bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting acute and chronic effects of wood preservative products in daphnia magna and pseudokirchneriella subcapitata based on the concept of concentration addition
Authors: Coors Anja , Weisbrod Barbara , Schoknecht Ute , Sacher Frank , Kehrer Anja 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

The current European legislation requires that combined effects of the active substances and any substance of concern contained in biocidal products are taken into account in environmental risk assessment. The hypothesis whether the consideration of active substances together with all formulation additives that are labeled as presenting an environmental hazard is sufficient for a reliable environmental risk assessment was tested in the present study by investigating 3 wood preservative products. Relevant single substances in the products, some of their generic mixtures, the biocidal products themselves, and aqueous eluates prepared from the products (representing potential environmental mixtures) were tested for effects on algal growth and Daphnia acute immobilization as well as reproduction. Predictions for the products and the eluates were based on the concept of concentration addition and were mostly found to provide reliable or at least protective estimates for the observed acute and chronic toxicity of the mixtures. The mixture toxicity considerations also indicated that the toxicity of each product was dominated by just 1 of the components, and that assessments based only on the dominating substance would be similarly protective as a full-mixture risk assessment. Yet, there remained uncertainty in some cases that could be related to the toxicity of transformation products, the impact of unidentified formulation additives, or synergistic interaction between active substances and formulation additives. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:382–393. © 2013 SETAC
Focal species of birds in European crops for higher tier pesticide risk assessment
Authors: Dietzen Christian , Edwards Peter J , Wolf Christian , Ludwigs Jan-Dieter , Luttik Robert 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Focal species have been defined by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as real species that represent others in a crop resulting from their potential higher level of exposure to pesticides. As such they are the most appropriate species for refining estimates of exposure further, through, for example, radio tracking and dietary studies. Plant protection product manufacturers collectively commissioned many studies in Europe, according to the EFSA guidelines, to identify focal species in different crops that may be used in risk assessments for spray applications of pesticides. Using frequency of occurrence in crops and risk-based criteria for exposure, all studies have been reviewed to identify if possible at least 1 focal species per feeding guild, per crop in the new registration zones for southern and central Europe. Some focal species repeatedly appeared across a wide range of arable or tree crops but not both, demonstrating broad adaptation to these 2 different crop structures. Many have widespread distributions, for example, 15 of the focal species have a distribution covering all agricultural regions of Europe (northern, central, and southern zones). Three species, corn bunting, serin, and tree sparrow, are restricted to the central and southern zones, whereas another 4 species, Sardinian and fan-tailed warbler, and crested and short-toed lark, are essentially restricted to the southern zone. The authors consider the focal species identified as suitable for risk assessment in Europe at the zonal level and for further refinement of exposure through studies, such as radio tracking or diet analysis, if necessary. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2014;10:247–259. © 2013 SETAC
Key Points
Focal species of birds have been defined for most major arable and tree crops in Europe applying EFSA guidelines Identified focal bird species are recommended for pesticide risk assessment and further evaluation of effects and exposure In arable crops, birds are generally represented by small omnivorous (lark or bunting) and small insectivorous (wagtail) species, while herbivorous (pigeon) or granivorous (finch) exposure scenarios are less relevant In tree crops, (orchards, vineyards) insectivorous ground-foraging (blackbird) and foliage-foraging insectivores (warbler or tit), omnivores (sparrow, bunting, finch) and occasionally granivorous finches were identified as focal species
Low‐level laser therapy (810 nm) protects primary cortical neurons against excitotoxicity in vitro
Authors: Huang Ying‐Ying , Nagata Kazuya , Tedford Clark E , Hamblin* Michael R. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractExcitotoxicity describes a pathogenic process whereby death of neurons releases large amounts of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, which then proceeds to activate a set of glutamatergic receptors on neighboring neurons (glutamate, N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA), and kainate), opening ion channels leading to an influx of calcium ions producing mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. Excitotoxicity contributes to brain damage after stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases, and is also involved in spinal cord injury. We tested whether low level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) at 810 nm could protect primary murine cultured cortical neurons against excitotoxicity in vitro produced by addition of glutamate, NMDA or kainate. Although the prevention of cell death was modest but significant, LLLT (3 J/cm2 delivered at 25 mW/cm2 over 2 min) gave highly significant benefits in increasing ATP, raising mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing intracellular calcium concentrations, reducing oxidative stress and reducing nitric oxide. The action of LLLT in abrogating excitotoxicity may play a role in explaining its beneficial effects in diverse central nervous system pathologies. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
q‐Analogs of Packing Designs
Authors: Braun Michael , Reichelt Jan 
Published: October 2013

AbstractA q‐packing design is a selection of k‐dimensional subspaces of such that each t‐dimensional subspace is contained in at most one element of the collection. A successful approach adopted from the Kramer–Mesner method of prescribing a group of automorphisms was applied by Kohnert and Kurz to construct some constant dimension codes with moderate parameters that arise by q‐packing designs. In this paper, we recall this approach and give a version of the Kramer–Mesner method breaking the condition that the whole q‐packing design must admit the prescribed group of automorphisms. Afterwards, we describe the basic idea of an algorithm to tackle the integer linear optimization problems representing the q‐packing design construction by means of a metaheuristic approach. Finally, we give some improvements on the size of q‐packing designs.
MRI appearances of ovarian serous borderline tumor: Pathological correlation
Authors: Zhao Shu Hui , Qiang Jin Wei , Zhang Guo Fu , Boyko Orest B. , Wang Shi Jia , Cai Song Qi , Wang Li 
Published: October 2013

PurposeTo investigate the spectrum of MRI appearances of ovarian serous borderline tumor (SBT).Materials and MethodsFollowing ethics approval, 31 patients with 51 histologically proven ovarian SBTs underwent preoperative MRI. Images were evaluated, by two observers for the location, shape, size, internal architecture, signal intensity, and extent or stage of the tumors. The MRI findings were correlated with pathological findings.ResultsTwenty of 31 patients (65%) demonstrated bilateral ovarian SBTs on MRI. Three MRI morphological patterns of ovarian SBT were identified: (i) Mainly cystic mass with multiple intracystic papillary projections from the wall and septations was observed in 24 (47%) tumors. (ii) Solid mass with hierarchical branching papillary and fibrous stalk architecture was observed in 8 (16%) tumors. The branching papillary projections were hyperintensity on T2WI, intermediate intense on DWI, and enhanced intensely after the administration of Gd‐DTPA. The internal branching fibrous stalks were hypointensity on T2WI and enhanced slightly. (iii) Mixed cystic‐solid mass was observed in 19 (37%) tumors. The cystic and solid components had the architecture and signal intensity similar to those of cystic and solid SBTs. Papillary projections were the common architecture of all three types of tumors.ConclusionOn MRI, the ovarian SBT has some morphological distinguishing features. The solid papillary architecture with internal branching fibrous stalk is a somewhat more characteristic MRI appearance. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:151–156. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Panel Cointegration Analysis of the Impact of Tourism on Economic Growth: Evidence from the Middle East Region
Authors: Saleh Ali Salman , Assaf A. George , Ihalanayake Ranjith , Lung Sidney 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThis paper examines the contribution of tourism industry to the GDP of three selected destinations in the Middle East region: Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. We introduce a quadratic functional form and apply the advanced panel cointegration dynamic model with robust estimation to test our hypothesis. Our analysis is based on a comprehensive set of panel data of tourism receipts, education investment, foreign direct investment and fixed capital formation over the period of 1981–2008. The results show a long‐run relationship between tourism growth and GDP. We also show that tourism has a stronger impact on the economy than other related sectors. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth factors expression in hyaluronic acid fat graft myringoplasty
Authors: Saliba Issam , Alzahrani Musaed , Zhu Tang , Chemtob Sylvain 
Published: October 2013

Objectives/HypothesisTo investigate the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) associated to fat graft on growth factors expression during the healing process of tympanic membrane (TM) perforations in guinea pigs using the hyaluronic acid fat graft myringoplasty (HAFGM) technique.Study DesignProspective randomized animal study.MethodsThirty guinea pigs were divided equally into three groups: group I (control group), group II (fat graft myringoplasty technique), and group III (HAFGM technique). TMs were perforated on day 1 and then sampled on days 0, 3, 8, and 21 and tested for the expression of: epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin‐like growth factor (IGF), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF). Five perforated TMs were taken at day 0 from group I to serve as a reference level.ResultsGroup III showed an increased expression of all tested growth factors, except for KGF. EGF was highest in the early healing process; then IGF peaked at day 8 with statistically significant increase compared to groups I and II. TNF α in group III was significantly higher than group I throughout the study, with a peak level at day 21. VEGF was significantly higher in group III compared to group I at days 3 and 21. Neovascularization and scarless TM closure was obtained in group III, while spontaneous closure was associated with thin‐layered and scarred TM in group I.ConclusionsHA association to fat graft in perforated TM increases the expression of the endogenous growth factors, suggesting that such an association is advantageous for healing.Level of EvidenceN/A. Laryngoscope, 124:E224–E230, 2014
Parkinson disease phenotype in Ashkenazi jews with and without LRRK2 G2019S mutations
Authors: Alcalay Roy N. , Mirelman Anat , Saunders‐Pullman Rachel , Tang Ming‐X , Mejia Santana Helen , Raymond Deborah , Roos Ernest , Orbe‐Reilly Martha , Gurevich Tanya , Bar Shira Anat , Gana Weisz Mali , Yasinovsky Kira , Zalis Maayan , Thaler Avner , Deik Andres , Barrett Matthew James , Cabassa Jose , Groves Mark , Hunt Ann L. , Lubarr Naomi , San Luciano Marta , Miravite Joan , Palmese Christina , Sachdev Rivka , Sarva Harini , Severt Lawrence , Shanker Vicki , Swan Matthew Carrington , Soto‐Valencia Jeannie , Johannes Brooke , Ortega Robert , Fahn Stanley , Cote Lucien , Waters Cheryl , Mazzoni Pietro , Ford Blair , Louis Elan , Levy Oren , Rosado Llency , Ruiz Diana , Dorovski Tsvyatko , Pauciulo Michael , Nichols William , Orr‐Urtreger Avi , Ozelius Laurie , Clark Lorraine , Giladi Nir , Bressman Susan , Marder Karen S. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThe phenotype of Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients with and without leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) G2019S mutations reportedly is similar; however, large, uniformly evaluated series are lacking. The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical phenotype of Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) PD carriers of the LRRK2 G2019S mutation. We studied 553 AJ PD patients, including 65 patients who were previously reported, from three sites (two in New York and one in Tel‐Aviv). Glucocerebrosidase (GBA) mutation carriers were excluded. Evaluations included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Non‐Motor Symptoms (NMS) questionnaire. Regression models were constructed to test the association between clinical and demographic features and LRRK2 status (outcome) in 488 newly recruited participants. LRRK2 G2019S carriers (n = 97) and non‐carriers (n = 391) were similar in age and age at onset of PD. Carriers had longer disease duration (8.6 years vs. 6.1 years; P < 0.001), were more likely to be women (51.5% vs. 37.9%; P = 0.015), and more often reported first symptoms in the lower extremities (40.0% vs. 19.2%; P < 0.001). In logistic models that were adjusted for age, disease duration, sex, education, and site, carriers were more likely to have lower extremity onset (P < 0.001), postural instability and gait difficulty (PIGD) (P = 0.043), and a persistent levodopa response for >5 years (P = 0.042). Performance on the UPDRS, MoCA, GDS, and NMS did not differ by mutation status. PD in AJ LRRK2 G2019S mutation carriers is similar to idiopathic PD but is characterized by more frequent lower extremity involvement at onset and PIGD without the associated cognitive impairment. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Weather forecast skill comparisons at a location in the Midwest United States
Authors: Athar H. , Sara A. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the results of a forecast skill score comparison for the popular two semester weather forecast game played at University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States, for a total of 106 days, during the autumn 2006 and winter 2007 semesters. A relatively less experienced/first time student forecaster (SF) skill, based upon the funnel approach to weather forecasting, is compared with the then state‐of‐the‐art mesoscale operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) model outputs and the observations. Several measures of the forecast skills are employed to illustrate the intercomparison of the different aspects of performance of the game players for a conventional forecast game setup in an educational environment, after paying particular attention to the associated sampling uncertainty in the analysis of the forecast game. Bootstrap resampling based confidence intervals are computed and compared for the SF and NWP model forecasts and the observations to quantify the relative accuracies of the forecasts. The SF performed quite comparable to the NWP models, and better than the climatology and the persistence, for the next‐day forecasts of temperature and precipitation, when the forecast skill scores of the game players were averaged over the period of the forecast game. These observations support the judgement that the contribution of human forecasters, even in the contemporary era of progressively improving and fully automated NWP model outputs, remained a crucial one.
Complex phase behavior and state of miscibility in Poly(ethylene glycol)/Poly(l‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) Blends
Authors: Hernandez‐Montero N. , Ugartemendia Jone M. , Amestoy Hegoi , Sarasua J. R. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTA miscibility and phase behavior study was conducted on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/poly(l‐lactide‐ε‐caprolactone) (PLA‐co‐CL) blends. A single glass transition evolution was determined by differential scanning calorimetry initially suggesting a miscible system; however, the unusual Tg bias and subsequent morphological study conducted by polarized light optical microscopy (PLOM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) evidenced a phase separated system for the whole range of blend compositions. PEG spherulites were found in all blends except for the PEG/PLA‐co‐CL 20/80 composition, with no interference of the comonomer in the melting point of PEG (Tm = 64 °C) and only a small one in crystallinity fraction (Xc = 80% vs. 70%). However, a clear continuous decrease in PEG spherulites growth rate (G) with increasing PLA‐co‐CL content was determined in the blends isothermally crystallized at 37 °C, G being 37 µm/min for the neat PEG and 12 µm/min for the 20 wt % PLA‐co‐CL blend. The kinetics interference in crystal growth rate of PEG suggests a diluting effect of the PLA‐co‐CL in the blends; further, PLOM and AFM provided unequivocal evidence of the interfering effect of PLA‐co‐CL on PEG crystal morphology, demonstrating imperfect crystallization in blends with interfibrillar location of the diluting amorphous component. Significantly, AFM images provided also evidence of amorphous phase separation between PEG and PLA‐co‐CL. A true Tg vs. composition diagram is proposed on the basis of the AFM analysis for phase separated PEG/PLA‐co‐CL blends revealing the existence of a second PLA‐co‐CL rich phase. According to the partial miscibility established by AFM analysis, PEG and PLA‐co‐CL rich phases, depending on blend composition, contain respectively an amount of the minority component leading to a system presenting, for every composition, two Tg's that are different of those of pure components. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 111–121
Randomized trial of print messaging: the role of the partner and monitoring style in promoting provider discussions about prostate cancer screening among African American men
Authors: Miller Suzanne M. , Roussi Pagona , Scarpato John , Wen Kuang‐Yi , Zhu Fang , Roy Gem 
Published: October 2013

AbstractObjectiveAlthough African American (AA) men are at elevated risk for prostate cancer, medical guidelines do not present consistent screening recommendations for this group. However, all guidelines stress the need for screening decision making with a provider. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brochure for the female partners of AA men, designed to help promote such discussion on the part of their mates. We also explored the effect of the partner's monitoring style (i.e., the extent to which the partner typically attends to health threats) on promoting discussion.MethodsFemale partners of AA men (N = 231) were randomized to receive either a prostate cancer screening Centers for Disease Control brochure for AA men, combined with a ‘partner’ brochure containing strategies to promote men's initiation of a provider visit to discuss screening, or the Centers for Disease Control brochure only and completed preintervention and post‐intervention surveys online.ResultsThe message groups did not differ on taking active steps to engage in provider discussion: relative risk ratio (RRR) = 0.99, p = .98; thinking about it: RRR = 1.13, p = .74. However, among partners who received the partner brochure, monitoring style was associated with ‘thinking about initiating a provider visit’ on the part of the mate (RRR = 1.74, p < .01). Across conditions, monitoring style was also associated with ‘taking active steps to initiate a provider visit’ on the part of the mate (RRR = 1.38, p < .05).ConclusionsHigh monitoring partners may be effective in influencing their AA mates to initiate provider discussion, particularly when tailored messaging is provided. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The C‐terminal extension of human RTEL1, mutated in Hoyeraal‐Hreidarsson syndrome, contains Harmonin‐N‐like domains
Authors: Faure Guilhem , Revy Patrick , Schertzer Michael , Londono‐Vallejo Arturo , Callebaut Isabelle 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTSeveral studies have recently shown that germline mutations in RTEL1, an essential DNA helicase involved in telomere regulation and DNA repair, cause Hoyeraal‐Hreidarsson syndrome (HHS), a severe form of dyskeratosis congenita. Using original new softwares, facilitating the delineation of the different domains of the protein and the identification of remote relationships for orphan domains, we outline here that the C‐terminal extension of RTEL1, downstream of its catalytic domain and including several HHS‐associated mutations, contains a yet unidentified tandem of harmonin‐N‐like domains, which may serve as a hub for partner interaction. This finding highlights the potential critical role of this region for the function of RTEL1 and gives insights into the impact that the identified mutations would have on the structure and function of these domains. Proteins 2014; 82:897–903. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lonely Sunsets: Impacts of Rural–urban Migration on the Left‐behind Elderly in Rural China
Authors: He Congzhi , Ye Jingzhong 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTDrawing on the data from the research that samples 400 elderly who lived separately from their migrant children in 10 rural communities in China, this paper examines how the outmigration of rural youth shapes the situation of their older kin and analyses the consequences of the rural–urban migration for the old‐age support system. The research finds that a large scale of rural labour force has been drained off from rural societies and placed in a ‘semi‐proletarianized’ situation during the recent three decades of rapid social transformations. The rules and resources of traditional care system have been changed and family is no longer a ‘network of safety’ or reliable source of obtaining support for the elderly. Although some elastics and adaptabilities can be found in rural families, the family cannot soften and deal with all the risks popped up in the transformation independently. It can be said that the migration of the rural workforce to urban centres has degraded the welfare of the left‐behind elderly. Institutional interventions should no longer mystify and romanticise the role of the family, rather, it should look beyond the family level, caring more about ‘human beings’ instead of economy and efficiency. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Consensus of positive real systems cascaded with a single integrator
Authors: Oh Kwang‐Kyo , Lashhab Fadel , Moore Kevin L. , Vincent Tyrone L. , Ahn Hyo‐Sung 
Published: October 2013

SummaryWe study output consensus in a network of interconnected non‐identical positive real systems cascaded with a single integrator. Assuming undirected, diffusive interconnections, sufficient conditions are provided to ensure output consensus for two cases: (i) the individual systems are weakly strictly positive real systems cascaded with a single integrator, and (ii) the individual systems are positive real systems cascaded with a single integrator. We illustrate our results with the example of a load frequency control network of synchronous generators. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.