bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Infection with CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strain containing three EPIYA C phosphorylation sites is associated with more severe gastric lesions in experimentally infected Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)
Authors: Ferreira JÃºnior M. , Batista S.A. , Vidigal P.V.T. , Cordeiro A.A.C. , Oliveira F.M.S. , Prata L.O. , Diniz A.E.T. , Barral C.M. , Barbuto R.C. , Gomes A.D. , AraÃºjo I.D. , Queiroz D.M.M. , Caliari M.V. 
Published: May 2015

Infection with Helicobacter pylori strains containing high number of EPIYA-C phosphorylation sites in the CagA is associated with significant gastritis and increased risk of developing pre-malignant gastric lesions and gastric carcinoma. However, these findings have not been reproduced in animal models yet. Therefore, we investigated the effect on the gastric mucosa of Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) infected with CagA-positive H. pylori strains exhibiting one or three EPIYA-C phosphorilation sites. Mongolian gerbils were inoculated with H. pylori clonal isolates containing one or three EPIYA-C phosphorylation sites. Control group was composed by uninfected animals challenged with Brucella broth alone. Gastric fragments were evaluated by the modified Sydney System and digital morphometry. Clonal relatedness between the isolates was considered by the identical RAPD-PCR profiles and sequencing of five housekeeping genes, vacA i/d region and of oipA. The other virulence markers were present in both isolates (vacA s1i1d1m1, iceA2, and intact dupA). CagA of both isolates was translocated and phosphorylated in AGS cells. After 45 days of infection, there was a significant increase in the number of inflammatory cells and in the area of the lamina propria in the infected animals, notably in those infected by the CagA-positive strain with three EPIYA-C phosphorylation sites. After six months of infection, a high number of EPIYA-C phosphorylation sites was associated with progressive increase in the intensity of gastritis and in the area of the lamina propria. Atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia were also observed more frequently in animals infected with the CagA-positive isolate with three EPIYA-C sites.Â We conclude that infection with H. pylori strain carrying a high number of CagA EPIYA-C phosphorylation sites is associated with more severe gastric lesions in an animal model of H. pylori infection.
Designation differences and academic career progression
Authors: Callaghan Chris W. 
Published: May 2015

Orientation: According to the human resources literature, academics may need to ‘balance’ certain issues in order to enable career progression.Research purpose: This research sought to test the theory that predicted differences between individuals by designation cohort membership (Mr/Ms, doctoral and professorial designation) in order to make recommendations for how academic staff could better facilitate their career development.Motivation for the study: This research attempted to identify certain ‘crisis milestones’ that reflect potential role conflicts that may constrain academic career progression.Research design, approach and method: Academic staff of a large South African university (with over 30 000 students) provided the sampling frame for an empirical study. Using logistic regression, three career markers that reflect different career cohorts – Mr/Ms designation, doctoral designation and professorial designation – were each regressed on a range of biographical and contextual factors derived from the literature and a comparative analysis was performed.Main findings: Findings suggest that these cohorts differ significantly according to: satisfaction with teaching; satisfaction with administration; research self-efficacy; and dependent children. ‘Crisis milestones’, potentially related to role conflicts, might need to be resolved before career progression to doctoral and professorial designations can occur.Practical/Managerial implications: Knowledge of these ‘crisis milestones’ can be used to help academics to manage role conflicts and issues. This might remove unnecessary constraints to academic career progression.Contribution/Value add: This study provides new insights into certain ‘crisis milestones’, or role conflicts or issues, that may need to be resolved or balanced before the career progression of academics can typically occur.
Utilisation of a community-based health facility in a low-income urban community in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Adebayo Ayodeji M. , Asuzu Michael C. 
Published: May 2015

Background: Primary healthcare is established to ensure that people have access to health services through facilities located in their community. However, utilisation of health facilities in Nigeria remains low in many communities.Aim: To assess the utilisation of community-based health facility (CBHF) amongst adults in Ibadan, Nigeria.Settings: A low-income community in Ibadan North West Local Government Area of Oyo State.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a simple random sampling technique to select one adult per household in all 586 houses in the community. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and utilisation of the CBHF. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and association testing using the Chi-square test at p = 0.05.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 46.5 ± 16.0 years; 46.0% were men and 81.0% married; 26% had no formal education and 38.0% had secondary-level education and above; traders constituted 52.0% of the sample; and 85.2% were of low socioeconomic standing; 90%had patronised the CBHF. The main reasons for non-utilisation were preference for general hospitals (13.8%) and self-medication (12.1%). Respondents who had secondary education and above, were in a higher socioeconomic class, who had good knowledge of the facility and were satisfied with care, utilised the CBHF three months significantly more than their counterparts prior to the study (p < 0.05). However, only satisfaction with care was found to be a significant predictor of utilisation of the CBHF.Conclusion: The utilisation of the CBHF amongst adults in the study setting is high, driven mostly by satisfaction with the care received previously. Self-medication, promoted by uncontrolled access to drugs through pharmacies and patent medicine stores, threatens this high utilisation.
Turismo e Sociedade (Eletrônica). Curitiba, volume 7, número 4, outubro de 2014.
Authors: Bahl Miguel 
Published: May 2015

Dados gerais (sítio e endereço eletrônicos), Declaração de direito autoral, Política de privacidade, Revisores deste número, Diretrizes para autores, Exemplos para indicação de referências, Itens de verificação para submissão. Opção para compor versão impressa.
Rapid MeV electron precipitation as observed by SAMPEX/HILT during high‐speed stream‐driven storms
Authors: Blum Lauren , Li Xinlin , Denton Mick 
Published: May 2015

AbstractA number of relativistic electron loss processes exist in the inner magnetosphere, and the extent to which MeV electron precipitation into Earth's atmosphere plays a role in radiation belt dynamics is a topic of much debate. In this work, we investigate the contribution of electron precipitation to radiation belt losses, looking at what times and locations precipitation is important. Through high‐cadence low‐altitude measurements from the Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) satellite, we examine the distributions of millisecond (microburst) as well as longer‐duration (band‐type) precipitation and the relative contributions of these two precipitation types to radiation belt dynamics during high‐speed stream (HSS)‐driven storms. Different local time and radial distributions between microbursts and precipitation bands suggest different scattering mechanisms as the causes of the two precipitation types. In a superposed epoch study of 42 HSS‐driven storms, enhanced main and recovery phase losses to the atmosphere are observed. Microburst occurrence rates peak in the recovery phase of the storms, while their magnitudes remain fairly constant over storm phase. Precipitation bands show an increase in both occurrence and magnitude at storm onset, particularly at the inner edge of the outer radiation belt. The observations, enabled by the high time resolution and large geometric factor and field of view of the SAMPEX/Heavy Ion Large Telescope (HILT) instrument, reveal when and where microburst and band‐type precipitation are contributing to radiation belt dynamics during HSS‐driven storms.
Integrated simulation of snow and glacier melt in water and energy balance‐based, distributed hydrological modeling framework at Hunza River Basin of Pakistan Karakoram region
Authors: Shrestha Maheswor , Koike Toshio , Hirabayashi Yukiko , Xue Yongkang , Wang Lei , Rasul Ghulam , Ahmad Bashir 
Published: May 2015

AbstractEnergy budget‐based distributed modeling of snow and glacier melt runoff is essential in a hydrologic model to accurately describe hydrologic processes in cold regions and high‐altitude catchments. We developed herein an integrated modeling system with an energy budget‐based multilayer scheme for clean glaciers, a single‐layer scheme for debris‐covered glaciers, and multilayer scheme for seasonal snow over glacier, soil, and forest within a distributed biosphere hydrological modeling framework. Model capability is demonstrated for Hunza River Basin (13,733 km2) in the Karakoram region of Pakistan on a 500 m grid for 3 hydrologic years (2002–2004). Discharge simulation results show good agreement with observations (Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency = 0.93). Flow composition analysis reveals that the runoff regime is strongly controlled by the snow and glacier melt runoff (50% snowmelt and 33% glacier melt). Pixel‐by‐pixel evaluation of the simulated spatial distribution of snow‐covered area against Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer‐derived 8 day maximum snow cover extent data indicates that the areal extent of snow cover is reproduced well, with average accuracy 84% and average absolute bias 7%. The 3 year mean value of net mass balance (NMB) was estimated at +0.04 myr−1. It is interesting that individual glaciers show similar characteristics of NMB over 3 years, suggesting that both topography and glacier hypsometry play key roles in glacier mass balance. This study provides a basis for potential application of such an integrated model to the entire Hindu‐Kush‐Karakoram‐Himalaya region toward simulating snow and glacier hydrologic processes within a water and energy balance‐based, distributed hydrological modeling framework.
Stormflow generation: A meta‐analysis of field evidence from small, forested catchments
Authors: Barthold Frauke K. , Woods Ross A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractCombinations of runoff characteristics are commonly used to represent distinct conceptual models of stormflow generation. In this study, three runoff characteristics: hydrograph response, time source of runoff water, and flow path are used to classify catchments. Published data from the scientific literature are used to provide evidence from small, forested catchments. Each catchment was assigned to one of the eight conceptual models, depending on the combination of quick/slow response, old/new water, and overland/subsurface flow. A standard procedure was developed to objectively diagnose the predominant conceptual model of stormflow generation for each catchment and assess its temporal and spatial support. The literature survey yielded 42 catchments, of which 30 catchments provide a complete set of qualitative runoff characteristics resulting in one of the eight conceptual models. The majority of these catchments classify as subsurface flow path dominated. No catchments were found for conceptual models representing combinations of quick response‐new water‐subsurface flow (SSF), slow‐new‐SSF, slow‐old‐overland flow (OF) nor new‐slow‐OF. Of the 30 qualitatively classified catchments, 24 provide a complete set of quantitative measures. In summary, the field support is strong for 19 subsurface‐dominated catchments and is weak for 5 surface flow path dominated catchments (six catchments had insufficient quantitative data). Two alternative explanations exist for the imbalance of field support between the two flow path classes: (1) the selection of research catchments in past field studies was mainly to explain quick hydrograph response in subsurface dominated catchments; (2) catchments with prevailing subsurface flow paths are more common in nature. We conclude that the selection of research catchments needs to cover a wider variety of environmental conditions which should lead to a broader, and more widely applicable, spectrum of resulting conceptual models and process mechanisms. This is a prerequisite in studies where catchment organization and similarity approaches are used to develop catchment classification systems in order to regionalize stormflow.
Digital catchment observatories: A platform for engagement and knowledge exchange between catchment scientists, policy makers, and local communities
Authors: Mackay E. B. , Wilkinson M. E. , Macleod C. J. A. , Beven K. , Percy B. J. , Macklin M. G. , Quinn P. F. , Stutter M. , Haygarth P. M. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractIncreasing pressures on the hydrological cycle from our changing planet have led to calls for a refocus of research in the sciences of hydrology and water resources. Opportunities for new and innovative research into these areas are being facilitated by advances in the use of cyberinfrastructure, such as the development of digital catchment observatories. This is enabling research into hydrological issues such as flooding to be approached differently. The ability to combine different sources of data, knowledge, and modeling capabilities from different groups such as scientists, policy makers, and the general public has the potential to provide novel insights into the way individual catchments respond at different temporal and spatial scales. While the potential benefits of the digital catchment observatory are large, this new way of carrying out research into hydrological sciences is likely to prove challenging on many levels. Along with the obvious technical and infrastructural challenges to this work, an important area for consideration is how to enable a digital observatory to work for a range of potential end‐users, paving the way for new areas of research through developing a platform effective for engagement and knowledge exchange. Using examples from the recent local‐scale hydrological exemplar in the Environmental Virtual Observatory pilot project (http://www.evo‐uk.org), this commentary considers a number of issues around the communication between and engagement of different users, the use of local knowledge and uncertainty with cloud‐based models, and the potential for decision support and directions for future research.
Future Petroleum Geopolitics: Consequences of Climate Policy and Unconventional Oil and Gas
Authors: Overland Indra 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAdvances in unconventional oil and gas production and the possible adoption of a more effective international climate policy may impact on supply–demand balances in the petroleum sector, causing shifts in financial flows and capital accumulation. Such changes may in turn lead to shifts in the power balance between oil and gas exporting and importing countries.Because the relationship between exporting and importing countries in the petroleum sector is asymmetric, with a few exporting countries benefiting from the combined flows of revenue from many importing countries, exporting countries stand to lose more from a change in the status quo. The following interstate relationships may be particularly sensitive: the United States and the Gulf countries, Russia and theEUmember states. Unconventional oil and gas may also play a role in the emerging superpower competition between China and the United States.The geopolitical changes one expects from unconventional oil and gas and climate policy depends on how one understands the current geopolitical situation in various parts of the world, and how strong the current geopolitical competition is seen to be.
Predictive navigation of unmanned surface vehicles in a dynamic maritime environment when using the fast marching method
Authors: Liu Yuanchang , Liu Wenwen , Song Rui , Bucknall Richard 
Published: May 2015

SummaryEffective and intelligent path planning algorithms designed for operation in a dynamic marine environment are essential for the safe operation of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). Most of the current research deals with the ‘dynamic problem’ by basing solutions on the nonpractical assumption that each USV has a robust communication channel to obtain essential information such as position and velocity of marine vehicles. In this paper, a Kalman filter‐based predictive path planning algorithm is proposed. The algorithm has been designed to predict the trajectories of moving ships, and the USV's own position in real time and accordingly assesses collision risk. For path planning, a weighted fast marching square method is proposed and developed to search for the optimal path. The path can be optimised for mission requirements such as minimum distance to travel and the most safety path by adjusting weighting parameters. The proposed algorithm has been validated using a number of simulations that include practical environmental aspects. The results show that the algorithms can sufficiently deal with complex traffic environments and that the generated practical path is suited for both unmanned and manned vessels. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fault‐tolerant control of an air heating fan using set‐valued observers: An experimental evaluation
Authors: Rosa Paulo , Simão Tiago , Silvestre Carlos , Lemos João M. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryThis paper proposes a multiple‐model solution to the problem of controlling an air heating fan subject to faults. These faults are modeled by means of an abnormal unknown airflow input rate which the nominal controller is not designed for. Moreover, the average temperature of the air flowing through the system, which can be seen as an offset on the corresponding dynamics, is (slowly) time‐varying and highly dependent on the ambient temperature. The fault‐tolerant control (FTC) method adopted makes use of set‐valued observers (SVOs) to invalidate possible models of the system. Unlike classical fault detection, this approach does not rely on residuals to detect abnormal system operation. This fact allows to reduce the conservatism of the solution and enables a straightforward design from the faulty and nominal models of the plant. Moreover, the absolute distinguishability concept is used to derive input signals that bolster the detection of faults. Although SVOs require heavy real‐time calculations that hinder its implementability in systems with low computational power, it is shown that the architecture of the FTC strategy proposed is highly parallelizable and, thus, may take advantage of standard multi‐core processing units. Experimental results are presented. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of the trichloroethylene diffusion coefficient in water
Authors: Rossi Federico , Cucciniello Raffaele , Intiso Adriano , Proto Antonio , Motta Oriana , Marchettini Nadia 
Published: May 2015

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a halogenated aliphatic organic compound frequently detected as pollutant in soils and ground water. To study the fate of TCE in water and to devise effective remediation strategies, a series of advection‐diffusion (dispersion) models, where the diffusion coefficient of TCE (DTCE) is an important parameter, have been developed. However, DTCE in water has never been experimentally determined and only theoretical values (
cm2 s−1 at 25°C) are present in the literature. A new method based on the Taylor dispersion technique, which allows to measure DTCE in a broad range of temperature and, in principle, in any solvent is presented. At 25°C DTCE =
cm2 s−1 and the value increases almost linearly with the temperature, while, in the limit of the experimental error, is independent from [TCE] for dilute solutions. From the temperature dependence of DTCE, it was possible to calculate the specific TCE fitting constant in the well‐known Wilke and Chang theoretical relation and the activation energy of the diffusion process through the Arrhenius plot. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 3511–3515, 2015
Purely endoscopic endonasal surgery of the craniovertebral junction: A systematic review
Authors: Fang Christina H. , Friedman Remy , Schild Sam D. , Goldstein Ira M. , Baredes Soly , Liu James K. , Eloy Jean Anderson 
Published: May 2015

BackgroundEndoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) is a relatively novel approach to the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). The purpose of this analysis is to determine the surgical outcomes of patients who undergo purely EES of the CVJ.MethodsA search for articles related to EES of the CVJ was performed using the MEDLINE/PubMed database. A bibliographic search was done for additional articles. Demographics, presenting symptoms, imaging findings, complications, follow‐up, and patient outcomes were analyzed.ResultsEighty‐five patients from 30 articles were included. The mean patient age was 47.9 ± 24.8 years (range, 3 to 96 years), with 44.7% being male. The most common presenting symptom was myelopathy (n = 64, 75.3%). The most common indications for surgery were brainstem compression secondary to basilar invagination (n = 41, 48.2%) and odontoid pannus (n = 20, 23.5%). Odontoidectomy was performed in 97.6% of cases. Intraoperative complications occurred in 16 patients (18.8%) and postoperative complications occurred in 18 patients (21.2%). Six patients developed postoperative respiratory failure necessitating a tracheostomy. Neurologic improvement was seen in 89.4% of patients at a mean follow‐up of 22.2 months.ConclusionOur analysis found that EES of the CVJ results in a high rate of neurologic improvement with acceptable complication rates. Given its minimally invasive nature and high success rate, this approach appears to be a reasonable alternative to the traditional transoral approach in select cases. This study represents the largest pooled sample size of EES of the CVJ to date. Increasing use of the endoscopic endonasal approach will allow for further studies with greater statistical power.
Prussian Blue Derived Nanoporous Iron Oxides as Anticancer Drug Carriers for Magnetic‐Guided Chemotherapy
Authors: Zakaria Mohamed B. , Belik Alexei A. , Liu Chia‐Hung , Hsieh Han‐Yun , Liao Yu‐Te , Malgras Victor , Yamauchi Yusuke , Wu Kevin. C.‐W. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractNew nanoporous iron oxide nanoparticles with superparamagnetic behavior were successfully synthesized from Prussian blue (PB) nanocubes through a thermal conversion method and applied to the intracellular drug‐delivery systems (DDS) of bladder cancer cells (i.e., T24) with controlled release and magnetic guiding properties. The results of the MTT assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy indicate that the synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles were successfully uptaken by T24 cells with excellent biocompatibility. An anticancer drug, that is, cisplatin, was used as a model drug, and its loading/release behavior was investigated. The intracellular drug delivery efficiency was greatly enhanced for the cisplatin‐loaded, PB‐derived, magnetic‐guided drug‐delivery system compared with the non‐drug case. The synthesized nanomaterials show great potential as drug vehicles with high biocompatibility, controlled release, and magnetic targeting features for future intracellular DDS.