bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ending Over‐lending: Assessing Systemic Risk with Debt to Cash Flow
Authors: Ramsay Bruce A. , Sarlin Peter 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis paper introduces the ratio of debt to cash flow (D/CF) of nations and their economic sectors to macroprudential analysis, particularly as an indicator of systemic risk and vulnerabilities. While leverage is oftentimes linked to the vulnerability of a nation, the stock of total debt and the flow of gross savings is a less explored measure. Cash flows certainly have a well‐known connection to corporations' ability to service debt. This paper investigates whether the D/CF provides a means for understanding systemic risks. For a panel of 33 nations, we explore historic D/CF trends and apply the same procedure to economic sectors. In terms of an early‐warning indicator, we show that the D/CF ratio provides a useful additional measure of vulnerability to systemic banking and sovereign crises, relative to more conventional indicators. As a conceptual framework, the assessment of financial stability is arranged for presentation within four vulnerability zones and exemplified with a number of illustrative case studies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A thorough QTc study demonstrates that olmesartan medoxomil does not prolong the QTc interval
Authors: Mendell Jeanne , Matsushima Nobuko , O'Reilly Terry E. , Lee James 
Published: August 2015

AbstractTwo studies (ROADMAP and ORIENT) evaluating the renoprotective effects of olmesartan medoxomil (OM) in patients with type 2 diabetes suggested OM is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. We conducted a thorough QTc study to evaluate the effects of OM on cardiac repolarization. A randomized, double‐blind, phase 1 study was conducted per E14 Guidance to assess the effects of single doses of OM therapeutic dose (40 mg), OM supratherapeutic dose (160 mg), placebo, or moxifloxacin (MOXI; 400 mg) on QTc in 56 healthy subjects. The primary endpoint was the baseline‐adjusted, placebo‐corrected QTc interval using Fridericia's formula (ΔΔQTcF) for OM and MOXI. Assay sensitivity was concluded if lower limit of 1‐sided 95%CI > 5 milliseconds of ΔΔQTcF for MOXI. No threshold pharmacologic effect for OM was concluded if upper limit of 1‐sided 95%CI <10 milliseconds for ΔΔQTcF at any timepoint. Pharmacokinetics, ECGs, and safety were assessed. Assay sensitivity was demonstrated. The largest upper limit of the 1‐sided 95%CI for ΔΔQTcF was <5 milliseconds for OM. No clinically significant changes were observed in ECGs. Pharmacokinetics and safety profile were consistent with previous data. Therapeutic and supratherapeutic OM doses had no clinically significant effect on cardiac repolarization and were well tolerated.
Large ‐ or ‐Minors in 3‐Connected Graphs
Authors: Ding Guoli , Dziobiak Stan , Wu Haidong 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThere are numerous results bounding the circumference of certain 3‐connected graphs. There is no good bound on the size of the largest bond (cocircuit) of a 3‐connected graph, however. Oporowski, Oxley, and Thomas (J Combin Theory Ser B 57 (1993), 2, 239–257) proved the following result in 1993. For every positive integer k, there is an integer such that every 3‐connected graph with at least n vertices contains a ‐ or ‐minor. This result implies that the size of the largest bond in a 3‐connected graph grows with the order of the graph. Oporowski et al. obtained a huge function iteratively. In this article, we first improve the above authors' result and provide a significantly smaller and simpler function . We then use the result to obtain a lower bound for the largest bond of a 3‐connected graph by showing that any 3‐connected graph on n vertices has a bond of size at least . In addition, we show the following: Let G be a 3‐connected planar or cubic graph on n vertices. Then for any , G has a ‐minor with , and thus a bond of size at least .
Social identity and applicant attraction: Exploring the role of multiple levels of self
Authors: Banks George C. , Kepes Sven , Joshi Mahendra , Seers Anson 
Published: August 2015

SummaryApplicant attraction is a critical objective of recruitment. Common predictor variables of applicant attraction are limited in that they do not provide a comprehensive understanding of the process that shapes the perceptions and beliefs of job applicants about the firms for which they aspire to work for. Because individuals have the inherent desire to expand and enhance their social identities (e.g., personal, relational, and collective identities), they are likely to be attracted to organizations that allow them to do so. Building on recent work on levels of self, our paper suggests that social identities mediate the relation between currently established predictor variables of applicant attraction (e.g., compensation, type of work, and organizational image) and important applicant attraction outcomes. Common predictor variables of applicant attraction can lead to the activation, evaluation, and identification processes described by social identity theory. A theoretical framework is presented that illustrates the mediating influence of social identity on the relations between common predictor variables and applicant attraction outcomes. This framework may lead to more effective recruitment strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Open‐MRI measures of cam intrusion for hips in an anterior impingement position relate to acetabular contact force
Authors: Buchan Lawrence L. , Zhang Honglin , Konan Sujith , Heaslip Ingrid , Ratzlaff Charles R. , Wilson David R. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTOpen MRI in functional positions has potential to directly and non‐invasively assess cam femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Our objective was to investigate whether open MRI can depict intrusion of the cam deformity into the intra‐articular joint space, and whether intrusion is associated with elevated acetabular contact force. Cadaver hips (9 cam; 3 controls) were positioned in an anterior impingement posture and imaged using open MRI with multi‐planar reformatting. The β‐angle (describing clearance between the femoral neck and acetabulum) was measured around the entire circumference of the femoral neck. We defined a binary “MRI cam‐intrusion sign” (positive if β < 0°). We then instrumented each hip with a piezoresistive sensor and conducted six repeated positioning trials, measuring acetabular contact force (F). We defined a binary “contact‐force sign” (positive if F > 20N). Cam hips were more likely than controls to have both a positive MRI cam‐intrusion sign (p = 0.0182, Fisher's exact test) and positive contact‐force sign (p = 0.0083), which represents direct experimental evidence for cam intrusion. There was also a relationship between the MRI cam‐intrusion sign and contact‐force sign (p = 0.033), representing a link between imaging and mechanics. Our findings indicate that open MRI has significant potential for in vivo investigation of the cam FAI mechanism. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:205–216, 2016.
Selection of vegetation types and density of bison in an arid ecosystem
Authors: Schoenecker Kathryn A. , Nielsen Scott E. , Zeigenfuss Linda C. , Pague Chris A. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTUnderstanding species habitat selection and factors that drive selection are key components for conservation. We report the first resource selection functions (RSFs) for bison inhabiting an arid ecosystem and use them with density estimates of bison to estimate the number of bison that could be supported if the bison range were expanded to federal lands in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. We derived RSFs for vegetation types using locations of plains bison collected weekly over 3 years from 2005 to 2007. Bison selected for wet or mesic grassland habitats in all seasons. Wetland selection by bison was predicted to be 18 times greater than that of rabbitbrush vegetation, the reference category, and selection of meadows was predicted to be 11 times greater than that of the rabbitbrush type. Willow‐dominated plant communities were strongly avoided. Cottonwood communities were also avoided, with the exception of some moderate levels of selection in fall. The willow and cottonwood communities have an understory with low biomass of herbaceous species and low productivity in this arid system. Based on the RSFs we predicted that in the San Luis Valley of Colorado up to 2,379 bison could be supported in similar habitats under Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) jurisdiction, and up to 759 bison could be supported on adjacent National Park Service (NPS) land. This modeling framework provides a conservation tool for the restoration of bison to their historical habitats, and has utility for application to other terrestrial species where assumptions are met. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Recovery of Mediterranean Vegetation after Recurrent Forest Fires: Insight from the 2010 Forest Fire on Mount Carmel, Israel
Authors: Tessler Naama , Sapir Yuval , Wittenberg Lea , Greenbaum Noam 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe December 2010 forest fire on Mount Carmel – the largest recorded in Israel – burned about 2500 ha of Mediterranean forest. We documented the immediate and short‐term changes of the vegetation following this fire. Relative vegetation cover and plant species richness were sampled in five sites in spring 2009 and 2010, prior to the fire, and were re‐sampled in 2011 and 2012. The number of recurrent fires (between 0 and 3) and time intervals between fires were documented for each site. We observed a strong decrease in total vegetation cover, associated with reduction of relative cover of woody vegetation. In the second year after the fire, shrubs and dwarf shrubs became dominant at all sites. Time intervals between fires played an important role in determining the extent of regeneration of the vegetation cover and plant species richness. Plant species richness immediately decreased after the fire in sites with a short fire interval, while in sites with a long fire interval, plant species richness increased. Relative plant cover was associated with the time from the last previous fire, and this association differed among different plant groups. These results suggest that vegetation and plant community regeneration after recurrent fires is accelerated when time intervals between fires are longer, whereas high fire frequency may suppress vegetation regeneration. Based on the results, we propose that forest regeneration after recurrent fires depends largely on time from the previous fire, rather than on the number of previous fires. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
IscR of Rhodobacter sphaeroides functions as repressor of genes for iron‐sulfur metabolism and represents a new type of iron‐sulfur‐binding protein
Authors: Remes Bernhard , Eisenhardt Benjamin D. , Srinivasan Vasundara , Klug Gabriele 
Published: August 2015

AbstractIscR proteins are known as transcriptional regulators for Fe–S biogenesis. In the facultatively phototrophic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides IscR is the product of the first gene in the isc‐suf operon. A major role of IscR in R. sphaeroides iron‐dependent regulation was suggested in a bioinformatic study (Rodionov et al., PLoS Comput Biol 2:e163, 2006), which predicted a binding site in the upstream regions of several iron uptake genes, named Iron‐Rhodo‐box. Most known IscR proteins have Fe–S clusters featuring (Cys)3(His)1 ligation. However, IscR proteins from Rhodobacteraceae harbor only a single‐Cys residue and it was considered unlikely that they can ligate an Fe–S cluster. In this study, the role of R. sphaeroides IscR as transcriptional regulator and sensor of the Fe–S cluster status of the cell was analyzed. A mutant lacking IscR is more impaired in growth under iron limitation than the wild‐type and exhibits significantly increased ROS levels in iron‐replete and iron‐deplete conditions. Expression studies reveal that R. sphaeroides IscR in its cluster‐bound form functions as transcriptional repressor of genes involved in iron metabolism by direct binding to the promoter region of genes preceded by the motif. A total of 110 genes are directly or indirectly affected by IscR. Furthermore, IscR possesses a unique Fe–S cluster ligation scheme with only a single cysteine involved.
Reconstructing facial contour deformities using stereoscopic thoracodorsal artery perforator adipofascial flaps
Authors: Kim Eun‐Ji , Lee Kyeong‐Tae , Lim So‐Young , Pyon Jai‐Kyung , Bang Sa‐Ik , Oh Kap Sung , Mun Goo‐Hyun 
Published: August 2015

PurposeCorrecting facial contour deformities is a challenge, as it demands thoughtful planning on design, composition of flap, and secondary procedures. The thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap has become a workhorse flap for various reconstructions. In this report, we present our experience of reconstructing facial contour deformities using the free TDAP adipofascial flap, focusing on its customized design.Patients and MethodSixteen patients underwent correction of a facial contour deformity with free TDAP adipofascial flaps from 2002 to 2012. The causes of defects were Romberg disease (n = 7), oncological defects (n = 5), craniofacial microsomia (n = 3), and trauma (n = 1). The flaps were three‐dimensionally designed in a contour map fashion to have different thickness according to the defects by adjusting the height of adipose tissue and varying tissue composition. Customized dimension of flaps having reliable perfusion were harvested with minimized sacrifice of overlying skin.ResultsFlap size ranged from 6 × 3 cm to 25 × 25 cm. Six flaps were based on two perforators and the other 10 on one. Five flaps were harvested in a chimeric fashion. All flaps survived completely. No donor morbidity developed in any case. Seven patients underwent secondary corrections including fat injection or liposuction. Improved contour and symmetry were achieved in all patients and was confirmed by a photographic evaluation. Mean follow‐up period was 37.8months.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the stereoscopic TDAP adipofascial flaps with diligent secondary approaches may be a reliable alternative for aesthetic reconstruction of facial contour deformities. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:300–306, 2017.
Trajectory optimization based on the signal‐to‐noise ratio for spatial encoding with nonlinear encoding fields
Authors: Layton Kelvin J. , Kroboth Stefan , Jia Feng , Littin Sebastian , Yu Huijun , Zaitsev Maxim 
Published: August 2015

PurposeMultiple nonlinear gradient fields offer many potential benefits for spatial encoding including reduced acquisition time, fewer artefacts and region‐specific imaging, although designing a suitable trajectory for such a setup is difficult. This work aims to optimize encoding trajectories for multiple nonlinear gradient fields based on the image signal‐to‐noise ratio.Theory and MethodsImage signal‐to‐noise ratio is directly linked to the covariance of the reconstructed pixels, which can be calculated recursively for each projection of the trajectory under a Bayesian formulation. An evolutionary algorithm is used to find the higher‐dimensional projections that minimize the pixel covariance, incorporating receive coil profiles, intravoxel dephasing, and reconstruction regularization. The resulting trajectories are tested through simulations and experiments.ResultsThe optimized trajectories produce images with higher resolution and fewer artefacts compared with traditional approaches, particularly for high undersampling. However, higher‐dimensional projection experiments strongly depend on accurate hardware and calibration.ConclusionComputer‐based optimization provides an efficient means to explore the large trajectory space created by the use of multiple nonlinear encoding fields. The optimization framework, as presented here, is necessary to fully exploit the advantages of nonlinear fields. Magn Reson Med 76:104–117, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A multilevel tabu search algorithm for balanced partitioning of unstructured grids
Authors: Mehrdoost Zahra , Bahrainian Seyed Saied 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThis paper presents a multilevel algorithm for balanced partitioning of unstructured grids. The grid is partitioned such that the number of interface elements is minimized and each partition contains an equal number of grid elements. The partition refinement of the proposed multilevel algorithm is based on iterative tabu search procedure. In iterative partition refinement algorithms, tie‐breaking in selection of maximum gain vertices affects the performance considerably. A new tie‐breaking strategy in the iterative tabu search algorithm is proposed that leads to improved partitioning quality. Numerical experiments are carried out on various unstructured grids in order to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm. The partition results are compared with those produced by the well‐known partitioning package Metis and k‐means clustering algorithm and shown to be superior in terms of edge cut, partition balance, and partition connectivity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of caffeine and albuterol on body composition and metabolic rate
Authors: Liu Ann G. , Arceneaux Kenneth P. , Chu Jessica T. , Jacob Gregory , Schreiber Allyson L. , Tipton Russell C. , Yu Ying , Johnson William D. , Greenway Frank L. , Primeaux Stefany D. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveCaffeine and ephedrine was an effective combination therapy for weight loss until ephedrine was removed from the market due to safety concerns. This study investigated the combination of caffeine and albuterol as a possibly safer alternative to ephedrine.MethodsIn a series of experiments using cultured adipocytes, rat models, and humans, the effects of caffeine and albuterol on lipolysis, metabolic rate, food intake, and body composition were evaluated.ResultsBoth caffeine and albuterol enhanced lipolysis in cultured adipocytes. Acute treatment of humans with caffeine and/or albuterol increased resting metabolic rate. Longer‐term studies of rats revealed a trend for increased metabolic rate with albuterol treatment. There was increased lean mass gain concurrent with decreased fat mass gain with caffeine/albuterol treatment that was greater than albuterol treatment alone.ConclusionsIn rats, albuterol with caffeine produced significantly greater increases in lean body mass and reductions in fat mass without changes in food intake after 4‐8 weeks of treatment. Since caffeine and albuterol are approved for the treatment of asthma in children and adolescents at the doses tested and change body composition without changing food intake, this combination may deserve further exploration for use in treating pediatric obesity.
Assessment of liver fat content using quantitative ultrasonography to evaluate risks for metabolic diseases
Authors: Xia Ming‐Feng , Bian Hua , Yan Hong‐Mei , Lin Huan‐Dong , Chang Xin‐Xia , Li Xiao‐Ming , Ma Hui , He Wan‐Yuan , Zhao Nai‐Qing , Xia Pu , Gao Xin 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveThe ultrasound quantitative method for liver fat content (LFC) is a recent established method for non‐invasive assessment of liver steatosis. Its use in clinical practice is further explored by investigating the quantitative relationships between LFC measured by quantitative ultrasonography and metabolic diseases in a middle‐aged and elderly Chinese population.MethodsLiver fat content was measured by the quantitative ultrasound method in 4,916 participants from the Shanghai Changfeng Community Study. The anthropometric and serum biochemical parameters related to glucose and lipid metabolism were detected for each participant. The carotid artery intima‐media thickness (CIMT) was measured by ultrasonography.ResultsThe LFC displayed a non‐Gaussian and positively skewed distribution in the community population and was significantly correlated with body weight, serum glucose, lipid profile, and CIMT. The 95th percentile of LFC in the subgroup of participants without any metabolic disease was 10.8%, and a LFC ≥ 10% was correlated with remarkable increases in the risks for glucose and lipid metabolic diseases.ConclusionsThe quantitative ultrasound method that was developed for measuring LFC was useful in a population study. A LFC ≥ 10% might help to identify the subjects with an increased risk for metabolic diseases.
A high‐protein breakfast prevents body fat gain, through reductions in daily intake and hunger, in “Breakfast skipping” adolescents
Authors: Leidy Heather J. , Hoertel Heather A. , Douglas Steve M. , Higgins Kelly A. , Shafer Rebecca S. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine whether the daily consumption of normal‐protein (NP) vs. high‐protein (HP) breakfast meals improves appetite control, food intake, and body composition in “breakfast skipping” young people with overweight/obesity.MethodsFifty‐seven adolescents (age: 19 ± 1 years; BMI: 29.7 ± 4.6 kg m−2) completed a 12‐week randomized controlled trial in which the adolescents consumed either a 1,464 kJ NP breakfast (13 g protein) or a HP breakfast (35 g protein) or continued to skip breakfast (CON). Pre‐ and post‐study appetite, food intake, body weight, and body composition were assessed.ResultsTime‐by‐group interactions (P < 0.05) were detected for body fat mass, daily intake, and perceived hunger. Specifically, HP prevented fat mass gains over the 12 weeks (−0.4 ± 0.5 kg) vs. CON (+1.6 ± 0.9 kg; P = 0.02), whereas NP did not (+0.3 ± 0.5 kg). HP led to reductions in daily intake (−1,724 ± 954 kJ) vs. CON (+1,556 ± 745 kJ; P = 0.03), whereas NP did not (+494 ± 213 kJ). Lastly, only the HP group experienced reductions in daily hunger vs. CON (P < 0.05). However, when directly comparing the HP vs. NP groups, no differences were detected in any outcomes.ConclusionsThe daily addition of a HP breakfast improved indices of weight management as illustrated by the prevention of body fat gain, voluntary reductions in daily intake, and reductions in daily hunger in breakfast skipping adolescents with overweight/obesity.
Levetiracetam Pharmacokinetics in a Patient Receiving Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration and Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Nei Scott D. , Wittwer Erica D. , Kashani Kianoush B. , Frazee Erin N. 
Published: August 2015

Levetiracetam is a first‐line therapy for seizures in critically ill patients because of its clinical efficacy, minimal drug interactions, and wide therapeutic window. The primary mechanism of levetiracetam clearance is renal, and the drug has a low molecular weight. It is hydrophilic and exhibits minimal protein binding. Thus it is expected that levetiracetam will be removed by continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), with limited clearance by venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We describe the case of a 67‐year‐old man who was admitted to the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit after cardiac arrest and initiation of venoarterial ECMO. His course was complicated by multiorgan dysfunction including acute renal failure requiring CVVH. On hospital day 6, intravenous levetiracetam, at a loading dose of 2000 mg followed by a maintenance dose of 1000 mg every 12 hours, was initiated for new‐onset seizures. The volume of distribution was 0.65 L/kg, and clearance was measured with peak (ranging from 26.5–39.8 μg/ml) and trough (ranging from 13.9–18.2 μg/ml) concentrations. Elimination half‐life ranged from 8.7–10.1 hours. Renal dysfunction reduces levetiracetam clearance, and dosage reductions are recommended to prevent accumulation. Current CVVH dosing recommendations are based on predicted removal without clinical data. The volume of distribution and clearance in this case were similar to those of a normal healthy patient. Based on these results, we recommend considering an initial levetiracetam dose of 1000 mg every 12 hours for patients receiving CVVH, with dosage adjustments based on therapeutic drug monitoring.