bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE ROLE OF THE KARIMUN RESORT POLICE TRAFFIC UNIT IN PREVENTING VIOLATIONS AND CONTROLLING TRAFFIC (Case Study of Motorized Vehicle Users for Minors)
Authors: Roli Sambuardi  , Azmi  , Zulkarnain Deska , Setiawati Andri
Published: June 2024

This research begins with the researcher's view of the field phenomenon where there are still many legal violations in traffic problems in the Karimun area. The implementation of regulations has not been able to maximize the deterrent effect on minors in Karimun.This research aims to find out the role of the Karimun Resort police traffic unit in preventing violations and controlling motor vehicle traffic for minors. Data was collected using unstructured interviews, documentation, and observation. Data analysis in this research uses data analysis techniques on the Miles Huberman website, the data that has been collected is created in a matrix, using qualitative analysis research methods. This research uses the theory developed by Biddle and Thomas regarding the role of policy, the role of strategy, the role of a communication tool, the role of dispute resolution, and the role of therapy.The results of this research regarding the role of traffic police in preventing violations and controlling traffic can be said to be quite good because according to what the researchers heard from the traffic police, they have implemented them following applicable policies and regulations. It just requires the role of parents and the school environment to be able to emphasize to their children not to drive motorized vehicles before the specified age and vehicle users must at least have a driver's license.
ABCGM-BASED STUNTING PREVENTION GOVERNANCE IN BATANG DISTRICT
Authors: Erison Yendra
Published: June 2024

The aim of this research is to analyze the handling of stunting cases in Batang Regency using the ABCGM collaborative approach. Stunting cases in Batang Regency are currently still quite high. This type of research uses qualitative methods with a descriptive approach. Researchers collected data from various literature and official media that were relevant to this research. Data analysis in this research uses the Miles and Huberman approach, where in qualitative data analysis research goes through the stages of data collection, data reduction, data presentation and ending with a conclusion. The research results show that ABCGM cooperation in handling stunting cases in Batang Regency is not optimal. This is because the synergy between each actor is very limited so that communication coordination has not been developed properly. Handling stunting cases in Batang Regency is dominated by the central role of the Batang Regency Government itself. The involvement of non-government actors is still limited, even though ABCGM collaboration if carried out could speed up the handling of stunting cases in Batang Regency. ABCGM collaboration is very important because local governments are unable to handle stunting cases, which until now have been called a multidimensional problem.
Kunigo Juozo Konstantino Matulaičio savilaidinė veikla: leidinių chronologija ir tematikos
Authors: Žemaitis Kęstutis , Bilotas Viktor
Published: June 2024

Lietuvos okupacijos metais religinė literatūra tapo sunkiai prieinama, ypač po to, kai sovietinė armiją kraštą okupavo antrą kartą –1944 metų rudenį. Galima teigti, kad viso sovietmečio metu buvo juntamas tokios literatūros trūkumas. Šiomis aplinkybėmis atsirado vadinamoji savilaida. Vienas iš nelegaliai leidusiųjų knygas buvo kunigas Juozas Konstantinas Matulaitis. Sovietų okupacijos metais šis kunigas išvertė ir perrašęs rašomąja mašinėle išplatino keletą šimtų skirtingų knygų. Pogrindžio metu verstos knygos mašinraščių pavidalu atsidūrė skirtingose bibliotekose ir archyvuose: Šunskų parapijos klebonijoje, kurioje J. K. Matulaitis ilgai gyveno ir darbavosi, didelė dalis – Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto Katalikų teologijos fakulteto Lietuvos Katalikų Bažnyčios istorijos centre, nemažai leidinių saugomos privačiose bibliotekose. Minėtoji Katalikų Bažnyčios istorijos centro kolekcija tapo šio tyrimo objektu. Panaudojus analitinį-aprašomąjį ir klasifikacijos metodus buvo nustatyta, kad J. K. Matulaitis vertė knygas visose savo tarnystės vietose, ypač intensyviai – Liudvinave ir Šunskuose. Jo leistos knygos-mašinraščiai dažniausiai būdavo katechetinio, pastoracinio pobūdžio, iš praktinės teologijos srities, t. y. pamokslai. Kitas J. K. Matulaičio prioritetas buvo dvasinė literatūra: mąstymai, pamokymai, šventųjų gyvenimai.
The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Modal Shifting Utilising a Latent Class Choice Model with Covariates
Authors: ERGIN Mahmut Esad
Published: June 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to global public health organisations and governments, leading to countermeasures like hand sanitizer availability, social distancing, and mandatory face mask wearing, which have disrupted the public transportation sector and impacted the virus spread. Anticipating the effects of circumstances like a pandemic on mobility is essential for operators and managers of public transportation systems to effectively and safely manage the system. In this study, the measures taken during the pandemic, such as those mentioned above, were considered as indicators in the latent class model (LCM) for modal shifting. The model incorporates sociodemographic variables as covariates to understand their impact on modal shifting from public transport to private cars. An online survey with 53,973 valid responses was conducted in Istanbul, Turkiye. As a result of the LCM with covariates, two-latent-class model, the best fit among models ranging from two to six latent classes, emerged. Class-1 participants show increased sensitivity to the pandemic, shifting to private mode, while Class-2 participants are less concerned and tend to maintain their existing mode. The model suggests using LCM with covariates to estimate the modal shift from public transportation to private cars in any given situation.
Exploring the Highway Travel Patterns Affected by COVID-19 through Outbreak to Recovery Stages – A Case Study in Guizhou Province
Authors: LIU Weizheng , CHEN Yanyan
Published: June 2024

The examination of highway travel behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic can provide valuable insights into the impacts of the pandemic and associated policies on human mobility patterns. This paper proposes a comprehensive examination, measurement and characterisation approach in the perspective of network and community structure. To capture the changes in travel behaviour, four stages were defined based on four consecutive Augusts from 2019 to 2022, during which varying levels of restrictions were implemented. The findings reveal interesting trends in travel patterns. In 2020, after the clearance of pandemic cases, there was a remarkable increase of over 10% in highway trips. However, in 2021, with the emergence of COVID-19 variants, there was a significant decline of over 30% in highway trips. By employing complex network analysis, key metrics of the primary network, including link weight, node flux and network connectivity, exhibited a notable decrease during the pandemic. These changes in network properties also reflect the spatial heterogeneity of highway travel demand. Moreover, the outcomes of community detection shed light on the evolution of the highway community structure, highlighting the efficacy of a community-collaboration strategy for highway management during public emergency events, as it fosters strong local interaction within the community.
Symbolic model checking quantum circuits in Maude
Authors: Minh Do Canh , Ogata Kazuhiro
Published: June 2024

This article presents a symbolic approach to model checking quantum circuits using a set of laws from quantum mechanics and basic matrix operations with Dirac notation. We use Maude, a high-level specification/programming language based on rewriting logic, to implement our symbolic approach. As case studies, we use the approach to formally specify several quantum communication protocols in the early work of quantum communication and formally verify their correctness: Superdense Coding, Quantum Teleportation, Quantum Secret Sharing, Entanglement Swapping, Quantum Gate Teleportation, Two Mirror-image Teleportation, and Quantum Network Coding. We demonstrate that our approach/implementation can be a first step toward a general framework to formally specify and verify quantum circuits in Maude. The proposed way to formally specify a quantum circuit makes it possible to describe the quantum circuit in Maude such that the formal specification can be regarded as a series of quantum gate/measurement applications. Once a quantum circuit has been formally specified in the proposed way together with an initial state and a desired property expressed in linear temporal logic (LTL), the proposed model checking technique utilizes a built-in Maude LTL model checker to automatically conduct formal verification that the quantum circuit enjoys the property starting from the initial state.
Implicações da manufatura avançada na era da indústria 4.0: desafios e oportunidades
Authors: Pinto Luiz Henrique Alves , Lima Orlem Pinheiro de , Maduro Márcia Ribeiro
Published: June 2024

Este artigo discute as implicações da Manufatura Avançada na Era da Indústria 4.0, abordando seus desafios e oportunidades. A pesquisa adotou uma abordagem qualitativa de natureza básica, com objetivo exploratório. A metodologia incluiu pesquisa bibliográfica e estudo de caso. Os resultados destacam a importância da Manufatura Avançada como uma resposta aos avanços tecnológicos e às demandas do mercado globalizado. Os desafios identificados envolvem a necessidade de adaptação das empresas às novas tecnologias, a capacitação dos colaboradores e a garantia da segurança dos dados. Por outro lado, as oportunidades estão relacionadas ao aumento da eficiência e produtividade, a personalização em massa, a otimização dos processos e a criação de novos modelos de negócios. Conclui-se que a Manufatura Avançada é fundamental para a competitividade das empresas na Era da Indústria 4.0. As empresas devem estar preparadas para enfrentar os desafios e aproveitar as oportunidades oferecidas por essa nova era industrial.
A Multifaceted Physiotherapeutic Approach for Improving Hand Function in Post-traumatic Fracture Dislocation of Proximal Phalanx of Middle Finger of Left Hand: A Case Report
Authors: Sheikh Shifa Shakeel , Ramteke Swapnil , Keoliya Ashish
Published: June 2024

Hand phalangeal fractures are frequent injuries that present in the clinic and emergency room. Injuries to the phalanx may occur at the proximal, middle, or distal segments of the bone. Depending on the location, proximal phalanx fractures can develop a volar apex angulation. Soft-tissue damage, along with disruption of the finger, accompanies the phalangeal fracture. Treatment of the phalangeal fracture is contingent upon the type of displacement of the fracture. Displaced fractures are reduced by manipulation, followed by immobilisation in an aluminum splint. In later phases, Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation is performed. The hand is an important functional unit. Hence, post-immobilisation rehabilitation of the phalangeal fracture is essential for everyday activities. In this case report, the multifaceted physiotherapeutic approach is employed in the rehabilitation of a 33-year-old man who presented with multiple bite wounds allegedly inflicted by a wild boar, with chief complaints of injuries on the third digit of the left hand leading to pain and restricted movement. Radiographs revealed a comminuted fracture of the third digit with fracture dislocation of the distal end of the proximal phalanx, requiring K-wire fixation and finger splinting. Post-fixation, finger Range Of Motion (ROM) reduced, and pain arose, prompting physiotherapy. The multifaceted approach in rehabilitation involves a range of interventions, including traditional methods like immobilisation and K-wire fixation, as well as adjunctive physiotherapy techniques such as the finger blocking technique and sensory motor training. This report showcases a successful multifaceted rehabilitation approach for a patient with a traumatic finger fracture, demonstrating the importance of integrating physical therapy and addressing both physical and functional impairments for optimal outcomes.
Synergistic Potential of Methotrexate and Gefitinib: A Promising Palliative Approach for Advanced and Recurrent Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: Samani Tabassum , Yadav Arun Kumar , Jain Deepanshi , Singh Utkarsha , Roopali .
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Head and Neck Cancers (HNCs) in India account for 30% of all cancers, out of which 60-80% of patients present with advanced disease, leaving the patients with limited survival and poor Quality of Life (QoL). Poor nutritional conditions, advanced disease presentation, limited tolerance, and socio- economic constraints necessitate the development of appropriate and effective palliative treatment options that are also easily available. One such palliative approach has been explored, and its relevance and applicability are discussed here. Aim: To study the role of weekly intramuscular injection Methotrexate (MTX) along with oral Tablet Gefitinib in advanced unresectable, recurrent, or residual HNCs. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 50 patients was carried out in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. All patients included had advanced HNC and were ineligible for curative treatment. All received weekly intramuscular injection MTX 40 mg/m2 and Tablet Gefitinib administered orally in a dose of 250 mg once daily. These patients were assessed for tumour response, acute toxicities, symptomatic relief, and median survival. All the data were recorded in Microsoft Excel and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 28.0. Results: This study included 50 patients (45 males, 5 females) with a mean±SD age of 49±8.8 years, all diagnosed with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, predominantly at stage 3 (six patients) and stage 4 (44 patients). Median survival was 5.9 months. According to RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours) criteria, no complete responses were observed; 18 (36%) had a partial response, 21 (42%) had stable disease, and 11 (22%) had progressive disease. The treatment was well-tolerated, providing notable relief in pain and dysphagia symptoms. In terms of toxicity, grade-3 mucositis was observed in 10 patients, and none had grade-4. Grade-3-4 neutropenia and anaemia were seen in six and eight patients, respectively. Conclusion: The use of MTX and gefitinib combination in advanced HNCs has the potential to substantially alleviate pain, provide symptomatic relief concerning dysphagia and speech, and hence improve the overall QoL.
Development of Ohmic Heating Apparatus for Extraction of Edible Oil from Black Cumin Seed
Authors: Sawant Sanket R , Sharma P. K. , Mani Indra
Published: June 2024

Many innovative thermal food processing methods have been created with great promise, and there is currently a strong need for cutting-edge technologies that require the least amount of processing. Ohmic heating is a volumetric heating technique that involves heating food that contains liquid particles by passing an alternating electric current through it. The study's goals were to design and build an ohmic heating system on a laboratory scale and assess its effectiveness in terms of heating power, heating rate, and energy efficiency. The ohmic heating setup that was constructed on a laboratory scale demonstrated exceptional performance. The system successfully converted a maximum of 62.50 % of the energy. With this configuration, an 80 V applied voltage may heat the liquid particle meal from 24°C to 50°C in less than minute. For the most part, the heating was volumetrically uniform. This technology holds great promise for creating brand-new, highly valued products that maintain their quality over time on the market.
Description and Comparative Analysis of Status of Soil Fertility in Suwana Block of Bhilwara District of Rajasthan, India
Authors: Dager Shivraj , Bharose Ram , David Arun Alfred , Jat Dinesh Chandra , Kumar Ayush
Published: June 2024

The present research took place from Suwana block in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan for analyze the fertility of the soils on cultivated land both close to and far from industrial areas was carried out at the SHUATS, Prayagraj. Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry formerly called Naini Agricultural Institute, (U.P.). During the year 2023-2024. The soil samples were collected at the single-depth ranges: 0–15 cm from 30 different villages of one block of Bhilwara district, a total of 90 samples collected and analyzed for their physical and chemical parameter by using SLT. The outcome demonstrated that the soil samples' pH was observed from neutral, slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline. The EC-1 became secure variety for cultivated land. %OC range was found in low to medium range. Available nitrogen was low, phosphorous was moderately to low., potassium levels ranged from medium to high, Sulphur was range from low too high in range in soils of Suwana block. Ca and Mg had been enough in variety of research area.
Optimizing Yield and Quality of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. Anand Kesari through Planting Time and Plant Spacing Management
Authors: Patel Kena , Kotecha A. V. , Masu M. M.
Published: June 2024

The field experiment was conducted during rabi season of the year 2022-23 at B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University. There were nine treatments consisting of three planting time (P1: 1st week of October, P2: 3rd week of October and P3: 1st week of November) and spacing (S1: 15 x 10 cm, S2: 15 x 15 cm and S3: 20 x 10 cm). Results revealed that planting time P2 (3rd week of October) led to the most favorable outcomes, with bulb diameter (4.46 cm), bulb weight (13.18), yield (1.93 kg/plot and 60.70 q/ha). Spacing S2 (15 x 15 cm) also exhibited positive effects on bulb quality like bulb diameter (4.42 cm) and bulb weight (12.01 g), while yield (1.934 kg/plot and 59.20 q/ha) were recorded to be significantly the highest at spacing S1 (15 x 10 cm). The P2 S3 recorded significantly higher bulb diameter (4.84 cm), weight of bulb (13.61 g). While, yield (2.341 kg/plot and 70.93 q/ha) were recorded to be significantly highest at P2S2. These findings provide valuable insights for garlic cultivation, helping farmers optimize planting strategies to enhance crop performance and yield.
Synthesis and Structural Study of the Mixed Copper (II)/lanthanum (III) Complex with the Bicompartmental Ligand H2L = 2,2'-{propane-1,2-diyl bis[Nitrilomethylylidene ]}Bis(6-Methoxyphenol)
Authors: Diallo Alassane Saïdou , Camara Papa Samba , Gueye Mbosse Ndiaye , Thiam Ibrahima Elhadj , Tamboura Farba Bouyagui , Dieng Moussa , Sall Abdou Salam , Gaye Mohamed
Published: June 2024

The neutral hetero-trinuclear compound 3d-4f, [Cu(II)La(III)Cu(II)] was obtained with the “brick by brick” method and it crystallizes in the monoclinic system with a space group of P2/n. The asymmetric unit of the structure of [Cu2(μ-L2)La(NO3)2] contains two molecules of the dideprotonated ligand L2-, two Cu(II) ions, one La(III) ion and two bidentate nitrate anions. In the structure of the trinuclear complex, the two Cu(II) ions and the La(III) ion are bridged by two phenolate oxygen atoms. The Cu(II) ion has a square planar geometry with the basal plane formed by two imine nitrogen atoms and two phenolic oxygen atoms. The La(III) ion, which occupies the largest open site of the Schiff base ligand, is bonded to two phenolate oxygen atoms and two methoxy oxygen atoms of the ligand and two oxygen atoms of a bidentate nitrate group from each ligand. The La(III) cation is located in the planar cavity defined by the two phenolate oxygen atoms and the two methoxy oxygen atoms. The positive charge of Cu(II) and La(III) ions is balanced by the deprotonated L2- ligand, perchlorata and nitrate anions. The duodecacoordinated La(III) ion coordination polyhedron is described as a severely distorted icosahedron or dodecahedron.
Therapeutic Management of Anoestrus in Swamp Buffalo Heifers and Cows using Bypass Fat
Authors: Deka N , Nath K.C. , Saikia B.N. , Das G. C. , Nath N.C.
Published: June 2024

The study was taken up to assess the effect of bypass fat supplementation on the performance of anoestrous Swamp buffalo heifers and cows maintained at Network Project on Buffalo Improvement (Swamp), College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India. Efficacy of bypass fat in the treatment of anoestrus was studied on the basis of genital changes, level of some of the blood biochemical constituents and oestrus response. Twenty five per cent of the anoestrous heifers and 25 per cent of anoestrous cows treated with bypass fat + minerals + injectable phosphorus showed vulvar oedema and congestion, uterine tone and ovarian activity within 30 days of treatment. Level of serum leptin and IGF-1 was significantly higher in anoestrus cows on day 30 of treatment and the values were 4.11 ± 0.16 ng/ml for leptin and 74.11 ± 1.26 ng/ml for IGF-1 as against 3.40 ± 0.09 ng/ml leptin and 61.99 ± 4.87 ng/ml IGF-1 recorded at day 0 of treatment. Treatment of anoestrous heifer with bypass fat alone or bypass fat + minerals + injectable phosphorus for a period of 30 days resulted in increased serum oestrogen and progesterone level on day 30 of treatment indicating a positive effect of bypass fat in addressing anoestrous in buffalo heifers. In the anoestrous buffalo cows bypass fat treatment for a period of 30 days either alone or fortified with minerals and injectable phosphorus had no effect on serum oestrogen and progesterone concentration. Bypass fat treatment resulted in 37.50 per cent oestrus response in anoestrous buffalo heifers and 50.00 per cent oestrus response in anoestrous cows.
In vitro Evaluation of Fungicides and Plant Derived Extracts on Mycelial Growth of Alternaria brassicae
Authors: Ahammad Faijuddin , Mapari Pankaj N. , Kumar Rohit , Datre Shivani , Thakur Jagriti , Patil Prafull , Zacharia Sunil
Published: June 2024

Mustard (Brassica juncea) is one among the major oilseed crops in India grown during Rabi season. Alternaria blight of mustard caused by Alternaria brassicae is most widespread and destructive disease of mustard causing major yield losses that may range from 15 to 71 per cent in productivity and 14 to 36 per cent in oil. An experiment was conducted at the laboratory of the Department of Plant Pathology, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. To test the efficacy of different treatments viz., Carbendazim @ 0.1%, Hexaconazole @ 0.05%, Carbendazim + Mancozeb @ 0.2%, Mancozeb @ 0.2%, Chilli (Capsicum annum) and Alstonia (Alstonia scholaris) @ 10% against Alternaria brassicae under in vitro condition. Fungicides and botanicals were tested through the poisoned food technique at 10 % concentrations and 168 hours of incubation. The Minimum radial growth was observed in Carbendazim + Mancozeb (0 mm) followed by Hexaconazole (5.28 mm), Mancozeb (6.25 mm), Carbendazim (14.25 mm), Chilli leaf extract (69.12 mm) and Alstonia leaf extract (84.23 mm) as compared to Control (90 mm) untreated check. Carbendazim + Mancozeb were found most effective in inhibition of mycelial growth in in vitro. This study aimed to control it using a range of cost-effective and commercially available chemical fungicides. Therefore, an attempt was made to assess the effectiveness of these fungicides against Alternaria blight in mustard in vitro.
The Iconography of Pop Culture in Ghana: Black Sherif’s Music in Perspective
Authors: Annin Felicia , Addei Cecilia
Published: June 2024

Ghanaian tradition, like other African traditions, revolves around cultural values and beliefs. These cultural values and beliefs vary as a result of the different cultural contexts in Ghana. One of the most popular traditions in Ghana is the use of songs as a form of entertainment and a mouthpiece for satirizing society’s ills. Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong, popularly known as Black Sherif, is a musician who employs the oral genre of Ghanaian music to unveil some of the pertinent issues in Ghana. This study uses the lyrics of the selected songs as data, which are transcribed and textually analyzed to situate Black Sherif’s music as a pathway through which the young people divulge critical issues confronting them and the vulnerable in the country. The study explores how the artiste presents entertaining yet thought-provoking songs as a manner of expression and foregrounds the culture of Ghana through the use of diction, imagery, and symbolism. It argues that the young people play constitutive roles in nation-building by promoting the Ghanaian culture through the songs they write, so society should grant them an audience and heed what they say. The findings reveal that the economic situation of the country has rendered young people jobless and frustrated and that the ghetto lifestyle has emerged as a popular culture in Ghana.
Expatriatism in Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner and Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Authors: Ramin Zohreh , Ward Ilham
Published: June 2024

The September 11 attacks were world-changing events. Contemporary historians divide the history of the modern world into pre- and post-9/11. The metropolitan reaction was controversial. The Metropolis united against what is dubbed "the axis of evil." It attacked an array of Islamic nations. Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) and Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner (2003) portrayed two Muslim expatriates from Pakistan and Afghanistan who experienced post-9/11 America firsthand. The protagonists presented two distinct understandings of extremism and fundamentalism. This article employed Said's (2003) theories to analyze the concepts of “the diasporic figure” against the backdrop of “the metropolitan society.” It argues that the cultural, political, religious, and social conflicts between the diasporic figure and the metropolitan society are shaped by Orientalist narratives. The novels depict various aspects of the diasporic identity. They try to negotiate between several conflicting narratives. However, Orientalism defines the frameworks of these conflicts because these conflicts and resulting confusions are rooted in the long history of metropolitan Orientalism.
Iron‐Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Esters
Authors: Bézier David , Venkanna Gopaladasu T. , Castro Luis C. Misal , Zheng Jianxia , Roisnel Thierry , Sortais Jean‐Baptiste , Darcel Christophe
Published: June 2012

The first hydrosilylation of esters catalyzed by a well defined iron complex has been developed. Esters are converted to the corresponding alcohols at 100 °C, under solvent‐free conditions and visible light activation.
Physical development of girls from Krakow in the aspect of socioeconomical changes in Poland (1938–2010)
Authors: Woronkowicz Agnieszka , Cichocka Barbara Anna , Kowal Małgorzata , Kryst Łukasz , Sobiecki Jan
Published: June 2012

Objectives:

This survey aimed at analyzing secular changes in the development of girls from Krakow, in the first decade of the 21st century, against the background of transformations observed in the previous century.

Methods:

The data collected during a survey conducted in Krakow in 2010, in which the measurements of a total of 1,974 girls aged 3.5–18.5 years were taken, made a basis for this study. The results from the contemporary series were compared with previous surveys conducted in 1938, 1971, 1983, and 2000. The analysis of the survey made use of the results of body height and weight measurements, BMI, and the menarche, thelarche, and pubarche onsets determining the level of pubertal development. The development of secondary sex characters was assessed utilizing the criteria 5‐stage scale established by Tanner. The mean age of the menarche onset and ages at beginning breast (B2) and pubic hair (PH2) development were calculated by means of the probit method.

Results:

In the physical development of girls a positive trend in body height changes in prepubescence and adolescence was still observed. The acceleration of body weight development in peripubescence is expressed by increased BMI. It is spectacular that body build gets slimmer at the age of 17 and 18, which is probably connected with conscious control of body weight, and pubertal acceleration is also maintained.

Conclusions:

Still observed trends in morphological factors and pubertal acceleration require further monitoring out of concern for the health and proper development of children and adolescents. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of a prenatal profile of Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS): A review of 53 CdLS pregnancies
Authors: Clark Dinah M. , Sherer Ilana , Deardorff Matthew A. , Byrne Janice L.B. , Loomes Kathleen M. , Nowaczyk Malgorzata J.M. , Jackson Laird G. , Krantz Ian D.
Published: June 2012

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) is a multisystem developmental disorder characterized by growth retardation, cognitive impairment, external and internal structural malformations, and characteristic facial features. Currently, there are no definitive prenatal screening measures that lead to the diagnosis of CdLS. In this study, documented prenatal findings in CdLS syndrome were analyzed towards the development of a prenatal profile predictive of CdLS. We reviewed 53 cases of CdLS (29 previously reported and 24 unreported) in which prenatal observations/findings were available. The review of these cases revealed a pattern of sonographic findings, including obvious associated structural defects, growth restriction, as well as a more subtle, but strikingly characteristic, facial profile, and suggestive of a recognizable prenatal ultrasonographic profile for CdLS. In addition, the maternal serum marker, PAPP‐A, may be reduced and fetal nuchal translucency (NT) may be increased in some pregnancies when measured at an appropriate gestational age. In conclusion, CdLS can be prenatally diagnosed or readily ruled out in a family with a known mutation in a CdLS gene. The characteristic ultrasonographic profile may allow for prenatal diagnosis of CdLS in (1) subsequent pregnancies to a couple with a prior child with CdLS in whom a mutation has not been identified or (2) when there are unexplained pregnancy signs of fetal abnormality, such as oligo‐ or polyhydramnios, a low maternal serum PAPP‐A level and/or increased NT, fetal growth retardation, or structural anomalies consistent with CdLS. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis and synthesis of metadata goals for scientific data
Authors: Willis Craig , Greenberg Jane , White Hollie
Published: June 2012

The proliferation of discipline‐specific metadata schemes contributes to artificial barriers that can impede interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research. The authors considered this problem by examining thedomains,objectives, andarchitecturesof nine metadata schemes used to document scientific data in the physical, life, and social sciences. They used a mixed‐methods content analysis andGreenberg's () metadata objectives, principles, domains, and architectural layout (MODAL) framework, and derived 22 metadata‐related goals from textual content describing each metadata scheme. Relationships are identified between the domains (e.g., scientific discipline and type of data) and the categories of scheme objectives. For each strong correlation (>0.6), a Fisher's exact test for nonparametric data was used to determine significance (p < .05).

Significant relationships were found between the domains and objectives of the schemes. Schemes describing observational data are more likely to have “scheme harmonization” (compatibility and interoperability with related schemes) as an objective; schemes with the objective “abstraction” (a conceptual model exists separate from the technical implementation) also have the objective “sufficiency” (the scheme defines a minimal amount of information to meet the needs of the community); and schemes with the objective “data publication” do not have the objective “element refinement.” The analysis indicates that many metadata‐driven goals expressed by communities are independent of scientific discipline or the type of data, although they are constrained by historical community practices and workflows as well as the technological environment at the time of scheme creation. The analysis reveals 11 fundamental metadata goals for metadata documenting scientific data in support of sharing research data across disciplines and domains. The authors report these results and highlight the need for more metadata‐related research, particularly in the context of recent funding agency policy changes.
Applications of the generalized law of Benford to informetric data
Authors: Egghe Leo , Guns Raf
Published: June 2012

In a previous work (Egghe, 2011), the first author showed that Benford's law (describing the logarithmic distribution of the numbers 1, 2, … , 9 as first digits of data in decimal form) is related to the classical law of Zipf with exponent 1. The work of Campanario and Coslado (2011), however, shows that Benford's law does not always fit practical data in a statistical sense. In this article, we use a generalization of Benford's law related to the general law of Zipf with exponent β > 0. Using data from Campanario and Coslado, we apply nonlinear least squares to determine the optimal β and show that this generalized law of Benford fits the data better than the classical law of Benford.
Cross‐linked protein complex exhibiting asymmetric oxidation activities in the absence of added cofactor
Authors: Nagaoka Hiroyuki , Udagawa Keisuke , Kirimura Kohtaro
Published: June 2012

A protein complex (PC) suspension exhibits asymmetric biooxidation activities in the absence of any added cofactor such as NAD(P)+ or FAD. It can be extracted from pea protein (PP)‐gel (PP encapsulated with Ca2+ alginate gel and aerated in air for several hours) using hot water by rotary shaking and powdered by the following three steps: (1) forming precipitates from the suspension using 30% (w/v) aqueous (NH4)2SO4, (2) crosslinking the precipitates with 0.25% (v/v) GA, and (3) preparing the cross‐linked powder by freeze‐drying. The cross‐linked PC (CLPC) performed asymmetric oxidation of the toward (R)‐isomers of rac‐1 and rac‐2 in 50 mM glycine–NaOH (pH 9.0) buffer/DMSO cosolvent [2.07% (v/v)] with high enantioselectivity; thus, the (S)‐isomers can be obtained in greater than 99% ee from the corresponding rac‐p‐substituted naphthyl methyl carbinol (rac‐1 and rac‐2). The CLPC activity was not only competitively inhibited by addition of either 1.0 mM ZnCl2 or a chelating agent such as 1.0 mM EDTA but also denatured by pretreatments: autoclaving at 121°C (20 min) or using 6.0 M guanidine–HCl containing 50 mM DTT. These results indicated that the PC catalytic process may utilize an electron transfer system incorporating a redox cation (e.g., Fe2+ ⇄ Fe3+ or Zn). Therefore, the newly introduced CLPC can asymmetrically oxidize the substrates without the addition of any cofactor resulting in a low‐cost organic method. Overall, our results show that the CLPC is an easily prepared, low‐cost reagent that can function under mild conditions and afford stereoselectivity, regioselectivity, and substrate specificity. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 28: 953–961, 2012
Aspirin Resistance: Current Status and Role of Tailored Therapy
Authors: Grinstein Jonathan , Cannon Christopher P.
Published: June 2012

Aspirin is integral in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome. Given the high clinical importance of aspirin in the management of coronary artery disease, much attention has been directed towards the concept of “aspirin resistance.” Unfortunately, the term aspirin resistance is ill‐defined in the literature, leading to a large variance in the reported prevalence of this phenomenon. In this review, the current understanding of aspirin resistance is discussed. Commonly used functional and diagnostic tests of platelet function, including their strengths and weakness, are reviewed. We next discuss several proposed mechanisms of aspirin resistance and special high‐risk groups at risk for aspirin treatment failure. We then discuss optimal dosing and diagnostic strategies for those populations at risk for aspirin resistance with a focus on tailored aspirin therapy for high‐risk groups. Finally, future topics of interest in the field of aspirin resistance are considered. Clin. Cardiol. 2012 doi: 10.1002/clc.22031

Jonathan Grinstein has no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose. Christopher P. Cannon receives research grants/support from the following companies: Accumetrics, AstraZeneca, Essentialis, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Regeneron, Sanofi, and Takeda. He is also on the advisory board (but funds donated to charity) for Alnylam, Bristol‐Myers Squibb, and Pfizer. He is a Clinical Advisor, equity in Automedics Medical Systems.
Is routine pelvic surveillance imaging necessary in patients with Wilms tumor?
Authors: Kaste Sue C. , Brady Samuel L. , Yee Brian , McPherson Valerie J. , Kaufman Robert A. , Billups Catherine A. , Daw Najat C. , Pappo Alberto S.
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND:

It is unclear whether routine pelvic imaging is needed in patients with Wilms tumor. Thus, the primary objective of the current study was to examine the role of routine pelvic computed tomography (CT) in a cohort of pediatric patients with Wilms tumor.

METHODS:

With institutional review board approval, the authors retrospectively identified 110 patients who had Wilms tumor diagnosed between January 1999 and December 2009 with surveillance imaging that continued through March 2011. The authors estimated overall survival (OS), event‐free survival (EFS), and dosimetry from dose length product (DLP) conversion to the effective dose (ED) for every CT in a subgroup of 80 patients who had CT studies obtained using contemporary scanners (2002‐2011). Metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistor (MOSFET) dosimeters were placed within organs of anthropomorphic phantoms to directly calculate the truncal ED. EDDLP was correlated with EDMOSFET to calculate potential pelvic dose savings.

RESULTS:

Eighty patients underwent 605 CT examinations that contained DLP information, including 352 CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; 123 CT scans of the chest and abdomen; 102 CT scans of the chest only; 18 CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis; 9 CT scans of the abdomen only; and 1 CT that was limited to the pelvis. The respective 5‐year OS and EFS estimates were 92.8% ± 3% and 2.6% ± 4.3%. Sixteen of 110 patients (15%) developed a relapse a median of 11.3 months (range, 5.0 months to 7.3 years) after diagnosis, and 4 patients died of disease recurrence. Three patients developed pelvic relapses, all 3 of which were symptomatic. The estimated ED savings from sex‐neutral CT surveillance performed at a 120‐kilovolt peak without pelvic imaging was calculated as 30.5% for the average patient aged 1 year, 30.4% for the average patient aged 5 years, 39.4% for the average patient aged 10 years, and 44.9% for the average patient aged 15 years.

CONCLUSIONS:

Omitting pelvic CT from the routine, off‐therapy follow‐up of patients with Wilms tumor saved an average 30% to 45% of the ED without compromising disease detection. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma among individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the United States
Authors: Sahasrabuddhe Vikrant V. , Shiels Meredith S. , McGlynn Katherine A. , Engels Eric A.
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND:

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a concern among individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

METHODS:

The authors analyzed population‐based registry linkage data from the US HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study (1980‐2009) to examine the risk and trends of HCC among individuals with AIDS. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were used to measure HCC risk relative to the general population, and Poisson regression was used to calculate incidence rate ratios (RR) comparing incidence among individuals with AIDS. People with AIDS were categorized according to their HIV risk group into high and low hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence groups based on their HIV transmission risk category.

RESULTS:

Among 615,150 individuals with AIDS, HCC risk was elevated almost 4 times compared with the risk in the general population (N = 366; SIR, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 3.5‐4.3). Although HCC incidence increased steadily across calendar periods (Ptrend < .0001; adjusted for sex and age), the excess risk in individuals with AIDS compared with the general population remained somewhat constant (SIRs range, 3.5‐3.9) between the monotherapy/dual therapy era (1990‐1995) and the recent highly active antiretroviral therapy era (2001‐2009). In a multivariate model adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, and attained calendar period, HCC incidence increased with advancing age (Ptrend < .0001) and was associated with HIV risk groups with a known higher prevalence of HCV (adjusted RR, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.8‐2.8).

CONCLUSIONS:

HCC incidence in individuals with AIDS has increased over time despite improved HIV treatment regimens, likely reflecting prolonged survival with chronic liver disease. The high incidence in older adults suggests that this cancer will increase in importance with aging of the HIV‐infected population. Cancer 2012. Published 2012 by the American Cancer Society.
Impact of race and ethnicity on features and outcome of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast
Authors: Bailes Adele A. , Kuerer Henry M. , Lari Sara A. , Jones Lovell A. , Brewster Abenaa M.
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND:

The impact of race and ethnicity on the biologic features and outcome variables of women who are diagnosed with preinvasive breast cancer—ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)—has not been addressed widely in the published literature.

METHODS:

Patient demographic, clinical, and pathologic features and outcome variables were analyzed with respect to the patient's initial self‐reported race/ethnicity among women who received treatment for a diagnosis of pure DCIS from 1996 to 2009.

RESULTS:

Of 1902 patients, 1411 were white (74.2%), 214 were African American (11.3%), 175 were Hispanic (9.1%), and 102 were Asian/Pacific Islander (5.4%). The majority of patients were between ages 41 and 70 years (83%). Patients of Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander descent were significantly younger than white and African American patients (P < .001). DCIS size and grade, the presence of necrosis, and the frequency of breast‐conserving surgery did not differ significantly between groups. African American patients aged >70 years and Hispanic patients aged <50 years were significantly more likely to have estrogen receptor‐positive DCIS than patients of other races in the same age categories (P < .001). Adjuvant radiotherapy and tamoxifen were received significantly less often by white women (P < .001). At a median follow‐up of 4.8 years (range, 1‐14 years), recurrence rates and the development of contralateral breast cancer did not differ significantly among racial/ethnic groups when stratified by treatments received.

CONCLUSIONS:

There was variation in age at presentation, biologic features, and treatment of DCIS among the different ethnic groups. Additional studies with larger numbers of ethnic minority patients are needed to confirm whether the consistent application of evidence‐based treatment practices presents an opportunity for reducing disparities in patients with DCIS. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
sp3‐Linked Amorphous Carbon with Sulfonic Acid Groups as a Heterogeneous Acid Catalyst
Authors: Suganuma Satoshi , Nakajima Kiyotaka , Kitano Masaaki , Hayashi Shigenobu , Hara Michikazu
Published: June 2012

SO3H‐bearing amorphous carbon prepared from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is studied as a heterogeneous Brønsted acid catalyst. Sulfonation of partially carbonized PVC produces amorphous carbon consisting of small SO3H‐bearing carbon sheets linked by sp3‐based aliphatic hydrocarbons. This carbon material exhibits much higher catalytic performance in the hydrolysis of cellobiose than conventional heterogeneous Brønsted acid catalysts with SO3H groups, including SO3H‐bearing amorphous carbon derived from cellulose. This can be attributed to a high density of SO3H groups and the fast diffusion of reactants and products enabled by a flexible carbon network.
ELM as a Trigger Mechanism for the Transition Between Two Edge Regimes
Authors: Pshenov A.A. , Morozov D.Kh.
Published: June 2012

The possibility of edge regime transitions under the influence of edge‐localized modes (ELMs) is investigated. A theoretical model of the process is presented and examined numerically. ELMs appear able to trigger irreversible transitions from one equilibrium to another with different edge temperatures. The results correspond to the recent experimental studies on both DIII‐D and JET tokamaks showing type‐I and type‐II ELMs causing a prolonged collapse of the edge plasma temperature (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Neoclassical Theory of Pedestal Flows and Comparison with Alcator C‐Mod Measurements
Authors: Kagan G. , Marr K. D. , Pusztai I. , Landreman M. , Catto P. J. , Lipschultz B.
Published: June 2012

Neoclassical implications of the strong radial electric field, inherently present in an H‐mode tokamak pedestal, are considered. The main ion poloidal flow in the pedestal is predicted to be reduced in magnitude, or even reversed, compared with its core counterpart. The resulting change in the neoclassical formula for the impurity flow is shown to result in improved agreement with boron measurements in the Alcator C‐Mod pedestal. In addition, due to the ion flow being modified, the bootstrap current is expected to be enhanced in the pedestal over conventional predictions (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Profiles and Fluctuations in Edge and SOL Turbulence
Authors: Naulin V. , Xu G. , Vianello N. , Madsen J. , Schrittwieser R. , Ionita C. , Maszl C. , Mehlmann F. , Yan N. , Nielsen A. H. , Rasmussen J. J.
Published: June 2012

The time and space averaged profiles of temperature, particle density, and momentum are in the scrape off layer determined by the intermittent transport generated at the edge shear layer. The distinction between profiles and fluctuations becomes arbitrary for situations where the transport is highly intermittent and shows long range correlations. Without this distinction the full range in parameter variability has to be taken into account for simulations, posing extreme demands on the used models. Numerical investigations and experimental results show how the interplay between radially propagating structures and parallel transport sets up the observed profiles and how intermittency influences edge conditions. The filamentary blob structures also transport and generate currents in the SOL, which can be investigated by means of local magnetic diagnostics. Finally, the ratio of ion to electron temperature in the SOL is an important measure for the influence of finite larmor radius effects on the propagation properties of blobs. Numerical investigations indicate that these effects can lead to an increased self confinement and radial reach of these structures (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)