bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anthropometry Versus Imaging for Prediction of Inflammation Among Hispanic Girls
Authors: Bea Jennifer W. , Funk Janet , Hetherington‐Rauth Megan , Wertheim Betsy C. , Mosquiera Lucia , Thuraisingam Ravina , Lee Vinson , Blew Robert , Lohman Timothy , Roe Denise J. , Going Scott 
Published: October 2018

Objective: This study aimed to compare total and regional estimates of body composition, by direct and indirect techniques, for the optimal prediction of C‐reactive protein (CRP) among young (aged 9‐12 years) Hispanic girls (N = 232).Methods: Standard anthropometric techniques were used to measure height, weight, and waist circumference. Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) assessed body composition. Fasting serum CRP was measured by the AU5812 Clinical Chemistry Analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Brea, California). Associations between each total and regional body composition parameter and CRP were tested using linear regression (log‐transformed, continuous CRP) and ordinal logistic regression (CRP < 1.0, ≥ 1.0‐2.9, and ≥ 3.0 mg/L), controlling for maturation, dietary energy, physical activity, and medications.Results: All measures of total and regional body fat were positively associated with CRP (P < 0.0001) except for intermuscular fat by pQCT. There were no clinically relevant differences in their association with CRP between anthropometric (BMI; waist circumference) and DXA‐derived (total fat and regional fat: trunk, gynoid, android fat, leg) measures of fat.Conclusions: Measurement of body habitus in Hispanic girls, by multiple commonly available means, predicts CRP equally well.
Habitual Sleep Measures are Associated with Overall Body Fat, and not Specifically with Visceral Fat, in Men and Women
Authors: Dekker Sigrid A. , Noordam Raymond , Biermasz Nienke R , de Roos Albert , Lamb Hildo J. , Rosendaal Frits R. , Rensen Patrick C.N. , van Heemst Diana , de Mutsert Renée 
Published: October 2018

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the associations of sleep duration and sleep quality with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in middle‐aged individuals.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional analysis of baseline measurements of the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study, participants underwent anthropometry and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for assessing short sleep duration (as sex‐specific age‐adjusted percentiles) and poor quality (PSQI > 5). VAT was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in a random subgroup. We performed linear regression analyses to examine associations of short sleep and poor sleep with measures of body fat, adjusted for confounding, including total body fat in models with VAT.ResultsA total of 5,094 participants (52% women; mean age of 56 [SD 6] years), 1,947 of whom had VAT measurements, were analyzed. The difference in VAT between poor sleep (PSQI > 5) and good sleep (PSQI ≤ 5) was 7.2cm2 (95% CI: 1.2‐13.8) in women and 16.1cm2 (95% CI: 6.2‐26.0) in men. These differences attenuated toward the null after the adjustment for total body fat. Similar patterns of associations were observed for short sleep (lowest 10% compared with median 60%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that measures of sleep are not specifically associated with a higher amount of VAT.
Body Composition Percentiles in Urban South Indian Children and Adolescents
Authors: Kuriyan Rebecca , Selvan Sumithra , Thomas Tinku , Jayakumar Jayakumar , Lokesh Deepa P. , Phillip Mamatha P. , Aravind Jini V. , Kurpad Anura V. 
Published: October 2018

ObjectiveThis study aimed to generate age‐ and sex‐specific percentiles for body composition indices in children and to assess the variability in these indices, in relation to BMI.MethodsAnthropometry and body fat were measured with the BOD POD (Cosmed; Rome, Italy) in 9,702 children from Bangalore, India. Smoothed percentile curves using the lambda‐mu‐sigma method were obtained for BMI, fat‐free mass index (FFMI), fat mass index (FMI), and body fat percentage (% BF).ResultsPercentile curves for % BF and FMI in boys increased from 6 to 12 years and declined from 13 years on, while in girls, it increased until 15 years. The FFMI percentile curves increased with age in both sexes. The mean FMI declined from 12 years on in boys, corresponding to a large increase in FFMI from that age, while in girls, both FMI and FFMI continued to increase. The 75th percentile of % BF and FMI had greater sensitivity to identify children with obesity.ConclusionsThis study developed smoothed percentile curves for body composition in Indian children and suggests FMI and FFMI as good indicators of growth in children.
Amniotic fluid cell‐free DNA in preterm prelabor rupture of membranes
Authors: Kacerovsky Marian , Vlkova Barbora , Musilova Ivana , Andrys Ctirad , Pliskova Lenka , Zemlickova Helena , Stranik Jaroslav , Halada Petr , Jacobsson Bo , Celec Peter 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIntroductionWe evaluated the levels of cell‐free nuclear DNA (nDNA) and cell‐free mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the amniotic fluid supernatant from pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) based on evidence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and/or intra‐amniotic inflammation (IAI).Material and methodsA total of 155 women with PPROM were included in this study. Amniotic fluid samples were obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis. The levels of cell‐free nDNA and mtDNA in the amniotic fluid supernatant were assessed and quantified by real‐time polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe levels of cell‐free nDNA and mtDNA were higher in women with MIAC and IAI than in women without these conditions (nDNA: with MIAC: median 3.9 × 104 genome equivalent [GE]/mL vs without MIAC: median 1.2 × 104 GE/mL, with IAI: median: 5.3 × 104 GE/mL vs without IAI: median 1.2 × 104 GE/mL; mtDNA: with MIAC: median 9.2 × 105 GE/mL vs without MIAC: median 2.5 × 105 GE/mL, with IAI: median 1.1 × 106 GE/mL vs without IAI: median 2.5 × 105; all P values ≤ 0.01). Women with the microbial‐associated IAI showed the highest levels of cell‐free nDNA and mtDNA.ConclusionsCell‐free nDNA and mtDNA are constituents of the amniotic fluid supernatant from PPROM pregnancies. Both cell‐free nDNA and mtDNA are involved in the intra‐amniotic inflammatory response in women with PPROM.
A control scheme for monitoring process covariance matrices with more variables than observations
Authors: Li Zhonghua , Tsung Fugee 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a new control chart that integrates a powerful high‐dimensional covariance matrix test with the exponentially weighted moving average procedure for monitoring high‐dimensional variability with individual observations. Design and implementation of the proposed chart are provided, including search algorithm and a table for the control limits, diagnostic aids after the signal, effect of misspecifying the in‐control distribution, and a bootstrap procedure. Monte Carlo simulation results show that the new chart, with its powerful inherited properties, provides satisfactory performance in various cases, especially for covariance shifts that involve diagonal components. The application of the proposed method is illustrated with a real data example from a white wine production process.
A Facile Route for Oriented Covalent Immobilization of Recombinant Protein A on Epoxy Agarose Gels: In Situ Generation of Heterofunctional Amino‐Epoxy Supports
Authors: Yang Jiamei , Sun Lifen , Guo Renling , Yang Haiyan , Feng Xiyun , Zhang Xufeng 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe poor reactivity between proteins and epoxy agarose gels limits studies of many protein‐agarose conjugates. We present here a novel and simple strategy for oriented covalent immobilization of recombinant protein A (rSpA) on epoxy agarose gels. The method can be basically considered as an immobilization of proteins on the heterofunctional amino‐epoxy agarose gels generated in situ. The epoxy agarose gel was directly incubated with rSpA solution containing ethylenediamine (EDA). The presence of EDA during immobilization permits the generation of an in‐situ heterofunctional amino‐epoxy agarose gel, which permits the ion exchange of rSpA and the following covalent reaction with the epoxy groups. The immobilization efficiency of more than 90% could be achieved by controlling the EDA concentration and pH. Interestingly, the obtained rSpA‐agarose conjugates (rSpA@Aga) using the strategy exhibits approximately 20% higher human IgG‐binding capacity than those through the immobilization of rSpA on the heterofunctional amino‐epoxy agarose gel. Moreover, the resultant rSpA@Aga can selectively adsorb Fc type antibodies and hardly adsorb albumin. Therefore, an effective strategy to develop a high IgG‐binding adsorbent is provided, showing potential applications for hemoperfusion in blood purified therapy.
Nitrogen‐Rich Ligands Directed Transition Metal (Co/Ni/Zn) 3,5‐Dinitrobenzoic Acid Energetic Complexes: Syntheses, Crystal Structures and Properties
Authors: Li Zhimin , Zhang Yanqiang , Yuan YuTao , Jiao Nianming , Liu Long 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEnergetic transition metal (Co/Ni/Zn) complexes based on 3,5‐dinitrobenzoic acid (DNBA), 1,5‐diaminotetrazole (DAT), and semicarbazide (SCZ) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. The structures of the nine complexes were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction as: [Co(DNBA)2(H2O)4⋅4(H2O)] (1), [Ni(DNBA)2(H2O)4⋅4(H2O)] (2), [Zn(DNBA)2]n (3), Co(SCZ)2(DNBA)2 (4), Ni(SCZ)2(DNBA)2 (5), Zn(SCZ)2(DNBA)2 (6), Co(DAT)2(DNBA)2(H2O)2 (7), Ni(DAT)2(DNBA)2(H2O)2 (8), Zn(DAT)2(DNBA)2(H2O)2 (9). It is worth mentioning that 3 exhibits a fascinating trigonal helical chain architecture bridged along the c‐axis by Zn(II) and carboxylic O atoms. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) analyses were applied to assess the thermal decomposition processes and the non‐isothermal kinetics parameters. The decomposition temperatures of 1–9 are in the range of 190 °C to 374 °C, which of 1, 2 and 3 are higher than 350 °C, 7 possesses the lowest decomposition temperatures. The nitro‐rich ligands advanced the thermal decompositions of these complexes. The sensitivities toward impact and friction were tested according to a standard BAM method, and resulting that all the energetic complexes are much lower sensitive than primary explosive lead azide.
A Facile Synthesis of Organotin(IV) Carboxylates: Application as Single Source Precursor for Deposition of Tin Oxide Thin Films and Evaluation of Biological Activities
Authors: Butt Arshad Farooq , Bhatti Moazzam Hussain , Aamir Muhammad , Ch Muhammad Aziz , Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Sher Muhammad , Ahmed Mirza Jamil , Akhtar Javeed 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHerein, we report synthesis of novel organotin(IV) carboxylates i.e; [(C6H5)3Sn(C10H14NO3)] B1 and [(C4H9)3Sn(C10H14NO3)] B2 by reacting triphenyltin hydroxide and bis(tributyltin) oxide with as‐prepared ligand 3‐cyclohexylcarbamoyl‐acrylic acid A under inert atmosphere. The as‐synthesized complexes were characterized by elemental analysis (CHNS), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR) and mass spectrometry (EI‐MS). The structures of both as‐prepared tin complexes B1 and B2 were determined by single crystal X‐ray crystallography. Thermogravimetric analysis has shown single step decomposition of both these complexes. The as‐prepared complexes were used as single source precursor for the deposition of tin oxide thin films at 350 °C and 400 °C by aerosol assisted chemical deposition (AACVD) on bare and at 400 °C on carbon nanodots pre‐coated glass substrate. The as‐deposited thin films were characterized by powdered X‐rays diffraction (pXRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE‐SEM) and energy dispersive X‐rays spectroscopy (EDX). Furthermore, antimicrobial, anti‐oxidant and cytotoxicity studies of both complexes showed moderate to good biological activities. Thus, as‐prepared novel complexes have potential applications in materials as‐well as in medicinal chemistry.
Deriving a Statistically Reliable Abundance Index from Landings Data: An Application to the Taiwanese Coastal Dolphinfish Fishery with a Multispecies Feature
Authors: Chang Shui‐Kai , Yuan Tzu‐Lun , Wang Sheng‐Ping , Chang Yi‐Jay , DiNardo Gerard 
Published: October 2018

AbstractData from coastal fisheries are often incomplete, as these fisheries are usually small in scale, rendering them exempt from logbook submission requirements. The catch of Dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus by Taiwanese fisheries once ranked second in the world but has dramatically declined to very low levels in recent years. To address this decline, assessment of a Dolphinfish abundance index was necessary. However, due to the small scale of the fisheries, logbook data were not available to calculate CPUE. This study aimed to estimate a statistically reliable index by (1) assigning effort matrices to landings data using coastal surveillance radar data; (2) standardizing the 2001–2015 CPUEs while using four approaches (classifying fishing tactics by multivariate techniques and principal components analysis) to differentiate the fisheries' effort toward catching Dolphinfish from the effort toward other target species; and (3) evaluating performance of the standardization models by using an R2 estimated by cross‐validation and bootstrap procedures. The approach that used a delta‐generalized additive model with a direct principal components procedure demonstrated the best fit. This study presents an example of deriving a statistically reliable abundance index from the data‐incomplete situations common for coastal fisheries, which allows for follow‐up population dynamics studies. The resulting index for Dolphinfish in the Taiwanese region showed two 7‐year cycles, with a prominent decline in 2015. Reasons for the fluctuation are unknown but may be due to environmental factors, the fast‐growing nature of the fish, and heavy exploitation of the stock by Taiwanese fisheries.
Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Biomass‐Derived Hierarchical Porous Heteroatom‐Doped Carbon from Bamboo Shoots: Design, Synthesis and Applications
Authors: Song Tao , Yang Yong 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHeteroatom‐doped porous carbon derived from biomass have recently received increasing attention due to their unique properties such as high electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, high porosity, and easy availability, which are appealing materials for versatile applications in catalysis, energy, separation and adsorption, and life sciences as well. On the basis of our previous work in this field, we summarized in this account our recent progress on design, synthesis of metal (e. g., Pd, Co) nanoparticles supported heteroatom‐doped hierarchical porous carbon material derived from bamboo shoots and their applications for important organic transformations, including chemoselective semihydrogenation of alkynes, hydrosilylation of alkynes, cascade synthesis of benzofurans from terminal alkynes and iodophenols, selective hydrogenation of functionalized nitroarenes to form anilines, imines, and formamides. Finally, the current state and future challenges in this field are discussed. We hope this account could shed light on the rational design of novel non‐noble metal based heterogeneous catalysts derived from biomass for efficient and sustainable organic transformations.
Recent Progress in Sublimable Cationic Iridium(III) Complexes for Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Ma Dongxin , Duan Lian 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSublimable cationic iridium(III) complexes consisting of light‐emitting coordinated iridium(III) cations and nonluminous negative counter‐ions, show excellent photophysical properties, superior electrochemical behaviors and high thermal stabilities, therefore have emerged as a new library of phosphorescent materials for various organic optoelectronic devices. Here we summarize and highlight the recent progress in sublimable cationic iridium(III) complexes, regarding the material design strategies, synthetic routes, photoluminescent characteristics in both solutions and neat films, together with the current utilization in organic light‐emitting diodes based on the emissive material layers fabricated by vacuum evaporation deposition. Finally, we present a brief outlook thereon, indicating the great promise and brilliant application prospect of sublimable cationic iridium(III) complexes in future flat‐panel display and solid‐state lighting technology.
Public Policy, Big Data, and Counterfactual Evaluation: An Illustration from an Employment Activation Programme
Authors: Martins Pedro S. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractActive labour market policies are regarded as an important tool to reduce unemployment in several countries. This chapter describes the design, implementation and evaluation of one such policy, based on the strengthening of the activation efforts (in particular job search support and monitoring) conducted by the public employment services of Portugal since 2012. The analysis draws on rich longitudinal data, the programme’s focus on those unemployed for at least 6 months and (fuzzy) regression discontinuity methods. The results indicate that, despite the weak labour market and relatively light intensity of the intervention, the programme doubled the probability that participating jobseekers become employed. The chapter also draws a number of public policy lessons from this programme and its evaluation.
Microdata and Policy Evaluation at CPB
Authors: Douven Rudy , Geest Laura van , Gerritsen Sander , Jongen Egbert , Lejour Arjan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe role of microdata and policy evaluation has become more important over time at CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis. CPB’s value added is the focus on the Dutch context: the data, the underlying institutions and the research topics. This chapter provides four examples of microeconometric research at the CPB: labour participation of parents with young children, tax shifting by small corporations, teacher quality and student achievement and performance-based pay in mental health care. In these examples, CPB combines the strengths of structural models and policy evaluation models with large datasets. Next to this research, the importance of good communication strategies to policy-makers is emphasized.
The Impact of Age of Entry on Academic Progression
Authors: Cáceres-Delpiano Julio , Giolito Eugenio P. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractUsing a regression discontinuity design and public educational administrative data for Chile, this chapter studies the impact of age at school entry on children’s outcomes. In contrast to previous studies, the authors are able to track this impact on school achievement over 11 years of the school life of a cohort of students. The results confirm previous findings that a higher age at entry has a positive effect on grade point average (GPA) and the likelihood of passing a grade, but also that this impact tends to wear off over time. However, we also find that this impact on school achievement is still present 11 years after a child has started school.
Microdata for Social Sciences and Policy Evaluation as a Public Good
Authors: Trivellato Ugo 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe balance between the right to privacy and the right to freedom of information is altered when scientific research comes into play, because of its inherent needs and societal function. This paper argues that, for research purposes, microdata should be characterised as a public good. The evolution of the rules and practices in the European Union (EU) for protecting confidentiality, while allowing access to microdata for research purposes is reviewed. Two key directions are identified for further improvement: remote access to confidential data and the enlargement of the notion of ‘European statistics’ to include microdata produced for evaluating interventions (co)financed by the EU.
Overview of Data Linkage Methods for Policy Design and Evaluation
Authors: Shlomo Natalie 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis chapter provides an overview of data linkage for exploiting and combining information about the same entities across data sources. Data linkage can be deterministic (exact), where each matching variable needs to agree exactly to determine a correct match, or probabilistic, where users allow for errors in the matching variables and assign a probability of a correct match. Through classic decision theory, the chapter determines the set of matches (and non-matches) and provides a linked dataset for further analysis. The chapter also describes some recent advances in record linkage and concludes with some initial research on compensating for linkage errors in the analysis of linked data.
Privacy in Microdata Release: Challenges, Techniques, and Approaches
Authors: Livraga Giovanni 
Published: October 2018

AbstractReleasing and disseminating useful microdata while ensuring that no personal or sensitive information is improperly exposed is a complex problem, heavily investigated by the scientific community in the past couple of decades. Various microdata protection approaches have then been proposed, achieving different privacy requirements through appropriate protection techniques. This chapter discusses the privacy risks that can arise in microdata release and illustrates some well-known privacy-preserving techniques and approaches.
Experimental and Longitudinal Data for Scientific and Policy Research: Open Access to Data Collected in the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences (LISS) Panel
Authors: Das Marcel , Knoef Marike 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis chapter presents the Dutch Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social sciences (LISS) panel. This infrastructure provides an innovative method of data collection and data access. It offers researchers the opportunity to field surveys and conduct experiments, to analyze the effect of interventions, and to link collected survey data to administrative data available from Statistics Netherlands. The infrastructure is used mostly by academic researchers but also by applied researchers, in a wide variety of studies in various disciplines. The authors demonstrate how the LISS infrastructure can be used to carry out relevant scientific and policy research to tackle contemporary societal challenges. The examples of policy-relevant research presented here focus on the adequacy of retirement savings, retirement expenditure goals, and the behavioral responses of individuals to certain policies through stated preference analyses.
Performing Indigeneity in Bolivia: The Struggle Over the TIPNIS
Authors: Fabricant Nicole , Postero Nancy 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAddressing how indigeneity in Bolivia is actualised in social mobilisation as well as by the Morales regime, Fabricant and Postero’s chapter examines the different ways in which indigeneity is performed and represented. Focusing on protests against the construction of a highway through indigenous territories, they consider how performance can play a central role in what they call moral reflection about indigeneity, gender, and the articulation of alternative social worlds. Using the concept of ‘ethical substance’, the authors explore how, through performance, indigeneity serves as a central site of moral reflection and conduct. In so doing, they show how protests and performance also call into question the legitimacy of the Morales government’s claim to stand for all indigenous peoples. The chapter demonstrates how distinct actors can claim access to indigeneity, and that multiple actors perform indigeneity to push through their own ethical and political agendas.