bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid infant weight gain and early childhood obesity in low-income Latinos and non-Latinos
Authors: Polk Sarah , Thornton Rachel Johnson , Caulfield Laura , Muñoz Alvaro 
Published: November 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the growth of infants and toddlers in a population that is both under-represented in the literature and at high risk for childhood obesity.DesignWeight and height measurements were extracted from all visits for a sample of 0–4-year-old, low-income, Latino and non-Latino patients of an urban, academic general paediatric practice. Early growth was characterized as change in weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ) from birth to 3 years. The outcome of interest was BMI Z-score (BMIZ) at age 3 years. Mixed-effects models and multivariate linear regression were used to analyse the association between infant growth and early childhood obesity.SettingBaltimore, MD, USA.SubjectsLatino (n 210) and non-Latino (n 253) children, born in 2003–2004.ResultsAn increase in WLZ from birth to 2 years was observed for this cohort as well as a high incidence of overweight and obesity. WLZ at birth and change in WLZ from birth to 2 years were both significantly and positively associated with increases in BMIZ at 3 years of age. The effect of the change in WLZ was twofold higher than the effect of WLZ at birth.ConclusionsAn increase in WLZ during the first 2 years of life increased the risk of early childhood obesity. Latino children had a higher incidence of early childhood obesity than non-Latino children in this low-income sample.
Attitudes to statistics in primary health care physicians, Qassim province
Authors: Jahan Saulat , Al-Saigul Abdullah Mohammed , Suliman Amel Abdalrhim 
Published: November 2015

AimTo investigate primary health care (PHC) physicians’ attitudes to statistics, their self-reported knowledge level, and their perceived training needs in statistics.BackgroundIn spite of realization of the importance of statistics, inadequacies in physicians’ knowledge and skills have been found, underscoring the need for in-service training. Understanding physicians’ attitudes to statistics is vital in planning statistics training.MethodsThe study was based on theory of planned behavior. A cross-sectional survey of all PHC physicians was conducted in Qassim province, from August to October 2014. Attitudes to statistics were determined by a self-administered questionnaire. The attitudes were assessed on four subscales including general perceptions; perceptions of knowledge and training; perceptions of statistics and evidence-based medicine; and perceptions of future learning.FindingsOf 416 eligible participants, 338 (81.25%) responded to the survey. On a scale of 1–10, the majority (73.6%) of the participants self-assessed their level of statistics knowledge as five or below. The attitude scores could have a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 100, with higher scores showing a positive attitude. The participants showed a positive attitude with the mean score of 71.14 (±7.73). Out of the four subscales, ‘perceptions of statistics and evidence-based medicine’ subscale scored the highest, followed by ‘perceptions of future learning’.ConclusionPHC physicians have a positive attitude to statistics. However, they realize their gaps in knowledge in statistics, and are keen to fill these gaps. Statistics training, resulting in improved statistics knowledge is expected to lead to clinical care utilizing evidence-based medicine, and thus improvement to health care services.
Young clinicians dealing with death: Problems and opportunities
Authors: Nissen Kathrine G. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractObjective:The formation of a strong bond between patients and therapists can lead to successful treatment outcomes. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms that function to control this relationship. The objective of this case report was to examine the ruptures and repairs in the working alliance between a young therapist and an elderly caregiver, and to suggest ways in which to deal with age-related challenges to such an alliance.Method:In order to examine the ruptures and repairs in a working alliance, this case report reflects on the interdependent relationship among therapist variables, patient variables, and the therapeutic alliance. The clinical experience presented describes a newly educated psychologist's struggles to overcome the challenges in forming a strong working alliance with an elderly dying cancer patient's spouse. The spouse was enrolled in the DOMUS study (Clinicaltrials.gov: NTC01885637), an ongoing randomized controlled trial of a patient-and-caregiver intervention for facilitating the transition from an oncology ward to palliative at-home care, and then bereavement. As part of the DOMUS study, the patient and spouse received a psychological intervention based on existential-phenomenological therapy.Results:A therapist's therapeutic approach to breaking down age-related barriers to communication matters greatly. The existential-phenomenological method of epoché offers a way to effectively address ruptures and repairs in a working alliance, as it enhances the therapist's openness to learning. In addition, the insights of senior supervisors can promote a therapist's openness to learning.Significance of results:In conclusion, the method of epoché benefits the working alliance in several ways, as it enhances personal insight and provides methods for repairing an alliance. The reflections in this paper may be applied to clinical settings in oncology, gerontology, and palliative care, which are likely to be of great interest to young clinicians experiencing age-related challenges in their daily work.
Threshold voltage-level change in ASK demodulator related to RF input signal amplitude for the ultra-high frequency RFID passive tag
Authors: Dastanian Rezvan , Abiri Ebrahim , Taherinia Khadije 
Published: November 2015

In this paper, an amplitude shift keying (ASK) demodulator with 100% modulation depth is proposed. In order to achieve the higher power and wider reading range the designed ASK demodulator works in the ultra-high frequency. In this design, the average detector and voltage divider are used in order to define the appropriate threshold voltage level for the radio frequency input signal which leads to the accurate data detecting even at long distances between the tag and reader. In addition, for diminishing the power dissipation of the proposed demodulator, an enable input is used in the buffer and comparator. This circuit is simulated in 0.18 μm complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) technology with Cadence software. Its power dissipation and chip area are 3.9 nW and 0.0025 mm2, respectively.
The Slave Trade and the Right of Visit Under the Law of the Sea Convention: Exploitation in the Fishing Industry in New Zealand and Thailand
Authors: MACFARLANE Douglas 
Published: November 2015

AbstractSevere exploitation of vulnerable persons is occurring in fishing industries globally. An overview of exploitation in New Zealand and Thailand highlights the incentive for states to downplay exploitation and underpins the appeal of a right of visit, which is provided for under the Law of the Sea Convention in regards to the slave trade. Although reported as forced labour, debt bondage, or human trafficking, an examination of international jurisprudence reveals that current practices likely amount to slavery; primarily due to the inherent vulnerability of persons at sea. Two persuasive cases, Kunarac and Tang, provide guidance on interpreting the definition of slavery, particularly “the powers attaching to the rights of ownership”. The operation of a right of visit is considered against the law of the sea regime, as are the implications in the light of international attempts to control IUU fishing.
Single living cell manipulation and identification using microsystems technologies
Authors: Stiharu Ion , Alazzam Anas , Nerguizian Vahé , Roman Dacian 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe paper presents the principles and the results of the implementation of dielectrophoresis for separation and identification of rare cells such as circulation tumor cells (CTCs) from diluted blood specimens in media and further label-free identification of the origins of separated cells using radio-frequency (RF) imaging. The separation and the identification units use same fabrication methods which enable system integration on the same platform. The designs use the advantage of higher surface volume ratio which represents the particular feature for micro- and nanotechnologies. Diluted blood in solution of sucrose–dextrose 1–10 is used for cell separation that yields more than 95.3% efficiency. For enhanced sensitivity in identification, RF imaging is performed in 3.5–1 solution of glycerol and trypsin. Resonance cavity performance method is used to determine the constant permittivity of the cell lines. The results illustrated by the signature of specific cells subjected to RF imaging suggest a reliable label-free single cell detection method for identification of the type of CTC.
AF4 uses the SL1 components of RNAP1 machinery to initiate MLL fusion- and AEP-dependent transcription
Authors: Okuda Hiroshi , Kanai Akinori , Ito Shinji , Matsui Hirotaka , Yokoyama Akihiko 
Published: November 2015

AbstractGene rearrangements generate MLL fusion genes, which can lead to aggressive leukemia. In most cases, MLL fuses with a gene encoding a component of the AEP (AF4 family/ENL family/P-TEFb) coactivator complex. MLL–AEP fusion proteins constitutively activate their target genes to immortalize haematopoietic progenitors. Here we show that AEP and MLL–AEP fusion proteins activate transcription through selectivity factor 1 (SL1), a core component of the pre-initiation complex (PIC) of RNA polymerase I (RNAP1). The pSER domain of AF4 family proteins associates with SL1 on chromatin and loads TATA-binding protein (TBP) onto the promoter to initiate RNA polymerase II (RNAP2)-dependent transcription. These results reveal a previously unknown transcription initiation mechanism involving AEP and a role for SL1 as a TBP-loading factor in RNAP2-dependent gene activation.
Migration and horizontal gene transfer divide microbial genomes into multiple niches
Authors: Niehus Rene , Mitri Sara , Fletcher Alexander G. , Foster Kevin R. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractHorizontal gene transfer is central to microbial evolution, because it enables genetic regions to spread horizontally through diverse communities. However, how gene transfer exerts such a strong effect is not understood. Here we develop an eco-evolutionary model and show how genetic transfer, even when rare, can transform the evolution and ecology of microbes. We recapitulate existing models, which suggest that asexual reproduction will overpower horizontal transfer and greatly limit its effects. We then show that allowing immigration completely changes these predictions. With migration, the rates and impacts of horizontal transfer are greatly increased, and transfer is most frequent for loci under positive natural selection. Our analysis explains how ecologically important loci can sweep through competing strains and species. In this way, microbial genomes can evolve to become ecologically diverse where different genomic regions encode for partially overlapping, but distinct, ecologies. Under these conditions ecological species do not exist, because genes, not species, inhabit niches.
Cavity quantum electrodynamics with ferromagnetic magnons in a small yttrium-iron-garnet sphere
Authors: Zhang Dengke , Wang Xin-Ming , Li Tie-Fu , Luo Xiao-Qing , Wu Weidong , Nori Franco , You JQ 
Published: November 2015

AbstractHybridizing collective spin excitations and a cavity with high cooperativity provides a new research subject in the field of cavity quantum electrodynamics and can also have potential applications to quantum information. Here we report an experimental study of cavity quantum electrodynamics with ferromagnetic magnons in a small yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) sphere at both cryogenic and room temperatures. We observe for the first time a strong coupling of the same cavity mode to both a ferromagnetic-resonance (FMR) mode and a magnetostatic (MS) mode near FMR in the quantum limit. This is achieved at a temperature ~22 mK, where the average microwave photon number in the cavity is less than one. At room temperature, we also observe strong coupling of the cavity mode to the FMR mode in the same YIG sphere and find a slight increase of the damping rate of the FMR mode. These observations reveal the extraordinary robustness of the FMR mode against temperature. However, the MS mode becomes unobservable at room temperature in the measured transmission spectrum of the microwave cavity containing the YIG sphere. Our numerical simulations show that this is due to a drastic increase of the damping rate of the MS mode.
Silicon nanowire and carbon nanotube hybrid for room temperature multiwavelength light source
Authors: Lo Faro Maria Josè , D’Andrea Cristiano , Messina Elena , Fazio Barbara , Musumeci Paolo , Reitano Riccardo , Franzò Giorgia , Gucciardi Pietro Giuseppe , Vasi Cirino , Priolo Francesco , Iacona Fabio , Irrera Alessia 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe realization of an innovative hybrid light source operating at room temperature, obtained by embedding a carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersion inside a Si nanowire (NW) array is reported. The NW/CNT system exhibits a peculiar photoluminescence spectrum, consisting of a wide peak, mainly observed in the visible range, due to quantum confined Si NWs and of several narrower IR peaks, due to the different CNT chiralities present in the dispersion. The detailed study of the optical properties of the hybrid system evidences that the ratio between the intensity of the visible and the IR emissions can be varied within a wide range by changing the excitation wavelength or the CNT concentration; the conditions leading to the prevalence of one signal with respect to the other are identified. The multiplicity of emission spectra obtainable from this composite material opens new perspectives for Si nanostructures as active medium in light sources for Si photonics applications.
Mesoporous Silica Gel–Based Mixed Matrix Membranes for Improving Mass Transfer in Forward Osmosis: Effect of Pore Size of Filler
Authors: Lee Jian-Yuan , Wang Yining , Tang Chuyang Y. , Huo Fengwei 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe efficiency of forward osmosis (FO) process is generally limited by the internal concentration polarization (ICP) of solutes inside its porous substrate. In this study, mesoporous silica gel (SG) with nominal pore size ranging from 4–30 nm was used as fillers to prepare SG-based mixed matrix substrates. The resulting mixed matrix membranes had significantly reduced structural parameter and enhanced membrane water permeability as a result of the improved surface porosity of the substrates. An optimal filler pore size of ~9 nm was observed. This is in direct contrast to the case of thin film nanocomposite membranes, where microporous nanoparticle fillers are loaded to the membrane rejection layer and are designed in such a way that these fillers are able to retain solutes while allowing water to permeate through them. In the current study, the mesoporous fillers are designed as channels to both water and solute molecules. FO performance was enhanced at increasing filler pore size up to 9 nm due to the lower hydraulic resistance of the fillers. Nevertheless, further increasing filler pore size to 30 nm was accompanied with reduced FO efficiency, which can be attributed to the intrusion of polymer dope into the filler pores.
Diet composition, not calorie intake, rapidly alters intrinsic excitability of hypothalamic AgRP/NPY neurons in mice
Authors: Wei Wei , Pham Kevin , Gammons Jesse W. , Sutherland Daniel , Liu Yanyun , Smith Alana , Kaczorowski Catherine C. , O’Connell Kristen M.S. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractObesity is a chronic condition resulting from a long-term pattern of poor diet and lifestyle. Long-term consumption of high-fat diet (HFD) leads to persistent activation and leptin resistance in AgRP neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH). Here, for the first time, we demonstrate acute effects of HFD on AgRP neuronal excitability and highlight a critical role for diet composition. In parallel with our earlier finding in obese, long-term HFD mice, we found that even brief HFD feeding results in persistent activation of ARH AgRP neurons. However, unlike long-term HFD-fed mice, AgRP neurons from short-term HFD-fed mice were still leptin-sensitive, indicating that the development of leptin-insensitivity is not a prerequisite for the increased firing rate of AgRP neurons. To distinguish between diet composition, caloric intake and body weight, we compared acute and long-term effects of HFD and CD in pair-fed mice on AgRP neuronal spiking. HFD consumption in pair-fed mice resulted in a significant increase in AgRP neuronal spiking despite controls for weight gain and caloric intake. Taken together, our results suggest that diet composition may be more important than either calorie intake or body weight for electrically remodeling arcuate AgRP/NPY neurons.
Space resource utilisation: a novel indicator to quantify species competitive ability for light
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Zhou Xiaolong , Li Junyong , Guo Zhi , Du Guozhen 
Published: November 2015

AbstractSpecies richness and productivity are two fundamental aspects of ecosystems. As a result, the relationship between species richness and productivity has been widely studied. A series of fertilisation experiments in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau were performed to study the relationship between species richness and productivity. In this paper, we present a novel indicator, i.e., space resource utilisation (SRU), which is calculated by a volume formula (Vi =  hi· Si; hi = plant height of species i, Si = quadrat area × percent cover of species i). SRU more fully reflected species competitive ability for light in both horizontal and vertical dimensions compared with plant height and cover. We used this novel indicator to investigate the effects of SRU on the changes in species richness and productivity following fertilisation. We found that the SRU of the community was correlated with increasing productivity and decreasing species richness following fertilisation and was a better predictor of species richness than productivity. The changes in SRU following fertilisation vary among species. These results demonstrate that SRU can be a more useful tool in explaining plant biodiversity loss and predicting the fate of different species than each of height, cover and productivity.
Characterizing Types of Human Mobility to Inform Differential and Targeted Malaria Elimination Strategies in Northeast Cambodia
Authors: Peeters Grietens Koen , Gryseels Charlotte , Dierickx Susan , Bannister-Tyrrell Melanie , Trienekens Suzan , Uk Sambunny , Phoeuk Pisen , Suon Sokha , Set Srun , Gerrets René , Hoibak Sarah , Muela Ribera Joan , Hausmann-Muela Susanna , Tho Sochantha , Durnez Lies , Sluydts Vincent , d’Alessandro Umberto , Coosemans Marc , Erhart Annette 
Published: November 2015

AbstractHuman population movements currently challenge malaria elimination in low transmission foci in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Using a mixed-methods design, combining ethnography (n = 410 interviews), malariometric data (n = 4996) and population surveys (n = 824 indigenous populations; n = 704 Khmer migrants) malaria vulnerability among different types of mobile populations was researched in the remote province of Ratanakiri, Cambodia. Different structural types of human mobility were identified, showing differential risk and vulnerability. Among local indigenous populations, access to malaria testing and treatment through the VMW-system and LLIN coverage was high but control strategies failed to account for forest farmers’ prolonged stays at forest farms/fields (61% during rainy season), increasing their exposure (p = 0.002). The Khmer migrants, with low acquired immunity, active on plantations and mines, represented a fundamentally different group not reached by LLIN-distribution campaigns since they were largely unregistered (79%) and unaware of the local VMW-system (95%) due to poor social integration. Khmer migrants therefore require control strategies including active detection, registration and immediate access to malaria prevention and control tools from which they are currently excluded. In conclusion, different types of mobility require different malaria elimination strategies. Targeting mobility without an in-depth understanding of malaria risk in each group challenges further progress towards elimination.
Extreme lithium isotopic fractionation in three zircon standards (Plešovice, Qinghu and Temora)
Authors: Gao Yu-Ya , Li Xian-Hua , Griffin William L. , Tang Yan-Jie , Pearson Norman J. , Liu Yu , Chu Mei-Fei , Li Qiu-Li , Tang Guo-Qiang , O’Reilly Suzanne Y. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractTo understand the behavior of Li in zircon, we have analyzed the abundance and isotopic composition of Li in three zircon standards (Plešovice, Qinghu and Temora) widely used for microbeam analysis of U-Pb ages and O-Hf isotopes. We have mapped Li concentration ([Li]) on large grains, using a Cameca 1280HR Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (SIMS). All zircons have a rim 5–20 μm wide in which [Li] is 5 to 20 times higher than in the core. Up to ~20‰ isotopic fractionation is observed on a small scale in the rims of a single zircon grain. The measured δ7Li values range from –14.3 to 3.7‰ for Plešovice, –22.8 to 1.4‰ for Qinghu and –4.7 to 16.1‰ for Temora zircon. The [Li] and δ7Li are highly variable at the rims, but relatively homogenous in the cores of the grains. From zircon rim to core, [Li] decreases rapidly, while δ7Li increases, suggesting that the large isotopic variation of Li in zircons could be caused by diffusion. Our data demonstrate that homogeneous δ7Li in the cores of zircon can retain the original isotopic signatures of the magmas, while the bulk analysis of Li isotopes in mineral separates and in bulk-rock samples may produce misleading data.
MIG-seq: an effective PCR-based method for genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping using the next-generation sequencing platform
Authors: Suyama Yoshihisa , Matsuki Yu 
Published: November 2015

AbstractRestriction-enzyme (RE)-based next-generation sequencing methods have revolutionized marker-assisted genetic studies; however, the use of REs has limited their widespread adoption, especially in field samples with low-quality DNA and/or small quantities of DNA. Here, we developed a PCR-based procedure to construct reduced representation libraries without RE digestion steps, representingde novosingle-nucleotide polymorphism discovery and its genotyping using next-generation sequencing. Using multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers, thousands of genome-wide regions were amplified effectively from a wide variety of genomes, without prior genetic information. We demonstrated: 1) Mendelian gametic segregation of the discovered variants; 2) reproducibility of genotyping by checking its applicability for individual identification; and 3) applicability in a wide variety of species by checking standard population genetic analysis. This approach, called multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing, should be applicable to many marker-assisted genetic studies with a wide range of DNA qualities and quantities.