bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Precipitation manipulation experiments – challenges and recommendations for the future
Authors: Beier Claus , Beierkuhnlein Carl , Wohlgemuth Thomas , Penuelas Josep , Emmett Bridget , Körner Christian , de Boeck Hans , Christensen Jens Hesselbjerg , Leuzinger Sebastian , Janssens Ivan A. , Hansen Karin 
Published: May 2012

AbstractClimatic changes, including altered precipitation regimes, will affect key ecosystem processes, such as plant productivity and biodiversity for many terrestrial ecosystems. Past and ongoing precipitation experiments have been conducted to quantify these potential changes. An analysis of these experiments indicates that they have provided important information on how water regulates ecosystem processes. However, they do not adequately represent global biomes nor forecasted precipitation scenarios and their potential contribution to advance our understanding of ecosystem responses to precipitation changes is therefore limited, as is their potential value for the development and testing of ecosystem models. This highlights the need for new precipitation experiments in biomes and ambient climatic conditions hitherto poorly studied applying relevant complex scenarios including changes in precipitation frequency and amplitude, seasonality, extremity and interactions with other global change drivers. A systematic and holistic approach to investigate how soil and plant community characteristics change with altered precipitation regimes and the consequent effects on ecosystem processes and functioning within these experiments will greatly increase their value to the climate change and ecosystem research communities. Experiments should specifically test how changes in precipitation leading to exceedance of biological thresholds affect ecosystem resilience and acclimation.
The impact of culturally competent diabetes care interventions for improving diabetes‐related outcomes in ethnic minority groups: a systematic review
Authors: Zeh P. , Sandhu H. K. , Cannaby A. M. , Sturt J. A. 
Published: May 2012

Diabet. Med. 29, 1237–1252 (2012)AbstractAim  To examine the evidence on culturally competent interventions tailored to the needs of people with diabetes from ethnic minority groups.Methods  MEDLINE (NHS Evidence), CINAHL and reference lists of retrieved papers were searched from inception to September 2011; two National Health Service specialist libraries were also searched. Google, Cochrane and DARE databases were interrogated and experts consulted. Studies were included if they reported primary research on the impact of culturally competent interventions on outcome measures of any ethnic minority group with diabetes. Paper selection and appraisal were conducted independently by two reviewers. The heterogeneity of the studies required narrative analysis. A novel culturally competent assessment tool was used to systematically assess the cultural competency of each intervention.Results  Three hundred and twenty papers were retrieved and 11 included. Study designs varied with a diverse range of service providers. Of the interventions, 64% were found to be highly culturally competent (scoring 90–100%) and 36% moderately culturally competent (70–89%). Data were collected from 2616 participants on 22 patient‐reported outcome measures. A consistent finding from 10 of the studies was that any structured intervention, tailored to ethnic minority groups by integrating elements of culture, language, religion and health literacy skills, produced a positive impact on a range of patient‐important outcomes.Conclusions  Benefits in using culturally competent interventions with ethnic minority groups with diabetes were identified. The majority of interventions described as culturally competent were confirmed as so, when assessed using the culturally competent assessment tool. Further good quality research is required to determine effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of culturally competent interventions to influence diabetes service commissioners.
The homologous homeodomain‐leucine zipper transcription factors HaHB1 and AtHB13 confer tolerance to drought and salinity stresses via the induction of proteins that stabilize membranes
Authors: Cabello Julieta V. , Chan Raquel L. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryTransgenic approaches to conferring tolerance to abiotic stresses have mostly resulted in some degree of plant yield penalty under normal or mild stress conditions. Recently, we have reported that the homeodomain‐leucine zipper transcription factors (TFs) HaHB1 and AtHB13 were able to confer tolerance to freezing temperatures via the induction of glucanase (GLU and PR2) and chitinase (PR4) proteins. In the present study, we show that the expression of these TFs, as well as that of their putative targets AtPR2, AtPR4 and AtGLU, is up‐regulated by drought and salinity stresses. Transgenic plants overexpressing separately these five genes exhibited tolerance to severe drought and salinity stresses, displaying a cell membrane stabilization mechanism. Under normal or mild stress conditions, these plants achieved an improved yield associated with higher chlorophyll content. Moreover, overexpression of the sunflower HaHB1 gene from its own, inducible, promoter conferred a high drought‐stress tolerance without yield penalty under normal or mild stress conditions. We propose these TFs as potential biotechnological tools to breed crops for tolerance to multiple stresses and for increased yield.
Eigenfunctions and Very Singular Similarity Solutions of Odd‐Order Nonlinear Dispersion PDEs: Toward a “Nonlinear Airy Function” and Others
Authors: Fernandes R.S. , Galaktionov V.A. 
Published: May 2012

Asymptotic properties of nonlinear dispersion equations

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with fixed exponents n > 0 and p > n+ 1, and their (2k+ 1)th‐order analogies are studied. The global in time similarity solutions, which lead to “nonlinear eigenfunctions” of the rescaled ordinary differential equations (ODEs), are constructed. The basic mathematical tools include a “homotopy‐deformation” approach, where the limit in the first equation in (1) turns out to be fruitful. At n= 0 the problem is reduced to the linear dispersion one:

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whose oscillatory fundamental solution via Airy’s classic function has been known since the nineteenth century. The corresponding Hermitian linear non‐self‐adjoint spectral theory giving a complete countable family of eigenfunctions was developed earlier in [1]. Various other nonlinear operator and numerical methods for (1) are also applied. As a key alternative, the “super‐nonlinear” limit , with the limit partial differential equation (PDE)

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admitting three almost “algebraically explicit” nonlinear eigenfunctions, is performed.For the second equation in (1), very singular similarity solutions (VSSs) are constructed. In particular, a “nonlinear bifurcation” phenomenon at critical values {p=pl(n)}l≥0 of the absorption exponents is discussed.
‘Livin’ on the Straights’: Identity, Desistance, and Work among Women Post‐Incarceration*
Authors: Opsal Tara 
Published: May 2012

This study explores how a group of women recently released from prison as parolees attempt to sustain their exit from deviant careers by constructing replacement selves. To examine this process, I analyze semi‐structured interviews with female ex‐offenders and show how they draw on work as a hook for change (Giordano et al. 2002) in their unfolding identity work. Contrary to traditional gendered scripts, these women view themselves as active participants in the world of work. Upon release not only do they desire to work to meet financial needs, but they also use employment as an avenue through which they begin to construct pro‐social replacement selves. Drawing on longitudinal qualitative data, I point out that as time on the outside passed, many of the women continued to use work as a way to fashion new conventional selves despite their experiences with low‐quality working conditions. I also provide evidence, however, that when women experience significant employment instability, they are unable to sustain their hopeful identity project and, instead, reengage their past deviant selves.
Role of action potential configuration and the contribution of Ca2+ and K+ currents to isoprenaline‐induced changes in canine ventricular cells
Authors: Szentandrássy N , Farkas V , Bárándi L , Hegyi B , Ruzsnavszky F , Horváth B , Bányász T , Magyar J , Márton I , Nánási PP 
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although isoprenaline (ISO) is known to activate several ion currents in mammalian myocardium, little is known about the role of action potential morphology in the ISO‐induced changes in ion currents. Therefore, the effects of ISO on action potential configuration, L‐type Ca2+ current (ICa), slow delayed rectifier K+ current (IKs) and fast delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr) were studied and compared in a frequency‐dependent manner using canine isolated ventricular myocytes from various transmural locations.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Action potentials were recorded with conventional sharp microelectrodes; ion currents were measured using conventional and action potential voltage clamp techniques.KEY RESULTS In myocytes displaying a spike‐and‐dome action potential configuration (epicardial and midmyocardial cells), ISO caused reversible shortening of action potentials accompanied by elevation of the plateau. ISO‐induced action potential shortening was absent in endocardial cells and in myocytes pretreated with 4‐aminopyridine. Application of the IKr blocker E‐4031 failed to modify the ISO effect, while action potentials were lengthened by ISO in the presence of the IKs blocker HMR‐1556. Both action potential shortening and elevation of the plateau were prevented by pretreatment with the ICa blocker nisoldipine. Action potential voltage clamp experiments revealed a prominent slowly inactivating ICa followed by a rise in IKs, both currents increased with increasing the cycle length.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The effect of ISO in canine ventricular cells depends critically on action potential configuration, and the ISO‐induced activation of IKs– but not IKr– may be responsible for the observed shortening of action potentials.
Bronchoprotection in conscious guinea pigs by budesonide and the NO‐donating analogue, TPI 1020, alone and combined with tiotropium or formoterol
Authors: Turner DL , Ferrari N , Ford WR , Kidd EJ , Nevin B , Paquet L , Renzi P , Broadley KJ 
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Inhaled corticosteroids, anticholinergics and β2‐adrenoceptor agonists are frequently combined for treating chronic respiratory diseases. We examine the corticosteroid, budesonide, and novel NO‐donating derivative, TPI 1020, against histamine‐ and methacholine‐induced bronchoconstriction and whether they enhance the β2‐adrenoceptor agonist formoterol or muscarinic antagonist tiotropium in conscious guinea pigs.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Dunkin‐Hartley guinea pigs received inhaled histamine (3 mM) or methacholine (1.5 mM) and specific airway conductance (sGaw) was measured before and 15 or 75 min after treatment with budesonide, TPI 1020, tiotropium or formoterol alone or in combinations.KEY RESULTS Formoterol (0.7–10 µM) and budesonide (0.11–0.7 mM) inhibited histamine‐induced bronchoconstriction and tiotropium (2–20 µM) inhibited methacholine‐induced bronchoconstriction by up to 70.8 ± 16.6%, 34.9 ± 4.4% and 85.1 ± 14.3%, respectively. Formoterol (2.5 µM) or tiotropium (2 µM) alone exerted small non‐significant bronchoprotection. However, when co‐administered with TPI 1020 0.11 mM, which alone had no significant effect, there was significant inhibition of the bronchoconstriction (45.7 ± 12.2% and 79.7 ± 21.4%, respectively). Co‐administering budesonide (0.11 mM) with tiotropium (2 µM), which alone had no effect, also significantly inhibited the methacholine bronchoconstriction (36.5 ± 13.0%), but there was no potentiation of formoterol against histamine. The NO scavenger, CPTIO, prevented the bronchoprotection by SNAPand TPI 1020.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS TPI 1020 potentiated the bronchoprotection by formoterol and tiotropium. Budesonide also enhanced the effects of tiotropium but not formoterol. Combination of TPI 1020 with a long‐acting β2‐adrenoceptor agonist or muscarinic receptor antagonist may therefore be a more potent therapeutic approach for treatment of chronic respiratory diseases.
Pregnancy outcomes for nulliparous women of advanced maternal age in South Australia, 1998–2008
Authors: Ludford Isobel , Scheil Wendy , Tucker Graeme , Grivell Rosalie 
Published: May 2012

BackgroundChild bearing in the later reproductive years has become increasingly common in Australia with potential implications for clinical practice.AimTo examine pregnancy outcomes for nulliparous women of advanced maternal age with singleton pregnancies.MethodsA retrospective population‐based cohort study was conducted to compare the pregnancy outcomes for women aged 35–39 years and ≥40 years with women aged 25–29 years, analysing 34 695 records from the South Australian Perinatal Database between 1998 and 2008.ResultsPre‐existing hypertension [relative risks (RR) 1.98 and 2.94 for women aged 35–39 years and ≥40 years, respectively], placenta praevia (RR 2.88 and 3.68), suspected intrauterine growth restriction (RR 1.33 and 1.77) and gestational diabetes (RR 1.97 and 2.53) increased with age. Women of advanced maternal age were more likely to have not laboured prior to birth (RR 2.19 and 3.28), be induced (RR 1.12 and 1.27) and have a breech presentation (RR 1.57 and 1.60). The likelihood of fetal distress increased with advancing maternal age (RR 1.15 and 1.24). Regression analyses revealed women of advanced maternal age were significantly more likely to have small for gestational age infants [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) 1.26 and 1.50], preterm birth (AOR 1.26 and 1.43), elective caesarean [relative risk ratios (RRR) 2.55 and 4.52], emergency caesarean (RRR 1.59 and 2.21) and experience a perinatal death (RRR 1.94 and 2.18).ConclusionsThe likelihood of pre‐existing medical conditions, obstetric complications, adverse labour and birth outcomes and complications increased with advancing maternal age. Advanced maternal age was also independently associated with selected adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes.
Comparative effectiveness of mechanically and electrically powered negative pressure wound therapy devices: A multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Armstrong David G. , Marston William A. , Reyzelman Alexander M. , Kirsner Robert S. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis study was designed to compare the ultraportable mechanically powered Smart Negative Pressure (SNaP) Wound Care System (Spiracur, Sunnyvale, CA) with the electrically powered Vacuum‐Assisted Closure (VAC) Therapy System (Kinetic Concepts, Inc. [KCI], San Antonio, TX) in a multicenter, comparative efficacy, noninferiority‐powered, randomized controlled trial. We enrolled 132 people with noninfected, nonischemic, nonplantar lower extremity diabetic and venous wounds. Each subject was randomly assigned (1:1) to treatment with either system in conjunction with appropriate off‐loading and compression therapy. The trial evaluated treatment for up to 16 weeks or complete wound closure (defined as complete reepithelialization without drainage). Primary end point analysis of wound size reduction found that SNaP‐treated subjects demonstrated noninferiority to the VAC‐treated subjects at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks (p = 0.0030, 0.0130, 0.0051, and 0.0044, respectively). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed no significant difference in complete wound closure between SNaP‐ and VAC‐treated subjects at all time points. Device related adverse events and complications such as infection were also similar between treatment groups. These data support similar wound healing outcomes between the SNaP system and the VAC system in the population studied.
Effects of collagen prosthesis cross‐linking on long‐term tissue regeneration following the repair of an abdominal wall defect
Authors: Pascual Gemma , Rodríguez Marta , Sotomayor Sandra , Moraleda Eduardo , Bellón Juan M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractCollagen prostheses used to repair abdominal wall defects, depending on their pretreatment (noncross‐linked vs. cross‐linked), besides repair may also achieve tissue regeneration. We assessed the host tissue incorporation of different bioprostheses using a new tool that combines immunofluorescence confocal microscopy with differential interference contrast images, making it possible to distinguish newly formed collagen. Partial hernial defects in the abdominal wall of rabbits were repaired using cross‐linked/noncross‐linked bioprostheses. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) was used as control. After 14/30/90/180 days of implant, specimens were taken for microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative‐reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction to determine host tissue ingrowth and collagen I/III protein and 1a1/3a1 gene expression. Shrinkage and stress resistance were also examined. At 14 days, cross‐linked prostheses had suffered significantly less shrinkage than ePTFE or noncross‐linked prostheses. Significantly higher shrinkage was recorded for ePTFE in the longer term. Microscopy revealed encapsulation of ePTFE by neoformed tissue, while the bioprostheses became gradually infiltrated by host tissue. Noncross‐linked prosthesis showed better tissue ingrowth, more intense inflammatory reaction and more rapid degradation than the cross‐linked prostheses. At 14 days, cross‐linked prostheses induced up‐regulated collagen 1a1 and 3a1 gene expression, while noncross‐linked only showed increased collagen III protein expression at 90 days postimplant. At 6 months, the tensile strengths of cross‐linked prostheses were significantly greater compared with ePTFE. Our findings demonstrate that despite the cross‐linked collagen prostheses promoting less tissue ingrowth than the noncross‐linked meshes, they became gradually replaced by good quality host tissue and were less rapidly degraded, leading to improved stress resistance in the long term.
Increased in vitro differentiation of fibrocytes from keloid patients is inhibited by serum amyloid P
Authors: Naylor Michelle C. , Lazar David A. , Zamora Irving J. , Mushin Oren P. , Yu Ling , Brissett Anthony E. , Olutoye Oluyinka O. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractKeloid scarring is a form of fibroproliferative dermal wound healing characterized by growth beyond the confines of the original wound. Fibrocytes, derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and inhibited by serum amyloid P (SAP), have been linked to other fibroproliferative diseases. We hypothesized that peripheral blood mononuclear cells of keloid formers have a higher propensity to differentiate into fibrocytes and are more resistant to the effects of SAP. To test this hypothesis, plasma was isolated from peripheral blood samples of keloid (n = 10) and age/sex/race‐matched control (n = 10) subjects, and SAP levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Equal numbers of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were also isolated from these samples and fibrocytes cultured in serum‐free media with increasing concentrations of SAP. No difference in plasma SAP levels was found between keloid and control subjects. In the absence of SAP, keloid patients (n = 7) had almost 20 times more fibrocytes than controls (n = 7) in culture (median: 1,087 cells vs. 60 cells; p < 0.01). SAP inhibited the differentiation of keloid fibrocytes in vitro, although a higher concentration of SAP was needed when compared with controls (20 μg/mL keloid vs. 5 μg/mL control). Fibrocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of keloids, and SAP has potential as a therapeutic agent in the prevention of these lesions.
A systematic review of the performance of instruments designed to measure the dimensions of pressure ulcers
Authors: O'Meara Susan M. , Bland J. Martin , Dumville Jo C. , Cullum Nicky A. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe objective was to undertake a systematic review of the performance of wound measurement instruments used for patients with pressure ulcers. Studies of any design, evaluating methods for estimating wound diameter, depth, surface area, or volume in patients with pressure ulcers were included. Eligible evaluations had to report intra‐ or inter‐rater reliability, accuracy, agreement, or feasibility of methods. Electronic databases and other sources were accessed for study identification. Included studies were critically appraised using a modified checklist for diagnostic test evaluations. Twelve studies were included. Most had methodological problems and/or used inappropriate statistical methods. Reliable methods for measuring pressure ulcer surface area may include: grid tracings from photographs combined with whole plus partial square count; a portable digital pad; and stereophotogrammetry combined with computerized image analysis. The agreement between photographic tracing and direct transparency tracing may be satisfactory (both methods being combined with computerized planimetry). No definitive conclusions could be reached about studies of diameter or depth; this means that there is little evidence to underpin recommendations in clinical guidelines. Evaluations of volume measurement were of poor quality, and there were few data on feasibility. Further primary research is needed to evaluate methods of wound measurement used in clinical practice.
Analysis of the proteomic profile of chronic pressure ulcers
Authors: Edsberg Laura E. , Wyffels Jennifer T. , Brogan Michael S. , Fries Kristin M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAnalysis of the proteomic profile of pressure ulcers over time is a critical step in the identification of biomarkers of healing or nonhealing in pressure ulcers. The wound fluid from 32 subjects with 42 pressure ulcers was evaluated over 6 weeks at 15 time points. Samples specific to both the interior and the periphery of the wound bed were collected. Antibody screening arrays, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation with mass spectrometry and multiplexed microarrays were used to characterize wound fluid and results were correlated with clinical outcome. Twenty‐one proteins were found to distinguish between healed and chronic wounds and 19 proteins were differentially expressed between the interior and periphery of wounds. Four proteins, pyruvate kinase isozymes M1/M2, profilin‐1, Ig lambda‐1 chain C regions, and Ig gamma‐1 chain C region, were present in lower levels for periphery samples when compared to interior samples and six proteins, keratin, type II cytoskeletal 6A (KRT6A), keratin, type I cytoskeletal 14, S100 calcium binding proteins A7, alpha‐1‐antitrypsin precursor, hemoglobin subunit alpha, and hemoglobin subunit beta, were present in higher levels in periphery samples when compared with interior samples. S100 calcium binding protein A6, S100 calcium binding protein A7, and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end‐products had higher levels in the periphery of chronic wounds vs. the interior in planar arrays. A significant temporal trend was noted for monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG), synonomous with chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9), which increased as wounds healed and remained nearly constant for ulcers that were not approaching closure.