatures. The photosynthetic apparatus is damaged by low temperatures, as indicated by the decrease of fluorometric values, and this process is not reversible. The fluorometric indexes can be measured in order to check if potatoes were properly stored and evaluate differences of behavior in storage. The nondestructive method will enhance monitoring of potatoes quality during storage, thus minimizing both time and food wastages.