bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use and Factors Associated With Herbal/Botanical and Nonvitamin/Nonmineral Dietary Supplements Among Women of Reproductive Age: An Analysis of the Infant Feeding Practices Study II
Authors: Budzynska Katarzyna , Filippelli Amanda C. , Sadikova Ekaterina , Dog Tieraona Low , Gardiner Paula
Published: June 2016

Introduction

Little is known about the changes in prevalence of dietary supplement use in pregnancy, postpartum, and in a comparison group of nonpregnant women.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of the Infant Feeding Practices II study. The purpose of this study is to report the prevalence of herbal or botanical and nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplement use by US women with respect to demographic, behavioral, and health factors. We compared pregnant and postpartum women to a comparison group of nonpregnant women who had not given birth in the past 12 months. Our main outcome was the prevalence of dietary supplements. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with herbal or botanical and nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplement use during reproductive age, pregnancy, and postpartum.

Results

The total sample included 1444 women assessed during the prenatal period, 1422 from the postpartum period, and 1517 women in a comparison group. In terms of herb or botanical use, 15% of the prenatal group, 16% of the postpartum group, and 22% of the comparison group reported using herbs or botanicals. The most frequently used nonvitamin, nonmineral supplement was omega‐3 fatty acid. Among the total prenatal group and comparison group, women eating 5 or more servings of fruits or vegetables were less likely to report using herbs or botanicals. Women in the comparison group self‐identifying as black were 4 times as likely to report using herbs or botanicals compared to participants self‐identifying as white. In addition, women identifying as a race other than white were almost twice as likely to report herb or botanical use across all study groups.

Discussion

This is one of the rare studies that shows the changing prevalence of herbs or botanicals and nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplement use in women in the reproductive stage of their lives.
From Analysing ‘Filières Vivrieres’ to Understanding Capital and Petty Production in Rural South India
Authors: Harriss‐White Barbara
Published: June 2016

Agricultural markets are a prime object of what the anthropologist Clifford Geertz called ‘theoretical diffusion’ (Geertz 1973). In this diffused context, Henry Bernstein used an approach developed by French scholars, ‘filières vivrieres’, to analyse the ethnicized concentration of capital in South African maize markets (Bernstein 1996). The first part of this essay critically introduces the background to this approach, and Bernstein's development of it, to examine capital accumulation and public and private regulation. The second part merges insights from filières with a systems approach to post‐harvest activity. It revisits four decades of research on South Indian agriculture and its paddy‐rice markets to show how petty production and trade can coexist with capitalist accumulation, showing how, to what extent and why the relations of agricultural commodity marketing ‘fail to complete’ the process of polar class differentiation and consolidate petty commodity production in the post‐harvest sphere of circulation – the filière – as well as in production.
What does the literature tell us about health workers' experiences of task‐shifting projects in sub‐Saharan Africa? A systematic, qualitative review
Authors: Mijovic Hana , McKnight Jacob , English Mike
Published: June 2016

Aims and Objectives

To review systematically, qualitative literature covering the implementation of task shifting in sub‐Saharan Africa to address the growing interest in interventions of this kind. This review aims to distil the key practical findings to both guide a specific project aiming to improve the quality of neonatal care in Kenya and to contribute to the broader literature.

Background

Task‐shifting programmes aim to improve access to healthcare by delegating specific tasks from higher to lower skilled health workers. Evidence suggests that task‐shifting programmes in sub‐Saharan Africa may improve patient outcomes, but they have also been criticised for providing fragmented, unsustainable services. This systematic review of qualitative literature summarises factors affecting implementation of task shifting and how such interventions in sub‐Saharan Africa may have affected health workers' feelings about their own positions and their ability to provide care.

Design

Following literature search, a modified Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) framework was used to assess quality. Thereafter, analysis adopted a thematic synthesis approach.

Methods

A systematic literature search identified qualitative studies examining task ‐shifting interventions in sub‐Saharan Africa. Thematic synthesis was used to identify overarching themes arising from across the studies and infer how task‐shifting interventions may impact on the health workers from whom tasks are being shifted.

Results

From the 230 studies screened, 13 met the inclusion criteria. Overarching themes identified showed that task shifting has been associated with jurisdictional debates linked to new cadres working beyond their scope of practice, and tension around compensation and career development for those taking on tasks that were being delegated.

Conclusions

Based on the qualitative data available, it appears that task shifting may negatively impact the sense of agency and the ability to perform of health workers' from whom tasks are shifted. The potential implications of task shifting on all health workers should be considered prior to implementing task‐shifting solutions.
Administration of oral medication by parents at home
Authors: Boztepe Handan , Özdemir Handan , Karababa Çiğdem , Yıldız Özlem
Published: June 2016

Aims and objective

The objective of this study was to determine parents' experiences and problems with administering medication to their children at home.

Background

Parents' experiences and access to information for the treatment of their children's illnesses at home is necessary for their children's safety.

Design

A descriptive cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Four hundred parents from children's hospital outpatient clinics were included. A questionnaire was used to determine parents' experiences and problems with administering medication to their children at home. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using the spss software package (version 22.00).

Results

Antipyretics (59%) and antibiotics (25%) were the most commonly used medicines by parents without prescription. Nearly half of the parents stated that they gave liquid medicine with a household spoon. It was found that 54% of the parents whose children refused to take tablets or liquid medicine mixed these medications into foods. Treatment was delayed in 20·7% of the children who refused to take tablets and in 29·1% of the children who refused to take liquid medicine. As a result of the project, a form and device were developed as a solution to the problems experienced by parents while administering oral medication in the home environment.

Conclusion

The results of the study showed that a significant percentage of the parents did not use the correct equipment to administer medications, used non‐prescription medicines, did not administer medications at correct intervals and mixed medication into foods.

Relevance to clinical practice

Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, should continually evaluate medication administration by parents at home and the readmission rate in the emergency department to further improve children's health.
Fathers' Investments of Money and Time Across Residential Contexts
Authors: Carlson Marcia J. , VanOrman Alicia G. , Turner Kimberly J.
Published: June 2016

Fathers' roles in family life have changed dramatically over the past 50 years. In addition to ongoing breadwinning responsibilities, many fathers are now involved in direct caregiving and engagement with children. Yet there is considerable variation in what fathers do, especially depending on whether they live with or away from their child. In this article, the authors use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 3,869) to describe how fathers' economic capacities (money) and direct involvement with children (time) are associated over child ages 1 to 9 for resident versus nonresident fathers, net of confounding factors. They found suggestive evidence that money and time investments operate differently across residential contexts: Resident fathers experience a trade‐off between market work and time involved with children. In contrast, nonresident fathers' higher economic capacities are associated with more time involvement, underscoring the greater challenge for such fathers to remain actively involved.
Effect of Dried Cassava Bagasse on the Baking Properties of Composite Wheat Bread
Authors: Rodriguez‐Sandoval Eduardo , Polanía‐Gaviria Leidy Yohana , Lorenzo Gabriel
Published: June 2016

The present research was undertaken to explore the influence of dried cassava bagasse (F), carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) and tara gum on the quality characteristics of composite wheat bread. F was used to replace wheat flour at 5 and 10% substitution levels. Dried cassava bagasse‐enriched wheat breads with CMC and CMC/tara gum binary blend (50:50 w/w) were analyzed to determine the specific volume of the breads, the crumb color, firmness and hardness. The addition of F decreased the specific volume of the breads. As the F concentration increased, the bread lightness decreased and the crumb redness, yellowness, firmness and hardness increased. The CMC was suitable for controlling the staling of the dried cassava bagasse‐enriched wheat bread. Samples containing the CMC and F at a 5% wheat flour replacement level had high acceptability by the consumers at the end of storage and resulted in higher crumb moisture content and lower crumb firmness during the storage.

Practical Application

Cassava bagasse (CB) is the main solid residue produced by the cassava starch industry and is made up of fibrous root material. The high moisture content prevents the use of CB by the starch industry because there is a strong possibility of microbial contamination. In this sense, drying that is simultaneous with production is essential for the effective utilization of CB. However, alternative uses for this product are necessary in order for the drying process to be economically interesting. One alternative is to use dried cassava bagasse (F) in breadmaking. The addition of F to bread has not been investigated. Hence, more studies are necessary for a better understanding of the effect of a partial substitution of wheat with F to obtain fiber‐wheat composite bread. Moreover, it is also necessary to increase dietary fiber intake, taking into account the fact that customers demand healthier foods.
Association of Canine Osteosarcoma and Monocyte Phenotype and Chemotactic Function
Authors: Tuohy J.L. , Lascelles B.D.X. , Griffith E.H. , Fogle J.E.
Published: June 2016

Background

Monocytes/macrophages are likely key cells in immune modulation in dogs with osteosarcoma (OSA). Increased peripheral monocyte counts are negatively correlated with shorter disease‐free intervals in dogs with OSA. Understanding the monocyte/macrophage's modulatory role in dogs with OSA can direct further studies in immunotherapy development for OSA.

Hypothesis/Objectives

That OSA evades the immune response by down‐regulating monocyte chemokine receptor expression and migratory function, and suppresses host immune responses.

Animals

Eighteen dogs with OSA that have not received definitive treatment and 14 healthy age‐matched controls

Methods

Clinical study—expression of peripheral blood monocyte cell surface receptors, monocyte mRNA expression and cytokine secretion, monocyte chemotaxis, and survival were compared between clinical dogs with OSA and healthy control dogs.

Results

Cell surface expression of multiple chemokine receptors is significantly down‐regulated in peripheral blood monocytes of dogs with OSA. The percentage expression of CCR2 (median 58%, range 2–94%) and CXCR2 expression (median 54%, range 2–92%) was higher in control dogs compared to dogs with OSA (CCR2 median 29%, range 3–45%, P = 0.0006; CXCR2 median 23%, range 0.2–52%, P = 0.0007). Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (OSA, median 347.36 pg/mL, range 103.4–1268.5; control, 136.23 pg/mL, range 69.93–542.6, P = .04) and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) (P = .02) levels are increased in OSA monocyte culture supernatants compared to controls. Peripheral blood monocytes of dogs with OSA exhibit decreased chemotactic function when compared to control dogs (OSA, median 1.2 directed to random migration, range 0.8–1.25; control, 1.6, range of 0.9–1.8, P = .018).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Dogs with OSA have decreased monocyte chemokine receptor expression and monocyte chemotaxis, potential mechanisms by which OSA might evade the immune response. Reversal of monocyte dysfunction using immunotherapy could improve survival in dogs with OSA.
Pharmacological evaluation of a selective bradykinin B1 antagonist in a canine model of arthritis
Authors: Duclos B. A. , Rugg C. A. , White J. , Ross J. T. , Darling M. , Huczek D. , Curry J. , Alexander‐Bowman S. , Townley A. , Garcia‐Tapia D. , Chio C. , Kamerling S.
Published: June 2016

The effects of a selective bradykinin 1 receptor antagonist, compound A, were evaluated in a canine model of acute inflammatory model of arthritis. Despite detection of the B1 receptor in canine type B synoviocytes using a fluorescent ligand, oral administration of compound A (9 and 27 mg/kg) did not improve weight bearing of dogs injected intra‐articularly with IL‐1β in a force plate analysis. Analysis of the synovial fluid of IL‐1β‐treated dogs indicated high levels of bradykinin postchallenge. Excellent exposure, coupled with evidence of the presence of the B1 receptor during an acute inflammatory model of pain, indicates an inability of the receptor to mediate inflammatory pain in canines.
The latent structure of the functional dyspepsia symptom complex: a taxometric analysis
Authors: Van Oudenhove L. , Jasper F. , Walentynowicz M. , Witthöft M. , Van den Bergh O. , Tack J.
Published: June 2016

Objectives

RomeIIIintroduced a subdivision of functional dyspepsia (FD) into postprandial distress syndrome and epigastric pain syndrome, characterized by early satiation/postprandial fullness, and epigastric pain/burning, respectively. However, evidence on their degree of overlap is mixed. We aimed to investigate the latent structure ofFDto test whether distinguishable symptom‐based subgroups exist.

Methods

Consecutive tertiary care RomeII FDpatients completed the dyspepsia symptom severity scale. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to compare the fit of a single factor model, a correlated three‐factor model based on RomeIIIsubgroups and a bifactor model consisting of a generalFDfactor and orthogonal subgroup factors. Taxometric analyses were subsequently used to investigate the latent structure ofFD.

Key Results

Nine hundred and fifty‐sevenFDpatients (71.1% women, age 41 ± 14.8) participated. InCFA, the bifactor model yielded a significantly better fit than the two other models (χ² difference tests bothp < 0.001). All symptoms had significant loadings on both the general and the subgroup‐specific factors (allp < 0.05). Somatization was associated with the general (r = 0.72,p < 0.01), but not the subgroup‐specific factors (allr < 0.13,p > 0.05). Taxometric analyses supported a dimensional structure ofFD(allCCFI<0.38).

Conclusions and Inferences

We found a dimensional rather than categorical latent structure of theFDsymptom complex in tertiary care. A combination of a general dyspepsia symptom reporting factor, which was associated with somatization, and symptom‐specific factors reflecting the RomeIIIsubdivision fitted the data best. This has implications for classification, pathophysiology, and treatment ofFD.
Impaired bolus clearance in asymptomatic older adults during high‐resolution impedance manometry
Authors: Cock C. , Besanko L. , Kritas S. , Burgstad C. M. , Thompson A. , Heddle R. , Fraser R. J. L. , Omari T. I.
Published: June 2016

Background

Dysphagia becomes more common in old age. We performed high‐resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) in asymptomatic healthy adults (including an older cohort >80 years) to assess HRIM findings in relation to bolus clearance.

Methods

Esophageal HRIM was performed in a sitting posture in 45 healthy volunteers (n = 30 young control, mean age 37 ± 11 years and n = 15 older subjects aged 85 ± 4 years) using a 3.2‐mm solid‐state catheter (Solar GI system; MMS, Enschede, The Netherlands) with 25 pressure (1‐cm spacing) and 12 impedance segments (2‐cm intervals). Five swallows each of 5‐ and 10‐mL liquid and viscous bolus were performed and analyzed using esophageal pressure topography metrics and Chicago classification criteria as well as pressure‐flow parameters. Bolus transit was determined using standard impedance criteria. A p‐value <0.05 was considered significant.

Key Results

Impaired bolus clearance occurred more frequently in asymptomatic older subjects compared with young controls (YC) during liquid (40 vs 18%, χ2 = 4.935; p < 0.05) and viscous (60 vs 17%; χ2 = 39.08; p < 0.001) swallowing. Longer peristaltic breaks (p < 0.05) and more rapid peristalsis (L: p < 0.004, V: p = 0.003) occurred in the older cohort, with reduced impedance‐based clearance for both bolus consistencies (L: p < 0.05, V: p < 0.001). Decreased peristaltic vigor (distal contractile integral <450 mmHg/s/cm) was associated with reduced liquid clearance in both age groups (p < 0.001) and of viscous swallows in the older group (p < 0.001). Impedance ratio, a marker of bolus retention, was increased in older subjects during liquid (p = 0.002) and viscous (p < 0.001) swallowing.

Conclusions & Inferences

Impaired liquid and viscous bolus clearance, esophageal pressure topography, and pressure‐flow changes were seen in asymptomatic older subjects.
“2 for 1 Phenomenon” on Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Intracardiac Tracing
Authors: McCLENDON ERIC , SUZUKI TAKEKI , TANAWUTTIWAT TANYANAN , RHODES TROY E. , BERGER RONALD D.
Published: June 2016

“2 for 1 phenomenon” is simultaneous anterograde conduction over the fast and slow pathways of the atrioventricular (AV) nodal pathway, leading to a double ventricular response from each atrial beat. This phenomenon can initiate AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The unique induction of AVNRT was observed in a patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in our case. Minimal to no retrograde invasion of the slow pathway from the anterogradely conducted fast pathway depolarization is the most accepted explanation.
Intraperitoneal ropivacaine and early postoperative pain and postsurgical outcomes after laparoscopic herniorrhaphy in toddlers: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Tian Xuebi , Yang Ping , Su Tiefen , Yu Jing , Zhao Shiwen , Xiang Guifang , Yu Donghai , Zhang Wen , Manyande Anne , Gao Feng , Tian Yuke , Yang Hui
Published: June 2016

Background

Postoperative pain can cause physiological distress, postoperative complications, and extended lengths of hospitalized stay. In children, management of postoperative pain is still recognized as being inadequate.

Objective

The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal ropivacaine on postoperative pain, and recovery of bowel function and emetic events after laparoscopic herniorrhaphy in toddlers.

Methods

Seventy‐six children aged from 9 months to 3 years were recruited between August 2013 and June 2014 at Tongji Hospital and randomly assigned into two groups. One group received intraperitoneal ropivacaine right before surgery and the control group received intraperitoneal saline. A standard combined general anesthesia procedure was performed under regular monitoring. Postoperative pain was assessed by the FLACC scale. Postoperative analgesic consumption, time to flatus, time to first stool, and postoperative emetic events were also recorded.

Results

When compared with the control group, children who received intraperitoneal ropivacaine experienced less pain 0–4 h after surgery [P < 0.001, difference in median FLACC (95% CI) for 2 h time point is 2.00 (0.87–3.13), for 4 h time point is 1.00 (0.55–1.45)]. In addition, the number of toddlers who received analgesia 0–24 h after surgery in the ropivacaine group was lower than that in the control group [P < 0.001, difference in proportions (95% CI) is 0.575 (0.3865–0.7638)]. Compared with the control group, time to flatus in ropivacaine group was also much shorter [21.1 h vs 16.7 h, P = 0.04, difference in mean (95% CI) is 4.4 (1.49–7.28)], and the time to first stool after surgery was earlier in the ropivacaine group [30.7 h vs 25.6 h, P = 0.003, difference in mean (95% CI) is 5.1 (1.78–8.45)]. Furthermore, the incidence of emetic events in the ropivacaine group was significantly lower than the control group [32.4% vs 11.1%, P = 0.03, difference in proportions (95% CI) is 0.212 (0.0246–0.4002)].

Conclusion

The present results indicate that intraperitoneal ropivacaine reduces early postoperative pain and improves recovery after laparoscopic herniorrhaphy in toddlers. Therefore, IPLA is a good stratagem for postoperative pain management after laparoscopic surgery in toddlers.
Mapping of male sterility gene ms10 in chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Aulakh Parjeet Singh , Dhaliwal Major S. , Jindal Salesh Kumar , Schafleitner Roland , Singh Kuldeep
Published: June 2016

Most of the hybrid seed in chilli are produced manually, but the use of male sterility (MS) can reduce the cost of hybrid seed production. MS‐12, a nuclear male‐sterile (NMS) line developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (India), has been utilized to develop commercial F1 hybrids. A recessive gene, designated as ms10, governs MS in MS‐12. Due to recessive gene control, development of new NMS lines incorporating ms10 gene is tedious and time‐consuming. We identified SSR markers AVRDC‐PP12 and AVRDC_MD997* linked to the ms10 gene. A total of 558 primer pairs were screened following bulked segregant analysis (BSA). Linkage analysis in 210 F2 plants indicated that the two SSR markers were linked to the ms10 gene and the marker AVRDC‐PP12 was closest to the gene at 7.2 cM distance. The marker was mapped to chromosome 1 at genome position 175 694 513 to 175 694 644. Until more closely linked markers are developed, the marker AVRDC‐PP12 would facilitate transfer of ms10 gene through marker‐assisted selection (MAS). Fine mapping would lead to cloning of the ms10 gene.
Avengees' perspectives on revenge: Commitment as a predictor and relationship type differences
Authors: BOON SUSAN D. , YOSHIMURA STEPHEN M.
Published: June 2016

This study investigated how people respond emotionally to and make sense of the experience of being on the receiving end of an angry relationship partner's attempted revenge. Using an interdependence theory framework, we tested hypotheses concerning the role of commitment and investigated differences due to relationship type. We asked participants (N = 439) if they had experienced revenge at the hands of either a romantic partner, family member, or associate. Among those who had (N = 254), we found support for hypotheses linking commitment with avengees' affective and evaluative responses to being the target of revenge, but little evidence that these associations vary by relationship type. Possible routes by which commitment may influence people's experiences as avengees are discussed.
Identification of Stable Areas in Unreferenced Laser Scans for Deformation Measurement
Authors: Wujanz Daniel , Krueger Daniel , Neitzel Frank
Published: June 2016

A current aim of ongoing research in the field of deformation measurement is to automatically determine geometric changes between several epochs with data captured by terrestrial laser scanners. A critical component within the process chain of deformation measurement is the transformation of captured point clouds into a reference coordinate system. This contribution proposes a surface‐based alignment methodology that does not require artificial targets or extracted geometric primitives. A diagnostic method reveals deformations that occurred in between epochs and rejects them from the computation of transformation parameters that would otherwise cause erroneous registrations. The novel approach has been successfully tested on two practical cases where the highest degree of deformation extended to 65% of the total surface area.
Provable Sparse Tensor Decomposition
Authors: Sun Will Wei , Lu Junwei , Liu Han , Cheng Guang
Published: June 2016

We propose a novel sparse tensor decomposition method, namely the tensor truncated power method, that incorporates variable selection in the estimation of decomposition components. The sparsity is achieved via an efficient truncation step embedded in the tensor power iteration. Our method applies to a broad family of high dimensional latent variable models, including high dimensional Gaussian mixtures and mixtures of sparse regressions. A thorough theoretical investigation is further conducted. In particular, we show that the final decomposition estimator is guaranteed to achieve a local statistical rate, and we further strengthen it to the global statistical rate by introducing a proper initialization procedure. In high dimensional regimes, the statistical rate obtained significantly improves those shown in the existing non-sparse decomposition methods. The empirical advantages of tensor truncated power are confirmed in extensive simulation results and two real applications of click-through rate prediction and high dimensional gene clustering.
Log-Mean Linear Regression Models for Binary Responses with an Application to Multimorbidity
Authors: Lupparelli Monia , Roverato Alberto
Published: June 2016

In regression models for categorical data a linear model is typically related to the response variables via a transformation of probabilities called the link function. We introduce an approach based on two link functions for binary data named the log-mean and the log-mean linear methods. The choice of the link function plays a key role in the interpretation of the model, and our approach is especially appealing in terms of interpretation of the effects of covariates on the association of responses. Similarly to Poisson regression, the log-mean and log-mean linear regression coefficients of single outcomes are log-relative-risks, and we show that the relative risk interpretation is maintained also in the regressions of the association of responses. Furthermore, certain collections of zero log-mean linear regression coefficients imply that the relative risks for joint responses factorize with respect to the corresponding relative risks for marginal responses. This work is motivated by the analysis of a data set obtained from a case–control study aimed at investigating the effect of human immunodeficiency virus infection on multimorbidity, i.e. simultaneous presence of two or more non-infectious comorbidities in one patient.
Job Protection versus Contracts At‐Will: Trading‐Off Entrenchment and Shirking
Authors: Inderst Roman
Published: June 2016

I compare two types of employment contracts: those offering job protection and at‐will contracts. Their respective performances reveal the following trade‐off: at‐will contracts provide cheaper incentives for agents not to shirk, but they can induce the opportunistic actions of agents to make themselves less dispensable (“entrenchment”). One implication of the model is that more senior managers, such as chief executive officers, should receive more protection, for example, through contracts that are explicitly not at‐will or contracts that specify a longer duration.
How facial attractiveness affects sustained attention
Authors: Li Jie , Oksama Lauri , Hyönä Jukka
Published: June 2016

The present study investigated whether and how facial attractiveness affects sustained attention. We adopted a multiple‐identity tracking paradigm, using attractive and unattractive faces as stimuli. Participants were required to track moving target faces amid distractor faces and report the final location of each target. In Experiment 1, the attractive and unattractive faces differed in both the low‐level properties (i.e., luminance, contrast, and color saturation) and high‐level properties (i.e., physical beauty and age). The results showed that the attractiveness of both the target and distractor faces affected the tracking performance: The attractive target faces were tracked better than the unattractive target faces; when the targets and distractors were both unattractive male faces, the tracking performance was poorer than when they were of different attractiveness. In Experiment 2, the low‐level properties of the facial images were equalized. The results showed that the attractive target faces were still tracked better than unattractive targets while the effects related to distractor attractiveness ceased to exist. Taken together, the results indicate that during attentional tracking the high‐level properties related to the attractiveness of the target faces can be automatically processed, and then they can facilitate the sustained attention on the attractive targets, either with or without the supplement of low‐level properties. On the other hand, only low‐level properties of the distractor faces can be processed. When the distractors share similar low‐level properties with the targets, they can be grouped together, so that it would be more difficult to sustain attention on the individual targets.
Testing a Sociological Explanation for Rising Rates of White Mortality
Authors: Phillips Julie A.
Published: June 2016

This article is a response to Young's (2016) essay on high white death rates in Kansas. I argue that a focus on external causes would further help researchers theorize about how and why certain behavioral factors link declining white populations to various mortality changes. Additional work that examines changing mortality patterns by sex and race and that extends analyses to the entire nation will provide further tests of Young's thesis. In this context, I encourage researchers to consider how intergenerational comparisons and cohort effects may produce some of the observed patterns.
Soil acidification and the importance of liming agricultural soils with particular reference to the United Kingdom
Authors: Goulding K. W. T.
Published: June 2016

Soil acidification is caused by a number of factors including acidic precipitation and the deposition from the atmosphere of acidifying gases or particles, such as sulphur dioxide, ammonia and nitric acid. The most important causes of soil acidification on agricultural land, however, are the application of ammonium‐based fertilizers and urea, elemental S fertilizer and the growth of legumes. Acidification causes the loss of base cations, an increase in aluminium saturation and a decline in crop yields; severe acidification can cause nonreversible clay mineral dissolution and a reduction in cation exchange capacity, accompanied by structural deterioration. Soil acidity is ameliorated by applying lime or other acid‐neutralizing materials. ‘Liming’ also reduces N2O emissions, but this is more than offset by CO2 emissions from the lime as it neutralizes acidity. Because crop plants vary in their tolerance to acidity and plant nutrients have different optimal pH ranges, target soil pH values in the UK are set at 6.5 (5.8 in peaty soils) for cropped land and 6.0 (5.3 in peaty soils) for grassland. Agricultural lime products can be sold as ‘EC Fertiliser Liming Materials’ but, although vital for soil quality and agricultural production, liming tends to be strongly influenced by the economics of farming. Consequently, much less lime is being applied in the UK than required, and many arable and grassland soils are below optimum pH.
Sibling species in theChrysis ignitacomplex: molecular, morphological and trophic differentiation ofBaltic species, with a description of two new cryptic species (Hymenoptera:Chrysididae)
Authors: ORLOVSKYTĖ SVETLANA , BUDRYS EDUARDAS , BUDRIENĖ ANNA , RADZEVIČIŪTĖ RITA , SOON VILLU
Published: June 2016

Cryptic species complexes cause major challenges for taxonomists and alter understanding of species diversity. InNorthernEurope, theChrysis ignitaspecies group is one such complex with numerous sympatric sibling species. The objective of this paper is to assess the taxonomy of 15 species from this group using three different approaches: molecular, morphological and trophic differentiation. The analysed set of molecular markers included a 7400‐bp‐long sequence of the mitochondrial genome covering complete sequences ofCO1,CO2,ATP8,ATP6,CO3,ND3,16Sand12SrRNA, ninetRNAsand a partial sequence ofCytB, as well as a 3880‐bp‐long sequence of the nuclearDNAcovering a part of18SrRNA, theITS1,5.8SrRNA,ITS2and a part of28SrRNA. Discrete diagnostic characters of each species sequence were retrieved using theCharacteristicAttributeOrganisationSystem algorithm and a molecular identification key was compiled. The study revealed a higher evolutionary rate of the genesATP8,ATP6,CO3,ND3andCytBcompared to that ofCO1,CO2and16S; the studied nuclear markers demonstrated a lower evolutionary rate than the mitochondrial markers. A consensus tree compiled based on the combinedmtDNAand nuclear markers with a strongly supported topology resolved the position of theC. schencki – C.parietissp.n.clade as sister to theC. ignita – C. impressaclade and supported the monophyly of theC. angustula – C. longulaclade. We compiled a morphometric species identification key applying linear discriminant equations. The trophic differentiation was assessed using data on host preferences of tenChrysisspecies reared from trap‐nests; the analysis demonstrated that most of them are specialists exploiting a single or a few taxonomically related host species. In most cases, all three approaches supported the distinct status of the included species. Moreover, two previously undescribed species were consistently supported by the molecular methods. Therefore, we describe these as new, namelyC. horridulasp.n.andC. parietissp.n.OnlyC. mediataandC. solidawere not clearly distinguished using the molecular phylogeny reconstruction methods. However, based on distinctive niche divergence, the presence of molecular characters and morphometric differences, we consider them as phylogenetically young but distinct species. In view of the weak morphological and molecular differentiation, the widely overlapping distribution areas and often similar habitat preferences and the trophic specialization, theC. ignitacomplex presents a possible model for studies of sympatric cryptic speciation.

This published work has been registered in ZooBank,http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1EBAF0E1‐5FB7‐4CF4‐A595‐C11982448360.
Cenozoic landscape evolution of the Kruger National Park as derived from cosmogenic nuclide analyses
Authors: Glotzbach Christoph , Paape Alexander , Baade Jussi , Reinwarth Bastian , Rowntree Kate , Miller Jordan
Published: June 2016

In contrast to active tectonic settings, little is known about the potential feedback between surface processes and climate change in tectonically inactive cratonic regions. Here, we studied the driving forces of erosion and landscape evolution in the Kruger National Park in South Africa using cosmogenic nuclide dating. 10Be‐derived catchment‐wide erosion rates (~2 and ~10 mm ka−1) are similar in magnitude to erosion and rock uplift elsewhere in South Africa, suggesting that (1) rock uplift is solely the isostatic response to erosion and (2) the first‐order topography is likely of Cretaceous age. The topographic maturity is promoted by widespread exposure of rocks resistant to erosion. Our data, however, suggest that local variations in rock resistance lead to transient landscape changes, with local increases in relief and erosion rates.
RAINFALL RUNOFF MODELING BY MULTILAYER PERCEPTRON NEURAL NETWORK FOR LUI RIVER CATCHMENT
Authors: Nawaz Nadeem , Harun Sobri , Othman Rawshan , Heryansyah Arien
Published: June 2016

Reliable modeling for the rainfall-runoff processes embedded with high complexity and non-linearity can overcome the problems associated with managing a watershed. Physically based rainfall-runoff models need many realistic physical components and parameters which are sometime missing and hard to be estimated. In last decades the artificial intelligence (AI) has gained much popularity for calibrating the nonlinear relationships of rainfall–runoff processes. The AI models have the ability to provide direct relationship of the input to the desired output without considering any internal processes. This study presents an application of Multilayer Perceptron neural network (MLPNN) for the continuous and event based rainfall-runoff modeling to evaluate its performance for a tropical catchment of Lui River in Malaysia. Five years (1999-2013) daily and hourly rainfall and runoff data was used in this study. Rainfall-runoff processes were also simulated with a traditionally used statistical modeling technique known as auto-regressive moving average with exogenous inputs (ARMAX). The study has found that MLPNN model can be used as reliable rainfall-runoff modeling tool in tropical catchments.
EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENT ON THE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF TWO CULTIVARS OF SWEET POTATOES
Authors: H. M. S. Amir , N. Nurun , Iqbal Nida , F. R. Nur , L. H. Lee , F. M. N. Mariam , M. S. Sharifudin , W. A. K. Wan Rashidah , A. A. Mukred Jameel, , Z. Razauden , Z. Mona
Published: June 2016

Natural sources of antioxidants are derived from fruits, vegetables and wine, whilst artificial supplements are from teas and spices. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is an excellent natural source of vitamins and minerals, and likely a great source of antioxidant. The objective of this study  is to analyze the antioxidant activity of orange sweet potato (Vitato) and  purple sweet potato (All purple), prepared as heat dry and  moist heat for 30 minutes at 100oC. All the samples were obtained from Pasir Puteh and MARDI Telong, Bachok, Kelantan, respectively. Both samples were soaked into methanol to obtain the crude extract prior to analyzing for antioxidant activity by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH). IC50 values of dry heat and moist heat Vitato were 0.40mg/L and 0.20mg/L while dry heat and moist heat, All purple were 0.32mg/L and 0.19mg/L, respectively. Both moist heat samples enjoyed higher scavenging activities compared to dry heat samples. However, the All purple sample of moist heat is the most superior one. Significant difference of IC50values between dry heat and moist heat sample differ significantly. Thus, this study clearly demonstrated that moist heat sweet potato exhibited  excellent increase in antioxidant activity.
Microglia development follows a stepwise program to regulate brain homeostasis
Authors: Matcovitch-Natan Orit , Winter Deborah R. , Giladi Amir , Vargas Aguilar Stephanie , Spinrad Amit , Sarrazin Sandrine , Ben-Yehuda Hila , David Eyal , Zelada González Fabiola , Perrin Pierre , Keren-Shaul Hadas , Gury Meital , Lara-Astaiso David , Thaiss Christoph A. , Cohen Merav , Bahar Halpern Keren , Baruch Kuti , Deczkowska Aleksandra , Lorenzo-Vivas Erika , Itzkovitz Shalev , Elinav Eran , Sieweke Michael H. , Schwartz Michal , Amit Ido
Published: June 2016

Microglia development follows a stepwise program

Microglia are cells that defend the central nervous system. However, because they migrate into the brain during development, the changes that they undergo, including those that affect gene expression, have been difficult to document. Matcovitch-Natan
et al.
transcriptionally profiled gene expression and analyzed epigenetic signatures of microglia at the single-cell level in the early postnatal life of mice. They identified three stages of microglia development, which are characterized by gene expression and linked with chromatin changes, occurring in sync with the developing brain. Furthermore, they showed that the proper development of microglia is affected by the microbiome.

Science
, this issue p.
789
Structural basis for membrane anchoring of HIV-1 envelope spike
Authors: Dev Jyoti , Park Donghyun , Fu Qingshan , Chen Jia , Ha Heather Jiwon , Ghantous Fadi , Herrmann Tobias , Chang Weiting , Liu Zhijun , Frey Gary , Seaman Michael S. , Chen Bing , Chou James J.
Published: June 2016

Env's transmembrane domain revealed

HIV-1's envelope protein (Env) spans the viral membrane and grants the virus entry into host cells. Env is also the sole protein of HIV-1 that is targeted by antibodies, making it a key target for vaccine design. Dev
et al.
used nuclear magnetic resonance to determine an atomic-level structure of the membrane-spanning region of Env in a lipid bicelle. Env's transmembrane domain forms a well-ordered trimer, which includes a stabilizing C-terminal hydrophilic core. Disrupting this core alters the sensitivity of Env to broadly neutralizing antibodies, suggesting the potential importance of this region to vaccine design.

Science
, this issue p.
172
Living in Latvia after stroke: the association between functional, social and personal factors and the level of self-perceived disability—a cross-sectional study
Authors: Bērziņa Guna , Smilškalne Baiba , Vētra Anita , Stibrant Sunnerhagen Katharina
Published: June 2016

Objective

To investigate how functional, social and personal factors are associated with self-perceived level of disability in the chronic phase of stroke in a Latvian stroke population. The consequences of stroke can vary greatly and often leads to long-term disability that, according to the WHO definitions, depends on the interaction between the person and his/her context.

Design

Cross-sectional study with retrospective data gathering.

Setting

Community-dwelling persons who received specialised in-patient rehabilitation after stroke in Latvia.

Participants

Of 600 persons after stroke who were identified through hospital register and selected for the study, 255 were included in the analysis.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The medical information and discharge data of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was extracted from medical records. Participants filled out a questionnaire on sociodemographic information and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0), either in Latvian or Russian, depending on their wish when contacted for their oral agreement to participate. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to find a model that best explains the variance in WHODAS 2.0 scores.

Results

The models explained 23–43.5% of variance in outcomes. The best explained WHODAS 2.0 domains were ‘mobility’ and ‘self-care’. The significant factors were level of independence in ‘self-care’, ‘locomotion’ and ‘communication’ according to FIM, as well as working status, time since rehabilitation, age, gender, living alone or in family and preferred language.

Conclusions

Functional, social and personal factors are of similar importance when explaining self-perceived disability in the chronic phase of stroke. Some, but not all, of the factors are modifiable by the healthcare system. Therefore, a complex approach and involvement of medical, social and political systems is needed.
Smoking and serum vitamin D in older Chinese people: cross-sectional analysis based on the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study
Authors: Jiang C Q , Chan Y H , Xu L , Jin Y L , Zhu T , Zhang W S , Cheng K K , Lam T H
Published: June 2016

Objective

Studies on serum vitamin D in smokers showed conflicting results. We examined the association of smoking status with serum vitamin D in older Chinese men, taking advantage of a community-based sample with natural exposure to vitamin D.

Design

Cross-sectional study based on the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS).

Setting

Community-based sample from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.

Participants

612 male participants aged 50+years recruited from 2009 to 2011.

Results

The mean (SD) of vitamin D concentration was 58.3 (17.2), 57.0 (15.0) and 54.7 (15.4) nmol/L for never, former and current smokers, respectively. Adjusted for multiple confounders, vitamin D decreased from never to former, then to current smokers (P for trend 0.02). Compared to never smokers, current smokers had lower serum concentrations of vitamin D, and the concentrations decreased with the increasing number of cigarettes per day (−3.11 (95% CI −9.05 to 2.82), −3.29 (−8.3 to 1.72) and −4.61 (−8.89 to −0.33) for 1–9, 10–19 and 20+cigarettes per day, respectively; p for trend 0.01), duration of smoking (−1.39 (−6.09 to 3.30) and −5.39 (−9.42 to −1.35) for 1–39 and 40+years, respectively; p for trend 0.008) as well as pack-years (−2.89 (−6.78 to 1.01) and −5.58 (−10.48 to −0.67) for 1–39 and 40+pack-years, respectively; p for trend 0.009). Longer duration of quitting smoking was associated with higher vitamin D than was current smoking (P for trend 0.04).

Conclusions

Current smokers had lower vitamin D than never smokers, and the association showed a dose–response pattern.
Vulnerability in the clinic: case study of a transcultural consultation
Authors: Dominicé Dao Melissa
Published: June 2016

Discrimination and inequalities in healthcare can be experienced by many patients due to many characteristics ranging from the obviously visible to the more subtly noticeable, such as race and ethnicity, legal status, social class, linguistic fluency, health literacy, age, gender and weight. Discrimination can take a number of forms including overt racist statement, stereotyping or explicit and implicit attitudes and biases. This paper presents the case study of a complex transcultural clinical encounter between the mother of a young infant in a highly vulnerable social situation and a hospital healthcare team. In this clinical setting, both parties experienced difficulties, generating explicit and implicit negative attitudes that heightened into reciprocal mistrust, conflict and distress. The different factors influencing their conscious and unconscious biases will be analysed and discussed to offer understanding of the complicated nature of human interactions when faced with vulnerability in clinical practice. This case vignette also illustrates how, even in institutions with long-standing experience and many internal resources to address diversity and vulnerability, cultural competence remains a constant challenge.
Compression effects on dipole transitions and state lifetimes for a hydrogen atom
Authors: Solórzano A. , Aquino N. , Flores-Riveros A.
Published: June 2016

The quantum mechanical problem of a hydrogen atom placed at the center of an impenetrable sphere of radius r0 is solved by using two different methods, where, in the first, a trial wave function, consisting of a hydrogen-like function times a cutoff factor that ensures fulfillment of Dirichlet boundary condition, is proposed, whereas in the second, the radial Schrödinger equation is solved by means of an accurate numerical technique. We computed the energies for the ground and first excited states of S-, P-, and D-symmetry, as well as dipole transitions, oscillator strengths, and a few state lifetimes. Although the variational method and the numerical solution are found to give similar qualitative behaviours, which, in general, compare reasonably well with some results published previously, the 2p state lifetimes obtained in the present calculations appear to be at variance with the latter at some particular box radii.