bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microfacies Analysis and Cyclostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene Succession of Bir Dakhl Section, North Eastern Desert, Egypt
Authors: Youssef Mohamed , Hefny Mahmoud , El Sorogy Abdelbaset 
Published: May 2016

Abstract:
The Bir Dakhl section which is located in the southern Galala plateau, north eastern desert was sampled for microfacies analysis of the upper Cretaceous–lower Paleogene succession. Microfacies analysis led to the recognition of eight mixed clastic-carbonate facies types (black shale lithofacies MF-1, pure shale lithofacies MF-2, sandy shale lithofacies MF-3, marly shale lithofacies MF-4, mudstone microfacies MF-5, foraminiferal wackestone microfacies MF-6, bioclastic wackestone microfacies MF-7, and bioclastic packstone microfacies MF-8) of the studied interval. These microfacies can be grouped into three depositional environments: inner, middle and outer ramp. The interpreted depositional environments have been suggested to range from neritic to middle bathyal (∼ 700 m). Based on cyclostratigraphy, five deepening upward cycles and three shallowing upward cycles have been differentiated in Bir Dakhl section.
Why do companies issue sukuk?
Authors: Klein Paul‐Olivier , Weill Laurent 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThis paper investigates the determinants for firms to choose sukuk over conventional bond. We investigate the potential impact of information asymmetries through moral hazard and adverse selection to explain why firms prefer using sukuk. We perform logit regressions of the choice of debt type to determine which characteristics lead a firm to issue a sukuk rather than a bond. We use a dataset of sukuk and conventional bond issuances in Malaysia from 2004 to 2013. We find evidence of the influence of information asymmetries and adverse selection on the choice of the sukuk market.
Excess cost burden of diabetes in Southern India: a clinic-based, comparative cost-of-illness study
Authors: Sharma K. M. , Ranjani H. , Zabetian A. , Datta M. , Deepa M. , Moses C. R. Anand , Narayan K. M. V. , Mohan V. , Ali M. K. 
Published: May 2016

BackgroundThere are few data on excess direct and indirect costs of diabetes in India and limited data on rural costs of diabetes. We aimed to further explore these aspects of diabetes burdens using a clinic-based, comparative cost-of-illness study.MethodsPersons with diabetes (n = 606) were recruited from government, private, and rural clinics and compared to persons without diabetes matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status (n = 356). We used interviewer-administered questionnaires to estimate direct costs (outpatient, inpatient, medication, laboratory, and procedures) and indirect costs [absence from (absenteeism) or low productivity at (presenteeism) work]. Excess costs were calculated as the difference between costs reported by persons with and without diabetes and compared across settings. Regression analyses were used to separately identify factors associated with total direct and indirect costs.ResultsAnnual excess direct costs were highest amongst private clinic attendees (INR 19 552, US$425) and lowest amongst government clinic attendees (INR 1204, US$26.17). Private clinic attendees had the lowest excess absenteeism (2.36 work days/year) and highest presenteeism (0.06 work days/year) due to diabetes. Government clinic attendees reported the highest absenteeism (7.48 work days/year) and lowest presenteeism (−0.31 work days/year). Ten additional years of diabetes duration was associated with 11% higher direct costs (p < 0.001). Older age (p = 0.02) and longer duration of diabetes (p < 0.001) were associated with higher total lost work days.ConclusionsExcess health expenditures and lost productivity amongst individuals with diabetes are substantial and different across care settings. Innovative solutions are needed to cope with diabetes and its associated cost burdens in India.
Antimicrobial Stewardship in Rhode Island Long-Term Care Facilities: Current Standings and Future Opportunities
Authors: Morrill Haley J. , Mermel Leonard A. , Baier Rosa R. , Alexander-Scott Nicole , Dosa David , Kavoosifar Sara , Reece Rebecca , LaPlante Kerry L. 
Published: May 2016

Our survey of antimicrobial stewardship practices among Rhode Island long-term care facilities demonstrated opportunities to develop formal programs. Results suggest infection preventionists are largely responsible for ensuring appropriate antibiotic use in long-term care facilities and there is a need for increased interdisciplinary access to individuals with antimicrobial stewardship expertise.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:979–982
Ecomorphological diversifications of Mesozoic marine reptiles: the roles of ecological opportunity and extinction
Authors: Stubbs Thomas L. , Benton Michael J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMesozoic marine ecosystems were dominated by several clades of reptiles, including sauropterygians, ichthyosaurs, crocodylomorphs, turtles, and mosasaurs, that repeatedly invaded ocean ecosystems. Previous research has shown that marine reptiles achieved great taxonomic diversity in the Middle Triassic, as they broadly diversified into many feeding modes in the aftermath of the Permo-Triassic mass extinction, but it is not known whether this initial phase of evolution was exceptional in the context of the entire Mesozoic. Here, we use a broad array of disparity, morphospace, and comparative phylogenetic analyses to test this. Metrics of ecomorphology, including functional disparity in the jaws and dentition and skull-size diversity, show that the Middle to early Late Triassic represented a time of pronounced phenotypic diversification in marine reptile evolution. Following the Late Triassic extinctions, diversity recovered, but disparity did not, and it took over 100 Myr for comparable variation to recover in the Campanian and Maastrichtian. Jurassic marine reptiles generally failed to radiate into vacated functional roles. The signatures of adaptive radiation are not seen in all marine reptile groups. Clades that diversified during the Triassic biotic recovery, the sauropterygians and ichthyosauromorphs, do show early diversifications, early high disparity, and early burst, while less support for these models is found in thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs and mosasaurs. Overall, the Triassic represented a special interval in marine reptile evolution, as a number of groups radiated into new adaptive zones.
Spectral Calibration Requirements of Radio Interferometers for Epoch of Reionisation Science with the SKA
Authors: Trott Cathryn M. , Wayth Randall B. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractSpectral features introduced by instrumental chromaticity of radio interferometers have the potential to negatively impact the ability to perform Epoch of Reionisation and Cosmic Dawn (EoR/CD) science. We describe instrument calibration choices that influence the spectral characteristics of the science data, and assess their impact on EoR/CD statistical and tomographic experiments. Principally, we consider the intrinsic spectral response of the antennas, embedded within a complete frequency-dependent primary beam response, and instrument sampling. The analysis is applied to the proposed SKA1-Low EoR/CD experiments. We provide tolerances on the smoothness of the SKA station primary beam bandpass, to meet the scientific goals of statistical and tomographic (imaging) of EoR/CD programs. Two calibration strategies are tested: (1) fitting of each fine channel independently, and (2) fitting of annth-order polynomial for each ~ 1 MHz coarse channel with (n+1)th-order residuals (n= 2, 3, 4). Strategy (1) leads to uncorrelated power in the 2D power spectrum proportional to the thermal noise power, thereby reducing the overall sensitivity. Strategy (2) leads to correlated residuals from the fitting, and residual signal power with (n+1)th-order curvature. For the residual power to be less than the thermal noise, the fractional amplitude of a fourth-order term in the bandpass across a single coarse channel must be < 2.5% (50 MHz), < 0.5% (150 MHz), < 0.8% (200 MHz). The tomographic experiment places constraints on phase residuals in the bandpass. We find that the root-mean-square variability over all stations of the change in phase across any fine channel (4.578 kHz) should not exceed 0.2 degrees.
A Large-Scale, Low-Frequency Murchison Widefield Array Survey of Galactic H ii Regions between 260 < l < 340
Authors: Hindson L. , Johnston-Hollitt M. , Hurley-Walker N. , Callingham J. R. , Su H. , Morgan J. , Bell M. , Bernardi G. , Bowman J. D. , Briggs F. , Cappallo R. J. , Deshpande A. A. , Dwarakanath K. S. , For B.-Q , Gaensler B. M. , Greenhill L. J. , Hancock P. , Hazelton B. J. , Kapińska A. D. , Kaplan D. L. , Lenc E. , Lonsdale C. J. , Mckinley B. , McWhirter S. R. , Mitchell D. A. , Morales M. F. , Morgan E. , Oberoi D. , Offringa A. , Ord S. M. , Procopio P. , Prabu T. , Shankar N. Udaya , Srivani K. S. , Staveley-Smith L. , Subrahmanyan R. , Tingay S. J. , Wayth R. B. , Webster R. L. , Williams A. , Williams C. L. , Wu C. , Zheng Q. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe have compiled a catalogue of H ii regions detected with the Murchison Widefield Array between 72 and 231 MHz. The multiple frequency bands provided by the Murchison Widefield Array allow us identify the characteristic spectrum generated by the thermal Bremsstrahlung process in H ii regions. We detect 306 H ii regions between 260° < l < 340° and report on the positions, sizes, peak, integrated flux density, and spectral indices of these H ii regions. By identifying the point at which H ii regions transition from the optically thin to thick regime, we derive the physical properties including the electron density, ionised gas mass, and ionising photon flux, towards 61 H ii regions. This catalogue of H ii regions represents the most extensive and uniform low frequency survey of H ii regions in the Galaxy to date.
Bomb Radiocarbon and the Hawaiian Archipelago: Coral, Otoliths, and Seawater
Authors: Andrews Allen H , Siciliano Daria , Potts Donald C , DeMartini Edward E , Covarrubias Stephannie 
Published: May 2016

AbstractCorals of the Hawaiian Archipelago are well situated in the North Pacific Gyre (NPG) to record how bomb-produced radiocarbon has been sequestered and transported by the sea. While this signal can be traced accurately through time in reef-building corals and used to infer oceanographic processes and determine the ages of marine organisms, a comprehensive and validated record has been lacking for the Hawaiian Archipelago. In this study, a coral core from Kure Atoll in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands was used to create a high-resolution bomb 14C record for the years 1939–2002, and was then used with other 14C measurements in fish otoliths and seawater to explore differences and similarities in the bomb 14C signal throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago. The Kure Atoll sample series produced a well-defined bomb 14C curve that, with some exceptions, was similar to other coral 14C records from the Hawaiian Archipelago. Subtle differences in the coral 14C records across the region may be explained by the large-scale ocean circulation patterns and decadal cycles of the NPG. The most rapid increase of 14C, in the 1950s and 1960s, showed similar timing across the Hawaiian Archipelago and provides a robust basis for use of bomb 14C dating to obtain high-precision age determinations of marine organisms. Reference otoliths of juvenile fish demonstrated the use of the post-peak 14C decline period as a viable reference in the age validation of younger and more recently collected fishes, and effectively extended the utility of bomb 14C dating to the latest 30 yr.
Glutamate ameliorates copper-induced oxidative injury by regulating antioxidant defences in fish intestine
Authors: Jiang Jun , Wu Xiao-Yun , Zhou Xiao-Qiu , Feng Lin , Liu Yang , Jiang Wei-Dan , Wu Pei , Zhao Ye 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe objective of this study was to determine the protective effect of glutamate (Glu) in Cu-induced oxidative injury in fish intestine in vivo and enterocytes in vitro. The results indicated that exposure to 6 mg/l Cu for 72 h induced the production of reactive oxygen species, thereby increasing protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation in enterocytes of grass carp in vitro. Cells exposed to Cu alone resulted in a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase release, which is accompanied by depletions of antioxidants, including total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), anti-superoxide anion (ASA), anti-hydroxy radical (AHR) activities and GSH content. Pre-treatment with Glu remarkably prevented the toxic effects of Cu on the T-SOD, GST, GR, AHR, and ASA activities and GSH content in enterocytes. However, Cu induced an adaptive increase in the activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Glu supplementation further increased GPx activity in enterocytes. Interestingly, the experiment in vivo showed that Glu pre-supplementation significantly elevated SOD, GPx, GST, GR, ASA and AHR activities, as well as GSH content. Further results showed that pre-treatment with Glu could alleviate Cu-induced oxidative injury by elevating antioxidant enzyme activities through regulating the expression of NF-E2-related nuclear factor 2 (Nrf2) mRNA. Together, these results indicated that Glu could attenuate Cu-induced cellular oxidative damage in fish intestine, likely mediated through Nrf2 signalling pathways regulating mRNA expressions of antioxidant enzyme genes and synthesis of GSH.
Effect of vitamin D supplementation, directly or via breast milk for term infants, on serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D and related biochemistry, and propensity to infection: a randomised placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Chandy David D. , Kare Jahnavi , Singh Shakal N. , Agarwal Anjoo , Das Vinita , Singh Urmila , Ramesh V. , Bhatia Vijayalakshmi 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe assessed the effect of vitamin D supplementation on related biochemistry, infection and dentition of the infant. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in Lucknow, India (latitude 26°N), 230 mother –newborn pairs were randomised to receive, for 9 months, 3000µg/month oral vitamin D3 by the mother (group A) or 10µg/d by the infant (group B) or double placebo (group C). All babies received 15 min of sun exposure (unclothed) during massage. Infants’ median 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was lower in group C (median 45·3; interquartile range (IQR) 22–59·5 nmol/l) than in groups A (median 60·8; IQR 41·3–80·5 nmol/l (P<0·01)) and B (median 61·3; IQR 41·3–75·3 nmol/l (P<0·05)) at 3·5 months. Infant 25(OH)D correlated negatively with infant parathyroid hormone (r −0·46, P<0·01). Elevated alkaline phosphatase (>7.5µkat/l) was significantly more frequent in group C babies (16 %) than in group A (4 %) or group B (0 %) babies. The number of days with respiratory or diarrhoeal infection by 9 months of age was higher in group C (median 46·5; IQR 14·8–73·3 d) than in group A (median 18·5; IQR 8·8–31·0 d (P<0·01)) or group B (median 13·0; IQR 7·0–28·5 (P<0·05)). We conclude that monthly maternal or daily infant supplementation with vitamin D along with sun exposure is superior to sun exposure alone in maintaining normal infant 25(OH)D at 3·5 months, and provide protection from elevated alkaline phosphatase and infectious morbidity.
Skeletal effect of casein and whey protein intake during catch-up growth in young male Sprague–Dawley rats
Authors: Masarwi Majdi , Gabet Yankel , Dolkart Oleg , Brosh Tamar , Shamir Raanan , Phillip Moshe , Gat-Yablonski Galia 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to determine whether the type of protein ingested influences the efficiency of catch-up (CU) growth and bone quality in fast-growing male rats. Young male Sprague–Dawley rats were either fed ad libitum (controls) or subjected to 36 d of 40 % food restriction followed by 24 or 40 d of re-feeding with either standard rat chow or iso-energetic, iso-protein diets containing milk proteins – casein or whey. In terms of body weight, CU growth was incomplete in all study groups. Despite their similar food consumption, casein-re-fed rats had a significantly higher body weight and longer humerus than whey-re-fed rats in the long term. The height of the epiphyseal growth plate (EGP) in both casein and whey groups was greater than that of rats re-fed normal chow. Microcomputed tomography yielded significant differences in bone microstructure between the casein and whey groups, with the casein-re-fed animals having greater cortical thickness in both the short and long term in addition to a higher trabecular bone fraction in the short term, although this difference disappeared in the long term. Mechanical testing confirmed the greater bone strength in rats re-fed casein. Bone quality during CU growth significantly depends on the type of protein ingested. The higher EGP in the casein- and whey-re-fed rats suggests a better growth potential with milk-based diets. These results suggest that whey may lead to slower bone growth with reduced weight gain and, as such, may serve to circumvent long-term complications of CU growth.
Individual differences in the distribution of sperm acrosome-associated 1 proteins among male patients of infertile couples; their possible impact on outcomes of conventional in vitro fertilization
Authors: Kishida K. , Harayama H. , Kimura F. , Murakami T. 
Published: May 2016

SummaryThe aims of this study were to show the existence of individual differences in the distribution of sperm acrosome-associated 1 (SPACA1) among male patients of infertile couples and to examine their possible impact on the outcomes of conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). The spermatozoa were collected from male patients of infertile couples, washed by centrifugation, collected by the swim-up method, and then used for clinical treatments of conventional IVF. The surplus sperm samples were fixed and stained with an anti-SPACA1 polyclonal antibody for the immunocytochemistry. In the clinical IVF treatments, fertilization rates and blastocyst development rates were evaluated. The immunocytochemical observations revealed that SPACA1 were localized definitely in the acrosomal equatorial segment and variedly in the acrosomal principal segment. Specifically, the detection patterns of SPACA1 in the acrosomal principal segment could be classified into three categories: (A) strong, (B) intermediate or faint, and (C) almost no immunofluorescence. The SPACA1 indexes were largely different among male patients with the wide range from 13 to 199 points. The SPACA1 indexes were significantly correlated with developmental rates of embryos to blastocysts (r = 0.829, P = 0.00162), although they were barely associated with fertilization rates at 19 h after insemination (r = 0.289, P = 0.389). These results suggest that the distribution of SPACA1 in sperm affects the outcomes of conventional IVF. In conclusion, this study provides initial data to promote large-scale clinical investigation to demonstrate that the SPACA1 indexes are valid as molecular biomarkers that can predict the effectiveness of conventional IVF of infertile couples.
Terminal alpha-d-mannosides are critical during sea urchin gastrulation
Authors: Aleksanyan Heghush , Liang Jing , Metzenberg Stan , Oppenheimer Steven B. 
Published: May 2016

SummaryThe sea urchin embryo is a United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) designated model system to study mechanisms that may be involved in human health and disease. In order to examine the importance of high-mannose glycans and polysaccharides in gastrulation,Lytechinus pictusembryos were incubated with Jack bean α-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24), an enzyme that cleaves terminal mannose residues that have α1–2-, α1–3-, or α1–6-glycosidic linkages. The enzyme treatment caused a variety of morphological deformations in living embryos, even with α-mannosidase activities as low as 0.06 U/ml. Additionally, formaldehyde-fixed, 48-hour-oldL. pictusembryos were microdissected and it was demonstrated that the adhesion of the tip of the archenteron to the roof of the blastocoelin vitrois abrogated by treatment with α-mannosidase. These results suggest that terminal mannose residues are involved in the adhesion between the archenteron and blastocoel roof, perhaps through a lectin-like activity that is not sensitive to fixation.
Comparison of image-based three-dimensional treatment planning using AcurosTM BV and AAPM TG-43 algorithm for intracavitary brachytherapy of carcinoma cervix
Authors: Sinnatamby Mourougan , Nagarajan Vivekanandan , Reddy K S. , Karunanidhi Gunaseelan , Singhavajala Vivekanandam 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAimTo compare the image-based three-dimensional treatment planning using AcurosTM BV and AAPM TG-43 algorithm for intracavitary brachytherapy of carcinoma cervix.Materials and methodsTwenty-seven patients with cancer cervix, stage IIB or IIIB with vaginal involvement limited to the upper third of the vagina was included into the study. Intracavitary treatments with the patient in this study done with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging compatible ring applicator. Groupe European de Curietherapie and European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology recommended doses to target volumes and organs at risk compared using dose volume histogram.ResultsThe mean value of Point ‘A’ dose was compared between AcurosTM BV and TG-43, which indicates 0·13% difference. The differences in the mean dose to gross tumour volume for various volumes are V100% 0·28%, V150% 1·22% and V200% 1·03%; all volumes showed small difference but statistical significant (p<0·05). The mean dose of high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) D90 using AcurosTM BV was 8·47 Gy, which was 1·63% less compared with TG-43. The mean point A dose using AcurosTM BV is 1·04 times the dose to D90 of mean HRCTV. The same difference was observed in comparison with TG43. D2cc and D0·1cc of the bladder, rectum and sigmoid showed a statistically significant difference (p<0·05) in comparison with TG-43.ConclusionThe differences in dosimetric parameters between the AcurosTM BV and TG-43 proved to be statistically significant. The difference is very small, and they are clinically insignificant.
Biological and physical controls in the Southern Ocean on past millennial-scale atmospheric CO2 changes
Authors: Gottschalk Julia , Skinner Luke C. , Lippold Jörg , Vogel Hendrik , Frank Norbert , Jaccard Samuel L. , Waelbroeck Claire 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMillennial-scale climate changes during the last glacial period and deglaciation were accompanied by rapid changes in atmospheric CO2 that remain unexplained. While the role of the Southern Ocean as a 'control valve' on ocean–atmosphere CO2 exchange has been emphasized, the exact nature of this role, in particular the relative contributions of physical (for example, ocean dynamics and air–sea gas exchange) versus biological processes (for example, export productivity), remains poorly constrained. Here we combine reconstructions of bottom-water [O2], export production and 14C ventilation ages in the sub-Antarctic Atlantic, and show that atmospheric CO2 pulses during the last glacial- and deglacial periods were consistently accompanied by decreases in the biological export of carbon and increases in deep-ocean ventilation via southern-sourced water masses. These findings demonstrate how the Southern Ocean's 'organic carbon pump' has exerted a tight control on atmospheric CO2, and thus global climate, specifically via a synergy of both physical and biological processes.