bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The association between academic engagement and achievement in health sciences students
Authors: Casuso-Holgado Maria J , Cuesta-Vargas Antonio I , Moreno-Morales Noelia , Labajos-Manzanares Maria T , Barón-López Francisco J , Vega-Cuesta Manuel 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
Educational institutions play an important role in encouraging student engagement, being necessary to know how engaged are students at university and if this factor is involved in student success point and followed.
To explore the association between academic engagement and achievement.

Methods
Cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 304 students of Health Sciences. They were asked to fill out an on-line questionnaire. Academic achievements were calculated using three types of measurement.

Results
Positive correlations were found in all cases. Grade point average was the academic rate most strongly associated with engagement dimensions and this association is different for male and female students. The independent variables could explain between 18.9 and 23.9% of the variance (p < 0.05) in the population of university students being analyzed.

Conclusions
Engagement has been shown to be one of the many factors, which are positively involved, in the academic achievements of college students.
The continuous fractional Bessel wavelet transformation
Authors: Prasad Akhilesh , Mahato Ashutosh , Singh Vishal Kumar , Dixit Madan Mohan 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
The main objective of this paper is to study the fractional Hankel transformation and the continuous fractional Bessel wavelet transformation and some of their basic properties. Applications of the fractional Hankel transformation (FrHT) in solving generalized n th order linear nonhomogeneous ordinary differential equations are given. The continuous fractional Bessel wavelet transformation, its inversion formula and Parseval’s relation for the continuous fractional Bessel wavelet transformation are also studied.

MSC:46F12, 26A33.
Immunohistochemical expression of CD44s in human neuroblastic tumors: Moroccan experience and highlights on current data
Authors: Tabyaoui Imane , Tahiri-Jouti Nadia , Serhier Zineb , Bennani-Othmani Mohamed , Sibai Hicham , Itri Mohamed , Benchekroun Said , Zamiati Soumaya 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
Peripheral neuroblastic tumors (pNTs), including neuroblastoma (NB), ganglioneuroblastoma (GNB) and ganglioneuroma (GN), are extremely heterogeneous pediatric tumors responsible for 15 % of childhood cancer death. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of CD44s (‘s’: standard form) cell adhesion molecule by comparison with other specific prognostic markers.

Methods
An immunohistochemical profile of 32 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded pNTs tissues, diagnosed between January 2007 and December 2010, was carried out.

Results
Our results have demonstrated the association of CD44s negative pNTs cells to lack of differentiation and tumour progression. A significant association between absence of CD44s expression and metastasis in human pNTs has been reported. We also found that expression of CD44s defines subgroups of patients without MYCN amplification as evidenced by its association with low INSS stages, absence of metastasis and favorable Shimada histology.

Discussion
These findings support the thesis of the role of CD44s glycoprotein in the invasive growth potential of neoplastic cells and suggest that its expression could be taken into consideration in the therapeutic approaches targeting metastases.

Virtual Slides
The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here:http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1034403150888863
Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) revisited: reduced amount of water counterbalances the need for CBMs
Authors: Várnai Anikó , Siika-aho Matti , Viikari Liisa 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
A vast number of organisms are known to produce structurally diversified cellulases capable of degrading cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer on earth. The generally accepted paradigm is that the carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) of cellulases are required for efficient saccharification of insoluble substrates. Based on sequence data, surprisingly more than 60% of the cellulases identified lack carbohydrate-binding modules or alternative protein structures linked to cellulases (dockerins). This finding poses the question about the role of the CBMs: why would most cellulases lack CBMs, if they are necessary for the efficient hydrolysis of cellulose?

Results
The advantage of CBMs, which increase the affinity of cellulases to substrates, was found to be diminished by reducing the amount of water in the hydrolytic system, which increases the probability of enzyme-substrate interaction. At low substrate concentration (1% w/w), CBMs were found to be more important in the catalytic performance of the cellobiohydrolases TrCel7A and TrCel6A of Trichoderma reesei as compared to that of the endoglucanases TrCel5A and TrCel7B. Increasing the substrate concentration while maintaining the enzyme-to-substrate ratio enhanced adsorption of TrCel7A, independent of the presence of the CBM. At 20% (w/w) substrate concentration, the hydrolytic performance of cellulases without CBMs caught up with that of cellulases with CBMs. This phenomenon was more noticeable on the lignin-containing pretreated wheat straw as compared to the cellulosic Avicel, presumably due to unproductive adsorption of enzymes to lignin.

Conclusions
Here we propose that the water content in the natural environments of carbohydrate-degrading organisms might have led to the evolution of various substrate-binding structures. In addition, some well recognized problems of economical saccharification such as unproductive binding of cellulases, which reduces the hydrolysis rate and prevents recycling of enzymes, could be partially overcome by omitting CBMs. This finding could help solve bottlenecks of enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocelluloses and speed up commercialization of second generation bioethanol.
Low-temperature preparation and physical characterization of doped BaCeO3 nanoparticles by chemical precipitation
Authors: Ketzial Joseph Sundar Singh Jasmine , Radhika Devi , Nesaraj Arputharaj Samson 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
In this work, the nanoparticles of pure BaCe1−x

M

x
O3−δ (where M = Gd or Sm and x = 0, 0.10, or 0.20) were synthesized by the simple chemical precipitation method. The prepared materials were calcined at 300°C, 450°C, and 600°C for 2 h each to obtain phase-pure compounds. The samples were characterized by thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), particle size analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

Results
TGA/DTA results have shown that phase-pure BaCeO3 materials can be formed only above 500°C. The crystalline structure of parent and doped BaCeO3 was found to be orthorhombic. EDAX analysis has shown the atomic percentage of elements present in the Gd- and Sm-doped BaCeO3 samples. FTIR studies have shown the presence of Ce-O in doped BaCeO3 nanoparticles.

Conclusions
Doped BaCeO3 may be used as an electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cell applications.
Modeling of fluidized bed reactor for ethylene polymerization: effect of parameters on the single-pass ethylene conversion
Authors: Farag Hassan , Ossman Mona , Mansour Moustapha , Farid Yousra 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
In this study, we present the developments in modeling gas-phase catalyzed olefin polymerization fluidized bed reactors (FBR) using chromium catalyst technique. The model is based on the two-phase theory of gas-solid fluidization: bubble phase and emulsion phase. The model has proved to be the suitable model in many of past studies. In the proposed model, the bed is divided into several sequential sections. The effect of important reactor parameters such as superficial gas velocity, catalyst injection rate, catalyst particle growth, and minimum fluidization velocity on the dynamic behavior of the FBR has been discussed. The conversion of product in a fluidized bed reactor is investigated and compared with the actual data from the plant site.

Results
A good agreement has been observed between the model predictions and the actual plant data. It has been shown that about 0.28% difference between the calculated and actual conversions has been achieved.

Conclusions
The study showed that the computational model was capable of predicting the hydrodynamic behavior of gas-solid fluidized bed flows with reasonable accuracy.
Urinary CD8+ T-cell counts discriminate between active and inactive lupus nephritis
Authors: Dolff Sebastian , Abdulahad Wayel H , Arends Suzanne , van Dijk Marcory CRF , Limburg Pieter C , Kallenberg Cees GM , Bijl Marc 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Lupus nephritis (LN) is a severe and frequent manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Early detection of initial renal manifestations and relapses during follow-up is pivotal to prevent loss of renal function. Apart from renal biopsies, current urinary and serological diagnostic tests fail to accurately demonstrate the presence of active LN. Previously, we demonstrated that effector memory T-cells (CD45RO+CCR7-;TEM) migrate into the urine during active LN. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of urinary T-cells in comparison with traditional markers of active LN.

Methods
T-cells in the urine during active LN and remission were investigated. Twenty-two, in most cases biopsy-proven, active LN patients and 24 SLE patients without active LN were enrolled and serial measurements were performed in 16 patients.

Results
Analysis of the urinary sediment in active renal disease showed an increased number of CD8+ T-cells and absence of these cells during remission. Enumerating T-cell counts in LN patients with a history of renal involvement was a superior marker of active LN in comparison to traditional markers, such as proteinuria and s-creatinine.

Conclusions
In conclusion, urinary T-cells, in particular CD8+ T cells, are a promising marker to assess renal activity in LN patients, in particular in those with prior renal involvement.
Nutritional significance of coprophagy in the rat-like hamster Tscherskia triton
Authors: Shichijo Hiroki , Takahashi Toshihiro , Kondo Yuji , Sakamoto Shinsuke H. , Morita Tetsuo 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Coprophagy is widespread among rodent species and has nutritional significance in providing microbial protein to animals via feces. However, studies of coprophagy in rodents have focused mainly on species that are cecal fermenters. In this study using rat-like hamsters (Tscherskia triton), which have a large forestomach and cecum, we investigated the contribution of coprophagy to protein nutrition in pregastric and cecal fermenters and also examined whether or not the cecum is involved in protein nutrition enhanced by coprophagy. With or without a forestomach, coprophagy may affect protein digestion in T. triton, and coprophagy cannot provide beneficial effects without a cecal contribution. Prevention of coprophagy increased the fecal concentration of crude protein in animals with an intact cecum. Therefore, we conclude that coprophagy is closely related to the cecum in terms of protein nutrition, even in the pregastric and cecal fermenter T. triton.
Thyroglobulin in smoking mothers and their newborns at delivery suggests autoregulation of placental iodide transport overcoming thiocyanate inhibition
Authors: Andersen Stine L , Nøhr Susanne B , Wu Chun S , Olsen Jørn , Pedersen Klaus M , Laurberg Peter 
Published: February 2013

BackgroundPlacental transport of iodide is required for fetal thyroid hormone production. The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) mediates active iodide transport into the thyroid and the lactating mammary gland and is also present in placenta. NIS is competitively inhibited by thiocyanate from maternal smoking, but compensatory autoregulation of iodide transport differs between organs. The extent of autoregulation of placental iodide transport remains to be clarified.ObjectiveTo compare the impact of maternal smoking on thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in maternal serum at delivery and in cord serum as markers of maternal and fetal iodine deficiency.MethodsOne hundred and forty healthy, pregnant women admitted for delivery and their newborns were studied before the iodine fortification of salt in Denmark. Cotinine in urine and serum classified mothers as smokers (n=50) or nonsmokers (n=90). The pregnant women reported on intake of iodine-containing supplements during pregnancy and Tg in maternal serum at delivery and in cord serum were analyzed.ResultsIn a context of mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency, smoking mothers had significantly higher serum Tg than nonsmoking mothers (mean Tg smokers 40.2 vs nonsmokers 24.4 μg/l, P=0.004) and so had their respective newborns (cord Tg 80.2 vs 52.4 μg/l, P=0.006), but the ratio between Tg in cord serum and maternal serum was not significantly different in smokers compared with nonsmokers (smoking 2.06 vs nonsmoking 2.22, P=0.69).ConclusionMaternal smoking increased the degree of iodine deficiency in parallel in the mother and the fetus, as reflected by increased Tg levels. However, placental iodide transport seemed unaffected despite high thiocyanate levels, suggesting that thiocyanate-insensitive iodide transporters alternative to NIS are active or that NIS in the placenta is autoregulated to keep iodide transport unaltered.
Computer-Generated Reminders and Quality of Pediatric HIV Care in a Resource-Limited Setting
Authors: Were Martin C. , Nyandiko Winstone M. , Huang Kristin T.L. , Slaven James E. , Shen Changyu , Tierney William M. , Vreeman Rachel C. 
Published: February 2013

OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the impact of clinician-targeted computer-generated reminders on compliance with HIV care guidelines in a resource-limited setting.

METHODS:
We conducted this randomized, controlled trial in an HIV referral clinic in Kenya caring for HIV-infected and HIV-exposed children (&lt;14 years of age). For children randomly assigned to the intervention group, printed patient summaries containing computer-generated patient-specific reminders for overdue care recommendations were provided to the clinician at the time of the child’s clinic visit. For children in the control group, clinicians received the summaries, but no computer-generated reminders. We compared differences between the intervention and control groups in completion of overdue tasks, including HIV testing, laboratory monitoring, initiating antiretroviral therapy, and making referrals.

RESULTS:
During the 5-month study period, 1611 patients (49% female, 70% HIV-infected) were eligible to receive at least 1 computer-generated reminder (ie, had an overdue clinical task). We observed a fourfold increase in the completion of overdue clinical tasks when reminders were availed to providers over the course of the study (68% intervention vs 18% control, P &lt; .001). Orders also occurred earlier for the intervention group (77 days, SD 2.4 days) compared with the control group (104 days, SD 1.2 days) (P &lt; .001). Response rates to reminders varied significantly by type of reminder and between clinicians.

CONCLUSIONS:
Clinician-targeted, computer-generated clinical reminders are associated with a significant increase in completion of overdue clinical tasks for HIV-infected and exposed children in a resource-limited setting.
Impacts of Back Surface Conditions on the Behavior of Oxygen in Heavily Arsenic Doped Czochralski Silicon Wafers
Authors: Wang Q. , Daggubati Manmohan , Paravi Hossein , Yu Rong , Zhang Xiao Feng 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe precipitation of interstitial oxygen (Oi) in heavily arsenic doped Czochralski (CZ) silicon wafers (As-wafer) has been studied for both polysilicon and damaged back surfaces. After annealed at 1200°C for 45 minutes and 950°C for 15hrs sequentially, the As-wafers with polysilicon show no Oi precipitation in the bulk while polyhedral Oi precipitates are observed at the interface between polysilicon and the silicon substrate. They exhibit a habit plane of {100}. The lack of the Oi precipitation in the bulk may reduce the total gettering efficiency of the polysilicon layer on the As-wafer. The same annealing led to rod-like SiOx precipitates in the wafers with damaged back surface. These precipitates extended about 1um into the bulk and had a habit plane of {111}. This morphology has high interfacial energy and is only possible when strain relief is dominant. The Oi outdiffusion has been observed to be same for both backside surface conditions and is only determined by annealing process.
A Review of Breast Cancer Care and Outcomes in Latin America
Authors: Justo Nahila , Wilking Nils , Jönsson Bengt , Luciani Silvana , Cazap Eduardo 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Learning Objectives
Describe associations between epidemiologic factors and breast cancer risk in the countries included in this review. Compare presentation profiles among the countries studied and discuss implications for outcomes.
This review presents an overview of breast cancer care, burden, and outcomes in Latin America, as well as the challenges and opportunities for improvement. Information was gleaned through a review of the literature, public databases, and conference presentations, in addition to a survey of clinical experts and patient organizations from the region. Breast cancer annual incidence (114,900 cases) and mortality (37,000 deaths) are the highest of all women's cancers in Latin America, and they are increasing. Twice as many breast cancer deaths are expected by 2030. In Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, diagnosis and death at younger ages deprives society of numerous productive years, as does high disease occurrence in Argentina and Uruguay. Approximately 30%–40% of diagnoses are metastatic disease. High mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs) in Latin America indicate poor survival, partly because of the late stage at diagnosis and poorer access to treatment. Between 2002 and 2008, MIRs decreased in all countries, albeit unevenly. Costa Rica's change in MIR outpaced incidence growth, indicating impressive progress in breast cancer survival. The situation is similar, although to a lesser extent, in Colombia and Ecuador. The marginal drops of MIRs in Brazil and Mexico mainly reflect incidence growth rather than progress in outcomes. Panama's MIR is still high. Epidemiological data are scattered and of varying quality in Latin America. However, one could ascertain that the burden of breast cancer in the region is considerable and growing due to demographic changes, particularly the aging population, and socioeconomic development. Early diagnosis and population-wide access to evidence-based treatment remain unresolved problems, despite progress achieved by some countries.
Mean Residence Time of Soil Organic Carbon in Aggregates Under Contrasting Land Uses Based on Radiocarbon Measurements
Authors: Rabbi Sheikh M Fazle , Hua Quan , Daniel Heiko , Lockwood Peter V , Wilson Brian R , Young Iain M 
Published: February 2013

Radiocarbon is a useful tool for studying carbon dynamics in soil aggregates. The objective of the current study was to determine the mean residence time (MRT) of soil organic carbon (SOC) in macroaggregates and microaggregates under contrasting land uses. Contrasting land uses investigated at Alfisol (equivalent to Dermosol in Australian Soil Classification) sites were native pasture (NP), crop-pasture rotation (CP), and Eucalypt woodland (WL), whereas in Oxisol (Ferrosol in Australian Soil Classification) sites, land uses comprised improved pasture (IP), cropping (CR), and forest (FR). Soil aggregates were separated into macroaggregates (250–2000 μm) and microaggregates (53–250 μm) by wet-sieving, and their 14C signatures were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The 14C activity in both macro- and microaggregates was >100 pMC, indicating the presence of post-bomb carbon in the soil. The mean residence time (MRT) of SOC in macro- and microaggregates (MRTagg) was on average 68 yr longer in the Oxisol compared with that in the Alfisol. The MRTagg in microaggregates was 10 yr longer than that of macroaggregates in the Alfisol. However, the MRTagg in microaggregates was 50 yr shorter compared to macroaggregates in the Oxisol.The MRT of macro- and microaggregates can be separated into active, slow, and stable SOC pools. Among the 3 SOC pools, the MRT of the stable pool is of higher significance in terms of SOC stabilization in soil aggregates because of its longer MRT. However, isolation and direct MRT estimation of the stable SOC pool is difficult. The MRT of active and slow SOC pools associated with macro- and microaggregates was measured using a SOC mineralization experiment to estimate the MRT of the stable SOC pool under contrasting land uses by applying a mass balance criterion. The MRT of active (MRTA) and slow (MRTS) SOC pools in macro- and microaggregates varied between 1–50 days and 13–38 yr, respectively. The estimated MRT of the stable pool carbon (MRTP) in microaggregates was 897 yr longer compared to that of macroaggregates in the Alfisol. However, in the Oxisol, MRTP in microaggregates was 568 yr shorter than that of macroaggregates. Among the land uses, WL in Alfisol and CR in Oxisol had longer MRTagg and MRTP compared to other land uses.
European post-socialist cities and their near hinterland in intra-urban geography literature
Authors: KubešCDFMR Jan 
Published: February 2013

AbstractOver 180 articles concerning urban geography aspects of European post-socialist cities and their near hinterland, published between 1990-2012 in international journals, were selected for the analysis in this paper. Statistics of articles by journals, analysed cities (and their countries) and authors proves the preponderance of research on post-socialist Central European capitals, especially Berlin, Prague and Budapest, followed by Leipzig and Łodź, as well as Moscow and Tallinn. It also proves that the number of domestic authors and those who moved from post-socialist Europe to Western universities gradually increased, while the number of authors from the West decreased. The analysis of representations of article topics, their explanations and justifications were carried out in the second part of the paper. The most frequent article topics include ‘social spatial structure of the city and its transformation’, followed by ‘urban planning and management in the city’ and ’suburbanisation and urban sprawl in the near hinterland of the city’. A smaller number of articles refers to ‘physical spatial structure of the city and its transformation’, ‘housing structure in urban neighbourhoods in connection with changes in housing policy and market’ and ‘functional spatial structure of the city and its transformation’. Indexes of the articles are part of this paper
Possibilities for mountain-based adventure tourism: the case of Serbia
Authors: VujadinovićCDFMR Snežana , ŠabićCDFMR Dejan , JoksimovićCDFMR Marko , GolićCDFMR Rajko , GajićCDFMR Mirjana , ŽivkovićCDFMR Ljiljana , MilinčićCDFMR Miroljub 
Published: February 2013

AbstractAdventure tourism is a specific type of tourism that has been increasingly popular in Serbia in recent years. In this regard, the paper identifies the basic characteristics of adventure tourism, its development in Serbia, with a great emphasis placed on high mountain areas that, owing to their physical and geographic characteristics, possess huge potential. The paper aims, among other things, to identify factors encouraging or limiting development of adventure tourism in Serbia, analysing the practice, defining potential destinations and suggesting appropriate measures in order to promote it