bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fixed‐Term Parliaments and the Challenges for Governments and the Civil Service: A Comparative Perspective
Authors: SCHLEITER PETRA , ISSAR SUKRITI 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe Fixed‐term Parliaments Act significantly reduces the powers of the Prime Minister to manage the risk of government termination and to time elections to his or her party's advantage. In this paper we ask how the Act is likely to change the way in which governments terminate, their durability and opportunities for planning in government and departments. In answering these questions we draw on quantitative comparative evidence from other European countries that operate with fixed‐term parliaments. Our analysis suggests that fixing the parliamentary term can be expected to convert some opportunistically called elections into regular elections and to stabilise governments toward the end of the parliamentary term. But the Act is also likely to have unanticipated consequences in increasing governments’ vulnerability to failure before they reach the final sessions of Parliament. We explore these unanticipated consequences and outline their implications for governing style and Civil Service planning.
Radiological predictors of cytoreductive outcomes in patients with advanced ovarian cancer
Authors: Borley J , Wilhelm‐Benartzi C , Yazbek J , Williamson R , Bharwani N , Stewart V , Carson I , Hird E , McIndoe A , Farthing A , Blagden S , Ghaem‐Maghami S 
Published: August 2014

ObjectiveTo assess site of disease on preoperative computed tomography (CT) to predict surgical debulking in patients with ovarian cancer.DesignTwo‐phase retrospective cohort study.SettingWest London Gynaecological Cancer Centre, UK.PopulationWomen with stage 3 or 4, ovarian, fallopian or primary peritoneal cancer undergoing cytoreductive surgery.MethodsPreoperative CT images were reviewed by experienced radiologists to assess the presence or absence of disease at predetermined sites. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression models determined sites of disease which were significantly associated with surgical outcomes in the test (n = 111) and validation (n = 70) sets.Main outcome measuresSensitivity and specificity of CT in predicting surgical outcome.ResultsStepwise logistic regression identified that the presence of lung metastasis, pleural effusion, deposits on the large‐bowel mesentery and small‐bowel mesentery, and infrarenal para‐aortic nodes were associated with debulking status. Logistic regression determined a surgical predictive score which was able to significantly predict suboptimal debulking (n = 94, P = 0.0001) with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.749 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.652, 0.846) and a sensitivity of 69.2%, specificity of 71.4%, positive predictive value of 75.0% and negative predictive value of 65.2%. These results remained significant in a recent validation set. There was a significant difference in residual disease volume in the test and validation sets (P < 0.001) in keeping with improved optimal debulking rates.ConclusionsThe presence of disease at some sites on preoperative CT scan is significantly associated with suboptimal debulking and may be an indication for a change in surgical planning.
Water and temperature relations of soil Actinobacteria
Authors: Stevenson Andrew , Hallsworth John E. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryActinobacteria perform essential functions within soils, and are dependent on available water to do so. We determined the water‐activity (aw) limits for cell division of Streptomyces albidoflavus, Streptomyces rectiviolaceus, Micromonospora grisea and Micromonospora (JCM 3050) over a range of temperatures, using culture media supplemented with a biologically permissive solute (glycerol). Each species grew optimally at 0.998 aw (control; no added glycerol) and growth rates were near‐optimal in the range 0.971–0.974 (1 M glycerol) at permissive temperatures. Each was capable of cell division at 0.916–0.924 aw (2 M glycerol), but only S. albidoflavus grew at 0.895 or 0.897 aw (3 M glycerol, at 30 and 37°C respectively). For S. albidoflavus, however, no growth occurred on media at ≤ 0.870 (4 M glycerol) during the 40‐day assessment period, regardless of temperature, and a theoretical limit of 0.877 aw was derived by extrapolation of growth curves. This level of solute tolerance is high for non‐halophilic bacteria, but is consistent with reported limits for the growth and metabolic activities of soil microbes. The limit, within the range 0.895–0.870 aw, is very much inferior to those for obligately halophilic bacteria and extremely halophilic or xerophilic fungi, and is inconsistent with earlier reports of cell division at 0.500 aw. These findings are discussed in relation to planetary protection policy for space exploration and the microbiology of arid soils.
Trees, branches and (square) roots: why evolutionary relatedness is not linearly related to functional distance
Authors: Letten Andrew D. , Cornwell William K. 
Published: August 2014

Summary

An increasingly popular practice in community ecology is to use the evolutionary distance among interacting species as a proxy for their overall functional similarity.

At the core of this approach is the implicit, yet poorly recognized, assumption that trait dissimilarity increases linearly with divergence time, that is all evolutionary time is considered equal. However, given a classic Brownian model of trait evolution, we show that the expected functional displacement of any two taxa is more appropriately represented as a linear function of time's square root.

In light of this mismatch between theory and methodology, we argue that current methods at the interface of ecology and evolutionary biology often greatly overweight deep time relative to recent time.

An easy solution to this weighting problem is a square root transformation of the phylogenetic distance matrix. Using simulated models of trait evolution and community assembly, we show that this transformation yields considerably higher statistical power, with improvements in 92% of trials. This methodological update is likely to improve our understanding of the connection between evolutionary relatedness and contemporary ecological processes.
Exposure to rufinamide and risks of CNS adverse events in drug‐resistant epilepsy: a meta‐analysis of randomized, placebo‐controlled trials
Authors: Alsaad Abdulaziz M. S. , Koren Gideon 
Published: August 2014

AimEpilepsy is a complex disease necessitating continuous development of new therapeutic strategies to encounter drug‐resistant cases. Among new adjuvant antiepileptic drugs, rufinamide is structurally distinct from other antiepileptic drugs. It is used to treat partial‐onset seizures and seizures associated with Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in adult and children. To date, there has been no attempt to evaluate systematically the risks of adverse events with rufinamide.MethodsWe performed a quantitative risk analysis of central nervous system (CNS) adverse events of rufinamide from all randomized, double‐blind, add‐on, placebo‐controlled trials. The meta‐analysis was undertaken with fixed effects models.ResultsOf the 886 publications reviewed, 99 papers were retrieved and five articles met the inclusion criteria. One thousand two hundred and fifty‐two patients were included. Our study showed that exposure to rufinamide was associated with a significant increase in risk of somnolence [relative ratio (RR) 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33, 2.62; P = 0.0003], dizziness (RR 2.66; 95% CI 2.00, 3.55; P = 0.00001), fatigue (RR 2.14; 95% CI 1.57, 2.91; P = 0.01) and headache (RR 1.28; 95% CI 1.02, 1.59, P = 0.03). In addition, exposure to rufinamide was associated with higher treatment discontinuation rates as compared with placebo (RR 2.65; 95% CI 1.74, 4.03; P = 0.00001).ConclusionsThe risk of CNS adverse events appears to be increased in patients exposed to rufinamide as well as the treatment discontinuation rates. However, although statistical associations were significant, additional long term safety studies are required to confirm the clinical significance of these findings, as most reports described only mild and moderate adverse events.
Does Deregulation Work? Reassessing the Unemployment Effects of Employment Protection
Authors: Avdagic Sabina 
Published: August 2014

AbstractUsing new data, this article examines the effect of employment protection legislation (EPL) on aggregate and youth unemployment in advanced economies and Central and Eastern Europe during 1980–2009. The results offer no clear support for the argument that EPL is a cause of unemployment. Although EPL reaches statistical significance at conventional levels in some models, the results are sensitive to small changes in the sample or the use of alternative estimators. While the analysis suggests some scope for complementary reforms of EPL and the tax wedge in tackling youth unemployment, the findings on the whole indicate that government efforts to tackle unemployment by deregulating EPL alone may well be futile.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Bisphosphonate Compound Labeled with 99mTc(CO)3+
Authors: Şenocak Kamile , Teksöz Serap , İçhedef Çiğdem , Uçar Eser 
Published: August 2014

In this study, radiolabeling of a bisphosphonate, alendronate (Alendronate sodium), was performed with the help of a bifunctional chelating agent. For that purpose, DTPA‐NHS (Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid dianhydride‐N‐hydroxysuccinimide) was synthesized with an esterification between DTPA and NHS. Combining the DTPA‐NHS ester with alendronate yields the DTPA‐Alendronate compound. The structure of synthesized compound was analyzed by 1H/13C/31P‐NMR and HPLC. After then, the labeling with [99mTc(CO)3]+ core of synthesized compound was provided. Performing quality controls of newly synthesized [99mTc(CO)3‐DTPA‐Alendronate] complex with thin layer radiochromatography (TLRC) and high‐performance liquid radiochromatography (HPLRC), the labeling yield was found as 99%. It was observed that the compound conserves its stability for 24 h in serum media. Biodistribution of the radiolabeled complex was performed on Wistar Albino rats to determine radiopharmaceutical potential of the [99mTc(CO)3‐DTPA‐Alendronate] complex. It is thought that the data gained from this study will contribute to the development of complexes with bisphosphonate.
Interactive Diffraction from Biological Nanostructures
Authors: Dhillon D. S. , Teyssier J. , Single M. , Gaponenko I. , Milinkovitch M. C. , Zwicker M. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractWe describe a technique for interactive rendering of diffraction effects produced by biological nanostructures, such as snake skin surface gratings. Our approach uses imagery from atomic force microscopy that accurately captures the geometry of the nanostructures responsible for structural colouration, that is, colouration due to wave interference, in a variety of animals. We develop a rendering technique that constructs bidirectional reflection distribution functions (BRDFs) directly from the measured data and leverages pre‐computation to achieve interactive performance. We demonstrate results of our approach using various shapes of the surface grating nanostructures. Finally, we evaluate the accuracy of our pre‐computation‐based technique and compare to a reference BRDF construction technique
Example‐Based Materials in Laplace–Beltrami Shape Space
Authors: Zhu Fei , Li Sheng , Wang Guoping 
Published: August 2014

AbstractWe present a novel method for flexible and efficient simulation of example‐based elastic deformation. The geometry of all input shapes is projected into a common shape space spanned by the Laplace–Beltrami eigenfunctions. The eigenfunctions are coupled to be compatible across shapes. Shape representation in the common shape space is scale‐invariant and topology‐independent. The limitation of previous example‐based approaches is circumvented that all examples must have identical topology with the simulated object. Additionally, our method allows examples that are arbitrary in size, similar but not identical in shape with the object. We interpolate the examples via a weighted‐energy minimization to find the target configuration that guides the object to desired deformation. Large deformation between examples is handled by a physically plausible energy metric. This optimization is efficient as the eigenfunctions are pre‐computed and the problem dimension is small. We demonstrate the benefits of our approach with animation results and performance analysis.
Healing of a xenogeneic collagen matrix for keratinized tissue augmentation
Authors: Vignoletti Fabio , Nuñez Javier , de Sanctis Francesco , Lopez Monica , Caffesse Raul , Sanz Mariano 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAimTo evaluate histologically the healing of a xenogeneic collagen matrix (CM) used to augment the width of keratinized tissue around teeth.Materials and methodsThe gingiva on the buccal aspect of mandibular and maxillary premolars was surgically excised on 12 minipigs. After 1 month of plaque accumulation, the resulting defects were randomly treated by a periosteal retention procedure (control site) or by placing a collagen matrix after an apically repositioned flap (CM) (test site). Clinical and histological outcomes were evaluated at 1, 4 and at 12 weeks.ResultsClinically, no gain of keratinized tissue was noted in either group. Histometrically, the thickness of the gingival unit was significantly higher in the test group at 1 month, although these differences were not significant at 3 months. There was a tendency in the test group towards less bone resorption (0.7 mm) and apical displacement (0.5 mm) of the gingival margin at 3 months.ConclusionsThe tested CM demonstrated uneventful healing, being resorbed within the surrounding tissues in absence of significant inflammation. When compared with periosteal retention alone, the CM group attained similar clinical and histological outcomes.
Modeling the impact of climate variability on Black Sea anchovy recruitment and production
Authors: Güraslan Ceren , Fach Bettina A. , Oguz Temel 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe connection of climate variability with anchovy spawning and recruitment in the Black Sea in particular, and other ecosystems in general, was studied using a two‐way coupled lower trophic level and anchovy bioenergetics model. Climate variability was represented by a 50‐yr time series of daily temperature and vertical mixing rates with stochastic variations. Temperature was found to be the dominant factor influencing early life stages and hence population dynamics of Black Sea anchovy as marked by a high correlation of anchovy egg production and recruitment success in response to changes in temperature. Each decrease of 2°C in summer mean temperatures resulted in a delay in the timing of egg production of between 12 and 19 days. Water temperatures in the spawning season had a greater influence than the number of available spawning females on the intensity of egg production. Anchovy recruitment was similarly influenced by temperature, with decreased temperatures resulting in a significant delay in the onset of peak recruitment during the fall by 21–38 days. Also, recruitment numbers in December decreased by about 20% with decreasing temperatures. The impact of temperature on production was slightly diminished by the impact of vertical mixing. The strong linkage of climate variability with anchovy spawning and recruitment has an important prediction potential for short‐term anchovy stock estimations, which may serve fisheries management purposes.
Potassium kinetics during hemodialysis
Authors: Agar Baris U. , Culleton Bruce F. , Fluck Richard , Leypoldt John K. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractHyperkalemia in hemodialysis patients is associated with high mortality, but prescription of low dialysate potassium concentrations to decrease serum potassium levels is associated with a high incidence of sudden cardiac arrest or sudden death. Improved clinical outcomes for these patients may be possible if rapid and substantial intradialysis decreases in serum potassium concentration can be avoided while maintaining adequate potassium removal. Data from kinetic modeling sessions during the HEMO Study of the dependence of serum potassium concentration on time during hemodialysis treatments and 30 minutes postdialysis were evaluated using a pseudo one‐compartment model. Kinetic estimates of potassium mobilization clearance (KM) and predialysis central distribution volume (Vpre) were determined in 551 hemodialysis patients. The studied patients were 58.8 ± 14.4 years of age with predialysis body weight of 72.1 ± 15.1 kg; 306 (55.4%) of the patients were female and 337 (61.2%) were black. KM and Vpre for all patients were non‐normally distributed with values of 158 (111, 235) (median [interquartile range]) mL/min and 15.6 (11.4, 22.8) L, respectively. KM was independent of dialysate potassium concentration (P > 0.2), but Vpre was lower at higher dialysate potassium concentration (R = −0.188, P < 0.001). For patients with dialysate potassium concentration between 1.6 and 2.5 mEq/L (N = 437), multiple linear regression of KM and Vpre demonstrated positive association with predialysis body weight and negative association with predialysis serum potassium concentration. Potassium kinetics during hemodialysis can be described using a pseudo one‐compartment model.
Effectiveness of prostaglandin E1 in patients with mixed arterial and venous ulcers of the lower limbs
Authors: De Caridi Giovanni , Massara Mafalda , Stilo Francesco , Spinelli Francesco , Grande Raffaele , Butrico Lucia , de Franciscis Stefano , Serra Raffaele 
Published: August 2014

AbstractMixed arterial and venous ulcers of the lower limbs are present in around 15–30% of patients with chronic venous ulcers (CVUs) and are considered difficult‐to‐heal wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the treatment of mixed arterial and venous ulcers of the lower limbs with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) infusion. This study was carried out in 48 consecutive patients. Patients who showed intolerability to PGE1, and patients with peripheral neuropathy, blood or systemic diseases, malignancy and acute wound infections or necrotic tissue on the wound bed were excluded. The patients were separated at random into two main groups: group I (25 patients) received standard treatment and PGE1 infusion. Group II (23 patients) received only standard treatment. Pre‐treatment data indicated the area of ulceration. The number of healed ulcers and the variation in the area of ulceration were considered as endpoints. The endpoints were noticed after 120 days from the beginning of treatment. Healing occurred in 80% of limbs of group I and in 52·2% of limbs of group II patients. The average reduction in area was 92% versus 60% in patients of group I and II, respectively. During the whole treatment period, the incidence of adverse events was 8% in group I: there was one case of headache and one case of headache and hypotension combined. No side effects were recorded in patients of group II. In conclusion, PGE1 infusion is a determinant in the reduction of the healing time of mixed ulcers of the lower limbs.
Understanding patient‐to‐worker violence in hospitals: a qualitative analysis of documented incident reports
Authors: Arnetz Judith E. , Hamblin Lydia , Essenmacher Lynnette , Upfal Mark J. , Ager Joel , Luborsky Mark 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAimTo explore catalysts to, and circumstances surrounding, patient‐to‐worker violent incidents recorded by employees in a hospital system database.BackgroundViolence by patients towards healthcare workers (Type II workplace violence) is a significant occupational hazard in hospitals worldwide. Studies to date have failed to investigate its root causes due to a lack of empirical research based on documented episodes of patient violence.DesignQualitative content analysis.MethodsContent analysis was conducted on the total sample of 214 Type II incidents documented in 2011 by employees of an American hospital system with a centralized reporting system.FindingsThe majority of incidents were reported by nurses (39·8%), security staff (15·9%) and nurse assistants (14·4%). Three distinct themes were identified from the analysis: Patient Behaviour, Patient Care and Situational Events. Specific causes of violence related to Patient Behaviour were cognitive impairment and demanding to leave. Catalysts related to patient care were the use of needles, patient pain/discomfort and physical transfers of patients. Situational factors included the use/presence of restraints; transitions in the care process; intervening to protect patients and/or staff; and redirecting patients.ConclusionsIdentifying catalysts and situations involved in patient violence in hospitals informs administrators about potential targets for intervention. Hospital staff can be trained to recognize these specific risk factors for patient violence and can be educated in how to best mitigate or prevent the most common forms of violent behaviour. A social–ecological model can be adapted to the hospital setting as a framework for prevention of patient violence towards staff.
Blister‐inducing antibodies target multiple epitopes on collagen VII in mice
Authors: Csorba Kinga , Chiriac Mircea Teodor , Florea Florina , Ghinia Miruna Georgiana , Licarete Emilia , Rados Andreea , Sas Alexandra , Vuta Vlad , Sitaru Cassian 
Published: August 2014

AbstractEpidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease of mucous membranes and the skin caused by autoantibodies against collagen VII. In silico and wet laboratory epitope mapping studies revealed numerous distinct epitopes recognized by EBA patients' autoantibodies within the non‐collagenous (NC)1 and NC2 domains of collagen VII. However, the distribution of pathogenic epitopes on collagen VII has not yet been described. In this study, we therefore performed an in vivo functional epitope mapping of pathogenic autoantibodies in experimental EBA. Animals (n = 10/group) immunized against fragments of the NC1 and NC2 domains of collagen VII or injected with antibodies generated against the same fragments developed to different extent experimental EBA. Our results demonstrate that antibodies targeting multiple, distinct epitopes distributed over the entire NC1, but not NC2 domain of collagen VII induce blistering skin disease in vivo. Our present findings have crucial implications for the development of antigen‐specific B‐ and T cell‐targeted therapies in EBA.