bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Associations of behavioural risk factors and health status with changes in physical capability over 10 years of follow-up: the MRC National Survey of Health and Development
Authors: Cooper Rachel , Muniz-Terrera Graciela , Kuh Diana 
Published: April 2016

Objectives(1) To describe changes in objective measures of physical capability between ages 53 and 60–64 years; (2) to investigate the associations of behavioural risk factors (obesity, physical inactivity, smoking) and number of health conditions (range 0–4: hand osteoarthritis (OA); knee OA; severe respiratory symptoms; other disabling or life-threatening conditions (ie, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes)) at age 53 years with these changes.DesignNationally representative prospective birth cohort study.SettingEngland, Scotland and Wales.ParticipantsUp to 2093 men and women from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, who have been followed-up since birth in 1946, and underwent physical capability assessments performed by nurses following standard protocols in 1999 and 2006–2010.Main outcome measuresGrip strength and chair rise speed were assessed at ages 53 and 60–64 years. Four categories of change in grip strength and chair rise speed were identified: decline, stable high, stable low, a reference group who maintained physical capability within a ‘normal’ range.ResultsLess healthy behavioural risk scores and an increase in the number of health conditions experienced were associated in a stepwise fashion with increased risk of decline in physical capability, and also of having low levels at baseline and remaining low. For example, the sex and mutually adjusted relative-risk ratios (95% CI) of being in the stable low versus reference category of chair rise speed were 1.58 (1.35–1.86) and 1.97 (1.57–2.47) per 1 unit change in behavioural risk score and health indicator count, respectively.ConclusionsThese findings provide evidence of the associations of a range of modifiable factors with age-related changes in physical capability. They suggest the need to target multiple risk factors at least as early as mid-life when aiming to promote maintenance and prevent decline in physical capability in later life.
Examining mortality risk and rate of ageing among Polish Olympic athletes: a survival follow-up from 1924 to 2012
Authors: Lin Yuhui , Gajewski Antoni , Poznańska Anna 
Published: April 2016

ObjectivesPopulation-based studies have shown that an active lifestyle reduces mortality risk.Therefore, it has been a longstanding belief that individuals who engage in frequent exercise will experience a slower rate of ageing. It is uncertain whether this widely-accepted assumption holds for intense wear-and-tear. Here, using the 88 years survival follow-up data of Polish Olympic athletes, we report for the first time on whether frequent exercise alters the rate of ageing.DesignLongitudinal survival data of male elite Polish athletes who participated in the Olympic Games from year 1924 to 2010 were used. Deaths occurring before the end of World War II were excluded for reliable estimates.Setting and participantsRecruited male elite athletes N=1273 were preassigned to two categorical birth cohorts—Cohort I 1890–1919; Cohort II 1920–1959—and a parametric frailty survival analysis was conducted. An event-history analysis was also conducted to adjust for medical improvements from year 1920 onwards: Cohort II.ResultsOur findings suggest (1) in Cohort I, for every threefold reduction in mortality risk, the rate of ageing decelerates by 1%; (2) socioeconomic transitions and interventions contribute to a reduction in mortality risk of 29% for the general population and 50% for Olympic athletes; (3) an optimum benefit gained for reducing the rate of ageing from competitive sports (Cohort I 0.086 (95% CI 0.047 to 0.157) and Cohort II 0.085 (95% CI 0.050 to 0.144)).ConclusionsThis study further suggests that intensive physical training during youth should be considered as a factor to improve ageing and mortality risk parameters.
Effects of water supplemented with Saccharicterpenin and photosynthetic bacteria on egg production, egg quality, serum immunoglobulins, and digestive enzyme activities of ducks
Authors: Liu Jun , Zeng Tao , Du Xue , Li Guoqin , Yu Yongliang , Lu Lizhi , Li Chunmei 
Published: April 2016

We investigated the effects of water supplemented with Saccharicterpenin and photosynthetic bacteria (PSB) on egg production, egg quality, serum immunoglobulins, and digestive enzyme activities of Jinyun ducks. A total of 400 healthy Jinyun ducks (all aged 58 wk) were randomly allotted to five treatments, with four replicates per treatment and 20 ducks in each replicate. The animals were fed a standard diet for 15 d and the experimental diet for 55 d. Experimental design is as follows: negative-control group C1 was given no supplementation, and control group 2 was given pool water (PW) with added PSB but not Saccharicterpenin. Test groups T1, T2, and T3 were given the same amount of PSB in the PW and varying levels of Saccharicterpenin in drinking water. Results suggest that PSB combined with Saccharicterpenin had beneficial effects on the average egg weight, feed to egg ratio, laying rate, and amylase activity, but some bad effects on the yolk color score. Additionally, PSB alone can increase the average egg weight.
Establishing field stands of Russian dandelion (Taraxacum Kok-saghyz) from seed in southern Ontario, Canada
Authors: Moussavi A. , Cici S.Z.H. , Loucks C. , Van Acker R.C. 
Published: April 2016

Taraxacum Kok-saghyz (L.E. Rodin) (TKS) is a natural source of rubber. There is a rising interest in TKS establishment as a new crop in Ontario. Trials were conducted at Simcoe and Guelph, Ontario between 2013 and 2014 to explore the possibility of establishing TKS plants from seed in fields in Ontario. The effects of seeding depth, watering regimes, polymer, and covering mulch on the recruitment of TKS were explored. It was found that TKS displays very low field recruitment levels regardless of treatment. KNO3 did not have any significant effect on TKS seed germination. Seedling emergence was greatest when seeds were placed on the soil surface and decreased with increasing seeding depth. Two years of field experiments highlighted that TKS seedlings recruit better in moderate conditions when the temperature is optimum for TKS germination (warm but not hot, <25 °C). TKS seedlings recruited better at Simcoe (with a sandy soil type) than at Guelph (with a loamy soil type). Overall, however, field recruitment from seed was low (15% at best) and these results suggest that establishing TKS from seed in Ontario fields remains a challenge.
Targeting Carcinoembryonic Antigen with DNA Vaccination: On-Target Adverse Events Link with Immunologic and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: McCann Katy J. , Mander Ann , Cazaly Angelica , Chudley Lindsey , Stasakova Jana , Thirdborough Stephen M. , King Andrew , Lloyd-Evans Paul , Buxton Emily , Edwards Ceri , Halford Sarah , Bateman Andrew , O'Callaghan Ann , Clive Sally , Anthoney Alan , Jodrell Duncan I. , Weinschenk Toni , Simon Petra , Sahin Ugur , Thomas Gareth J. , Stevenson Freda K. , Ottensmeier Christian H. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Purpose: We have clinically evaluated a DNA fusion vaccine to target the HLA-A*0201–binding peptide CAP-1 from carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA605–613) linked to an immunostimulatory domain (DOM) from fragment C of tetanus toxin.
Experimental Design: Twenty-seven patients with CEA-expressing carcinomas were recruited: 15 patients with measurable disease (arm-I) and 12 patients without radiological evidence of disease (arm-II). Six intramuscular vaccinations of naked DNA (1 mg/dose) were administered up to week 12. Clinical and immunologic follow-up was up to week 64 or clinical/radiological disease.
Results: DOM-specific immune responses demonstrated successful vaccine delivery. All patients without measurable disease compared with 60% with advanced disease responded immunologically, while 58% and 20% expanded anti-CAP-1 CD8+ T cells, respectively. CAP-1–specific T cells were only detectable in the blood postvaccination but could also be identified in previously resected cancer tissue. The gastrointestinal adverse event diarrhea was reported by 48% of patients and linked to more frequent decreases in CEA (P &lt; 0.001) and improved global immunologic responses [anti-DOM responses of greater magnitude (P &lt; 0.001), frequency (P = 0.004), and duration] compared with patients without diarrhea. In advanced disease patients, decreases in CEA were associated with better overall survival (HR = 0.14, P = 0.017). CAP-1 peptide was detectable on MHC class I of normal bowel mucosa and primary colorectal cancer tissue by mass spectrometry, offering a mechanistic explanation for diarrhea through CD8+ T-cell attack.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that DNA vaccination is able to overcome peripheral tolerance in normal and tumor tissue and warrants testing in combination studies, for example, by vaccinating in parallel to treatment with an anti-PD1 antibody. Clin Cancer Res; 22(19); 4827–36. ©2016 AACR.
Neovascularization Potential of Blood Outgrowth Endothelial Cells From Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Failure Is Preserved
Authors: Dauwe Dieter , Pelacho Beatriz , Wibowo Arief , Walravens Ann‐Sophie , Verdonck Kristoff , Gillijns Hilde , Caluwe Ellen , Pokreisz Peter , van Gastel Nick , Carmeliet Geert , Depypere Maarten , Maes Frederik , Vanden Driessche Nina , Droogne Walter , Van Cleemput Johan , Vanhaecke Johan , Prosper Felipe , Verfaillie Catherine , Luttun Aernout , Janssens Stefan 
Published: April 2016

Background

Blood outgrowth endothelial cells (
BOEC
s) mediate therapeutic neovascularization in experimental models, but outgrowth characteristics and functionality of
BOEC
s from patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (
ICMP
) are unknown. We compared outgrowth efficiency and in vitro and in vivo functionality of
BOEC
s derived from
ICMP
with
BOEC
s from age‐matched (
ACON
) and healthy young (
CON
) controls.

Methods and Results

We isolated 3.6±0.6
BOEC
colonies/100×10
6
mononuclear cells (
MNC
s) from 60‐mL blood samples of
ICMP
patients (n=45; age: 66±1 years;
LVEF
: 31±2%) versus 3.5±0.9 colonies/100×10
6
MNC
s in
ACON
(n=32; age: 60±1 years) and 2.6±0.4 colonies/100×10
6
MNC
s in
CON
(n=55; age: 34±1 years),
P
=0.29. Endothelial lineage (
VEGFR
2
+
/
CD
31
+
/
CD
146
+
) and progenitor (
CD
34
+
/
CD
133
−
) marker expression was comparable in
ICMP
and
CON
. Growth kinetics were similar between groups (
P
=0.38) and not affected by left ventricular systolic dysfunction, maladaptive remodeling, or presence of cardiovascular risk factors in
ICMP
patients. In vitro neovascularization potential, assessed by network remodeling on Matrigel and three‐dimensional spheroid sprouting, did not differ in
ICMP
from (A)
CON
. Secretome analysis showed a marked proangiogenic profile, with highest release of angiopoietin‐2 (1.4±0.3×10
5
pg/10
6
ICMP
‐
BOEC
s) and placental growth factor (5.8±1.5×10
3
pg/10
6
ICMP BOEC
s), independent of age or ischemic disease. Senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase staining showed comparable senescence in
BOEC
s from
ICMP
(5.8±2.1%; n=17),
ACON
(3.9±1.1%; n=7), and
CON
(9.0±2.8%; n=13),
P
=0.19. High‐resolution microcomputed tomography analysis in the ischemic hindlimb of nude mice confirmed increased arteriogenesis in the thigh region after intramuscular injections of
BOEC
s from
ICMP
(
P
=0.025; n=8) and
CON
(
P
=0.048; n=5) over vehicle control (n=8), both to a similar extent (
P=
0.831).

Conclusions

BOEC
s can be successfully culture‐expanded from patients with
ICMP
. In contrast to impaired functionality of
ICMP
‐derived bone marrow
MNC
s,
BOEC
s retain a robust proangiogenic profile, both in vitro and in vivo, with therapeutic potential for targeting ischemic disease.
Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Limits the Efficacy of Simvastatin Activating Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase
Authors: Hsu Chiao‐Po , Zhao Jin‐Feng , Lin Shing‐Jong , Shyue Song‐Kun , Guo Bei‐Chia , Lu Tse‐Min , Lee Tzong‐Shyuan 
Published: April 2016

Background
Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), is considered a risk factor for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Simvastatin, a lipid‐lowering drug with other pleiotropic effects, has been widely used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about the effect and underlying molecular mechanisms of ADMA on the effectiveness of simvastatin in the vascular system.

Methods and Results

We conducted a prospective cohort study to enroll 648 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease for a follow‐up period of 8 years. In patients with plasma ADMA level ≥0.49 μmol/L (a cut‐off value from receiver operating characteristic curve), statin treatment had no significant effect on cardiovascular events. We also conducted randomized, controlled studies using in vitro and in vivo models. In endothelial cells, treatment with ADMA (≥0.5 μmol/L) impaired simvastatin‐induced nitric oxide (NO) production, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation, and angiogenesis. In parallel, ADMA markedly increased the activity of NADPH oxidase (NOX) and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The detrimental effects of ADMA on simvastatin‐induced NO production and angiogenesis were abolished by the antioxidant,
N
‐acetylcysteine, NOX inhibitor, or apocynin or overexpression of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDAH‐2). Moreover, in vivo, ADMA administration reduced Matrigel plug angiogenesis in wild‐type mice and decreased simvastatin‐induced eNOS phosphorylation in aortas of apolipoprotein E–deficient mice, but not endothelial DDAH‐2‐overexpressed aortas.

Conclusions
We conclude that ADMA may trigger NOX‐ROS signaling, which leads to restricting the simvastatin‐conferred protection of eNOS activation, NO production, and angiogenesis as well as the clinical outcome of cardiovascular events.
The Kano ‘Mosque-Tower’ or ḥaṣūmiyā: The creation of a myth.
Authors: Leary Allan 
Published: April 2016

The paper concerns a widely held belief that the ‘great’ Kano ‘mosque-tower’ was of considerable age when demolished in 1938 and that it dated probably from the nineteenth century, or even earlier. Apart from brief references in the Kano Chronicle (kc), (and in another Kano ‘king-list’ published by Hunwick), to the building of a ḥaṣūmiyā and mosque,during the reign of the Kano ruler, Muḥammad Runfā, (1463–1499), post-Runfā references to mosque building in the kc do not mention a ‘great’ tower, nor do nineteenth-century European travellers’ accounts. It was not remarked on at the time of Lugard’s conquest of Kano in 1903.
Evidential sources are presented showing that the ‘Mosque-Tower’ was built under colonial influence around 1911/12. It was anathema to the ‘ulamā’, in the light of the recorded views of the Shēhu Uthmān ɗan Fodio, hence its ultimate demolition.
Aerosol–Stratocumulus–Radiation Interactions over the Southeast Pacific: Implications to the Underlying Air–Sea Coupling
Authors: Chen Guoxing , Wang Wei-Chyung 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Recently, Chen et al. used a combination of observations and WRF simulations to illustrate that the anthropogenic aerosol–cloud microphysics–radiation interactions over the southeast Pacific can potentially reduce the excessive shortwave radiation reaching the sea surface, a common bias identified in CMIP5 models. Here, with the aid of a mixed-layer ocean, the authors further study the implications of the shortwave radiation reduction to the underlying air–sea coupling, focusing on the SST sensitivity to the changes. Results show that responses of the air–sea coupling include two negative feedbacks (a large decrease in the latent heat flux and a small decrease in the sensible heat flux, both associated with the surface cooling) and a positive feedback (an increase in the cloud cover, caused by the increase in the relative humidity within the boundary layer, especially during the daytime). The 0.1°C (W m−2)−1 SST sensitivity is about half that documented in CMIP5 models. In addition, an effective daytime cloud fraction weighted with the solar diurnal cycle is proposed to facilitate diagnosing the intensity of cloud–radiation interactions in general circulation models.
On the Relative Contribution of Inertia–Gravity Wave Radiation to Asymmetric Instabilities in Tropical Cyclone–like Vortices
Authors: Menelaou Konstantinos , Schecter David A. , Yau M. K. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Intense atmospheric vortices such as tropical cyclones experience various asymmetric instabilities during their life cycles. This study investigates how vortex properties and ambient conditions determine the relative importance of different mechanisms that can simultaneously influence the growth of an asymmetric perturbation. The focus is on three-dimensional disturbances of barotropic vortices with nonmonotonic radial distributions of potential vorticity. The primary modes of instability are examined for Rossby numbers between 10 and 100 and Froude numbers in the broad neighborhood of unity. This parameter regime is deemed appropriate for tropical cyclone perturbations with vertical length scales ranging from the depth of the vortex to moderately smaller scales. At relatively small Froude numbers, the main cause of instability inferred from analysis typically involves the interaction of vortex Rossby waves with each other and/or critical-layer potential vorticity perturbations. As the Froude number increases from its lower bound, the main cause of instability transitions to inertia–gravity wave radiation. In some cases, the transition occurs abruptly at a critical point where a mode whose growth is driven almost entirely by radiation suddenly becomes dominant. In other cases, the transition is gradual and less direct as the fastest-growing mode continuously changes its structure. Examination of the angular pseudomomentum budget helps quantify the impact of radiation. The radiation-driven instabilities examined herein are shown to be quite fast and potentially relevant to real-world tropical cyclones. Their sensitivities to parameterized moisture and outer vorticity skirts are briefly addressed.
Connecting a missing link between participation in administration and political participation: the mediating role of political efficacy
Authors: Oh Youngmin , Lim Seunghoo 
Published: April 2016

Public participation in administrative or political processes has been advocated as an important democratic reform by scholars and practitioners. Despite the importance of such public participation mechanisms, the relationship between participation in administration and political participation remains unexplored. This study aims to connect the missing link by empirically testing the mediating roles of political efficacy between two types of public participation. By connecting administrative and political participation through political efficacy, we intend to demonstrate that citizen participation in administration plays a pivotal role in remedying declining political participation. For the empirical tests, cross-sectional data from local jurisdictions in Korea were collected by survey questionnaires, and a series of Structural Equation Models are used to identify the causal relationships among these variables. The findings demonstrate that participation in administration influences political participation only through political efficacy, while the demand for participation in administration is connected to political participation either directly or through internal political efficacy. Conversely, political participation fosters participation in administration only through political efficacy. Given the empirical evidence, participation in administration and political participation reinforce each other, and political efficacy plays a critical role in mediating the two types of public participation. Points for practitioners Borrowing the concept of political efficacy, this study sheds theoretical light on a missing link between administrative and political participation. Practitioners need to realize that devising authentic administrative programs is a useful way to remedy waning democratic participation. Practitioners need to suggest many specific ideas on how to foster citizens’ political efficacy through public participation. By doing this, citizens could be politically awakened, which would lead to their increased participation. In this sense, this study is an initial step in exploring the possibility of democratic benefits produced by public participation mechanisms beyond the normative and instrumental benefits.
Genetic algorithm-based approach for optimizing the energy rating on existing buildings
Authors: Fresco Contreras Rafael , Moyano Juan , Rico Fernando 
Published: April 2016

The problem of improving the energy behaviour of existing buildings is a current topic of interest in scientific research. In recent years, Public Administrations have made an effort to introduce norms that help to reorient the tendency toward increasing energy consumption by buildings. To do so, manufacturers have developed numerous energy efficiency measures that have become widely extended. The main problem when selecting one or various measures is to identify the ones that will provide the best trade-off between services and implementation costs. This paper presents a study focused on implementing techniques for calculating the heating and cooling energy demand, along with genetic algorithm, to optimize the process of adjusting the building’s energy efficiency rating to a determined rating for existing building. The proposed optimization approach is applied to a real case to demonstrate its validity in a real-world situation. Practical application: This paper presents an innovative method for the building energy retrofit process. By applying a simple genetic algorithm, the aim is to optimize the cost of intervening in an existing building by fixing the energy rating obtained at a given value . The practical potential of the method presented here is quite extensive, with its greatest exponent being its use by technicians who are unfamiliar with optimization processes. The application of this calculation methodology would simplify the study of projects in the phase of selecting energy-saving measures, given that there are currently many of them, with their independent characteristics, which makes the selection process a slow and ineffective task. In addition, the method’s intuitive interface and the fact that it is programmed in MS Excel make it an innovative method with great applicability in the field of building process optimization.