bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
THE IMPACT OF EDUCATION ON WOMEN'S PREFERENCES FOR GENDER EQUALITY: EVIDENCE FROM SIERRA LEONE
Authors: Cannonier Colin , Mocan Naci 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:We use data from Sierra Leone where a substantial education program provided increased access to education for primary-school age children but did not benefit children who were older. We exploit the variation in access to the program generated by date of birth and the variation in resources between various districts of the country. We find that an increase in schooling, triggered by the program, has an impact on women's attitudes toward matters that impact women's health and on attitudes regarding violence against women. An increase in education reduces the number of desired children by women and increases their propensity to use modern contraception and to be tested for AIDS. While education makes women more intolerant of practices that conflict with their well-being, increased education has no impact on men's attitudes toward women's well-being. Thus, it is unclear whether the change in attitudes would translate into behavioral changes. Consistent with this finding, education (on this margin) has no impact on women's propensity to get married, their age at first marriage or age at first birth.
In vitro inhibition studies of natural resin acids to Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O149
Authors: Roy Krisna , Lyhs Ulrike , Vuorenmaa Juhani , Pedersen Karl 
Published: March 2018

SummaryThe following experiment evaluated the inhibitory activity of a resin acids-based product (RAP) to bacterial pathogens. Clostridium perfringens isolated from chickens, turkeys and pigs, Staphylococcus aureus from chickens, pigs and cattle, and Escherichia coli O149 isolated from pigs were tested. Two different methods were used, a broth dilution method (BDM) using 0.01%, 0.1% and 0.5% resin acid, and an agar diffusion method (ADM) using 0.01%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1% and 5% resin acid. For the BDM, C. perfringens was inhibited completely at all concentrations. S. aureus was inhibited completely at 0.5%, but only slightly at 0.1% and not at all at 0.01%. The E. coli strains showed no or little inhibition at 0.5%. For the ADM, narrow inhibition zones evolved around the concentration of 0.5% (8–10 mm), 1% (8.0–12.0 mm), and 5% (9.0–19.5 mm) on the C. perfringens strains, while the inhibition zones for S. aureus were smaller and E. coli developed no inhibition zones. Overall, the RAP inhibited C. perfringens at all concentrations of the product, S. aureus at 0.1%, 0.5%, 1% and 5% concentrations, and E. coli O149 only at 0.5% concentrations, although some strain variation was recorded.
Predictive control of spiral vortex breakdown
Authors: Pasche S. , Gallaire F. , Avellan F. 
Published: March 2018

The predictive control of the self-sustained single spiral vortex breakdown mode is addressed in the three-dimensional flow geometry of Ruithet al.(2003) for a constant swirl number$S=1.095$. Based on adjoint optimization algorithms, two different control strategies have been designed. First, a quadratic objective function minimizing the radial velocity intensity, taking advantage of the physical mechanism underpinning spiral vortex breakdown. The second strategy focuses on the hydrodynamic instability properties using as objective function the growth rate of the most unstable global eigenmode. These minimization algorithms seek for an optimal volume force in an axisymmetric domain avoiding therefore expensive three-dimensional computations. In addition to considering eigenvalues around the base flow, we also investigate the stability around the mean flow and we find that it correctly predicts the frequency of the self-sustained single spiral vortex breakdown mode for Reynolds numbers up to$Re=500$. Close to the instability threshold, at a Reynolds value of$Re=180$, all these control strategies successfully quench the spiral vortex breakdown. The related volume force is found identical for the base and mean flow eigenvalue control even if the uncontrolled growth rates differ significantly. The control of the least unstable eigenvalue of the mean flow is not only found optimal at$Re=180$, it also stabilizes the flow at a Reynolds value as large as$Re=300$, which opens promising extensions to industrial applications.
Similarity of wake meandering for different wind turbine designs for different scales
Authors: Foti Daniel , Yang Xiaolei , Sotiropoulos Fotis 
Published: March 2018

The wake meandering characteristics of four different wind turbine designs with diameters ranging from a few centimetres (wind tunnel scale) to a hundred metres (utility scale) are investigated using large-eddy simulation with the turbine blades and nacelle parametrised using a new actuator surface model. Different velocity fields and meandering behaviours are observed at near-wake locations. At far-wake locations, on the other hand, the mean velocity deficit profiles begin to collapse when scaled by the centreline velocity deficit based on the incoming wind speed at turbine hub height, suggesting far-wake similarity across scales. The turbine-added turbulence kinetic energy profiles are shown to also nearly collapse with each other in the far wake when normalised using a velocity scale defined by the thrust on the turbine rotor. Moreover, we show that at far-wake locations, the simulated flow fields for all four turbine designs exhibit similar wake meandering characteristics in terms of (1) a Strouhal number independent of rotor designs of different sizes and (2) the distributions of wake meandering wavelengths and amplitudes when normalised by the rotor diameter and a length scale defined by the turbine thrust respectively.
Widespread and accelerating glacier retreat on the Lyngen Peninsula, northern Norway, since their ‘Little Ice Age’ maximum
Authors: STOKES CHRIS R. , ANDREASSEN LISS M. , CHAMPION MATTHEW R. , CORNER GEOFFREY D. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTThe recession of mountain glaciers worldwide is increasing global sea level and, in many regions, human activities will have to adapt to changes in surface hydrology. Thus, it is important to provide up-to-date analyses of glacier change and the factors modulating their response to climate warming. Here we report changes in the extent of >120 glaciers on the Lyngen Peninsula, northern Norway, where glacier runoff is utilised for hydropower and where glacial lake outburst floods have occurred. Glaciers covered at least 114 km2 in 1953 and we compare this inventory with those from 1988, 2001 and a new one from 2014, and previously-dated Little Ice Age (LIA) limits. Results show a steady reduction in area (~0.3% a−1) between their LIA maximum (~1915) and 1988, consistent with increasing summer air temperatures, but recession paused between 1988 and 2001, coinciding with increased winter precipitation. Air temperatures increased 0.5°C per decade from the 1990s and the rate of recession accelerated to ~1% a−1 between 2001 and 2014 when glacier area totalled ~95.7 km2. Small glaciers (<0.05 km2) with low maximum elevations (<1400 m) experienced the largest percentage losses and, if warming continues, several glaciers may disappear within the next two decades.
Intermittentv. continuous energy restriction: differential effects on postprandial glucose and lipid metabolism following matched weight loss in overweight/obese participants
Authors: Antoni Rona , Johnston Kelly L. , Collins Adam L. , Robertson M. Denise 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe intermittent energy restriction (IER) approach to weight loss involves short periods of substantial (>70 %) energy restriction (ER) interspersed with normal eating. Studies to date comparing IER to continuous energy restriction (CER) have predominantly measured fasting indices of cardiometabolic risk. This study aimed to compare the effects of IER and CER on postprandial glucose and lipid metabolism following matched weight loss. In all, twenty-seven (thirteen male) overweight/obese participants (46 (sem3) years, 30·1 (sem1·0) kg/m2) who were randomised to either an IER intervention (2638 kJ for 2 d/week with an overall ER of 22 (sem0·3) %,n15) or a CER intervention (2510 kJ below requirements with overall ER of 23 (sem0·8) %) completed the study. Postprandial responses to a test meal (over 360 min) and changes in anthropometry (fat mass, fat-free mass, circumferences) were assessed at baseline and upon attainment of 5 % weight loss, following a 7-d period of weight stabilisation. The study found no statistically significant difference in the time to attain a 5 % weight loss between groups (median 59 d (interquartile range (IQR) 41–80) and 73 d (IQR 48–128), respectively,P=0·246), or in body composition (P≥0·437). For postprandial measures, neither diet significantly altered glycaemia (P=0·266), whereas insulinaemia was reduced comparatively (P=0·903). The reduction in C-peptide tended (P=0·057) to be greater following IER (309 128 (sem23 268) to 247781 (sem20 709) pmol×360 min/l)v. CER (297 204 (sem25 112) to 301 655 (sem32 714) pmol×360 min/l). The relative reduction in TAG responses was greater (P=0·045) following IER (106 (sem30) to 68 (sem15) mmol×360 min/l) compared with CER (117 (sem43) to 130 (sem31) mmol×360 min/l). In conclusion, these preliminary findings highlight underlying differences between IER and CER, including a superiority of IER in reducing postprandial lipaemia, which now warrant targeted mechanistic evaluation within larger study cohorts.
Diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni: an evaluation of existing methods and research towards single worm pair detection
Authors: Ogongo Paul , Kariuki Thomas M. , Wilson R. Alan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe inadequacy of current diagnostics for the detection of low worm burdens in humans means that schistosomiasis mansoni is more widespread than previously acknowledged. With the inception of mass drug treatment programmes aimed at disease elimination and the advent of human vaccine trials, the need for more sensitive diagnostics is evident. In this review, we evaluate the merits and limitations of the principal diagnostic methods, namely detection of eggs in faeces; anti-schistosome antibodies in serum; parasite-derived proteins and glycans in serum or urine; parasite DNA in blood, faeces or urine. Only in the baboon model, where actual worm burden is determined by portal perfusion, have faecal smear and circulating antigen methods been calibrated, and shown to have thresholds of detection of 10–19 worm pairs. There is scope for improvement in all the four methods of detection, e.g. the identification of single targets for host antibodies to improve the specificity of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Despite recent advances in the definition of the schistosome secretome, there have been no comprehensive biomarker investigations of parasite products in the urine of infected patients. Certainly, the admirable goal of eliminating schistosomiasis will not be achieved unless individuals with low worm burdens can be diagnosed.
The Quality Adjusted Life Year: A Total-Utility Perspective
Authors: FIRTH STEVEN J. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:Given that a properly formed utilitarian response to healthcare distribution issues should evaluate cost effectiveness against the total utility increase, it follows that any utilitarian cost-effectiveness metric should be sensitive to increases in both individual and social utility afforded by a given intervention. Quality adjusted life year (QALY) based decisionmaking in healthcare cannot track increases in social utility, and as a result, the QALY cannot be considered a strict utilitarian response to issues of healthcare distribution. This article considers arguments against, and a possible defence of, the QALY as a utilitarian concept; in response, the article offers a similar — but properly formed — utilitarian metric called the (IALY). This article also advances a tool called the ‘glee factor’ (GF) on which the IALY may lean in a similar way to which the QALY leans on the Rosser Index.
Right ventricular pressure response to exercise in adults with isolated ventricular septal defect closed in early childhood
Authors: Moller Thomas , Lindberg Harald , Lund May Brit , Holmstrom Henrik , Dohlen Gaute , Thaulow Erik 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe previously demonstrated an abnormally high right ventricular systolic pressure response to exercise in 50% of adolescents operated on for isolated ventricular septal defect. The present study investigated the prevalence of abnormal right ventricular systolic pressure response in 20 adult (age 30–45 years) patients who underwent surgery for early ventricular septal defect closure and its association with impaired ventricular function, pulmonary function, or exercise capacity. The patients underwent cardiopulmonary tests, including exercise stress echocardiography. Five of 19 patients (26%) presented an abnormal right ventricular systolic pressure response to exercise ⩾ 52 mmHg. Right ventricular systolic function was mixed, with normal tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and fractional area change, but abnormal tricuspid annular systolic motion velocity (median 6.7 cm/second) and isovolumetric acceleration (median 0.8 m/second2). Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function was normal at rest as measured by the peak systolic velocity of the lateral wall and isovolumic acceleration, early diastolic velocity, and ratio of early diastolic flow to tissue velocity, except for ejection fraction (median 53%). The myocardial performance index was abnormal for both the left and right ventricle. Peak oxygen uptake was normal (mean z score −0.4, 95% CI −2.8–0.3). There was no association between an abnormal right ventricular systolic pressure response during exercise and right or left ventricular function, pulmonary function, or exercise capacity. Abnormal right ventricular pressure response is not more frequent in adult patients compared with adolescents. This does not support the theory of progressive pulmonary vascular disease following closure of left-to-right shunts.
Political Science Student Journals: What Students Publish and Why Student Publishing Matters
Authors: Cox Michaelene , Kent Jaimie M. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTWhereas there is a substantial body of scholarship assessing the merits of student journals, and an equally sizable amount of how-to-publish advice for students in higher education, there is little empirical research exploring the content of disciplinary student publications. To gain a sense of what political science students are publishing, this study examines articles in three peer-reviewed student journals of politics between 2005 and 2015: The Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Critique, and Politikon. Content analysis reveals the nature of published student work by subfield, methodology, and topic, with findings discussed in the context of research trends in the profession and the debate about advantages and disadvantages of student journal publishing.
Forty years of the Law 180: the aspirations of a great reform, its successes and continuing need
Authors: Mezzina R. 
Published: March 2018

Aim.Italy pioneered deinstitutionalisation over the past 60 years and enforced a famous mental health (MH) reform law in 1978. Deinstitutionalisation has been completed with the very closure of all psychiatric hospitals over two decades.Methods.After 40 years of implementation, this article presents the main achievements and challenges of the Italian MH reform law, including its long-term effect and impact in Italy and abroad.Results.The Legislation of 1978 was based on the discovery of rights as a key tool in mental healthcare. At the climax of crisis of psychiatric hospitals as total institutions in this country, through the new community-based system of care, it has fostered the lowest rate of involuntary care and gave back the full citizenship to people with MH disorders. This act was also part of a social movement for expanding civil and social rights, and a promise of a true paradigm shift not only in psychiatry, but also in the way of providing an adequate welfare community for all citizens. According to the WHO, the Italian city of Trieste, together with its region, is a practical example of how the Italian movement achieved deinstitutionalisation, intended as a complex process resulting in the gradual relocation of the economic and human resources and subsequent creation of 24 h services together with the development of social inclusion programmes.Conclusions.Even if the great principles of the Italian reform law were anticipatory (e.g., the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities – CRPD), the law application has been poorly provided with resources and did not follow those avant-garde experiences as models. Limitations are evident today especially at the organisational levels, such as services capable to take up the challenge and transforming the field, left free from the imprint of total institutions. These endemic critical aspects concerning to implementation policies, together with the financial crisis of the Italian healthcare system, must be taken into consideration for a re-launch of this historical law. The rights-based approach opened by the Law 180 should now take into consideration the new legal situation caused by the CRPD worldwide in the area of individuals’ human rights, especially about the issue of legal capacity and related involuntary care.
Capture Hi-C identifies putative target genes at 33 breast cancer risk loci
Authors: Baxter Joseph S. , Leavy Olivia C. , Dryden Nicola H. , Maguire Sarah , Johnson Nichola , Fedele Vita , Simigdala Nikiana , Martin Lesley-Ann , Andrews Simon , Wingett Steven W. , Assiotis Ioannis , Fenwick Kerry , Chauhan Ritika , Rust Alistair G. , Orr Nick , Dudbridge Frank , Haider Syed , Fletcher Olivia 
Published: March 2018

AbstractGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified approximately 100 breast cancer risk loci. Translating these findings into a greater understanding of the mechanisms that influence disease risk requires identification of the genes or non-coding RNAs that mediate these associations. Here, we use Capture Hi-C (CHi-C) to annotate 63 loci; we identify 110 putative target genes at 33 loci. To assess the support for these target genes in other data sources we test for associations between levels of expression and SNP genotype (eQTLs), disease-specific survival (DSS), and compare them with somatically mutated cancer genes. 22 putative target genes are eQTLs, 32 are associated with DSS and 14 are somatically mutated in breast, or other, cancers. Identifying the target genes at GWAS risk loci will lead to a greater understanding of the mechanisms that influence breast cancer risk and prognosis.
Artificial cationic oligosaccharides for heteroduplex oligonucleotide-type drugs
Authors: Hara Rintaro Iwata , Hisada Yuki , Maeda Yusuke , Yokota Takanori , Wada Takeshi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractHeteroduplex oligonucleotides (HDOs), composed of a DNA/LNA gapmer and its complementary RNA, are a novel, promising candidates for antisense drugs. We previously reported oligodiaminogalactoses (ODAGals), designed to bind to A-type nucleic acid duplexes such as DNA/RNA and RNA/RNA duplexes. In this paper, we report oligodiguanidinogalactoses (ODGGals) as novel A-type duplex binding molecules. We aimed to study in detail applicability of ODAGals and ODGGals for additives to HDOs as an antisense drug. The effect of ODAGal4 (ODAGal 4mer) and ODGGal3 (ODGGal 3mer) on an HDO were evaluated by UV melting analyses, RNA degradation study by ribonuclease A (RNase A), and ribonuclease H (RNase H). Cleavage of a 13mer HDO by RNase A, which is considered to be the main cause of RNA degradation in serum, was effectively inhibited by the addition of only one equivalent of ODAGal4 and ODGGal3. In contrast, RNase H activity, which involves the cleavage of target RNAs by an antisense mechanism, was only slightly affected by the presence of the cationic oligosaccharides. These results suggest that ODAGal4 and ODGGal3 are useful because they could both stabilize the HDO and maintain RNase H activity of the gapmer.
Effects of Amphiphilic Chitosan on Stereocomplexation and Properties of Poly(lactic acid) Nano-biocomposite
Authors: Gupta Arvind , Pal Akhilesh Kumar , Woo Eamor M. , Katiyar Vimal 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis article demonstrates an elegant approach for the fabrication of high heat-stable PLA using an industrially viable technique i.e. melt extrusion, which is quite challenging due to the higher viscosity of poly(lactic acid) melt. scPLA has been fabricated by melt extrusion of PLLA/PDLA using nano-amphiphilic chitosan (modified chitosan, MCH) which has been synthesized by grafting chitosan with oligomeric PLA via insitu polycondensation of L-lactic acid that possibly increases the molecular surface area and transforms it into nano-amphiphilic morphology and in turn lead to the formation of stereocomplex crystallites. The effect of MCH loading on the structural, morphological, mechanical and thermal properties of PLLA/PDLA have been investigated. The modification of chitosan and formation of stereocomplexation in PLA has been confirmed by FTIR and XRD techniques, respectively. Heat treatment has also laid a significant effect on the stereocomplexation and the degree of crystallinity of stereocomplex crystallites has been increased to ~70% for 1.5 wt % MCH content with the absence of homocrystals. The heat deflection temperature is found to be more than 140 °C for the biocomposite with 1.5% MCH in comparison to ~70 °C for pristine scPLA. The biocomposites display significant improvement in UTS and Young’s modulus.
Electrochemical Evaluations of Fractal Microelectrodes for Energy Efficient Neurostimulation
Authors: Park Hyunsu , Takmakov Pavel , Lee Hyowon 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAdvancements in microfabrication has enabled manufacturing of microscopic neurostimulation electrodes with smaller footprint than ever possible. The smaller electrodes can potentially reduce tissue damage and allow better spatial resolution for neural stimulation. Although electrodes of any shape can easily be fabricated, substantial effort have been focused on identification and characterization of new materials and surface morphology for efficient charge injection, while maintaining simple circular or rectangular Euclidean electrode geometries. In this work we provide a systematic electrochemical evaluation of charge injection capacities of serpentine and fractal-shaped platinum microelectrodes and compare their performance with traditional circular microelectrodes. Our findings indicate that the increase in electrode perimeter leads to an increase in maximum charge injection capacity. Furthermore, we found that the electrode geometry can have even more significant impact on electrode performance than having a larger perimeter for a given surface area. The fractal-shaped microelectrodes, despite having smaller perimeter than other designs, demonstrated superior charge injection capacity. Our results suggest that electrode design can significantly affect both Faradaic and non-Faradaic electrochemical processes, which may be optimized to enable a more energy efficient design for neurostimulation.