bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with diseased loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) in Spain
Authors: González‐Domínguez E. , Alves A. , León M. , Armengol J. 
Published: May 2016

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is an important subtropical fruit crop in Spain and other Mediterranean countries. In recent years, characteristic symptoms of branch canker and dieback have been observed in the main cultivated areas of loquat in Spain. The goal of this study was to identify and characterize the species of Botryosphaeriaceae associated with these symptoms. For this, 36 affected orchards were surveyed between 2010 and 2011 in six provinces of southeastern Spain. Eighty‐four isolates belonging to the family Botryosphaeriaceae were recovered from samples with symptoms. These isolates were characterized by means of phenotypical studies, DNA sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and part of the translation elongation factor 1‐α regions, and pathogenicity tests. Ten fungal species were identified: Diplodia malorum, Diplodia olivarum, Diplodia seriata, Diplodia pseudoseriata/Diplodia alatafructa, Diplodia sp., Dothiorella sarmentorum, Neofusicoccum mediterraneum, N. parvum, Spencermartinsia plurivora and S. viticola. In addition, Diplodia eriobotryicola and Dothiorella eriobotryae are newly described. The most frequent species isolated from cankers was D. seriata and, as far as is known, this is the first report of D. malorum, and species belonging to the complex D. pseudoseriata/D. alatafructa, in Spain. All species were pathogenic to 1‐year‐old loquat plants cv. Algerie, with Diplodia sp. and S. viticola as the most virulent.
Population‐Attributable Risk of Risk Factors for Recurrent Wheezing in Moderate Preterm Infants During the First Year of Life
Authors: Blanken Maarten O. , Korsten Koos , Achten Niek B. , Tamminga Saskia , Nibbelke Elisabeth E. , Sanders Elisabeth A.M. , Smit Henriette A. , Groenwold Rolf H.H. , Bont Louis ,   the Dutch RSV Neonatal Network
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackgroundRecurrent wheezing in young infants has a high prevalence, influences quality of life, and generates substantial health care costs. We previously showed that respiratory syncytial virus infection is an important mechanism of recurrent wheezing in moderate preterm infants. We aimed to provide population‐attributable risks (PAR) of risk factors for recurrent wheezing during the first year of life in otherwise healthy moderate preterm infants.MethodsRISK is a multicentre prospective birth cohort study of 4424 moderate preterm infants born at 32–35 weeks gestation. We estimated PAR of risk factors for recurrent wheezing, which was defined as three or more parent‐reported wheezing episodes during the first year of life.ResultsWe evaluated 3952 (89%) children at 1 year of age, of whom 705 infants (18%) developed recurrent wheezing. Fourteen variables were independently associated with recurrent wheezing. Hospitalisation for respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis had a strong relationship with recurrent wheezing (RR 2.6; 95% confidence interval, CI, 2.2, 3.1), but a relative modest PAR (8%; 95% CI 6, 11%) which can be explained by a low prevalence (13%). Day‐care attendance showed a strong relationship with recurrent wheezing (RR 1.9; 95% CI 1.7, 2.2) and the highest PAR (32%; 95% CI 23, 37%) due to a high prevalence (67%). The combined adjusted PAR for the 14 risk factors associated with recurrent wheezing was 49% (95% CI 46, 52%).ConclusionsIn moderate preterm infants, day‐care attendance has the largest PAR for recurrent wheezing. Trial evidence is needed to determine the potential benefit of delayed day‐care attendance in this population.
Can Elected Minority Representatives Affect Health Worker Visits? Evidence from India
Authors: Kaletski Elizabeth , Prakash Nishith 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThis paper examines the relationship between elected minority representatives, i.e. Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and health worker visits in rural India. We estimate the effect of minority representation on the frequency of visits to villages by health workers by exploiting the state variation in the share of seats reserved for the two minority groups in state legislative assemblies mandated by the Constitution of India. Using data from state and village level surveys on 15 major Indian states, we find that ST representatives increase the frequency of visits by both doctors and mobile medical units. In contrast, SC representatives have a tendency to decrease the frequency of visits by mobile medical units. Potential explanations for the differential impact of SC and ST representatives are also explored, including geographic isolation, support for the Congress Party, a shift in power, and relative population shares.
Small Area Forecasts of Cause-Specific Mortality: Application of a Bayesian Hierarchical Model to US Vital Registration Data
Authors: Foreman Kyle J. , Li Guangquan , Best Nicky , Ezzati Majid 
Published: May 2016

SummaryMortality forecasts are typically limited in that they pertain only to national death rates, predict only all-cause mortality or do not capture and utilize the correlation between diseases. We present a novel Bayesian hierarchical model that jointly forecasts cause-specific death rates for geographic subunits. We examine its effectiveness by applying it to US vital statistics data for 1979–2011 and produce forecasts to 2024. Not only does the model generate coherent forecasts for mutually exclusive causes of death, but also it has lower out-of-sample error than alternative commonly used models for forecasting mortality.
Emerging Patterns of Hispanic Residential Segregation: Lessons from Rural and Small‐Town America
Authors: Lichter Daniel T. , Parisi Domenico , Taquino Michael C. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe past two decades have ushered in a period of widespread spatial diffusion of Hispanics well beyond traditional metropolitan gateways. This article examines emerging patterns of racial and ethnic residential segregation in new Hispanic destinations over the 1990–2010 period, linking county, place, and block data from the 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial censuses. Our multiscalar analyses of segregation are framed by classical models of immigrant assimilation and alternative models of place stratification. We ask whether Hispanics are integrating spatially with the native population and whether recent demographic and economic processes have eroded or perpetuated racial boundaries in nonmetropolitan areas. We show that Hispanic residential segregation from whites is often exceptionally high and declining slowly in rural counties and communities. New Hispanic destinations, on average, have higher Hispanic segregation levels than established gateway communities. The results also highlight microscale segregation patterns within rural places and in the open countryside (i.e., outside places), a result that is consistent with emerging patterns of “white flight.” Observed estimates of Hispanic‐white segregation across fast‐growing nonmetropolitan counties often hide substantial heterogeneity in residential segregation. Divergent patterns of rural segregation reflect local‐area differences in population dynamics, economic inequality, and the county employment base (using Economic Research Service functional specialization codes). Illustrative maps of Hispanic boom counties highlight spatially uneven patterns of racial diversity. They also provide an empirical basis for our multivariate analyses, which show that divergent patterns of local‐area segregation often reflect spatial variation in employment across different industrial sectors.
The Moral Economy of Intergenerational Redistribution in an Ageing Society: A Qualitative Analysis of Young Adults' Beliefs in the United States
Authors: Prinzen Katrin 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn the USA,the largest generation,the Baby Boomers,is currently retiring and increasingly drawing from Old Age Social Security. In this context,young generations are said to be disadvantaged:they have to support a growing number of pensioners while expecting much lower pensions themselves. Drawing on 14 original semi‐structured interviews with young US citizens aged 20–36,this study analyzes the moral economy of intergenerational redistribution–defined as normative beliefs and justifications of a just distribution of contributions and benefits between generations. The qualitative content analysis resorts to the four constituent institutional principles of intergenerational redistribution:deservingness(being qualified to receive support),reciprocity(mutual support between generations),equity(relation between in‐ and outputs for one generation)and equality(corresponding conditions for different generations). The first main finding is that the young hold multiple normative beliefs in favour of intergenerational redistribution. The second main finding is that different normative beliefs and justifications can compensate for feelings of injustice attributable to the consequences of an ageing society. The qualitative findings'contributions to the field of study that is dominated by quantitative studies are concluded. Implications for public support for intergenerational redistribution in the ageing society of the USA and other countries are discussed.
Shear Band Evolution in Polymer Bonded Explosives Subjected to Punch Loading
Authors: Liu Z. W. , Zhang H. Y. , Xie H. M. , Li K. X. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe shear band development and potential hot‐spot initiation of polymer‐bonded explosive were investigated under low‐rate punch loading and combined punch and thermal loading. The digital image correlation method was used for deformation analysis. The obtained results showed that the initiation and development of shear bands at room temperature occur in three stages and demonstrated that the material suffers a prolonged shear stress concentration in a local area. Large shear was shown to lead to the formation of slip bands in the hard‐phase area, indicating that this region has the highest potential to initiate hot‐spots even under low‐rate punching. For high temperatures, the initiation and development of shear bands occur in two stages, with the resulting flow field being close to Hill's solution except for a small area directly underneath the punch. Large plastic flow rate was shown to be another important feature besides shear banding.
Follow‐up and programmatic outcomes of HIV‐exposed infants registered in a large HIV centre in Lilongwe, Malawi: 2012–2014
Authors: Ng'ambi Wingston F. , Ade Serge , Harries Anthony D. , Midiani Dalitso , Owiti Philip , Takarinda Kudakwashe C. , Gugsa Salem , Phiri Sam 
Published: May 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo assess follow‐up and programmatic outcomes of HIV‐exposed infants at Martin Preuss Centre, Lilongwe, from 2012 to 2014.MethodsRetrospective cohort study using routinely collected HIV‐exposed infant data. Data were analysed using frequencies and percentages in Stata v.13.ResultsOf 1035 HIV‐exposed infants registered 2012–2014, 79% were available to be tested for HIV and 76% were HIV‐tested either with DNA‐PCR or rapid HIV test serology by 24 months of age. Sixty‐five infants were found to be HIV‐positive and 43% were started on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at different ages from 6 weeks to 24 months. Overall, 48% of HIV‐exposed infants were declared lost‐to‐follow‐up in the database. Of these, 69% were listed for tracing; of these, 78% were confirmed as lost‐to‐follow‐up through patient charts; of these, 51% were traced; and of these, 62% were truly not in care, the remainder being wrongly classified. Commonest reasons for being truly not in care were mother/guardian unavailability to bring infants to Martin Preuss Centre, forgetting clinic appointments and transport expenses. Of these 86 patients, 36% were successfully brought back to care and 64% remained lost‐to‐follow‐up.ConclusionLoss to follow‐up remains a huge challenge in the care of HIV‐exposed infants. Active tracing facilitates the return of some of these infants to care. However, programmatic data documentation must be urgently improved to better follow‐up and link HIV‐positive children to ART.
Assessing women's knowledge and attitudes toward cord blood banking: policy and ethical implications for Jordan
Authors: Matsumoto Monica M. , Dajani Rana , Khader Yousef , Matthews Kirstin R.W. 
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUNDDespite the global expansion of umbilical cord blood (CB) banking, little is known about public opinion and awareness, especially among Arab Muslim populations. CB banking raises policy questions about funding sustainability and quality standards, as well as ethical debates about profitability, informed consent, and medical justification. This study is the first of its kind in the Arab world, and Jordan has a unique, understudied, yet highly relevant setting, especially as a regional medical hub with advanced medical and health policy infrastructures. In addition, the first private and public CB banks are expected to open in 2016.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThe authors developed and administered, over a 5‐month period, an anonymous survey to investigate public opinion and knowledge about CB banking in Jordan. The survey was administered to women in maternity outpatient clinic waiting rooms at five different hospitals.RESULTSMore than 75% of respondents indicated they knew nothing about CB banking in Jordan, and more than 50% had never heard of CB banking before. However, overall public opinion about CB storage is positive. Important factors related to public opinion were also identified, demonstrating that most women want more information on CB banking, especially from their obstetrician.CONCLUSIONThis widespread lack of awareness is likely contributing to misinformation, lack of knowledge, and unfavorable perspectives toward CB donation and research. The results have important implications for the development of national and regional policies and educational campaigns on CB banking targeting both physicians and patients.
Diacylglycerol‐mediated regulation of Aplysia bag cell neuron excitability requires protein kinase C
Authors: Sturgeon Raymond M. , Magoski Neil S. 
Published: May 2016

Key points
In Aplysia, reproduction is initiated by the bag cell neurons and a prolonged period of enhanced excitability known as the afterdischarge.
Phosphoinositide turnover is upregulated during the afterdischarge resulting in the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate by phospholipase C (PLC) and the release of diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3).
In whole‐cell voltage‐clamped cultured bag cell neurons, 1‐oleoyl‐2‐acetyl‐sn‐glycerol (OAG), a synthetic DAG analogue, activates a dose‐dependent, transient, inward current (IOAG) that is enhanced by IP3, mimicked by PLC activation and dependent on basal protein kinase C (PKC) activity.
OAG depolarizes bag cell neurons and triggers action potential firing in culture, and prolongs electrically stimulated afterdischarges in intact bag cell neuron clusters ex vivo.
Although PKC alone cannot activate the current, it is required for IOAG; this is the first description of required obligate PKC activity working in concert with PLC, DAG and IP3 to maintain the depolarization required for prolonged excitability in Aplysia reproduction.
AbstractFollowing synaptic input, the bag cell neurons of Aplysia undergo a long‐term afterdischarge of action potentials to secrete egg‐laying hormone and initiate reproduction. Early in the afterdischarge, phospholipase C (PLC) hydrolyses phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate into inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). In Aplysia, little is known about the action of DAG, or any interaction with IP3; thus, we examined the effects of a synthetic DAG analogue, 1‐oleoyl‐2‐acetyl‐sn‐glycerol (OAG), on whole‐cell voltage‐clamped cultured bag cell neurons. OAG induced a large, prolonged, Ca2+‐permeable, concentration‐dependent inward current (IOAG) that reversed at ∼−20 mV and was enhanced by intracellular IP3. A similar current was evoked by either another DAG analogue, 1,2‐dioctanoyl‐sn‐glycerol (DOG), or activating PLC with N‐(3‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,4,6‐trimethylbenzenesulfonamide (m‐3M3FBS). IOAG was reduced by the general cation channel blockers Gd3+ or flufenamic acid. Work in other systems indicated that OAG activates channels independently of protein kinase C (PKC); however, we found pretreating bag cell neurons with any of the PKC inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide, sphinganine, or H7, attenuated IOAG. However, stimulating PKC with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) did not evoke current or enhance IOAG; moreover, unlike PMA, OAG failed to trigger PKC, as confirmed by an independent bioassay. Finally, OAG or m‐3M3FBS depolarized cultured neurons, and while OAG did not provoke afterdischarges from bag cell neurons in the nervous system, it did double the duration of synaptically elicited afterdischarges. To our knowledge, this is the first report of obligate PKC activity for IOAG gating. An interaction between phosphoinositol metabolites and PKC could control the cation channel to influence afterdischarge duration.
Intellectual Property and Public Health in the Developing World
Authors: Azam Monirul 
Published: May 2016

Across the world, developing countries are attempting to balance the international standards of intellectual property concerning pharmaceutical patents against the urgent need for accessible and affordable medicines. In this timely and necessary book, Monirul Azam examines the attempts of several developing countries to walk this fine line. He evaluates the experiences of Brazil, China, India, and South Africa for lessons to guide Bangladesh and developing nations everywhere. Azam's legal expertise, concern for public welfare, and compelling grasp of principal case studies make Intellectual Property and Public Health in the Developing World a definitive work.
The developing world is striving to meet the requirements of the World Trade Organization's TRIPS Agreement on intellectual property. This book sets out with lucidity and insight the background of the TRIPS Agreement and its implications for pharmaceutical patents, the consequences for developing countries, and the efforts of certain representative nations to comply with international stipulations while still maintaining local industry and public health. Azam then brings the weight of this research to bear on the particular case of Bangladesh, offering a number of specific policy recommendations for the Bangladeshi government—and for governments the world over.
Intellectual Property and Public Health in the Developing World is a must-read for public policy-makers, academics and students, non-governmental organizations, and readers everywhere who are interested in making sure that developing nations meet the health care needs of their people.
Tomasz Jarmużek and Marcin Tkaczyk: “Normalne logiki pozycyjne” (Normal Positional Logics), Wydawnictwo KUL, Lublin (Poland), 2015
Authors: Klonowski Mateusz 
Published: May 2016

Book Reviews: Tomasz Jarmużek and Marcin Tkaczyk, Normalne logiki pozycyjne (Normal Positional Logics), Wydawnictwo KUL, Lublin (Poland), 2015, 202 pages, ISBN 978-838061-114-6.
Survey of context information fusion for ubiquitous
Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems
Authors: Borges Vijay 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Internet-of-Things (IoT) is the latest buzzword,
havings its origins in the erstwhile Sensor Networks. Sensor
Networks produce a large amount of data. According to
the needs this data requires to be processed, delivered and
accessed. This processed data when made available with
the physical device location, user preferences, time constraints;
generically called as context-awareness; is widely
referred to as the core function for ubiquitous systems. To
our best knowledge there is lack of analysis of context information
fusion for ubiquitous sensor networks. Adopting
appropriate information fusion techniques can help
in screening noisy measurements, control data in the network
and take necessary inferences that can help in contextual
computing. In this paper we try and explore different
context information fusion techniques by comparing
a large number of solutions, their methods, architectures
and models. All the surveyed techniques can be adapted
to the IoT framework.
Developing social competence in a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development
Authors: Shek Daniel T.L. , Leung Janet T.Y. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractSocial competence is an important positive youth development attribute for adolescent development and effective leadership. In this paper, the definitions and approaches of social competence are introduced. The antecedents and consequences of social competence are highlighted. Moreover, the relationships between social competence and effective leadership, as well as adolescent development are also addressed. In particular, egocentrism as the barrier to social competence is discussed. To enhance the social competence of university students, a lecture on social competence was designed in the curriculum of a university subject entitled “Tomorrow’s Leaders”. The objectives, intended learning outcomes, lecture content and special features of the lecture are presented in this paper.
Reflective teaching in a holistic personal development course for Chinese university students: a case study
Authors: Ma Cecilia M.S. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractResearch shows that reflective practice plays an important role in promoting teaching performance and facilitating a positive learning atmosphere. This article provides a case study on a teacher’s reflection in a university course. The author discusses the difficulties she encountered and the strategies she used when teaching a leadership course. Students’ post-lecture qualitative evaluation is used as an illustration to show how these feedbacks guide the teacher when reflecting and evaluating her teaching performance. Implications are discussed to highlight the importance of reflective practice in university contexts.
Cognitive competence in Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong: a six-year longitudinal study
Authors: Shek Daniel T.L. , Pu Xiao Ping 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe developmental trend and correlates of adolescent cognitive competence were examined in a 6-year longitudinal study in Hong Kong. From Secondary 1 to Secondary 6 years, the same cohort of high school students responded to validated measures of cognitive competence, socio-demographic status (i.e. gender, family intactness and economic disadvantage) and family processes (i.e. family functioning, father-child subsystem quality and mother-child subsystem quality). Results indicated that there was a rising trend of cognitive competence over the high school years. Adolescents with better family functioning or better father-child or mother-child subsystem quality demonstrated higher initial level of cognitive competence. However, adolescents with better family functioning showed slower growth rate on cognitive competence over time. Finally, teenage boys showed faster growth rate on cognitive competence than did teenage girls.
Sensitivity analysis of the grad-div stabilization parameter in finite element simulations of incompressible flow
Authors: Neda Monika , Pahlevani Faranak , Rebholz Leo G. , Waters Jiajia 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe present a numerical study of the sensitivity of the grad-div stabilization parameter for mixed finite element discretizations of incompressible flow problems. For incompressible isothermal and non-isothermal Stokes equations and Navier-Stokes equations, we develop the associated sensitivity equations for changes in the grad-div parameter. Finite element schemes are devised for computing solutions to the sensitivity systems, analyzed for stability and accuracy, and finally tested on several benchmark problems. Our results reveal that solutions are most sensitive for small values of the parameter, near obstacles and corners, when the pressure is large, and when the viscosity is small.