bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Desert ants benefit from combining visual and olfactory landmarks
Authors: Steck Kathrin , Hansson Bill S. , Knaden Markus 
Published: March 2011

SUMMARY
The desert ant, Cataglyphis fortis, uses both visual and olfactory cues to guide its return to the nest. The ants use vision-based path integration for long-distance navigation and memorize the visual and olfactory surrounding of the nest to finally locate the entrance. In the present study we investigated how the visual and the olfactory navigation systems interact. In field experiments ants were trained to associate the nest with a visual cue, an olfactory cue or a combination of both cues. We tested ants after one, five and 15 training runs, to investigate whether the ants would make use of the training cues to pinpoint the nest. We found that they were slow to learn the location of the nest when it was specified by just an olfactory or a visual cue. However, the ants focused their nest search after the first training run with the combined cue. Equally experienced ants responded to the individually presented visual or olfactory cues with the same high accuracy as they did to the combined cue. After 15 training runs, the combined cue still evoked an accurate response in the test, whereas the individually presented cues no longer did. Apparently, C. fortis benefit from combining their visual and olfactory navigational tools, because the bimodal sensory input accelerates the acquisition of landmark information.
Prolonged fasting increases glutathione biosynthesis in postweaned northern elephant seals
Authors: Vázquez-Medina José Pablo , Zenteno-Savín Tania , Forman Henry Jay , Crocker Daniel E. , Ortiz Rudy M. 
Published: March 2011

SUMMARY
Northern elephant seals experience prolonged periods of absolute food and water deprivation (fasting) while breeding, molting or weaning. The postweaning fast in elephant seals is characterized by increases in the renin–angiotensin system, expression of the oxidant-producing protein Nox4, and NADPH oxidase activity; however, these increases are not correlated with increased oxidative damage or inflammation. Glutathione (GSH) is a potent reductant and a cofactor for glutathione peroxidases (GPx), glutathione-S transferases (GST) and 1-cys peroxiredoxin (PrxVI) and thus contributes to the removal of hydroperoxides, preventing oxidative damage. The effects of prolonged food deprivation on the GSH system are not well described in mammals. To test our hypothesis that GSH biosynthesis increases with fasting in postweaned elephant seals, we measured circulating and muscle GSH content at the early and late phases of the postweaning fast in elephant seals along with the activity/protein content of glutamate-cysteine ligase [GCL; catalytic (GCLc) and modulatory (GCLm) subunits], γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), glutathione disulphide reductase (GR), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), GST and PrxVI, as well as plasma changes in γ-glutamyl amino acids, glutamate and glutamine. GSH increased two- to four-fold with fasting along with a 40–50% increase in the content of GCLm and GCLc, a 75% increase in GGT activity, a two- to 2.5-fold increase in GR, G6PDH and GST activities and a 30% increase in PrxVI content. Plasma γ-glutamyl glutamine, γ-glutamyl isoleucine and γ-glutamyl methionine also increased with fasting whereas glutamate and glutamine decreased. Results indicate that GSH biosynthesis increases with fasting and that GSH contributes to counteracting hydroperoxide production, preventing oxidative damage in fasting seals.
The clinical utility of two renin mass methods to detect primary hyperaldosteronism compared with renin activity
Authors: Wedatilake Yehani N , Scanlon Mike J , Barnes Sophie C 
Published: March 2011

Background Primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) is characterized by a raised plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) with suppressed plasma renin activity (PRA). We evaluated two renin mass methods for PHA detection compared with the PAC:PRA ratio. Methods Samples from patients attending a specialist hypertensive clinic were analysed by Liaison automated chemiluminescent immunoassay and Diagnostic Systems Laboratories (DSL) immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for renin mass; I−125 radioimmunoassay of angiotensin I generated from endogenous angiotensinogen for PRA; Siemens Coat-a-count radioimmunoassay for PAC. Subjects included those on β-blockers which suppress renin, causing an equivalent biochemical picture to PHA. Aldosterone/renin ratios (ARR) were calculated for PRA, DSL and Liaison methods. The first 100 subjects were used to identify cut-off ratios ensuring maximum specificity at 100% sensitivity for PHA detection. This cut-off was retested in a subsequent population ( n = 43). Results A Liaison renin of 5 ng/L separated PRAs of ≤0.5 from ≥0.6 pmol/mL/h. The DSL method had greater scatter. In population 1 (18 PHA), cut-off ratios of >118 pmol/ng (Liaison) and >60 pmol/ng (DSL) gave specificities of 58.5% and 61%, respectively, with 100% sensitivity. If criteria for PHA included PAC ≥350 pmol/L and excluded β-blocked subjects, specificity increased to 95.1% and 90% for Liaison and DSL, respectively. In population 2 (6 PHA), specificities for Liaison and DSL ARRs were 86.4% and 78.3%. Using the ratio with PAC and β-blocker criteria, specificities for Liaison and DSL were 97.3% and 86.5%, respectively. Conclusions The Liaison ARR used with PAC and β-blocker criteria provided an automatable alternative to identify the same patients as the PAC:PRA ratio.
Prolonged Neuromuscular Paralysis Following Rapid-Sequence Intubation with Succinylcholine
Authors: Kaufman Scott E , Donnell Robert W , Aiken David C , Magee Caleb 
Published: March 2011

Objective: To report a case of severely prolonged succinylcholine-induced neuromuscular paralysis in a patient with previously undiagnosed butyrylcholinesterase deficiency. Case Summary: A 54-year-old female was admitted for surgical drainage of a groin abscess. She was given propofol 200 mg and succinylcholine 160 mg (1 mg/kg) intravenously to induce sedation and paralysis for endotracheal intubation. Thirty minutes after the 19-minute procedure, the patient showed no evidence of spontaneous recovery of respiration. She was transferred to the intensive care unit and 11 hours later was successfully weaned from the ventilator and extubated. A butyrylcholinesterase level of 562 IU/L (refernce range 2673-6592) confirmed butyrylcholinesterase deficiency. Six months later, in compliance with institutional review board/human subjects research requirements, the patient returned for a dibucaine inhibition test and second butyrylcholinesterase assay; the butyrylcholinesterase level in the second assay was 789 IU/L The suggesting that the adverse drug effect had a phamnacogenetic basis. Use of the Naranjo probability scale indicated a probable relationship between the prolonged neuromuscular paralysis and succinylcholine therapy in this patent. Discussion: Succinylcholine remains the drug of choice to facilitate rapid-sequence endotracheal intubation during induction of anesthesia and in patients undergoing emergency procedures who are at risk for gastroesophageal regurgitation. Its short duration of action is due to rapid hydrolysis by the endogenous enzyme butyrylcholinesterase. Rarely, patients with butyrylcholinesterase deficiency may show marked sensitivity to succinylcholine, manifested clinically by severely prolonged neuromuscular paralysis and apnea. Conclusions: Butyrylcholinesterase deficiency may go undiagnosed for decades until succinylcholine is used in a surgical procedure. When it does occur, a butyrylcholinesterase level should be obtained and a dibucaine inhibition test should be conducted to test for unrecognized hereditary butyrylcholinesterase deficiency. If a pharmacogenetic basis is confirmed, the patient should receive information about the condition, implications, inheritance, and need for family testing.
18F-FDG PET/CT as a Diagnostic Tool in Patients with Extracervical Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site: A Literature Review
Authors: Moller Anne Kirstine Hundahl , Loft Annika , Berthelsen Anne Kiil , Damgaard Pedersen Karen , Graff Jesper , Christensen Charlotte Birk , Perell Katharina , Petersen Bodil Laub , Daugaard Gedske 
Published: March 2011

Abstract

Background.
Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) represents a heterogeneous group of metastatic malignancies for which no primary tumor site can be identified after extensive diagnostic workup. Failure to identify the primary site may negatively influence patient management. The aim of this review was to evaluate 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) as a diagnostic tool in patients with extracervical CUP.

Materials and Methods.
A comprehensive literature search was performed and four publications were identified (involving 152 patients) evaluating 18F-FDG PET/CT in CUP patients with extracervical metastases. All studies were retrospective and heterogeneous in inclusion criteria, study design, and diagnostic workup prior to 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Results.
18F-FDG PET/CT detected the primary tumor in 39.5% of patients with extracervical CUP. The lung was the most commonly detected primary tumor site (∼50%). The pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the detection of the primary tumor site were 87%, 88%, and 87.5%, respectively.

Conclusions.
The present review of currently available data indicates that 18F-FDG PET/CT might contribute to the identification of the primary tumor site in extracervical CUP. However, prospective studies with more uniform inclusion criteria are required to evaluate the exact value of this diagnostic tool.
Changes in shell durability of common marine taxa through the Phanerozoic: evidence for biological rather than taphonomic drivers
Authors: Kosnik Matthew A. , Alroy John , Behrensmeyer Anna K. , Fürsich Franz T. , Gastaldo Robert A. , Kidwell Susan M. , Kowalewski Michał , Plotnick Roy E. , Rogers Raymond R. , Wagner Peter J. 
Published: March 2011

Phanerozoic trends in shell and life habit traits linked to postmortem durability were evaluated for the most common fossil brachiopod, gastropod, and bivalve genera in order to test for changes in taphonomic bias. Using the Paleobiology Database, we tabulated occurrence frequencies of genera for 48 intervals of ∼11 Myr duration. The most frequently occurring genera, cumulatively representing 40% of occurrences in each time bin, were scored for intrinsic durability on the basis of shell size, reinforcement (ribs, folds, and spines), life habit, and mineralogy.Shell durability is positively correlated with the number of genera in a time bin, but durability traits exhibit different temporal patterns across higher taxa, with notable offsets in the timing of changes in these traits. We find no evidence for temporal decreases in durability that would indicate taphonomic bias at the Phanerozoic scale among commonly occurring genera. Also, all three groups show a remarkable stability in mean shell size through the Phanerozoic, an unlikely pattern if strong size-filtering taphonomic megabiases were affecting the fossil record of shelly faunas. Moreover, small shell sizes are attained in the early Paleozoic in brachiopods and in the latest Paleozoic in gastropods but are steady in bivalves; unreinforced shells are common to all groups across the entire Phanerozoic; organophosphatic and aragonitic shells dominate only the oldest and youngest time bins; and microstructures having high organic content are most common in the oldest time bins.In most cases, the timing of changes in durability-related traits is inconsistent with a late Mesozoic Marine Revolution. The post-Paleozoic increase in mean gastropod reinforcement occurs in the early Triassic, suggesting either an earlier appearance and expansion of durophagous predators or other drivers. Increases in shell durability hypothesized to be the result of increased predation in the late Mesozoic are not evident in the common genera examined here. Infaunal life habit does increase in the late Mesozoic, but it does not become more common than levels already attained during the Paleozoic, and only among bivalves does the elevated late Mesozoic level persist through the Holocene.These temporal patterns suggest control on the occurrence of durability-related traits by individual evolutionary histories rather than taphonomic megabiases. Our findings do not mean taphonomic biases are absent from the fossil record, but rather that their effects apparently have had littleneteffect on the relative occurrence of shell traits generally thought to confer higher preservation potential over long time scales.
A Survey of Macro Damages from Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases: Another Challenge for Global Governance
Authors: Mayer-Foulkes David A. 
Published: March 2011

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are currently the largest global cause of adult mortality, one of the principal burdens of disease in developed and underdeveloped countries. Their main causes are well known, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol. The prevalence of these risk factors is directly related to the activities of transnational corporations (TNCs). For example, just the TNC budgets dedicated to advertising risky consumption are larger than the budget of the World Health Organization. A literature survey shows that NCDs have important long-term macroeconomic impacts, whose detailed evaluation has only just begun. The sheer burden on the working and aged population implies strong impacts on labor, saving and investment, as well as increased human capital depreciation. These will all impact long-term economic growth. It is a research priority to quantify these impacts. However, in the context of globalization, NCD is developing faster than its rigorous analysis. Research results show that what is needed is preventive action. This requires a global institutional framework capable of controlling NCD risk factors, which can also promote health and economic growth in general. Developing legal mechanisms to slow the negative impact of the deficient nutrition transition would be a step in that direction. Global markets need to be balanced with global governance holding TNCs responsible for their impact, promoting cooperative solutions when available, and taxing them so that they carry their fair share of social weight.
Developing Frameworks for Studies on Sedimentary Fluxes and Budgets in Changing Cold Environments
Authors: Beylich Achim , Lamoureux Scott , Decaulne Armelle 
Published: March 2011

Developing Frameworks for Studies on Sedimentary Fluxes and Budgets in Changing Cold Environments
Geomorphic processes that are responsible for the transfer of sediments and landform change are highly dependent on climate and vegetation cover. It is anticipated that climate change will have a major impact on the behaviour of Earth surface systems and that the most profound changes will occur in high-latitude and high-altitude cold environments. Collection, comparison and evaluation of data from a range of different high-latitude and high-altitude cold environments are required to permit greater understanding of sedimentary fluxes in cold environments. The focus of the I.A.G./A.I.G. SEDIBUD (Sediment Budgets in Cold Environments) Programme is the analysis of source-to-sink fluxes and sediment budgets in changing cold environments. Establishing contemporary sediment fluxes in a diversity of cold environments will form a baseline for modelling. At a minimum, baseline information from defined SEDIBUD test sites must consist of measures of mean annual precipitation, stream discharge, suspended load, conductivity/TDS and dominant catchment processes. Reports from ongoing studies on sedimentary fluxes and budgets in three selected study sites in Arctic Canada, sub-Arctic Iceland and sub-Arctic Norway are presented and discussed in the context of effects of climate change on process rates and sediment budgets in sensitive cold environments. Comparable datasets and coordinated data collection and data exchange will be of use for the individual studies at the different study sites. In addition, comparable data sets and data exchange will help to improve our understanding of existing relationships between contemporary climate and sedimentary fluxes and will enable larger-scale integrated investigations on effects of climate change in changing cold environments.
Geographic Record of Human Impact Conformance to Different Water Relationships Along a Coastal River (The Łupawa Catchment)
Authors: Drwal Jan , Cieśliński Roman , Fac-Beneda Joanna 
Published: March 2011

Geographic Record of Human Impact Conformance to Different Water Relationships Along a Coastal River (The Łupawa Catchment)
The purpose of this paper is to answer the following two questions: Can one infer the type of human impact found in the northern Pomorze region from the current state of the Łupawa basin? Did regional water relationships determine the type of human impact found in the area? A good place to search for an answer to these two questions is the Łupawa River drainage basin. The entire upper section of the river, upstream from the Bukowina, is characterized by a lack of substantial changes in the hydrographic network, resulting from man's apparent disinterest in the area. The middle section of the river is characterized by human impact in the form of the use of water resources for energy generation purposes (sawmills, gristmills, power plants). The lower section of the Łupawa that includes Lake Gardno is characterized by significant changes in water relationships associated with difficult discharge conditions. Finally, the mouth section of the river, given its location, has been adapted as a port facility.
Dynamics of Suspended Material Carried out From the Flysch Bystrzanka Catchment During Selected Rainfall Events in the Period of 1997-2008
Authors: Kijowska Małgorzata , Bochenek Witold 
Published: March 2011

Dynamics of Suspended Material Carried out From the Flysch Bystrzanka Catchment During Selected Rainfall Events in the Period of 1997-2008
Hydrometeorological conditions in Research Station in Szymbark were analysed, and then the influence of these conditions on the water level. The investigations were carried out during the selected high stage in the period 1997-2008. Relations between the precipitation totals, discharge and changes of the amount of material carried away were analysed. Percentage of the suspended matter in complete denudation from the catchment area of the Bystrzanka was also assayed. The results showed that more than 95% of suspended material can be carry out in a single flood. Parameters regarding to the transport of suspended matter in the period 1997-2008 were referenced to the same parameters estimated in the period 1971-1979, and the load of suspended material in the review period was higher by 26%.
Is the Coarse-Grid Global Climate Model a Useful Tool for Regional Paleoclimate Reconstruction?
Authors: Szuman Izabela , Czernecki Bartosz 
Published: March 2011

Is the Coarse-Grid Global Climate Model a Useful Tool for Regional Paleoclimate Reconstruction?
This study considers the climate at the time of the Weichselian ice sheet maximum in Central Europe, especially in Poland, in respect of the NASA Educational version of Global Climate Model (EdGCM). The final results of the EdGCM simulations for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) are presented here and these have been analysed to determine whether or not they are useful for regional scale modelling; the problem being that, in a global climate model, both horizontal and vertical grid resolution is very low. Also, an attempt has been made to define the role of the ice megalobe which, in terms of the numerical coarse-grid model, covered the northern parts of Germany and Poland. The broad details of the climate during the Weichselian are defined and our results are compared with previous opinion. The influence of ice megalobe on regional climate is demonstrated and it is also concluded that a coarse-grid global climate model could be a helpful tool in a regional climate recognition. However, whether at a regional or local scale, it is recommended that a specially-configured version of a Regional Climate Model (RCM) based on Global Climate Model (GCM) boundary conditions be used in similar reconstructions.
Wireless LAN Security Management with Location Detection Capability in Hospitals
Authors: Atarashi H. , Yamaguchi I. , Watanabe H. , Yamamoto R. , Ohe K. , Tanaka K. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryObjectives: In medical institutions, unauthorized access points and terminals obstruct the stable operation of a large-scale wireless local area network (LAN) system. By establishing a real-time monitoring method to detect such unauthorized wireless devices, we can improve the efficiency of security management.Methods: We detected unauthorized wireless devices by using a centralized wireless LAN system and a location detection system at 370 access points at the University of Tokyo Hospital. By storing the detected radio signal strength and location information in a database, we evaluated the risk level from the detection history. We also evaluated the location detection performance in our hospital ward using Wi-Fi tags.Results: The presence of electric waves outside the hospital and those emitted from portable game machines with wireless communication capability was confirmed from the detection result. The location detection performance showed an error margin of approximately 4 m in detection accuracy and approximately 5% in false detection. Therefore, it was effective to consider the radio signal strength as both an index of likelihood at the detection location and an index for the level of risk.Conclusions: We determined the location of wireless devices with high accuracy by filtering the detection results on the basis of radio signal strength and detection history. Results of this study showed that it would be effective to use the developed location database containing radio signal strength and detection history for security management of wireless LAN systems and more general-purpose location detection applications.
Biomedical Ontologies: Toward Scientific Debate
Authors: Crespo J. , Garcia-Remesal M. , de la Iglesia D. , Pérez-Rey D. , Kulikowski C. , Maojo V. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryObjectives: Biomedical ontologies have been very successful in structuring knowl edge for many different applications, receiving widespread praise for their utility and potential. Yet, the role of computational ontologies in scientific research, as opposed to knowledge management applications, has not been extensively discussed. We aim to stimulate further discussion on the advantages and challenges presented by biomedical ontologies from a scientific perspective.Methods: We review various aspects of biomedical ontologies going beyond their practical successes, and focus on some key scientific questions in two ways. First, we analyze and discuss current approaches to improve biomedical ontologies that are based largely on classical, Aristotelian ontological models of reality. Second, we raise various open questions about biomedical ontologies that require further research, analyzing in more detail those related to visual reasoning and spatial ontologies.Results: We outline significant scientific issues that biomedical ontologies should consider, beyond current efforts of building practical consensus between them. For spatial ontologies, we suggest an approach for building “morphospatial” taxonomies, as an example that could stimulate research on fundamental open issues for biomedical ontologies.Conclusions: Analysis of a large number of problems with biomedical ontologies suggests that the field is very much open to alternative interpretations of current work, and in need of scientific debate and discussion that can lead to new ideas and research directions.