bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Separating climate change and human contributions to variations in streamflow and its components using eight time‐trend methods
Authors: Zhang Ling , Nan Zhuotong , Wang Weizhen , Ren Dong , Zhao Yanbo , Wu Xiaobo 
Published: November 2018

AbstractSeparating impacts of human activities and climate change on hydrology is essential for watershed and ecosystem management. Many previous studies have focused on the impacts on total streamflow, however, with little attentions paid to its components (i.e., baseflow and surface run‐off). This study distinguished the contributions of climate change and human activities to the variations in streamflow, baseflow, and surface run‐off in the upstream area of the Heihe River Basin, a typical inland river basin in northwest China, by using eight different forms of time‐trend methods. The isolated contributions to streamflow variation were also compared with those obtained by two Budyko‐based approaches. Our results showed that the time‐trend methods consistently estimated positive contributions of climate variability and human activities to the increases in streamflow and its components but with obviously varying magnitudes. With regard to streamflow, the time‐trend method double‐mass‐curve–Wei, with a physical basis, produced a reasonable smaller contribution of human activities than climate changes, inconsistent with the Budyko‐based approaches. However, all the other time‐trend methods led to contrary results. The contributions to baseflow variation diverged more significantly than those to streamflow and surface run‐off, ranging from 24% to 92% for human activities and from 8% to 76% for climate variability. In terms of surface run‐off, most of the time‐trend approaches produced smaller contributions of human activities (ranging from 21% to 49%) than climate change. The uncertainties associated with the various time‐trend approaches and the baseflow separation algorithm were revealed and discussed, along with some recommendations for future work.
Gestational Weight Gain and Offspring Bone Mass: Different Associations in Healthy Weight Versus Overweight Women
Authors: Monjardino Teresa , Henriques Ana , Moreira Carla , Rodrigues Teresa , Adubeiro Nuno , Nogueira Luísa , Cooper Cyrus , Santos Ana Cristina , Lucas Raquel 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACT

Weight management strategies during pregnancy reduce child cardiometabolic risk. However, because maternal weight has an overall positive correlation with offspring bone mass, pregnancy weight management could adversely affect child bone health. We aimed to estimate associations between gestational weight gain (GWG) and bone mineralization in the offspring at 7 years of age, and test early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) as an effect modifier. We analyzed prospective data from 2167 mother-child pairs from the Generation XXI birth cohort who underwent whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at 7 years of age. GWG was analyzed as a continuous measure and using the Institute of Medicine categories. In the whole sample and for each early pregnancy BMI category (under/normal weight and overweight/obese), relationships between GWG and offspring bone measures (bone mineral content [BMC], bone areal density [aBMD], size-corrected BMC [scBMC], and height) at 7 years were fitted through local polynomial regression and smoothing splines. The magnitude of associations was estimated through linear regression coefficients (95% CIs), crude and adjusted for maternal age, height, educational level, and child gestational age. In under/normal weight mothers, GWG was associated with slightly increased bone measures at 7 years (per 5 kg of GWG, BMC: 0.07 SD [95% CI, 0.01 to 0.12]; aBMD: 0.10 SD [95% CI, 0.05 to 0.15], scBMC: 0.11SD [95% CI, 0.06 to 0.16], and height: 0.05 SD [95% CI, 0.00 to 0.10]), while in overweight/obese mothers no effect of GWG on bone was observed (BMC: 0.02 SD [95% CI, –0.04 to 0.09]; aBMD: 0.02 SD [95% CI, –0.04 to 0.08], scBMC: 0.01 SD [95% CI, –0.06 to 0.08], and height: 0.02 SD [95% CI, –0.04 to 0.08]). Also, no advantageous effect of gaining weight above the Institute of Medicine recommendations was observed in either early pregnancy BMI group. Our results suggest that adherence to Institute of Medicine recommendations for pregnancy weight gain is unlikely to have a negative repercussion on offspring bone health, particularly in women with excess weight in early pregnancy. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Androgen Deprivation Therapy Use Increases the Risk of Heart Failure in Patients With Prostate Cancer: A Population‐Based Cohort Study
Authors: Kao Hui‐Han , Kao Li‐Ting , Li I‐Hsun , Pan Ke‐Ting , Shih Jui‐Hu , Chou Yu‐Ching , Wu Sheng‐Tang 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between androgen deprivation therapy and heart failure among prostate cancer patients. This cohort study used the data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005. In the full cohort study, we identified 1244 prostate cancer patients who had received androgen deprivation therapy as the study cohort and 1806 prostate cancer patients who did not receive androgen deprivation therapy as the comparison cohort. To eliminate potential bias, we performed a propensity score‐matched cohort study. Each prostate cancer patient was tracked for 1 year from the index date to ascertain whether they were subsequently diagnosed with heart failure. In the full cohort study, incidence rates of heart failure per 100 person‐years within the 1‐year follow‐up period were 4.00 (95%CI, 2.95‐5.30) and 1.89 (95%CI, 1.30‐2.66) for androgen deprivation therapy users and nonusers, respectively. In addition, the multivariable Cox regression indicated that the hazard ratio (HR) of heart failure among androgen deprivation therapy users was 1.72 (95%CI, 1.08‐2.73) compared with those androgen deprivation therapy nonusers. In the propensity score‐matched cohort study, the adjusted HR for heart failure among androgen deprivation therapy users was 1.92 (95%CI, 1.15‐3.18) compared with propensity score‐matched nonusers. In conclusion, this study found that androgen deprivation therapy users had a higher risk of heart failure than nonusers among prostate cancer patients in both the full cohort study and the propensity score‐matched study.
Gender, Microcredit and Poverty Alleviation in a Developing Country: The Case of Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Javed , Mahmood Samia , Scott Jonathan 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe paper explores the impact of financial exclusion on financial and human poverty amongst women in Pakistan. The findings suggest that persistent financial exclusion, gender discrimination and conservative religious values adversely impact women's empowerment. There is an inverse correlation between the size of microcredit and women's financial poverty, which is not the case for human poverty. Larger families experienced higher rates of poverty reduction than smaller families. The study offers evidence and supports theories on the impact of microcredit upon poverty alleviation. These findings inform policy makers, women entrepreneurs and microfinance institutions. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative characterization of single‐cell adhesion properties by atomic force microscopy using protein‐functionalized microbeads
Authors: Chièze Lionel , Le Cigne Anthony , Meunier Marie , Berquand Alexandre , Dedieu Stéphane , Devy Jérôme , Molinari Michael 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA method was developed to characterize the adhesion properties of single cells by using protein‐functionalized atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes. The quantification by force spectroscopy of the mean detachment force between cells and a gelatin‐functionalized colloidal tip reveals differences in cell adhesion properties that are not within reach of a traditional bulk technique, the washing assay. In this latter method, experiments yield semiquantitative and average adhesion properties of a large population of cells. They are also limited to stringent conditions and cannot highlight disparities in adhesion in the subset of adherent cells. In contrast, this AFM‐based method allows for a reproducible and quantitative investigation of the adhesive properties of individual cells in common cell culture conditions and allows for the detection of adhesive subpopulations of cells. These characteristics meet the critical requirements of many fields, such as the study of cancer cell migratory abilities.
Potassium distribution in root and non‐root zones of two cotton genotypes and its accumulation in their organs as affected by drought and potassium stress conditions
Authors: Wang Xiao , Mohamed Ibrahim , Ali Maha , Abbas Mohamed H. H. , Shah Ghulam Mustafa , Chen Fang 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA rhizobox experiment was conducted to compare the differences of soil potassium (K) distribution and absorption between two cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes under drought and K‐deficit conditions. Treatments included two levels of water (drought and optimum soil moisture: 25% and 35% volumetric water content) and K fertilizer rates (0 and 0.48 g potash kg−1 soil) applied to two cotton genotypes (namely HEG and LEG). Both the genotypes showed significant differences in total K accumulation without exogenous K addition. After absorption, soil content of the readily available potassium (RAK) decreased rapidly. This promoted the conversion of the mineral K into slowly available potassium (SAK). Drought significantly decreased the cotton growth and K use efficiency, and thereby reduced the effect of K fertilizer. Consequantly, the contents of RAK and SAK were greatly increased. However, K bioavailability was decreased under water stress conditions. Differences in root parameters and soil microorganisms between two cotton genotypes were significantly increased and had marked relations with available soil K contents. This study provides important information for understanding the mechanism of K use efficiency, especially under water and K stress.
A qualitative study of the experiences and perceptions of adults with chronic musculoskeletal conditions following a 12‐week Pilates exercise programme
Authors: Gaskell Lynne , Williams Anita E. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of the present study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of adult patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions following a Pilates exercise programme. A qualitative approach was taken to both data collection and analysis, with alignment to the philosophy of interpretive phenomenology. Participants included 15 women and seven men with a range of chronic musculoskeletal conditions, including nonspecific low back pain, peripheral joint osteoarthritis and a range of postsurgical conditions. The age range was from 36 years to 83 years, and the mean age was 57 years (standard deviation 14.1 years).MethodsData were collected via digital recordings of four focus groups in three North‐West of England physiotherapy clinics. The data were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using a thematic framework. Data were verified by a researcher and randomly selected participants, and agreement was achieved between all parties.ResultsThe results were organized into five main themes: physical improvements; Pilates promotes an active lifestyle: improved performance at work and hobbies; psychosocial benefits and improved confidence; increased autonomy in managing their own condition; and motivation to continue with exercise.ConclusionThe study was the first to investigate individual perceptions of the impact of Pilates on the daily lives of people with chronic conditions. The Pilates‐based exercise programme enabled the participants to function better and manage their condition more effectively and independently. Further to previous work, the study revealed psychological and social benefits which increase motivation to adhere to the programme and promote a healthier lifestyle.
Ultrasound imaging of the fetal secondary palate: Methodological description of a two‐dimensional approach and a case series
Authors: Brusilov Michael , Wolman Igal , Ashwal Eran , Malinger Gustavo , Birnbaum Roee 
Published: November 2018

AbstractObjectiveThe study aims to describe our two‐dimensional (2D) ultrasound approach to visualize the fetal secondary palate and plot its growth curve and to describe and demonstrate its clinical implementation.MethodsThis is a two parts retrospective study. First, we measured the antero‐posterior length of the bony secondary palate, from the soft to hard palate interface (SHPI) line to the alveolar ridge, blindly by two operators during routine scans of low‐risk fetuses, and plot a longitudinal growth curve. In the second part, we describe four cases of prenatal diagnosis of secondary palate cleft.ResultsSixty‐eight fetuses were included: 14 to 15 weeks (n = 20), 21 to 24 weeks (n = 32), and 29 to 35 weeks (n = 16). The bony secondary palate elongates along gestation from a mean of 5.3 mm (+/−0.46 mm) at 14 to 15 weeks to 15.9 mm (+/−1.7 mm) at 29 to 35 weeks. We found high intraobserver and interobserver correlation between measurements. All four cases diagnosed by this approach were confirmed postnatally.ConclusionsThe SHPI, representing the normally developed secondary bony palate, can be imaged in the fetus by direct 2D ultrasound as early as 14 weeks. A gap within or nonvisualization of the SHPI is highly suggestive for a secondary palate cleft.
Adjunctive Use of Cidofovir and Intravenous Immunoglobulin to Treat Invasive Adenoviral Disease in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Authors: Permpalung Nitipong , Mahoney Monica V. , Alonso Carolyn D. 
Published: November 2018

BackgroundInfections with adenoviruses (ADVs) can result in considerable mortality and morbidity in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Standard therapy for ADV infections in transplant recipients is not established. At our institution, intravenous cidofovir and immunoglobulin have been used to treat disseminated or invasive ADV in SOT and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.MethodsA retrospective case series of SOT recipients treated with cidofovir and intravenous immunoglobulin was performed.ResultsFive SOT recipients (four renal and one heart transplant) with adenovirus infection were treated successfully with cidofovir and immunoglobulin. Cidofovir was discontinued after the first negative ADV viral load and resolution of clinical symptoms, given the concern for nephrotoxicity in renal transplant recipients. Renal tubular acidosis type 2 and iritis were observed in two patients receiving therapy.ConclusionSymptom resolution and a single negative ADV viral load may be indicators for cidofovir discontinuation.
Regulation of cyclic electron flow by chloroplast NADPH‐dependent thioredoxin system
Authors: Nikkanen Lauri , Toivola Jouni , Trotta Andrea , Diaz Manuel Guinea , Tikkanen Mikko , Aro Eva‐Mari , Rintamäki Eevi 
Published: November 2018

AbstractLinear electron transport in the thylakoid membrane drives photosynthetic NADPH and ATP production, while cyclic electron flow (CEF) around photosystem I only promotes the translocation of protons from stroma to thylakoid lumen. The chloroplast NADH dehydrogenase‐like complex (NDH) participates in one CEF route transferring electrons from ferredoxin back to the plastoquinone pool with concomitant proton pumping to the lumen. CEF has been proposed to balance the ratio of ATP/NADPH production and to control the redox poise particularly in fluctuating light conditions, but the mechanisms regulating the NDH complex remain unknown. We have investigated potential regulation of the CEF pathways by the chloroplast NADPH‐thioredoxin reductase (NTRC) in vivo by using an Arabidopsis knockout line of NTRC as well as lines overexpressing NTRC. Here, we present biochemical and biophysical evidence showing that NTRC stimulates the activity of NDH‐dependent CEF and is involved in the regulation of generation of proton motive force, thylakoid conductivity to protons, and redox balance between the thylakoid electron transfer chain and the stroma during changes in light conditions. Furthermore, protein–protein interaction assays suggest a putative thioredoxin‐target site in close proximity to the ferredoxin‐binding domain of NDH, thus providing a plausible mechanism for redox regulation of the NDH ferredoxin:plastoquinone oxidoreductase activity.
A novel sth‐order observer for linear system: Application to state and fault estimation of spacecraft control system
Authors: Li Min , Liu Ming , Zhang Yingchun , Cao Xibin 
Published: November 2018

SummaryIn this paper, a fault estimation problem for linear system is considered. A novel sth‐order observer is proposed to cope with this problem. The advantages of the proposed observer are that (i) the observer matching condition is not required to be satisfied in practical systems, (ii) if the sth derivative of fault is unknown and/or unbounded and the (s + 1)th derivative of fault f (t) is naught or bounded, it can simultaneously estimate the state and fault. The sufficient existence condition of the proposed observer is given by a linear matrix inequality. In addition, a feasible method to obtain the design parameters is discussed. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Practical static analysis of context leaks in Android applications
Authors: Toffalini Flavio , Sun Jun , Ochoa Martín 
Published: November 2018

SummaryAndroid native applications, written in Java and distributed in APK format, are widely used in mobile devices. Their specific pattern of use lets the operating system control the creation and destruction of resources, such as activities and services (contexts). Programmers are not supposed to interfere with such life cycle events. Otherwise, contexts might be leaked, ie, they will never be deallocated from memory, or be deallocated late, leading to memory exhaustion and frozen applications. In practice, it is easy to write incorrect code, which hinders garbage collection of contexts and leads to context leakages. In this work, we present a novel static analysis method that finds context leaks in Android code. We apply this analysis to APKs translated into Java bytecode. We provide a formal analysis of our algorithms and suggest further research directions for improving precision by combining different approaches. We discuss the results of a large number of experiments with our analysis, which reveal context leaks in many widely used applications from the Android marketplace. This shows the practical usefulness of our technique and its superiority w.r.t. the well‐known Lint and Infer static analysis tools. We estimate the amount of memory saved by the collection of the leaks found and explain, experimentally, where programmers often go wrong and limitations of our tool. Such lessons could be used for designing of a sound or more powerful static analysis tool. This work can be considered as a practical application of software analysis techniques to solve practical problems.
Are you asking the right business‐related questions as an environmental or sustainability manager?
Authors: Guerin Turlough 
Published: November 2018

AbstractEnvironmental and sustainability professionals (or E&SPs) seek funding for projects, programs, and initiatives (PP&Is) in support of their organizations’ sustainable development agendas. It is a rare organization where these PP&Is get support in their own right without a business case. As is often the case, these PP&Is never get to see the light of day, with many of them being perceived by the businesses’ executives as part of an environmental or sustainability “agenda.” In the author's experience, the reason for this is that the E&SPs are usually the sustainability champions for these same organizations, and their focus is not necessarily on ensuring the establishment of the underlying business case or ensuring close alignments of PP&Is to the business. One of the most important skills that these professionals can gain is that of asking a focused line of questions that can uncover the business needs of the organizations they work for and how their own role or proposed PP&Is fit within the business's strategy. This article sets context through the author's experience in infrastructure sustainability construction, and provides a checklist for E&SPs to use as they conceive, develop, discuss, propose, and seek funding for sustainability and environmental PP&Is.
Spinor frame formalism for amplitudes and constrained superamplitudes of 10D SYM and 11D supergravity
Authors: Bandos Igor 
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We show that 10D spinor helicity formalism can be understood as spinor moving frame approach to supersymmetric particles extended to the description of amplitudes. This allows us to develop the spinor helicity formalism for 11D supergravity and a new constrained superfield formalism for 10D SYM and 11D SUGRA amplitudes. We show how the constrained on-shell superfields, one-particle counterparts of the superamplitudes, can be obtained by quantization of massless superparticle mechanics.
We make some stages towards the calculation of amplitudes of 10D SYM and 11D SUGRA in this framework. In particular we have found supersymmetric Ward identities for constrained amplitudes and an especially convenient gauge, fixed on the spinor frame variables corresponding to scattered particles, which promises to be an extremely useful tool for further development of our approach.
We also discuss a candidate for generalization of the BCFW recurrent relations for the constrained tree superamplitudes, indicate and discuss a problem of dependence of the expressions obtained with it on a deformation vector, which is not fixed uniquely in higher dimensional D > 4 cases.
Assessment of Capacity to Meet Lancet Commission on Global Surgery Indicators in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
Authors: Anderson Jamie E. , Ndajiwo Aliyu Baba , Nuhu Susuti Aaron , Lawal Olubunmi Aiyedun , Amedu Joseph O. , Ameh Emmanuel A. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundThis is a baseline assessment of surgical capacity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in preparation for the creation of a National Surgical, Obstetric, Anesthesia, and Nursing Plan.MethodsIn October 2017, all 10 of the 11 secondary hospitals in FCT that provide surgical and/or obstetric care were surveyed using a modified World Health Organization Hospital Assessment Tool and a qualitative semi‐structured hospital interview tool of the medical Director (MdD). This project received approval from the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health and the FCT Department of Health and Human Services.ResultsThe number of inpatient beds ranged from 35 to 140, and the number of admissions ranged from 1200 to 6400 patients per year. The mean number of surgeries performed in 2016 by these hospitals was 783 (range 235–1601). Cesarean section was the most common surgical procedure at each hospital. Only five hospitals regularly performed laparotomies. Only three hospitals regularly performed fixation of open fractures. Of 152 surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia providers, all hospitals had at least one consultant obstetrician, but only four hospitals had a general surgeon and three hospitals had a consultant anesthesiologist. Deficient physical space for inpatient admissions was the most common concern of MdDs.ConclusionsThe FCT reaches the target for 2‐h access, with 80% of patients (on average) reaching the hospital within 2 h. However, SAO provider density, surgical volume, and tracking of the perioperative mortality rate were low. Data were lacking to comment on protection against impoverishing and catastrophic expenditures.