bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chewing areca nut as an independent risk factor for proteinuria in middle‐aged men
Authors: Liu Wen‐Hsin , Hsu Chih‐Cheng , Hsu Yueh‐Han 
Published: December 2012

AbstractNo previous large‐scale research has reported the association of chewing areca nut (AN) with proteinuria. The aim of this study was to investigate such an association in men over a 7‐year study. In this cross‐sectional research, we retrospectively reviewed the records of health check‐ups in a community hospital setting from 2003 to 2009. Laboratory tests, medical histories, and the status of smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and chewing AN were obtained for each participant. Proteinuria was defined as having +/– or heavier protein response (including +/– to 4+) in a urine test performed by an automated chemical analyzer. We compared characteristics in participants with and without proteinuria, and analyzed the adjusted risk for proteinuria with chewing AN in middle‐aged men. We also compared the changes in adjusted risk for proteinuria under a stricter definition of proteinuria (≥ 1+ proteinuria). There were 11,991 men with a mean age of 58.94 ± 12.06 years. The prevalence of proteinuria in AN chewers was 13.7%, and 11.2% for non‐chewers (p = 0.005). Of the 1381 participants with proteinuria, the proportion chewing AN was 15.3%, and 12.6% for those without proteinuria (p = 0.005). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis with three different levels of adjustment models, with adjustment factors for age, drinking, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, body mass index, chronic kidney disease, anemia, liver dysfunction, and hyperuricemia, the odds ratios of proteinuria for chewing AN were 1.61, 1.55 and 1.40 (allp = 0.000). With the stricter definition of proteinuria, the odds ratios became weaker (1.40, 1.36 and 1.19;p = 0.009, 0.029 and 0.24). We concluded that chewing AN was independently associated with risk of proteinuria in middle‐aged Chinese men.
Vibrations Induced by Harmonic Loadings Applied at Circular Plate on Layered Medium
Authors: Liou Gin-Show 
Published: December 2012

AbstractA systematic procedure is developed to calculate ground vibration at any specific location in layered medium due to harmonic loadings applied at a circular plate on the medium. In the procedure, the technique decomposing the interaction tractions between excited plate and layered medium will be employed. The decomposed tractions will automatically match boundary values of general solutions of three dimensional wave equations in cylindrical coordinates. In numerical results, the effect of layered stratum on ground vibration will be investigated and how ground vibration in layered medium decreases with depth will be presented. Also, from the numerical results, one can observe ground vibration may not decay monotonically along distance away from vibration source. The presented scheme is proved to be effective and efficient for accurately predicting near-field ground response to harmonic loadings applied at a rigid circular plate on layered medium. Comments on the presented scheme and numerical results will be given.
Interface Reconstruction with Split Lagrangian Advection for Two-Dimensional Interfacial Flows
Authors: Wu C. S. , Young D. L. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThis paper contributes to propose a 2D practical interface tracking algorithm of volume-of-fluid (VOF) method through the improved interface reconstruction, namely using both mixed Youngs centered column method (MYCCM) and the Lagrangian split advection scheme. A computationally efficiency and second-order accuracy for interface reconstruction method is presented and approximated by heuristic algorithms based on the piecewise linear interface calculation (PLIC) concept. The method can be accurately estimated by a regular structured mesh without any geometrical modifications. Besides, a linear mapping technique is implemented to improve the efficiency of numerical simulations with regard to the approximation for capturing the interface. The computational tests include widely used benchmark cases, such as the solid-body translations and rotations and the swirled single vortex of fluid body. Its performances of the improved algorithm are compared against other classical VOF advection methods. Good results are obtained by using present algorithm.
PLANT-DERIVED AEROSOL-SMOKE AND SMOKE SOLUTIONS INFLUENCE AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF A TRADITIONAL CEREAL CROP, TEF
Authors: GHEBREHIWOT HABTEAB , KULKARNI MANOJ , BAIRU MICHAEL , VAN STADEN JOHANNES 
Published: December 2012

SUMMARYThe positive role of plant-derived smoke on seed germination and post-germination processes is well documented. The present study examined if plant-derived smoke with various methods of application influence the agronomic performance of a traditional cereal crop, tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter]. Comparisons were made in potted tef plants, which germinated from seeds treated with smoke-water (1:500 dilution), Karrikinolide1 (KAR1, 10−8 M) solutions and seeds pretreated with cool aerosol-smoke for 10 min (rinsed and unrinsed afterwards). The smoke-related treatments modified a number of physiological, morphological and agronomic features of Eragrostis tef. Compared with the control, KAR1 and aerosol-smoke treatment of the seeds significantly improved plant height. All the smoke-related treatments significantly promoted stem-thickness whereas number of tillers and grain and dry biomass responded positively to aerosol-smoke and smoke-water treatments. These findings indicate that the plant-derived smoke treatment has a great potential to improve grain and dry biomass yields of tef. Moreover, due to its positive role in improving stem-thickness, smoke treatment may assist in combating lodging problems in cereals such as rice, wheat and barley, provided they are responsive to smoke treatments.
COMPARISON OF APPROPRIATE TROPICAL SEED STORAGE TECHNIQUES FOR GERMPLASM CONSERVATION IN MOUNTAINOUS SUB-TROPICAL CLIMATES WITH RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS
Authors: CROFT MARCIA , BICKSLER ABRAM , MANSON JAMES , BURNETTE RICK 
Published: December 2012

SUMMARYChanges in seed viability over 12 months of low-input storage conditions were monitored on five diverse seed species grown in the tropics: amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus), lablab bean (Lablab purpureus), moringa (Moringa oleifera), pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Because the costs of maintaining low-temperature storage can be prohibitively expensive in developing countries, this study explored alternatives to low-temperature storage at the Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) Asia Impact Center Seed Bank in Northern Thailand. Specifically, this research compared the effects of vacuum sealing and refrigeration on stored seed viability in both laboratory and field settings. While seed species was an influential factor in determining seed longevity, the relative importance of vacuum sealing and refrigeration differed for the dependent variables of seed moisture content, germination rate, mean time to 50% germination and field emergence. Although the combination of vacuum sealing and refrigeration was most effective at conserving seed quality as measured by each of these variables, the storage of seeds in vacuum-sealed packages at ambient temperatures was more effective than unsealed but refrigerated packets at conserving low moisture content and high germination and field emergence rates across species. This suggests that for resource-constrained seed banks in the tropics, vacuum sealing with or without refrigeration may represent a viable alternative to other expensive and energy-intensive storage techniques.
DRY MATTER PRODUCTION AND NUTRIENT CONTENT OF LONGAN GROWN ON AN ACID ULTISOL
Authors: GOENAGA RICARDO 
Published: December 2012

SUMMARYLittle is known about the adaptability of longan (Dimocarpus longan) to acidic soils high in aluminum (Al). A two-year field study was conducted to determine the effects of various levels of soil Al on dry matter production, plant growth and nutrient content in shoots of four cultivars of longan. Soil Al and cultivars were statistically different for all variables measured in the study. Total leaf, petiole, stem and root dry weights significantly decreased at soil Al concentrations ranging from 5.1 to 12.1 cmol kg−1 but this reduction was of a smaller magnitude in roots than in other organs. Increments in soil Al resulted in a significant reduction in the concentration of leaf Ca and a significant increase in leaf Al in all cultivars. Shoot content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Al declined with increase in soil Al. The result of this study demonstrates that longan is highly susceptible to acid soils.
Non-parametric approaches to the impact of Holstein heifer growth from birth to insemination on their dairy performance at lactation one
Authors: SAUDER C. , CARDOT H. , DISENHAUS C. , LE COZLER Y. 
Published: December 2012

SUMMARYParametric approaches have been used widely to model animal growth and study the impact of growth profile on performance. Individual variation is often not considered in such approaches. However, non-parametric modelling allows this. Such an approach, based on spline functions, was used to study the importance of growth profiles from age 0 to 15 months (i.e. insemination) on milk yield and composition in primiparous cows. A dataset of 447 heifers was used for analysis of growth performance; 296 of them were also used to study impact on lactation. All of them originated from a French experimental herd and were born between 1986 and 2006. Clustering methods were also tested. Comparison of spline methods showed that a cubic spline interpolation method, with no smoothing parameter, was best suited to studying heifer growth. Similarly, partitioning around medoids proved the most accurate clustering method for classifying heifer growth into groups. The results of these analyses agreed with those previously published, supporting the utility of these methods. A final study on the impact of breakdowns in the growth curves was performed. A breakdown was considered only when the derivative of the interpolation function was negative or zero. Of the 447 heifers initially used, 125 (Gr0), 175 (Gr1) and 147 (Gr2) had no, one, or two or more breakpoints during the 0–15 months of age period. Milk yield on a 305 d basis was significantly reduced with an increased number of breakpoints (6548v.6828 and 6905 kg for Gr2, Gr1 and Gr0 animals, respectively). Fat content was also higher in Gr2 than in Gr0 groups, but overall, no difference in total fat or protein-corrected milk production was noted. The intersection between groups for growth and groups for breakdowns confirmed that animals with two or more breakdowns belonged more frequently to the group with the lowest growth performance. These results offer the possibility of analysing large databases, originating from an automatic collecting system (e.g. milking robots) or from different herds, breeds, genetics, etc. These approaches could also be used for studies on body score index, girth development, lactation profiles, etc. and in other species, such as dairy goats or beef cattle. They could find use in the development of new models of prediction, e.g. the probability of heat appearance on an animal basis, which could be included among useful management tools.
Paragonimiasis in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa
Authors: Appleton C.C. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractNine cases of paragonimiasis have been reported from cats (4), dogs (2) and children (3) in South Africa, with an additional suspected case in an adult female patient. Details of these cases are reviewed. All nine cases, and perhaps the adult case as well, were from the province of KwaZulu-Natal but locality data are only available for six of them. These six cases represent four localities which all lie below 100 m above sea level in the province's lowlands, suggesting that there may be a focus of transmission here. The molluscan first intermediate host must be one of the two prosobranch snail species present in the area,Melanoides tuberculataorTomichia natalensis, and the decapod second intermediate host the common river crabPotamonautes sidneyi. All infected cats and dogs had pulmonary infections, while two human cases for which there is sufficient information had extrapulmonary infections. Transmission appears to be ongoing but the invasive snailTarebia graniferamay be competing with bothM. tuberculataandT. natalensis.If so, this may bring transmission to an end.
Unresponsiveness ofMycobacterium wvaccine in managing acute and chronicLeishmania donovaniinfections in mouse and hamster
Authors: TANDON RATI , MISRA PRAGYA , SONI VISHAL KUMAR , BANO NASREEN , MISRA-BHATTACHARYA SHAILJA , DUBE ANURADHA 
Published: December 2012

SUMMARYThe role ofMycobacterium w(Mw) vaccine as an immunomodulator and immunoprophylactant in the treatment of mycobacterial diseases (leprosy and pulmonary tuberculosis) is well established. The fact that it shares common antigens with leishmanial parasites prompted its assessment as an immunostimulant and as an adjunct to known anti-leishmanials that may help in stimulating the suppressed immune status ofLeishmania donovani-infected individuals. The efficacy ofMwvaccine was assessed as an immunomodulator, prophylactically either alone or in combination with anti-leishmanial vaccine, as well as therapeutically as an adjunct to anti-leishmanial treatment inL. donovani-infected hamsters, representing a chronic human Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) model. Similarly, its efficacy was also evaluated inL. donovani-infected BALB/c mice, representing an acute VL model. The preliminary studies revealed thatMwwas ineffective as an immunostimulant and/or immunoprophylactant in hamsters infected withL. donovani, as estimated by T-cell immunological responses. However, in the BALB/c mice-VL model it appeared as an effective immunostimulant but a futile prophylactic agent. It is therefore inferred that, contrary to its role in managing tuberculosis and leprosy infections,Mwvaccine has not been successful in controlling VL infection, emphasizing the need to find detailed explanations for the failure of this vaccine against the disease.
Mixed infection in the anteater Tamandua tetradactyla (Mammalia: Pilosa) from Pará State, Brazil: Trypanosoma cruzi, T. rangeli and Leishmania infantum
Authors: DE ARAÚJO VITOR ANTÔNIO L. , BOITÉ MARIANA C. , CUPOLILLO ELISA , JANSEN ANA MARIA , ROQUE ANDRÉ LUIZ R. 
Published: December 2012

SUMMARYSome Trypanosoma and Leishmania species are multi-host parasites whose distribution overlaps in several parts of the Brazilian Amazon basin. Despite being a common trait among wild mammals, mixed infections and their consequences for the host's health and parasite transmission are still a poorly known phenomenon. Here we describe a triple mixed infection – Trypanosoma cruzi, T. rangeli and Leishmania infantum – in a bone marrow sample from an anteater Tamandua tetradactyla captured in a house backyard from the endemic Abaetetuba municipality in the Amazon basin. T. cruzi was also isolated from blood samples. The mini-exon multiplex PCR characterization detected the infection by T. rangeli and T. cruzi (TcI genotype), while L. infantum infection was confirmed by an ITS-PCR followed by amplicon sequencing. This is the first description of T. rangeli isolation from bone marrow and the first report of L. infantum infection in xenarthrans. The implications of this finding are discussed considering the influence of mixed infections in the role of this mammal species as a putative reservoir host of these 3 trypanosomatid species.
Prehospital Emergency Medical Services in Lebanon: Overview and Prospects
Authors: El Sayed Mazen J. , Bayram Jamil D. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractPrehospital emergency medical services in Lebanon are based on volunteer systems with multiple agencies. In this article, a brief history of the development of prehospital care in Lebanon is presented with a description of existing services. Also explored are the different aspects of prehospital care in Lebanon, including funding, public access and dispatch, equipment and supplies, provider training and certification, medical direction, and associated hospital-based emergency care.El Sayed MJ, Bayram JD. Prehospital Emergency Medical Services in Lebanon: overview and prospects. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(2):1-3.
Religious Regulation and the Muslim Democracy Gap
Authors: Sarkissian Ani 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThis article argues that high levels of government regulation of religion help to explain the “democracy gap” in majority Muslim countries. Controlling for previously hypothesized determinants of democracy, it finds that as levels of regulation increase, levels of democracy decline. Examination of specific types of religious regulation in Muslim-majority countries uncovers a pattern of repression of religious expression that may be used to mobilize citizens politically. These regulations are targeted more often at Muslims who seek independence from state-controlled religion or who wish to challenge authoritarian governments, rather than at non-Muslim minorities or at religious worship more generally. Thus, authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes in Muslim-majority states successfully use policies toward religion to restrict political competition and inhibit democratic transition.
Radar on a chip for cars – the RoCC project
Authors: Lachner Rudolf 
Published: December 2012

Radar sensors operating in the 76 81 GHz range are considered as essential parts of future vehicle safety systems and could significantly contribute in reducing the number of traffic casualties. Yet high manufacturing costs prevented their broad utilization in cars in the past. Today's SiGe processes show high potential to bring down cost of millimeter (mm)-wave systems into a range where they become attractive for mid- to low-priced cars. However, despite the impressing results achieved so far there is still a lot of work left to be done to achieve the final goal of “affordable radar safety for all”.
ALMA and VLA observations of the outflows in IRAS 16293−2422
Authors: Loinard Laurent , Zapata Luis A. , Rodríguez Luis F. , Pech Gerardo , Chandler Claire J. , Brogan Crystal L. , Wilner David J. , Ho Paul T. P. , Parise Bérengère , Hartmann Lee W. , Zhu Zhaohuan , Takahashi Satoko , Trejo Alfonso 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and Very Large Array (VLA) observations of the molecular and ionized gas at 0.1–0.3 arcsec resolution in the Class 0 protostellar system IRAS 16293−2422. These data clarify the origins of the protostellar outflows from the deeply embedded sources in this complex region. Source A2 is confirmed to be at the origin of the well-known large-scale north-east–south-west flow. The most recent VLA observations reveal a new ejection from that protostar, demonstrating that it drives an episodic jet. The central compact part of the other known large-scale flow in the system, oriented roughly east–west, is well delineated by the CO(6-5) emission imaged with ALMA and is confirmed to be driven from within component A. Finally, a one-sided blueshifted bubble-like outflow structure is detected here for the first time from source B to the north-west of the system. Its very short dynamical time-scale (∼200 yr), low velocity and moderate collimation support the idea that source B is the youngest object in the system, and possibly one of the youngest protostars known.
Challenge of Chronically Infected Mice with Homologous Trypanosoma cruzi Parasites Enhances the Immune Response but Does Not Modify Cardiopathy: Implications for the Design of a Therapeutic Vaccine
Authors: Rosas-Jorquera Christian Emerson , Sardinha Luiz Roberto , Pretel Fernando Delgado , Bombeiro André Luis , D'Império Lima Maria Regina , Alvarez José Maria 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

Chagas disease is a
Trypanosoma cruzi
-induced zoonosis that has no natural cure. Local damage induced by the parasite and the immune response causes chronic heart and digestive lesions. Efforts to develop a therapeutic vaccine that boosts the immune response to completely clear the parasite are needed because there is no effective treatment for chronically infected patients. In an attempt to modify the host-parasite equilibrium to increase parasite destruction, we analyzed cardiopathy and the immune response in chronically infected mice that were challenged with live homologous parasites. Challenge with a single dose of parasite increased CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cell populations, gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production, and serum-specific IgG levels. However, subpatent parasitemias and cardiac tissue were not affected. Because of the short duration of the immune boost after a single challenge, we next evaluated the impact of four parasite doses, administered 3 weeks apart. At 1 to 2 months after the last dose, the numbers of CD4
+
T cells and IFN-γ-producing CD4
+
memory cells and the CD4
+
T cell proliferative response to
T. cruzi
antigen were increased in the spleen. The frequency of IFN-γ-producing CD8
+
memory cells in the blood was also increased. However, the sustained challenge did not favor TH1 development; rather, it induced an increase in serum-specific IgG1 levels and mixed TH1/TH2 cytokine production. Moreover, there were no significant changes in cardiac lesions and subpatent parasitemias. In conclusion, we believe that this study may help in elucidating the necessary elements for a successful therapeutic vaccine which may reduce cardiomyopathy in chronically infected human patients.
Use of Universal 16S rRNA Gene PCR as a Diagnostic Tool for Venous Access Port-Related Bloodstream Infections
Authors: Guembe M. , Marín M. , Martín-Rabadán P. , Echenagusia A. , Camúñez F. , Rodríguez-Rosales G. , Simó G. , Echenagusia M. , Bouza E. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT
Amplification of the universal 16S rRNA gene using PCR has improved the diagnostic yield of microbiological samples. However, no data have been reported on the reliability of this technique with venous access ports (VAPs). We assessed the utility of 16S rRNA PCR for the prediction of VAP-related bloodstream infection (VAP-RBSI). During a 2-year period, we prospectively received all VAPs removed by interventional radiologists. PCR and conventional cultures were performed using samples from the different VAP sites. We compared the results of PCR with those of conventional culture for patients with confirmed VAP-RBSI. We collected 219 VAPs from 219 patients. Conventional VAP culture revealed 15 episodes of VAP-RBSI. PCR revealed a further 4 episodes in patients undergoing antibiotic therapy which would have gone undetected using conventional culture. Moreover, it had a negative predictive value of 97.8% for the prediction of VAP-RBSI when it was performed using biofilm from the internal surface of the port. In conclusion, universal 16S rRNA PCR performed with samples from the inside of VAPs proved to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of VAP-RBSI. It increased detection of VAP-RBSI episodes by 21.1% in patients undergoing antibiotic therapy whose episodes would have gone undetected using conventional culture. Therefore, we propose a new application of 16S rRNA PCR as a useful tool for the diagnosis of VAP-RBSI in patients receiving antibiotic therapy.
Four-Year Experience with Simultaneous Culture and Shiga Toxin Testing for Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Stool Samples
Authors: Woo Jennifer S. , Palavecino Elizabeth L. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

We report our experience with universal Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) screening using culture and Shiga toxin antigen testing over 4 years. Twelve cases were detected—8 detected by both culture and Shiga toxin immunochromatographic assay (IA), 3 by culture, and 1 by IA only. The addition of Shiga toxin testing is of questionable benefit over culture alone for detection of STEC in areas of low prevalence.