bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Social Norms and Self-Efficacy to Quit Waterpipe Use: Findings from a Tobacco Study among Male Smokers in Rural Viet Nam
Authors: Kumar Pritika C. , Cleland Charles M. , Latkin Carl , Vandevanter Nancy , Siman Nina , Nguyen Trang , Nguyen Linh , Nguyen Nam , Shelley Donna 
Published: November 2017

Introduction: Waterpipe use is a significant health concern in low- and middle-income countries like Viet Nam, yet there is a lack of research on factors that may influence use and self-efficacy to quit among adults.Aims: This study examined the relationship between social norms related to waterpipe use and self-efficacy to quit among male waterpipe smokers in Viet Nam.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 214 adult male waterpipe smokers enrolled in a large cluster–randomised controlled trial conducted in a rural province in Viet Nam. Associations between social norms related to waterpipe smoking and the participants’ confidence to quit waterpipes were assessed using hierarchical regression models to account for differences among study sites and other covariates.Results: Self-efficacy to quit smoking was positively associated with immediate family members’ not minding participants smoking and with extended family's encouragement to quit smoking.Conclusions: The findings suggest the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the functions and characteristics of the social context of waterpipe smoking, including the social networks of waterpipe smokers, to inform effective cessation interventions for waterpipe smokers.
Repeated treatment with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor attenuates learned helplessness development in rats and increases hippocampal BDNF expression
Authors: Stanquini Laura Alves , Biojone Caroline , Guimarães Francisco Silveira , Joca Sâmia Regiane 
Published: November 2017

BackgroundNitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors induce antidepressant-like effects in animal models sensitive to acute drug treatment such as the forced swimming test. However, it is not yet clear if repeated treatment with these drugs is required to induce antidepressant-like effects in preclinical models.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to test the effect induced by acute or repeated (7 days) treatment with 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a preferential inhibitor of neuronal NOS, in rats submitted to the learned helplessness (LH) model. In addition, we aimed at investigating if 7-NI treatment would increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels in the hippocampus, similarly to the effect of prototype antidepressants.MethodsAnimals were submitted to a pre-test (PT) session with inescapable footshocks or habituation (no shocks) to the experimental shuttle box. Six days later they were exposed to a test with escapable footshocks. Independent groups received acute (a single injection after PT or before test) or repeated (once a day for 7 days) treatment with vehicle or 7-NI (30 mg/kg).ResultsRepeated, but not acute, treatment with 7-NI attenuated LH development. The effect was similar to repeated imipramine treatment. Moreover, in an independent experimental group, only repeated treatment with 7-NI and imipramine increased BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus.ConclusionThe results suggest the nitrergic system could be a target for the treatment of depressive-like conditions. They also indicate that, similar to the positive control imipramine, the antidepressant-like effects of NOS inhibition could involve an increase in hippocampal BDNF levels.
A preliminary survey of school-based water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) resources and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in eight public schools in Odeda LGA, Ogun State, Nigeria
Authors: Mogaji H.O. , Dedeke G.A. , Jaiyeola O.A. , Adeniran A.A. , Olabinke D.B. , Oluwole A.S. , Abe E.M. , Adeaga D.O. , Yusuff Q.A. , Yusuff H.A. , Ekpo U.F. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the status of school-based water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) resources and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) in Odeda, Ogun State, Nigeria. The status and condition of WASH resources were determined in eight selected schools (three with WASH support and five without). Stool samples were also collected from 428 pupils from both school categories and screened for STH infections. Findings showed that water and sanitation conditions of WASH resource programming schools were better than those in schools without WASH support. However, pupils’ knowledge about STH infections and basic hygiene were not significantly different between both categories of school (P &gt; 0·05). The prevalence of Hookworm, Ascariasis and Trichuriasis cases recorded were 26·2, 18·2 and 1·6% respectively, with an overall prevalence of 33·4%. By school categories, Ascariasis (14·9vs20·6), Hookworm (17·7vs32·0), Trichuriasis (1·7vs1·6) and, any STH prevalence (27·4vs37·5) were recorded for schools with WASH resource programming and those without respectively. A greater portion of the infected children 95 (66·4%) were from schools without WASH support. Our findings imply that WASH resource may have very positive impact on the control of STH among school children. However, there is need for improvement on coverage, adequacy and maintenance of WASH facilities in school.
Unbiased Large Spectroscopic Surveys of Galaxies Selected by SPICA Using Dust Bands
Authors: Kaneda H. , Ishihara D. , Oyabu S. , Yamagishi M. , Wada T. , Armus L. , Baes M. , Charmandaris V. , Czerny B. , Efstathiou A. , Fernández-Ontiveros J. A. , Ferrara A. , González-Alfonso E. , Griffin M. , Gruppioni C. , Hatziminaoglou E. , Imanishi M. , Kohno K. , Kwon J. , Nakagawa T. , Onaka T. , Pozzi F. , Scott D. , Smith J.-D. T. , Spinoglio L. , Suzuki T. , van der Tak F. , Vaccari M. , Vignali C. , Wang L. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe mid-infrared range contains many spectral features associated with large molecules and dust grains such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and silicates. These are usually very strong compared to fine-structure gas lines, and thus valuable in studying the spectral properties of faint distant galaxies. In this paper, we evaluate the capability of low-resolution mid-infrared spectroscopic surveys of galaxies that could be performed by SPICA. The surveys are designed to address the question how star formation and black hole accretion activities evolved over cosmic time through spectral diagnostics of the physical conditions of the interstellar/circumnuclear media in galaxies. On the basis of results obtained with Herschel far-infrared photometric surveys of distant galaxies and Spitzer and AKARI near- to mid-infrared spectroscopic observations of nearby galaxies, we estimate the numbers of the galaxies at redshift z > 0.5, which are expected to be detected in the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon features or dust continuum by a wide (10 deg2) or deep (1 deg2) blind survey, both for a given observation time of 600 h. As by-products of the wide blind survey, we also expect to detect debris disks, through the mid-infrared excess above the photospheric emission of nearby main-sequence stars, and we estimate their number. We demonstrate that the SPICA mid-infrared surveys will efficiently provide us with unprecedentedly large spectral samples, which can be studied further in the far-infrared with SPICA.
MAIZE–SOYBEAN INTERCROPPING FOR SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION OF CEREAL–LEGUME CROPPING SYSTEMS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
Authors: KAMARA ALPHA Y. , TOFA ABDULLAHI I. , ADEMULEGUN TEMITOPE , SOLOMON REUBEN , SHEHU HAULATU , KAMAI NKEKI , OMOIGUI LUCKY 
Published: November 2017

SUMMARYField studies were conducted during the 2014 and 2015 wet seasons at Zaria in the northern Guinea savanna and at Iburu in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria to determine the productivity of maize–soybean intercropping system. There were four treatment combinations in the experiment: sole maize; sole soybean; maize spaced at 50 cm and intercropped with soybean; and maize spaced at 65 cm and intercropped with soybean. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that sole cropped maize and soybean generally outperformed the intercropped component crops. Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was greater than 1 for all the intercrop treatments, indicating that it is advantageous to grow maize and soybean in association than in pure stands. Except for 2014 in Zaria, LER for intercropped maize spaced at 50 cm was higher than that for maize spaced at 65 cm. Gross Monetary Value (GMV) was generally higher for intercrops than sole crops except in Iburu in 2015 where GMV for intercropped maize spaced at 65 cm was similar to those of sole maize and soybean. Monetary Advantage Index (MAI) was positive for all intercrop treatments in both locations and years, which shows definite yield and economic advantages compared to the sole cropping systems. This suggests that farmers can intercrop soybean and maize with maize spaced at 50 cm and 65 cm.
Derivation of A1-type granites by partial melting of newly underplated rocks related with the Tarim mantle plume
Authors: SU YUPING , ZHENG JIANPING , LIANG LILI , DAI HONGKUN , ZHAO JUNHONG , CHEN MING , PING XIANQUAN , LIU ZIQI , WANG JIAN 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe granitic rocks of the Tarim large igneous province (LIP) are temporally and spatially related to mafic intrusions. However, their tectonic setting and genetic relationship are debated. Here, we report geochemical, and zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopic results for three alkali feldspar granitic plutons in the Halajun area, western margin of the Tarim Block. Zircon U–Pb ages suggest these plutons were emplaced at 268–275 Ma, coeval with the neighbouring mafic–ultramafic complexes and syenitic rocks. These granitic rocks have high contents of SiO2, alkalis, Rb, Th, Zr and REE (except Eu), and high ratios of FeO*/MgO and Ga/Al, and show strong depletions in Ba, Sr, Eu, which are commonly observed in the A1-type granites. Zircon Hf isotopes reveal a limited range ofεHf(t) values from −1.0 to +3.5 for different samples from three granitic plutons, obviously higher than those (mostly <0) of the mafic rocks. This distinct difference, along with a Daly gap and small volume of mafic rocks, argues against extreme fractionation of mafic magma as the main origin of the A1-type granites. Instead the A1-type granites were most likely derived from partial melting of newly underplated rocks triggered by the upwelling asthenosphere, followed by extensive fractionation. These A1-type granites were emplaced within an anorogenic setting during the late stage of the Tarim LIP, which possibly lasts for more than 30 Ma. The Piqiang mafic–ultramafic complex directly stemmed from asthenospheric mantle and Halajun A1-type granites represent two manners of vertical crustal growth.
The tectonic setting of the eastern margin of the Sino-Korean Block inferred from detrital zircon U–Pb age and Nd isotope composition of the Pyeongan Supergroup (upper Palaeozoic – Lower Triassic), Korea
Authors: KIM MUN GI , LEE YONG IL , CHOI TAEJIN , ORIHASHI YUJI 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe upper Palaeozoic succession (Pyeongan Supergroup) in central eastern Korea is well correlated with the equivalent successions distributed in North China, suggestive of the Korean upper Palaeozoic being part of the Sino-Korean Block. Detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Sm–Nd isotope compositions of the Pyeongan Supergroup in the Samcheok coalfield of the Taebaeksan Basin were analysed. A single predominant zircon age peak atc. 1.9 Ga (> 70%) is marked in all sedimentary units, followed by varying amounts of minor late Palaeozoic grains (up to 30%). The rarity of Meso- to Neoproterozoic- and Silurian-aged zircons confirms that sediment influx from the South China and Qinling blocks was insignificant. The 2.0–1.8 Ga-dominated zircon age pattern and the Nd isotope composition (average εNd(0) = −15.5±4.0) of the Pyeongan Supergroup most closely reflect the signature of the Yeongnam Massif basements, which supports a previous hypothesis that the Pyeongan Supergroup was mostly derived from a palaeo-orogen located to the east–southeast. Relatively higher εNd(0) values (> −10.1) in the lowermost and the upper parts of the succession are closely matched by the increased occurrence of syn-depositional-aged zircons, which indicates considerable mixing of juvenile materials atc. 320 Ma and 260 Ma. Both arc-related magmatic events are interpreted to have been related to oceanic subduction, suggesting that the eastern margin of the Sino-Korean Block was an active continental margin during late Palaeozoic times.
The Domestic Politics of International Cooperation: Germany and the European Debt Crisis
Authors: Schneider Christina J. , Slantchev Branislav L. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractInternational cooperation can fail even though governments have no distributional conflicts or incentives to free-ride, face no informational or credibility problems, and even agree on the policies that need to be implemented. Germany's refusal to cooperate with the Eurogroup members on the Greek bailout in 2010 until the crisis threatened to derail the entire Eurozone is puzzling in that regard especially because Germany is the main beneficiary of the euro. It was alleged at the time that this was a dilatory tactic designed to postpone a domestically unpopular decision until after crucial regional elections. But why would voters allow themselves to be misled like that? And why did Merkel agree to the bailout before the elections took place? To analyze how citizen preferences affect international cooperation, we develop a game-theoretic model of the four-way interaction between two governments that must coordinate a response to a crisis affecting both countries but who also must face the polls domestically with an electorate that might be uncertain whether a response is necessary. We find that, paradoxically, governments that stand to receive the greatest benefits from international cooperation face the greatest obstacles to implementing the required policies even when voters would want them to. We show how the model can rationalize Merkel's electoral strategy and why her party suffered at the polls when the strategy went off the rails.
Therapeutic and protective effects of autologous serum in amikacin-induced ototoxicity
Authors: Arslan I B , Aslan G G , Mercan G C , Vatansever S , Cukurova I , Gokalp S , Aslan A 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjective:Possible therapeutic and protective benefits of intratympanic autologous serum application in amikacin-induced ototoxicity were investigated.Methods:Twenty-four guinea pigs were separated equally into two groups: therapeutic (group A) and protective (group B). Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions were recorded before and after autologous serum application. Apoptotic cells were identified in the organ of Corti, spiral limbus and spiral ganglion by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (‘TUNEL’) method.Results:Transient evoked otoacoustic emission responses at 1, 1.4 and 2.8 kHz improved without significance after autologous serum application in group A (p> 0.05). A significantly protective effect of autologous serum was determined at 4 kHz in group B (p< 0.05). There were significantly fewer apoptotic cells at the spiral limbus in the therapeutic and protective groups compared to the control group (p< 0.05).Conclusion:Autologous serum may offer protection against ototoxicity-induced hearing loss, but it cannot restore hearing. Immunohistochemically, autologous serum significantly decreases activation of the intrinsic pathway of pro-apoptotic signalling in mesenchymal cells compared to neurons and neurosensory cells.
What can be learned about the enzyme ATPase from single-molecule studies of its subunit F1?
Authors: Volkán-Kacso Sándor , Marcus Rudolph A. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe summarize the different types of single molecule experiments on the F1component of FOF1-ATP Synthase and what has been learned from them. We also describe results from our recent studies on interpreting the experiments using a chemical-mechanical theory for these biological motors.
DNA partitions into triplets under tension in the presence of organic cations, with sequence evolutionary age predicting the stability of the triplet phase
Authors: Taghavi Amirhossein , van der Schoot Paul , Berryman Joshua T. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractUsing atomistic simulations, we show the formation of stable triplet structure when particular GC-rich DNA duplexes are extended in solution over a timescale of hundreds of nanoseconds, in the presence of organic salt. We present planar-stacked triplet disproportionated DNA (Σ DNA) as a possible solution phase of the double helix under tension, subject to sequence and the presence of stabilising co-factors. Considering the partitioning of the duplexes into triplets of base pairs as the first step of operation of recombinase enzymes like RecA, we emphasise the structure–function relationship in Σ DNA. We supplement atomistic calculations with thermodynamic arguments to show that codons for ‘phase 1’ amino acids (those appearing early in evolution) are more likely than a lower entropy GC-rich sequence to form triplets under tension. We further observe that the four amino acids supposed (in the ‘GADV world’ hypothesis) to constitute the minimal set to produce functional globular proteins have the strongest triplet-forming propensity within the phase 1 set, showing a series of decreasing triplet propensity with evolutionary newness. The weak form of our observation provides a physical mechanism to minimise read frame and recombination alignment errors in the early evolution of the genetic code.
REFLECTIONS ON THE NICE DECISION TO REJECT PATIENT PRODUCTION LOSSES
Authors: Shearer James , Byford Sarah , Birch Steve 
Published: November 2017

Objectives:Patient production losses occur when individuals’ capacities to work, whether paid or unpaid, are impaired by illness, treatment, disability, or death. There is controversy about whether and how to include patient production losses in economic evaluations in health care. Patient production losses have not previously been considered when evaluating medications for reimbursement under the U.K. National Health Service. Proposals for value-based assessment of health technologies in the United Kingdom created renewed interest in whether and how to include costs from a wider societal perspective, such as patient production losses, within economic evaluation of healthcare interventions.Methods:A narrative review was undertaken of theoretical, ethical, and policy issues that might inform decisions that involve the normative question of whether or not to include patient production losses in economic evaluation.Results:It seems difficult to reconcile the implications of including patient production losses with the objectives of a healthcare system dedicated to providing universal healthcare coverage without regard to patients’ ability to pay.Conclusions:Tax payer funded healthcare systems may legitimately adopt maximands other than health gain, but these will be at the opportunity cost of less than maximum health gains.
Normalized solutions for nonlinear Schrödinger systems
Authors: Bartsch Thomas , Jeanjean Louis 
Published: November 2017

We consider the existence of normalized solutions in H1(ℝN) × H1(ℝN) for systems of nonlinear Schr¨odinger equations, which appear in models for binary mixtures of ultracold quantum gases. Making a solitary wave ansatz, one is led to coupled systems of elliptic equations of the formand we are looking for solutions satisfyingwhere a1> 0 and a2> 0 are prescribed. In the system, λ1 and λ2 are unknown and will appear as Lagrange multipliers. We treat the case of homogeneous nonlinearities, i.e. , with positive constants β, μi, pi, ri. The exponents are Sobolev subcritical but may be L2-supercritical. Our main result deals with the case in which in dimensions 2 ≤ N ≤ 4. We also consider the cases in which all of these numbers are less than 2 + 4/N or all are bigger than 2 + 4/N.
A cross-species comparison of corticogeniculate structure and function
Authors: HASSE J. MICHAEL , BRIGGS FARRAN 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe corticogeniculate circuit is an evolutionarily conserved pathway linking the primary visual cortex with the visual thalamus in the feedback direction. While the corticogeniculate circuit is anatomically robust, the impact of corticogeniculate feedback on the visual response properties of visual thalamic neurons is subtle. Accordingly, discovering the function of corticogeniculate feedback in vision has been a particularly challenging task. In this review, the morphology, organization, physiology, and function of corticogeniculate feedback is compared across mammals commonly studied in visual neuroscience: primates, carnivores, rabbits, and rodents. Common structural and organizational motifs are present across species, including the organization of corticogeniculate feedback into parallel processing streams in highly visual mammals.
Maternal depression symptoms are highly prevalent among food-insecure households in Ethiopia
Authors: Gebreyesus Seifu Hagos , Endris Bilal Shikur , Hanlon Charlotte , Lindtjørn Bernt 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the association between household food insecurity and maternal depression in Ethiopia.Design/Setting/SubjectsIn 2014, we conducted a cross-sectional study in southern Ethiopia, including 591 food-secure and 2500 food-insecure households. We measured depression status of women using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 validated for Ethiopia, with a cut-off of ≥5. We evaluated household-level food insecurity using a validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. We applied Bayesian modelling to evaluate the relationship between food insecurity and maternal depression accounting for other observed characteristics.ResultsAmong the analytic sample, 80·8 (95 % CI 79·4, 82·2) % of women were living in food-insecure households. The overall prevalence of probable depression (mild and moderate forms) was 4·7 (95 % CI 4·1, 5·6) %. All individual depressive symptoms had a significantly higher prevalence in the food-insecure group, except for suicidal ideation (but small numbers; P<0·001). In the Bayesian model adjusting for paternal characteristics, there was a significant dose–response linear relationship (trend) between household food insecurity and maternal depression (P<0·01). The adjusted OR (95 % Bayesian credible interval) for depression for differing levels of food insecurity were: mild food insecurity, 3·29 (1·63, 6·18); moderate, 3·82 (1·91, 7·45); severe, 12·50 (3·38, 32·70).ConclusionsThe study documented a high burden of depression among women who lived in food-insecure households. Given this finding, we recommend integrating mental health in the livelihood programmes in areas suffering from food insecurity.