bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of deciduous tooth erosion in childhood
Authors: Moimaz SAS , Araújo PC , Chiba FY , Garbín CAS , Saliba NA 
Published: March 2013

AbstractObjectivesThe objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of deciduous tooth erosion and to identify possible associations with sex, age and toothbrushing frequency in children aged 4–6 years.MethodsThe sample was drawn from attendants (n = 7058) of 57 public preschools in a Brazilian city. Tooth wear index was used to evaluate erosion. Descriptive statistical analysis consisted of the calculation of the prevalence of dental erosion; chi‐squared and Fisher's exact tests were performed to verify the association between dental erosion and sex, age and toothbrushing frequency.ResultsTwo thousand and seven hundred and fifty‐nine preschool students were examined. Deciduous tooth erosion was observed in 0.6% of children and its incidence did not differ between sexes. The highest prevalence was observed in children aged 6 years (58.3%) and the most affected sextants were the fourth (22.86%) and sixth (20.00%), indicating that lingual and occlusal tooth surfaces were most frequently involved. The degree of involvement was classified as incipient in 54.29% of children and moderate in 45.71%. The significance level was set at 5%. No association was found between erosion and sex, age or toothbrushing frequency.ConclusionsThe prevalence of deciduous tooth erosion was low in Brazilian children, and this disorder is not considered a public health problem in this part of the population.
Functional analysis of 30K proteins during silk gland degeneration by a caspase‐dependent pathway in Bombyx
Authors: Ji M‐M. , Liu A‐Q. , Gan L‐P. , Xing R. , Wang H. , Sima Y‐H. , Xu S‐Q. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe 30K proteins are involved with important functions in the growth and development of Bombyx mori. In this study, the synthesis and regulation of 30K proteins were examined during the degeneration of Bombyx silk glands. On day 3 of the fifth instar, the protein level of 30Kc19 was low, whereas the silk proteins were rapidly synthesized. However, synthesis and accumulation of the 30Kc19 protein significantly increased at the prepupal stage and on day 1 of the pupal stage. At this stage, the silk gland cells were filled with 30Kc19 and genomic DNA. Moreover, the transcript levels of the 30K‐encoding genes, including 30Kc6, 30Kc12, 30Kc19 and 30Kc23 were up‐regulated during the degeneration of the Bombyx silk glands. During the time that the levels of the 30Kc19 protein were significantly up‐regulated, it is notable that the transcript levels of the BmAtg8, BmAtg6 and BmDronc genes dramatically increased to regulate the programmed cell death of this gland. On day 1 of the pupal stage, intense fragmentation of genomic DNA occurred in the silk gland cells, and the putative active form of caspase was detected in the cytoplasm, showing the complete degradation of the silk glands in one day. In conclusion, the 30K proteins are synthesized in high concentrations, while proteolysis mediates silk gland degeneration in Bombyx by a caspase‐dependent pathway. We propose that the 30K proteins may be nutrients and energy vectors to be absorbed by the developing tissues of pupae or moths.
Identification, characterization and expression of a defensin‐like antifungal peptide from the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
Authors: Wang Z.‐Z. , Shi M. , Ye X.‐Q. , Chen M.‐Y. , Chen X.‐X. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractDefensins are a class of small and diverse cysteine‐rich proteins which have broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activities. We identified and characterized a full‐length cDNA encoding a putative defensin‐like peptide from the whitefly Bemisia tabaci by RACE and quantitative real‐time (qRT)‐PCR. The full‐length cDNA, named Btdef, was 388 bp long and contained an open reading frame of 228 bp. The putative mature Btdef had 46 amino acids with a molecular weight of 5.06 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence showed significant homology with insect defensins from Heliothis virescens (76%) and Galleria mellonella (75%). The predicted mature form of Btdef was expressed as a recombinant peptide in Escherichia coli. Antimicrobial assays of the purified product indicated that Btdef was most active against fungi. qRT‐PCR analyses indicated that Btdef mRNA was constitutively expressed in different tissues of B. tabaci, including fat body, midgut, ovaries and salivary gland, and was induced by fungal infection. Btdef mRNA expression was also significantly altered after feeding on different host plants, indicating that diet affects immune defences in B. tabaci. These results describe for the first time the basic properties of a defensin‐like peptide from B. tabaci that probably plays an important role in the immune response against pathogens.
Bank Loan Announcements and Borrower Stock Returns: Does Bank Origin Matter?
Authors: Ongena Steven , Roscovan Viorel 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBanks play a special role as providers of informative signals about the quality and value of their borrowers. Such signals, however, may have a quality of their own as the banks' selection and monitoring abilities may differ. Using an event study methodology, we study the importance of the geographical origin and organization of the banks for the investors' assessments of firms' credit quality and economic worth following loan announcements. Our sample comprises 986 announcements of bank loans to US firms over the period of 1980–2003. We find that investors react positively to such announcements if the loans are made by foreign or local banks, but not if the loans are made by banks that are located outside the firm's headquarters state. Investor reaction is, in fact, the largest when the bank is foreign. Our evidence suggest that investors value relationships with more competitive and skilled banks rather than banks that have easier access to private information about the firms. These results are applicable also to the European markets where regulatory and economic borders do not coincide and bank identities and reputation seem to matter a great deal.
Workplace mediation and the empowerment of disputants: rhetoric or reality?
Authors: Bennett Tony 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThere has been a growing interest in the field of employee relations in the use of mediation in seeking to resolve disputes in the workplace. Mediation is a model of dispute resolution, it is argued, that lends itself particularly well to situations where the parties have become entrenched in their positions. The study's timeliness is evident in the Government's recent strategic focus on workplace conflict, specifically its current initiative to pilot mediation networks within the small and medium enterprises sector. The research was carried out over a nine‐month period ending in March 2012. It is based on the views and experiences of 60 respondents from over 40 cross‐sectoral organisations in the North of England. Findings revealed that the main reasons for the disputes referred for mediation were relationship problems, poor communication and poorly perceived management style and practice. Significantly, differences in sector or occupation could also impact on whether cases went to mediation.
The emerging role of photorespiration and non‐photorespiratory peroxisomal metabolism in pathogen defence
Authors: Sørhagen K. , Laxa M. , Peterhänsel C. , Reumann S. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractPhotorespiration represents one of the major highways of primary plant metabolism and is the most prominent example of metabolic cell organelle integration, since the pathway requires the concerted action of plastidial, peroxisomal, mitochondrial and cytosolic enzymes and organellar transport proteins. Oxygenation of ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate by Rubisco leads to the formation of large amounts of 2‐phosphoglycolate, which are recycled to 3‐phosphoglycerate by the photorespiratory C2 cycle, concomitant with stoichiometric production rates of H2O2 in peroxisomes. Apart from its significance for agricultural productivity, a secondary function of photorespiration in pathogen defence has emerged only recently. Here, we summarise literature data supporting the crosstalk between photorespiration and pathogen defence and perform a meta‐expression analysis of photorespiratory genes during pathogen attack. Moreover, we screened Arabidopsis proteins newly predicted using machine learning methods to be targeted to peroxisomes, the central H2O2‐producing organelle of photorespiration, for homologues of known pathogen defence proteins and analysed their expression during pathogen infection. The analyses further support the idea that photorespiration and non‐photorespiratory peroxisomal metabolism play multi‐faceted roles in pathogen defence beyond metabolism of reactive oxygen species.
How Would Population Growth Affect Investment in the Future? Asymmetric Panel Causality Evidence for Africa
Authors: Asongu Simplice A. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractOur generation is experiencing the greatest demographic transition and Africa is at the centre of it. There is mounting concern over corresponding rising unemployment and depleting per capita income. We examine the issues in this paper from a long‐run perspective by assessing the relationships among population growth and a plethora of investment dynamics: public, private, foreign and domestic investments. Using asymmetric panels from 38 countries with data spanning from 1977 to 2007, our findings reveal a long‐run positive causal linkage from population growth to only public investment. But for domestic investment, permanent fluctuations in human capital affect permanent changes in other forms of investments. Robustness checks on corresponding short‐run Granger causality analysis and the long‐run ‘physical capital led investment’ nexus are consistent with the predictions of economic theory. As a policy implication, population growth may strangle only public finances in the long run. Hence, the need for measures that encourage family planning and create a conducive investment climate (and ease of doing business) for private and foreign investments. Seemingly, structural adjustments policies implemented by sampled countries may not have the desired investment effects in the distant future.
Economic Impacts of Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria
Authors: Ayanwale Adeolu Babatunde , Adekunle Adolphus Adekunle , Akinola Akinboye Adebayo , Adeyemo Victoria Adeyemi 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper assesses the potential economic impacts of Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) conceived to address observed low productivity, prevailing poverty level, slow growth and general underperformance of the agricultural sector associated with the traditional agricultural and rural development (ARD) approach. The economic surplus analysis suggested that IAR4D research and extension, with respect to maize production, could achieve returns ranging from 30 to 38 per cent and a maximum adoption of 25 to 50 per cent for the conservative and baseline scenario, respectively. Similarly, with the same range of maximum adoption, the approach could yield returns ranging from 22 to 29 per cent for the conservative and baseline scenario, respectively in millet production. However, the same range of adoption could result in 29 to 37 per cent for the conservative and baseline scenario, respectively in sorghum production. The estimated benefits are sensitive to expected adoption rates but much less so to changes in research and extension costs. However, the estimates indicate that the production of all the crops was socially profitable under the IAR4D option. Our results were consistent with earlier economic analyses which showed that IAR4D was more productive, profitable and acceptable to farmers than the conventional Research for Development (R&D) approach.
Price Trends and Income Inequalities: Will Sub‐Saharan Africa Reduce the Gap?
Authors: Caracciolo Francesco , Santeramo Fabio Gaetano 
Published: March 2013

AbstractDuring the past decade, commodities prices have risen substantially and the trend is likely to persist as attested by recent OECD‐FAO projections. The recent debate has not reached a clear consensus on the effects of this trend on poverty and income inequality in LDCs, thus complicating the policy planning process. Our paper aims at analysing the likely welfare and income inequality impacts of food price trends in three sub‐Saharan countries, namely Tanzania, Ghana and Ethiopia. Moreover, we test the statistical significance of changes in income inequalities. Although Tanzania is not affected, we find that price changes tend to exacerbate the income inequalities in Ethiopia and Ghana, especially for specific groups of households. The policy implications are relevant. Finally, our paper underlines the relevance of statistical inference in analysis on income inequalities, to conclude on welfare and inequalities effects of food price movements.
Exchange Rate Volatility and Trade Flows in Zambia
Authors: Chipili Jonathan M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe study examines the impact of exchange rate volatility on trade flows in Zambia over the period 1980–2008. Import and export demand equations capturing aggregate and sectoral data are estimated using the Johansen cointegration method. Empirical estimates confirm the significance of exchange rate volatility in trade in Zambia and underscore the necessity of disaggregating trade data not previously studied in Zambia as export commodities exhibit varied sensitivity to exchange rate risk. The results suggest that a stable exchange rate is important in order to sustain the growth of trade as persistence in exchange rate volatility may influence the reallocation of resources to the non‐tradable sector.
Trade Openness and Inflation Performance: A Panel Data Analysis in the Context of African Countries
Authors: Yiheyis Zelealem 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper tests the hypothesis of a negative relation between openness and inflation in the context of African countries. A dynamic model of inflation in which openness enters alternately as an endogenous and exogenous variable is estimated with different panel data estimation procedures. The paper finds no robust evidence that openness served as a mechanism to restrain inflation in the region. On the contrary, the results suggest that increased openness, treated as an endogenous variable, is associated with higher inflation on holding constant such factors as food supply constraint and level of economic development which are found significant co‐determinants.
Ethnicity as a Barrier to Childhood and Adolescent Health Capital in Tanzania: Evidence from the Wage‐Height Relationship
Authors: Elu Juliet U. , Price Gregory N. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper considers whether or not in Tanzania, ethnicity conditions access to health and nutrition during childhood and adolescence. We estimate height‐augmented Mincerian earnings functions with data from the 2004 Tanzanian Household Worker Survey. Instrumental variable parameter estimates reveal that when the effects of unobserved investments in health and nutrition during childhood and adolescence on adult height are accounted for, the labor market return on height varies across ethnic groups in our sample. This suggests that in Tanzania ethnicity is a constraint on effective health care policy as there is ethnic discrimination in the provision of health and nutrition investment during childhood and adolescence that constrains adult height, living standards and economic growth. As such, public health policy in sub‐Saharan Africa could potentially be more effective through reforms that eliminate any ethnic bias in the provision of health capital during childhood/adolescence.
US energy policies and variance in the GCC stock markets
Authors: Sita Bernard Ben , Haidar Ranim 
Published: March 2013

AbstractWe investigate the impact of bills about energy policy, introduced and discussed in the US Congress, on the conditional variance process of the five largest Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stock markets. Using an augmented asymmetric Generalized AutoRegressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model, we investigate the hypothesis that public news associated with US energy policy leads to the reversion of the conditional variance process. Our findings are consistent with the information hypothesis. GCC stock variance tends to revert on days when bills are introduced and discussed in the US Congress.
Cost and effectiveness of treatment options for childhood obesity
Authors: Hollinghurst S. , Hunt L. P. , Banks J. , Sharp D. J. , Shield J. P. 
Published: March 2013

Summary
What is already known about this subject
Approximately one‐fifth of children in the UK are obese.
There are currently few, effective interventions available in the UK.
There are very little data on relative cost‐effectiveness of childhood obesity interventions, which hampers the commissioning of future services.

What this study adds
Simple multi‐component obesity interventions can be provided at relatively low cost per 0.1 body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) improvement.
More intensive and effective interventions incur greater cost per 0.1 BMI SDS reduction but this may be justified given the improved overall BMI SDS reduction attained.
ObjectiveTo describe the costs and outcomes of three models of care for childhood obesity previously evaluated in two 2‐arm pilot randomized trials in England. The treatments were (i) a hospital clinic (control in both trials), comprising a multidisciplinary team of consultant, dietitian and exercise specialist; (ii) a nurse‐led primary care clinic replicating the service provided by the hospital and (iii) an intensive intervention using Mandometer®, a behaviour modification tool aimed at encouraging slower eating and better recognition of satiety.MethodPatient‐level data on resources used to deliver each intervention were collected during the trials. Apart from the cost of the Mandometer® the majority of cost was staff time, dependent on discipline and grade. Outcome for both trials was body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) measured at 12 months.ResultsCost and outcome data were available for 143 children in total. Cost per child was £1749 (SD £243) in the Mandometer® group, £301 (£76) in the primary care group, and £263 (£88) and £209 (£81) in the hospital groups. Mean reduction in BMI SDS was 0.40 (0.35), 0.17 (0.26), 0.15 (0.25) and 0.14 (0.32), respectively.ConclusionIntensive management using Mandometer® was effective but costly (£432 per 0.1 reduction in BMI SDS) compared to conventional care (range £153–£173). A total of 26% children receiving conventional care achieved a clinically meaningful reduction in BMI SDS; however, use of Mandometer® training may be justified in children not responding to conventional lifestyle interventions.
Perceptions of smokers influence nonsmoker attitudes and preferences for interactions
Authors: Dillard Amanda J. , Magnan Renee E. , Köblitz Amber R. , McCaul Kevin D. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn two studies, we examined nonsmokers' perceptions of smokers and consequences of the perceptions. In Study 1, smokers answered questions about their sense of self, dependence on smoking, and motivation to quit. Nonsmokers answered questions about their perceptions of these characteristics. Differences between smokers' self‐descriptions and nonsmokers' perceptions were observed. Study 2 asked nonsmokers to judge two types of smokers for which the descriptions were based on Study 1 findings. Results showed that nonsmokers held a more negative attitude about and were less willing to engage in different close relationships with the smoker who was described in terms of nonsmokers' perceptions rather than smokers' reports. Attitude mediated the relationship between type of smoker and willingness to date a smoker.
Current status of regeneration of pancreatic β‐cells
Authors: Minami Kohtaro , Seino Susumu 
Published: March 2013

AbstractNewly generated insulin‐secreting cells for use in cell therapy for insulin‐deficient diabetes mellitus require properties similar to those of native pancreatic β‐cells. Pancreatic β‐cells are highly specialized cells that produce a large amount of insulin, and secrete insulin in a regulated manner in response to glucose and other stimuli. It is not yet explained how the β‐cells acquire this complex function during normal differentiation. So far, in vitro generation of insulin‐secreting cells from embryonic stem cells, induced‐pluripotent stem cells and adult stem/progenitor‐like cells has been reported. However, most of these cells are functionally immature and show poor glucose‐responsive insulin secretion compared to that of native pancreatic β‐cells (or islets). Strategies to generate functional β‐cells or a whole organ in vivo have also recently been proposed. Establishing a protocol to generate fully functional insulin‐secreting cells that closely resemble native β‐cells is a critical matter in regenerative medicine for diabetes. Understanding the physiological processes of differentiation, proliferation and regeneration of pancreatic β‐cells might open the path to cell therapy to cure patients with absolute insulin deficiency.
Glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon‐like peptide‐1: Incretin actions beyond the pancreas
Authors: Seino Yutaka , Yabe Daisuke 
Published: March 2013

AbstractGlucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) are the two primary incretin hormones secreted from the intestine on ingestion of various nutrients to stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic β‐cells glucose‐dependently. GIP and GLP‐1 undergo degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4), and rapidly lose their biological activities. The actions of GIP and GLP‐1 are mediated by their specific receptors, the GIP receptor (GIPR) and the GLP‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R), which are expressed in pancreatic β‐cells, as well as in various tissues and organs. A series of investigations using mice lacking GIPR and/or GLP‐1R, as well as mice lacking DPP‐4, showed involvement of GIP and GLP‐1 in divergent biological activities, some of which could have implications for preventing diabetes‐related microvascular complications (e.g., retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) and macrovascular complications (e.g., coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and cerebrovascular disease), as well as diabetes‐related comorbidity (e.g., obesity, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, bone fracture and cognitive dysfunction). Furthermore, recent studies using incretin‐based drugs, such as GLP‐1 receptor agonists, which stably activate GLP‐1R signaling, and DPP‐4 inhibitors, which enhance both GLP‐1R and GIPR signaling, showed that GLP‐1 and GIP exert effects possibly linked to prevention or treatment of diabetes‐related complications and comorbidities independently of hyperglycemia. We review recent findings on the extrapancreatic effects of GIP and GLP‐1 on the heart, brain, kidney, eye and nerves, as well as in the liver, fat and several organs from the perspective of diabetes‐related complications and comorbidities.