bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The bonding characteristics and electronic and magnetic properties of organometallic sandwich clusters and nanowires
Authors: Yao Xiaojing , Zhang Xiuyun , Wang Jinlan
Published: January 2015

Metal‐ligand sandwich clusters and molecular wires, which are constituted by metal atoms and organic/inorganic ligands, show potential applications in molecular recognition, catalysis, nanocomposites, optoelectronic, and biological sensors due to their unique structure, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties. This review focuses on recent progress on organometallic sandwich complexes composed of 3d‐transition metal or 4(5)f‐lanthanide metal with polycyclic hydrocarbon rings like benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, pentalene, or cyclooctatetraene molecules and their hybrid sandwich structures. The stability, bonding characteristics, molecular magnetism, electronic, and transport properties are discussed. Current challenge and prospects in this field are also addressed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of Low Cycle Fatigue Performance of New Ferritic P92 Steel at High Temperature: Effect of Strain Amplitude
Authors: Wang Xiaowei , Gong Jianming , Zhao Yanping , Wang Yanfei , Yu Minghao
Published: January 2015

Low cycle fatigue (LCF) tests were performed at various strain amplitudes ranging from 0.2 to 0.8% to investigate the effects of strain amplitude on cyclic softening behavior and LCF lifetime of new ferrtic P92 steel. LCF tests were conducted under strain controlled in fully reversed manner with strain rate of 1.0 × 10−3 s−1 at high temperature of 650 °C. A novel fatigue life end criterion was adopted in this analysis. The effects of strain amplitude on the cyclic softening behavior, the evolution of plastic strain amplitude, hysteresis loop area, and the fatigue life were discussed. Similar softening curves were achieved except for the strain amplitude of 0.2%. The evolution of hysteresis loop areas at the smaller strain range amplitude (less than 0.4%) is contrary to the larger ones. A modified life prediction model was proposed based on Coffin–Manson model and energy‐based model, comparison of predicted lifetime and experimental data shows that the model gives a good estimation. In order to better understand the basic stress‐strain behavior, time‐independent cyclic plasticity model was used to represent the cyclic mechanical behavior of this steel. Comparison of the simulated and experimental results shows that the proposed model can give a reasonable prediction of stress‐strain hysteresis loop for P92 steel at high temperature.
Phosphorus Rich d10 Ion Polyphosphides and Selected Materials
Authors: Bawohl Melanie , Nilges Tom
Published: January 2015

Polyphosphides composed by late transition metal ions with closed d10 shells are subject of this review. Recent progress has been made during the past years in this field and many new compounds have been discovered. The spectrum of compounds extends from classical binary and ternary compounds, adduct phases of metal halides and molecular species to composites of intermetalloid clusters and molecular anion substructures. Phosphorus is highly reactive to late transition metals forming d10 ions and they entirely react to a plenthora of materials. Only a handful of elements do not form binary compounds with phosphorus and the number is decreasing. This review is focussed on synthetic procedures and the structure property relations of d10 ion polyphosphides. A brief overview is also given to the progress in phosphorus allotrope chemistry and their perspectives and applications. Especially black phosphorus as active material for batteries and its de‐laminated form “phosphorene” is added.
Unexpected Precursor Effects to the Structural Phase Transition in EuTiO3
Authors: Bussmann‐Holder Annette , Köhler Jürgen , Whangbo Mike‐H.
Published: January 2015

The dynamical properties of EuTiO3 are investigated to gain insight into its precursor effects analogous to those observed in many other perovskite oxides. In spite of the fact that a competition between the long wave length transverse optic mode and the zone boundary acoustic mode is absent, which makes the mode‐mode coupling inessential, acoustic instabilities on limited spatial regions appear well above TS. This confirms the notion that dynamic forerunners are inherent and precede any phase transition in cubic perovskite oxides.
Analytical theory of species abundance distributions of a random community model
Authors: Tokita Kei
Published: January 2015

We review the history and recent progress of the analytical theories of a random community models. In particular, we focus on a global stability analysis of replicator equations with random interactions and species abundance distributions based on statistical mechanics.
Preliminary observations of soil organic layers using a compact MRI for non‐destructive analysis of internal soil structure
Authors: Tomotsune Mitsutoshi , Yoshitake Shinpei , Masuda Rina , Koizumi Hiroshi
Published: January 2015

Soil organic layer samples of two different forest types were observed using compact MRI to visualize internal structure and clarify physical properties of forest soil. Soil pores and organic materials were distinguished by differences in proton mobility and visualized with a spatial resolution of 234 µm. Soil pore ratios and water mobility were calculated by image processing, and their differences between the two forest soils were detected. Our results suggest that compact MRI has potential for non‐destructive analysis of soil physical properties and is expected to have significant applications in ecological studies.
2,2′‐Bis(monoacylglycero) PO4 (BMP), but Not 3,1′‐BMP, Increases Membrane Curvature Stress to Enhance α‐Tocopherol Transfer Protein Binding to Membranes
Authors: Baptist Matilda , Panagabko Candace , Nickels Jonathan D. , Katsaras John , Atkinson Jeffrey
Published: January 2015

Previous work revealed that α‐tocopherol transfer protein (α‐TTP) co‐localizes with bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP) in late endosomes. BMP is a lipid unique to late endosomes and is believed to induce membrane curvature and support the multivesicular nature of this organelle. We examined the effect of BMP on α‐TTP binding to membranes using dual polarization interferometry and vesicle‐binding assay. α‐TTP binding to membranes is increased by the curvature‐inducing lipid BMP. α‐TTP binds to membranes with greater affinity when they contain the 2,2′‐BMP versus 3,1′‐BMP isomers.
Potential (Mis)match? Marriage Markets Amidst Sociodemographic Change in India, 2005–2050
Authors: Kashyap Ridhi , Esteve Albert , García-Román Joan
Published: January 2015

We explore the impact of sociodemographic change on marriage patterns in India by examining the hypothetical consequences of applying three sets of marriage pairing propensities—contemporary patterns by age, contemporary patterns by age and education, and changing propensities that allow for greater educational homogamy and reduced educational asymmetries—to future population projections. Future population prospects for India indicate three trends that will impact marriage patterns: (1) female deficit in sex ratios at birth; (2) declining birth cohort size; (3) female educational expansion. Existing literature posits declining marriage rates for men arising from skewed sex ratios at birth (SRBs) in India’s population. In addition to skewed SRBs, India’s population will experience female educational expansion in the coming decades. Female educational expansion and its impact on marriage patterns must be jointly considered with demographic changes, given educational differences and asymmetries in union formation that exist in India, as across much of the world. We systematize contemporary pairing propensities using data from the 2005–2006 Indian National Family Health Survey and the 2004 Socio-Economic Survey and apply these and the third set of changing propensities to multistate population projections by educational attainment using an iterative longitudinal projection procedure. If today’s age patterns of marriage are viewed against age/sex population composition until 2050, men experience declining marriage prevalence. However, when education is included, women—particularly those with higher education—experience a more salient rise in nonmarriage. Significant changes in pairing patterns toward greater levels of educational homogamy and gender symmetry can counteract a marked rise in nonmarriage.
Stringent error estimates for one-dimensional, space-dependent 2 × 2 relaxation systems
Authors: Amadori Debora , Gosse Laurent
Published: January 2015

Sharp and local

L^{1}

a posteriori
error estimates are established for so-called “well-balanced”
BV
(hence possibly discontinuous) numerical approximations of

2 \times 2

space-dependent Jin–Xin relaxation systems under sub-characteristic condition. According to the strength of the relaxation process, one can distinguish between two complementary regimes: 1) a weak relaxation, where local

L^{1}

errors are shown to be of first order in Δ
x
and uniform in time, 2) a strong relaxation, where numerical solutions are kept close to entropy solutions of the reduced scalar conservation law, and for which Kuznetsov's theory indicates a behavior of the

L^{1}

error in

t \cdot \sqrt{\mathrm{\Delta }x}

. The uniformly first-order accuracy in weak relaxation regime is obtained by carefully studying interaction patterns and building up a seemingly original variant of Bressan–Liu–Yang's functional, able to handle
BV
solutions of arbitrary size for these particular inhomogeneous systems. The complementary estimate in strong relaxation regime is proven by means of a suitable extension of methods based on entropy dissipation for space-dependent problems. Preliminary numerical illustrations are provided.

Highlights
Training labels for hippocampal segmentation based on the EADC‐ADNI harmonized hippocampal protocol
Authors: Boccardi Marina , Bocchetta Martina , Morency Félix C. , Collins D. Louis , Nishikawa Masami , Ganzola Rossana , Grothe Michel J. , Wolf Dominik , Redolfi Alberto , Pievani Michela , Antelmi Luigi , Fellgiebel Andreas , Matsuda Hiroshi , Teipel Stefan , Duchesne Simon , Jack Clifford R. , Frisoni Giovanni B. ,   EADC‐ADNI Working Group on The Harmonized Protocol for Manual Hippocampal Segmentation and for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: January 2015

Background

The European Alzheimer's Disease Consortium and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) Harmonized Protocol (HarP) is a Delphi definition of manual hippocampal segmentation from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that can be used as the standard of truth to train new tracers, and to validate automated segmentation algorithms. Training requires large and representative data sets of segmented hippocampi. This work aims to produce a set of HarP labels for the proper training and certification of tracers and algorithms.

Methods

Sixty‐eight 1.5 T and 67 3 T volumetric structural ADNI scans from different subjects, balanced by age, medial temporal atrophy, and scanner manufacturer, were segmented by five qualified HarP tracers whose absolute interrater intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.953 and 0.975 (left and right). Labels were validated as HarP compliant through centralized quality check and correction.

Results

Hippocampal volumes (mm3) were as follows: controls: left = 3060 (standard deviation [SD], 502), right = 3120 (SD, 897); mild cognitive impairment (MCI): left = 2596 (SD, 447), right = 2686 (SD, 473); and Alzheimer’s disease (AD): left = 2301 (SD, 492), right = 2445 (SD, 525). Volumes significantly correlated with atrophy severity at Scheltens' scale (Spearman's ρ = <−0.468, P = <.0005).

Cerebrospinal fluid spaces (mm3) were as follows: controls: left = 23 (32), right = 25 (25); MCI: left = 15 (13), right = 22 (16); and AD: left = 11 (13), right = 20 (25). Five subjects (3.7%) presented with unusual anatomy.

Conclusions

This work provides reference hippocampal labels for the training and certification of automated segmentation algorithms. The publicly released labels will allow the widespread implementation of the standard segmentation protocol.
Association between prostatic resistive index and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Baykam Mehmet Murat , Aktas Binhan Kagan , Bulut Suleyman , Ozden Cuneyt , Deren Tagmac , Tagci Suleyman , Gokkaya Cevdet Serkan , Memis Ali
Published: January 2015

We evaluated the relationship between prostatic resistive index (RI) and cardiovascular system (CVS) risk factors in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The study included 120 patients who were attending our outpatient clinic with lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia. The clinical, laboratory, anthropometric data, and CVS risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, history of CVS events, and smoking) of the patients were evaluated regarding the association between prostate RI level by regression analyses. The prostatic RI levels of the patients were measured using power Doppler imaging. In univariate regression analysis, there were statistically significant relationships between prostatic RI levels and the patients' age, International Prostate Symptom Score, hip circumference, fasting blood glucose, prostate specific antigen, triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, total prostate volume, uroflowmetric maximal flow rate, and all investigated CVS risk factors (p < 0.05). The prostatic RI levels were found to be associated with fasting blood glucose and total prostate volume, and also with CVS risk factors including only metabolic syndrome and cigarette smoking in the multivariate regression analysis. Our results showed that prostatic RI level is significantly related to metabolic syndrome and smoking among the investigated CVS risk factors.
Quality of psychiatric discharge summaries: a service evaluation following the introduction of an electronic discharge summary system
Authors: Abbas M. , Ward T. , Peivandi M. H. , McKenzie E. , Kujawska-Debiec K. , Hills A.
Published: January 2015

Background

There has been a recent move in psychiatry towards the use of electronic discharge (e-discharge) summaries in an effort to improve the efficiency of communication between primary and secondary care, but there are little data on how this affects the quality of information exchanged.

Objective

To evaluate the quality of psychiatric discharge summaries before and after the introduction of the e-discharge summary system.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 50 dictated discharge summaries from 1 January to 1 July 2010 and of 50 e-discharge summaries from 1 January to 1 July 2012, evaluating for the inclusion of 15 key items of clinical information.

Results

The average total score of the dictated summaries (mean=9.5, s.d.=2.0) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than the e-discharge summaries (mean=6.7, s.d.=1.8). There were statistically significant differences in five of the standards: findings of physical examination (p<0.001), ICD-10 code (p<0.001), forensic history (p<0.001), alcohol history (p<0.001) and drug history (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Our results revealed a decline in the quality of discharge summaries following the introduction of an electronic system. The reasons for this are unclear and require further analysis. Specific suggestions will depend on the local need, but include improvements in software design and layout as well as better education and training.
Baseline working memory activation deficits in dimensional anxious depression as detected by magnetoencephalography
Authors: Ionescu Dawn F. , Nugent Allison C. , Luckenbaugh David A. , Niciu Mark J. , Richards Erica M. , Zarate Carlos A. , Furey Maura L.
Published: January 2015

Objective

Anxiety often co-occurs with major depressive disorder (MDD). This preliminary study sought to ascertain the extent to which anxious depression drives group neurobiological differences between patients with MDD and healthy volunteers (HVs).

Methods

Magnetoencephalography beta-band frequency was used to compare differences in brain response during the N-back working memory task between 30 medication-free patients with treatment-resistant MDD (anxious depression=18; nonanxious depression=12) and 28 HVs.

Results

Compared to HVs, patients with anxious depression had significantly reduced desynchronisation (less activation) in the left precuneus, right cuneus, and left insula extending into the inferior and middle frontal cortex during the 2-back condition compared with the 1-back condition of the N-back working memory task – indicating less activation of these neural networks in patients with anxious depression during the condition with the highest level of task demands. No other significant group differences were found during the working memory conditions.

Conclusion

This preliminary study suggests that a subset of patients – those with anxious depression – may be driving observed group differences between patients with MDD and HVs. Further neurobiological studies and replication experiments are necessary to determine the extent to which this subgroup has preferentially influenced our understanding of the underlying neurobiology of depression.
Does Church Attendance Cause People to Vote? Using Blue Laws’ Repeal to Estimate the Effect of Religiosity on Voter Turnout
Authors: Gerber Alan S. , Gruber Jonathan , Hungerman Daniel M.
Published: January 2015

Regular church attendance is strongly associated with a higher probability of voting. It is an open question as to whether this association, which has been confirmed in numerous surveys, is causal. The repeal of the laws restricting Sunday retail activity (‘blue laws’) is used to measure the effects of church-going on political participation. Blue laws’ repeal caused a 5 percent decrease in church attendance. Its effect on political participation was measured and it was found that, following the repeal, turnout fell by approximately 1 percentage point. This decline in turnout is consistent with the large effect of church attendance on turnout reported in the literature, and suggests that church attendance may have a significant causal effect on voter turnout.
CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS AND THE CIVIL COURTS
Authors: Dyson Matthew , Randall John
Published: January 2015

How should a civil court use a relevant conviction? Some have argued that a civil claim contesting the factual basis of a conviction should be struck out as an abuse of process unless new evidence is presented which “entirely changes the aspect of the case”. Such a high evidential requirement is wrong in principle, inconsistent with section 11 of the Civil Evidence Act 1968, and unjust in practice. The law should recognise that there are two distinct types of cases. The first is concerned with truly abusive claims, where the later civil suit is brought for an improper purpose or otherwise similarly abusive; there a high level of new evidence should be required. The second deals with challenges to convictions which are in principle permissible; there, if on the facts they have no real prospect of success, an application for summary judgment by the other party is the solution.
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND PHOTOTHERMAL QUOTIENT ON THE YIELD COMPONENTS OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) IN INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS OF INDIA
Authors: KUMAR P. VIJAYA , RAO V. U. M. , BHAVANI O. , DUBEY A. P. , SINGH C. B.
Published: January 2015

To quantify the effect of thermal stress and photothermal quotient (PTQ) on yield components, eleven years experimental data of three cultivars (HD-2285, K-8804 and K-9107) under three sowing dates at Kanpur centre were analysed. Number of grains per ear (NG), grain weight per ear (GW) and 1000-grain weight (TG) were identified as prime yield contributing components in HD-2285, K-8804 and K-9107, respectively. GW was highly sensitive to maximum temperature (MXT) while NG was sensitive to minimum temperature (MNT) during jointing (JNT) to anthesis (ATS) as well as the total growing season in all the cultivars. In both HD-2285 and K-8804, optimum MXT and MNT during JNT to ATS are 22.7–24.6 and 7.0–7.9 °C, respectively for obtaining maximum NG. Optimum MXT for GW ranged from 15.8–17.3 °C during tillering (TLR) to JNT stage in K-8804 and K-9107 while it was 20.4 °C during JNT to ATS stage in HD-2285. MXT, MNT and PTQ of 23.6 °C, 9.2 °C and 25 MJ/m2/day/ °C, respectively during JNT to ATS in K-9107 were found optimum for higher TG.
DETERMINANTS OF CROP YIELD AND PROFIT OF FAMILY FARMS: EVIDENCE FROM THE SENEGAL RIVER VALLEY
Authors: BLANC ELODIE , LEPINE AURELIA , STROBL ERIC
Published: January 2015

This paper investigates the determinants of the performance of family farms in Senegal using both production and profit functions. The econometric analysis is based on agricultural inputs and outputs information from a survey of 504 agricultural households, member of a farmer organization in the Saint Louis region in 2009. Our main results indicate that the size of the cultivated plots has a negative effect on crop yields, representing diseconomies of scale. This finding suggests potential for improvements in farm management and organization. We also find that the development of commercialization sectors and loans could boost agricultural inputs. In terms of profitability, our results show that yields and prices play significant and important roles for all crops. An increase in the bargaining power of farmers would be required to increase unit prices and consequently their profits.
Characterization of culm morphology, anatomy and chemical composition of foxtail millet cultivars differing in lodging resistance
Authors: TIAN B. H. , LIU L. Y. , ZHANG L. X. , SONG S. X. , WANG J. G. , WU L. F. , LI H. J.
Published: January 2015

Lodging can be an important factor in limiting yield and quality of summer foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.]. Although lodging resistance varies among different genotypes, direct selection for lodging resistance is difficult because of its sporadic occurrence in the field and inconsistency between years. A 2-year-field study was conducted with 35 summer foxtail millet cultivars or advanced breeding lines to determine the association between lodging resistance and culm morphology, anatomy and chemical composition. Path analyses indicated that stem-breaking strength had the most important effect on the lodging coefficient. The breaking strength of stem was associated with specific morphological properties of the culm, such as greater culm diameter and most importantly culm wall thickness. Width of sclerenchyma tissue, and the number and sheath width of the large vascular bundles were the major anatomical properties that influenced stem-breaking strength. The cellulose and lignin compositions of the culm had different effects on stem-breaking strength. Cultivars with smaller lodging coefficients contained higher levels of cellulose, but lower levels of lignin than the cultivars that were more prone to lodging. The findings from the present study provide useful information on lodging-associated traits in the culm that can be used as indicators for the improvement of lodging resistance in foxtail millet.
Comparative study of sliced tragal cartilage and temporalis fascia in type I tympanoplasty
Authors: Khan M M , Parab S R
Published: January 2015

Objective:

To compare anatomical and audiological results using sliced tragal cartilage and temporalis fascia in type I tympanoplasty.

Method:

A retrospective review was undertaken of primary tympanoplasties using sliced tragal cartilage and temporalis fascia from May 2005 to January 2008. In total, 223 ears were operated on using sliced tragal cartilage graft and 167 using temporalis fascia. Statistical analysis of the outcome data was performed.

Results:

At the two-year and four-year follow ups, successful closure of the tympanic membrane was achieved in 98.20 per cent and 97.75 per cent, respectively, of the cartilage group compared with 87.42 per cent and 82.63 per cent, respectively, of the temporalis fascia group. At the four-year follow up, the average air–bone gap was 7.10 ± 3.01 dB in the cartilage group and 8.05 ± 3.22 dB in the temporalis fascia group.

Conclusion:

The overall success rate for primary cartilage tympanoplasty is higher when using sliced cartilage than with temporalis fascia grafting.
Effect of a moustache on nasal Staphylococcus aureus colonisation and nasal cytology results in men
Authors: Soylu E , Orhan I , Cakir A , Istanbullu A , Altin G , Yilmazer R , Calim O F
Published: January 2015

Objective:

This study compared the results of nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage and nasal cytology in men with and without a moustache.

Methods:

The study group comprised 118 adult men with a moustache, and the control group consisted of 123 adult men without a moustache. Samples were taken from the participants' right nasal cavity for cytology and from the left nasal cavity for microbiology.

Results:

The results for S aureus were positive in 19.5 per cent (n = 23) of participants with a moustache and in 20.3 per cent (n = 25) of men without a moustache. This difference was not significant (p > 0.05). However, nasal cytology revealed rich eosinophil clusters in participants with a moustache.

Conclusion:

The presence or absence of a moustache had no effect on nasal S aureus colonisation. However, further research is needed to understand whether the presence of a moustache increases the risk of allergic or non-allergic rhinitis.
Biomass, CPUE and size frequency distribution of blue swimming crabPortunus segnis(Forskal, 1775) in coastal waters of the northern Persian Gulf, Iran
Authors: Safaie Mohsen , Shokri Mohammad Reza , Kiabi Bahram H. , Pazooki Jamileh
Published: January 2015

Size frequency distribution, catch per unit effort (CPUE) and biomass of blue swimming crabPortunus segniswere studied in the northern Persian Gulf. A total of 1689 male and 1824 female crabs were collected by swept area method on a monthly basis from May 2010 to September 2012. The populations of male and female crabs were dominated by adult crabs (carapace width >100 mm) from December to May. The juvenile crabs were dominant from June to October and the averages of CPUE did uptrend from June to October. The CPUE increased in full moon and the highest value was observed in shallow coastal areas below 10 m and significantly decreased as depth increased. The maximum CPUE was recorded at 415 and 450 engine powers and the vessel speeds of about 2.5 and 2.8 knots. The monthly biomass estimations showed an upward trend from June to October within the study period, so that the maximum biomass was 110 tonnes in October 2011. Given the CPUE trend and biomass estimation, the results of the present study suggest that October is the optimum time as open fishery season for blue swimming crab in the northern Persian Gulf and the highest CPUE is achievable in shallow coastal areas at less than 10 m depth.
Impulsivity in borderline personality disorder
Authors: Barker V. , Romaniuk L. , Cardinal R. N. , Pope M. , Nicol K. , Hall J.
Published: January 2015

Background

Impulsivity is a core feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and is most frequently measured using self-rating scales. There is a need to find objective, valid and reliable measures of impulsivity. This study aimed to examine performance of participants with BPD compared with healthy controls on delay and probabilistic discounting tasks and the stop-signal task (SST), which are objective measures of choice and motor impulsivity, respectively.

Method

A total of 20 participants with BPD and 21 healthy control participants completed delay and probabilistic discounting tasks and the SST. They also completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), a self-rating measure of impulsivity.

Results

Participants with BPD showed significantly greater delay discounting than controls, manifest as a greater tendency to accept the immediately available lesser reward rather than waiting longer for a greater reward. Similarly they showed significantly greater discounting of rewards by the probability of payout, which correlated with past childhood trauma. Participants with BPD were found to choose the more certain and/or immediate rewards, irrespective of the value. On the SST the BPD and control groups did not differ significantly, demonstrating no difference in motor impulsivity. There was no significant difference between groups on self-reported impulsivity as measured by the BIS.

Conclusions

Measures of impulsivity show that while motor impulsivity was not significantly different in participants with BPD compared with controls, choice or reward-related impulsivity was significantly affected in those with BPD. This suggests that choice impulsivity but not motor impulsivity is a core feature of BPD.
WAS THERE A MID-20THCENTURY FERTILITY BOOM IN LATIN AMERICA?
Authors: Reher David , Requena Miguel
Published: January 2015

The historic process of fertility decline was interrupted during the central decades of the 20thcentury with an unexpected period of increasing fertility that has been called the baby boom. Normally it is considered a phenomenon exclusive to countries participating in the historic demographic transition. A recent study suggests that a similar trend change in fertility may have also taken place in a few developing nations at approximately the same time and with similar characteristics to the fertility boom in the developed world. The main goal of this paper is to examine the extent to which these trend changes took place in Latin America and whether or not their characteristics were similar to those holding in the developed world.
Intratropical migration of a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbird (Catharus fuscescens) in South America with implications for migration theory
Authors: Heckscher Christopher M. , Halley Matthew R. , Stampul Pamela M.
Published: January 2015

Recent advances in tracking technology have revealed significant intratropical movement of Nearctic–Neotropical migratory songbirds during their non-breeding season. We report the movement of 25 veeries (Catharus fuscescens) over multiple seasons (2009–2013) through equatorial rain forests of South America. Veeries initially settled on the Brazilian Shield geological formation but undertook an intratropical migration to a second South American region in January, February or March. Consequently, our study is the first to track individual forest passerines to document an annual migration from the Brazilian Shield to the Guiana Shield and into lowland regions of Amazonia. The movement and settlement patterns showed no spatiotemporal relationships with Nearctic–Neotropical migration, remained in accordance with the flood pulse of the Amazon basin, and were spatially and temporally complex suggesting relatively ancient ancestral origins. The ability to isolate the migration event from Nearctic–Neotropical migration is an important contribution to the ongoing discourse regarding the evolution of trans-hemispheric migration in the genusCatharus.
RELIABILITY STUDIES OF BIVARIATE BIRNBAUM–SAUNDERS DISTRIBUTION
Authors: Gupta Ramesh C.
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we study the bivariate Birnbaum–Saunders (BVBS) distribution from a reliability point of view. The monotonicity of the hazard rates of the univariate as well as the conditional distributions is discussed. Clayton's association measure is obtained in terms of the hazard gradient and its value in the case of the BVBS distribution is derived. The probability distributions, in the case of series and parallel systems, are derived and the monotonicity of the failure rate, in the case of series system, is discussed.
EXTREME VALUE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR BIASED SAMPLES
Authors: Tzavelas George , Economou Polychronis
Published: January 2015

In this work, the relationship between the extreme value distributions of the parent and its weighted counterpart distribution is studied. Sufficient conditions are provided in terms of the weightw(x) under which the weighted and parent distributions belong to the same attractor (Fréchet, Weibull, or Gumbel) and the relation of the corresponding shape parameters of the limiting distributions is presented. Additionally, a biased sampling corrected extreme value index is proposed, when the extreme value index is estimated from a biased sample. Finally, some simulation results are presented that suggest the superiority of a biased sample in estimating the extreme value index.
ON THE BEHAVIORS OF THE PERCENTILE RESIDUAL LIFE FOR COMPONENTS AND FOR K-OUT-OF-N SYSTEMS
Authors: Shen Yan , Ye Zhisheng
Published: January 2015

This paper investigates properties of the percentile residual life (PRL) function for a single component and for a k-out-of-n system. The shape of the component PRL function can be determined by the component failure rate function. The intimate relations between these two functions are studied first. Then we generalize the results to a k-out-of-n system by assuming independent and identical components. We show that the behavior of the PRL for a k-out-of-n system is quite different from the component PRL. We also find that for series and parallel systems, the location of the change point of the PRL is monotone in the number of components in a system.
Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission ofLeptospira interrogansin transhumant farming systems in Mexico
Authors: ARTEAGA-TRONCOSO G. , JIMÉNEZ-ESTRADA J. M. , MONTES DE OCA-JIMENEZ R. , LÓPEZ-HURTADO M. , LUNA-ALVAREZ M. , HERNANDEZ-ANDRADE L. , MORENO-ALFARO A. , GALAN-HERRERA J. F. , GUERRA-INFANTE F. M.
Published: January 2015

A number of recent reports emphasize the risk of zoonotic diseases and the high degree of prevalence of asymptomatic animals infected withLeptospira interrogans. This report sought to assess the prevalence of antibodies to certain serovars ofL. interrogans, and to describe the association between seropositivity and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission in a mountainous region of Mexico. Overall seroprevalence toL. interroganswas 54·5% (95% confidence interval 48·3–60·7); the most frequent serovar was Icterohaemorrhagiae. The accumulation of placentas and fetuses at a site close to lambing paddocks can play a significant role as a risk factor for within-flock transmission ofL. interrogansin transhumant farming systems in the municipality of Xalatlaco. The high prevalence ofL. interrogansantibodies supports the hypothesis that natural foci of this zoonosis are present in sheep flocks in this area. These findings emphasize the need for planning and implementation of control programmes for ovine leptospirosis in Mexico and elsewhere.
Hepatitis C virus infection and risk factors in the general population: a large community-based study in eastern China, 2011–2012
Authors: HUANG P. , ZHU L. G. , ZHAI X. J. , ZHU Y. F. , YUE M. , SU J. , WANG J. , YANG H. T. , ZHANG Y. , SHEN H. B. , PENG Z. H. , YU R. B.
Published: January 2015

Limited information is available on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the general population in China. A community-based epidemiological study was conducted in three counties in eastern China. A total of 149 175 individuals were investigated in 60 communities in three counties in Jiangsu province, eastern China, of whom 1175 subjects [0·79%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·74–0·83] were HCV antibody positive. The prevalence was low in children (0·09%, 95% CI 0·04–0·17), but increased progressively from adolescents (0·20%, 95% CI 0·15–0·28) to adults aged ⩾21 years (95% CI 0·15–1·64). Women had a higher prevalence of HCV infection than men in most age groups. In a multilevel regression analysis, age, sex, education, occupation, blood transfusion [odds ratio (OR) 2·91, 95% CI 1·09–5·37], invasive testing (OR 1·28, 95% CI 1·14–1·61), and dental therapy (OR 2·27, 95% CI 1·41–3·42) were associated with HCV infection. In conclusion, although the prevalence of HCV in this population was lower than reported from national levels, the total reservoir of infection is significant and warrants public health measures, such as health education to limit the magnitude of the problem.
Serological responses to Cryptosporidium antigens in inhabitants of Hungary using conventionally filtered surface water and riverbank filtered drinking water
Authors: FARKAS K. , PLUTZER J. , MOLTCHANOVA E. , TÖRÖK A. , VARRÓ M. J. , DOMOKOS K. , FROST F. , HUNTER P. R.
Published: January 2015

In this study the putative protective seroprevalence (PPS) of IgG antibodies to the 27-kDa and 15/17-kDa Cryptosporidium antigens in sera of healthy participants who were and were not exposed to Cryptosporidium oocysts via surface water-derived drinking water was compared. The participants completed a questionnaire regarding risk factors that have been shown to be associated with infection. The PPS was significantly greater (49−61%) in settlements where the drinking water originated from surface water, than in the control city where riverbank filtration was used (21% and 23%). Logistic regression analysis on the risk factors showed an association between bathing/swimming in outdoor pools and antibody responses to the 15/17-kDa antigen complex. Hence the elevated responses were most likely due to the use of contaminated water. Results indicate that waterborne Cryptosporidium infections occur more frequently than reported but may derive from multiple sources.
Hepatitis B immunity in Australia: a comparison of national and prisoner population serosurveys
Authors: GIDDING H. F. , MAHAJAN D. , REEKIE J. , LLOYD A. R. , DWYER D. E. , BUTLER T.
Published: January 2015

In Australia, hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination is recommended for injecting drug users (IDUs), Indigenous adults and prisoners. We compared immunity to HBV in prisoners and the general population obtained from national serosurveys in 2007. Individuals with HBV surface antibody (HBsAb) positive sera were considered immune from past infection [HBV core antibody (HBcAb) positive] or from vaccination (HBcAb negative). Male prisoners aged 18–58 years had a higher HBsAb seroprevalence than the general population (46·4% vs. 39·4%, P = 0·061). Comparison of HBcAb results was possible for males aged 18–29 years. In this group, higher HBsAb seroprevalence was due to past infection (12·9% vs. 3·0%, P < 0·001), rather than vaccine-conferred immunity (35·3% vs. 43·4%, P = 0·097). All prisoner groups, but especially IDUs, those of Indigenous heritage or those with a previous episode of imprisonment had higher levels of immunity from past infection than the general population (19·3%, 33·0%, 17·1%, respectively, vs. 3·0%, P < 0·05). Indigenous prisoners, non-IDUs and first-time entrants had significantly lower levels of vaccine-conferred immunity than the general population (26·4%, 26·2% and 20·7% respectively vs. 43·4%, P < 0·05). Improving prison-based HBV vaccination would prevent transmission in the prison setting and protect vulnerable members of the community who are at high risk of both infection and entering the prison system.
Severe decline in Cantabrian Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus habitat use after construction of a wind farm
Authors: GONZÁLEZ MANUEL A. , GARCÍA-TEJERO SERGIO , WENGERT ERIC , FUERTES BENITO
Published: January 2015

Tetrao urogallus cantabricus is the most endangered capercaillie subspecies and unlike the others it inhabits deciduous forests in the Cantabrian Mountains (north-west Spain). Its southernmost distribution occurs in Mediterranean forests outside conservation areas where wind farm construction is increasing. We surveyed Cantabrian Capercaillie presence in a wintering site one year before and four years after wind farm construction. Sign abundance greatly decreased after wind farm construction indicating a likely negative effect on Cantabrian Capercaillie habitat use. According to the precautionary principle, in order to conserve Cantabrian Capercaillie, all its range should be legally protected to avoid further wind farm construction and human disturbance.
Ultrastructural analysis of five patients with total sperm immotility
Authors: Sousa Mário , Oliveira Elsa , Alves Ângela , Gouveia Mónica , Figueiredo Helena , Ferraz Luís , Barros Alberto , Sá Rosália
Published: January 2015

Asthenozoospermia has been related to structural defects of the sperm flagellum. However, few reports have studied in detail the ultrastructure of sperm with total immotility. We present an ultrastructural study of sperm from five patients with total sperm immotility, four due to dysplasia of the fibrous sheath (DFS) and one with situs-inversus. Of the four patients with DFS, three cases presented a hypertrophic and hyperplastic fibrous sheath that invaded the midpiece space, absence of the annulus, and a short midpiece containing a few disorganized and pale mitochondria. Of these cases, two presented absence of the central complex and radial spokes; another additionally presented absence of dynein arms and nexin bridges; and the other patient presented an intact annulus with a dysplastic fibrous sheath restricted to the principal piece with disorganized microtubule doublets. The patient with situs-inversus presented severe respiratory symptoms, with absence of dynein arms and nexin bridges. In conclusion, we present three cases with DFS associated with total sperm immotility, abnormal mitochondria, and absence of the annulus, central pair complex and radial spokes, of which one had in addition absence of dynein arms and nexin bridges. We also describe a patient, with total sperm immotility and a different presentation of DFS, as the annulus was present and the dysplastic fibrous sheath was restricted to the principal piece. These findings thus confirm the heterogeneity of the DFS condition. The changes observed in the patient with situs-inversus also further support previous observations.
Important knowledge for parents of children with heart disease: parent, nurse, and physician views
Authors: Daily Joshua , FitzGerald Mike , Downing Kimberly , King Eileen , del Rey Javier Gonzalez , Ittenbach Richard , Marino Bradley
Published: January 2015

Objectives

Parental understanding of their children’s heart disease is inadequate, which may contribute to poor health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine what parental knowledge is important in the care of children with heart disease from the perspective of parents, nurses, and physicians.

Methods

Focus groups were formed with parents of children with single ventricle congenital heart disease (CHD), biventricular CHD, and heart transplantation, and with nurses and physicians who provide care for these children. A nominal group technique was used to identify and prioritise important parental knowledge items and themes. The voting data for each theme were reported by participant type – parent, nurse, and physician – and patient diagnosis – single ventricle CHD, biventricular CHD, and heart transplantation.

Results

The following three themes were identified as important by all groups:recognition of and response to clinical deterioration,medications, andprognosis and plan. Additional themes that were unique to specific groups included the following:medical team members and interactions(parents),tests and labs(parents),neurodevelopmental outcomes and interventions(physicians),lifelong disease requiring lifelong follow-up(physicians and nurses), anddiagnosis, physiology, and interventions(single ventricle and biventricular CHD).

Conclusions

Parents, nurses, and physicians have both common and unique views regarding what parents should know to effectively care for their children with single ventricle CHD, biventricular CHD, or heart transplantation. Specific targeted parental education that incorporates these findings should be provided to each group. Further development of questionnaires regarding parental knowledge with appropriate content validity is warranted.
The impact of illness perceptions and disease severity on quality of life in congenital heart disease
Authors: O’Donovan Claire E. , Painter Liz , Lowe Boris , Robinson Hayley , Broadbent Elizabeth
Published: January 2015

Background

Despite an increasing prevalence of adults living with a CHD, little is known about the psychosocial impact of CHD. We sought to investigate the relative impact of disease severity and patients’ perceptions about their condition on depression, anxiety, and quality of life over a period of a year.

Methods

A total of 110 patients aged over 16 years completed an initial questionnaire containing measures for anxiety, depression, quality of life, and illness perceptions when they attended the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic. Cardiologists rated the patients’ disease severity and illness course. A year later, patients were invited to complete the same measures. Regression analyses were performed to determine the relative impact of illness perceptions and disease severity on psychological outcomes a year later.

Results

At baseline, 23% of the study population had depressive symptoms and 30% had elevated trait anxiety. After controlling for associations with disease-related variables, illness perceptions explained 28% of the variance in depression, 40% anxiety, and 27% overall quality of life at baseline. Baseline illness perceptions bivariately predicted quality of life, cardiac anxiety, and depression 1 year later, and regression analyses controlling for other factors showed that they were significant predictors of outcomes 1 year later.

Conclusion

Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common among adults with CHD. Patients’ illness perceptions are related to psychological outcomes, especially cross-sectionally. Future research could investigate whether an intervention to discuss patients’ perceptions about their CHD can improve mental health and quality of life.
Grammatical gender selection and phrasal word order in child heritage Spanish: A feature re-assembly approach
Authors: CUZA ALEJANDRO , PÉREZ-TATTAM ROCÍO
Published: January 2015

The present study examines the development of grammatical gender assignment, agreement, and noun-adjective word order in child heritage Spanish among thirty-two Spanish–English bilingual children born and raised in the United States. A picture-naming task revealed significant overextension of the masculine form and high levels of ungrammatical word order strings. There were no significant differences by age regarding gender concord or noun-adjective word order. We argue that the differences found can be accounted for in terms of a re-assembly of gender features leading to both morphological and syntactic variability. This approach allows for subsequent morphosyntactic shifts during early childhood depending on patterns of language use, and conceptualizes heritage language variation along the lines of current linguistic theorizing regarding the role of innate linguistic principles and language experience in language development.
Evidence on individual preferences for longevity risk
Authors: DELPRAT G. , LEROUX M.-L. , MICHAUD P.-C.
Published: January 2015

The standard model of intertemporal choice assumes risk neutrality towards the length of life: under additivity of lifetime utility and expected utility assumptions, agents are not sensitive to a mean preserving spread in the length of life. Using a survey fielded in the RAND American Life Panel, this paper provides empirical evidence on possible deviation from risk neutrality with respect to longevity in the US population. The questions we ask allow to find the distribution as well as to quantify the degree of risk aversion with respect to the length of life in the population. We find evidence that roughly 75% of respondents were not neutral with respect to longevity risk. Hence, there is a little empirical support for the joint use of the expected utility and additive lifetime utility assumptions in life-cycle models. Higher income households are more likely to be risk averse towards the length of life. We do not find evidence that the degree of risk aversion varies with age or education.