bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MELD scores with incorporation of serum sodium and death prediction in cirrhotic patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation: a single center experience in southern Brazil
Authors: Marroni Caroline Possa , de Mello Brandão Ajácio Bandeira , Hennigen Alexandre Wahl , Marroni Claudio , Zanotelli Maria Lúcia , Cantisani Guido , Fuchs Sandra Costa ,   on behalf of the Liver Transplantation Group
Published: August 2012

AbstractTo compare the accuracy of standard model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score with that of four MELD‐based scores incorporating serum sodium (SNa) to predict three‐ and six‐month mortality in cirrhotic patients after their placement on the waiting list for liver transplantation (LT). A cohort study was performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for MELD, MELD incorporating SNa (MELD‐Na, MELD‐Na2), integrated MELD (iMELD), and MELD to SNa ratio (MESO) index to assess the predictive accuracy of these scores to determine three‐ and six‐month mortality. The c‐statistic (area under the ROC curve [AUC]) was used to determine predictive power and the Cox proportional‐hazard ratio to estimate death risk. We studied 558 patients. There was a statistically significant difference in the predictive accuracy of scores at three months (AUCs: MELD = 0.79 [95% CI = 0.72–0.87]; MELD‐Na = 0.84 [95% CI = 0.78–0.90]; MELD‐Na2 = 0.85 [95% CI = 0.80–0.91]; iMELD = 0.85 [95% CI = 0.80–0.90]; MESO = 0.81 [95% CI = 0.80–0.91]) and at six months (MELD = 0.73 [95% CI = 0.67–0.80]; MELD‐Na = 0.79 [95% CI = 0.73–0.84]; MELD‐Na2 = 0.80 [95% CI = 0.74–0.85]; iMELD = 0.80 [95% CI = 0.75–0.85]; MESO = 0.75 [95% CI = 0.69–0.81]) (p < 0.001). Death risk was independent of age and sex. Sodium‐modified MELD scores are able to more accurately predict three‐ and six‐month mortality among cirrhotic patients awaiting LT.
A prospective study on living related kidney donors’ quality of life in the first year: choosing appropriate reference data
Authors: Kroencke Sylvia , Fischer Lutz , Nashan Björn , Herich Lena , Schulz Karl‐Heinz 
Published: August 2012

AbstractProspective studies on living kidney donors’ quality of life (QoL) are still rare. Most existing studies compare healthy donors with the general population, including subjects with diseases. This is the first prospective study comparing living donors’ QoL with reference data of both the general population and healthy individuals. We investigated QoL, anxiety, and depression in living kidney donors (n = 79) before donation and at two post‐operative data points (three months and one yr). Subsequently, data from the donors were compared with the reference data. Our results show an impaired physical QoL three months post‐donation. One yr after surgery, physical QoL had returned to the pre‐operative level. Neither mental QoL nor anxiety or depression showed major changes across time. Pre‐operative QoL was comparable to that of healthy individuals and higher than that in the general population. Donors’ perception of the recipient's health showed moderate correlations with donors’ mental outcome three months after donation. In conclusion, the impact on physical QoL seems to persist for at least three months after kidney donation. It could be demonstrated that in the context of living donation, healthy individuals provide more adequate reference data. Future research needs to determine the length and the nature of the post‐operative QoL impairment and further explore possible influencing factors.
Effects of elevated CO2 concentration and water deficit on fructan metabolism in Viguiera discolor Baker
Authors: Oliveira V. F. , Silva E. A. , Zaidan L. B. P. , Carvalho M. A. M. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractElevated [CO2] is suggested to mitigate the negative effects of water stress in plants; however responses vary among species. Fructans are recognised as protective compounds against drought and other stresses, as well as having a role as reserve carbohydrates. We analysed the combined effects of elevated [CO2] and water deficit on fructan metabolism in the Cerrado species Viguiera discolor Baker. Plants were cultivated for 18 days in open‐top chambers (OTC) under ambient (∼380 ppm), and high (∼760 ppm) [CO2]. In each OTC, plants were submitted to three treatments: (i) daily watering (control), (ii) withholding water (WS) for 18 days and (iii) re‐watering (RW) on day 11. Analyses were performed at time 0 and days 5, 8, 11, 15 and 18. High [CO2] increased photosynthesis in control plants and increased water use efficiency in WS plants. The decline in soil water content was more distinct in WS 760 (WS under 760 ppm), although the leaf and tuberous root water status was similar to WS 380 plants (WS under 380 ppm). Regarding fructan active enzymes, 1‐SST activity decreased in WS plants in both CO2 concentrations, a result consistent with the decline in photosynthesis and, consequently, in substrate availability. Under WS and both [CO2] treatments, 1‐FFT and 1‐FEH seemed to act in combination to generate osmotically active compounds and thus overcome water deficit. The proportion of hexoses to sucrose, 1‐kestose and nystose (SKN) was higher in WS plants. In WS 760, this increase was higher than in WS 380, and was not accompanied by decreases in SKN at the beginning of the treatment, as observed in WS 380 plants. These results suggest that the higher [CO2] in the atmosphere contributed to maintain, for a longer period, the pool of hexoses and of low DP fructans, favouring the maintenance of the water status and plant survival under drought.
Ex situ cultivation affects genetic structure and diversity in arable plants
Authors: Brütting C. , Hensen I. , Wesche K. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWorldwide, botanical gardens cultivate around 80,000 taxa, corresponding to approximately one‐quarter of all vascular plants. Most cultivated taxa are, however, held in a small number of collections, and mostly only in small populations. Lack of genetic exchange and stochastic processes in small populations make them susceptible to detrimental genetic effects, which should be most severe in annual species, as sowing cycles are often short. In order to assess whether ex situ cultivation affects genetic diversity of annuals, five annual arable species with similar breeding systems were assessed with 42 in situ populations being compared to 20 ex situ populations using a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis approach. Population sizes tended to be lower under ex situ cultivation and levels of genetic diversity also tended to be lower in four of the five species, with differences being significant in only two. Ex situ populations showed incomplete representation of alleles found in the wild. The duration of cultivation did not indicate any effect on genetic diversity. This implies that cultivation strategies resulted in different genetic structures in the garden populations. Although not unequivocally pronounced, differences nonetheless imply that conservation strategies in the involved gardens may need improvement. One option is cold storage of seeds, a practice that is not currently followed in the studied ex situ collections. This may reflect that the respective gardens focus on displaying living plant populations.
Amylose content is not affected by overexpression of the Wx‐B1 gene in durum wheat
Authors: Sestili Francesco , Botticella Ermelinda , Proietti Gloria , Janni Michela , D’Ovidio Renato , Lafiandra Domenico 
Published: August 2012

With 6 figures and 1 table
AbstractThe granule‐bound starch synthase (GBSS), known as waxy protein, is the sole enzyme responsible for amylose synthesis, whereas amylopectin is produced by concerted action of several isoforms, including starch synthases, branching and debranching enzymes. Durum wheat contains two waxy genes, which encode the Wx‐A1 and Wx‐B1 proteins, respectively. In order to investigate the effect of the overexpression of the waxy genes on amylose content and starch properties, durum wheat transgenic lines overexpressing the Wx‐B1 gene were produced. Amylose content of the transgenic lines did not show any increase compared to the untransformed cultivar. One of the transgenic lines was crossed with a mutant waxy genotype of durum wheat lacking all the waxy protein isoforms. The screening of F2 segregant plants permitted the identification of lines possessing various combinations of waxy genes, including the line containing only the construct used in the transformation. In this line, the normal vitreous seed phenotype, because of the presence of amylose, was restored confirming a correct functioning of the transgene.
Surround modulation in cortical orientation map revealed by optical imaging and its dependency on receptive field eccentricity
Authors: Uchimura Kanami , Okamura Jun‐ya , Wang Gang 
Published: August 2012

AbstractOptical imaging was used to investigate the difference in surround modulation on orientation map related to receptive field eccentricity in cat visual cortex. Presentation of center–surround stimuli at the center of gaze resulted in no clear surround modulation; however, significant modulation was observed in its corresponding cortical area when the center–surround stimuli were presented at 10° eccentricity in more peripheral parts of the visual field. Modulation was observed both in the response magnitude and in the spatial pattern of the response. Surround orientation perpendicular to the orientation of a center patch grating showed the largest modulation in the response magnitude. The modulation became weaker as the orientation difference between the center and surround gratings became smaller. Regardless of the orientations for the central patch gratings, a similar response spatial pattern was observed in the cortical region where the underlying cells had their receptive fields covering the central patch, if the stimuli were with the same surround gratings. These properties support the notion of a relative specialization for visual information processing in peripheral representations of cortical areas.
Overexpression of corticotropin‐releasing factor in Barrington’s nucleus neurons by adeno‐associated viral transduction: effects on bladder function and behavior
Authors: McFadden Kile , Griffin Tagan A. , Levy Valerie , Wolfe John H. , Valentino Rita J. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe stress‐related neuropeptide, corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF), is prominent in neurons of the pontine micturition center, Barrington’s nucleus. These neurons co‐innervate spinal preganglionic neurons that control the bladder, and locus coeruleus (LC) neurons that provide norepinephrine innervation throughout the brain. Adeno‐associated viral (AAV) vector‐mediated transfer of CRF cDNA was used to increase CRF expression in Barrington’s nucleus neurons and investigate the impact of a gain of function in Barrington’s nucleus spinal and LC projections. AAV transfer of the reverse CRF cDNA sequence served as the control. Bladder urodynamics and behavior were assessed 4 weeks after vector injection into Barrington’s nucleus. Rats with bilateral injections of AAV–CRF cDNA into Barrington’s nucleus had immunohistochemical evidence of CRF overexpression in neurons and transport to the spinal cord and LC. The bladder : body weight ratio was greater and micturition pressure was less in these rats compared with controls, consistent with an inhibitory influence on bladder function. Other indices of urodynamic function were not altered. CRF innervation of the LC was increased in rats with bilateral Barrington’s nucleus injections of AAV–CRF cDNA, and this was associated with increased burying behavior, an endpoint of LC activation by CRF. The results provide immunohistochemical evidence for viral vector‐induced CRF overexpression in Barrington’s nucleus neurons and underscore the ability of AAV vector‐mediated transfer to increase CRF function in selective circuits. The findings support an inhibitory influence of CRF in Barrington’s nucleus regulation of the bladder and an excitatory influence on the brain norepinephrine system that translates to behavioral activation.
Fungal importance extends beyond litter decomposition in experimental early‐successional streams
Authors: Frossard Aline , Gerull Linda , Mutz Michael , Gessner Mark O. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryFungi are important decomposers of leaf litter in streams and may have knock‐on effects on other microbes and carbon cycling. To elucidate such potential effects, we designed an experiment in outdoor experimental channels simulating sand‐bottom streams in an early‐successional state. We hypothesized that the presence of fungi would enhance overall microbial activity, accompanied by shifts in the microbial communities associated not only with leaf litter but also with sediments. Fifteen experimental channels received sterile sandy sediment, minimal amounts of leaf litter, and one of four inocula containing either (i) fungi and bacteria, or (ii) bacteria only, or (iii) no microorganisms, or (iv) killed microorganisms. Subsequently, we let water from an early‐successional catchment circulate through the channels for 5 weeks. Whole‐stream metabolism and microbial respiration associated with leaf litter were higher in the channels inoculated with fungi, reflecting higher fungal activity on leaves. Bacterial communities on leaves were also significantly affected. Similarly, increases in net primary production, sediment microbial respiration and chlorophyll a content on the sediment surface were greatest in the channels receiving a fungal inoculum. These results point to a major role of fungal communities in stream ecosystems beyond the well‐established direct involvement in leaf litter decomposition.
Trends in drug use among gay and bisexual men in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland, Australia
Authors: Lea Toby , Prestage Garrett , Mao Limin , Zablotska Iryna , de Wit John , Holt Martin 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIntroduction and AimsThe findings of Australian drug surveys are typically not stratified by sexual orientation, despite the higher prevalence of drug use generally reported among gay and bisexual men. This paper aims to examine trends in drug use among gay and bisexual men in eastern Australia between 2004 and 2011.Design and MethodsData from the cross‐sectional, ongoing Gay Community Periodic Surveys (GCPS) were used to analyse drug trends among gay and bisexual men in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland. Between 2004 and 2011, 45 273 eligible questionnaires were completed.ResultsThere was a downward trend in recent drug use (previous 6 months) between 2004 and 2011 from 62.2% to 57.5%. However, this trend was not found among men in Queensland, bisexual men, men aged over 40 years or HIV‐positive men. Club drug use peaked in 2006 (45.1%), before steadily declining to 32.4% in 2011. There were significant reductions in use of ecstasy, methamphetamine, ketamine and cannabis, increased use of cocaine, gamma hydroxybutyrate, erectile dysfunction medications, amyl nitrite and lysergic acid diethylamide, and no change in heroin use. Recent injecting drug use fluctuated over time but experienced an overall downward trend from 5.5% in 2004 to 4.0% in 2011.Discussion and ConclusionsDrug use trends among gay and bisexual men in Australia are broadly consistent with downward and upward drug trends reported in other Australian drug surveys. The risks associated with drug use in this population and high rates of use supports the ongoing role of the GCPS in monitoring drug trends among homosexually active men.
Making death ‘good’: instructional tales for dying in newspaper accounts of Jade Goody’s death
Authors: Frith Hannah , Raisborough Jayne , Klein Orly 
Published: August 2012

AbstractFacilitating a ‘good’ death is a central goal for hospices and palliative care organisations. The key features of such a death include an acceptance of death, an open awareness of and communication about death, the settling of practical and interpersonal business, the reduction of suffering and pain, and the enhancement of autonomy, choice and control. Yet deaths are inherently neither good nor bad; they require cultural labour to be ‘made over’ as good. Drawing on media accounts of the controversial death of UK reality television star Jade Goody, and building on existing analyses of her death, we examine how cultural discourses actively work to construct deaths as good or bad and to position the dying and those witnessing their death as morally accountable. By constructing Goody as bravely breaking social taboos by openly acknowledging death, by contextualising her dying as occurring at the end of a life well lived and by emphasising biographical continuity and agency, newspaper accounts serve to position themselves as educative rather than exploitative, and readers as information‐seekers rather than ghoulishly voyeuristic. We argue that popular culture offers moral instruction in dying well which resonates with the messages from palliative care.
UncertWeb Processing Service: Making Models Easier to Access on the Web
Authors: Jones Richard , Cornford Dan , Bastin Lucy 
Published: August 2012

AbstractModels are central tools for modern scientists and decision makers, and there are many existing frameworks to support their creation, execution and composition. Many frameworks are based on proprietary interfaces, and do not lend themselves to the integration of models from diverse disciplines. Web‐based systems, or systems based on web services, such as Taverna and Kepler, allow the composition of models based on standard web service technologies. At the same time the Open Geospatial Consortium has been developing their own service stack, which includes the Web Processing Service, designed to facilitate execution of geospatial processing – including complex environmental models. The current Open Geospatial Consortium service stack employs Extensible Markup Language as a default data exchange standard, and widely‐used encodings such as JavaScript Object Notation can often only be used when incorporated with Extensible Markup Language. Similarly, no successful engagement has been seen of the Web Processing Service standard with the well‐supported technologies of Simple Object Access Protocol and Web Services Description Language. In this article we propose a pure Simple Object Access Protocol/Web Services Description Language processing service, which addresses some of the issues with the Web Processing Service specification and brings us closer to achieving a degree of interoperability between geospatial models, thus realizing the vision of a useful ‘model web’.
Rational formulation design
Authors: Lane M. E. , Hadgraft J. , Oliveira G. , Vieira R. , Mohammed D. , Hirata K. 
Published: August 2012

SynopsisTo be efficacious and to satisfy the requirements for claim substantiation, a cosmetic formulation must achieve effective targeting of an active in the skin. Although the basic principles governing the skin permeation and disposition of molecules have been known for many years, attention has been far less focused on the role of the vehicle, particularly at cosmetically relevant doses. In this article, we discuss the necessity to understand the fate of the formulation components as well as the active once applied onto skin. Recent data confirm that the residence time of the formulation constituents can have a profound impact on the fate of the active. Approaches to identify the ideal vehicle for skin delivery are considered critically, specifically the recent work on ‘formulating for efficacy’ (FFE) by the late Johann Wiechers. Essentially, FFE aims to match the active with the optimal vehicle for skin delivery based on matching polarity/solubility values of the trinity of skin, active and vehicle. The emerging importance of techniques that provide insight to how the vehicle distributes in and on skin is highlighted.
The revised COLIPA in vitro UVA method
Authors: Moyal D. , Alard V. , Bertin C. , Boyer F. , Brown M.W. , Kolbe L. , Matts P. , Pissavini M. 
Published: August 2012

SynopsisA multicentred study derived from the COLIPA in vitro UVA method was performed to assess the influence of test conditions on UVA protection factor (UVAPF) values in terms of amplitude, reproducibility between laboratories and correlation with in vivo UVA results. Eight products with a range of in vivo UVAPF from three to 29 were used. Two different types of plates, namely high‐roughness (5 μm) and low‐roughness (2 μm) plates, were used with a different application rate for each (1.3 mg cm−2 and 0.75 mg cm−2 respectively). The UVR dose applied to both plate types followed the same principle as the original test (1.2 J. cm−2 × UVAPF0). Strong, significant correlations between in vitro and in vivo UVAPF values were observed for both plate types (Pearson correlation > 0.9, P ≤ 0.01). The correlation and slope obtained with the low‐roughness plates confirmed the previous results obtained by COLIPA. Across all laboratories, higher UVAPF values were obtained on the high‐roughness plates (P < 0.01). Reproducibility of UVAPF values between laboratories was comparable between the two plate roughness values (low roughness, COV = 8%; high roughness, COV = 12%). Considering the in vitro/in vivo comparisons, a regression slope of 0.83 was observed for the low‐roughness plates, in comparison with a value of 1.05 for the high‐roughness plates. The accuracy of the method was improved, therefore, with the use of the high‐roughness plates. With a constraint to recommend the use of only one plate type in the COLIPA UVA in vitro Test, the high‐roughness plate was selected on an on‐going basis to limit variability of results and to provide better accuracy with in vivo data.
Absolute reliability of isokinetic knee flexion and extension measurements adopting a prone position
Authors: Ayala F. , De Ste Croix M. , Sainz de Baranda P. , Santonja F. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThe main purpose of this study was to determine the absolute and relative reliability of isokinetic peak torque (PT), angle of peak torque (APT), average power (PW) and total work (TW) for knee flexion and extension during concentric and eccentric actions measured in a prone position at 60, 180 and 240° s−1. A total of 50 recreational athletes completed the study. PT, APT, PW and TW for concentric and eccentric knee extension and flexion were recorded at three different angular velocities (60, 180 and 240° s−1) on three different occasions with a 72‐ to 96‐h rest interval between consecutive testing sessions. Absolute reliability was examined through typical percentage error (CVTE), percentage change in the mean (ChM) and relative reliability with intraclass correlations (ICC3,1). For both the knee extensor and flexor muscle groups, all strength data (except APT during knee flexion movements) demonstrated moderate absolute reliability (ChM < 3%; ICCs > 0·70; and CVTE < 20%) independent of the knee movement (flexion and extension), type of muscle action (concentric and eccentric) and angular velocity (60, 180 and 240° s−1). Therefore, the current study suggests that the CVTE values reported for PT (8–20%), APT (8–18%) (only during knee extension movements), PW (14–20%) and TW (12–28%) may be acceptable to detect the large changes usually observed after rehabilitation programmes, but not acceptable to examine the effect of preventative training programmes in healthy individuals.