bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The development of effective biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease: a review
Authors: Henry Mark S. , Passmore Anthony P. , Todd Stephen , McGuinness Bernadette , Craig David , Johnston Janet A. 
Published: June 2012

ObjectiveThere is a widely recognised need to develop effective Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers to aid the development of disease‐modifying treatments, to facilitate early diagnosis and to improve clinical care. This overview aims to summarise the utility of key neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for AD, before focusing on the latest efforts to identify informative blood biomarkers.DesignA literature search was performed using PubMed up to September 2011 for reviews and primary research studies of neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, positron emission tomography and amyloid imaging), CSF and blood‐based (plasma, serum and platelet) biomarkers in AD and mild cognitive impairment. Citations within individual articles were examined to identify additional studies relevant to this review.ResultsEvidence of AD biomarker potential was available for imaging techniques reflecting amyloid burden and neurodegeneration. Several CSF measures are promising, including 42 amino acid β‐amyloid peptide (Aβ42); total tau (T‐tau) protein, reflecting axonal damage; and phosphorylated tau (P‐tau), reflecting neurofibrillary tangle pathology. Studies of plasma Aβ have produced inferior diagnostic discrimination. Alternative plasma and platelet measures are described, which represent potential avenues for future research.ConclusionsSeveral imaging and CSF markers demonstrate utility in predicting AD progression and determining aetiology. These require standardisation before forming core elements of diagnostic criteria. The enormous potential available for identifying a minimally‐invasive, easily‐accessible blood measure as an effective AD biomarker currently remains unfulfilled. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic renal failure in lithium‐using geriatric patients: effects of lithium continuation versus discontinuation—a 60‐month retrospective study
Authors: Rej Soham , Abitbol Roza , Looper Karl , Segal Marilyn 
Published: June 2012

ObjectiveLithium remains an important treatment in bipolar disorder. Although lithium is often discontinued because of signs of renal failure, it is unclear if this alters the course of renal function in the majority of patients. We hypothesize that in geriatric patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), who have a high burden of medical illness, lithium continuation does not significantly impact renal function (glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of tertiary‐care geriatric psychiatry outpatients with a history of lithium use and evidence of CRF (eGFR ≤ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 on ≥ 2 occasions in ≥ 3 months). The 27 patients who met these criteria were divided into lithium ‘continuers’ (continued use ≥ 2 years following CRF) and ‘discontinuers’. Mean eGFR and creatinine were followed at 21 and 60 months after developing CRF.ResultsMean serum eGFR and creatinine were not significantly different between groups at any time during follow‐up. When comparing renal function at 60 months to baseline, a trend towards increased creatinine was seen in continuers (p = 0.06) but not in discontinuers. Changes in eGFR in continuers and discontinuers after 60 months did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.35 and 0.98). However, clinically important decreases in eGFR occurred in the majority of continuers but in none of the discontinuers.ConclusionsThere was a trend towards declining renal function in lithium continuers at 60‐month follow‐up. Future prospective longitudinal studies will be needed to confirm our findings. We suggest vigilance and close monitoring of renal function when continuing CRF patients on lithium for extended periods. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The hippocampal physiology of approaching middle‐age: Early indicators of change
Authors: Huxter John R. , Miranda Jason A. , Dias Rebecca 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAge‐related cognitive decline presents serious lifestyle challenges, and anatomical changes to the hippocampus are often implicated in clinical conditions later in life. However, relatively little is known about how hippocampal physiology is altered in the transition to middle‐age, when early detection may offer the best opportunity for successful treatment. High‐yield extracellular recording is a powerful tool for understanding brain function in freely moving animals at single‐cell resolution and with millisecond precision. We used this technique to characterize changes to hippocampal physiology associated with maturation in 35‐week‐old rats. Combining a series of behavioral tasks with recordings of large numbers of neurons, local field potentials (LFP), and network patterns of activation, we were able to generate a comprehensive picture based on more than 25 different assays for each subject. Notable changes associated with aging included increased firing rates in interneurons, reduced LFP power but increased frequency in the 4–12 Hz theta band, and impairment in hippocampal pattern‐separation for different environments. General properties of pyramidal cell firing and spatial map integrity were preserved. There was no impairment in theta phase‐precession, experience‐dependent place field expansion, or sleep reactivation of waking network patterns. There were however changes in foraging strategy and behavioral responses to the introduction of a novel environment. Taken together the results reveal a diverse pattern of changes which are of increasing relevance in an aging population. They also highlight areas where high‐yield electrophysiological assays can be used to provide the sensitivity and throughput required for pre‐clinical drug‐discovery programs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact and uncertainties of climate change on the hydrology of the Mara River basin, Kenya/Tanzania
Authors: Dessu Shimelis Behailu , Melesse Assefa Mekonnen 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe impact and uncertainty of climate change on the hydrology of the Mara River basin (MRB) was assessed. Sixteen global circulation models (GCMs) were evaluated, and five were selected for the assessment of future climate scenarios in the basin. Observed rainfall and temperature data for the control period (1961–1990) were combined with expected GCMs output using the delta and direct statistical downscaling methods and three greenhouse gas emission scenarios (A1B, A2 and B1). Uncertainties of climate change were addressed through compare and contrast of results across diverse GCMs, future climate scenarios and the two downscaling methods. Both methods produced a relatively similar annual rainfall amount, but their monthly and daily pattern showed considerable differences. The relative advantages and disadvantages of implementing one method over the other were also explored. The hydrologic impact of climate change in the basin was assessed using Soil and Water Assessment Tool. The model was calibrated and validated with observed data in the control period with (Nash–Sutcliff efficiency, coefficient of determination) results of (calibration: 0.68, 0.69) and (validation: 0.43, 0.44) at Mara Mines. Results have shown a statistically significant increase in flow volume of the Mara River flow at Mara Mines for the year 2046–2065 and 2081–2100. With due attention to the limitations, findings of this study have a wider application for water resources sustainability analysis in the MRB in the face of uncertainties due to climate change. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Model structure exploration for index flood regionalization
Authors: Han Dawei , Jaafar Wan Zurina Wan 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAlthough the nonlinear power form model structure is widely accepted by practitioners in the flood regionalization modelling, there is a lack of studies on whether there is a room for further improvement, and if the answer is yes, what should be done to explore alternative model structures. A framework is proposed in this study towards investigating this issue by the following steps: (i) a universal data‐driven model is utilized to see if there is a room for improvement compared with the conventional model, and (ii) if improvement is achieved, this means that there should exist more effective model structures than the current form. However, because the universal data‐driven models are usually opaque, more explicit model structures should be explored, which are convenient for practical usage. In this study, the proposed framework is applied in a case study using the catchment characteristics from the Flood Estimation Handbook in conjunction with the gamma test, support vector machine (SVM) and genetic programming (GP). First, the gamma test is used for the purpose of input variables selection where no model structure needs to be defined as a priori, and therefore, the result can be applied to any model structures for model building. Second, an SVM, which is a powerful data‐driven nonlinear model capable of modelling a variety of nonlinear systems, is applied to the index flood model for the first time. Once the best model is determined using those two data‐driven tools, GP is employed to find an alternative model structure. As the SVM is not formulated for producing explicit model functional form, the GP offers an advantage at this point where it can infer an explicit mathematical model functional form. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impacts of precipitation on the cryologic regime of stream channels
Authors: Turcotte Benoit , Morse Brian , Anctil François 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis paper examines the controlling influence of snow and rain on river ice processes in creeks and streams. Winter precipitation (in the form of rain and snow) has been observed to affect river ice processes and channel parameters of low and high gradient channels in unsuspected ways that can have significant impacts on channel hydraulics, hydrology and habitat. On a low gradient stream, a snowfall event initiated the development of an ice cover by creating unconsolidated snow slush bridges that eventually froze in place. Afterward, both snowfalls and rainfalls in alternation with cold spells dramatically increased the thickening rate of the ice cover well beyond that predicted by classic equations. In a smaller low‐gradient agricultural creek, wind‐blown snow impeded the formation of an ice cover by insulating the flow from cold atmospheric conditions. On steep channels (of different sizes and morphologies), anchor snow slush has been seen to accumulate on the bed substrate. As opposed to anchor ice, anchor snow slush is not believed to require supercooling water conditions to form nor to stay in place. Finally, in a steep headwater creek, a rain‐on‐snow event generated a snow slush flow and multiple snow slush jams. This phenomenon was seen to divert most of the water out of the channel into another watershed and concomitantly signalled a mid‐winter breakup in the greater watershed downstream. These observations suggest that the role of precipitation on small channel winter ice morphology and water flows, levels and currents has been severely underestimated and that any ecological winter studies, hydraulic structure designs and river modelling efforts need to include processes that are sometimes dominated by rain, slush and snow. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Seasonal sediment fluxes forcing supraglacial melting on the Wright Lower Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Authors: MacDonell Shelley A. , Fitzsimons Sean J. , Mölg Thomas 
Published: June 2012

AbstractCold‐based glaciers exist in low temperature and low humidity environments in which shortwave radiation is the largest source of energy to the glacier surface and the energy budget is very sensitive to the surface albedo. Consequently, the presence of relatively low volumes of debris on glacier surfaces has a significant impact on the timing, magnitude and rate of ablation at the surface. The aim of this study is to understand how the presence of sediment on the glacier surface at the start of the melt season can affect meltwater generation and delivery on a cold‐based glacier. A combination of field measurements, energy balance modelling and chemical mixing modelling were used on the Wright Lower Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, between October 2005 and January 2006 to address this aim. In this system, sediment was transported onto the glacier surface during the winter months (March–October) by foehn winds, which reduced surface albedo at the start of the summer melt season. The areas of the glacier on which sediment accumulated began to melt earlier than other parts of the glacier and experienced a longer melt season. Over the study period, the total ablation on the dirty surfaces was nine times greater than for clean ice. Ablation on the dirty surfaces is dominated by melting, whereas sublimation dominates the clean ice. As the sediment was unevenly distributed over the glacier surface, the variation in melt amount and timing drove the development of a cryoconite hole system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Continental scale modelling of in‐stream river water quality: a report on methodology, test runs, and scenario application
Authors: Voß Anja , Alcamo Joseph , Bärlund Ilona , Voß Frank , Kynast Ellen , Williams Richard , Malve Olli 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTo address the continental and large‐scale aspects of water quality assessments, new modelling approaches are required. This paper describes the development of a continental‐scale model of river water quality – WorldQual. Simple equations, consistent with the availability of data on the continental‐scale, are used to simulate the response of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and total dissolved solids (TDS) to anthropogenic loadings and flow dilution. A methodology is developed that is appropriate for scenario analysis on the continental and global scale. Average monthly river water quality is modelled on a 5 arcmin grid covering all Europe. Loadings are derived from assumptions about water use, return flows and other variables. The model WorldQual is tested against measured longitudinal gradients and time series data at specific river locations. The model performance on European scale shows that a good fit can be reached when using concentration classifications as a measure: For BOD5, 51% of the simulated data is in the same quality class as the measurements and 30% differ only by one water‐quality class; for TDS, the respective values are 35% and 41%. WorldQual was applied to investigate the impact of climate change on resulting changes of in‐stream concentrations. The results for Europe show that future climate changes only have a small impact on European in‐stream concentration levels of BOD5, except for the Eastern part and the Black Sea region. This effect is stronger for the IPCM4‐A2 scenario than for the MIMR‐A2 scenario. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
BEYOND THE NUMBERS: MINING THE ANNUAL REPORTS FOR HIDDEN CUES INDICATIVE OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT FRAUD
Authors: Goel Sunita , Gangolly Jagdish 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYUnlike previous fraud detection research, a vast majority of which has focused primarily on the use of quantitative financial information to predict fraud, in this study we examine qualitative textual content in annual reports to predict fraud and see whether there are discernible differences in the writing and presentation style between companies that committed fraud and those that did not. We believe that while numeric financial information in the annual reports can hide details of fraud, textual information relating to writing and presentation styles in such reports provides valuable clues pertaining to the existence of fraud. In this study we use the chi‐square test to analyse our data and test hypotheses about predictors of fraud that may explain linguistic feature variations in fraudulent and nonfraudulent annual reports. We provide new results on the usefulness of the qualitative content of annual reports in detecting fraud. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contribution of N : P ratio and endogenous phytohormones during development of phosphorus toxicity in Brassica campestris spp. parachinensis
Authors: Yang Xian , Gu Mengmeng , Kang Yunyan , Feng Xinfu 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAgricultural practices may lead to excessive phosphorus (P) accumulation in soil. The effects of excessive P on Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica campestris spp. parachinensis) were investigated by exposing plants for 4 weeks in solution containing 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 mM NaH2PO4. Phosphorus concentrations [P] greater than 3 mM produced significantly stunted growth, together with reduced appearance quality due to overaccumulation of anthocyanin in the epidermis of flower stalk. Nitrate concentrations in the flower stalk decreased with increasing solution [P]. Nitrogen (N) concentrations in the roots and potassium (K) concentrations in the leaves, stems, and roots all decreased at [P] higher than 3 mM. Increasing P supply caused great enhancement of root and stem [P], but decreased total plant and root N : P ratios. A positive linear relationship between solution [P] and anthocyanin concentration and a negative linear relationship between root N : P ratio and anthocyanin concentration were also observed. In addition, 3 to 7 mM P caused decreased levels of indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin (GA3) in the leaves, but promoted ethylene production. The average gibberellin concentration was generally correlated with the plant's relative growth rates. Ethylene was negatively correlated with plant growth parameters except for the last day of the experiment. In conclusion, N : P ratio and endogenous phytohormones may be involved in the development of P toxicity in Chinese flowering cabbage plants.
Comparison of water‐retention functions obtained from the extended evaporation method and the standard methods sand/kaolin boxes and pressure plate extractor
Authors: Schindler Uwe , Mueller Lothar , da Veiga Milton , Zhang Yuming , Schlindwein Sandro , Hu Chunsheng 
Published: June 2012

AbstractKnowledge of the soil hydraulic functions is required for various hydrological studies and for the simulation of water and solute fluxes in unsaturated soils. Sand/kaolin boxes are frequently used to determine these properties in the low‐tension range. For higher tensions the pressure plate extractor is mainly applied. The extended evaporation method allows a more efficient determination of the water‐retention curve in an adequate range. Besides this method enables to quantify simultaneously the unsaturated hydraulic‐conductivity function. The objective of this study was to compare the water‐retention curves obtained from the standard methods (STM) with those determined with the extended evaporation method (EEM). A set of 90 natural soil samples of different texture and origin was analyzed, and the agreement between the methods was statistically evaluated. The average water‐content deviation (AWCD) of all samples was 1.83 vol.%, and the root mean square error (RMSE) 2.08 vol.%. The deviation of soil water‐storage capacity in the pore‐size classes 0–6, 6–30, 30–500, 500–1500 kPa varied between minimum –0.17 and 0.25 vol.% and maximum –2.89 and 2.36 vol.%, and confirmed the good comparability among the adopted methods. Systematic deviations between the methods were not found.
Preoperative evaluation and management of the pancreatic head mass
Authors: Conrad Claudius , Fernández‐del Castillo Carlos 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe differential diagnosis of a pancreatic head mass encompasses a wide range of clinical entities that include both solid and cystic lesions. This chapter focuses on our approach to the patient presenting with a newly found pancreatic head mass with the main goals of determining the risk of the lesion being malignant or premalignant, resectability if the patient is appropriate for surgical intervention, assessment of need for multimodality treatment and determination the patient's surgical risk. J. Surg. Oncol. 2013;107:23–32. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Long‐term outcomes in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiation followed by curative surgical resection
Authors: Lim Seok‐Byung , Yu Chang Sik , Hong Yong Sang , Kim Tae Won , Kim Jong Hoon , Kim Jin Cheon 
Published: June 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the oncologic outcomes and clinical factors affecting survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by curative surgical resection.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed outcomes in 581 patients who underwent preoperative CRT for advanced rectal cancer (T3/4 or node positive) followed by curative resection. All patients received preoperative radiation to the entire pelvis, at a total dose of 45–50.4 Gy in 20–25 fractions for 4–5 weeks, and 569 (97.9%) patients received concurrent chemotherapy with a 5‐FU based agent. All patients underwent a curative proctectomy, including total mesorectal excision, a median 6 weeks later, and 432 (74.4%) patients underwent sphincter‐saving surgery. Oncologic outcomes, including survival and recurrence, were evaluated according to pathologic parameters, and factors affecting survival were investigated.ResultsThe 5‐year disease‐free and overall survival rates were 72.4% and 77.8%, respectively. Eighty‐nine patients (15.3%) had a pathologic complete response. Multivariate analysis showed that ypN category independently affected 5‐year overall survival rates (ypN0 88.0%; ypN1 55.1%; ypN2 47.1%; P < 0.001). Factors independently affecting 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) rates included ypN category (ypN0 84.5%; ypN1 44.2%; ypN2 34.9%; P < 0.001), tumor regression grade (TRG1 52.9%; TRG2 72.0%; TRG3 86.7%; TRG4 86.8%; P = 0.004) and surgical method (sphincter‐saving 76.3%; sphincter sacrificing 61.7%; P = 0.005).ConclusionLess advanced pathologic N‐stage is a significantly favorable prognostic factor for disease‐free and overall survival, with good response and sphincter saving surgery benefiting DFS. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 106:659–666. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers in Polymer Matrix Using Terahertz Time‐Domain Spectroscopy
Authors: Xie Ling‐Hai , Dai Hao , Jin Biao‐Bing , Han Yuan , Tai Qiang , Yi Ming‐Dong , Yang Tao , Wu Pei‐Heng , Huang Wei 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTerahertz time‐domain spectroscopy (THz‐TDS) technique allows us to analyze plastic additives. A series of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALSs), including TMP, PMP, BB‐PMP, Chimassorb 944 and 119, and a nitroxide free radical of 4‐hydroxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (HTEMPO) in the matrix of high‐density polyethylene are characterized in the range of 0.2–2.6 THz. TMP, PMP, and BB‐PMP exhibit individual well‐resolved terahertz (THz) absorption spectra at room temperature. Furthermore, a linear relationship of the content of TMP versus the intensity of it first THz absorption peak are demonstrated with the detection limit of about 1.6% (w/w). In addition, PMP exhibit water‐dependent characteristic THz absorption spectra. THz‐TDS will afford a potential tool to investigate the stabilizing mechanism of HALS and monitor their evolution.