bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identity of the fungal species present in the homes of asthmatic children
Authors: Meng J. , Barnes C. S. , Rosenwasser L. J. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryBackgroundFungal exposures are believed to play an important role in the development of asthma and atopy, accounting for increased asthmatic symptoms and severe asthma exacerbation. Indoor fungal species vary both in taxa and concentration in different residences and in different regions.ObjectivesWe explored the fungal species spectrum in 88 homes with at least one asthmatic child in the Middle West region of the United States mostly during late spring and fall season in comparison with 85 homes that did not contain an asthmatic child during flu season.MethodsThe average fungal spore counts per cubic metre of air in the bedroom of the enrolled child, the main living spaces and outdoor environments, and the culturable fungal colony‐forming units per cubic metre of air samples in the main living space from each home were measured.ResultsThe results indicated that Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Basidiospores, Epicoccum and Pithomyces were found in more asthmatic homes than in homes without an asthmatic child or existed in higher concentration in asthmatic homes than in homes without an asthmatic child even after adjusting outdoor spore concentration. The results for culturable fungal species confirmed most of these findings even after adjusting for seasonal factors. Although Alternaria was commonly found in both kinds of homes, there was no significant difference in detection rate or concentration of Alternaria between asthmatic homes and homes without an asthmatic child by either spore counting or culturable airborne detection.Conclusion and Clinical RelevanceSince many allergens have been identified in these fungal species, identifying and controlling these fungal species in asthmatic homes might be expected to improve asthma care and benefit asthmatic children.
Exposure to microbial agents in house dust and wheezing, atopic dermatitis and atopic sensitization in early childhood: a birth cohort study in rural areas
Authors: Karvonen A. M. , Hyvärinen A. , Gehring U. , Korppi M. , Doekes G. , Riedler J. , Braun‐Fahrländer C. , Bitter S. , Schmid S. , Keski‐Nisula L. , Roponen M. , Kaulek V. , Dalphin J.‐C. , Pfefferle P. I. , Renz H. , Büchele G. , von Mutius E. , Pekkanen J. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryBackgroundEarly‐life exposure to environmental microbial agents may be associated with development of wheezing and allergic diseases.ObjectiveTo assess the association of microbial exposure in rural homes with the risk of asthma, wheezing, atopic dermatitis and sensitization.MethodsBirth cohorts of rural children (n = 1133), half from farmer families, were followed up from birth to 2 years of age by questionnaires in five European centres. Endotoxin and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) of Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. were determined from living room floor and mother's mattress dust samples collected at 2 months of age. Specific IgE against 19 allergens was measured at 1 year of age. Discrete‐time hazard models, generalized estimations equations (GEE) and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses.ResultsThe incidence of asthma was inversely associated with the amount of dust (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.73, 95% CI 0.58–0.93) and the loads (units/m2) of EPS (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.55–1.04) and endotoxin (aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.60–1.05) in the mother's mattress. Similar associations were seen with wheezing and with living room floor dust. The microbial markers were highly correlated and their effects could not be clearly separated. The inverse associations were seen especially among non‐farmers. The risk of sensitization to inhalant allergens increased with increasing endotoxin exposure from mattress dust. No associations were observed with concentrations (units/g) or with atopic dermatitis.Conclusion and Clinical RelevanceThe amount and microbial content of house dust were inversely associated with asthma and wheezing, but due to high correlations between microbial agents and amount of dust, it was not possible to disentangle their individual effects. New ways to better measure and represent exposure to environmental microbes, including indexes of biodiversity, are needed especially among farmers.
Forecasting phenology: from species variability to community patterns
Authors: Diez Jeffrey M. , Ibáñez Inés , Miller‐Rushing Abraham J. , Mazer Susan J. , Crimmins Theresa M. , Crimmins Michael A. , Bertelsen C. David , Inouye David W. 
Published: March 2012

Ecology Letters (2012)AbstractShifts in species’ phenology in response to climate change have wide‐ranging consequences for ecological systems. However, significant variability in species’ responses, together with limited data, frustrates efforts to forecast the consequences of ongoing phenological changes. Herein, we use a case study of three North American plant communities to explore the implications of variability across levels of organisation (within and among species, and among communities) for forecasting responses to climate change. We show how despite significant variation among species in sensitivities to climate, comparable patterns emerge at the community level once regional climate drivers are accounted for. However, communities differ with respect to projected patterns of divergence and overlap among their species’ phenological distributions in response to climate change. These analyses and a review of hypotheses suggest how explicit consideration of spatial scale and levels of biological organisation may help to understand and forecast phenological responses to climate change.
The impact of insulin administration during the mixed meal tolerance test
Authors: Besser R. E. J. , Jones A. G. , McDonald T. J. , Shields B. M. , Knight B. A. , Hattersley A. T. 
Published: March 2012

Diabet. Med. 29, 1279–1284 (2012)AbstractAims  The mixed meal tolerance test is the gold standard measure of endogenous insulin secretion. Practical issues limit the routine clinical use of this test, including omitting insulin prior to the ingestion of a high‐carbohydrate liquid mixed meal, which can result in marked hyperglycaemia. We aimed to assess whether insulin omission is necessary during the mixed meal tolerance test and whether fasting C‐peptide was a practical alternative to the test.Methods  Ninety‐one adults with insulin‐treated diabetes (Type 1 n = 56, Type 2 n = 35) underwent two mixed meal tolerance tests; one standard without insulin and one with the patient’s usual morning insulin.Results  The 90‐min serum C‐peptide was highly correlated in the standard mixed meal tolerance test and the test with insulin (r = 0.98, P < 0.0001). There was a 20% reduction in the peak C‐peptide value when insulin was given {test with insulin [0.39 (0.01–1.16) vs. test without insulin 0.48 (0.01–1.36) nmol/l, P = 0.001]}, but the original serum C‐peptide cut‐off for significant endogenous insulin secretion (≥ 0.2 nmol/l) still correctly classified 90/91 patients (98% sensitivity/100% specificity). Fasting serum C‐peptide was highly correlated to 90‐min serum C‐peptide during the test (r = 0.97, P < 0.0001). A fasting serum C‐peptide ≥ 0.07 nmol/l was the optimal cut‐off (100% sensitivity and 97% specificity) for significant endogenous insulin secretion (defined as 90‐min stimulated serum C‐peptide ≥ 0.2 nmol/l).Conclusions  Insulin omission may not always be necessary during a mixed meal tolerance test and fasting serum C‐peptide may offer a practical alternative in insulin‐treated patients.
Evaluating the sufficiency of protected lands for maintaining wildlife population connectivity in the U.S. northern Rocky Mountains
Authors: Cushman Samuel A. , Landguth Erin L. , Flather Curtis H. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAim  The goal of this study was to evaluate the sufficiency of the network of protected lands in the U.S. northern Rocky Mountains in providing protection for habitat connectivity for 105 hypothetical organisms. A large proportion of the landscape falls into one of several categories of protected lands. However, protected lands in the region are primarily higher elevation forest and mountain habitats. Little is known about how the network of protected lands may maintain connectivity for a broad spectrum of species expressing different habitat requirements and dispersal abilities.Location  The study was conducted across the states of Montana and northern Idaho, USA, comprising an area of 30.2 million hectares.Methods  We used resistant kernel modelling to map the extent of the study area predicted to be connected by dispersal for each of 35 species groups with different ecological associations. We evaluated the effect of vagility on protected area sufficiency by varying dispersal ability across three levels for each species group. We evaluated the degree of vulnerability of each of the 105 hypothetical species (35 species groups × 3 dispersal abilities) in terms of the extent of the total study area predicted to be connected by dispersal. We defined nine categories of risk as the combination of species vulnerability because of the extent of connected habitat and the degree to which that habitat was protected.Results  We found high variation in the vulnerability of species because of the extent of connected habitat, and the extent to which connected habitat overlapped protected lands. Species associated with high elevations and species associated with lower elevations were predicted to have limited extent of connected habitat. Species associated with high elevations were predicted to have the vast majority of their connected habitat protected by federal Forest Service and National Park Service lands. In contrast, species associated with lower elevations were poorly protected by the existing network of protected lands.Main conclusions  Low elevation and non‐forest habitats are at highest risk of human‐induced habitat loss and fragmentation in the study area. Conservation efforts in the region may be most effective if they focus on expanding the network of lower elevation protected lands in such a way that maximizes connectivity across the landscape.
Periprocedural Myocardial Infarction in a Randomized Trial of Everolimus-Eluting and Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stents
Authors: Pervaiz M. Hassan , Sood Poornima , Sudhir Krishnankutty , Hermiller James B. , Hou Liming , Hattori Kyoko , Su Xiaolu , Cao Sherry , Wang John , Applegate Robert J. , Kereiakes Dean J. , Yaqub Manejeh , Stone Gregg W. , Cutlip Donald E. 
Published: March 2012

Background—
A consensus definition for periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) in coronary stent trials has not been established. Differences between a historic definition, based on modified World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and a proposed universal definition have not been compared in a prospective clinical trial.

Methods and Results—
We randomly assigned 3687 patients with stable coronary artery disease to undergo stenting with either everolimus-eluting stents (2458 patients) or paclitaxel-eluting stents (1229 patients). Serial creatine kinase (CK) and CKMB or troponin measurements were obtained before and after stenting. MI was classified by protocol according to the WHO definition (total CK >2× normal with elevated CKMB) and post hoc according to the Universal/Academic Research Consortium (ARC) definition (CKMB or troponin >3× normal). Protocol MI was determined in 58 (1.6%) and universal/ARC MI in 287 (7.8%) patients within 48 hours post index procedure. There were substantial differences in frequency of universal/ARC MI if only CKMB (5.4%) or troponin (18.7%) data were included for evaluation. Total stent length was a strong predictor of both protocol and universal/ARC MI. Mortality at 2 years was low (2.3%) and was not different for either MI definition. The mortality rates did not increase with elevations of CKMB or troponin to >10× normal.

Conclusions—
There was a marked difference in periprocedural MI rates according to protocol or universal/ARC MI definitions. No association was present between periprocedural MI and mortality up to 2 years by either definition.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00307047.
Negotiating the Trilemma: The Indian Experience
Authors: Sen Gupta Abhijit , Manjhi Ganesh 
Published: March 2012

Increased integration with the global capital markets in recent years has forced India to negotiate the trilemma, balancing the objectives of monetary independence, exchange rate stability, and orderly capital flows. India’s calibrated approach towards liberalization of capital account, wherein certain flows and agents were accorded priority in the liberalization process, has helped India to deal with the trilemma. In this paper, we examine India’s experience in negotiating the trilemma during the last three decades. In doing so, we deviate from the existing literature by quantifying the various policy objectives under the trilemma. This allows us to analyze the extent to which pursuit of an objective has entailed giving up two other objectives. Using empirical methods, we find that India has been constrained by the trilemma during the last three decades. However, instead of adopting corner solutions, India has juggled the various policy objectives under the trilemma as per the demands of the macroeconomic situation. The overall policy architecture encompassed active management of capital flows, especially volatile flows and debt flows, a moderately flexible exchange rate regime with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intervening at times to prevent excessive volatility, sterilization of these interventions through multiple instruments, and building up of a stockpile of reserves. This intermediate approach has suited India well as it has been able to maintain a healthy growth rate, targeted monetary and credit growth rates, a moderate inflation rate through most of the period, and a sustainable current account deficit.
The Intersection of the Mathematical and Natural Sciences: The Subordinate Sciences in Aristotle
Authors: Distelzweig Peter M. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract Aristotle is aware of the mathematical treatment of natural phenomena constitutive of Greek astronomy, optics, harmonics, and mechanics. Here I provide an account of Aristotle’s understanding of these ‘subordinate sciences’, drawing on both his methodological discussions and his optical treatment of the rainbow in Meteorology III 5. This account sheds light on the de Caelo, in which Aristotle undertakes a natural investigation of the heavens distinct from, but closely related to, astronomical (thus mathematical) investigations. Although Aristotle insists that such subordinate sciences belong to mathematical and not natural science, he sees them as essential to complete scientific knowledge of the sensible world.
Regional susceptibilities to mitochondrial dysfunctions in the CNS
Authors: Pinto Milena , Pickrell Alicia M. , Moraes Carlos T. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunctions are very common features of age-related neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease. Several studies have shown that bioenergetic impairments have a major role in the degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) in these patients. Accordingly, one of the main symptoms in many mitochondrial diseases is severe encephalopathy. The heterogeneity of the brain in terms of anatomic structures, cell composition, regional functions and biochemical properties makes the analysis on this organ very complex and difficult to interpret. Humans, in addition to animal models, exposed to toxins that affect mitochondrial function, in particular oxidative phosphorylation, exhibit degeneration of specific regions within the brain. Moreover, mutations in ubiquitously expressed genes that are involved in mitochondrial function also induce regional-specific cell death in the CNS. In this review, we will discuss some current hypotheses to explain the regional susceptibilities to mitochondrial dysfunctions in the CNS.
Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial, pesticidal and DNA cleavage activity of germanium(IV) derivatives of 3-(2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-benzthiazo-2-yl)-chromen-2-one and N′-[1-2-oxo-2H-chrome-3yl-ethylidene]-hydrazinecarbodithionic acid benzyl ester ligands
Authors: Dawara Latika , Fahmi Nighat , Singh R.V. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
The new ligands 3-(2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-benzthiazo-2-yl)-chromen-2one (AcBzH) and N′-[1-2-oxo-2H-chrome-3yl-ethylidene]-hydrazinecarbodithionic acid benzyl ester (AcBDTZH) were prepared by the reaction of 3-acetyl-2H-chromen-2-one with 2-aminothiophenol and S-benzyl dithiocarbazate, respectively. The germanium(IV) complexes have been prepared by reacting Ph3GeCl and Me3GeCl in 1:1 molar ratio with these monofunctional bidentate AcBzH and AcBDTZH ligands by using microwave as well as conventional heating methods for comparison purposes. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, melting point, IR, 1H-NMR 13C-NMR, mass and X-ray powder diffraction techniques. These studies showed that the ligands coordinated to the germanium atom in a monobasic bidentate manner and trigonal bipyramidal environment around the germanium atom have been established for the complexes. To evaluate the effect of metal ion upon chelation, both ligands and their complexes have been screened for their antimicrobial activity against the various pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. The metal complexes have shown antimicrobial activity as compared to the free ligands. The pesticidal activity and DNA cleavage activity of both ligands and their metal complexes have been tested and discussed.
A Large Scale Network Model To Obtain Interwell Formation Characteristics
Authors: Gherabati S. A. , Hughes R. G. , Zhang H. , White C. D. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Limited data availability and poor data quality make it difficult to characterize many reservoirs. For reservoirs that have undergone waterflooding, production and injection data is a reliable source of information from which injector to producer connections can be inferred. In this research, we use well locations and injection and production rate data to develop a reservoir-scale network model. The coarse network model approach is fast and efficient since it solves for a relatively small number of unknowns and is less underdetermined than correlation-based methods.
A Voronoi mesh divides the reservoir into a number of node volumes each of which contains a well. Bonds connect each of the nodes with conductance values that must be inferred from the rate data. An inverse problem is written where the mean-squared difference between the simulated and actual production data is minimized and the conductance values between each node are the unknowns. A derivative free optimization algorithm is utilized to minimize the objective function.
The application of this work is primarily for secondary and tertiary floods with limited geological data. The solution parameters are directly proportional to formation properties. In addition, they help to evaluate the degree of sweep between wells. This approach has been successfully tested for different synthetic permeability distribution cases. The main advantages of the proposed method are: It can model changes in flow pattern caused by adding new wells or shutting-in producers.It uses conventional history matching methods to solve a simplified inverse problem using only production and injection data. It uses a small number of nodes and converges to a better posed solution than statistical approaches. Convergence to a solution for higher frequency data only decreases the speed of the method slightly.The degree of injector to producer interaction is not fixed and can vary over time. Thus, the technique captures more of the physical relationships between well pairs and features that influence the dynamic behavior of the reservoir than previous correlation-based methods.
Alternate Representations in Numerical Modeling of Multistage Hydraulically Fractured Horizontal Wells in Shale Gas Reservoirs
Authors: Siripatrachai N. , Ertekin T. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Natural gas from shale is becoming increasingly popular. To successfully produce gas from shale, drilling horizontal wells and implementing hydraulic fracturing are crucial. Conventional representation and design of hydraulic fracturing is by placing transverse fracture planes. Each transverse plane represents a single-stage hydraulic fracturing. However, microseismic field data show that high pressure frac fluid creates a stimulated reservoir volume instead of discrete transverse fracture planes. In this paper, an alternative representation for hydraulic fracturing called "crushed zone" representation is proposed. This crushed zone can be represented by an elliptical zone of high fracture permeability and smaller fracture spacing instead of high-permeability transverse fracture planes. Difficulties lie in the field optimization and characterization of hydraulic fracturing whether which model is more representative and what are their equivalent representations. Furthermore, utilizing a numerical reservoir simulator can be time-consuming as reservoir modeling and computation could take several hours for each scenario and the optimal cases could be overlooked.
In this research, optimization of hydraulically fractured horizontal wells in shale gas reservoirs and establishing an equivalency between two different hydraulic fracture representations were studied. Artificial neural network (ANN) is a widely used technology in science and engineering because of its capability in establishing highly non-linear relationships. Due to its ability to provide simulation results in seconds, ANN can serve as a powerful tool in reservoir simulation. A commercial reservoir simulator is coupled with ANNs to create expert systems that can be used to overcome the aforementioned challenges. Reservoir simulation was utilized to generate production profile and establish equivalent hydraulic fracture representations. The simulation results were used to train the ANN. In this study, two ANNs are developed. The first ANN called "Gas Production Prediction ANN" can instantly predict production profile of a hydraulically fractured horizontal well completed in shale gas reservoirs with an error margin of less than ±10% from numerical reservoir simulation. The second ANN called "Equivalency ANN" is developed to establish equivalent hydraulic fracture representations between transverse hydraulic fracture representation and crushed zone representation. The equivalent representation from ANN when run with numerical reservoir simulator yields cumulative gas production within ±15% error compared to results obtained via conventional simulation.