bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Infection Theory of Eclampsia Reevaluated
Authors: Ekwempu Christopher C. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTOne hundred eclamptic patients and an equal number of carefully observed parturient controls were investigated clinically, radiologically, hematological!)) and bacteriologically for evidence of infection on admission. At that time, 77% of the eclamptics, but none of the other group, were febrile (temperature > 38 C). Sepsis was evidently greater among the eclamptics than the controls. Significantly more eclamptic patients with fever had infections as well, compared to those who were nonfebrile. The association of fever and infection with eclampsia was so striking that the author speculates on the possibility of a cause‐and‐effect relationship.
Double‐Blind Comparison of Intravenously Injected Butorphanol and Meperidine in Parturients
Authors: Quilligan Edward J. , Keegan Kirk A. , Donahue Mary Jo 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTOne hundred women with moderate‐to‐very‐severe prepartum pain participated in a double‐blind study of intravenously injected butorphanol and meperidine that compared the analgesic properties, effect on the process of labor, condition of the newborn and the incidence of side effects associated with the two drugs. Cervical dilation, infant birth weight and Apgar scores were not significantly different between the test groups. The mean fetal heart rate for the butorphanol group was significantly faster than that of the meperidine group. Butorphanol provided significantly more analgesia than meperidine at 30 minutes and one hour after administration, based on pain intensity and pain relief scores. Some side effects, including sedation, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting and pain at the injection site, were reported for both drugs.
Child Spacing and Child Mortality Among Nigerian Igbos
Authors: Ebigbo P. O. , Chukudebelu W. O. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTUntil recently, a birth interval of at least two years was the norm in the Nigerian Igbo culture, a practice necessary for infant health and survival. A study of antenatal patients of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, shows that this cultural pattern has been disrupted by Westernization, urbanization and consumerism. The patients studied had an average of four pregnancies in five years. Roughly half of those conceived did not survive: 41% of the patients reported having lost at least one child. Modern family planning methods are urged as replacements for the abandoned traditional methods of child spacing.
Controlled release of clarithromycin from PLGA microspheres enhances bone regeneration in rabbit calvaria defects
Authors: Alenezi Ali , Naito Yoshihito , Terukina Takayuki , Prananingrum Widyasri , Jinno Yohei , Tagami Tatsuaki , Ozeki Tetsuya , Galli Silvia , Jimbo Ryo 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis study evaluated the sustained release effect of clarithromycin‐loaded in PLGA microspheres in a rabbit calvaria defect model. Four bone defects (ø5.0) were created in the calvaria of New Zealand White rabbits (n = 21, n = 7/time point). The defects were randomly designated to four groups. Group 1: No augmentation (sham), Group 2: beta‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP), Group 3: β‐TCP with 0.12 µg clarithromycin, and Group 4: β‐TCP with 6.12 µg PLGA microspheres loaded with 0.12 µg Clarithromycin. After 2, 4, and 12 weeks of healing, bone regeneration was evaluated using micro‐computed tomography (µCT) and histology. Clarithromycin release from PLGA microspheres revealed sustained release for around 4 weeks with ∼50% release during the first week. Histologically, new bone formation was evident at 2 and 4 weeks of healing in all groups and bone formation increased as a function of healing time. At 12 weeks, Group 4 showed significantly higher amount of newly formed bone compared to Group 1. The µCT showed that Group 4 expressed significantly higher bone formation compared to Group 1 at all time points. The in vivo findings showed that β‐TCP with clarithromycin‐loaded microspheres can enhance bone formation in bone defects. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 201–208, 2018.
Three rapidly convergent parareal solvers with application to time‐dependent PDEs with fractional Laplacian
Authors: Wu Shu‐Lin 
Published: January 2017

Time‐dependent PDEs with fractional Laplacian ( − Δ)α play a fundamental role in many fields and approximating ( − Δ)α usually leads to ODEs' system like u′(t) + Au(t) = g(t) with A = Qα, where
is a sparse symmetric positive definite matrix and α > 0 denotes the fractional order. The parareal algorithm is an ideal solver for this kind of problems, which is iterative and is characterized by two propagators
and
. The propagators
and
are respectively associated with large step size ΔT and small step size Δt, where ΔT = JΔt and J⩾2 is an integer. If we fix the
‐propagator to the Implicit‐Euler method and choose for
some proper Runge–Kutta (RK) methods, such as the second‐order and third‐order singly diagonally implicit RK methods, previous studies show that the convergence factors of the corresponding parareal solvers can satisfy
and
, where σ(A) is the spectrum of the matrix A. In this paper, we show that by choosing these two RK methods as the
‐propagator, the convergence factors can reach
, provided the one‐stage complex Rosenbrock method is used as the
‐propagator. If we choose for both
and
, the complex Rosenbrock method, we show that the convergence factor of the resulting parareal solver can also reach
. Numerical results are given to support our theoretical conclusions. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Importance of eIF2α phosphorylation as a protective mechanism against heat stress in mouse male germ cells
Authors: Yoon Jungbin , Park Kyosun , Hwang Deog Su , Rhee Kunsoo 
Published: January 2017

SUMMARYMammalian male germ cells are exceptionally labile to heat stress. A temporal arrest of translation is one immediate response to heat, which involves heat‐induced phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) to block the formation of the translational initiation complex. Here, we investigated the protective mechanisms against heat stress in mouse male germ cells. All known eIF2α kinases were expressed in lineage‐ and developmental stage‐specific manners in the testis; noteworthy was the presence of Gcn2 (General control nonderepressible 2 kinase) in spermatocytes of all seminiferous tubules. Multiple eIF2α kinases are likely activated upon heat stress in male germ cells. ISRIB (Integrated stress response inhibitor) was then used to determine the events downstream of eIF2α phosphorylation. ISRIB significantly reduced the rate of stress granule formation in spermatocytes at early‐stage (III‐IV) seminiferous tubules, and induced a number of apoptotic germ cells at late‐stage (XI‐XII) seminiferous tubules near the onset of meiosis. Thus, stress granule formation is a downstream event of eIF2α phosphorylation that may not directly protect cells from apoptosis, at least in spermatocytes of seminiferous tubules in early stages. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 84: 265–274, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
What does individual strength say about resistance training status?
Authors: Buckner Samuel L. , Mouser J. Grant , Jessee Matthew B. , Dankel Scott J. , Mattocks Kevin T. , Loenneke Jeremy P. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThe point at which an individual becomes resistance “trained” is not well defined in the literature. Some studies have defined training status as having engaged in consistent resistance training activities for a given period of time, whereas others base inclusion criteria on strength levels alone, or levels of strength in combination with training age/time. If the primary focus of a study is to examine adaptations in individuals with high levels of strength, then it may be appropriate to exclude the individuals who do not meet strength requirements. However, given the heterogeneity of the strength response to resistance training, strength cannot separate those who are “trained” from those who are “untrained.” We suggest that, when determining resistance training status, training age (time) and the modality of training (specificity) should be the primary criteria considered. Muscle Nerve 55: 455–457, 2017
Accuracy of competing‐risks model in screening for pre‐eclampsia by maternal factors and biomarkers at 11–13 weeks' gestation
Authors: O'Gorman N. , Wright D. , Poon L. C. , Rolnik D. L. , Syngelaki A. , Wright A. , Akolekar R. , Cicero S. , Janga D. , Jani J. , Molina F. S. , de Paco Matallana C. , Papantoniou N. , Persico N. , Plasencia W. , Singh M. , Nicolaides K. H. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo examine the diagnostic accuracy of a previously developed model for prediction of pre‐eclampsia (PE) by a combination of maternal factors and biomarkers at 11–13 weeks' gestation.MethodsThis was a prospective first‐trimester multicenter study of screening for PE in 8775 singleton pregnancies. A previously published algorithm was used for the calculation of patient‐specific risk of PE in each individual. The detection rates (DRs) and false‐positive rates (FPRs) for delivery with PE < 32, < 37 and ≥ 37 weeks were estimated and compared with those for the dataset used for development of the algorithm.ResultsIn the study population, 239 (2.7%) cases developed PE, of which 17 (0.2%), 59 (0.7%) and 180 (2.1%) developed PE < 32, < 37 and ≥ 37 weeks, respectively. With combined screening by maternal factors, mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index and serum placental growth factor, the DR was 100% (95% CI, 80–100%) for PE < 32 weeks, 75% (95% CI, 62–85%) for PE < 37 weeks and 43% (95% CI, 35–50%) for PE ≥ 37 weeks, at a 10% FPR. These DRs were similar to the estimated rates for the dataset used for development of the model: 89% (95% CI, 79–96%) for PE < 32 weeks, 75% (95% CI, 70–80%) for PE < 37 weeks and 47% (95% CI, 44–51%) for PE ≥ 37 weeks.ConclusionAssessment of a combination of maternal factors and biomarkers at 11–13 weeks provides effective first‐trimester screening for preterm PE. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Selective disturbance by elephants (Loxodonta africana) on eight tree species in a West African savannah
Authors: Hema Emmanuel M. , Barnes Richard F. W. , Di Vittorio Massimiliano , Luiselli Luca , Guenda Wendengoudi 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAfrican elephants (Loxodonta africana) are ecosystem engineers in African savannahs, but their role in the modifications of the populations of trees by means of their browsing activities has been poorly studied so far in West Africa. We studied the disturbance of elephants to eight selected species of trees in the Nazinga Game Ranch (Burkina Faso), in 54 transects at the end of dry season 2008. We fitted simple models describing the number of dead individuals for each tree species in relation to their initial population density, and in relation to dung‐pile density, in the assumption that there should be a positive relationship between elephant density and dung‐pile density. Generalized Linear Model analyses and regression analyses showed that the more dense the woodland cover, the least the percentage of damaged plants by elephants. For each plant species, the initial density and density of elephant dung‐piles explained a high proportion of the variance in the density of dead individuals. Stochastic models, generated by a purposely created simple computer program written in GW‐BASIC programming language, predicted changes in tree and shrub abundance under different assumptions about elephant numbers. The models suggested that elephant browsing may cause considerable change in the selected plant populations, especially with regard to such species as Acacia gourmaensis, Vitellaria paradoxa and Maytenus senegalensis. These changes may possibly increase the meat harvest from controlled hunting activities, thus improving the income for surrounding communities.
Evaluation of Simple and Inexpensive High‐Throughput Methods for Phytic Acid Determination
Authors: Raboy Victor , Johnson Amy , Bilyeu Kristin , Brinch‐Pedersen Henrik , Cichy Karen , Hurrell Richard F. , Zeder Christophe , Rasmussen Søren K. , Warkentin Tom D. , Thavarajah Pushparajah , Shi Jinrui , Zhou Lan , Shu Qingyao 
Published: January 2017

AbstractHigh‐throughput/low‐cost/low‐tech methods for phytic acid determination that are sufficiently accurate and reproducible would be of value in plant genetics, crop breeding and in the food and feed industries. Variants of two candidate methods, those described by Vaintraub and Lapteva (Anal Biochem 175:227–24, 1988; “VL” methods) and Huang and Lantzsch (J Sci Food Agric 34:1423–1426, 1983; “HL” methods), were evaluated. The primary concern with these methods is that, due to interference of matrix constituents including inorganic P, they can overestimate phytic acid and are ineffective at low levels of phytic acid. Twelve seed flours, representing lines of soybean, maize, barley and dry bean, containing a wide range of phytic acid levels, were analyzed by a minimum of eight cooperating laboratories using three variants of the VL method and two variants of the HL method. No method had consistently acceptable (˂2.0”) “Horwitz ratios”, a measure of reproducibility, although some treatments approached that. For example, one variant of the VL method when used to assay a soybean flour with a “standard” level of phytic acid had a Horwitz ratio of 2.15. Some variants of the VL method were adequate for analyses of cereal grains regardless of phytic acid level but none accurately measured phytic acid when at low levels in soybean flours. One variant of the HL method in which the 0.2 N HCl extraction media is modified to contain 10% Na2SO4, did accurately measure phytic acid levels in both cereal and legume flours regardless of endogenous phytic acid levels or matrix constituents.
Is the Association Between Education and Fertility Postponement Causal? The Role of Family Background Factors
Authors: Tropf Felix C. , Mandemakers Jornt J. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractA large body of literature has demonstrated a positive relationship between education and age at first birth. However, this relationship may be partly spurious because of family background factors that cannot be controlled for in most research designs. We investigate the extent to which education is causally related to later age at first birth in a large sample of female twins from the United Kingdom (N = 2,752). We present novel estimates using within–identical twin and biometric models. Our findings show that one year of additional schooling is associated with about one-half year later age at first birth in ordinary least squares (OLS) models. This estimate reduced to only a 1.5-month later age at first birth for the within–identical twin model controlling for all shared family background factors (genetic and family environmental). Biometric analyses reveal that it is mainly influences of the family environment—not genetic factors—that cause spurious associations between education and age at first birth. Last, using data from the Office for National Statistics, we demonstrate that only 1.9 months of the 2.74 years of fertility postponement for birth cohorts 1944–1967 could be attributed to educational expansion based on these estimates. We conclude that the rise in educational attainment alone cannot explain differences in fertility timing between cohorts.
Effects of a healthier snack on snacking habits and glycated Hb (HbA1c): a 6-week intervention study
Authors: Yan Mary R. , Parsons Andrew , Whalley Gillian A. , Rush Elaine C. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractDietary behaviour modification may change eating habits and reduce the impact of poor nutrition. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of daily consumption of a healthier snack bar on snacking habits and glycated Hb (HbA1c) within a 6-week intervention. In all, twenty-eight participants were randomly allocated to two groups to either consume the bars as the main snack for 6 weeks (n 14) or receipt of the bars was delayed for 6 weeks (n 14) following a stepped-wedge design. All participants had HbA1c concentrations measured at weeks −1, 0, 4, 6, 10 and 12. A short dietary habits questionnaire was self-completed at weeks 0, 6 and 12. Participants consumed the bars they received instead of other snacks, and found that the healthier snack bar was acceptable as part of their daily dietary pattern. Over the 12 weeks, there was a significant reduction in intake of biscuits, cakes and pies (approximately 2 servings/week, P<0·05) in both groups. Fruit juice intake was reduced (approximately 1 serving/week, P=0·029) in the first group. In all, twenty participants (71·4 %) experienced a decrease (n 15) or no change (n 5) in HbA1c (range 0–4 mmol/mol), whereas eight participants experienced an increase in HbA1c (range 0·5–2·5 mmol/mol). There was high compliance with the healthier snack intervention and a trend towards a favourable effect on glucose homoeostasis. Habitual snacking behaviour has the potential to be improved through changes in the food supply, and in the longer term may reduce the impact of poor nutrition on public health.
ACloudina-like fossil with evidence of asexual reproduction from the lowest Cambrian, South China
Authors: HAN JIAN , CAI YAOPING , SCHIFFBAUER JAMES D. , HUA HONG , WANG XING , YANG XIAOGUANG , UESUGI KENTARO , KOMIYA TSUYOSHI , SUN JIE 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe earliest fossil record of animal biomineralization occurs in the latest Ediacaran Period (c. 550 Ma).CloudinaandSinotubulitesare two important tubular taxa among these earliest skeletal fossils. The evolutionary fate ofCloudina-type fossils across the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition, however, remains poorly understood. Here we report a multi-layered tubular microfossilFeiyanella manicagen. et sp. nov. from a phosphorite interval of the lowest Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation, southern Shaanxi Province, South China. This newly discovered fossil is a conical tube with a ‘funnel-in-funnel’ construction, showing profound morphological similarities toCloudinaandConotubus. On the other hand, the outer few layers, and particularly the outermost layer, ofFeiyanellatubes are regularly to irregularly corrugated, a feature strikingly similar to the variably folded/wrinkled tube walls ofSinotubulites. TheFeiyanellatubes additionally exhibit two orders of dichotomous branching, similar to branching structures reported occasionally inCloudinaand possibly indicative of asexual reproduction. Owing to broad similarities in tube morphology, tube wall construction and features presumably indicative of asexual reproduction,Cloudina, Conotubus, Sinotubulitesand the here describedFeiyanellamay thus constitute a monophyletic group traversing the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary. The tube construction and palaeoecological strategy ofFeiyanellaputatively indicate evolutionary continuity in morphology and palaeoecology of benthic metazoan communities across the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition.
Democratic Theory, the Boundary Problem, and Global Reform
Authors: Nili Shmuel 
Published: January 2017

AbstractOne of the enduring problems in democratic theory is its inability to specify who should belong to the demos. In recent years, several scholars have been arguing that democratic theory should try to overcome this “boundary problem” through different kinds of global reform. I argue, however, that the boundary problem is an analytical distraction in thinking about global reform. I begin with general doubts as to whether the boundary problem can ground global reform. I then join the developing conversation on Arash Abizadeh's and Robert Goodin's boundary problem arguments. I offer new reasons for why both arguments encounter fundamental difficulties. I conclude by anticipating the concern that my argument does not take the need for global reform seriously enough.
OSTEOPOROSIS DRUGS MARKETED IN THE UNITED STATES: GENERIC COMPETITION, PRICING STRUCTURE, AND DISPERSION AMONG PAYERS
Authors: Balkhi Bander , Seoane-Vazquez Enrique , Rodriguez-Monguio Rosa 
Published: January 2017

Background:Despite the cost of pharmaceuticals, studies assessing prices of osteoporosis drugs are lacking. This study examined trends in prices of osteoporosis drugs in the United States in the period 1988–2014, assessed pricing structure of osteoporosis drugs, and evaluated price trends before and after generic drugs market entry.Methods:Data were derived from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the RedBook, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS). Descriptive statistics and segmented linear regression analyses were performed.Results:In the period 1988–2014, osteoporosis drug prices increased faster than the inflation. The average wholesale price (AWP) of generic products at market entry represented 90 percent of the AWP for the corresponding brand. Prices of brand products continued to increase after generic entry. Drug prices showed a significant variation when compared with the brand AWP. The brand wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) was typically set at 83.3 percent of the AWP. Community pharmacies acquired osteoporosis brand drugs at a median of 80.5 percent of the brand AWP. Significant reductions in brand AWP were observed for Medicare Part B (78.5 percent of the brand AWP), generic National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (33.7 percent), and FSS (22.5 percent).Conclusions:There are significant differences in the manufacturer prices, pharmacy acquisition costs and reimbursement rates of osteoporosis drugs. Pharmaceutical companies listed prices are higher than the pharmacy actual estimated acquisitions costs, and the prices used for reimbursement to providers. Generic drugs entry significantly drives down prices; still, prices of branded drugs facing generic competition continued to increase after generic market entry.
Spatial distribution ofBertholletia excelsain selectively logged forests of the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Rockwell Cara A. , Guariguata Manuel R. , Menton Mary , Quispe Eriks Arroyo , Quaedvlieg Julia , Warren-Thomas Eleanor , Silva Harol Fernandez , Rojas Edwin Eduardo Jurado , Arrunátegui José Andrés Hideki Kohagura , Vega Luis Alberto Meza , Hancco Roger Quenta , Vera Olivia Revilla , Tito Jonatan Frank Valera , Panduro Betxy Tabita Villarroel , Salas Juan José Yucra 
Published: January 2017

Abstract:To date, the spatial distribution pattern and density of Brazil nut trees in logged forest stands is unclear across the Amazon basin. We asked the following questions: (1) What are the densities and spatial distributions of Brazil nut juveniles (10 ≤ dbh < 40 cm) and adults (≥ 40 cm dbh) in three selectively logged Brazil nut concessions (1413 ha sampled) in Madre de Dios, Peru; (2) What is the spatial relationship between adults and juveniles (10 ≤ dbh < 30 cm); and (3) What is the spatial relationship between juveniles (10 ≤ dbh <30 cm) and cut stumps (≥ 10 y)? Spatial analyses were conducted using statistics derived from Ripley's K function. Juveniles were aggregated in all three concessions. Results for adult populations rejected the null hypothesis of a random distribution among trees ≥ 40 cm dbh. We did not find an attraction between juveniles and cut-stump locations, nor between adults and juveniles. The strong peaks of aggregation for juveniles and adult Brazil nuts in this study occurred at long distances (300–900 m), suggesting multiple tree canopy gaps as drivers of spatial distribution patterns, either via natural or anthropogenic sources. Our data contribute to a more thorough understanding of Brazil nut population structure in disturbed forests in south-western Amazonia.