bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Body size and sexual size dimorphism in primates: influence of climate and net primary productivity
Authors: Dunham A. E. , Maitner B. S. , Razafindratsima O. H. , Simmons M. C. , Roy C. L. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractUnderstanding the evolution of body size and sexual size dimorphism has been a longstanding goal in evolutionary biology. Previous work has shown that environmental stress can constrain male‐biased sexual size dimorphism at the population level, but we know little about how this might translate to geographical patterns of body size and sexual size dimorphism at the species level. Environmental constraints due to a highly seasonal, resource‐poor and/or variable environment have often been cited to explain the unusual lack of sexual size dimorphism amongMadagascar's diverse and numerous primate taxa; however, empirical tests of this hypothesis are lacking. Using a phylogenetic approach and a geographical information system platform, we explored the role of seasonality, interannual variability and annual measures of temperature and rainfall, and net primary productivity on patterns of body size and sexual size dimorphism across 130 species of primates. Phylogenetically controlled comparisons showed no support for a role of environmental constraints in moderating sexual size dimorphism at the interspecific level, despite significant associations of environmental variables with body mass. Results suggest that the focus of discussions that have dominated in the last two decades regarding the role of environmental constraints in driving patterns of monomorphism ofMadagascar's lemurs should be reconsidered; however, the conundrum remains.
Flowability and Homogeneity of Food Powders with Plated Oil Ingredient
Authors: Domian Ewa , Cenkier Jan 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThe present study was conducted to analyze flowability and homogeneity of single and multi‐ingredient bulk carriers with plated oil ingredient, including the influence of mixing parameters in a ploughshare mixer, addition of silica and composition of a plator. Powder flowability was determined using simple tests as Hausner ratio, angle of repose, pouring time, and by funnels. Homogeneity was determined using the analysis of variation of coefficient of color parameters. Plators received on the basis of salt and a mixture of salt and glucose with the addition of hydrophylic silica were free‐flowing powders, but their homogeneity was moderate. Plators received on the basis of mixtures containing maltodextrin were characterized by good homogeneity and were also described as free‐flowing powders. Application of porous starch as a carrier enabled to obtain plator characterized by the best homogeneity and very good flowability determined by all simple tests. Elongation of mixing time, as well as augmentation of ploughshare speed or application of a chopper resulted in deterioration of plator homogeneity. Adequate plator homogeneity was obtained without the application of chopper, when mixing time was 4.5 min and ploughshare speed was 130 rpm.Practical ApplicationsThe simplest means of turning liquid flavors and oils into easily manageable dry powders is to extend or plate a liquid on a dry edible carrier. The only equipment required for this process is a mixer which is capable of fluidizing the carrier and has a spray applicator that can uniformly distribute the liquid flavoring. The application of porous starches or multicomponent mixtures of carriers can optimize cost, absorption capacity, homogeneity and any number of other desired properties, as flowability. The specific combination of carriers is dependent on several factors and needs to be based on the desired finished product. Knowledge of the effect of carrier and mixing conditions on the flowability and homogeneity of the plated liquid ingredient would help in understanding their suitability in plator production. In the quality control are useful measurements that are easily feasible, fast, repeatable and accurate. Knowledge of the applicability of simple tests to assess the homogeneity and powder flowability of plators indicates the guidelines for quick and optimal designing of such processes.
Effect of Traditional Nixtamalization Process on Starch Annealing and the Relation to Pozole Quality
Authors: Figueroa J.D.C. , Véles‐Medina J.J. , Tolentino‐López E.M. , Gaytán‐Martínez M. , Aragón‐Cuevas F. , Palacios N. , Willcox M. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractSeveral maize landraces were evaluated using microstructural and rheological starch properties and related them to pozole quality. Annealed starch produced during traditional nixtamalization and additional boiling step enhances the viscosity, swelling and starch stability to collapse by forming amylose–lipid complexes. Regarding pozole broth, Cacahuacintle maize (pozole end‐use) presented significantly higher (P < 0.05) soluble solids (0.41%) compared with tortilla end‐use landraces Pepitilla (0.16%) and Celaya (0.32%). The explanation is that Cacahuacintle pozole matrix did not collapse, but it eroded, forming a sponge structure. Celaya had a compact matrix structure. Pozole yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Cacahuacintle as it was 100% soft endosperm type. X‐ray diffraction suggests changes from A‐type starch in nixtamal to V‐type pattern in pozole, typical of amylose–lipid complexes. Those changes in processing and in quality of the final products are important economic issues that merit further investigations concerning annealing temperatures, steeping and processing times.Practical ApplicationsPozole is a pre‐Columbian exotic soup or stew that once had a ritual significance for the Aztecs of Mexico; it is made with a very special floury type of maize named Cacahuacintle. Despite the economic importance of the Cacahuacintle maize race in Mexico and in Southwest U.S.A., the quality characteristics that the maize kernel should have to give good quality pozole are not well known, which is in part due to the ready availability of poor quality canned products in the market. Combined treatments involving starch annealing during nixtamalization and heat treatment of the wet nixtamal during boiling lead to increase the pozole quality. A practical way to produce thermally resistant starches is through the use of selected maize and heat/moisture treatments. The amylose–lipid complexes formed increase starch gelatinization temperatures and its stability to produce puckered granules at water boiling temperatures, giving the unique sponge structure with soft texture and high swelling properties in the final product.
Development of functional oral health literacy assessment instruments: Application of literacy and cognitive theories
Authors: Bridges Susan M. , Parthasarathy Divya S. , Au Terry K.F. , Wong Hai Ming , Yiu Cynthia K.Y. , McGrath Colman P. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractObjectivesThis paper describes the development of a new literacy assessment instrument, the Hong Kong Oral Health Literacy Assessment Task for Paediatric Dentistry (HKOHLAT‐P). Its relationship to literacy theory is analyzed to establish content and face validity. Implications for construct validity are examined by analyzing cognitive demand to determine how “comprehension” is measured.MethodsKey influences from literacy assessment were identified to analyze item development. Cognitive demand was analyzed using an established taxonomy.ResultsThe HKOHLAT‐P focuses on the functional domain of health literacy assessment. Items had strong content and face validity reflecting established principles from modern literacy theory. Inclusion of new text types signified relevant developments in the area of new literacies. Analysis of cognitive demand indicated that this instrument assesses the “comprehension” domain, specifically the areas of factual and procedural knowledge, with some assessment of conceptual knowledge. Metacognitive knowledge was not assessed.ConclusionsComprehension tasks assessing patient health literacy predominantly examine functional health literacy at the lower levels of comprehension. Item development is influenced by the fields of situated and authentic literacy. Inclusion of content regarding multiliteracies is suggested for further research. Development of functional health literacy assessment instruments requires careful consideration of the clinical context in determining construct validity.
Effects of different nutrient sources on plasticity of reproductive strategies in a monoecious species, Sagittaria graminea (Alismataceae)
Authors: ZHANG Li‐Hui , ZHANG Yan‐Wen , ZHAO Xing‐Nan , HUANG Sheng‐Jun , ZHAO Ji‐Min , YANG Yun‐Fei 
Published: September 2013

AbstractVaried nutrient sources can influence the plasticity of reproductive strategies in monoecious species differently. We examined the plasticity of sexual and clonal reproductive components in distinct nutrient sources in a monoecious species, Sagittaria graminea Michx. The results showed that for aboveground reproductive components, in rich‐phosphorus and low‐nitrogen conditions, the species produced more male flowers, whereas female flowers did not significantly increase in number compared to low‐phosphorus and low‐nitrogen conditions (control). In rich‐nitrogen and low‐phosphorus conditions, the species produced more flowers, particularly female, and more seeds, compared to the control conditions. In the rich‐nitrogen and rich‐phosphorus conditions, plants increased male flowers, female flowers, total flower number, synchronously, as well as seed production. For the belowground reproductive components, in the rich‐phosphorus conditions, the plants produced bigger corms than in the rich‐nitrogen and control conditions, which further enhanced their competitiveness against companion species. In rich‐nitrogen conditions, the plants produced more medium and small corms, and relatively more and longer stolons, which were useful in expansion and invasion of more space. Furthermore, the species displayed trade‐off relationships between the aboveground and belowground reproductive components in unbalanced nutrient conditions (add‐N or add‐P). However, in low nutrient levels (control) or in nutrient abundant (add‐N + P) conditions, there were no significant trade‐off relationships between the aboveground and belowground reproductive components, based on quantities.
Sexual interference in twoChamerionspecies with contrasting modes of movement herkogamy
Authors: GUO Wen , WANG Lin‐Lin , SUN Shan , YANG Yong‐Ping , DUAN Yuan‐Wen 
Published: September 2013

AbstractEvolution of herkogamy has been ascribed to preventing autonomous selfing within flowers, but this argument has received challenges due to the negative effects of sexual interference on reproductive success of plant species. We examined the effects of the two contrasting modes of herkogamy, detailed by the different patterns of style movement, on the foraging time of pollinators on flowers, pollen removal, and deposition in twoChamerionspecies. Our results suggested that the duration of foraging time of bumblebees was generally higher inC. angustifolium(L.) Holub than inC. conspersum(Hausskn.) Holub during the male‐phase of flowers, but the reverse during the female‐phase of flowers. As a result, stigma interfered with pollen removal more inC. conspersumthan inC. angustifolium, based on examinations of pollen removal after one visit by a pollinator. However, this negative effect on total pollen removal was covered by the high pollinator diversity and the possible high visitation rate in the study sites. In contrast, we found that almost no difference existed in pollen deposition rate after one visit of a pollinator between the twoChamerionspecies, and emasculation did not increase the total pollen deposition in either species, indicating that anthers did not interfere with pollen deposition in the twoChamerionspecies. Our results suggested that, compared withC. conspersum, the derived mode of herkogamy inC. angustifoliumreduced interference of stigmas in pollen removal. This might contribute to the wide distribution ofC. angustifolium, to some degree, in environments of pollinator scarcity and low activity in newly colonized habitats.
Empirical analysis of fuel price and subsidy reform in Nigeria
Authors: Nwachukwu Maxwell Umunna , Mba Harold Chike , Jiburum Uloma , Okosun Andrew Erega 
Published: September 2013

AbstractFuel subsidy removal has been a very topical and delicate issue in Nigeria. In spite of government assurance that the proceeds from the fuel subsidy withdrawal will be used judiciously and effectively to provide critical infrastructure that will cushion its effects, the opponents have remained resolute on their uncompromising stand against its removal. The goal of this study is to determine the actual size of fuel subsidy in Nigeria. It is therefore hypothesised that there was no significant relationship between price of fuel and fuel subsidy. Simple linear regression technique was used in the analysis. The results suggest that there was a significant relationship between the price of fuel and subsidy at less than 0.01 significant level (R2 = 0.79). This implies that fuel subsidy accounted for 79 per cent of the actual price of fuel. This is an indication that government actually subsidised fuel by 79 per cent of the actual price per litre. In others word, the consumers only paid for 21 per cent of the actual price per litre. This is evidence that fuel is highly subsidised in Nigeria. The study recommends gradual removal of subsidy, and using the money realised from it for cushioning the effects on the poor.
An introduction to oil market volatility analysis
Authors: Matar Walid , Al‐Fattah Saud M. , Atallah Tarek , Pierru Axel 
Published: September 2013

AbstractModelling and forecasting crude oil price volatility is crucial in many financial and investment applications. The main purpose of this paper is to review and assess the current state of oil market volatility knowledge. It highlights the properties and characteristics of the oil price volatility that models seek to capture, and discuss the different modelling approaches to oil price volatility. Asymmetric response to price change, persistence and mean reversion, structural breaks, and possible market spillover of volatility are discussed. To complement the discussion, West Texas Intermediate futures price data are used to illustrate these properties using non‐parametric and conditional modelling methods. The generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity‐type models usually applied in the oil price volatility literature are also explored. We additionally examine the exogenous factors that may influence volatility in the oil markets.
Macroeconomic effects of world oil and food price shocks in Asia and Pacific economies: application of SVAR models
Authors: Alom Fardous , Ward Bert D. , Hu Baiding 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThis study, by employing structural vector auto regression models, investigates the macroeconomic effects of world oil and food price shocks in the context of selected Asia and Pacific countries. The study reveals that the economic activities of resource‐poor countries that specialise in heavy manufacturing industries, like Korea and Taiwan, are highly affected by world oil price shocks. On the other hand, the economic activities of oil‐poor nations such as Australia and New Zealand, with diverse mineral resources other than oil, are not affected by oil price shocks. Furthermore, countries that are oil poor but specialise in international financial services, such as Singapore and Hong Kong, are also not affected by oil price increases. Moreover, some developing countries, in this case, India, with limited reserves of oil are not affected by oil price shocks, whereas other such countries, like Thailand, possessing a number of natural resources other than oil are more strongly affected by oil price shocks. With regard to food price shocks, limited impacts from food price increases can be recorded for India, Korea and Thailand. Overall, the effects of external oil and food prices depend on the economic characteristics of the countries.
Sick regimes and sick people: a multilevel investigation of the population health consequences of perceived national corruption
Authors: Witvliet Margot I. , Kunst Anton E. , Arah Onyebuchi A. , Stronks Karien 
Published: September 2013

AbstractObjectiveThere is a paucity of empirical work on the potential population health impact of living under a regime marred by corruption. African countries differ in the extent of national corruption, and we explore whether perceived national corruption is associated with population health across all rungs of society.MethodsWorld Health Survey data were analysed on 72 524 adults from 20 African countries. The main outcome was self‐reported poor general health. Multilevel logistic regression was used to assess the association between poor health and perceived corruption, while jointly accounting for individual‐ and country‐level human development factors. In this research, we use Transparency International's corruption perception index (CPI), which measures ‘both administrative and political corruption’ on a 0–10 scale. A higher score pertains to a higher rate of perceived corruption within society. We also examined effect modification by gender, age and socio‐economic status.ResultsHigher national corruption perception was consistently associated with an increase in poor health prevalence, also after multivariable adjustments, with odds ratio (OR) of 1.62 (95% CI: 1.01–2.60). Stratified analyses by age and gender suggested this same pattern in all subgroups. Positive associations between poor health and perceived corruption were evident in all socio‐economic groups, with the association being somewhat more positive among less educated people (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.01–2.58) than among more educated people (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.83–2.37).ConclusionsThis study is a cautious first step in empirically testing the general health consequences of corruption. Our results suggest that higher perceived national corruption is associated with general health of both men and women within all socio‐economic groups across the lifespan. Further research is needed using more countries to assess the magnitude of the health consequences of corruption.
Expansion of Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia and Leptochloa fusca ssp. fascicularis in rice fields in Valencia, eastern Spain
Authors: Osca J M 
Published: September 2013

SummaryDue to the rapid spread of two subspecies of Leptochloa fusca through the Valencia rice‐growing region in the east of Spain, a 3‐year field study was carried out to establish the frequency, distribution and infestation level of the two subspecies in rice paddies in the area. A total of 3650 fields were visited, of which 1235 were visited in each year of the study period. Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia and Leptochloa fusca ssp. fascicularis were found to be widely distributed in the area, increasing from a frequency of 5.3% in 2008 to 20.1% in 2010. Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia was the largest contributor to the infestations, but subspecies fascicularis is now on the increase and represents a serious threat to rice crops, as it is found within the rice fields themselves. The irrigation system and the farm machinery used in the rice fields also contribute to the rapid spread of these weeds. Severe infestations have been caused by periodic water shortages, and the fact that new herbicides used to control Echinochloa spp. do not affect Leptochloa subspecies. Spatial differences in the distributions of the two subspecies are attributed to the different water management systems and also to differences in the germination and dormancy of both subspecies.
Weak approximation of stochastic differential delay equations for bounded measurable function
Authors: Zhang Hua 
Published: September 2013

AbstractIn this paper we study the weak approximation problem of $E[\phi (x(T))] $ by $E[\phi (y(T))] $, where $x(T)$ is the solution of a stochastic differential delay equation and $y(T)$ is defined by the Euler scheme. For $\phi \in { C}_{b}^{3} $, Buckwar, Kuske, Mohammed and Shardlow (‘Weak convergence of the Euler scheme for stochastic differential delay equations’, LMS J. Comput. Math. 11 (2008) 60–69) have shown that the Euler scheme has weak order of convergence $1$. Here we prove that the same results hold when $\phi $ is only assumed to be measurable and bounded under an additional non-degeneracy condition.
Molecular transport machinery involved in orchestrating luminal acid‐induced duodenal bicarbonate secretion in vivo
Authors: Singh Anurag Kumar , Liu Yongjian , Riederer Brigitte , Engelhardt Regina , Thakur Basant Kumar , Soleimani Manoocher , Seidler Ursula 
Published: September 2013

Key points
Acid damage of the proximal duodenum is a key pathogenic factor in duodenal ulcer disease as well as in the intestinal manifestations of cystic fibrosis.
Short contact of healthy duodenal mucosa with acid results in long‐lasting stimulation of proximal duodenal bicarbonate secretion.
While the complex neural, paracrine, humoral and luminocrine regulation of this acid‐induced bicarbonate secretory response, as well as its protective role, has been studied in some detail, little is known about the molecular identity of the involved ion transporters or intracellular signalling.
Using genetically engineered mouse models, we found that the anion exchanger DRA (Slc26a3), the anion conductances Slc26a9 and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, and the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 play essential roles in orchestrating the acid‐induced duodenal bicarbonate secretory response. These transporters are differentially controlled by signalling mechanisms along the crypt–villus axis.
These findings provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology of peptic damage to the duodenum and may provide novel treatment strategies.
Abstract  The duodenal villus brush border membrane expresses several ion transporters and/or channels, including the solute carrier 26 anion transporters Slc26a3 (DRA) and Slc26a6 (PAT‐1), the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3), as well as the anion channels cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and Slc26a9. Using genetically engineered mouse models lacking Scl26a3, Slc26a6, Slc26a9 or Slc9a3 (NHE3), the study was carried out to assess the role of these transporters in mediating the protective duodenal bicarbonate secretory response (DBS‐R) to luminal acid; and to compare it to their role in DBS‐R elicited by the adenylyl cyclase agonist forskolin. While basal DBS was reduced in the absence of any of the three Slc26 isoforms, the DBS‐R to forskolin was not altered. In contrast, the DBS‐R to a 5 min exposure to luminal acid (pH 2.5) was strongly reduced in the absence of Slc26a3 or Slc26a9, but not Slc26a6. CFTR inhibitor [CFTR(Inh)‐172] reduced the first phase of the acid‐induced DBS‐R, while NHE3 inhibition (or knockout) abolished the sustained phase of the DBS‐R. Luminal acid exposure resulted in the activation of multiple intracellular signalling pathways, including SPAK, AKT and p38 phosphorylation. It induced a biphasic trafficking of NHE3, first rapidly into the brush border membrane, followed by endocytosis in the later stage. We conclude that the long‐lasting DBS‐R to luminal acid exposure activates multiple duodenocyte signalling pathways and involves changes in trafficking and/or activity of CFTR, Slc26 isoforms Slc26a3 and Slc26a9, and NHE3.