bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of electrical treatment on cyclic fatigue of NiTi instruments
Authors: Saghiri Mohammad Ali , Asatourian Armen , Garcia‐Godoy Franklin , Gutmann James L. , Lotfi Mehrdad , Sheibani Nader 
Published: May 2014

SummaryDentists desire to use NiTi rotary instruments, which do not break inside the root canals of teeth, since the pieces from broken files are difficult to remove. The NiTi rotary instrument breakage is because of cyclic and torsional fatigue. Here the low‐voltage (12 V) and high voltage (24 V) electrical treatments were used to enhance the cyclic fatigue of NiTi rotary instruments and increase their durability. In excremental groups, following electrical treatment samples of the NiTi instruments were rotated inside artificial root canals until they broke. Our results showed that electrical treatment with 12‐V DC was effective in restoring NiTi instrument's resistance to cyclic fatigue. The scanning electron microscopy images and fractograph of samples exposed to 12‐V electrical treatment showed a more regular texture over the surface with less dimpling on fractured site. These patterns can improve the super elasticity of tested devices during rotational movement, and delay the NiTi instruments separation in root canal preparations. SCANNING 36:507–511, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Large-scale climate variability and rodent abundance modulates recruitment rates in Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
Authors: Kvasnes Mikkel A. J. , Pedersen Hans Chr. , Storaas Torstein , Nilsen Erlend B. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractRecruitment of juveniles is important for the size of the next year’s breeding population in many bird species. Climate variability and predation may affect recruitment rates, and when these factors are spatially correlated, recruitment rates in spatially separated populations of a species may be synchronized. We used production data from an extensive survey of Willow Ptarmigan from 2000 to 2011 to investigate spatial synchrony in recruitment of juveniles within and among mountain region populations. In addition, we assessed the effects of predation and large—as well as local—scale climate on recruitment of juveniles. Recruitment was synchronized both within and among mountain regions, but the mean spatial correlation was strongest among mountain regions. This may be caused by small-scale factors such as predation or habitat structure, or be a result of sampling variation, which may be large at small spatial scales. The strong synchrony suggests that populations are subject to similar environmental forces. We used mixed effect models at the survey area and mountain region scales to assess the effect of rodent abundance (a proxy for predation rates) and local and regional climate during the breeding season on the recruitment of juvenile birds. Model selection based on AICc revealed that the most parsimonious models at both spatial scales included positive effects of rodent abundance and the North Atlantic oscillation during May, June and July (NAOMJJ). The NAOMJJindex was positively related to temperature and precipitation during the pre-incubation period; temperature during the incubation period and positive NAOMJJvalues accelerate plant growth. A comparison of the relative effects of NAOMJJand rodent abundance showed that variation in NAOMJJhad greatest impact on the recruitment of juveniles. This suggests that the climate effect was stronger than the effect of rodent abundance in our study populations. This is in contrast to previous studies on Willow Ptarmigan, but may be explained by the collapse in rodent cycles since the 1990s. If Willow Ptarmigan dynamics in the past were linked to the rodent cycle through a shared predator regime, this link may have been weakened when rodent cycles became more irregular, resulting in a more pronounced effect of environmental perturbation on the dynamics of ptarmigan.
Changes in community structure and species–landform relationship after repeated fire disturbance in an oak‐dominated temperate forest
Authors: Kim Daehyun , Arthur Mary A. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractLandform has long been considered one of the primary controls on forest community structure; however, it is still unclear how the strength of such species–topography couplings varies in response to recurring disturbance events. We evaluated this question in the context of repeated prescribed fire applied to a forest landscape in eastern Kentucky, USA. The landscape encompassed different areas of varying treatment frequencies: no fire, less frequent fires (two times, 6‐year interval), and frequent fires (four times, 1 or 2‐year interval) over 8 years. For each of 32 plots (10 m × 40 m), species–landform data were collected seven times between 2002 and 2010. Results of canonical correspondence analysis showed generally decreasing importance of terrain attributes to the overall tree species composition, during and after the period of fire disturbance. Before fire, species composition showed high fractal dimensions and low Moran'sI, implying that the complex terrain of the area provided local, site‐specific topographic controls on community structure. As fire was repeatedly applied, fractal dimensions decreased and Moran'sIincreased, indicating that plots possessed increasingly similar vegetation characteristics regardless of site‐specific terrain conditions; that is, local topography no longer acted as the primary driver of species composition because such a short‐range spatial control became overwhelmed by a longer‐range variation dictated by fire. Following a period of fire disturbance, forest modelers are recommended to avoid species distribution modeling heavily based on topographic parameters and to explicitly take into account potentially increasing spatial autocorrelation in species composition.
Interleukin 10 promoter haplotype is associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis in Taiwanese patients
Authors: Yang An‐Ming , Wen Li‐Li , Yang Chang‐Shyue , Wang Sun‐Chong , Chen Chien‐Sheng , Bair Ming‐Jong 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAlcoholic liver cirrhosis is a severe form of alcohol‐related liver damage. More than 95% of heavy drinkers develop a fatty liver, but only 35% of them develop cirrhosis. We postulate that genetic factors may play a role in this difference. Genetic polymorphisms of the cytokine genes may influence Kupffer cells cytokine genes expression. In this study, we evaluated the promoter polymorphisms of interleukin (IL) 1β, IL 6, IL 10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and aimed to clarify the association between the polymorphisms and the disease. Forty alcoholic patients with liver cirrhosis and 64 healthy volunteers were included in our investigation. Genotyping on IL 1β –511 T>C, IL 6 –572 G>C, IL 10 –819 C>T, IL 10 –1082 G>A, and TNFα –308 G>A was done. Another 36 patients with recurrent alcoholic pancreatitis were included as an additional control group. Genotyping on IL 10 –819 C>T and IL 10 –1082 G>A was done. The polymorphisms on IL 1 and IL 6 showed no significant association. The p value for TNFα –308 G>A was 0.028 in comparison with healthy volunteers. Although the p value was less than 0.05, it did not reach significance after Bonferroni correction. The p values for IL 10 –819 C>T and IL 10 –1082 G>A were respectively 0.031 and 0.026 in healthy volunteers and 0.028 and 0.023 in the alcoholic pancreatitis group. The results also did not reach significance after Bonferroni correction. Among the participants with the GCC haplotype, healthy volunteers had p = 0.027 (p < 0.05) and an odds ratio (OR) of 0.124 [confidence interval (95%) CI, 0.015–0.997], whereas the alcoholic pancreatitis group had p = 0.023 (p < 0.05) and an OR of 0.106 (95% CI, 0.012–0.912). The odds ratio of people having one ATA haplotype was 6.233 (95% CI, 0.739–52.547) in healthy volunteers and 6.588 (95% CI, 0.727–59.679) in the alcoholic pancreatitis group; the corresponding rate was 10.521 (95% CI, 1.252–88.440) and 12.833 (95% CI 1.408–117.008) for people with two ATA haplotypes. The p values in these groups were 0.031 (p < 0.05) and 0.028 (p < 0.05), respectively. The presence of a GCC haplotype could have protective effect against alcoholic liver disease, whereas the presence of an ATA haplotype could predispose carriers to the disease. The IL 10 promoter haplotype is associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis in Taiwanese patients.
The output gap and expected security returns
Authors: Biswas Anindya 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis paper analyzes the impact of the output gap on market excess returns. The output gap is usually defined as the deviation of output from potential output that is indicated by the trend output. However, this study departs from the common approach of calculating the output gap based on a simple trend line. It uses a flexible data‐driven weighting scheme, and it uses only the available information that corresponds to each forecasting origin to derive the output gap. Overall, the proposed output gap is a strong predictor of U.S. market excess returns.
Personal health records, symptoms, uncertainty, and mood in brain tumor patients
Authors: Cahill Jennifer E. , Lin Lin , LoBiondo-Wood Geri , Armstrong Terri S. , Acquaye Alvina A. , Vera-Bolanos Elizabeth , Gilbert Mark R. , Padhye Nikhil S. 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
The advantages of patient access to the electronic medical record (EMR) through integrated personal health records (PHR) may be substantial, and foremost is the enhanced information flow between patient and practitioner. Because this is an emerging technology, the actualized benefits to complex patient groups remain largely unknown. MD Anderson Cancer Center provides web-based PHR portal access to the EMR including clinic notes, MRI results, and pathology reports. This study sought to evaluate PHR use by glioma patients.

Methods
Cross-sectional survey and PHR-derived user data from 186 patients were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Logistic regression assessed disparities between users and nonusers. Dependence of PHR access on treatment stage was tested through linear regression. Path analysis evaluated PHR access, disease-related uncertainty, symptom experience, and mood.

Results
Patients averaged 44.2 years (range 19y–80y), 77% had a high-grade tumor, and 60% had accessed PHR at least one time (range 0–126). Strongest predictors of access included education level (college level or higher), low performance status, middle income, and in-state residency. Patients undergoing treatment were more active users. PHR access was associated with lower disease-related uncertainty and lower symptom severity. Mood was not directly related to PHR use but mediated an association between symptom severity and uncertainty.

Conclusions
While many reports presume better disease and symptom understanding for patients with EMR access, this study is the first to correlate PHR use to lower patient uncertainty levels. Early examination of PHR provides an important basis for critical evaluation and optimization to better structure this benefit for brain tumor patients.
Predicting Case Volume from the Accumulating Elective Operating Room Schedule Facilitates Staffing Improvements
Authors: Tiwari Vikram , Furman William R. , Sandberg Warren S. 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background:
Precise estimates of final operating room demand can only be made 1 or 2 days before the day of surgery, when it is harder to adjust staffing to match demand. The authors hypothesized that the accumulating elective schedule contains useful information for predicting final case demand sufficiently in advance to readily adjust staffing.

Methods:
The accumulated number of cases booked was recorded daily, from which a usable dataset comprising 146 consecutive surgical days (October 10, 2011 to May 7, 2012, after removing weekends and holidays), and each with 30 prior calendar days of booking history, was extracted. Case volume prediction was developed by extrapolation from estimates of the fraction of total cases booked each of the 30 preceding days, and averaging these with linear regression models, one for each of the 30 preceding days. Predictions were verified by comparison with actual volume.

Results:
The elective surgery schedule accumulated approximately three cases per day, settling at a mean ± SD final daily volume of 117 ± 12 cases. The model predicted final case counts within 8.27 cases as far in advance as 14 days before the day of surgery. In the last 7 days before the day of surgery, the model predicted the case count within seven cases 80% of the time. The model was replicated at another smaller hospital, with similar results.

Conclusions:
The developing elective schedule predicts final case volume weeks in advance. After implementation, overly high- or low-volume days are revealed in advance, allowing nursing, ancillary service, and anesthesia managers to proactively fine-tune staffing up or down to match demand.
A versatile and efficient markerless gene disruption system for Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans: application for characterizing a copper tolerance related multicopper oxidase gene
Authors: Wen Qing , Liu Xiangmei , Wang Huiyan , Lin Jianqun 
Published: May 2014

SummaryThe acidophilic bioleaching bacteria can usually survive in high concentrations of copper ions because of their special living environment. However, little is known about the copper homeostatic mechanisms of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, an important member of bioleaching bacteria. Here, a putative multicopper oxidase gene (cueO) was detected from the draft genome of A. thiooxidans ATCC 19377. The transcriptional level of cueO in response to 10 mM CuSO4 was upregulated 25.01 ± 2.59 folds. The response of PcueO to copper was also detected and might be stimulated by a putative CueR protein. Then, by using the counter‐selectable marker lacZ and enhancing the expression of endonuclease I‐SceI with tac promoter, a modified markerless gene disruption system was developed and the cueO gene disruption mutant (ΔcueO) of A. thiooxidans was successfully constructed with a markedly improved second homologous recombination frequency of 0.28 ± 0.048. The ΔcueO mutant was more sensitive to external copper and nearly completely lost the phenoloxidase activity; however, the activity could be restored after complementing the cueO gene. All results suggest the close relation of cueO gene to copper tolerance in A. thiooxidans. In addition, the developed efficient markerless gene knockout method can also be introduced into other Acidithiobacillus strains.
Sleep changes in smokers before, during and 3 months after nicotine withdrawal
Authors: Jaehne Andreas , Unbehaun Thomas , Feige Bernd , Cohrs Stefan , Rodenbeck Andrea , Schütz Anna-Lisa , Uhl Verena , Zober Alexander , Riemann Dieter 
Published: May 2014

AbstractNicotine may affect sleep by influencing sleep‐regulating neurotransmitters. Sleep disorders can increase the risk for depression and substance dependency. To detect the influence of sleep disturbances on the effect of smoking cessation, we investigated polysomnographically (PSG) the sleep of smoking subjects during a period of smoking, during withdrawal and after a period of abstinence from nicotine. Thirty‐three smokers (23 male, 10 female, median age 29 years, Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence score 6.3) were examined during smoking, 24–36 hours after smoking and 3 months after cessation. All subjects had an adaptation night followed by the PSG night. Compared with the smoking state, we found increased arousal index and wake time during nicotine withdrawal. Smokers who later relapsed (11) presented a higher degree of nicotine dependence and more withdrawal symptoms than those who abstained (22) and were characterized by less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a longer REM latency as well as by more intense sleep impairments in the subjective sleep rating during the withdrawal. Impairments of sleep during the withdrawal phase may reflect more severe nicotine dependence and may contribute to earlier relapse into smoking behaviours.
Study of fluid ingress through clear corneal incisions following phacoemulsification with or without the use of a hydrogel ocular bandage: a prospective comparative randomised study
Authors: Sykakis Evripidis , Karim Rushmia , Kinsella Matthew , Bhogal Maninder , Patel Sandeep , Parmar Dipak N. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractPurposeTo assess the use of a hydrogel ocular bandage (HOB) on clear corneal incisions in phacoemulsification cataract surgery and determine whether HOB reduces ocular surface contaminants ingress after routine surgery.MethodsIn this prospective randomized controlled study, thirty eyes of patients undergoing uneventful phacoemulsification were recruited consecutively and randomly assigned to have a HOB applied to the corneal incision at the end of the surgery or not. At the end of the surgery, trypan blue (TRB) was instilled on the ocular surface, aqueous fluid was aspirated from the anterior chamber (AC) and its optical density was measured using ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The corneal incisions were examined postoperatively using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Main outcome measures were concentration of TRB in the AC, corneal incision architecture, intraocular pressure (IOP) and Seidel test.ResultsAll incisions were Seidel negative. The mean IOP in the immediate postoperative period was 18.1 ± 5.48 mmHg for the intervention group and 16.9 ± 5.7 mmHg for the control group (p > 0.05). No architectural differences of the incisions between the two groups were noted. The total mean length of the three‐step corneal incisions in the two groups was 2261.2 ± 96.92 μm and 2263 ± 119.75 μm, respectively (p > 0.05). No trace of TRB was detected in any of the samples.ConclusionProper surgical wound construction without the use of a HOB is efficient in preventing the ingress of fluid through the main corneal incision postoperatively.
High‐level exogenous trans10, cis12 conjugated linoleic acid plays an anti‐lipogenesis role in bovine mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Wang Hongfang , Liu Hongyun , Liu Jianxin , Zhao Ke , Wang Chong , Yang Weiren 
Published: May 2014

AbstractPrimary bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) were treated by 0, 37.5, 75, 112.5, 150 μmol/L trans10, cis12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to evaluate the effects of different level trans10, cis12 CLA on lipogenesis in BMEC. Addition of 75–150 μmol/L trans10, cis12 CLA reduced significantly the triacylglycerol (TAG) content (P < 0.05), but did not have inhibiting action on cell proliferation (P > 0.05). Treatment with 150 μmol/L trans10, cis12 CLA for 48 h resulted in a 17.1% reduction (P < 0.0001) of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA, C14 < C < C16), a 26.5% reduction (P < 0.0001) of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and a corresponding reduction of the mRNA abundance of acetyl coenzyme A (acetylCoA) carboxylase (ACC) (P = 0.046), fatty acid synthase (FAS) (P = 0.017) and stearoylCoA desaturase1 (SCD1) (P = 0.002). Another finding was that trans10, cis12 CLA elevated expression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase2 (DGAT2) (P = 0.020) and long chain acylCoA synthetases (ACSL) (P = 0.032). In conclusion, higher trans10, cis12 CLA, not low trans10, cis12 CLA, inhibited milk fat synthesis and changed fatty acid composition by regulating the expression of FAS, ACC, SCD1, DGAT2 and ACSL.
Expression profiles of perforin, granzyme B and granulysin genes during the estrous cycle and gestation in the bovine endometrium
Authors: Ohta Tomokazu , Koshi Katsuo , Ushizawa Koichi , Hosoe Misa , Takahashi Toru , Yamaguchi Takahiro , Kizaki Keiichiro , Hashizume Kazuyoshi 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe conceptus is susceptible to destruction by maternal cytotoxic lymphocytes, which have cytotoxic potential. Therefore, it is expected that mechanisms for regulating cytotoxic lymphocytes exist, but little is known about the expression of cytotoxic genes in the endometrium. In the present study, we examined the spatial and temporal expression patterns of the cytotoxic genes perforin, granzyme B, and granulysin during the estrous cycle and gestation in the bovine endometrium. Endometrial tissues were collected from cows during the estrous cycle and gestation. The gene expression patterns of the three cytotoxic genes were examined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization, and cytotoxic lymphocyte subsets were characterized using immunohistochemistry. During mid‐ to late gestation in the intercaruncular (ICAR), granulysin expression was significantly increased, and a large number of granulysin‐expressing cells were localized in the luminal epithelium. Perforin and granzyme B displayed similar expression profiles and were highly expressed in the peri‐implantation endometrium, but few cells expressing these genes were found in the endometrial stroma. In conclusion, these findings suggest that in the ICAR epithelium granulysin may play important roles in the establishment and maintenance of gestation during normal pregnancy.
Beyond the platelet count: immature platelet fraction and thromboelastometry correlate with bleeding in patients with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Greene Lindsey A. , Chen Siqi , Seery Caroline , Imahiyerobo Allison M. , Bussel James B. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryPlatelet counts (PC) estimate bleeding risk in Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP). We investigated whether measures of thromboelastometry and absolute immature platelet fraction (A‐IPF) would correlate better with acute bleeding score (ABS) than PC or mean platelet volume (MPV). Simultaneous determination of ABS, complete blood count and thromboelastometry was performed in 141 ITP patients; 112 underwent A‐IPF testing. Subgroup analyses were performed for paediatric subjects, PC <60 × 109/l and <30 × 109/l. PC significantly inversely correlated with ABS in all subjects, PC <30 × 109/l and total paediatric cohort. MPV did not correlate with ABS in any subgroup. Thromboelastometry measures of clot firmness, but not PC, significantly correlated with ABS in all subjects with PC <60 × 109/l, and children with PC <60 × 109/l and <30 × 109/l. A‐IPF demonstrated stronger correlation with ABS than did PC among all subjects, those with PC <60 × 109/l, all children and children with PC <30 × 109/l (r = −0·37; r = −0·34; r = −0·44; r = −0·60) versus ABS with PC (r = −0·36; ns; r = −0·32; ns). Stronger correlations of both thromboelastometry measures of clot firmness and A‐IPF than PC with ABS suggest factors beyond PC, i.e. related to platelet function, contribute to ITP bleeding pathophysiology. Thromboelastometry, A‐IPF and ABS can be incorporated into routine or acute visits.
Toward consilience in reptile phylogeny: miRNAs support an archosaur, not lepidosaur, affinity for turtles
Authors: Field Daniel J. , Gauthier Jacques A. , King Benjamin L. , Pisani Davide , Lyson Tyler R. , Peterson Kevin J. 
Published: May 2014

SUMMARYUnderstanding the phylogenetic position of crown turtles (Testudines) among amniotes has been a source of particular contention. Recent morphological analyses suggest that turtles are sister to all other reptiles, whereas the vast majority of gene sequence analyses support turtles as being inside Diapsida, and usually as sister to crown Archosauria (birds and crocodilians). Previously, a study using microRNAs (miRNAs) placed turtles inside diapsids, but as sister to lepidosaurs (lizards andSphenodon) rather than archosaurs. Here, we test this hypothesis with an expanded miRNA presence/absence dataset, and employ more rigorous criteria for miRNA annotation. Significantly, we find no support for a turtle + lepidosaur sister‐relationship; instead, we recover strong support for turtles sharing a more recent common ancestor with archosaurs. We further test this result by analyzing a super‐alignment of precursor miRNA sequences for every miRNA inferred to have been present in the most recent common ancestor of tetrapods. This analysis yields a topology that is fully congruent with our presence/absence analysis; our results are therefore in accordance with most gene sequence studies, providing strong, consilient molecular evidence from diverse independent datasets regarding the phylogenetic position of turtles.