bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic risk prediction in a small cohort of healthy adults in Atlanta
Authors: ZHAO JING , ARAFAT DALIA , BRIGHAM KENNETH L. , GIBSON GREG 
Published: February 2013

SummaryCompared with single markers, polygenic scores that evaluate the joint effects of multiple trait-associated variants are more effective in explaining the variance of traits and risk of diseases. In total, 182 CHDWB (Emory-Georgia Tech Center for Health Discovery and Well Being study) adults were genotyped to investigate the common variant contributions to three traits (height, BMI, serum triglycerides) and three diseases (coronary artery disease (CAD), type 2 diabetes (T2D) and asthma). Association was contrasted between weighted and simple allelic sum polygenic scores with quantitative traits, and with the Framingham risk scores for CAD and T2D. Although the cohort size is two or three orders of magnitude smaller than typical discovery cohorts, we were able to detect significant associations and to explain up to 5% of the traits by the genetic risk scores, despite a strong influence of outliers. An unexpected finding was that CAD-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) explain a significant amount of the variation for total serum cholesterol. Forward step-wise sequential addition of SNPs into the regression model showed that the top-ranked SNPs explain a large proportion of variance, whereas inclusion of gender and ethnicity also affect the performance of polygenic scores.
Piercing associated perichondritis of the pinna: are we treating it correctly?
Authors: Liu Z W , Chokkalingam P 
Published: February 2013

AbstractObjective:This paper reports a series of patients with sporadic pinna perichondritis who presented to a district general hospital over a period of 10 years. The data examined included the causative organism, risk factors and pattern of antibiotic use.Method:A retrospective analysis of diagnosed cases of pinna perichondritis from 2001 to 2012 was performed. A literature review of pinna perichondritis was carried out using Pubmed with the key words ‘pinna perichondritis’, ‘pinna abscess’, ‘pinna infection’ and ‘piercing’.Results:Pinna perichondritis was more likely to result from chondral than lobe piercings. The majority of cases were caused byPseudomonas aeruginosa.Conclusion:Most patients were not prescribed anti-pseudomonal antibiotics on presentation. This may result in persistent infection and long-term cosmetic defects.
The opposition's policy influence through issue politicisation
Authors: Seeberg Henrik Bech 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIn a quantitative study using unique quarterly data across two decades, this article addresses the opposition's opportunities to influence policy; a topic that has been neglected in existing party-policy research. The idea that is developed is applied to a remarkable policy development on crime during the Danish leftwing government in the 1990s. Contrary to its policy position when it took office in 1993, the leftwing government repeatedly adopted severe restrictions to penal policy. The policy position of the rightwing opposition and its vehement and persistent criticism of the government provide an explanation, the article argues. Taking media coverage, public opinion, violence statistics, and the government's performance into account, the analysis shows that opposition criticism spurred the penal policy restrictions. Hence, by incorporating a policy agenda perspective, this article encourages a broadening of the perspective on parties’ policy influence. In particularly the opposition's opportunities to politicise issues and hereby influence policy.
Participation in environmental conservation and protected area management in Romania: A review of three case studies
Authors: STRINGER LINDSAY C. , PAAVOLA JOUNI 
Published: February 2013

SUMMARYSince the collapse of Central and Eastern Europe's communist regimes in the early 1990s, the ensuing environmental, social and economic changes have permitted development of new forms of multi-level governance. However, a coherent participatory approach to environmental conservation is yet to emerge. This review examines the changing approaches in environmental conservation and protected area governance in Romania during the country's pre-communist, communist, transition and current European Union eras. Three case examples are examined in depth to assess how changing environmental governance is playing out in practice in Natura 2000 sites, in a national park, and on privately owned (unprotected) forest land. Similar to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Romania's environmental governance practices still face substantial challenges in consolidating an inclusive and integrated approach to environmental governance and conservation. A lack of historical involvement of communities in decision making, reluctance within government to drive forward more inclusive environmental governance approaches, and a lack of non-governmental organizations focusing on environmental conservation, have resulted in slow progress towards more inclusive environmental governance. Civil society and solutions for institutionalizing participation across all levels of governance are needed to reorient environmental governance towards a more inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach that better links economic, social and environmental objectives.
Rejection sensitivity as a mediator of the impact of childhood exposure to family violence on adult attachment behavior
Authors: Feldman Scott , Downey Geraldine 
Published: February 2013

AbstractSubstantial evidence indicates a link between exposure to family violence in childhood and troubled social relationships. We draw on attachment and social-cognitive theory to formulate a model of the mechanisms underlying this association. The model proposes that early experiences of overt rejection (e.g., physical maltreatment) or covert rejection (e.g., emotional neglect) are internalized as sensitivity to rejection. In this study, we operationalize sensitivity to rejection in social-cognitive terms as a tendency to expect and be concerned about rejection across a range of social situations. We hypothesize that rejection sensitivity mediates the link between exposure to family violence and adult attachment behavior. Data from a survey of 212 undergraduates support this hypothesis and also provide evidence that indicates sensitivity to rejection underlies both avoidant and ambivalent patterns of insecure adult attachment behavior. Overall, the results illustrate the power of a process approach to explaining the developmental sequelae of maltreatment.
Assessing the generalisability of the Pediatric Cardiac Quality of Life Inventory in the United Kingdom
Authors: Wray Jo , Brown Kate , Franklin Rodney , Cassedy Amy , Marino Bradley S. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractPurposeTo demonstrate the generalisability of the Pediatric Cardiac Quality of Life Inventory in the United Kingdom.MethodsChildren and adolescents with heart disease were recruited from three tertiary paediatric cardiac centres in the United Kingdom and completed the Pediatric Cardiac Quality of Life Inventory. Item response option variability, total and subscale scores, patterns of correlation, and internal consistency were compared between the three sites.ResultsA total of 1537 participants – 768 children/adolescents and 769 parents – were evaluated from the three sites. Patterns of item response option variability were similar and acceptable for all samples – child, adolescent, parent of child, and parent of adolescent. Internal consistency was high (0.82–0.96) for all samples from each site, and item–subscale, subscale–subscale, subscale–total, and item–total correlations were moderate to excellent for each centre. Comparisons of patterns of subscale and total score correlations between the three sites revealed no significant differences.ConclusionScores on the Pediatric Cardiac Quality of Life Inventory are generalisable in the United Kingdom, supporting the use of this measure for multi-centre studies of health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with heart disease.
Comparison of two school-based programmes for health behaviour change: the Belo Horizonte Heart Study randomized trial
Authors: Ribeiro Robespierre QC , Alves Luciana 
Published: February 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of two school-based programmes to promote students’ willingness to engage in lifestyle changes related to eating habits and physical activity behaviours.DesignElementary school-based health promotion intervention, designed as a multicomponent experimental study, based on a behavioural epidemiological model.SettingNine intervention and eight comparative public and private elementary schools.SubjectsThe goal was to determine the impact on the longitudinally assessed outcomes of two programmes that addressed healthy nutrition and active living in a cohort of 2038 children. The evaluations used pre-intervention and follow-up student surveys that were based on the Transtheoretical Model of the stages of behaviour change.ResultsIn the intervention group, there were significant (P < 0·001) differences between the pre- and post-intervention times in the stages of change, with a reduction in the percentage of children at the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages and increased percentages at the preparation, action and maintenance stages, leading to healthier behaviours in fatty food consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and time spent in sedentary activities. The determinants of the behaviour stage were the intervention programme, the type of school and the presence of motivated teachers. The comparison group did not show significant differences between the pre- and post-intervention times for any of the stages of behaviour.ConclusionsThe intervention programme encouraged the students to make healthy lifestyle choices related to eating habits and physical activity behaviours.
Morphology Observation of Latex Particles with Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy by a Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Embedding Combined with RuO4 Staining Method
Authors: Geng Xiang , Zhai Myra Xuemei , Sun Tong , Meyers Greg 
Published: February 2013

AbstractImaging of latex particles, especially those with low glass transition temperature (Tg) has been a challenging issue. Different sample preparation methods for characterization of the morphology of a poly(n-butyl acrylate)/polystyrene two-phase latex are discussed and compared in this study. A method via hydroxyethyl cellulose embedding combined with ruthenium tetraoxide (RuO4) staining for scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) observation is developed. By using this method, the spherical shape of latex particles can be maintained without deformation. The degree of incorporation of RuO4 into latex particles and cellulose matrix is different, which makes latex particles readily identifiable from cellulose matrix under STEM. A series of latexes with different structures such as copolymer latex and organic-inorganic hybrid latex were also successfully investigated by this method. The results indicate this specimen preparation method can be applied to study the morphology of a wide range of latex systems.
ASYMPTOTIC ENUMERATION OF SYMMETRIC INTEGER MATRICES WITH UNIFORM ROW SUMS
Authors: MCKAY BRENDAN D. , MCLEOD JEANETTE C. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractWe investigate the number of symmetric matrices of nonnegative integers with zero diagonal such that each row sum is the same. Equivalently, these are zero-diagonal symmetric contingency tables with uniform margins, or loop-free regular multigraphs. We determine the asymptotic value of this number as the size of the matrix tends to infinity, provided the row sum is large enough. We conjecture that one form of our answer is valid for all row sums. An example appears in Figure 1.
The Gould's Belt Distances Survey
Authors: Loinard Laurent 
Published: February 2013

AbstractVery Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations can provide the positions of compact radio sources with an accuracy of order 50 micro-arcseconds. This is sufficient to measure the trigonometric parallax and proper motions of any object within 500 pc of the Sun to better than a few percent. Because they are magnetically active, young stars are often associated with compact radio emission detectable using VLBI techniques. Here we show how VLBI observations have already constrained the distance to the most often studied nearby regions of star formation (Taurus, Ophiuchus, Orion, etc.) and have started to provide information about their internal structure and kinematics. We will then briefly describe a large project, the ‘Gould's Belt Distances Survey,’ which has been designed to provide a detailed view of star formation in the solar neighborhood using VLBI observations.
Direct distance determination using parallax: Techniques, promises and limitations
Authors: Lindegren Lennart 
Published: February 2013

AbstractDetermination of trigonometric parallaxes is one of the very few direct methods available for measuring cosmic distances, and the only one capable of reaching beyond the Solar System. It is fundamental both to determine the intrinsic properties of astrophysical objects and as the first step on the cosmic distance ladder. Steady improvements of instruments and techniques have extended the applicability of the parallax method to ever greater distances. However, it is not correct to say that the method is independent of physical assumptions. This review covers ground-based optical techniques, from Bessel's time to the present, as well as space observations and radio interferometry. Some emphasis is put on the physical limitations of the method, in particular its sensitivity to source structure and photocentric variability on different timescales.
Toward a VLBI resolution of the Pleiades distance controversy
Authors: Melis Carl , Reid M. J. , Mioduszewski A. J. , Stauffer J. R. , Bower G. C. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe Pleiades is the best-studied open cluster in the sky. It is one of the primary open clusters used to define the ‘zero-age main sequence,' and hence it serves as a cornerstone for programs which use main-sequence fitting to derive distances. This role is called into question by the ‘Pleiades distance controversy:' the distance to the Pleiades from Hipparcos of approximately 120 pc is significantly different from the distance of 133 pc derived using other techniques. To resolve this issue, we plan to use Very Long Baseline Interferometry to derive a new, independent trigonometric parallax distance to the Pleiades. In these proceedings we present our observational program and report some preliminary results.
Binaries and distances
Authors: Pourbaix D. , Arenou F. , Halbwachs J.-L. , Siopis C. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractGaia's five-year observation baseline might naively lead to the expectation that it will be possible to fit the parallax of any sufficiently nearby object with the default five-parameter model (position at a reference epoch, parallax and proper motion). However, simulated Gaia observations of a ‘model Universe’ composed of nearly 107 objects, 50% of which turn out to be multiple stars, show that the single-star hypothesis can severely affect parallax estimation and that more sophisticated models must be adopted. In principle, screening these spurious single-star solutions is rather straightforward, for example by evaluating the quality of the fits. However, the simulated Gaia observations also reveal that some seemingly acceptable single-star solutions can nonetheless lead to erroneous distances. These solutions turn out to be binaries with an orbital period close to one year. Without auxiliary (e.g., spectroscopic) data, they will remain unnoticed.
Determining distances to stars statistically from photometry
Authors: Newberg Heidi Jo 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIn determining the distances to stars within the Milky Way galaxy, one often uses photometric or spectroscopic parallaxes. In these methods, the type of each individual star is determined, and the absolute magnitude of that star type is compared with the measured apparent magnitude to determine individual distances. In this paper, we define the term statistical photometric parallax, in which statistical knowledge of the absolute magnitudes of stellar populations is used to determine the underlying density distributions of those stars. This technique has been used to determine the density distribution of the Milky Way's stellar halo and its component tidal streams, using very large samples of stars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Most recently, the volunteer computing platform MilkyWay@home has been used to find the best-fitting model parameters for the density of these halo stars.
Spectroscopic distances to late-type stars
Authors: Bergemann Maria , Serenelli Aldo , Ruchti Gregory 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA common approach to determining distances to stars without astrometric information is to compare stellar evolution models with parameters obtained from spectroscopic techniques. This method is routinely applied in the context of large-scale stellar surveys out to distances of several kpc. However, systematic errors may arise because of inaccurate spectroscopic parameters. We explore the effects of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) on the determination of surface gravities and metallicities for a large sample of metal-poor stars within approximately 10 kpc of the Sun. Using the improved Teff scale, we then show that stellar parameters estimated based on the widely used method of 1D LTE excitation-ionization balance of Fe results in distances which are systematically in error. For metal-poor giants, [Fe/H] ~ −2 dex, the distances can be overestimated by up to 70%. We compare the results with those from the Radial Velocity Experiment Survey catalogue (rave) for the stars in common, and find similar offsets.
The outer rotation curve project with VERA: Trigonometric parallax of IRAS 05168+3634
Authors: Sakai Nobuyuki , Honma Mareki , Nakanishi Hiroyuki , Sakanoue Hirofumi , Kurayama Tomoharu ,   the VERA collaboration
Published: February 2013

AbstractWe present a measurement of the trigonometric parallax of IRAS 05168+3634 with VERA. The parallax is 0.532 ± 0.053 milli-arcsec, corresponding to a distance of 1.88+0.21−0.17 kpc. This is significantly closer than the previous distance estimate of 6 kpc based on a kinematic distance measurement. This drastic change in the source distance implies the need for revised values of not only the physical parameters of IRAS 05168+3634, but it also impies a different location in the Galaxy, placing it in the Perseus arm rather than the Outer arm. We also measured the proper motion of the source. A combination of the distance and proper motion with the systemic velocity yields a rotation velocity Θ = 227+9−11 km s−1 at the source position, assuming Θ0 = 240 km s−1. Our result, combined with previous VLBI results for six sources in the Perseus arm, indicates that the sources rotate systematically more slowly than the Galactic rotation velocity at the local standard of rest. In fact, we derive peculiar motions in the disk averaged over the seven sources in the Perseus arm of (Umean, Vmean) = (11 ± 3, −17 ± 3) km s−1, which indicates that these seven sources are moving systematically toward the Galactic Center and lag behind the overall Galactic rotation.
Cepheids and other variable stars and the distance to the Galactic Centre
Authors: Matsunaga Noriyuki 
Published: February 2013

AbstractWe review and discuss results of our survey of variable stars towards the Galactic Centre and their distances. In our near-infrared monitoring survey using IRSF/SIRIUS, we detected a number of Miras and Cepheids (both classical and type II) within 20 arcmin of the Galactic Centre. These distance indicators yield a distance to the Galactic Centre of between 7.5 and 8.5 kpc. A new calibration of the red clump also leads to a distance of ~ 8 kpc. For these indicators, which are luminosity-based, a large uncertainty resides in the correction for the foreground extinction, which depends on the reddening law. Nevertheless, our estimates are consistent with previous estimates based the kinematics of stars near the Galactic Centre, and this supports the reddening law we use.
Physical parameters for RR Lyrae stars in the sdss filter system
Authors: Catelan Márcio , Torrealba Gabriel I. , Cáceres Claudio , Smith Horace A. , De Lee Nathan , Fitzgerald Michael 
Published: February 2013

AbstractWe present a calibration of the metallicity and physical parameters (temperature, luminosity, gravity, mass, radius) for RR Lyrae stars using the ugrizsdss photometric system. Our work is based on calculations of synthetic horizontal branches (HBs), fully taking into account evolutionary effects for a wide range in metallicities and HB morphologies. We provide analytical fits that are able to provide all quantities mentioned with very high (internal) precision, based solely on mean sdss magnitudes and colors.
The Galactic Cepheid period–luminosity relation revisited using bona fide cluster Cepheids
Authors: Anderson Richard I. , Mowlavi Nami , Eyer Laurent 
Published: February 2013

AbstractClassical Cepheids in Galactic open clusters (cluster Cepheids: CCs) have been studied extensively for multiple decades, thanks to their importance as calibrators of the Galactic Cepheid period–luminosity relation (PLR). Here we revisit the calibration of the Galactic PLR using a new sample of CCs, since even recent calibrations show significant discrepancies. The CC sample employed for the calibration is based on the preliminary results of a self-consistent, eight-dimensional all-sky census. This census is based mostly on literature data, supplemented with high-precision radial-velocity observations from both hemispheres. New CCs are identified from our census and the degree of confidence in membership is quantified for known candidates. Using only bona fide CCs, we obtain MV = (−3.08 ± 0.50) log P + (−0.94 ± 0.42) mag, which is in perfect agreement with the results by Sandage, Tammann, and Reindl, albeit with larger error bars and an rms of 0.21 mag. The key to obtaining a meaningful calibration is to employ accurate cluster distance moduli and space reddening values. A homogeneous study of all bona fide host clusters would be desirable to increase precision and confidence in the calibration.
Circumstellar envelopes of Cepheids: a possible bias affecting the distance scale?
Authors: Kervella Pierre , Gallenne Alexandre , Mérand Antoine 
Published: February 2013

AbstractCircumstellar envelopes (CSEs) have been detected around many Cepheids, first based on long-baseline interferometry, and now also using other observing techniques. These envelopes are particularly interesting for two reasons: their presence could impact the Cepheid distance scale, and they may be valuable tracers of stellar mass loss. Here we focus on their potential impact on the calibration of the Cepheid distance scale. We consider the photometric contribution of the envelopes in the visible, near-, and thermal-infrared domains. We conclude that the impact of CSEs on the apparent luminosities of Cepheids is negligible at visible wavelengths and generally weak (<5%) in the near-infrared (λ ≈ 2 μm). In the thermal-infrared domain (λ ≈ 8 μm), the flux contribution of the CSEs differs depending on the pulsation period: it is relatively weak (<15%) for stars with periods shorter than P ≈ 10 days, but can reach ≈ 30% for long-period Cepheids. We specifically discuss the long-period Galactic Cepheid RS Puppis, which exhibits a very large circumstellar, dusty envelope, and we conclude that this is not a representative case. Overall, the contribution of CSEs to the usual period–luminosity relations (from the visible to the K band) is mostly negligible. They could affect calibrations at longer wavelengths, although the presence of envelopes may have been partially taken into account in the existing empirical calibrations.