bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in excess of weight, underweight and adiposity among Spanish children from 2004 to 2010: the Cuenca Study
Authors: Martínez-Vizcaíno Vicente , Martínez Montserrat Solera , Pacheco Blanca Notario , López Mairena Sánchez , García-Prieto Jorge Cañete , Niño Coral Torrijos , Palencia Natalia Arias , Aguilar Fernando Salcedo , Rodríguez-Artalejo Fernando
Published: November 2012

Objective

To examine the trends in BMI and adiposity among schoolchildren from Cuenca, Spain, during 2004–2010.

Design

Two methodologically comparable surveys were carried out in 2004 and 2010.

Setting

Primary schools in Cuenca, a province in the middle of Spain.

Subjects

All schoolchildren aged 8–11 years, belonging to 4th and 5th grades from twenty schools in the Province of Cuenca, were invited to participate in both cross-sectional studies. Weight, height and body fat percentage (BF%) from bioelectrical impedance were measured with standardized procedures.

Results

The study included 550 boys and 539 girls in 2004, and 569 boys and 531 girls in 2010. In 2010, 8·1 % of children were underweight, 25·9 % overweight and 9·5 % obese. From 2004 to 2010, the prevalence of overweight rose from 21·6 % to 28·0 % (P = 0·004) and BF % increased from 22·6 % to 24·0 % (P = 0·001) among boys. No change was observed in overweight and BF % in girls, or in underweight and obesity in either sex. In boys, most of the distribution of BMI and BF % shifted to the right; in contrast, among girls no substantial change was apparent in the distribution of BMI and BF %.

Conclusions

From 2004 to 2010 the prevalence of overweight and adiposity has continued to increase among boys. However, the obesity epidemic may have levelled off in girls. Given that the prevalence of childhood excess weight is still very high, the current evidence-based efforts to halt the obesity epidemic in Spain should be strengthened.
What works and why? Evaluation of a community nutrition programme in Kenya
Authors: Havemann Kirsten , Pridmore Pat , Tomkins Andrew , Garn Kristine Dandanell
Published: November 2012

Objective

To investigate the nutritional impact of a community-based programme that focused on social cohesion and action.

Design

The change in nutritional status of children aged 12–60 months was examined over a period of 3 years in Makueni District in Eastern Province of Kenya in six communities in which an intervention programme of Participatory Learning and Action was introduced and in ten communities in which only basic preparations were made but no intervention was started.

Setting

The intervention was part of the Government of Kenya Community Based Nutrition Programme and was supported by the Government of Denmark.

Subjects

Children aged 12–60 months.

Results

Among communities without intervention there were similar levels of underweight (mean Z-score: −1·63 v. −1·50 (NS); % with Z-score < –2: 36·6 % v. 34·5 % (NS)) and stunting (mean Z-score: −2·0 v. −1·99 (NS); % with Z-score < –2: 44·3 % and 47·4 % (NS)) at baseline and after 3 years. By contrast, among communities who had received interventions, there were significant improvements after 3 years in the levels of underweight (mean Z-score: −1·66 v. −1·37 (P < 0·02); % with Z-score < –2: 42·9 % v. 31·4 % (P < 0·035)) and stunting (mean Z-score: −2·05 v. −1·59 (P < 0·05); % with Z-score < –2: 52·7 % v. 39·7 % (P < 0·02)).

Conclusions

The results indicate considerable potential for using Participatory Learning and Action as a community-based approach to effectively address child undernutrition. It is suggested that these interventions are developed, implemented and evaluated more widely as a mean of tackling childhood undernutrition and improving child survival and development.
Gravitational seismology retrieving Centroid‐Moment‐Tensor solution of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake
Authors: Cambiotti Gabriele , Sabadini Roberto
Published: November 2012

Mass rearrangement within the crust and lithospheric mantle and ocean water redistribution caused by great earthquakes are made visible by their coseismic gravity signature, nowadays detectable by the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) space mission. Here we present a novel procedure for estimating the principal seismic source parameters (hypocenter and moment tensor) that relies solely on space gravity data from GRACE, applied for the first time to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. It yields a seismic source model that is consistent with a thrust earthquake and geological information of the subduction zone. It closely resembles the Global Centroid‐Moment‐Tensor Project solution based on the teleseismic wave inversion, although the moment magnitude is higher (9.13 ± 0.11 compared to 9.08) and the hypocenter is further offshore by about 40 km, within the oceanic plate. This procedure will become an important tool in seismology as it complements Centroid‐Moment‐Tensor analysis by exploiting the new gravity data from GRACE.
Direct and semi‐direct aerosol effects in the NASA GEOS‐5 AGCM: aerosol‐climate interactions due to prognostic versus prescribed aerosols
Authors: Randles C. A. , Colarco P. R. , da Silva A.
Published: November 2012

The present‐day climate response to aerosol direct and semi‐direct effects is investigated using the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System version 5 (GEOS‐5) atmospheric general circulation model. We focus our investigation on aerosol‐climate interactions by using either prognostic aerosols from an online aerosol module or aerosols from a climatology based on the prognostic aerosols. As found in previous studies, forcing from all aerosols cools the land surface, warms the troposphere, and impacts global mean circulation, affecting both the strength of the Hadley cell and the zonal mean wind. Less absorbing natural aerosol alone tends to have weaker impacts on global climate. We find that removing the feedback of meteorology on aerosol distributions can significantly impact the climate response depending on the parameter, region, and season considered. Much of the differing climate response to prognostic and prescribed aerosols occurs in regions remote from direct aerosol forcing, such as in the stratosphere and the northern and southern high latitudes. This suggests that aerosol‐climate interactions may induce remote dynamical responses to aerosol forcing in global models. The largest effect of removing coupling is to enhance the aerosol optical depth globally over the oceans. This enhancement is due to the removal of the co‐variability between aerosol mass and relative humidity on sub‐monthly timescales in the high humidity oceanic environment.
The intimate relationship between strain and magmatism: A numerical treatment of clustered monogenetic fields in the Main Ethiopian Rift
Authors: Mazzarini Francesco , Rooney Tyrone O. , Isola Ilaria
Published: November 2012

The spatial distribution of monogenetic vents and the geochemistry of their erupted products can be used to probe heterogeneity in lithospheric strain across a rift. We show that Quaternary volcanic belts in the central Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) exhibit differences in vent fractal clustering with an exponent indicative of more clustering and a shallower magma reservoir for the Wonji Fault Belt (WFB), in comparison to the Silti‐Debre Zeyit Fault Zone (SDFZ). The range of lengths that exhibit vent fractal clustering is bounded by (1) a lower cutoff of few hundreds of meters that correlates with the depth of emplacement of intrusive material and is likely linked to evolving silicic magma systems and (2) an upper cutoff which we interpret to scale with the depth from which dikes originate just prior to eruption: ~10 km for WFB and ~7 km for SDFZ. We attribute this difference to strain partitioning within the MER, which favors dike formation at greater depths beneath the more highly strained eastern margin of the MER (below the WFB), in comparison to the western rift margin (below the SDFZ). Statistical analysis of monogenetic fields in the MER show, when reviewed in light of a priori geophysical and geodetic data, that the plumbing system of monogenetic volcanism style is strongly controlled by crustal strain state. Such statistical techniques may have application in probing the magma systems of other environments where less geophysical or geochemical controls exist.
Downscaling precipitation or bias‐correcting streamflow? Some implications for coupled general circulation model (CGCM)‐based ensemble seasonal hydrologic forecast
Authors: Yuan Xing , Wood Eric F.
Published: November 2012

The progress in forecasting seasonal climate by using coupled atmosphere‐ocean‐land general circulation models (CGCMs) has increased the use of CGCM‐based hydrologic forecasting in recent years. A common procedure is to downscale the meteorological forcings and use them as inputs to hydrologic models to provide ensemble forecasts. Less attention has been paid to bias correcting the hydrologic forecasts directly generated by CGCM. In this study, we show that either downscaling precipitation for hydrologic model or directly bias‐correcting CGCM streamflow increases the efficiency skill score greatly as compared to the original CGCM streamflow forecast, and bias correcting the streamflow from hydrologic model with downscaled precipitation leads to a further skill increase. Bias‐correcting CGCM streamflow is more skillful and reliable than downscaling precipitation for hydrologic modeling in terms of ensemble forecasts, as verified by the ranked probability skill score and the rank histogram. While bias‐correcting streamflow from CGCM can provide useful forecasts, combining the downscaled CGCM forcings and bias‐corrected hydrologic output through the CGCM‐hydrology forecasting approach does gain additional skill of accuracy and discrimination.
Silencing of proviruses in embryonic cells: efficiency, stability and chromatin modifications
Authors: Schlesinger Sharon , Goff Stephen P
Published: November 2012

Embryonic stem cells repress retroviral infection through transcriptional silencing of proviral DNAs. We characterized two distinct mechanisms of silencing in embryonic mouse cells infected by Moloney murine leukaemia virus (MLV): a highly efficient one targeting the proline transfer RNA primer‐binding site (PBSpro), and a less efficient one operating independently of the PBS. Rare virus‐expressing populations were isolated, and the timing and efficiency of establishment of silencing were determined. Superinfection of the selected virus‐expressing cells with a second virus carrying a distinguishable reporter revealed that the PBSpro‐directed silencing was still largely intact, whereas the PBS‐independent silencing was partially reduced. The timing and stability of silencing, and the associated chromatin modifications on newly established and endogenous proviruses were determined. The results indicate that epigenetic mechanisms with different specificity and efficiency are used to silence the exogenous retroviral sequences in embryonic cells.
Calibration of prover tanks making use of a Coriolis mass flow
meter as the master meter
Authors: Erik Smits F.M. , Jos Rath J.C.
Published: November 2012

Calibration of volumetric proving tanks can be done using different methods. For the
calibration of large proving tanks the master meter method can be used as a good
alternative to the volumetric transfer method or the gravimetric method. When the master
meter method is used in most cases a positive displacement meter is used. A better option
is to make use a Coriolis mass flow meter as the master meter. Test data is presented of a
calibration of a proving tank with a nominal volume of 500 L. Small repeatability figures
can be obtained of consecutive calibration runs with a Coriolis mass flow meter. Also the
linearity of the meter factor curve of the Coriolis mass flow meter makes this a better
option for the master meter method.
Extraneural Metastasis of Ependymoma in the Cauda Equina
Authors: Fujimori Takahito , Iwasaki Motoki , Nagamoto Yukitaka , Kashii Masafumi , Sakaura Hironobu , Yoshikawa Hideki
Published: November 2012

We report a rare case of extraneural metastasis of spinal ependymoma that developed over a very long period. A 28-year-old man underwent surgery for ependymoma in the cauda equina. After he experienced three local recurrences and had undergone five operations, a lung metastasis occurred 46 years after the first operation. Although the tumor did not show the typical morphological malignancy, the maximum standard uptake value obtained by positron-emission tomography and the antigen Ki-67 labeling index demonstrated the tumor's active proliferative ability. One year after the last operation, the patient died of respiratory failure due to progressing lung metastases. The malignant behavior of spinal ependymomas is demonstrated in a case with long-term follow-up.
Who uses complementary and alternative therapies in regional South Australia? Evidence from the Whyalla Intergenerational Study of Health
Authors: D'Onise Katina , Haren Matthew T. , Misan Gary M.H. , McDermott Robyn A.
Published: November 2012

Objective. To assess the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and service use for people with a chronic disease in rural and regional Australia, where reported prevalence of CAM use is higher. Methods. Data were from the Whyalla Intergenerational Study of Health, a population representative cross sectional study of 1146 people recruited in 2008–2009. Self-reported chronic disease diagnosis and health service use including CAM use were collected. Complementary and other medicines were recorded at a clinic visit in a reduced sample (n = 722) and SF36 data were collected by questionnaire. Results. Around 32% of respondents reported complementary medicine use and 27% CAM service use. There was no difference in the overall prevalence of CAM use among those with and without a chronic disease (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.7–1.3). Greater age- and sex-adjusted use of complementary medicines was associated with the ability to save money (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.17–2.63), but not with any other socioeconomic position indicator. Those who reported using prescribed medication were more likely to report using complementary medicines (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.35–3.24). Conclusions. The prevalence of CAM use in this regional community appeared lower than reported in similar communities outside of South Australia. Mainstream medicine use was associated with complementary medicine use, increasing the risk of an adverse drug interaction. This suggests that doctors and pharmacists should be aware of the possibility that their clients may be using complementary medicines, and the need for vigilance regarding potential side effects and interactions between complementary and mainstream therapies. What is known about this topic? The prevalence of complementary and alternative therapy use in Australian rural and regional communities is high relative to urban communities. What does this paper add? The prevalence of complementary and alternative therapy use in a regional South Australian community is lower than reported elsewhere. In this community, mainstream medicine use was associated with an increased chance of complementary medicine use. What are the implications for practitioners? Doctors and pharmacists should be aware of the possibility that their clients may be using complementary medicines, and the need for vigilance regarding potential side effects and interactions between complementary and mainstream therapies.
Care planning and adherence to diabetes process guidelines: Medicare data analysis
Authors: Adaji Akuh , Schattner Peter , Jones Kay Margaret , Beovich Bronwyn , Piterman Leon
Published: November 2012

Objective. To test the association, in patients with a diagnosis of diabetes I and II, between having or not having a care plan, (i.e. General Practice Management Plans (GPMPs),Team Care Arrangements (TCAs)), and having the recommended number of biochemical checks according to the diabetes Annual Cycle of Care guideline. The checks comprised HbA1c, HDL cholesterol and urinary microalbumin. Methods. Chi-square analysis of retrospective group data obtained from the Medicare database (from ‘billing’ patterns only). Results. The creation of GPMPs was associated with general practitioners (GPs) requesting checks for HbA1c (59.7%), HDL cholesterol (36.9%) and microalbumin (50.8%) for diabetes patients in accordance with guideline recommendations. Although the introduction of multidisciplinary care via a TCA was associated with an increase in the frequency of HbA1c checks (61.3%) in accordance with the guidelines, there was a reduction in the number of HDL cholesterol (23.7%) and microalbumin (36.8%) checks. The group with no care plans had the lowest association with HbA1c (47.8%), HDL cholesterol (19.7%) and microalbumin (29.3%) checks that met guideline requirements for diabetes. Conclusions. The use of GPMPs showed strong association with increased testing of process measures that met guideline requirements for diabetes. Further research is needed to understand the value and benefits of TCAs in promoting adherence to diabetes guidelines. What is known about the topic? Research suggests that care planning is associated with increased adherence by GPs to some of the processes of care stipulated in diabetes guidelines. What does the paper add? This study examines Australia-wide data obtained from Medicare. The findings demonstrated strong association between care planning and the process measures examined in this study. In contrast to previous studies, multidisciplinary team involvement via a TCA appeared to be less important than a GPMP in promoting adherence to process measures. What are the implications for practitioners? GPs should continue to provide structure care to patients via General Practice Management Plans.
What do young women think about having a chlamydia test? Views of women who tested positive compared with women who tested negative
Authors: Walker Jennifer , Walker Sandra , Fairley Christopher K. , Bilardi Jade , Chen Marcus Y. , Bradshaw Catriona S. , Urban Eve , Pirotta Marie , Birden Hudson , Donovan Basil , Kaldor John M. , Gunn Jane , Hocking Jane S.
Published: November 2012

Objective
To determine young women’s experience of having a chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) test as part of a chlamydia incidence study, and to determine how women who tested positive during the study experienced having a test compared with the experience of women who always tested negative. Methods: Women in an Australian chlamydia incidence study were tested at 3- to 6-monthly intervals during a 12-month period. At the final stage of the study, the women completed a questionnaire about how they felt about testing positive or how they anticipated they might feel about testing positive if they only tested negative. Questions about future sexual behaviour and testing were included. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 872 out of 1116 (78%) women, including 67 women who tested positive. Many women (75%) felt anxious when having a chlamydia test but women who tested positive were less concerned about their future health (61% v. 81%, P < 0.01), were less concerned about their partner’s reactions (62% v. 79%, P < 0.01) and were more likely to discuss their diagnosis with other people (57% v. 36%, P < 0.01). Conclusions: The participants in the study were pleased to have been tested and supported a screening program. Women who tested positive were less concerned about having a positive result than women who tested negative anticipated they might be. Implications: Clinicians need to be aware that having a chlamydia test can cause anxiety in young women and for a screening program to be successful, this must be addressed.
Demand for HIV clinical services is increasing in Australia but supply is decreasing
Authors: Mallitt Kylie-Ann , Jansson James , Crooks Levinia , McGuigan David , Wand Handan , Wilson David P.
Published: November 2012

Background
HIV clinical service planning requires accurate estimates of the number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and the capacity of existing clinical services, each by geographical location. The aim of this study was to quantify current HIV clinical service capacity in Australia. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of records of HIV clinical service capacity in Australia. Participants were general practitioners who completed an annual survey in 2007–2009. Information on the number of hospital departments, sexual health services, antiretroviral-prescribing general practitioners (ARV-GPs) and shared-care services providing expertise in HIV management from 2007 to 2010 were also available. Results: From 2007 to 2009, the proportion of ARV-GP survey respondents treating 2–9 patients with HIV per week increased from 36.5% to 49.1%, with a corresponding decrease in the average proportion who saw less than one patient with HIV per week. The estimated number of PLHIV has increased by 12.5% in metropolitan areas, and 16.5% in rural and remote areas over the period 2007–2010; however, the total number of services with at least one HIV ARV-GP has decreased over the same period. Conclusions: Current methods to estimate clinical service capacity reveal decreasing supply in the workforce in Australia despite increasing numbers of PLHIV. Further training of HIV clinicians and their placement in regions of greatest supply–demand deficits are required. Further studies are required to precisely quantify and locate the capacity of the HIV clinical workforce with expertise in HIV case-management to enable efficient service planning.
Fixed sized samples for type-specific surveillance of human papillomavirus in genital warts
Authors: Waters Edward K. , Hamilton Andrew J. , Smith Anthony M. A. , Philp David J. , Donovan Basil , Regan David G.
Published: November 2012

Surveillance data suggest that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Australia is reducing the incidence of genital warts. However, existing surveillance measures do not assess the proportion of the remaining cases of warts that are caused by HPV types other than 6 or 11, against which the vaccine has no demonstrated effectiveness. Using computer simulation rather than sample size formulae, we established that genotyping at least 60 warts can accurately test whether the proportion of warts due to HPV types not targeted by the vaccine has increased (Type I error probability ≤0.05, Type II error probability <0.07). Standard formulae for calculating sample size, in contrast, suggest that a sample size of more than 130 would be required for this task, but using these formulae entails making several strong assumptions. Our methods require fewer assumptions and demonstrate that a smaller sample size than anticipated could be used to address the question of what proportion of post-vaccination cases of warts are due to nonvaccine types. In conjunction with indications of incidence and prevalence provided by existing surveillance measures, this could indicate the number of cases of post-vaccination warts due to nonvaccine types and hence whether type replacement is occurring.
Affective processing in bilingual speakers: Disembodied cognition?
Authors: Pavlenko Aneta
Published: November 2012

A recent study by Keysar, Hayakawa, and An (2012) suggests that “thinking in a foreign language” may reduce decision biases because a foreign language provides a greater emotional distance than a native tongue. The possibility of such “disembodied” cognition is of great interest for theories of affect and cognition and for many other areas of psychological theory and practice, from clinical and forensic psychology to marketing, but first this claim needs to be properly evaluated. The purpose of this review is to examine the findings of clinical, introspective, cognitive, psychophysiological, and neuroimaging studies of affective processing in bilingual speakers in order to identify converging patterns of results, to evaluate the claim about “disembodied cognition,” and to outline directions for future inquiry. The findings to date reveal two interrelated processing effects. First‐language (L1) advantage refers to increased automaticity of affective processing in the L1 and heightened electrodermal reactivity to L1 emotion‐laden words. Second‐language (L2) advantage refers to decreased automaticity of affective processing in the L2, which reduces interference effects and lowers electrodermal reactivity to negative emotional stimuli. The differences in L1 and L2 affective processing suggest that in some bilingual speakers, in particular late bilinguals and foreign language users, respective languages may be differentially embodied, with the later learned language processed semantically but not affectively. This difference accounts for the reduction of framing biases in L2 processing in the study by Keysar et al. (2012). The follow‐up discussion identifies the limits of the findings to date in terms of participant populations, levels of processing, and types of stimuli, puts forth alternative explanations of the documented effects, and articulates predictions to be tested in future research.
Cognitive Ontology and Region- versus Network-Oriented Analyses
Authors: Klein Colin
Published: November 2012

The interpretation of functional imaging experiments is complicated by the pluripotency of brain regions. As there is a many-to-one mapping between cognitive functions and their neural substrates, region-based analyses of imaging data provide only weak support for cognitive theories. Price and Friston argue that we need a ‘cognitive ontology’ that abstractly categorizes the function of regions. I argue that abstract characterizations are unlikely to be cognitively interesting. I argue instead that we should attribute functions to regions in a context-sensitive manner. I review recent meta-analyses that approach fMRI data in this light and argue that they have revisionary potential.
Constraining the Higgs Mechanism: Ontological Worries and the Prospects for an Algebraic Cure
Authors: Stöltzner Michael
Published: November 2012

I discuss Earman's program to achieve an objective account of the Higgs mechanism within the C∗ algebraic approach to quantum field theory. Pointing to three results obtained within this approach, I argue that if one follows Earman and understands the Higgs mechanism as a constraint, it appears to be a genuine quantum phenomenon that does not simply arise through the correspondence principle. This casts further this casts doubts on the validity of the Dirac conjecture that identifies first-class constraints and gauge transformations and that provides a major motivation for both Earman's program and Struyve's demonstration that a gauge-invariant account of the Higgs mechanism can be accomplished at the classical level.
Modeling without Mathematics
Authors: Thomson-Jones Martin
Published: November 2012

Inquiries into the nature of scientific modeling have tended to focus their attention on mathematical models and, relatedly, to think of nonconcrete models as mathematical structures. The arguments of this article are arguments for rethinking both tendencies. Nonmathematical models play an important role in the sciences, and our account of scientific modeling must accommodate that fact. One key to making such accommodations, moreover, is to recognize that one kind of thing we use the term ‘model’ to refer to is a collection of propositions.
Estimating F-Statistics: A Historical View
Authors: Weir Bruce S.
Published: November 2012

Characterizing the genetic structure of populations is of importance to evolutionary biology, to human disease gene mapping, and to forensic science. Sewall Wright introduced a set of F-statistics to describe population structure in 1951, and he emphasized that these quantities were ratios of variances. Responding to uncertainty over the best way to estimate F-statistics, Weir and Cockerham published a method-of-moments set of estimators in 1984. This paper continues to be widely cited, with over 7,000 citations to date. Some background to the publishing history of the Weir and Cockerham paper is given here, along with subsequent developments and a discussion of current uses of Wright's F-statistics.
Orientation control of textured SrTiO3 thin films on platinized α-Al2O3 (0 0 0 1) by an ion beam sputter deposition method
Authors: Panomsuwan G , Takai O , Saito N
Published: November 2012

SrTiO3 (STO) thin films were grown on Pt/Al2O3 substrates without a Ti adhesion layer by an ion beam sputter deposition method in a range of growth temperatures between 600 and 750 °C. The effect of growth temperature on the film orientation was investigated by high-resolution x-ray diffraction, pole figure measurements and in-plane grazing incidence x-ray diffraction. The film orientation showed a strong dependence on the growth temperature. The films exhibited a predominant (1 1 0) orientation at a low growth temperature of 600 °C. With an increase in growth temperature to 750 °C, a highly (1 1 1)-textured STO film with two different orientation variants was achieved on the Pt/Al2O3 substrate. A narrow full-width at half-maximum of 0.12° for the rocking curve measured on 2 2 2STO reflection and a six-fold symmetry from {1 0 0}STO and {1 1 0}STO pole figures were observed. Three-dimensional island growth mode was observed on the surfaces of all films, as investigated with an atomic force microscope. The evolution of grain shape and size was apparently found with an increase in growth temperature. The root-mean-square roughness of the STO film grown at 750 °C was raised to be about 4 nm due to the surface faceting of (1 1 1)-oriented grains. The growth mechanism of the (1 1 0)- and (1 1 1)-textured STO films on the Pt/Al2O3 substrates was also explained and discussed in detail.
First-principles calculations of O-K ELNES/XANES of lithium titanate
Authors: Tanaka Shingo , Kitta Mitsunori , Tamura Tomoyuki , Akita Tomoki , Maeda Yasushi , Kohyama Masanori
Published: November 2012

Electron energy-loss near-edge structure/x-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra of O-K edge for Li4Ti5O12 and Li7Ti5O12 have been calculated by the first-principles projector augmented wave method. The calculated spectra for various O sites in large Li32Ti40O96 and Li56Ti40O96 supercells with realistic site occupancies have two peaks in a lower energy region and three peaks in a higher energy region. The features of the averaged spectra of the two systems are consistent with recent experimental observations.
A sharp inequality for holomorphic functions on the polydisc
Authors: Marković Marijan
Published: November 2012

In this paper we prove an isoperimetric inequality for holomorphic functions in the unit polydisc

U

n

\mathbf U^n

. As a corollary we derive an inclusion relation between weighted Bergman and Hardy spaces of holomorphic functions in the polydisc which generalizes the classical Hardy–Littlewood relation

H
p

⊆

A

2
p

H^p\subseteq A^{2p}

. Also, we extend some results due to Burbea.
An All‐Elasticity Approach to Factor Demand and Output Supply
Authors: Houck James P.
Published: November 2012

Using production elasticities as the basis of discussion, this paper develops direct and cross price elasticity relations among the demand functions for inputs at any point on a production surface. The relevant price elasticities of both input demand and output supply are shown to be simple functions of production elasticities. These relations provide numerous specific testable hypotheses. They can be used by analysts for plausible inferences about unknown coefficients when incomplete data or only partial information are available. Finally, these ideas can be helpful in the classroom when it is desirable to illustrate parallels between consumption economics and supply analysis.
Further Evidence on Soybean Marketing Strategies: The Role of Options
Authors: Frank Stuart D. , Irwin Scott H. , Pfeiffer George H. , Curtis Charles E.
Published: November 2012

A recent analysis using futures hedges showed that portfolios of marketing strategies provided soybean producers higher, less risky expected returns. However, soybean options have recently become available to producers. Incorporating options strategies into portfolios of marketing activities improved the risk efficiency of expected returns by as much as 6.7 percent.
Controlling Farmland in the Red River Valley: A Stochastic Dominance Analysis of Alternative Means
Authors: Gustafson Cole R.
Published: November 2012

A tenant farmer's preference for a cash vs. share rental arrangement is found to be highly conditional on the terms of each arrangement in a whole farm situation analysis of a representative North Dakota Red River Valley farm. Failure of landlords to contribute to the production expenses of share rent tenants, government commodity programs, multi‐peril crop insurance and tax provisions favor cash renting. Profitability of alternative land control strategies and methods of financing were evaluated using the criterion of stochastic dominance.
Using the Conservation Reserve to Reduce Program Crop Plantings
Authors: Taff Steven J.
Published: November 2012

This paper examines the policy instrument by which a land retirement program designed primarily for conservation purposes attempts to reduce surplus commodity production as well. A simple model incorporating the cropland allocation effects of entry into the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is developed to estimate the reduction in aggregate crop acreage brought about under two program alternatives: (1) the “base bite,” which requires a reduction in a farm's commodity base as a condition of CRP entry (the current law) and (2) no base bite, which for planting reduction purposes would rely upon a “displacement” of acreage actually available for planting. Data from the first eight rounds of CRP bidding (through February 1989) show that the base bite reduces CRP entrants' aggregate annual program crop plantings by 14.9 million acres under 1987 program rules, while displacement would have reduced plantings by 13.1 million acres. Under “1990 rules” (no set‐aside required for participation), the base bite provision would reduce plantings by 19.6 million acres. Displacement is unaffected by set‐aside levels. If the base bite were removed, the concomitant lower opportunity costs of entry would result in either an increase in CRP acreage or a decrease in budget outlays, depending upon program administration.
Farm Operator Opinion and Agricultural Policy; Kansas Survey Results
Authors: Barkley Andrew P. , Flinchbaugh Barry L.
Published: November 2012

Results from a recent survey concerning Kansas farm operator opinions on farm and public policy views are presented and analyzed. The survey results indicate general support for the current agricultural commodity programs. Contentious issues include conservation and environmental policies, production risk and crop insurance, and international trade. Multinomial logit (regression) analysis reveals statistical relationships between operator characteristics (e.g. age, education, farm size) and policy views. Self‐interest is found to be a determinant of operator opinion by sales class.
The Impacts of Railroad Transportation Costs on Grain Elevator Handling Margins
Authors: Hanson Steven D. , Baumhover Stephen B. , Baumel C. Phillip
Published: November 2012

A stratified random sample of grain elevators supplied grain bid and transportation cost data. These data are used to analyze the effects of various rail transportation costs on grain elevator handling margins for corn, soybean and wheat. Factors affecting transportation costs such as rail contracts, mileage allowances, and transportation mode are shown to have significant impacts on elevator handling margins and consequently need to be considered in any analysis attempting to explain grain handling margins.
Measuring Farm Sector Wealth and Income: Data Comparisons for Illinois Farms
Authors: Koenigstein Kevin W. , Lins David A.
Published: November 2012

The farm sector balance sheet, income statement, and the Farm Costs and Returns Survey (FCRS) data are utilized to evaluate the financial conditions of American agriculture. This study compares estimated balance sheet and income statements using USDA and FCRS constructs with actual farm records for farms participating in the Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) record‐keeping program. Results suggest a tendency for USDA and FCRS to report lower amounts of both assets and liabilities than FBFM records show, but this is explained in part by the inclusion of only farm business assets in the FCRS and USDA data sets. Income estimates do not vary greatly between the data sources.
A system for exact and approximate genetic linkage analysis of SNP data in large pedigrees
Authors: Silberstein Mark , Weissbrod Omer , Otten Lars , Tzemach Anna , Anisenia Andrei , Shtark Oren , Tuberg Dvir , Galfrin Eddie , Gannon Irena , Shalata Adel , Borochowitz Zvi U. , Dechter Rina , Thompson Elizabeth , Geiger Dan
Published: November 2012

Motivation: The use of dense single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data in genetic linkage analysis of large pedigrees is impeded by significant technical, methodological and computational challenges. Here we describe Superlink-Online SNP, a new powerful online system that streamlines the linkage analysis of SNP data. It features a fully integrated flexible processing workflow comprising both well-known and novel data analysis tools, including SNP clustering, erroneous data filtering, exact and approximate LOD calculations and maximum-likelihood haplotyping. The system draws its power from thousands of CPUs, performing data analysis tasks orders of magnitude faster than a single computer. By providing an intuitive interface to sophisticated state-of-the-art analysis tools coupled with high computing capacity, Superlink-Online SNP helps geneticists unleash the potential of SNP data for detecting disease genes.

Results: Computations performed by Superlink-Online SNP are automatically parallelized using novel paradigms, and executed on unlimited number of private or public CPUs. One novel service is large-scale approximate Markov Chain–Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis. The accuracy of the results is reliably estimated by running the same computation on multiple CPUs and evaluating the Gelman–Rubin Score to set aside unreliable results. Another service within the workflow is a novel parallelized exact algorithm for inferring maximum-likelihood haplotyping. The reported system enables genetic analyses that were previously infeasible. We demonstrate the system capabilities through a study of a large complex pedigree affected with metabolic syndrome.

Availability: Superlink-Online SNP is freely available for researchers at http://cbl-hap.cs.technion.ac.il/superlink-snp. The system source code can also be downloaded from the system website.

Contact:  omerw@cs.technion.ac.il

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Scaffolding low quality genomes using orthologous protein sequences
Authors: Li Yang I. , Copley Richard R.
Published: November 2012

Motivation: The ready availability of next-generation sequencing has led to a situation where it is easy to produce very fragmentary genome assemblies. We present a pipeline, SWiPS (Scaffolding With Protein Sequences), that uses orthologous proteins to improve low quality genome assemblies. The protein sequences are used as guides to scaffold existing contigs, while simultaneously allowing the gene structure to be predicted by homology.

Results: To perform, SWiPS does not depend on a high N50 or whole proteins being encoded on a single contig. We tested our algorithm on simulated next-generation data from Ciona intestinalis, real next-generation data from Drosophila melanogaster, a complex genome assembly of Homo sapiens and the low coverage Sanger sequence assembly of Callorhinchus milii. The improvements in N50 are of the order of ∼20% for the C.intestinalis and H.sapiens assemblies, which is significant, considering the large size of intergenic regions in these eukaryotes. Using the CEGMA pipeline to assess the gene space represented in the genome assemblies, the number of genes retrieved increased by >110% for C.milii and from 20 to 40% for C.intestinalis. The scaffold error rates are low: 85–90% of scaffolds are fully correct, and >95% of local contig joins are correct.

Availability: SWiPS is available freely for download at http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/∼yli142/swips.html.

Contact:  yang.li@well.ox.ac.uk or copley@well.ox.ac.uk
Does Management Matter? Evidence from India
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Authors: Bloom Nicholas , Eifert Benn , Mahajan Aprajit , McKenzie David , Roberts John
Published: November 2012

A long-standing question is whether differences in management practices across firms can explain differences in productivity, especially in developing countries where these spreads appear particularly large. To investigate this, we ran a management field experiment on large Indian textile firms. We provided free consulting on management practices to randomly chosen treatment plants and compared their performance to a set of control plants. We find that adopting these management practices raised productivity by 17% in the first year through improved quality and efficiency and reduced inventory, and within three years led to the opening of more production plants. Why had the firms not adopted these profitable practices previously? Our results suggest that informational barriers were the primary factor explaining this lack of adoption. Also, because reallocation across firms appeared to be constrained by limits on managerial time, competition had not forced badly managed firms to exit.
Magnetic monopoles in field theory and cosmology
Authors: Rajantie Arttu
Published: November 2012

The existence of magnetic monopoles is predicted by many theories of particle physics beyond the standard model. However, in spite of extensive searches, there is no experimental or observational sign of them. I review the role of magnetic monopoles in quantum field theory and discuss their implications for particle physics and cosmology. I also highlight their differences and similarities with monopoles found in frustrated magnetic systems.
Distinguishing between direct and indirect effects of predators in complex ecosystems
Authors: O'Connor Nessa E. , Emmerson Mark C. , Crowe Tasman P. , Donohue Ian
Published: November 2012

1.Global declines in biodiversity have stimulated much research into the consequences of species loss for ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. Species at higher trophic levels are at greater risk of human‐induced extinction yet remarkably little is known about the effects of consumer species loss across multiple trophic levels in natural complex ecosystems. Previous studies have been criticized for lacking experimental realism and appropriate temporal scale, running for short periods that are not sufficient to detect many of the mechanisms operating in the field.

2.We manipulated the presence of two predator species and two groups of their prey (primary consumers) and measured their independent and interactive effects on primary producers in a natural marine benthic system. The presence of predators and their prey was manipulated in the field for 14 months to distinguish clearly the direct and indirect effects of predators on primary producers and to identify mechanisms driving responses.

3.We found that the loss of either predator species had indirect negative effects on species diversity and total cover of primary producers. These cascading effects of predator species loss were mediated by the presence of intermediate consumers. Moreover, the presence of different intermediate consumers, irrespective of the presence or absence of their predators, determined primary producer assemblage structure. We identified direct negative effects of predators on their prey and several indirect effects of predators on primary producers but not all interactions could have been predicted based on trophic level.

4.Our findings demonstrate the importance of trophic cascade effects coupled with non‐trophic interactions when predicting the effects of loss of predator species on primary producers and consequently for ecosystem functioning. There is a pressing need for improved understanding of the effects of loss of consumers, based on realistic scenarios of diversity loss, to test conceptual frameworks linking predator diversity to variation in ecosystem functioning and for the protection of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and related services.
Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Enterococcus strains isolated from Turkish Tulum cheese
Authors: Yogurtcu Nazli N , Tuncer Yasin
Published: November 2012

The aim of this study was to detect the plasmid profiles, haemolytic activity and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of 47 Enterococcus strains isolated from Turkish Tulum cheese. Enterococcus strains were found to comprise 1–9 plasmids with molecular weight from 2.0 to 47.6 kb. None of the Enterococcus strains displayed haemolytic activity. The Enterococcus strains were found mostly resistant to tetracycline (30 μg) followed by high‐level streptomycin (300 μg). The Enterococcus faecalis strains were found to be highly resistant to antibiotics than Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus durans strains. In total, 4.3% of the strains exhibited multiple antibiotic resistance patterns.
A rising generation of Europeans? Life‐cycle and cohort effects on support for ‘Europe’
Authors: Down Ian , Wilson Carole J.
Published: November 2012

Despite much research on age and attitudes, it remains unclear whether age reflects accumulated life experience or conditions prevailing during an individual's formative years – that is, a life‐cycle effect or a cohort effect. In respect to attitudes towards the European Union (EU), the issue is particularly important. Although many analyses indicate a correlation between age and support, the relationship has not been adequately theorised and extant analyses have generated contradictory results. In this article, theoretical expectations for both life‐cycle and cohort effects on support for the EU are developed and tested using a cross random effects model. This not only identifies the nature of an age‐support relationship, but also highlights substantial generational differences in attitudes towards European integration and explains the inconsistencies in extant empirical analyses.
Oleoylethanolamide dose‐dependently attenuates cocaine‐induced behaviours through a PPARα receptor‐independent mechanism
Authors: Bilbao Ainhoa , Blanco Eduardo , Luque‐Rojas María Jesús , Suárez Juan , Palomino Ana , Vida Margarita , Araos Pedro , Bermúdez‐Silva Francisco J. , Fernández‐Espejo Emilio , Spanagel Rainer , Rodríguez de Fonseca Fernando
Published: November 2012

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is an acylethanolamide that acts as an agonist of nuclear peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha (PPARα) to exert their biological functions, which include the regulation of appetite and metabolism. Increasing evidence also suggests that OEA may participate in the control of reward‐related behaviours. However, direct experimental evidence for the role of the OEA‐PPARα receptor interaction in drug‐mediated behaviours, such as cocaine‐induced behavioural phenotypes, is lacking. The present study explored the role of OEA and its receptor PPARα on the psychomotor and rewarding responsiveness to cocaine using behavioural tests indicative of core components of addiction. We found that acute administration of OEA (1, 5 or 20 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced spontaneous locomotor activity and attenuated psychomotor activation induced by cocaine (20 mg/kg) in C57Bl/6 mice. However, PPARα receptor knockout mice showed normal sensitization, although OEA was capable of reducing behavioural sensitization with fewer efficacies. Furthermore, conditioned place preference and reinstatement to cocaine were intact in these mice. Our results indicate that PPARα receptor does not play a critical, if any, role in mediating short‐ and long‐term psychomotor and rewarding responsiveness to cocaine. However, further research is needed for the identification of the targets of OEA for its inhibitory action on cocaine‐mediated responses.