bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation and application of hair analysis for the detection of methamphetamine in young Thai adults
Authors: Junkuy Anongphan , Pengwong Monnatee , Aramrattana Apinun , Celentano David , Sribanditmongkol Pongruk 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Background: To date, blood and urine analyses have been the major methods of detecting methamphetamine (MA) use in Thailand. Recently, hair analysis has been introduced as an alternative and complementary procedure.
Objectives: To validate a simple, rapid, and economical method of analyzing hair for MA and its metabolite, amphetamine (AM).
Methods: The analysis employed solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Simplicity, rapidity, and economy were achieved, in part, by optimizing SPME conditions and by eliminating deuterated reagents and the derivatization step in GC-MS. The validated method was employed to detect and quantify MA in 1,111 hair samples of young Thai research volunteers who reported using MA in the form of so-called “yaba” tablets at least 3 times during the previous 3 months.
Results: Validated data from the study indicated that the method’s linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) met international standards for hair analysis of MA. Expressed as ng of MA per mg of hair (ng/mg), the LOQ was 0.5 ng/mg (102.39% accuracy, 5.46% precision). The method was less sensitive for quantification of AM in hair, with a LOQ of 2.5 ng/mg (103.41% accuracy, 6.95% precision). Using 0.5 ng/mg as a cutoff in the analysis of samples provided by admitted MA users, the study yielded an overall detection rate for MA of 35.5%, with a range of 0.51-54.61 ng/mg; the mean MA level was 4.90 ± 6.78 (±SD) ng/mg. Thirty-one percent of the participants reported they had consumed fewer than 10 yaba tablets during the previous 3 months. Of this group, 29% had hair samples that tested positive for MA. Detection rates trended upwards with increased yaba use. No relationship was found between the number of yaba tablets reportedly consumed and the concentration of MA detected in hair.
Conclusions: This study validated a rapid, simple, and economical SPME/GC-MS technique for quantification of MA in hair. The method was less sensitive for quantification of AM.
Clinical implications of normal B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with severe chronic heart failure
Authors: Gao Changzheng , Lu Qi , Guo Suxia , Yang Zhenyu , Li Kulin , Wang Qiang , Wang Ruxing 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Background: High plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with severe chronic heart failure (CHF) often indicate poor ventricular function and poor prognosis. However, in some such patients plasma BNP levels are normal.
Objective: To investigate the clinical implications of BNP levels in patients with severe CHF.
Methods: Fifty-seven patients with severe CHF were divided into group A (13 normal plasma BNP level) and 44 patients (high plasma BNP levels) group B. Diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (or angiotensin II receptor antagonist, e.g., metoprolol) and digitalis were used as conventional treatment. The clinical characteristics of all patients in two groups were analyzed and compared.
Results: At the first admission, left ventricular end diastolic diameter in group B was significantly lower than group A (p < 0.05), and the plasma BNP level in group B was significantly higher than group A (p < 0.05). When metoprolol was used, 6 and 5 patients in group A and B could not tolerate the initial dose. In other cases using metoprolol at average maximum tolerance dose of metoprolol 12.5-6.25 and 24.20-11.22 mg/day in group A and B, respectively, there was a significant difference between them (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in plasma BNP levels between two groups during stable period. The plasma BNP level in group B during acute worsening stage was significantly higher than in the remission stage (962.73-165.00 ng/L vs 876.24-167.70 ng/L, p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between group A (74.03-11.18 ng/L) and group B (71.38-11.68 ng/L) (p > 0.05). The mobility of group A was higher than group B (11/12 vs 6/44, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that, the plasma BNP level was the independent risk factor for predicting cardiac death (regression coefficient, 3.817; OR, 45.488; 95% CI, 5.322ʺ388.791).
Conclusion: In patients with severe CHF, normal plasma BNP level suggests depletion of BNP secretion and further deterioration of cardiac function, indicating a poor prognosis.
A retrospective study of gynecomastia in male patients referred to Hatyai Hospital with breast lesions
Authors: Kotepui Manas , Piwkham Duangjai , Chupeerach Chaowanee , Songsri Apiram 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Background: Gynecomastia is a common benign lesion of the male breast and accounts for up to 80% of male patients referred with beast lesions.
Objective: To examine the pattern of breast lesions in male patients who underwent breast biopsy.
Methods: All male patients referred to Hatyai Hospital with breast complaints were included in the study. Histopathology reports were retrospectively reviewed during 2004-2011.
Results: In 77 male patients diagnosed with breast lesions, the most common lesion was gynecomastia (49/77, 64%), followed by fibrocystic changes (7/77, 9%), and breast cancer (6/77, 8%). Gynecomastia was commonly found in male patients less than 40 years of age, while other breast lesions are seen in male patients over 40 years of age (P = 0.036, OR = 2.842, 95% CI = 1.085-7.447).
Conclusion: Gynecomastia was the most common diagnosis among breast lesions in male patients referred to the Hatyai Hospital during 2004-2011. Gynecomastia was more common in the patients less than 20 years old.
Long-term outcome following bilateral lateral rectus recession for intermittent exotropia
Authors: Patlidanon Jutima , Pukrushpan Parnchat , Jariyakosol Supharat , Praneeprachachon Pokpong 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Background: Bilateral lateral rectus recession is the most common surgical treatment of intermittent exotropia in children. Success rates in previous studies differ because longer follow-up periods may change success rate as the eyes drift out with time. Initial overcorrection was thought to be appropriate management, but the preferred initial postoperative deviation has not been well quantified.
Objective: To study long-term outcomes (≥3 years) of bilateral lateral rectus recession for intermittent exotropia and to evaluate factors influencing long-term success.
Methods: This retrospective descriptive study reviews patients with intermittent exotropia who underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession with a minimum follow up of 3 years. Long-term motor outcome was classified as good (within 8 prism diopters (PD) of esodeviation and 10 PD of exodeviation), acceptable (exodeviation 11-20 PD), and poor (esotropia >8 PD or exotropia >20 PD). Stereoacuity testing pre- and postoperatively was used to evaluate sensory outcome. Correlation between long-term outcome and various pre- and postoperative factors were analyzed.
Results: A total of 59 patients met the selective inclusion criteria. The mean age at time of surgery was 7.1 years with a mean follow-up time of 4.5 years. At the time of the last visit, 69% (41 patients) had good outcomes, 24% (14 patients) had acceptable outcomes, and 7% (4 patients) had poor outcomes. Initial postoperative ocular deviation significantly correlated with long-term outcome (P < 0.05). Mean initial postoperative ocular deviation of patients with good outcome was esodeviation 12.7 PD (range ortho to esodeviation 25 PD). In 45 patients whose stereoacuity could be assessed, 58% (26 patients) had stereoacuity improvement.
Conclusion: Good long-term motor outcome can be achieved in 69% of patients following bilateral lateral rectus recession for intermittent exotropia. Initial postoperative ocular deviation correlated with long-term motor success.
“Blockbuster movie, blockbuster location”: cineturismo e costruzione dell’immagine dell’Italia per il pubblico indiano
Authors: Stefania Cavaliere  , Luigi Barletta  
Published: August 2015

Combining the reputation of the Italian cultural heritage with the popularity of the Indian Film Industry, Italy and India have been collaborating to strengthen their economic relationships using the media as a spur for cultural exchange and a key-tool to enlarge the tourist market target. Many Italian Film Commissions have invested in supporting Indian productions, understanding the benefits of film-induced tourism. Specialised supplies and equipment have been provided to facilitate the incoming of Indian companies and organize educational tours to promote the locations of the Italian Peninsula. On the Indian side, the Made in Italy brand fascinates the upper-middle class interested in luxury products and the Italian life style. The settings of romantic movies promote the idea of Italy as a land to fulfil one’s own love story imitating the Bollywood stars. It is no surprise that honeymoon holiday packages are nowadays very popular and many sumptuous Indian weddings are celebrated in Italy. The paper analyses the representation strategies of Italy for the Indian audience as used both by tour operators, to enhance film-induced tourism, and by institutions, to enhance the cultural and economic exchanges between our countries.
Gazing at Italy from the East: A Multimodal Analysis of Malaysian Tourist Blogs
Authors: Olga Denti  
Published: August 2015

This paper investigates Malaysian tourist perceptions about Italy and their crosscultural representations (Hall 2002) through blogs. Bloggers hold a dynamic role in communicating the cultural meanings they build through both tourist texts and images. Therefore, the analysis starts by focusing on the features of blogs as a new digital genre, as they have emerged with the development of the Internet, displaying an intermingling of posts, commentaries and links, thus building a sense of community through interpersonal communication (Garzone 2012). To this purpose, it examines the textual organisation, the participant relationships and the communicative purposes of the tourist blogs taken into account (Orlikowski and Yates 1994; Bhatia 2005; Lemke 2005 and 2009). It looks at the language used to portray Italy, together with its semiotic patterns, in order to identify the image of the land, beliefs, ideas and impressions inherent in the relationship between the Malaysian tourist and the destination itself. Particular attention is devoted to the analysis of the perception of authenticity.
Word-formation in the Arabic Language of Tourism
Authors: Cristina Solimando  
Published: August 2015

The tourist flows between the Arabic-speaking world and the West have strengthened the need to develop several Arabic websites, brochures, guidebooks etc. in order to be closer to Arabic speaking visitors to Western countries. In the field of tourism, English has a predominant role and the Arabic language, through different strategies of word-formation, is reacting to Western influence by generating new lexicon that needs to be analyzed in depth. This article aims at examining the challenge tourism poses for the Arabic language: the creation of technical terminology encounters some difficulties such as recourse to different terms to refer to the same concept. Despite the lack of terminological standardization, the vitality of Arabic is evident in the efforts made to bridge communication gaps caused by different cultural contexts: for instance, semantic translation often seems necessary in order to make a foreign term understandable to Arabs. This contribution is the starting point of an indispensable deeper examination of the neologisms and the word-formation strategies in the field of tourist discourse.
Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assays
Authors: Hornbeck Peter V. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis unit describes six different ELISA systems for the detection of specific antibodies, soluble antigens, or cell‐surface antigens. In all six systems, soluble reactants are removed from solution after specifically binding to solid‐phase reactants. In the first four protocols, solid‐phase reactants are prepared by adsorbing an antigen or antibody onto plastic microtiter plates; in the next two protocols, the solid‐phase reactants are cell‐associated molecules. In all protocols, the solid‐phase reagents are incubated with secondary or tertiary reactants covalently coupled to an enzyme. Unbound conjugates are washed out and a chromogenic or fluorogenic substrate is added. As the substrate is hydrolyzed by the bound enzyme conjugate, a colored or fluorescent product is generated. Finally, the product is detected visually or with a microtiter plate reader. The amount of product generated is proportional to the amount of analysate in the test mixture. One of the support protocols can be used to optimize the different ELISAs. A second support protocol presents a method for preparing alkaline phosphatase conjugates. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Small phytoplankton drive high summertime carbon and nutrient export in the Gulf of California and Eastern Tropical North Pacific
Authors: Puigcorbé Viena , Benitez‐Nelson Claudia R. , Masqué Pere , Verdeny Elisabet , White Angelicque E. , Popp Brian N. , Prahl Fredrick G. , Lam Phoebe J. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractSummertime carbon, nitrogen, and biogenic silica export was examined using 234Th:238U disequilibria combined with free floating sediment traps and fine scale water column sampling with in situ pumps (ISP) within the Eastern Tropical North Pacific and the Gulf of California. Fine scale ISP sampling provides evidence that in this system, particulate carbon (PC) and particulate nitrogen (PN) concentrations were more rapidly attenuated relative to 234Th activities in small particles compared to large particles, converging to 1–5 µmol dpm−1 by 100 m. Comparison of elemental particle composition, coupled with particle size distribution analysis, suggests that small particles are major contributors to particle flux. While absolute PC and PN export rates were dependent on the method used to obtain the element/234Th ratio, regional trends were consistent across measurement techniques. The highest C fixation rates were associated with diatom‐dominated surface waters. Yet, the highest export efficiencies occurred in picoplankton‐dominated surface waters, where relative concentrations of diazotrophs were also elevated. Our results add to the increasing body of literature that picoplankton‐ and diazotroph‐dominated food webs in subtropical regions can be characterized by enhanced export efficiencies relative to food webs dominated by larger phytoplankton, e.g., diatoms, in low productivity pico/nanoplankton‐dominated regions, where small particles are major contributors to particle export. Findings from this region are compared globally and provide insights into the efficiency of downward particle transport of carbon and associated nutrients in a warmer ocean where picoplankton and diazotrophs may dominate. Therefore, we argue the necessity of collecting multiple particle sizes used to convert 234Th fluxes into carbon or other elemental fluxes, including <50 µm, since they can play an important role in vertical fluxes, especially in oligotrophic environments. Our results further underscore the necessity of using multiple techniques to quantify particle flux given the uncertainties associated with each collection method.
A global assessment of accelerations in surface mass transport
Authors: Wu Xiaoping , Heflin Michael B. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWater mass transport in the Earth's dynamic surface layer of atmosphere, cryosphere, and hydrosphere driven by various global change processes has complex spatiotemporal patterns. Here we determine global patterns and regional mean values of accelerations in surface mass variations during the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission's data span from 2002.2 to 2015.0. GRACE gravity data are supplemented by surface deformation from 607 Global Navigation Satellite System stations, an ocean bottom pressure model, satellite laser ranging, and loose a priori knowledge on mass variation regimes incorporating high‐resolution geographic boundaries. While Greenland and West Antarctica have strong negative accelerations, Alaska and the Arctic Ocean show significant positive accelerations. In addition, the accelerations are not constant in time with some regions showing considerable variability due to irregular interannual changes. No evidence of significant nonsteric mean sea level acceleration has been found, but the uncertainty is quite large.
Atlantic opportunities for ENSO prediction
Authors: Martín‐Rey Marta , Rodríguez‐Fonseca Belén , Polo Irene 
Published: August 2015

AbstractEl Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the dominant mode of interannual climate variability with worldwide impacts. The knowledge of ENSO drivers and the underlying mechanisms is crucial to improve ENSO prediction, which still remains a challenge. The recently discovered connection between an Atlantic Niño (Niña) and a Pacific Niña (Niño), through an air‐sea coupled mechanism during the first and last decades of the twentieth century, highlights an opportunity for ENSO prediction. Here a statistical cross‐validated hindcast of ENSO along the twentieth century is presented, considering the Atlantic sea surface temperatures as the unique predictor field, and a set of atmospheric and oceanic variables related to the Atlantic‐Pacific connection as the predictand field. The observed ENSO phase is well reproduced, and the skill is enhanced at the beginning and the end of the twentieth century. Understanding this multidecadal modulation of the Atlantic‐Pacific connection could help to improve seasonal‐to‐decadal forecasts of ENSO and its associated impacts.
Temporal variation in the magnitude‐frequency distribution during the Guy‐Greenbrier earthquake sequence
Authors: Huang Yihe , Beroza Gregory C. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe recent increase in earthquake activity in the central U.S. has led to concerns about the hazard posed by induced earthquakes. Understanding earthquake phenomena and monitoring in all settings can be improved by the detection of small events; however, the catalog of induced earthquakes is incomplete for small events due to the sparse instrumentation. This is particularly true in settings of low background seismicity, like the central U.S. We apply single‐station template matching to detect small earthquakes during the Guy‐Greenbrier sequence in central Arkansas and find over 100 times more earthquakes than are registered in the Advanced National Seismic System catalog between July 2010 and October 2011. A complete catalog over nearly 4 units of magnitude enables us to analyze the magnitude‐frequency distribution of induced earthquakes. We find that earthquakes deviated from the Gutenberg‐Richter statistics during the operation of nearby injection wells but returned to Gutenberg‐Richter statistics after the wells were shut in.
The more extreme nature of U.S. warm season climate in the recent observational record and two “well‐performing” dynamically downscaled CMIP3 models
Authors: Chang Hsin‐I , Castro Christopher L. , Carrillo Carlos M. , Dominguez Francina 
Published: August 2015

AbstractArid and semiarid regions located in subtropical zones are projected to experience the most adverse impacts of climate change. During the warm season, observations and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change global climate models generally support a “wet gets wetter, dry gets drier” hypothesis in these regions, which acts to amplify the climatological transitions in the context of the annual cycle. In this study, we consider changes in U.S. early warm season precipitation in the observational record and regional climate model simulations driven by two “well‐performing” dynamically downscaled Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) models (Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3 and Max Planck Institute (MPI) European Centre/Hamburg Model 5) that have a robust climatological representation of the North American Monsoon System (NAMS). Both observations and model results show amplification in historical seasonal transitions of temperature and precipitation associated with NAMS development, with Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)‐MPI better representing the observed signal. Assuming the influence of remote Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) forcing associated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Variability (ENSO‐PDV) on U.S. regional climate remains the same in the 21st century, similar extreme trends are also projected by WRF‐MPI for the next 30 years. A methodology is also developed to objectively analyze how climate change may be synergistically interacting with ENSO‐PDV variability during the early warm season. Our analysis suggests that interannual variability of warm season temperature and precipitation associated with Pacific SST forcing is becoming more extreme, and the signal is stronger in the observed record.
Airborne radar evidence for tributary flow switching in Institute Ice Stream, West Antarctica: Implications for ice sheet configuration and dynamics
Authors: Winter Kate , Woodward John , Ross Neil , Dunning Stuart A. , Bingham Robert G. , Corr Hugh F. J. , Siegert Martin J. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractDespite the importance of ice streaming to the evaluation of West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) stability we know little about mid‐ to long‐term dynamic changes within the Institute Ice Stream (IIS) catchment. Here we use airborne radio echo sounding to investigate the subglacial topography, internal stratigraphy, and Holocene flow regime of the upper IIS catchment near the Ellsworth Mountains. Internal layer buckling within three discrete, topographically confined tributaries, through Ellsworth, Independence, and Horseshoe Valley Troughs, provides evidence for former enhanced ice sheet flow. We suggest that enhanced ice flow through Independence and Ellsworth Troughs, during the mid‐Holocene to late Holocene, was the source of ice streaming over the region now occupied by the slow‐flowing Bungenstock Ice Rise. Although buckled layers also exist within the slow‐flowing ice of Horseshoe Valley Trough, a thicker sequence of surface‐conformable layers in the upper ice column suggests slowdown more than ~4000 years ago, so we do not attribute enhanced flow switch‐off here, to the late Holocene ice‐flow reorganization. Intensely buckled englacial layers within Horseshoe Valley and Independence Troughs cannot be accounted for under present‐day flow speeds. The dynamic nature of ice flow in IIS and its tributaries suggests that recent ice stream switching and mass changes in the Siple Coast and Amundsen Sea sectors are not unique to these sectors, that they may have been regular during the Holocene and may characterize the decline of the WAIS.