bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Wicked Problem of China's Disappearing Coral Reefs
Authors: HUGHES TERRY P. , HUANG HUI , YOUNG MATTHEW A. L. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractWe examined the development of coral reef science and the policies, institutions, and governance frameworks for management of coral reefs in China in order to highlight the wicked problem of preserving reefs while simultaneously promoting human development and nation building. China and other sovereign states in the region are experiencing unprecedented economic expansion, rapid population growth, mass migration, widespread coastal development, and loss of habitat. We analyzed a large, fragmented literature on the condition of coral reefs in China and the disputed territories of the South China Sea. We found that coral abundance has declined by at least 80% over the past 30 years on coastal fringing reefs along the Chinese mainland and adjoining Hainan Island. On offshore atolls and archipelagos claimed by 6 countries in the South China Sea, coral cover has declined from an average of >60% to around 20% within the past 10–15 years. Climate change has affected these reefs far less than coastal development, pollution, overfishing, and destructive fishing practices. Ironically, these widespread declines in the condition of reefs are unfolding as China's research and reef‐management capacity are rapidly expanding. Before the loss of corals becomes irreversible, governance of China's coastal reefs could be improved by increasing public awareness of declining ecosystem services, by providing financial support for training of reef scientists and managers, by improving monitoring of coral reef dynamics and condition to better inform policy development, and by enforcing existing regulations that could protect coral reefs. In the South China Sea, changes in policy and legal frameworks, refinement of governance structures, and cooperation among neighboring countries are urgently needed to develop cooperative management of contested offshore reefs.El Problema Malvado de la Desaparición de los Arrecifes de Coral en China
Effects of potassium apigenin and verbena extract on the wound healing process of SKH‐1 mouse skin
Authors: Lopez‐Jornet Pia , Camacho‐Alonso Fabio , Gómez‐Garcia Francisco , Molina Miñano Francisco , Cañas Xabier , Serafín Ana , Castillo Julian , Vicente‐Ortega Vicente 
Published: November 2012

AbstractTissue repair is a complex process, which may be favoured or inhibited by different factors. Potassium apigenin (AP) and other flavonoids present in verbena extract (PLX®) possess powerful anti‐inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of topical treatment with AP and PLX gels on wounds inflicted on SKH‐1/CRL mice. Forty‐eight SKH‐1 mice were used (4 groups with 12 animals each), which were subjected to wound excision with a round scalpel, 4 mm in diameter, on the dorsal skin. The animals were divided into four groups: Group I received topical applications of apigenin gel; Group II received PLX gel; Group III received vehicle gel; Group IV acted as control. Wound contraction, reepithelialisation, inflammation and neovascularisation (by means of immunohistochemical staining with anti‐laminin) were recorded at study periods established at 2, 7 and 14 days. Reepithelialisation was faster in Groups I and II at 7 days (56·25% grade 3 and 43·75% grade 4) compared with the other groups. The degree of inflammation showed improvement with a tendency towards statistical significance in Groups I and II at 2 and 7 days. Anti‐laminin staining was more intense in the group treated with PLX at the 2‐ and 7‐day periods. Topical treatment with PLX gel improved the degree of reepithelialisation and inflammation, and favoured neo‐vascularisation of the wounds at 2 and 7 days following surgery.
Evaluation of Urinary Catheters Coated with Sustained‐Release Varnish of Chlorhexidine in Mitigating Biofilm Formation on Urinary Catheters in Dogs
Authors: Segev G. , Bankirer T. , Steinberg D. , Duvdevani M. , Shapur N.K. , Friedman M. , Lavy E. 
Published: November 2012

BackgroundBiofilm formation occurs commonly on urinary catheters.ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy of urinary catheters coated with sustained‐release varnish of chlorhexidine in decreasing catheter‐associated biofilm formation in dogs.AnimalsThirty client‐owned dogs.MethodsProspective study. Thirteen dogs were catheterized with urinary catheters coated with sustained‐release varnish of chlorhexidine (study group), and 13 dogs were catheterized with an untreated urinary catheter (control group). Presence and intensity of biofilm formation on the urinary catheters were assessed and compared between the groups by evaluating colony‐forming units (CFU) of biofilm bacteria, and semiquantitatively, using confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy.ResultsNone of the dogs experienced adverse effects associated with the presence of the urinary catheters. Median CFU count of biofilm bacteria at all portions of the urinary catheter was significantly (P < .001) lower in the study compared with the control group. The degree of biofilm formation on the urinary catheters, as evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy, was significantly lower in the study compared with the control group. Electron microscopy examination identified crystals on some of the urinary catheters. The proportion of catheters on which crystals were observed was significantly lower on the distal part of the urinary catheter in the study group compared with the control group (16.7% versus 66.7%, respectively; P = .04).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceChlorhexidine sustained‐release varnish‐coated urinary catheters effectively decrease urinary catheter‐associated biofilm formation in dogs.
Dynamic epiglottic retroversion as a cause of abnormal inspiratory noise in six adult horses
Authors: Terrón‐Canedo N. , Franklin S. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryThis case report describes the endoscopic findings and outcome in 6 horses diagnosed with dynamic epiglottic retroversion (ER) during exercise. Horses included 2 showjumpers, one eventer, one pleasure riding horse and 2 Thoroughbred racehorses. All were adults (age range: 4–10 years). Dorsal angulation of the epiglottis was identified at rest in one horse. However, resting endoscopy was unremarkable in the remaining 5 horses. Exercising endoscopy was performed during high‐speed treadmill exercise in 3 horses and during ridden exercise in the other 3. IntermittentERoccurred during inspiration in all horses and the frequency increased with increasing speed. In 2 horses the epiglottis retroverted beyond therima glottidis. All horses made an abnormal respiratory noise described as a ‘grunt’ when retroversion of the epiglottis occurred. Poll flexion was found to be an exacerbating factor in the nonracehorses. Two horses continued in work but abnormal inspiratory noise persisted. Surgical treatment, in the form of subepiglottic resection, was attempted in one horse. However, it never raced again after the procedure. Of the remaining horses, 2 were retired and the third was subjected to euthanasia.
Identification of distinct body mass index trajectories in Australian children
Authors: Magee C. A. , Caputi P. , Iverson D. C. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryWhat is already known about this subject
Recent studies have identified distinct trajectories of obesity development in children, but more research is required to further explore these trajectories.
Several socio‐demographic variables such as parental education and obesity are associated with these trajectories.
What this study adds
This study further demonstrates that there are distinct trajectories of body mass index in children.
The use of raw body mass index values is more sensitive to changes in body composition compared with body mass index categories (e.g. lean vs. overweight). Hence the present results provide a more detailed insight into development patterns of obesity.
The socio‐demographic predictors of the trajectories offer potential avenues for future obesity interventions.
BackgroundA limited number of studies have demonstrated that there may be distinct developmental trajectories of obesity during childhood.ObjectiveTo identify distinct trajectories of body mass index (BMI) in a large sample of Australian children.MethodsParticipants included 4601 children aged 4–5 years at baseline, who were followed up at ages 6–7 years, 8–9 years and 10–11 years. Height and weight were measured at each of these time points, and used to calculate BMI. Growth Mixture Modelling was used to identify the presence of distinct BMI trajectories.ResultsFour distinct trajectories were identified (i) High Risk Overweight; (ii) Early Onset Overweight; (iii) Later Onset Overweight and (iv) Healthy Weight. Further analyses indicated that factors such as parental overweight, parent education, parent smoking and child birth weight were significant predictors of these trajectories.ConclusionThese findings indicate that different patterns of BMI development exist in children, which may require tailored interventions.
Strengthening of Ti3(Si,Al)C2 by Doping with Tungsten
Authors: Zheng Liya Y. , Wang Jingyang Y. , Chen Jixin X. , Zhou Yanchun C. 
Published: November 2012

Improving the high‐temperature strength and stiffness of Ti3SiC2 is the task of many investigations. However, methods for high‐temperature strengthening have not been established although various ways are applicable to enhance the room‐temperature mechanical properties of Ti3SiC2. In this work, we report that significant strengthening was realized at both room and high temperatures by incorporating a small amount of W into Ti3(Si, Al)C2. The onsite temperature for the rapid degradation of stiffness and strength moved more than 150°C upward to over 1200°C. The flexural strength of 5 at.% W‐doped Ti3(Si, Al)C2 is 632.9 MPa at RT and 285 MPa at 1200°C, being 176% and 170% of those for baseline material, respectively.
Colossal Permittivity in Microwave‐Sintered Barium Titanate and Effect of Annealing on Dielectric Properties
Authors: Han Hyuksu , Ghosh Dipankar , Jones Jacob L. , Nino Juan C. 
Published: November 2012

Colossal permittivity (ε′ = 301,484 at room temperature and 1 kHz) of barium titanate was induced in ceramics synthesized using the microwave sintering method. Three different sintering processes (conventional, spark plasma, and microwave) were performed to better understand colossal permittivity in sintered barium titanate. The dielectric permittivity measurements revealed that the appearance of colossal permittivity has strong dependence on the sintering temperature and atmosphere, and less on the grain size of the sintered ceramics. However, the as‐sintered barium titanate samples produced by microwave sintering show high dielectric loss (tanδ > 1) consistent with oxygen reduction during the microwave sintering process and consequent accumulation of oxygen vacancies and associated charge carriers at the grain boundary. Since the highly conductive state of as‐sintered ceramics precludes their use in dielectric applications, thermal annealing at different conditions was performed to recover insulating characteristics. Microwave‐sintered barium titanate with post annealing process (950°C for 12 h in air) showed low dielectric loss (tanδ = 0.045) at room temperature and 1 kHz, while still showing a much higher permittivity (ε′ = 36,055) than conventionally sintered barium titanate (ε′ = 3500).
An Algorithm to Measure Beat‐to‐Beat Cycle Lengths for Assessment of Atrial Electrogram Rate and Regularity During Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: LEE SEUNGYUP , RYU KYUNGMOO , WALDO ALBERT L. , KHRESTIAN CELEEN M. , DURAND DOMINIQUE M. , SAHADEVAN JAYAKUMAR 
Published: November 2012

AF Cycle Length Detection Analysis. Introduction: Experimental models have demonstrated that atrial fibrillation (AF) may be due to one or more rapid drivers (source) producing AF. These drivers may be characterized by rapid and regular cycle lengths (CLs), producing fibrillatory conduction to the rest of the atria. The ability to reliably identify such drivers would be invaluable. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a CL variability detection (CLVD) analysis capable of accurately determining beat‐to‐beat CLs of atrial electrograms (AEGs) during AF, and then to compare this analysis with dominant frequency (DF) analysis.
Methods and Results:
We analyzed 6 episodes of AF in 6 dogs (sterile pericarditis model) due either to a single, stable left atrial reentrant circuit, or unstable reentrant circuits causing fibrillatory conduction to the rest of the atria. During AF, AEGs were recorded simultaneously from 400 to 420 electrodes on both atria. CLs from over 20,000 AEGs were manually measured, and compared to CLs detected using both the CLVD and DF analyses. There was significant correlation between (1) CLs measured manually and the CLVD analysis (mean CL: correlation coefficient [CC]= 0.96, standard deviation [SD]: CC = 0.89); and (2) mean CL measured manually and the DF analysis (CC = 0.84). However, there was poor correlation between SD of CLs measured manually and the organization index (OI) by DF analysis (CC =–0.59).
Conclusion:
The CLVD analysis was validated as being accurate for detecting both rate and degree of regularity of AEGs during AF, and more accurate than DF analysis. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 199‐206, February 2013)
Noninvasive Electrocardiomapping Facilitates Previously Failed Ablation of Right Appendage Diverticulum Associated Life‐Threatening Accessory Pathway
Authors: HOCINI MÉLÈZE , SHAH ASHOK J. , COCHET HUBERT , MAURY PHILIPPE , DENIS ARNAUD , HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL 
Published: November 2012

Electrocardiomapping in Right Atrial Diverticulum and Accessory PathwayCombination of structural (CT‐scan) and functional (3D electrocardiomapping) imaging methods helped successfully accomplish ablation of a life‐threatening manifest accessory pathway in association with a complex right atrial anomaly after previous unsuccessful attempts of endo‐epicardial ablation guided by the invasive electroanatomic system in an adolescent female. Such a system has a potential to facilitate the ablation procedure and impact its outcome through accurate localization of the arrhythmogenic substrate. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 583–585, May 2013)
Ultrasound‐Assisted Infrared Drying of Pear Slices: Textural Issues
Authors: Dujmić Filip , Brnčić Mladen , Karlović Sven , Bosiljkov Tomislav , Ježek Damir , Tripalo Branko , Mofardin Irena 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe aim of this research was to investigate the impact of high‐intensity ultrasound as pretreatment on the duration of drying and texture characteristics of infrared‐dried pear slices using different amplitudes. Ultrasound device with a power capacity of 400 W, working at a frequency of 24 kHz and amplitudes of 25, 50, 75 and 100%, was used for pretreatment. Drying was performed in an infrared dryer at 70C. The results obtained showed how application of ultrasound with various amplitudes influenced the shortening of the drying time and allows the elimination of more water from the pear slices. The results showed that hardness of samples gradually decreased (from untreated sample [104.72 N], 50% of amplitude [93.461 N] to 100% amplitude [62.206 N]) with an increase in ultrasound intensity and that all process parameters had significant influence on the textural properties of pear slices (hardness, elasticity and work required for chewing).Practical ApplicationsDrying in food technology is usually based on the use of conventional methods such as heat exchange by conduction or convection, which may have negative effects on textural issues of final products. In order to achieve final products of high quality, new and sophisticated techniques for food treatment are required. One of such methods is the power ultrasound‐aided drying. This method is proven efficient for preserving main characteristics and quality of products, and additionally leads to shortened drying time.
Uncertainty of design water levels due to combined bed form and vegetation roughness in the Dutch River Waal
Authors: Warmink J.J. , Straatsma M.W. , Huthoff F. , Booij M.J. , Hulscher S.J.M.H. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractTwo‐dimensional hydrodynamic models are frequently used for flood protection studies to compute inundation patterns and to estimate potential economic damage. However, the modelling of river processes involves numerous uncertainties. Knowledge of the type and magnitude of uncertainties is crucial for a meaningful interpretation of the model outcomes and its usefulness in decision making. The objective of this study was to quantify the uncertainty in the design water levels due to uncertain bed form and vegetation roughness for the Dutch River Waal. We quantified and combined these sources of uncertainty by means of a Monte Carlo simulation. The results showed that the 95% confidence interval of the design water levels is 0.49 m, 0.34 m and 0.12 m for bed form, vegetation classification and vegetation roughness parameterisation, respectively, and approximately 0.68 m for the combined roughness. These uncertainties are significant in view of Dutch river management practice.
Alexithymic and somatisation scores in patients with temporomandibular pain disorder correlate with deficits in facial emotion recognition
Authors: Haas J. , Eichhammer P. , Traue H. C. , Hoffmann H. , Behr M. , Crönlein T. , Pieh C. , Busch V. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryCurrent studies suggest dysfunctional emotional processing as a key factor in the aetiology of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Investigating facial emotion recognition (FER) may offer an elegant and reliable way to study emotional processing in patients with TMD. Twenty patients with TMD and the same number of age‐, sex‐ and education‐matched controls were measured with the Facially Expressed Emotion Labelling (FEEL) test, the 26‐item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐26), the Screening for Somatoform Symptoms (SOMS‐2a), the German Pain Questionnaire and the 21‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). The patients had significantly lower Total FEEL Scores (P = 0·021) as compared to the controls, indicating a lower accuracy of FER. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate significant group differences with respect to the following issues: patients were more alexithymic (P = 0·006), stated more somatoform symptoms (P < 0·004) and had higher depressive scores in the HAMD (P < 0·003). The factors alexithymia and somatisation could explain 31% (adjusted 27%) of the variance of the FEEL Scores in the sample. The estimation of the standardised regression coefficients suggests an equivalent influence of TAS‐26 and SOMS‐2a on the FEEL Scores, whereas ‘group’ (patients versus healthy controls) and depressive symptoms did not contribute significantly to the model. Our findings highlight FER deficits in patients with TMD, which are partially explained by concomitant alexithymia and somatisation. As suggested previously, impaired FER in patients with TMD may further point to probable aetiological proximities between TMD and somatoform disorders.
Consumption of bee pollen affects rat ovarian functions
Authors: Kolesarova A. , Bakova Z. , Capcarova M. , Galik B. , Juracek M. , Simko M. , Toman R. , Sirotkin A. V. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryThe aim of this study was to examine possible effects of bee pollen added to the feed mixture (FM) on rat ovarian functions (secretion activity and apoptosis). We evaluated the bee pollen effect on the release of insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) and steroid hormones (progesterone and estradiol), as well as on the expression of markers of apoptosis (Bcl‐2, Bax and caspase‐3) in rat ovarian fragments. Female rats (n = 15) were fed during 90 days by FM without or with rape seed bee pollen in dose either 3 kg/1000 kg FM or 5 kg/1000 kg FM. Fragments of ovaries isolated from rats of each group (totally 72 pieces) were incubated for 24 h. Hormonal secretion into the culture medium was detected by RIA. The markers of apoptosis were evaluated by Western blotting. It was observed that IGF‐I release by rat ovarian fragments was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased; on the other hand, progesterone and estradiol secretion was increased after bee pollen treatment at dose 5 kg/1000 kg FM but not at 3 kg/1000 FM. Accumulation of Bcl‐2 was increased by bee pollen added at 3 kg/1000 kg FM, but not at higher dose. Accumulation of Bax was increased in ovaries of rats fed by bee pollen at doses either 3 or 5 kg/1000 kg FM, whilst accumulation of caspase‐3 increased after feeding with bee pollen at dose 5 kg/1000 kg FM, but not at 3 kg/1000 kg FM. Our results contribute to new insights regarding the effect of bee pollen on both secretion activity (release of growth factor IGF‐I and steroid hormones progesterone and estradiol) and apoptosis (anti‐ and pro‐apoptotic markers Bcl‐2, Bax and caspase‐3). Bee pollen is shown to be a potent regulator of rat ovarian functions.
The Global Response of Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133 to UVA Stress, Assessed in a Temporal DNA Microarray Study
Authors: Soule Tanya , Gao Qunjie , Stout Valerie , Garcia‐Pichel Ferran 
Published: November 2012

AbstractCyanobacteria in nature are exposed not only to the visible spectrum of sunlight but also to its harmful ultraviolet components (UVA and UVB). We used Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133 as a model to study the UVA response by analyzing global gene expression patterns using genomic microarrays. UVA exposure resulted in the statistically detectable differential expression of 573 genes of the 6903 that were probed, compared with that of the control cultures. Of those genes, 473 were up‐regulated, while only 100 were down‐regulated. Many of the down‐regulated genes were involved in photosynthetic pigment biosynthesis, indicating a significant shift in this metabolism. As expected, we detected the up‐regulation of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes and the sunscreen, scytonemin. However, a majority of the up‐regulated genes, 47%, were unassignable bioinformatically to known functional categories, suggesting that the UVA stress response is not well understood. Interestingly, the most dramatic up‐regulation involved several contiguous genes of unassigned metabolism on plasmid A. This is the first global UVA stress response analysis of any phototrophic microorganism and the differential expression of 8% of the genes of the Nostoc genome indicates that adaptation to UVA in Nostoc has been an evolutionary force of significance.
A Theoretical Investigation of Two Typical Two‐Photon pH Fluorescent Probes
Authors: Xu Zhong , Ren Ai‐Min , Guo Jing‐Fu , Liu Xiao‐Ting , Huang Shuang , Feng Ji‐Kang 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIntracellular pH plays an important role in many cellular events, such as cell growth, endocytosis, cell adhesion and so on. Some pH fluorescent probes have been reported, but most of them are one‐photon fluorescent probes, studies about two‐photon fluorescent probes are very rare. In this work, the geometrical structure, electronic structure and one‐photon properties of a series of two‐photon pH fluorescent probes have been theoretically studied by using density functional theory (DFT) method. Their two‐photon absorption (TPA) properties are calculated using the method of ZINDO/sum‐over‐states method. Two types of two‐photon pH fluorescent probes have been investigated by theoretical methods. The mechanisms of the Photoinduced Charge Transfer (PCT) probes and the Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) probes are verified specifically. Some designed strategies of good two‐photon pH fluorescent probes are suggested on the basis of the investigated results of two mechanisms. For the PCT probes, substituting a stronger electron‐donating group for the terminal methoxyl group is an advisable choice to increase the TPA cross section. For the PET probes, the TPA cross sections increase upon protonation.