bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome tailoring powered production of isobutanol in continuous CO2/H2 blend fermentation using engineered acetogen biocatalyst
Authors: Gak Eugene , Tyurin Michael , Kiriukhin Michael 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe cell energy fraction that powered maintenance and expression of genes encoding pro-phage elements, pta-ack cluster, early sporulation, sugar ABC transporter periplasmic proteins, 6-phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, and fructose-1,6-disphosphatase in acetogen Clostridium sp. MT871 was re-directed to power synthetic operon encoding isobutanol biosynthesis at the expense of these genes achieved via their elimination. Genome tailoring decreased cell duplication time by 7.0 ± 0.1 min (p &lt; 0.05) compared to the parental strain, with intact genome and cell duplication time of 68 ± 1 min (p &lt; 0.05). Clostridium sp. MT871 with tailored genome was UVC-mutated to withstand 6.1 % isobutanol in fermentation broth to prevent product inhibition in an engineered commercial biocatalyst producing 5 % (674.5 mM) isobutanol during two-step continuous fermentation of CO2/H2 gas blend. Biocatalyst Clostridium sp. MT871RG11IBR6 was engineered to express six copies of synthetic operon comprising optimized synthetic format dehydrogenase, pyruvate formate lyase, acetolactate synthase, acetohydroxyacid reductoisomerase, 2,3-dihydroxy-isovalerate dehydratase, branched-chain alpha-ketoacid decarboxylase gene, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and alcohol dehydrogenase, regaining cell duplication time of 68 ± 1 min (p &lt; 0.05) for the parental strain. This is the first report on isobutanol production by an engineered acetogen biocatalyst suitable for commercial manufacturing of this chemical/fuel using continuous fermentation of CO2/H2 blend thus contributing to the reversal of global warming.
Does Neighborhood Social Capital Buffer the Effects of Maternal Depression on Adolescent Behavior Problems?
Authors: Delany-Brumsey Ayesha , Mays Vickie M. , Cochran Susan D. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractNeighborhood characteristics have been shown to impact child well‐being. However, it remains unclear how these factors combine with family characteristics to influence child development. The current study helps develop that understanding by investigating how neighborhoods directly impact child and adolescent behavior problems as well as moderate the influence of family characteristics on behavior. Using multilevel linear models, we examined the relationship among neighborhood conditions (poverty and social capital) and maternal depression on child and adolescent behavior problems. The sample included 741 children, age 5–11, and 564 adolescents, age 12–17. Outcomes were internalizing (e.g. anxious/depressed) and externalizing (e.g. aggressive/hyperactive) behavior problems. Neighborhood poverty and maternal depression were both positively associated with behavior problems for children and adolescents. However, while neighborhood social capital was not directly associated with behavior problems, the interaction of social capital and maternal depression was significantly related to behavior problems for adolescents. This interaction showed that living in neighborhoods with higher levels of social capital attenuated the relationship between maternal depression and adolescent behavior problems and confirmed the expectation that raising healthy well‐adjusted children depends not only on the family, but also the context in which the family lives.
An Early Shoulder Repositioning Program in Birth-Related Brachial Plexus Injury: A Pilot Study of the Sup-ER Protocol
Authors: Verchere Cynthia , Durlacher Kim , Bellows Doria , Pike Jeffrey , Bucevska Marija 
Published: March 2014

Background Birth-related brachial plexus injury (BRBPI) occurs in 1.2/1,000 births in British Columbia. Even in children with “good” recovery, external rotation (ER) and supination (Sup) are often weaker, and permanent skeletal imbalance ensues. A preventive early infant shoulder passive repositioning program was created using primarily a novel custom splint holding the affected arm in full ER and Sup: the Sup-ER splint. The details of the splint and the shoulder repositioning program evolved with experience over several years. This study reviews the first 4 years. Methods A retrospective review of BCCH patients managed with the Sup-ER protocol from 2008 to 2011 compared their recovery scores to matched historical controls selected from our database by two independent reviewers. Results The protocol was initiated in 18 children during the study period. Six were excluded due to the following: insufficient data points, non-compliance, late splint initiation, and loss to follow-up. Of the 12 matches, the Sup-ER group final score at 2 years was better than controls by 1.18 active movement scale (AMS) points ( p=0.036) in Sup and 0.96 AMS points in ER (but not statistically significant ( p=0.13)). Unexpectedly, but importantly, during the study period, zero subjects were assessed to have the active functional criteria to indicate brachial plexus reconstruction, where previously we operated on 13 %. Conclusions Early application of passive shoulder repositioning into Sup and ER may improve outcomes in function of the arm in infants with BRBPI. A North American multi-site randomized control trial has been approved and has started recruitment.
Intimate Partner Violence and Women’s Economic and Non-Economic Activities in Minya, Egypt
Authors: Yount Kathryn M. , Zureick-Brown Sarah , Salem Rania 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is widespread, but its implications for their economic and non-economic activities are understudied. Leveraging new data from 564 ever-married women aged 22–65 in rural Minya, Egypt, we estimated logistic regressions and zero-inflated negative binomial regressions to test spillover, compensation, and patriarchal bargaining theories about the influences of women’s exposure to IPV on their engagement in and time spent on market, subsistence, domestic, and care work. Supporting compensation theory, exposures to lifetime, recent, and chronic physical or sexual IPV were associated with higher adjusted odds of performing market work in the prior month, and exposures to recent and chronic IPV were associated with higher adjusted odds of performing subsistence work in this period. Supporting compensation and patriarchal bargaining theories, exposures to recent and chronic IPV were associated with more time spent on domestic work in the prior day. Supporting spillover and patriarchal bargaining theories, exposures to lifetime IPV of all forms were associated with lower adjusted odds of performing mostly nonspousal care work in the prior day, and this association was partially mediated by women’s generalized anxiety. Women in rural Minya who are exposed to IPV may escalate their housework to fulfill local norms of feminine domesticity while substituting economic activities for nonspousal care work to enhance their economic independence from violent partners.
Can a novel computerized cognitive screening test provide additional information for early detection of Alzheimer's disease?
Authors: Tarnanas Ioannis , Tsolaki Magda , Nef Tobias , M. Müri René , Mosimann Urs P. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundVirtual reality testing of everyday activities is a novel type of computerized assessment that measures cognitive, executive, and motor performance as a screening tool for early dementia. This study used a virtual reality day‐out task (VR‐DOT) environment to evaluate its predictive value in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).MethodsOne hundred thirty‐four patients with MCI were selected and compared with 75 healthy control subjects. Participants received an initial assessment that included VR‐DOT, a neuropsychological evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and event‐related potentials (ERPs). After 12 months, participants were assessed again with MRI, ERP, VR‐DOT, and neuropsychological tests.ResultsAt the end of the study, we differentiated two subgroups of patients with MCI according to their clinical evolution from baseline to follow‐up: 56 MCI progressors and 78 MCI nonprogressors. VR‐DOT performance profiles correlated strongly with existing predictive biomarkers, especially the ERP and MRI biomarkers of cortical thickness.ConclusionsCompared with ERP, MRI, or neuropsychological tests alone, the VR‐DOT could provide additional predictive information in a low‐cost, computerized, and noninvasive way.
Changes over time in echocardiographic variables and atrial electromechanical intervals after ablation for atrial fibrillation
Authors: Mano Hiroaki , Okumura Yasuo , Watanabe Ichiro , Ohta Masakatsu , Kogawa Rikitake , Sasaki Naoko , Nakai Toshiko , Ohkubo Kimie , Kofune Masayoshi , Nagashima Koichi , Sonoda Kazumasa , Haruta Hironori , Hirayama Atsushi 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIntroductionAcute and mid‐term effects of ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) on left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) function and the atrial electromechanical interval are controversial.MethodsEchocardiographic variables and the PA‐TDI interval (time from ECG lead II P‐wave onset to lateral a′ wave on tissue Doppler tracings, indicating the total atrial conduction time [TACT]) were evaluated in 33 paroxysmal AF patients before, 1 day, and 3, 6, and 12 months after ablation.ResultsDuring a 12‐month follow‐up, 10 (30.3%) patients had recurrent AF, associated with a greater baseline LA volume (LAV) (48.4±19.3 mm3 vs. 38.7±11.4 mm3, P=0.0811) and PA‐TDI interval (163.9±11.0 ms vs. 151.1±14.6 ms, P=0.0189) than in patients without AF recurrence. By 6 months after ablation, LAV had decreased progressively in the non‐recurrence group (27.9±8.1 mm3, P<0.0001 vs. baseline), but the decrease was modestly significant in the recurrence group (36.3±7.5 cm3, P=0.0380). LV ejection fraction (LVEF) modestly increased 1 day after ablation in both groups and remained unchanged in the non‐recurrence group (67.9±8.1% at baseline to 70.5±5.9% at 12 months, P=0.1711), whereas it decreased gradually below the baseline value in the recurrence group (68.2±11.3% to 60.9±13.6%, P=0.1025). The PA‐TDI interval did not change during follow‐up in either group, but remained longer in the recurrence group.ConclusionsThe PA‐TDI interval may be useful for predicting post‐ablation AF recurrences. The patterns of time‐course changes in LAV, LVEF, and TACT differ, but the effects of ablation were better in patients without AF recurrence after ablation.
Glacial and Holocene terrestrial temperature variability in subtropical east Australia as inferred from branched GDGT distributions in a sediment core from Lake McKenzie
Authors: Woltering Martijn , Atahan Pia , Grice Kliti , Heijnis Henk , Taffs Kathryn , Dodson John 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBranched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) distributions observed in a sediment core from Lake McKenzie were utilized to quantitatively reconstruct the pattern of mean annual air temperature (MAAT) from coastal subtropical eastern Australia between 37 and 18.3 cal ka BP and 14.0 cal ka BP to present. Both the reconstructed trend and amplitude of MAAT changes from the top of the sediment core were nearly identical to a local instrumental MAAT record from Fraser Island, providing confidence that in this sediment core branched GDGTs could be used to produce a quantitative record of past MAAT. The reconstructed trend of MAAT during 37 to 18.3 cal ka BP and timing of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in the Lake McKenzie record were in agreement with previously published nearby marine climate records. The amplitude of lower-than-present MAAT during the LGM potentially provides information on the latitude of separation of the Tasman Front from the East Australian current in the subtropical western Pacific. The Lake McKenzie record shows an earlier onset of near modern day warm temperatures in the early Holocene compared to marine records and the presence of a warmer than present day period during the mid-Holocene.
URBAN FOOTBALL PERFORMANCES: PLAYING FOR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN SENEGAL, 1950s–2000s
Authors: Baller Susann 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTIn Senegal, neighbourhood football teams are more popular than teams in the national football league. The so-callednavétanesteams were first created in the 1950s. Since the early 1970s, they have competed in local, regional and national neighbourhood championships. This article considers the history of these clubs and their championships by focusing on the city of Dakar and its fast-growing suburbs, Pikine and Guédiawaye. Research on thenavétanesallows an exploration of the social and cultural history of the neighbourhoods from the actor-centred perspective of urban youth. The history of thenavétanesreflects the complex interrelations between young people, the city and the state. The performative act of football – on and beyond the pitch, by players, fans and organizers – constitutes the neighbourhood as a social space in a context where the state fails to provide sufficient infrastructure and is often contested. Thenavétanesclubs and championships demonstrate how young people have experienced and imagined their neighbourhoods in different local-level ways, while at the same time interconnecting them with other social spaces, such as the ‘city’, the ‘nation’ and ‘the world’.
Associations of eating frequency with adiposity measures, blood lipid profiles and blood pressure in British children and adolescents
Authors: Murakami Kentaro , Livingstone M. Barbara E. 
Published: March 2014

Several epidemiological studies in adults have suggested a favourable effect of frequent eating on blood lipid profiles, but evidence in younger populations is lacking. In the present cross-sectional study, we examined the associations of eating frequency (EF) with metabolic risk factors in British children aged 4–10 years (n818) and adolescents aged 11–18 years (n818). Dietary intake was assessed using a 7 d weighed dietary record. EF was calculated based on all eating occasions, except for those providing < 210 kJ of energy. Metabolic risk factors examined were total, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, TAG concentration, BMIz-score, waist:height ratio (WHtR; only adolescents), and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Adjustment was made for age, sex, social class, physical activity levels, intakes of protein, fat, total sugar and dietary fibre, ratio of reported energy intake to estimated energy requirement (EI:EER) and BMIz-score (except for BMIz-score and WHtR). In children, EF was inversely associated with total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations (n324,P= 0·01 and 0·04, respectively). Conversely, EF was positively associated with BMIz-score in adolescents (P= 0·004). There were no associations between EF and other metabolic risk factors. In analyses in which only plausible energy reporters (EI:EER: 0·72–1·28) were included, similar results were obtained, except for an inverse association between EF and diastolic blood pressure in children. In conclusion, a higher EF is associated with lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations in children but with a higher BMIz-score in adolescents.
The effect of urinary nitrogen loading rate and a nitrification inhibitor on nitrous oxide emissions from a temperate grassland soil
Authors: SELBIE D. R. , CAMERON K. C. , DI H. J. , MOIR J. L. , LANIGAN G. J. , RICHARDS K. G. 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYNitrous oxide (N2O) emissions associated with urine nitrogen (N) deposition during grazing are a major component of greenhouse gas emissions from domestic livestock. The present study investigated the relationship between urine N loading rate and the efficacy of a nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD), on cumulative N2O emissions from a grassland soil in Ireland over 80 and 360-day periods in 2009/10 and 2010/11. A diminishing curvilinear relationship between urine N rate and cumulative N2O emissions was observed in both years. Despite this increase in cumulative N2O emissions, the emission factor (EF3) for N2O decreased with increasing urine N rate from, on average, 0·24 to 0·10% (urine applied at 300 and 1000 kg N/ha, respectively), during an 80-day measurement period. This was probably the result of a factor other than N, such as carbon (C), limiting the production of N2O. The efficacy of DCD varied with urine N loading rate, and inter-annual variability in efficacy was also observed. Dicyandiamide was effective at reducing N2O production for 50–80 days after urine application, which accounted for the major period of elevated daily flux. However, DCD was ineffective at reducing N2O production after this period, which was likely a result of its removal from the soil via degradation and leaching.
Green Window Approach for improving nitrogen management by farmers in small-scale wheat fields
Authors: YUE X. L. , HU Y. , ZHANG H. Z. , SCHMIDHALTER U. 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYImprovement of nitrogen (N) use efficiency is urgently needed since excessive application of N fertilizer has been widespread in small-scale fields in China, causing great losses of N fertilizer and environmental pollution. In the present study, a simple technology, termed the Green Window Approach (GWA), to optimize N strategies for cereal crops is presented. The GWA represents an on-field demonstration site visualizing the effects of incremental N levels and enables farmers to conduct such a trial within their own fields. The lowest N rate that achieves no visible change in plant growth or biomass shows the optimal N requirement of crops. Therefore the objective was to develop the key procedures of GWA and to evaluate the effects of its application in cereal crops on grain yield, N use efficiency and economic benefit. A total of seven GWA trials were performed from 2009 to 2011 on farmers’ irrigated wheat fields in the North China Plain. The GWA consisted of eight small plots placed in a compact layout on a well-accessible part of the field. Plot size varied from 2·5×2·5 to 4×4 m2, depending on the size and shape of each field. All GWA plots received basal nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) rates of 30 kg N/ha (except for the nil-N plot), 80 kg P2O5/ha and 100 kg K2O/ha. Nitrogen supplies, including residual soil nitrate in 0–90 cm determined at Zadoks growth stages (GS) 21–23 in early spring and the split-topdressing N at GS 21–23 and GS 41–52, were incrementally increased from 0 to 420 kg N/ha. The remaining part of the field still received farmers’ customary fertilization (FCF). Optimal N rate could be estimated as the lowest N rate that achieved no visible change in plant growth at GS 60–73. Compared with FCF area, grain yield was increased by 13% to a maximum or near maximum value of 5·8 t/ha, optimal N rate was sharply decreased by 69% to 116 kg N/ha, apparent N recovery was greatly increased from 11 to 46%, whereas the cost of fertilizer input was decreased by 57% to 1045 Chinese Renminbi (RMB)/ha (162 US$/ha), the profit of grain yield was increased by 13% to 12 211 RMB/ha (1891 US$/ha) and the net economic benefits were increased by 60% to 7473 RMB/ha (1157 US$/ha). Most importantly, the GWA does not need laboratory facilities, complicated procedures or professional knowledge of N balances, and farmers can easily understand and use GWA by themselves.
Analytical mechanics approaches in the dynamic modelling of Delta mechanism
Authors: Orsino Renato Maia Matarazzo , Coelho Tarcisio Antonio Hess , Pesce Celso Pupo 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYThe increasing importance of computational models for the design of complex mechanical systems raises a discussion on defining some criteria for the selection of adequate modelling methods. This paper aims to contribute to such discussion from an educational point of view. By choosing the Delta parallel mechanism as a typical representative of multi-body mechanical systems, four approaches – one based on the Principle of Virtual Work, two based on Lagrange's formalism, and one based on Kane's formalism – are analysed from the perspective of modelling procedures. Finally, inverse dynamic simulations are carried out along with qualitative comparisons of the considered approaches.
Time constraint route search over multi-locations
Authors: Zhao Geng , Xuan Kefeng , Taniar David , Safar Maytham , Srinivasan Bala 
Published: March 2014

AbstractTraditional Route Search aims at finding the path that goes through geographical entities that are relevant to the provided search terms from the start point to the end point. Without constraints, traditional Route Search visiting multiple locations is unreliable because locations may close after a specified time. In this paper, time constraint (operating hours of each location) is drawn into Route Search query in order to make the query more realistic. Two methods are proposed in this paper, namely Route Search for fixed locations (RFix) and Route Search for flexible locations (RFlex). These two queries are different from the existing Route Search query because (1) the end point is not pre-defined and (2) time constraint is involved. Our two proposal queries consider whether the locations are specifically pre-defined by the user or only the location types are specified. In each method, two propositions are presented for pruning expansion branches, which highly improves the performance. Our experiments verified the applicability of RFix and RFlex to solve Route Search queries with time constraint queries.
Information services for novelty mining
Authors: Tsai Flora S. , Kwee Agus T. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractInformation services facilitate users to exploit applications over the network and access them from the remote system at the client side. In this paper, we describe the design and development of information services for novelty mining, which allows users to access the novel yet relevant information of a given topic. Several methodologies regarding novelty mining such as novelty scoring, novelty threshold, novelty feedback, and document-to-sentence technique are described. In addition to Web services, mobile information services are also described. Modelling and implementing information services for novelty mining are especially useful for users to reduce their information overload. We describe the challenging issue of decomposing the complex novelty mining application into several smaller and simpler modules, which are later implemented as services on the Web as well as mobile devices. After deploying our information services for novelty mining, test cases are provided to demonstrate the system. Our information services for novelty mining are confirmed to be helpful in increasing the efficiency of enterprise users in gathering novel information from incoming text. By studying the design and development of information services for novelty mining, we can benefit other developers in investigating effective techniques for developing enterprise services for other real-world applications.