bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of chronic low-dose elemental and radiological exposures of biota at the Kanab North uranium mine site in the Grand Canyon watershed
Authors: Cleveland Danielle , Hinck Jo Ellen , Lankton Julia S 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

High-grade U ore deposits are in various stages of exploitation across the Grand Canyon watershed, yet the effects of U mining on ecological and cultural resources are largely unknown. We characterized the concentrations of Al, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Hg, Mo, Ni, Se, Ag, Tl, Th, U, and Zn, gross alpha and beta activities, and U and Th radioisotopes in soil, vegetation (Hesperostipa comata, Artemisia tridentata, Tamarix chinensis), and rodents (Peromyscus maniculatus, P. boylii) to waste material at the Kanab North mine, a mine with decades-long surficial contamination, and compared the concentrations (P &lt; 0.01) to those at a premining site (Canyon Mine). Rodent tissues were also analyzed for radium-226 and microscopic lesions. Radioactivities and some elemental concentrations (e.g., Co, Pb, U) were greater in the Kanab North mine biological samples than in Canyon Mine biota, indicating a mining-related elemental signature. Mean rodent Ra-226 (111 Bq/kg dry weight [dry wt]) was 3 times greater than expected, indicating radioactive disequilibrium. Multiple soil sample U concentrations exceeded a screening benchmark, growth inhibition thresholds for sensitive plants, and an EC20 for a soil arthropod. Lesions associated with metals exposure were also observed more frequently in rodents at Kanab North than those at Canyon Mine but could not be definitively attributed to U mining. Our results indicate that Kanab North biota have taken up U mining-related elements owing to chronic exposure to surficial contamination. However, no literature-based effects thresholds for small rodents were exceeded, and only a few soil and vegetation thresholds for sensitive species were exceeded; therefore, adverse effects to biota from U mining-related elements at Kanab North are unlikely despite chronic exposure. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:112–125. Published 2018. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACT OF CAPACITY BUILDING, INDIA
Authors: Kakumanu Krishna Reddy , Kaluvai Yella Reddy , Balasubramanian M. , Nagothu Udaya Sekhar , Kotapati Gurava Reddy , Karanam Sunitha 
Published: August 2018

AbstractClimate change adversely affects the determinants of agriculture. Adaptation serves as an important strategy to reduce the adverse effects of climate change (variability) and vulnerability of the people. Adaptation through an innovation programme was implemented for 4 years during 2012–2016 to improve the adaptive capacity in agriculture and the water sectors through capacity building and implementation in the Krishna River Basin, India. Primary data were collected from 178 farm households of the Nagarjuna Sagar Project command area covering both adopters and non‐adopters of water‐saving interventions from the study area. The double difference method was used to analyse the impact of adaptation through capacity building and implementation. The water‐saving interventions include alternate wetting and drying (AWD) in rice, a modified system of rice intensification (MSRI) and direct seeding of rice (DSR). The capacity building and water saving increased crop yields by 0.96, 0.93 and 0.77 t ha−1 through AWD, MSRI and DSR respectively. The three practices have increased farmers’ income and decreased the cost of cultivation in DSR by Rs.11 000 (US$169) ha−1. The methods can be more focused in canal commands on a larger scale for equal distribution of water to all the head, middle and tail‐end regions. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
27-Hydroxycholesterol, an Endogenous SERM, and Risk of Fracture in Postmenopausal Women: A Nested Case-Cohort Study in the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Chang Po-Yin , Feldman David , Stefanick Marcia L , McDonnell Donald P , Thompson Bonne M , McDonald Jeffrey G , Lee Jennifer S 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT

27-Hydroxycholesterol (27HC) is a purported, novel endogenous SERM. In animal models, 27HC has an anti-estrogen effect in bone, and 17β-estradiol mitigates this effect. 27HC in relation to fracture risk has not been investigated in humans. Depending on the level of bioavailable 17β-estradiol (bioE2), 27HC may increase fracture risk in postmenopausal women and modify the fracture risk reduction from menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). To test these a priori hypotheses, we conducted a nested case-cohort study of 868 postmenopausal women within the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Therapy (WHI-HT) trials. The WHI-HT tested conjugated equine estrogens versus placebo and separately conjugated equine estrogens plus progestin versus placebo. Fracture cases were 442 women who had an adjudicated incident hip or clinical vertebral fracture during the WHI-HT follow-up. The subcohort included 430 women randomly selected at WHI-HT baseline, four of whom had a subsequent fracture. Of the 868 women, 266 cases and 219 non-cases were assigned to the placebo arms. Cox models estimated hazard ratios for incident fracture in relation to pre-randomization circulating levels of 27HC and 27HC/bioE2 molar ratio. Models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, total cholesterol, bioE2, sex hormone-binding globulin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, diabetes, osteoporosis, prior MHT use, BMI, falls history, and prior fracture. In women assigned to placebo arms, those in the middle and the highest tertiles of 27HC/bioE2 had an up to 1.9-fold (95% confidence intervals, 1.25 to 2.99) greater risk of fracture than women in the lowest tertile. In women assigned to MHT arms, fracture risk increased with continuous 27HC/bioE2 levels but not with categorical levels. 27HC levels alone were not associated with fracture risk. 27HC and 27HC/bioE2 did not modify the fracture risk reduction from MHT. In postmenopausal women, circulating levels of 27HC relative to bioE2 may identify those at increased risk of fracture. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Molecular and cellular studies of PTSD: Postmortem transcriptome analysis and novel therapeutic targets
Authors: Duman Ronald S. , Girgenti Matthew J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe neurobiology of fear memory and extinction has been the subject of extensive research efforts that have increased our understanding of the brain regions, circuitry, and the cellular and molecular determinants of fear memory processes. However, the inability to access and directly study the brains of PTSD patients has made it difficult to translate the rodent fear memory studies to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of PTSD. The formation of a PTSD brain repository has recently been undertaken to address this issue. This will allow for high throughput gene expression and proteome analysis that can be coupled with epigenetic and genomic approaches to characterize the molecular alterations underlying PTSD. Preliminary studies using next generation RNA sequencing have identified PTSD specific gene expression alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The approaches used for transcriptome analysis and early findings regarding two glucocorticoid regulated genes of interest, FKBP5 and SGK1 are discussed, and the consequences of altered SGK1 are presented. Altered SGK1 could contribute to synaptic alterations in PFC subregions that could contribute to loss of inhibitory control and extinction of fear memories. Based on these findings, we discuss new studies demonstrating that ketamine can increase synapse number in the PFC and enhance the extinction of fear memory in rodent models and improve symptoms in PTSD patients. Continued molecular and cellular characterization of postmortem brain tissue of PTSD subjects will further define the neurobiology of PTSD and identify novel targets for safe and more efficacious treatments.
Impact of Clinical Use of Parenteral Lipid Emulsions on Bile Acid Metabolism and Composition in Neonatal Piglets
Authors: Lavallee Celeste M. , Lim David W. , Wizzard Pamela R. , Mazurak Vera C. , Mi Si , Curtis Jonathan M. , Willing Benjamin P. , Yap Jason Y. , Wales Paul W. , Turner Justine M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundNeonates with intestinal failure dependent on parenteral nutrition (PN) are at risk of intestinal failure–associated liver disease (IFALD). PN lipid composition relates to the risk of IFALD, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of soybean oil (SO), a mixed‐lipid (ML) emulsion containing fish oil (FO), and a pure FO. We hypothesized FO‐containing PN lipids would result in increased gene expression of canalicular bile acid transporters and a larger, more hydrophilic bile acid pool, predictive of increased bile flow.MethodsNeonatal piglets were allocated to receive 1 of SO, ML, or FO throughout 14 days of PN feeding. Relative expression of genes involved in bile acid synthesis and transport were determined through quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Bile secreted from the liver was collected and measured. Bile acid composition was determined using tandem mass spectrometry. Regression analysis was used to determine predictors of bile flow. Results: PN reduced bile acid secretion (P < .001). FO‐containing PN lipids were associated with greater expression of bile acid and organic solute transport genes (P < .05) and greater secretion of hydrophobic bile acids (P < .001). Farnesoid X receptor (P = .01), bile salt export pump (P < .01), multidrug resistant protein 2 (P < .01), and unconjugated hyocholic acid (P < .001) independently predicted bile flow. Conclusions: PN lipid modulation altered bile acid metabolism and composition. These alterations may explain the hepatoprotective effects of FO‐containing PN lipids and support their use in the prevention and treatment of IFALD.
Preparation and characterization of a novel hydrophilic interaction/ion exchange mixed‐mode chromatographic stationary phase with pyridinium‐based zwitterionic polymer‐grafted porous silica
Authors: Takafuji Makoto , Shahruzzaman Mohammad , Sasahara Kazufusa , Ihara Hirotaka 
Published: August 2018

AbstractNovel zwitterionic polymer‐grafted porous silica microspheres were prepared by using sodium 2‐bromoethanesulfonate to quaternize the pyridyl side chains of the polymer, which is anchored on the surface of porous silica. The separation behavior for toluene and benzoic acid proved that the zwitterionic polymer‐grafted porous silica worked as a stationary phase in hydrophilic interaction/ion exchange mixed‐mode chromatography. Compared with a conventional sulfobetaine‐based zwitterion‐grafted porous silica column, the prepared poly(vinylpyridinium ethanesulfonate)‐immobilized porous silica afforded the highly selective separation of benzoic acid derivatives over a wide pH range, and the separation behavior was quite sensitive to the protonation state of the carboxylic acids. The high selectivity was attributed to the multiple interactions between the guest molecule and the zwitterionic groups on the polymer chains. The new zwitterionic stationary phase demonstrated excellent selectivity for hydrophilic biorelated molecules such as nucleobases and nucleosides.
Capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection for the determination of propionate and sorbate in bread
Authors: Guadalupe Coelho Aline , Fernanda Souza de Jesus Francielly , de Assis Pallos Laís , Alberto Fracassi da Silva José , Pereira de Jesus Dosil 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe propose a simple and fast method for the determination of the preservatives propionate and sorbate in bread using capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection. The preservatives were quickly extracted from bread using ultra‐pure water and ultrasonic energy. The separation of the analytes, with good resolution, was achieved in about 7 min. The proposed method showed good linearity with coefficients of determination > 0.99 for both the preservatives. The limits of quantification of the method were 0.11 and 0.21 g/kg for propionate and sorbate, respectively. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by recovery tests, and the obtained recoveries varied from 88 to 94% for sorbate and 86 to 102% for propionate. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of propionate and sorbate in commercial samples of sliced white bread.
Achieving tourist destination competitiveness: Evidence from Latin‐American and Caribbean countries
Authors: Gómez‐Vega Mafalda , Herrero‐Prieto Luis César 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe evaluate tourist efficiency in Latin‐America and the Caribbean, an area of growing interest in international tourism. We take 17 countries with homogeneous information for 2011–2015 and apply a two‐stage conditioned evaluation. We gauge efficiency using data envelopment analysis of a production function to maximize overnight stays given tourist resources and estimate the impact of external factors for infrastructures, cultural and natural resources, level of development, and so forth. We use a double bootstrap procedure to correct bias in efficiency ratios and serial correlation with second stage variables. We find that countries operate below their possibilities when attracting international tourism. The most efficient are in the Caribbean and Mexico, who specialize in sun and sand tourism. There is evidence that cultural resources and transport infrastructure improve performance. We find the opposite for natural resources and other infrastructures. This research furthers our knowledge of tourist efficiency analysis in an area where such studies remain scarce.
CNN as model observer in a liver lesion detection task for x‐ray computed tomography: A phantom study
Authors: Kopp Felix K. , Catalano Marco , Pfeiffer Daniela , Fingerle Alexander A. , Rummeny Ernst J. , Noël Peter B. 
Published: August 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this study was the evaluation of anthropomorphic model observers trained with neural networks for the prediction of a human observer's performance.MethodsTo simulate liver lesions, a phantom with contrast targets (acrylic spheres, varying diameters, +30 HU) was repeatedly scanned on a computed tomography scanner. Image data labeled with confidence ratings assessed in a reader study for a detection task of liver lesions were used to build several anthropomorphic model observers. Models were trained with images reconstructed with iterative reconstruction and evaluated with images reconstructed with filtered backprojection. A neural network, based on softmax regression (SR‐MO), and convolutional neural networks (CNN‐MO) were used to predict the performance of a human observer and compared to a channelized Hotelling observer [with Gabor channels and internal channel noise (CHOi)]. Model observers were evaluated by a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and compared to the results in the reader study. Two strategies were used to train the SR‐MO and CNN‐MO: A) building a separate model for each lesion size; B) building one model that was applied to lesions of all sizes.ResultsAll tested model observers and the human observer were highly correlated at each lesion size and dose level. With strategy A, Pearson's product‐moment correlation coefficients r were 0.926 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.679–0.985) for SR‐MO and 0.979 (95% CI: 0.902–0.996) for CNN‐MO. With strategy B, r was 0.860 (95% CI: 0.454–0.970) for SR‐MO and 0.918 (95% CI: 0.651–0.983) for CNN‐MO. For CHOi, r was 0.945 (95% CI: 0.755–0.989). With strategy A, mean absolute percentage differences (MAPD) between the model observers and the human observer were 3.7% for SR‐MO and 1.2% for CNN‐MO. With strategy B, MAPD were 3.7% for SR‐MO and 3.0% for CNN‐MO. For the CHOi the MAPD was 2.2%.ConclusionConvolutional neural network model observers can accurately predict the performance of a human observer for all lesion sizes and dose levels in the evaluated signal detection task.
Two‐Year Changes in Child Weight Status, Diet, and Activity by Neighborhood Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment
Authors: Saelens Brian E. , Glanz Karen , Frank Lawrence D. , Couch Sarah C. , Zhou Chuan , Colburn Trina , Sallis James F. 
Published: August 2018

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine 2‐year changes in weight status and behaviors among children living in neighborhoods differing on nutrition and activity environments.MethodsA prospective observational study, the Neighborhood Impact on Kids study, was conducted in King County, Washington, and San Diego County, California. Children 6 to 12 years old and a parent or caregiver completed Time 1 (n = 681) and Time 2 (n = 618) assessments. Children lived in neighborhoods characterized as “high/favorable” or “low/unfavorable” in nutrition and activity environments, respectively (four neighborhood types). Child BMI z score and overweight or obesity status were primary outcomes, with diet and activity behaviors as behavioral outcomes.ResultsAfter adjusting for sociodemographics and Time 1 values, children living in two of the three less environmentally supportive neighborhoods had significantly less favorable BMI z score changes (+0.11, 95% CI: 0.01‐0.21; + 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03‐0.21), and all three less supportive neighborhoods had higher overweight or obesity (relative risks, 1.41‐1.49; 95% CI: 1.13‐1.80) compared with children in the most environmentally supportive neighborhoods. Changes in daily energy intake and sedentary behavior by neighborhood type were consistent with observed weight status changes, with unexpected findings for physical activity.ConclusionsMore walkable and recreation‐supportive environments with better nutrition access were associated with better child weight outcomes and related behavior changes.
Giant Exchange‐Bias in Polyol‐Made CoFe2O4‐CoO Core–Shell Like Nanoparticles
Authors: Flores‐Martinez Nancy , Franceschin Giulia , Gaudisson Thomas , Beaunier Patricia , Yaacoub Nader , Grenèche Jean‐Marc , Valenzuela Raul , Ammar Souad 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCobalt ferrite ferrimagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared and used in this work as seeds to grow a thin antiferromagnetic poly‐ and nanocrystalline CoO shell. The major purpose is to study systematically the characteristics of the as‐produced powders, making emphasis on their internal crystallographic arrangement and their magnetic properties. 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry evidences an evolution of the cation distribution among the spinel lattice in the cobalt ferrite core during the core–shell NPs processing. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy shows a perfect epitaxy between the face‐centered cubic lattices of the spinel core and the rock‐salt shell. Finally, the measurements of 7T‐field‐cooled magnetic hysteresis loops at low temperature (5 K) of the composite particles exhibit a strong exchange bias coupling with an exchange field, µ0HE, of 365 mT and an enhanced coercive field, µ0HC, of 1395 mT. These values are very high compared to those of differently prepared CoO‐based oxide composite NPs and for which a giant exchange‐bias is reported. These features are attributed to the favorable material processing conditions offered by the polyol process in terms of crystalline quality, particularly at the interfaces, and for the pinning action exerted by the CoO phase on the magnetization of the CoFe2O4 phase.
Laser–visual–inertial odometry and mapping with high robustness and low drift
Authors: Zhang Ji , Singh Sanjiv 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe present a data processing pipeline to online estimate ego‐motion and build a map of the traversed environment, leveraging data from a 3D laser scanner, a camera, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Different from traditional methods that use a Kalman filter or factor‐graph optimization, the proposed method employs a sequential, multilayer processing pipeline, solving for motion from coarse to fine. Starting with IMU mechanization for motion prediction, a visual–inertial coupled method estimates motion; then, a scan matching method further refines the motion estimates and registers maps. The resulting system enables high‐frequency, low‐latency ego‐motion estimation, along with dense, accurate 3D map registration. Further, the method is capable of handling sensor degradation by automatic reconfiguration bypassing failure modules. Therefore, it can operate in the presence of highly dynamic motion as well as in the dark, texture‐less, and structure‐less environments. During experiments, the method demonstrates 0.22% of relative position drift over 9.3 km of navigation and robustness w.r.t. running, jumping, and even highway speed driving (up to 33 m/s).
Does market competition dampen environmental performance? Evidence from China
Authors: Duanmu Jing‐Lin , Bu Maoliang , Pittman Russell 
Published: August 2018

Research Summary: Departing from the extant literature, which assumes that firms pursue strong environmental performance as a differentiation strategy, we analyze the general relationship between firms’ competitive strategy and their response to heightened market competition. We find that, using a large sample of Chinese manufacturing firms between 2000 and 2005, intensified market competition has an overall negative impact on firms’ environmental performance. The negative impact is exacerbated in firms adopting a cost‐leadership strategy, but is attenuated in those adopting a differentiation strategy. The results emphasize the importance of including an examination of the particular competitive strategies chosen by firms in seeking to understand the impact of intensified market competition.Managerial Summary: Advocates of corporate social responsibility (CSR) have long argued for the differentiation role of CSR. However, managers may be misguided if the assumed benefits of differentiation critically depend on certain presumptions. In the Chinese context and focusing on the environmental dimension of CSR, our study finds a negative relationship between market competition and corporate environmental performance. It suggests that firms, to a large extent, cannot escape competition via environmental differentiation. Managers should therefore be cautious about the value of strategic investment in CSR as a viable competitive device.
A mathematical model of verification strategies
Authors: Salado Alejandro , Kannan Hanumanthrao 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe field of systems engineering has recently experienced a new push for unveiling its scientific foundations and using them to inform better practice. The majority of the research effort towards a theory of systems engineering has concentrated on the early phases of the system's lifecycle, especially in the areas of problem formulation and system architecture and design. However, and despite their importance for system success, the design of verification strategies has received little attention. Current work is of procedural nature, providing guidance instead of enabling computation, or is specific to a particular verification case. As a result, the definition of verification strategies in practice continues to be driven by heuristics and best practices. This has shown to be suboptimal. In order to fill in this gap, this paper contributes to the theory of systems engineering with a mathematical model of verification strategies. The mathematical model is generic, capturing verification comprehensively, and enables computation. First, a descriptive case is presented to facilitate understanding how the mathematical model relates to practice. Second, a quantitative case is presented to justify the need of the model.
On the off-shell formulation of N = 2 supergravity with tensor multiplets
Authors: Cribiori Niccolò , Dall’Agata Gianguido 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe revisit the construction ofN= 2 superconformal multiplets using rheonomic superspace techniques. We apply the result to the derivation of off-shell Poincaré supersymmetric models where a tensor multiplet couples to gravity and to an arbitrary number of vector multiplets. We also analyze gaugings involving the tensor field.