bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of the Mednogorsk copper smelter on human health and soil environmental quality in Orenburg Region, Russia
Authors: Polyakov Dmitry G. , Zhikharev Alexander P. , Karpukhin Mikhail M. , Yáñez Carolina , Neaman Alexander
Published: April 2024

Nonferrous metal smelting operations are a recognized source of metal accumulation in surrounding soils. In Mednogorsk, Russia, soil contamination results from atmospheric emissions from a local copper (Cu) smelter. This study aimed to assess health risks by analyzing the levels of Cu, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in 20 Mednogorsk topsoil samples and three background area samples. The phytotoxicity of metals to Lolium perenne was also evaluated. The soil ingestion protocol of the US Environmental Protection Agency was used for health risk assessment. Phytotoxicity tests were performed on ryegrass using a standard protocol. The levels of Cu correlated with those of other elements, indicating that the smelter was the source. Of concern, the carcinogenic risk exceeded the 10-04 threshold in 85% and 15% of the samples for children under five years of age and adults, respectively. In addition, 60% of the samples exceeded the safe Pb threshold for children's health (80 mg kg-1). These risk levels are unacceptable and require specific intervention by the relevant authorities. However, only 20% of the samples showed high phytotoxicity, mostly in acidic soils (pH<4.0). This discussion focuses on the potential of soil phytostabilization to reduce human metal exposure, as the results provide valuable insights for managing metal pollution in regions affected by nonferrous smelter emissions worldwide.
Propuesta para normalizar el avance en la construcción de desarrollos horizontales subterráneos y su impacto en la planificación minera
Authors:   , Ramírez Cornejo Sebastián
Published: April 2024

Los proyectos mineros conocidos como Super Caves o megaproyectos caving, traen consigo nuevos desafíos en términos de control y gestión de la preparación y planificación minera. Estudiar los indicadores actuales y las variables que impactan los desarrollos, resulta clave para definir metodologías y mejoras operativas que permitan mantener la competitividad y el nivel de producción, a pesar del envejecimiento de los yacimientos mineros. Un desafío importante en la construcción de estos megaproyectos es la basta infraestructura que van a necesitar y la gran cantidad de kilómetros de túneles que se deberán desarrollar. El objetivo de esta tesis es proponer una metodología que permita estimar con mayor certeza el tiempo de construcción de un túnel e identificar aquellas actividades críticas del ciclo de construcción. El estudio se realiza mediante un modelo de simulación de eventos discretos que permite predecir el tiempo de ciclo de construcción para distintos tamaños de desarrollo. Los datos utilizados para este estudio y los escenarios de experimentación simulados corresponden a la División El Teniente de Codelco.
Reconfigurar el imaginario religioso. Neoliberalismo y tecnología en Los cuerpos del verano y Los mantras modernos de Martín Felipe Castagnet
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Letras, Mallea Díaz Mario Benjamín
Published: April 2024

La presente tesis está centrada en el análisis de las novelas Los cuerpos del verano (2012) y Los mantras modernos (2017), ambas escritas por el autor argentino Martín Felipe Castagnet, ambas pertenecientes al género ciencia ficción. En ellas, la tecnología, la religión y el capitalismo se presentan como elementos que forman un vínculo entre sí y que resultan claves para poder comprender el imaginario de estos mundos que colisionan con la realidad del lector. A modo de hipótesis, se propone el desplazamiento de imaginarios religiosos presentes en las historias, un hecho motivado por la incidencia de la tecnología y el neoliberalismo en la sociedad.
Evaluación de la respuesta inmune anti-tumoral mediada por linfocitos T en organoides derivados de pacientes con cáncer de vesícula biliar
Authors:   , Obreque Castro Javiera Constanza
Published: April 2024

El cáncer de vesícula biliar (GBC) es una de las neoplasias más comunes y agresivas dentro del tracto biliar. Particularmente en nuestro país, el GBC se ha reportado como un problema de salud pública, especialmente en mujeres donde contribuye como la quinta causa de muerte por cáncer. Actualmente, el único tratamiento efectivo es la resección quirúrgica de la vesícula en estadios temprano. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los pacientes son diagnosticados en estadios avanzados, donde la única alternativa terapéutica es la quimioterapia con gemcitabina y cisplatino, la cual presenta muy baja respuesta. Es por esto, que la búsqueda de nuevos blancos de terapia y de modelos preclínicos que representen fielmente la respuesta a terapias ha cobrado gran interés en la investigación biomédica con enfoques en medicina personalizada. En los tumores de GBC se ha descrito la presencia de las células iniciadoras de tumor (TICs) o cancer stem cells (CSC), caracterizadas por la expresión doble positiva de los marcadores CD44 y CD133. Una de las características de las TICs, es la evasión de la respuesta inmune antitumoral, a través, de la expresión de los immune checkpoint (o puntos de control inmune) desencadenando la supresión de los linfocitos T citotóxicos, encargados de orquestar la respuesta inmune antitumoral. En los últimos años, la inmunoterapia ha revolucionado el tratamiento del cáncer y actualmente se utiliza con resultados favorables en el tratamiento de diferentes tipos de tumores. Dentro de las inmunoterapias aprobadas por la FDA, se encuentran los inhibidores de los inmune checkpoint, PD-L1/PD-1, CTLA4 y LAG-3. Inicialmente estas terapias fueron aprobados para su uso en melanoma, pero en la actualidad los dos primeros se utilizan en variados tipos de cáncer incluido el gástrico. Por lo tanto, para el análisis de la respuesta y predicción a estas nuevas inmunoterapias se requiere de nuevos modelos in vitro de cáncer, que sean capaces de recapitular la interacción de las células del cáncer con el componente inmune. Dentro de estos modelos, se propone el uso de los cultivos 3D de organoides tumorales derivados de pacientes (PDOs) como una poderosa herramienta que imita las características histológicas, genéticas y fisiopatológicas del tumor del cual derivan. Sin embargo, el principal desafío es enriquecer este modelo de PDOs tumorales con células del componente inmune para poder estudiar la respuesta de los pacientes a la inmunoterapia. Actualmente, el uso de co-cultivo entre organoides y células inmunes, se ha utilizado para generar linfocitos TCD8 reactivos y evaluar la capacidad citotóxica TCD8 en contra de las células tumorales. Tomando todo esto en consideración, el presente proyecto de tesis tuvo como hipótesis: “La interacción directa entre organoides derivados de pacientes con cáncer de vesícula biliar y células inmunes, permite evaluar la respuesta antitumoral mediada por linfocitos T y el efecto de inhibidores de PD-1”.
Preferences and Perceptions of Paediatric Dentists’ Attire among 4-12-year-old Children: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Felemban Osama M , Aldajani Mariam B , Abdullah Abeer M , Alqarni Yasmeen A , Batarfi Amal A , Bagher Sara M
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Dentists’ attire includes their choice of clothes and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to follow infection control measures. Investigating and understanding the paediatric patient’s preferences and perceptions towards the dentist’s attire can aid in establishing a more efficient and smoother relationship between them. Aim: To determine the children’s preferences and perceptions of their paediatric dentist’s attire and PPE among four to 12- year-old children. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included four to 12-year-old Arabic-speaking children attending Department of Paediatric Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for dental treatment with their parents/ guardians between February 2022 and April 2022. Data were collected from the participants using a validated Arabic electronic questionnaire to determine their preferences regarding different parts and types of the dentist’s attire and PPE, as well as their perceptions and feelings of comfort towards the dentist wearing the full standard PPE. Data were summarised as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables or means and standard deviations for continuous variables. The significance threshold was set at 0.05. Results: A total of 362 participants with a mean age of 8.4±2.3 years and their parents/guardians participated in the study. Female dentists were significantly more favoured by both male and female participants, with statistical significance among females (p<0.001) and younger participants (p<0.001). Both males and females (p=0.025) and older participants (p = 0.001) significantly favoured the traditional white coats over colourful paediatric coats. Furthermore, older participants significantly preferred surgical masks over paediatric masks (p<0.001), face shields as eye protection (p<0.001), and no head cover over colourful paediatric caps (p<0.001). Male participants showed significantly better acceptability towards the dentist wearing the full standard PPE. Conclusion: Both genders and younger children preferred female dentists. The traditional white coat is the most preferred attire by both genders and older children. Male and older children showed higher acceptability for the full standard PPE.
The Role of Measuring Preoperative Social Maturation Score in Children With Additional Needs Who Underwent Cochlear Implantation
Authors: Choi Ji Won , Lee Yun Ji , Kang Woo Seok , Ahn Joong Ho , Park Hong Ju , Chung Jong Woo
Published: April 2024

Background and Objectives: Additional needs refer to specific requirements or support for individuals with disabilities or syndromes. Intellectual ability is a crucial outcome determinant of a cochlear implant. The social quotient (SQ) is an indirect predictor of intellectual capacity and social skills. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of the SQ on children with additional needs who received cochlear implants. Subjects andMethods: This study included 24 patients with diagnosed developmental delays and syndromes, who demonstrated SQ scores of <70. Preoperative social skills were evaluated using the SQ. All patients underwent cochlear implantation (CI) surgery before 7 years of age. Outcomes were evaluated using the Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) and Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) scores. Data were collected through a retrospective chart review.Results: Children were categorized into three groups based on their SQ. There were no correlations between the preoperative SQ and IT-MAIS or CAP scores at 2 and 5 years of follow-up postoperatively. The CI outcomes of children with low SQ (<70) differed from those with normal development (SQ>70). In the low-SQ group, inner ear anomalies were observed in 10 (41.7%) patients. Although not statistically significant, these children exhibited a trend of lower average outcomes than children without inner ear anomalies.Conclusions: CI outcomes in children with additional needs positively affected auditory performance. Postoperative auditory and language skills tended to improve slowly in children with additional needs and a lower SQ. Over time, development gradually became more comparable to the other groups of children. However, this improvement was less than that observed in children without additional needs. Our findings support CI for children with additional needs as part of long-term auditory rehabilitation following surgery.
An Application of Markov Chain Analysis to Study the Indian Cocoa Products Export Performance
Authors: Abhilash . , M Satishkumar , Joshi Amrutha T , G Manoj Kumar , Reddy B S
Published: April 2024

The paper attempts to quantify the changing structure of Indian cocoa product exports. Data for analysis was considered for a period of 10 years from 2013-14 to 2022-23. The growth rates of exports of Indian cocoa products to Nigeria, Indonesia, USA, UAE, The Netherlands and other countries have shown a positive trend. The Markov chain analysis was attempted through the linear programming method to assess the transition probabilities for the major cocoa markets. The results revealed that Nigeria, Nepal, UAE and other countries were stable markets for Indian cocoa export products. Whereas, Indonesia and The Netherlands were the least stable markets based on the magnitude of transition probabilities. The export share predictions for 2025-26 behaved stagnant while also increasing slightly for major destinations.
Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacterial Isolates Recovered from Salt-affected Soils of Haryana & Punjab, India
Authors: Kotiyal Parul Bhatt , Sharma Shivam Kumar
Published: April 2024

Excessive saline/alkaline conditions present a significant challenge to the environment and ecology, impacting yield, plant growth, and soil health. This study focuses on isolating and characterizing halophilic bacteria from salt-affected areas in Haryana and Punjab, India. Morphological, biochemical, and molecular analyses were conducted to assess their potential as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for mitigating salt stress in salt-affected soils. Four bacterial strains, identified as HR3-PM, PB01-KB, PB-424, and PB-466, were isolated and characterized. Morphological and biochemical assays revealed diverse traits among the isolates, including phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, and ammonia excretion. Molecular identification via 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed their taxonomic classification and revealed close homology to known bacterial species such as Klebsiella aerogenes, Pseudomonas mosselii, Lysinibacillus acetophenoni, and Pseudomonas stutzeri. Phylogenetic analysis provided insights into their evolutionary relationships. These salt-tolerant bacteria exhibit promising PGPR activities, suggesting their potential for sustainable agriculture and soil remediation practices in salt-affected soils. Harnessing their abilities could offer cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions to mitigate soil salinity, enhance plant productivity, and contribute to global environmental stresses. Further research is warranted to fully understand and harness the biotechnological potential of these halophilic bacteria in salt-affected ecosystems, paving the way for a more sustainable environmental future.
Effect of Sowing Dates on Performance of Different Mustard Varieties (Brassica juncea L.) in Western Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Kumar Praveen , Singh Raj Vir , Kaushik Shivam , Kumar Pardeep , Kumar Ajay , Yadav Vikas , Qidwai Sidra
Published: April 2024

An experiment was conducted to study the “Effect of sowing dates on performance of different mustard varieties (Brassica juncea L.) in western Uttar Pradesh” during rabi season of 2021-22 at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.). The experiment consisted of 12 treatment combinations with Date of sowing and Mustard varieties. The treatment consisted of three dates of sowing and four mustard varieties were tested in RCBD (Factorial) with three replications. Results revealed that the sowing of mustard on D1 (7th October) gave higher plant height (190.2 cm), LAI (4.06), branches plant-1, dry matter accumulation (69.40 g plant-1), seed (21.11 q ha-1), stover (71.76 q ha-1) and biological yield (92.88 q ha-1) of mustard crop. Similarly, the variety V1 (Pusa Vijay) gave highest plant height (197.5 cm), LAI (4.22), branches plant-1, dry matter accumulation (69.65 g plant-1), seed (22.27 q ha-1), stover (69.59 q ha-1) and biological yield (91.87 q h-1) of mustard crop. Thus, it may be concluded that the Pusa Vijay variety of mustard sown on 7th October gave significantly higher values of growth, yield attributes and yield of mustard.
Studies on the Variability of Indigenous Mulberry Germplasm for Growth and Yield Traits
Authors: Thriveni M.C. , Gowda G.R. Halagunde , Thanavendan G. , Sakthivel N. , Naik V. Nishitha
Published: April 2024

Twenty two indigenous mulberry accessions were evaluated for growth and yield traits in three seasons. ANOVA on growth and yield showed significant variation among the accessions for the traits. The interaction between accession and season was highly significant for all traits. The co-efficient of variation was maximum for single leaf weight (17.08%) and minimum for total shoot length (0.08%). The divergence analysis grouped 22 indigenous mulberry accessions into 5 clusters. Maximum accessions were grouped in clusters I & II (8 acc.) followed by cluster V (4 acc.). The diversity among the accessions measured by inter-cluster distance (D2) showed variation. The cluster group indicates that mulberry accessions were distributed in different clusters irrespective of geographical distribution.
Genetic Engineering in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.): Current Progress and Future Directions for Enhanced Crop Improvement
Authors: Gupta Shubham , Kumar Ashutosh , Janeja Harmeet Singh , Prakash Aman , Anand Rishikesh
Published: April 2024

Genetic tools have revolutionized mustard improvement strategies, offering innovative avenues to enhance its agronomic traits and quality parameters. CRISPR technology, exemplified by research at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research in India, has enabled precise manipulation of glucosinolate levels in mustard plants, improving mustard oil quality. The Barnase-barstar gene system has facilitated the development of mustard hybrids, increasing yield and resilience. Additionally, Microsatellites have emerged as indispensable tools for understanding genetic relationships within mustard populations. These genetic tools hold promise for addressing agronomic challenges and meeting market demands in mustard cultivation. However, their deployment raises ethical, regulatory, and socio-economic considerations that require careful consideration. Responsible stewardship and transparent deployment of these technologies are essential to realize their full potential in enhancing mustard crops and ensuring a sustainable future for food production. In conclusion, genetic engineering offers exciting avenues for mustard improvement, with CRISPR, the Barnase-barstar gene system, and Microsatellites playing pivotal roles in enhancing crop quality, yield potential, and resilience. As mustard continues to play a crucial role in global agriculture and food security, the responsible utilization of these genetic tools holds promise for meeting the evolving needs of farmers and consumers worldwide. Furthermore, the paper briefly discusses the application of these genetic tools in enhancing Dhara Mustard, a popular variety in Indian agriculture, emphasizing its potential impact on addressing agricultural challenges and meeting consumer demands.
Analysis of Factors Influencing Output and Cost of Soybean Production: A Comparison between Contract and Non-contract Farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana
Authors: Abdulai Yahaya , Khalid Abdul-Manan , Mustapha Mas-ud
Published: April 2024

Contract farming has emerged as a crucial remedy for bolstering the prospects of small-scale soybean farmers in Ghana. Both governmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, including the Savanna Farmers Marketing Company (SFMC), the Northern Development Authority (NDA), and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), are actively engaging farmers in contracts to grow soybeans. This initiative is especially prominent in the Northern Region of Ghana. This study investigates the factors influencing the output and cost of soybean production, drawing a comparison between contract and non-contract farmers. The research employs stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and translog functional forms to analyze data collected from 374 soybean growers. The findings reveal that farm size, labour, and agrochemical usage significantly impact soybean output for both contract and non-contract farmers. However, contract farmers exhibit increasing returns to scale, while non-contract farmers experience decreasing returns. Regarding production costs, the study identifies farm size, seed cost, agrochemical cost, and output as significant determinants for the pooled sample. Contract farmers' production costs are primarily influenced by farm size, seed cost, and agrochemicals, whereas non-contract farmers' costs are driven by farm size, seed cost, agrochemicals, and output. The analysis highlights the complementary and substitute relationships among input variables, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in the soybean industry. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance productivity and cost efficiency for both contract and non-contract soybean farmers.
Clinicopathologic Features and Prognosis of HER2-Positive Gastric Cancer
Authors: Kung Ching-Yun , Huang Kuo-Hung , Lin Shih-Chieh , Hung Yi-Ping , Chen Ming-Huang , Chao Yee , Lo Su-Shun , Wu Chew-Wun , Li Anna Fen-Yau , Fang Wen-Liang , Lan Yuan-Tzu
Published: April 2024

Background

The role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression has been well established in breast cancer, with corresponding targeted therapies. In contrast, the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of HER2 overexpression in gastric cancer remain inconclusive.

Methods

In this study, 334 patients with gastric cancer who received surgical resection between May 2017 and June 2021 were enrolled at a single medical center in Taiwan. HER2 status was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The clinicopathologic features and survival curves of the HER2-positive and HER2-negative gastric cancer patients were analyzed.

Results

The HER2-positive ratio was 7.2%. HER2-positive gastric cancer was associated with more differentiated tumors (P = 0.016), more Lauren intestinal type (P = 0.010), and a higher portion of Ming expanding type (P = 0.033) in the univariate analysis, but only Lauren intestinal type was an independent factor in the logistic regression model (P = 0.015). The overall survival and disease-free survival between the HER2-positive and HER2-negative groups were not significantly different. Patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer were more likely to have distant lymphatic recurrence than those with HER2-negative gastric cancer (P = 0.026).

Conclusions

HER2-positive gastric cancer is associated with intestinal histologic type and distant lymphatic recurrence, but HER2 is not an independent prognostic factor.
Netnography Study of Menjadi Manusia Community Network Communication on Discord
Authors: Putri Chelsea Amanda , Prajugo Monica Christiana , Yuwono Sherlynn , Tandawidjaja Edward Hiroshi , Harijono Ivan Christian
Published: April 2024

Mental health issues have been widely discussed in this modern era. By doing so, mental health care communities have been increasingly developed globally. One of the most popular social communities in Indonesia is Menjadi Manusia. This community has gained a large number of members across different social media platforms, including Discord as their communication network. This research was conducted using digital netnography method to see communication patterns of Menjadi Manusia community network on Discord. The community targeted in this study consists of all Discord users that actively participate in discussions in the Menjadi Manusia community. Using the netnography method, this research observed conversations and messages in Discord, as a safe place to talk, speak and share their stories or problems freely and to be human through the discord community channel. Through this channel, there are places where people can speak up specifically through communication disclosure. These interactions are made to fulfil the needs and purpose of this community, to be a safe place to fix their mental health and cure every emotion and problem they have to each other.
Characteristics of Skid Resistance for Pavements with Black Ice
Authors: Lee Kwanho , Son Minsu , Kim Seongkyum , Choi Seongjin , Park Dowon
Published: April 2024

Korea experiences a four-season climate, leading to significant fluctuations in seasonal road surface conditions and contributing to numerous traffic accidents. Over the period of five years since 2016, approximately 4,800 traffic accidents have been attributed to icy and frosty road conditions, with a fatality rate 1.5 times higher than that of general traffic accidents. This study aims to analyze the skid resistance properties of domestic asphalt pavements as an initial step toward establishing indicators to mitigate and manage traffic accidents caused by black ice. In this study, the BPN was measured using BPT equipment specified in the ASTM and KS standards. The road pavement surface conditions were assessed under three categories: dry, wet, and frozen (black ice). The recorded BPN values decreased in the following order: dry, wet, and frozen conditions. Under wet conditions, a comparative analysis was performed between dense asphalt pavements and drainable pavements. Furthermore, the evaluation under frozen conditions revealed no significant disparity between the types of road pavement. Notably, the exposure of the road pavement aggregate owing to freezing and the resultant surface roughness had a minimal impact on the skid resistance.
Comparative Study of the Fire Supervision Arrangements in Apartment Houses
Authors: Choi Youngyae , Choi Hanbit , Choi Donmook
Published: April 2024

Based on the changes in the shapes of apartment houses over the past decade, as the number of single-person households has increased, the protection of ultra-small and small apartments has increased. The current general supervision of firefighting is based on the number of floors and total floor area. Hence, the scale of supervision is excessive, and additional arrangement standards for auxiliary supervisors are stipulated based on the total floor area, rendering the current general supervision of firefighting unsuitable for the changes in the shapes of apartment houses. Therefore, the target of general supervision should be set at <300 households, and the maximum number of deployments should be reduced to three. Additionally, standards should be set to deploy auxiliary supervisors as the number of households increases, such that fire safety and quality can be secured via practical system improvement.
Violent phenotype in SAL mice is inflexible and fixed in adulthood
Authors: Natarajan Deepa , de Vries Han , de Boer Sietse F. , Koolhaas Jaap M.
Published: June 2009

Violence was shown to be qualitatively different from functional hyper‐aggression in mice selected for high aggression namely Short Attack Latency (SAL), Turku Aggressive (TA) and North Carolina (NC900) strains. This study aimed at investigating whether this adulthood violent phenotype as seen previously in the SAL mice is fixed and hence behaviorally inflexible right from day 1 of the experiment or consequential, i.e., subject to gradual change from functional aggression to violence. The functionally hyper‐aggressive strains namely TA and NC900 strains served as controls for the study. Methodologically, behavioral (in)flexibility was studied using the overall sequential structure of agonistic behavior. In particular, intra‐individual variations in the overall agonistic behavior as well as offensive, pre‐ and post‐offensive behavior transitions, directly related to the resident–intruder interactions were investigated. The SAL mice showed the least intra‐individual variation in their overall sequential agonistic structure as well as a fixed offense‐oriented agonistic behavior of highest magnitude when compared with the other strains. Additionally, the pre‐ and post‐ offensive transitions were most salient in the functionally hyper‐aggressive TA and NC900 strains, whereas virtually absent in the SAL mice. Thus, the violent behavior of the adult SAL mice is behaviorally inflexible or fixed, whereas the functionally hyper‐aggressive behavior of the adult TA and NC900 mice is behaviorally flexible and constantly adaptive to the opponent behavior, over 3 days of repeated resident–intruder interaction. Aggr. Behav. 35:430–436, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Social capital theory: Implications for women's networking and learning
Authors: Alfred Mary V.
Published: June 2009

This chapter describes social capital theory as a framework for exploring women's networking and social capital resources. It presents the foundational assumptions of the theory, the benefits and risks of social capital engagement, a feminist critique of social capital, and the role of social capital in adult learning.
Ties that bind: Cultural referent groups and coping strategies of adult women as learners
Authors: Nanton Carmela R.
Published: June 2009

This chapter examines the cultural influences and applications of women's social capital networks on women's knowledge construction, community development, and autonomy within their cultures and the adult learning context.
Adaptive controller design and disturbance attenuation for SISO linear systems with zero relative degree under noisy output measurements
Authors: Zeng Sheng , Pan Zigang , Fernandez Emmanuel
Published: June 2009

In this paper, we present robust adaptive controller design for SISO linear systems with zero relative degree under noisy output measurements. We formulate the robust adaptive control problem as a nonlinear H∞‐optimal control problem under imperfect state measurements, and then solve it using game theory. By using the a priori knowledge of the parameter vector, we apply a soft projection algorithm, which guarantees the robustness property of the closed‐loop system without any persistency of excitation assumption of the reference signal. Owing to our formulation in state space, we allow the true system to be uncontrollable, as long as the uncontrollable part is stable in the sense of Lyapunov, and the uncontrollable modes on the jω‐axis are uncontrollable from the exogenous disturbance input. This assumption allows the adaptive controller to asymptotically cancel out, at the output, the effect of exogenous sinusoidal disturbance inputs with unknown magnitude, phase, and frequency. These strong robustness properties are illustrated by a numerical example. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chitosan(chitin)/cellulose composite biosorbents prepared using ionic liquid for heavy metal ions adsorption
Authors: Sun Xiaoqi , Peng Bo , Ji Yang , Chen Ji , Li Deqian
Published: June 2009

Chitosan(chitin)/cellulose composites as biodegradable biosorbents were prepared under an environment‐friendly preparation processes using ionic liquids. Infrared and X‐ray photoelectron spectra indicated the stronger intermolecular hydrogen bond between chitosan and cellulose, and the hydroxyl and amine groups were believed to be the metal ion binding sites. Among the prepared biosorbents, freeze‐dried composite had higher adsorption capacity and better stability. The capacity of adsorption was found to be Cu(II) (0.417 mmol/g) > Zn(II) (0.303 mmol/g) > Cr(VI) (0.251 mmol/g) > Ni(II) (0.225 mmol/g) > Pb(II) (0.127 mmol/g) at the same initial concentration 5 mmol L−1. In contrast to some other chitosan‐type biosorbenrts, preparation and component of the biosorbent were obviously more environment friendly. Moreover, adsorption capacity of chitosan in the blending biosorbent could be fully shown. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Effect of molecular weight of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) temperature‐sensitive flocculants on dewatering
Authors: Li Haihong , O'Shea John‐Paul , Franks George V.
Published: June 2009

The influence of molecular weight (MW) and dose of Poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) (temperature‐sensitive flocculant) on sedimentation rate, sediment density, and supernatant clarity of silica suspensions was investigated. The addition of PNIPAM resulted in rapid sedimentation (T > critical solution temperature, CST) and low sediment moisture (T < CST). Higher MW polymers resulted in more effective flocculation and sediment consolidation. At 10 ppm, PNIPAM (3.6 million Da) produced 20 m/h settling rate and 48 vol % solids sediment density, whereas 0.23 million Da polymer produced 0.1 m/h settling rate. PNIPAM produces effective flocculation and consolidation by cycling the interparticle interactions between repulsion and attraction as temperature is cycled around the CST. The change in temperature produces a hydrophilic/hydrophobic transition of the polymer, influencing adsorption onto the surface and the inter‐particle forces. Conventional polyacrylamide flocculants (not influenced by temperature), cannot be used to produce both rapid sedimentation and dense sediments. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Infant sex predicts breast milk energy content
Authors: Powe Camille E. , Knott Cheryl D. , Conklin‐Brittain Nancy
Published: June 2009

During human evolutionary history, and for many around the world, breast milk is the primary source of nutritional energy for infants. Variation in breast milk quality might logically have important effects on infant health, growth, and development, yet the sources of this variation remain largely unelucidated. We quantified nutrient and energy content of breast milk from 25 healthy, well‐nourished Massachusetts mothers with infants aged 2–5 months. We examined several potential sources of variation in milk quality, particularly feeding patterns, infant sex, and maternal breast growth during pregnancy. After controlling for time since last feeding, a known correlate of milk composition, we found that mothers of male infants produced milk that had 25% greater energy content than mothers of female infants (P < 0.001). Change in maternal bra cup size during pregnancy was associated with 16.17 kcal/100 ml greater energy content of milk (P = 0.009), but was not significant after taking infant sex into account. Greater nutritional investment in sons may account for the greater observed growth rates in male compared to female infants. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Body frame dimensions are related to obesity and fatness: Lean trunk size, skinfolds, and body mass index
Authors: Henneberg Maciej , Ulijaszek Stanley J.
Published: June 2009

We explore relationships between BMI and skinfolds and anthropometric variables reflecting variation in lean body frame. Data on the middle class adult Australian women (n = 1260) collected in 2002 during a National Body Size and Shape Survey were used. Standard measurements of stature, weight, skeletal dimensions (shoulder width, hip width, chest width, and depth, limb lengths), circumferences of head, trunk, limbs and triceps, subscapular and abdominal skinfolds were taken. Techniques for measurements of skeletal frame minimized the inclusion of adipose tissue thickness. Analysis of variance and parametric and nonparametric correlations were used. Vertical dimensions show weak correlations with fatness, while body frame circumferences and transverse dimensions are consistently, significantly, and substantially correlated with fatness, each explaining from 3 to 44% of variation in skinfold thickness. Skeletal dimensions explain up to 50% of variation in skinfold thickness (multiple regression). Especially high correlations with skinfold thickness occur for chest width, depth, and hip width (r range from 0.42 to 0.66). Body frame dimensions reflect largely trunk volume and the trunk/limb proportions. Larger lean trunk size is associated with greater fatness. Since the size of the abdominal cavity, and thus the gastrointestinal system (GI), is reflected in the trunk size, we speculate that larger frame may predispose to obesity in two ways: (1) larger stomachs require greater bulk of food to produce feeling of satiety as mediated through antral distension, (2) larger GIs may absorb more nutrients. Frame size may help to detect the risk of obesity among young adults. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Introduction of agriculture and its effects on women's oral health
Authors: Watson James T. , Fields Misty , Martin Debra L.
Published: June 2009

This study explores the dynamic relationship between the introduction of agriculture and its effects on women's oral health by testing the hypothesis that female reproductive physiology contributes to an oral environment more susceptible to chronic oral disease and that, in a population undergoing the foraging to farming transition, females will exhibit a higher prevalence of oral pathology than males. This is tested by comparing the presence, location, and severity of caries lesions and antemortem tooth loss across groups of reproductive aged and postreproductive females (n= 71) against corresponding groups of males (n= 71) in an Early Agricultural period (1600 B.C.–A.D. 200) skeletal sample from northwest Mexico. Caries rates did not differ by sex across age groups in the sample; however, females were found to exhibit significantly more antemortem tooth loss than males (P> 0.01). Differences were initially minimal but increased by age cohort until postreproductive females experienced a considerable amount of tooth loss, during a life stage when the accumulation of bodily insults likely contributed to dental exfoliation. Higher caries rates in females are often cited as the result of gender differences and dietary disparities in agricultural communities. In an early farming community, with diets being relatively equal, women were found to experience similar caries expression but greater tooth loss. We believe this differential pattern of oral pathology provides new evidence in support of theinterpretation that women's oral health is impacted by effects relating to reproductive biology. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adult health outcomes and their implications for experiences of childhood nutritional stress in Jamaica
Authors: Nelson Robin G.
Published: June 2009

With insights from the developmental origins of health and disease paradigm (DOHaD), this study explores the impact of childhood nutritional stress on adult health outcomes in Jamaica. Jamaica experienced a lengthy period of political and economic instability beginning in the postcolonial period of the early 1960s. This study tests whether decreased government spending on public resources and limited access to imported food products during the early postcolonial period will be reflected in increased adiposity and body mass index among Jamaican adults. Ethnographic and anthropometric data were collected from individuals born between 1958 and 1988. Variability in health outcomes was assessed using Z‐score values for body mass index and summed skinfold thickness measures. Age was employed as both a continuous and categorical independent variable. In partial correlation models controlling for economic status, body mass index values and summed skinfold thickness increased with age. Birth cohort and gender effects were also apparent. Women born between 1959 and 1968 had higher body mass index Z‐score values than younger women. Both men and women born between 1959 and 1968 had significantly higher skinfold thickness measures than younger individuals. Individuals born between 1959 and 1968 were children during the immediate postcolonial era in Jamaica. Experiences of nutritional stress during critical developmental periods may have contributed to the observed age‐related increases in adipose tissue and body mass index values. This study informs our understanding of the ways that fluctuations in the sociopolitical environment during development can mediate and contribute to poor adult health outcomes. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Review of disrupted sleep patterns in Smith–Magenis syndrome and normal melatonin secretion in a patient with an atypical interstitial 17p11.2 deletion
Authors: Boudreau Eilis A. , Johnson Kyle P. , Jackman Angela R. , Blancato Jan , Huizing Marjan , Bendavid Claude , Jones MaryPat , Chandrasekharappa Settara C. , Lewy Alfred J. , Smith Ann C.M. , Magenis R. Ellen
Published: June 2009

Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a disorder characterized by multiple congenital anomalies and behavior problems, including abnormal sleep patterns. It is most commonly due to a 3.5 Mb interstitial deletion of chromosome 17 band p11.2. Secretion of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, is the body's signal for nighttime darkness. Published reports of 24‐hr melatonin secretion patterns in two independent SMS cohorts (US and France) document an inverted endogenous melatonin pattern in virtually all cases (96%), suggesting that this finding is pathognomic for the syndrome. We report on a woman with SMS due to an atypical large proximal deletion (∼6Mb; cen<‐>TNFRSFproteinB) of chromosome band (17)(p11.2p11.2) who presents with typical sleep disturbances but a normal pattern of melatonin secretion. We further describe a melatonin light suppression test in this patient. This is the second reported patient with a normal endogenous melatonin rhythm in SMS associated with an atypical large deletion. These two patients are significant because they suggest that the sleep disturbances in SMS cannot be solely attributed to the abnormal diurnal melatonin secretion versus the normal nocturnal pattern. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exclusion of candidate genes in seven Turkish families with autosomal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Becerik Sema , Cogulu Dilsah , Emingil Gülnur , Han Ted , Hart P. Suzanne , Hart Thomas C.
Published: June 2009

Amelogenesis imperfectas (AI) are a group of inherited defects of dental enamel formation that show both clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Seven Turkish families segregating autosomal recessive AI (ARAI) were evaluated for evidence of a genetic etiology of AI for the seven major candidate gene loci (AMBN, AMELX, ENAM, FAM83H, KLK4, MMP20, and TUFT1). Dental and periodontal characteristics of the affected members of these families were also described. The mean scores of DMFS and dfs indices were 9.7 and 9.6, respectively. The mean PPD was 2.2 mm and the percentage of the sites with plaque and BOP were 87.8% and 72.4%, respectively. The exons and intron/exon junctions of the candidate genes were sequenced and no gene mutations were identified in any individuals. These findings support the existence of an additional gene(s) that are etiologic for ARAI in these families. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Al‐Awadi/Raas‐Rothschild/Schinzel (AARRS) phocomelia syndrome: Case report and developmental field analysis
Authors: Subhani Muhammad , Akangire Gangaram , Kulkarni Archana , Wilson Golder N.
Published: June 2009

We describe a girl infant with anomalies of the left pelvis and lower limb (pelvic, femoral, and tibial hypogenesis with absent fibula), subtle facial changes, patent foraman ovale, single umbilical artery, single kidney, and imperforate anus. The external genitalia were asymmetric and ambiguous with normal uterus and ovaries visualized by ultrasound. The anomalies are compatible with previously reported cases of Al‐Awadi/Raas‐Rothschild/Schinzel (AARRS) phocomelia, an autosomal recessive disorder with WNT7 gene mutations documented in one family. We suggest that AARRS phocomelia, Fuhrmann syndrome, and similar conditions comprise a spectrum, and that the anomaly pattern derives from serial action of the same signal pathways within primary (e.g., the major axes), secondary (e.g., heart or limb primordia), and/or local (e.g., tibial–fibular differentiation) developmental fields. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is there epidemiologic evidence to support vascular disruption as a pathogenesis of gastroschisis?
Authors: Werler Martha M. , Mitchell Allen A. , Moore Cynthia A. , Honein Margaret A.
Published: June 2009

Gastroschisis is a congenital defect of the abdominal wall that occurs most commonly in the offspring of young women. The defect is often hypothesized to result from vascular disruption in the early embryo. We measured the associations between maternal vasoactive exposures in pregnancy, as possible markers of vascular disruption, and gastroschisis risk, using data collected as part of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Study participants included mothers of births from October 1997 to December 2003 in 10 states. The mothers of 514 gastroschisis cases were matched by age at delivery and state to 3,277 non‐malformed controls and compared for periconceptional smoking and use of vasoconstrictors, non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and vasodilators. Multivariable‐adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated from conditional logistic regression. Case mothers were more likely than control mothers to smoke (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2–1.9) and report use of non‐aspirin NSAIDs (1.4, 1.1–1.7) and anti‐hypertensive vasodilators (2.6, 0.9–8.0), but not vasoconstrictive decongestants (1.0, 0.7–1.4). Cigarette smoking had little effect on gastroschisis risk in mothers <25 years of age, but the OR was 3.0 (1.8–5.0) for those ≥25 years. Likewise, ORs were greatest in the older women for use of non‐aspirin NSAIDs (1.6, 1.0–2.6) and bronchodilators (3.0, 1.8–5.0). These findings suggest that, overall, vasoactive risk factors play a minor role in the etiology of gastroschisis, and do not support the vascular disruption hypothesis. However, the observation that increased ORs for some vasoactive exposures were confined to older women raises the question of whether inherent maternal factors might influence risk. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High resolution genomic analysis of 18q− using oligo‐microarray comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH)
Authors: Heard Patricia L. , Carter Erika M. , Crandall AnaLisa C. , Sebold Courtney , Hale Daniel E. , Cody Jannine D.
Published: June 2009

The advent of oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) has revolutionized diagnosis of chromosome abnormalities in the genetics clinic. This new technology also has valuable potential as a research tool to investigate larger genomic rearrangements that are typically diagnosed via routine karyotype. aCGH was used as a tool for the high‐resolution analysis of chromosome content in individuals with known deletions of chromosome 18. The aim of this study was to clarify the precise location of the breakpoints as well as to determine the presence of occult translocations creating additional deletions and duplications. One hundred eighty‐nine DNA samples from individuals with 18q deletions were analyzed. No breakpoint clusters were identified, as no more than two individuals had breakpoints within 2 kb of each other. Only two regions of 18q were never found to be haploid, suggesting the existence of haplolethal genes in those regions. Of the individuals with only a chromosome 18 abnormality, 17% (n = 29) had interstitial deletions. Six percent (n = 11) had a region of duplication immediately proximal to the deletion. Eight percent (n = 15) had more complex rearrangements with captured (non‐18q) telomeres thus creating a trisomic region. The 15 captured telomeres originated from a limited number of other telomeres (4q, 10q, 17p, 18p, 20q, and Xq). These data were converted into a format for ease of viewing and analysis by creating custom tracks for the UCSC Genome Browser. Taken together, these findings confirm a higher level of variability and genomic complexity surrounding deletions of 18q than has previously been appreciated. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.