bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between meteorological conditions and respiratory syncytial virus in a tropical country
Authors: RODRIGUEZ-MARTINEZ C. E. , SOSSA-BRICEÑO M. P. , ACUÑA-CORDERO R. 
Published: January 2015

SUMMARYThis study aimed to determine which meteorological conditions are associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolates in a population of children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in Bogota, Colombia. In an analytical cross-sectional study, links were examined between the number of monthly RSV infections and monthly average climatic variation (temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, wind speed, solar radiation) between 1 January 2010 and 30 April 2011 in a population of hospitalized children aged <3 years with ALRI caused by RSV. Out of a total of 1548 children included in the study (mean age 9·2 ± 8·5 months), 1194 (77·1%) presented RSV infection during the 3-month period from March to May. In the multivariate analysis, after controlling for wind speed, relative humidity, and solar radiation, monthly average temperature [incident rate ratio (IRR) 3·14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·56–6·30,P= 0·001] and rainfall (IRR 1·008, 95% CI 1·00–1·01,P= 0·048) were independently associated with the monthly number of RSV infections. In conclusion, in Bogota, a tropical Latin American city, average temperature and rainfall are the meteorological variables most strongly associated with RSV isolation in children hospitalized with ALRI in the city.
Testing the impact of virus importation rates and future climate change on dengue activity in Malaysia using a mechanistic entomology and disease model
Authors: WILLIAMS C. R. , GILL B. S. , MINCHAM G. , MOHD ZAKI A. H. , ABDULLAH N. , MAHIYUDDIN W. R. W. , AHMAD R. , SHAHAR M. K. , HARLEY D. , VIENNET E. , AZIL A. , KAMALUDDIN A. 
Published: January 2015

SUMMARYWe aimed to reparameterize and validate an existing dengue model, comprising an entomological component (CIMSiM) and a disease component (DENSiM) for application in Malaysia. With the model we aimed to measure the effect of importation rate on dengue incidence, and to determine the potential impact of moderate climate change (a 1 °C temperature increase) on dengue activity. Dengue models (comprising CIMSiM and DENSiM) were reparameterized for a simulated Malaysian village of 10 000 people, and validated against monthly dengue case data from the district of Petaling Jaya in the state of Selangor. Simulations were also performed for 2008-2012 for variable virus importation rates (ranging from 1 to 25 per week) and dengue incidence determined. Dengue incidence in the period 2010–2012 was modelled, twice, with observed daily weather and with a 1 °C increase, the latter to simulate moderate climate change. Strong concordance between simulated and observed monthly dengue cases was observed (up to r = 0·72). There was a linear relationship between importation and incidence. However, a doubling of dengue importation did not equate to a doubling of dengue activity. The largest individual dengue outbreak was observed with the lowest dengue importation rate. Moderate climate change resulted in an overall decrease in dengue activity over a 3-year period, linked to high human seroprevalence early on in the simulation. Our results suggest that moderate reductions in importation with control programmes may not reduce the frequency of large outbreaks. Moderate increases in temperature do not necessarily lead to greater dengue incidence.
Students’ beliefs and behaviour regarding low-calorie beverages, sweets or snacks: are they affected by lessons on healthy food and by changes to school vending machines?
Authors: Kocken Paul L , van Kesteren Nicole MC , Buijs Goof , Snel Jeltje , Dusseldorp Elise 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo study the effects of school lessons about healthy food on adolescents’ self-reported beliefs and behaviour regarding the purchase and consumption of soft drinks, water and extra foods, including sweets and snacks. The lessons were combined with the introduction of lower-calorie foods, food labelling and price reductions in school vending machines.DesignA cluster-randomized controlled design was used to allocate schools to an experimental group (i.e. lessons and changes to school vending machines) and a control group (i.e. ‘care as usual’). Questionnaires were used pre-test and post-test to assess students’ self-reported purchase of extra products and their knowledge and beliefs regarding the consumption of low-calorie products.SettingSecondary schools in the Netherlands.SubjectsTwelve schools participated in the experimental group (303 students) and fourteen in the control group (311 students). The students’ mean age was 13·6 years, 71·5 % were of native Dutch origin and mean BMI was 18·9 kg/m2.ResultsAt post-test, the experimental group knew significantly more about healthy food than the control group. Fewer students in the experimental group (43 %) than in the control group (56 %) reported bringing soft drinks from home. There was no significant effect on attitude, social norm, perceived behavioural control and intention regarding the consumption of low-calorie extra products.ConclusionsThe intervention had limited effects on students’ knowledge and self-reported behaviour, and no effect on their beliefs regarding low-calorie beverages, sweets or snacks. We recommend a combined educational and environmental intervention of longer duration and engaging parents. More research into the effects of such interventions is needed.
Vitamin E and risk of age-related cataract: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Yufei , Jiang Wenjie , Xie Zhutian , Wu Wenlong , Zhang Dongfeng 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectiveWe conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between vitamin E and age-related cataract (ARC).DesignThe fixed- or random-effect model was selected based on heterogeneity. Meta-regression was used to explore potential sources of between-study heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg’s test. The dose–response relationship was assessed by a restricted cubic spline model.SettingRelevant studies were identified by a search of PubMed and the Cochrane Library to May 2014, without language restrictions.SubjectsStudies involved samples of people of all ages.ResultsDietary vitamin E intake, dietary and supplemental vitamin E intake, and high serum tocopherol levels were significantly associated with decreased risk of ARC, the pooled relative risk was 0·73 (95 % CI 0·58, 0·92), 0·86 (95 % CI 0·75, 0·99) and 0·77 (95 % CI 0·66, 0·91), respectively. Supplemental vitamin E intake was non-significantly associated with ARC risk (relative risk=0·92; 95 % CI 0·78, 1·07). The findings from dose–response analysis showed evidence of a non-linear association between dietary vitamin E intake and ARC. The risk of ARC decreased with dietary vitamin E intake from 7 mg/d (relative risk=0·94; 95 % CI 0·90, 0·97).ConclusionsThe findings of the meta-analysis indicated that dietary vitamin E intake, dietary and supplemental vitamin E intake, and high level of serum tocopherol might be significantly associated with reduced ARC risk.
IN GOOD COMPANY? ON HUME’S PRINCIPLE AND THE ASSIGNMENT OF NUMBERS TO INFINITE CONCEPTS
Authors: MANCOSU PAOLO 
Published: January 2015

AbstractIn a recent article (Mancosu, 2009), I have explored the historical, mathematical, and philosophical issues related to the new theory of numerosities. The theory of numerosities provides a context in which to assign ‘sizes’ to infinite sets of natural numbers in such a way as to preserve the part-whole principle, namely if a setAis properly included inBthen the numerosity ofAis strictly less than the numerosity ofB. Numerosity assignments differ from the standard assignment of size provided by Cantor’s cardinality assignments. In this paper I generalize some worries, raised by Richard Heck, emerging from the theory of numerosities to a line of thought resulting in what I call a ‘good company’ objection to Hume’s Principle (HP). The paper is centered around five main parts. The first (§3) takes a historical look at nineteenth-century attributions of equality of numbers in terms of one-one correlation and argues that there was no agreement as to how to extend such determinations to infinite sets of objects. This leads to the second part (§4) where I show that there are countably-infinite many abstraction principles that are ‘good’, in the sense that they share the same virtues of HP (or so I claim) and from which we can derive the axioms of second-order arithmetic. All the principles I present agree with HP in the assignment of numbers to finite concepts but diverge from it in the assignment of numbers to infinite concepts. The third part (§5) connects this material to a debate on Finite Hume’s Principle between Heck and MacBride. The fourth part (§6) states the ‘good company’ objection as a generalization of Heck’s objection to the analyticity of HP based on the theory of numerosities. In the same section I offer a taxonomy of possible neo-logicist responses to the ‘good company’ objection. Finally, §7 makes a foray into the relevance of this material for the issue of cross-sortal identifications for abstractions.
Porous coordination polymers with ubiquitous and biocompatible metals and a neutral bridging ligand
Authors: Noro Shin-ichiro , Mizutani Junya , Hijikata Yuh , Matsuda Ryotaro , Sato Hiroshi , Kitagawa Susumu , Sugimoto Kunihisa , Inubushi Yasutaka , Kubo Kazuya , Nakamura Takayoshi 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe design of inexpensive and less toxic porous coordination polymers (PCPs) that show selective adsorption or high adsorption capacity is a critical issue in research on applicable porous materials. Although use of Group II magnesium(II) and calcium(II) ions as building blocks could provide cheaper materials and lead to enhanced biocompatibility, examples of magnesium(II) and calcium(II) PCPs are extremely limited compared with commonly used transition metal ones, because neutral bridging ligands have not been available for magnesium(II) and calcium(II) ions. Here we report a rationally designed neutral and charge-polarized bridging ligand as a new partner for magnesium(II) and calcium(II) ions. The three-dimensional magnesium(II) and calcium(II) PCPs synthesized using such a neutral ligand are stable and show selective adsorption and separation of carbon dioxide over methane at ambient temperature. This synthetic approach allows the structural diversification of Group II magnesium(II) and calcium(II) PCPs.
Capacitance-modulated transistor detects odorant binding protein chiral interactions
Authors: Mulla Mohammad Yusuf , Tuccori Elena , Magliulo Maria , Lattanzi Gianluca , Palazzo Gerardo , Persaud Krishna , Torsi Luisa 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPeripheral events in olfaction involve odorant binding proteins (OBPs) whose role in the recognition of different volatile chemicals is yet unclear. Here we report on the sensitive and quantitative measurement of the weak interactions associated with neutral enantiomers differentially binding to OBPs immobilized through a self-assembled monolayer to the gate of an organic bio-electronic transistor. The transduction is remarkably sensitive as the transistor output current is governed by the small capacitance of the protein layer undergoing minute changes as the ligand–protein complex is formed. Accurate determination of the free-energy balances and of the capacitance changes associated with the binding process allows derivation of the free-energy components as well as of the occurrence of conformational events associated with OBP ligand binding. Capacitance-modulated transistors open a new pathway for the study of ultra-weak molecular interactions in surface-bound protein–ligand complexes through an approach that combines bio-chemical and electronic thermodynamic parameters.
Evolution and emergence of infectious diseases in theoretical and real-world networks
Authors: Leventhal Gabriel E. , Hill Alison L. , Nowak Martin A. , Bonhoeffer Sebastian 
Published: January 2015

AbstractOne of the most important advancements in theoretical epidemiology has been the development of methods that account for realistic host population structure. The central finding is that heterogeneity in contact networks, such as the presence of ‘superspreaders’, accelerates infectious disease spread in real epidemics. Disease control is also complicated by the continuous evolution of pathogens in response to changing environments and medical interventions. It remains unclear, however, how population structure influences these adaptive processes. Here we examine the evolution of infectious disease in empirical and theoretical networks. We show that the heterogeneity in contact structure, which facilitates the spread of a single disease, surprisingly renders a resident strain more resilient to invasion by new variants. Our results suggest that many host contact structures suppress invasion of new strains and may slow disease adaptation. These findings are important to the natural history of disease evolution and the spread of drug-resistant strains.
Tailoring of Energy Levels in D-π-A Organic Dyes via Fluorination of Acceptor Units for Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Lee Min-Woo , Kim Jae-Yup , Son Hae Jung , Kim Jin Young , Kim BongSoo , Kim Honggon , Lee Doh-Kwon , Kim Kyungkon , Lee Duck-Hyung , Ko Min Jae 
Published: January 2015

AbstractA molecular design is presented for tailoring the energy levels in D-π-A organic dyes through fluorination of their acceptor units, which is aimed at achieving efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This is achieved by exploiting the chemical structure of common D-π-A organic dyes and incorporating one or two fluorine atoms at the ortho-positions of the cyanoacetic acid as additional acceptor units. As the number of incorporated fluorine atoms increases, the LUMO energy level of the organic dye is gradually lowered due to the electron-withdrawing effect of fluorine, which ultimately results in a gradual reduction of the HOMO-LUMO energy gap and an improvement in the spectral response. Systematic investigation of the effects of incorporating fluorine on the photovoltaic properties of DSSCs reveals an upshift in the conduction-band potential of the TiO2 electrode during impedance analysis; however, the incorporation of fluorine also results in an increased electron recombination rate, leading to a decrease in the open-circuit voltage (Voc). Despite this limitation, the conversion efficiency is gradually enhanced as the number of incorporated fluorine atoms is increased, which is attributed to the highly improved spectral response and photocurrent.
Structural, optical and vibrational properties of self-assembled Pbn+1(Ti1−xFex)nO3n+1−δ Ruddlesden-Popper superstructures
Authors: Doig K. I. , Peters J. J. P. , Nawaz S. , Walker D. , Walker M. , Lees M. R. , Beanland R. , Sanchez A. M. , McConville C. F. , Palkar V. R. , Lloyd-Hughes J. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBulk crystals and thin films of PbTi1−xFexO3−δ (PTFO) are multiferroic, exhibiting ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism at room temperature. Here we report that the Ruddlesden-Popper phase Pbn+1(Ti1−xFex)nO3n+1−δ forms spontaneously during pulsed laser deposition of PTFO on LaAlO3 substrates. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy were utilised to perform a structural and compositional analysis, demonstrating that "Equation missing" and "Equation missing". The complex dielectric function of the films was determined from far-infrared to ultraviolet energies using a combination of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, Fourier transform spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The simultaneous Raman and infrared activity of phonon modes and the observation of second harmonic generation establishes a non-centrosymmetric point group for Pbn+1(Ti0.5Fe0.5)nO3n+1−δ, a prerequisite for (but not proof of) ferroelectricity. No evidence of macroscopic ferromagnetism was found in SQUID magnetometry. The ultrafast optical response exhibited coherent magnon oscillations compatible with local magnetic order and additionally was used to study photocarrier cooling on picosecond timescales. An optical gap smaller than that of BiFeO3 and long photocarrier lifetimes may make this system interesting as a ferroelectric photovoltaic.
Extreme convergence in egg-laying strategy across insect orders
Authors: Goldberg Julia , Bresseel Joachim , Constant Jerome , Kneubühler Bruno , Leubner Fanny , Michalik Peter , Bradler Sven 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe eggs of stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea) bear strong resemblance to plant seeds and are commonly dispersed by females dropping them to the litter. Here we report a novel egg-deposition mode for Phasmatodea performed by an undescribed Vietnamese species of the enigmatic subfamily Korinninae that produces a complex egg case (ootheca), containing numerous eggs in a highly ordered arrangement. This novel egg-deposition mode is most reminiscent of egg cases produced by members of unrelated insect orders, e.g. by praying mantises (Mantodea) and tortoise beetles (Coleoptera: Cassidinae). Ootheca production constitutes a striking convergence and major transition in reproductive strategy among stick insects, viz. a shift from dispersal of individual eggs to elaborate egg concentration. Adaptive advantages of ootheca formation on arboreal substrate are likely related to protection against parasitoids and desiccation and to allocation of specific host plants. Our phylogenetic analysis of nuclear (28S, H3) and mitochondrial (COI, COII) genes recovered Korinninae as a subordinate taxon among the species-rich Necrosciinae withAscelesas sister taxon, thus suggesting that placement of single eggs on leaves by host plant specialists might be the evolutionary precursor of ootheca formation within stick insects.
Essential roles of leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 in the development of embryonic and postnatal cerebellum
Authors: Xie Ya-Jun , Zhou Liang , Jiang Nanwei , Zhang Nan , Zou Na , Zhou Lin , Wang Yin , Cowell John K. , Shen Ying 
Published: January 2015

AbstractLeucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) is a secreted protein that interacts with ADAM transmembrane proteins and its mutations are linked to human epilepsy. The function of LGI1 in CNS development remains undefined. Here, we report novel functions of LGI1 in the generation of cerebellar granule precursors (CGPs) and differentiation of radial glial cells (RGCs) in the cerebellum. A reduction in external granule layer thickness and defects in foliation were seen in embryonic and new-born LGI1 knockout (KO) mice. BrdU staining showed an inhibited proliferation of CGPs in KO embryos, which might be explained by the reduced Sonic hedgehog in embryos. In addition, the differentiation of RGCs into Bergmann glias was suppressed in KO mice. Enhanced Jagged1-Notch1 signaling in KO mice via reduced β-secretase proteolysis suggests that altered phenotype of RGCs is due to abnormal Notch1 signaling. Together, our results demonstrate that LGI1 is an essential player in the cerebellar development.
Local non-equilibrium thermodynamics
Authors: Jinwoo Lee , Tanaka Hajime 
Published: January 2015

AbstractLocal Shannon entropy lies at the heart of modern thermodynamics, with much discussion of trajectory-dependent entropy production. When taken at both boundaries of a process in phase space, it reproduces the second law of thermodynamics over a finite time interval for small scale systems. However, given that entropy is an ensemble property, it has never been clear how one can assign such a quantity locally. Given such a fundamental omission in our knowledge, we construct a new ensemble composed of trajectories reaching an individual microstate and show that locally defined entropy, information and free energy are properties of the ensemble, or trajectory-independent true thermodynamic potentials. We find that the Boltzmann-Gibbs distribution and Landauer's principle can be generalized naturally as properties of the ensemble and that trajectory-free state functions of the ensemble govern the exact mechanism of non-equilibrium relaxation.
Impact of Diabetes in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Abernethy Abraham D. , Stackhouse Kathryn , Hart Stephen , Devendra Ganesh , Bashore Thomas M. , Dweik Raed , Krasuski Richard A. 
Published: January 2015

Diabetes complicates management in a number of disease states and adversely impacts survival; how diabetes affects patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) has not been well characterized. With insulin resistance having recently been demonstrated in PH, we sought to examine the impact of diabetes in these patients. Demographic characteristics, echo data, and invasive hemodynamic data were prospectively collected for 261 patients with PH referred for initial hemodynamic assessment. Diabetes was defined as documented insulin resistance or treatment with antidiabetic medications. Fifty‐five patients (21%) had diabetes, and compared with nondiabetic patients, they were older (mean years ± SD, 61 ± 13 vs. 56 ± 16; P = 0.02), more likely to be black (29% vs. 14%; P = 0.02) and hypertensive (71% vs. 30%; P < 0.001), and had higher mean (±SD) serum creatinine levels (1.1 ± 0.5 vs. 1.0 ± 0.4; P = 0.03). Diabetic patients had similar World Health Organization functional class at presentation but were more likely to have pulmonary venous etiology of PH (24% vs. 10%; P = 0.01). Echo findings, including biventricular function, tricuspid regurgitation, and pressure estimates were similar. Invasive pulmonary pressures and cardiac output were similar, but right atrial pressure was appreciably higher (14 ± 8 mmHg vs. 10 ± 5 mmHg; P < 0.001). Despite similar management, survival was markedly worse and remained so after statistical adjustment. In summary, diabetic patients referred for assessment of PH were more likely to have pulmonary venous disease than nondiabetic patients with PH, with hemodynamics suggesting greater right‐sided diastolic dysfunction. The markedly worse survival in these patients merits further study.
Peripheral Pulmonary Artery Stenosis as a Cause of Pulmonary Hypertension in Adults
Authors: Tonelli Adriano R. , Ahmed Mostafa , Hamed Fadi , Prieto Lourdes R. 
Published: January 2015

Peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis (PPAS) is an underrecognized condition in the adult population. PPAS can lead to pulmonary hypertension but is likely misdiagnosed as either idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. We retrospectively identified adult patients with PPAS either in its isolated form or related to other congenital defects from January 1998 to September 2012. We reviewed the patients’ clinical data by using our hospital electronic medical records and/or their paper charts. We identified 6 adult patients with PPAS with an age range of 16–56 years (1 woman and the rest men). Presenting signs and symptoms were thoracic murmurs, progressive dyspnea, and syncope. Three patients had Williams‐Beuren syndrome. Pulmonary angiography showed that PPAS was predominantly located in main branches or lobar pulmonary arteries in 5 patients, while in 1 patient the arterial narrowing was at the level of the segmental pulmonary arteries. Right heart catheterization showed a mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) ranging from 35 to 60 mmHg. Balloon dilation was performed in all patients, predominantly in the lobar arteries, and it caused a decrease in mean PAP that ranged from 16% to 46% in 5 patients. In 1 patient the mean PAP did not decrease. All but 1 patient had follow‐up echocardiograms at 1 year that showed stable echocardiographic findings. Pulmonary hypertension due to PPAS continues to presents a diagnostic challenge. Therefore, a high index of suspicion during the initial evaluation of pulmonary hypertension is essential for its prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment.