bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adiposity, blood pressure, and carotid intima‐media thickness in greek adolescents
Authors: Kollias Anastasios , Psilopatis Isidoros , Karagiaouri Eirini , Glaraki Maria , Grammatikos Evangelos , Grammatikos Emmanouel E. , Garoufi Anastasia , Stergiou George S. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractObjective:In children and adolescents with cardiovascular risk factors, the assessment of subclinical target‐organ damage is of paramount importance. This study investigated factors associated with carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) in adolescents.Design and Methods:A cross‐sectional study was performed in 448 apparently healthy adolescents recruited from schools (mean age 14 ± 2.2 years, 211 boys), which involved cIMT measurements (common carotid artery) and assessment of lipid profile, glucose, and blood pressure (BP).Results:The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 28.1%/12.7% and of BP ≥95th percentile 19.6%. Left cIMT was correlated with age (r = 0.10), waist circumference (WC) (0.15), and BP (0.21/0.13, systolic/diastolic) (all P < 0.05). Right cIMT was correlated with waist to hip ratio (WHR) (0.10), whereas the mean of left and right cIMT was correlated with WC (0.12), WHR (0.12), and systolic BP (0.14) (all P < 0.05). After the age of 13 years, boys tended to have higher cIMT than girls, which was significant in the 13‐15 years subgroup (P < 0.05). In stepwise multivariate analysis (independent variables: age, gender, WC, WHR, body mass index z‐score, lipid parameters, glucose, BP), left cIMT was independently associated with systolic BP; right cIMT with WHR; mean left and right cIMT with WC. Adolescents with BP ≥90th percentile had higher left cIMT than those <90th percentile (0.63 ± 0.09 vs. 0.61 ± 0.09 mm respectively, P < 0.05).Conclusion:Central adiposity and systolic BP appear to be independently associated with increased cIMT values in apparently healthy adolescents. Left side cIMT appears to be superior to right side measurements in terms of association with cardiovascular risk factors.
Efficacy and tolerability of a novel herbal formulation for weight management
Authors: Stern J.S. , Peerson J. , Mishra A.T. , Sadasiva Rao M.V. , Rajeswari K.P. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the efficacy of an herbal blend.Design and Methods:A randomized, double‐blind, clinical trial in 60 subjects with body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40 kg/m2. Participants were randomized into two groups receiving either 400 mg herbal capsules or 400 mg placebo capsules twice daily. The herbal blend comprises of extracts from Sphaeranthus indicus and Garcinia mangostana. Participants received a standard diet (2,000 kcal per day) and walked 30 min 5 days per week.Results:After 8 weeks, significant net reductions in body weight (3.74 kg; P < 0.0001), BMI (1.61 kg/m2; P < 0.0001), and waist circumference (5.44 cm; P < 0.05) were observed in the herbal group compared with placebo. Additionally, a significant increase in serum adiponectin concentration was found in the herbal group versus placebo (P = 0.001). Adverse events were mild and were equally distributed between the two groups. In vitro studies in the 3T3‐L1 adipocyte cell line showed that the herbal extract markedly downregulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma, adipocyte‐differentiation related protein, and cluster of differentiation 36 but increased adiponectin expression. The herbal extract also reduced the expression and the recruitment of perilipin onto the membrane of lipid droplets.Conclusion:Supplementation with the herbal blend resulted in a greater degree of weight loss than placebo over 8 weeks.
Potential role of ventricular tumor markers in CNS germ cell tumors
Authors: Legault Geneviève , Allen Jeffrey C. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundThere is increasing reliance on oncoprotein assays such as the β‐subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) for diagnosis or confirmation of histology of central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors (GCT), but the relative diagnostic sensitivity and reliability of assays from serum (S), lumbar (L), and ventricular (V) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are uncertain.ProcedureA total of 86 patients with CNS GCT were identified from our database. Fourteen patients had contemporaneous β‐hCG and/or AFP measurements from serum, ventricular, and lumbar CSF at diagnosis (n = 13) or relapse (n = 1), constituting the subjects for this report. Their primary tumor sites were: pineal (n = 8), suprasellar (n = 1), or both (n = 5). Their mean age at diagnosis was 16.0 years (range 9.1–25.9). The male:female sex ratio was 13:1.ResultsFor the germinoma‐treated patients (n = 8), the median (range) β‐hCG values (S, V, L) were 0 (0–6.9), 7.0 (0–57.4), 8.3 (0–34.0) mIU/ml. For patients managed as mixed malignant GCT (MMGCT) (n = 6), the median (range) β‐hCG values (S, V, L) were 3.9 (0–58.0), 3.6 (0–147.0), 61.8 (0–358.0) mIU/ml. The median (range) AFP values were 7.5 (0–27,400.0), 2.0 (0–2,981.0), 3.0 (0–14,015.0) ng/ml. Lumbar CSF β‐hCG values were equal or greater than those in ventricular CSF or serum in 12 of 13 cases (92.3%). All patients with MMGCT had lumbar AFP equal or greater than the ventricular CSF values, while serum AFP values remained highest.ConclusionsVentricular CSF values cannot be considered a replacement for lumbar CSF. Lumbar CSF is the most reliable source of tumor markers to establish baseline and follow‐up diagnostic endpoints. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:1647–1650. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Representativity error for temperature and humidity using the Met Office high‐resolution model†
Authors: Waller J. A. , Dance S. L. , Lawless A. S. , Nichols N. K. , Eyre J. R. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe observation‐error covariance matrix used in data assimilation contains contributions from instrument errors, representativity errors and errors introduced by the approximated observation operator. Forward model errors arise when the observation operator does not correctly model the observations or when observations can resolve spatial scales that the model cannot. Previous work to estimate the observation‐error covariance matrix for particular observing instruments has shown that it contains signifcant correlations. In particular, correlations for humidity data are more significant than those for temperature. However it is not known what proportion of these correlations can be attributed to the representativity errors. In this article we apply an existing method for calculating representativity error, previously applied to an idealised system, to NWP data. We calculate horizontal errors of representativity for temperature and humidity using data from the Met Office high‐resolution UK variable resolution model. Our results show that errors of representativity are correlated and more significant for specific humidity than temperature. We also find that representativity error varies with height. This suggests that the assimilation scheme may be improved if these errors are explicitly included in a data assimilation scheme.
Empirical determination of solar proton access to the atmosphere: Impact on polar flight paths
Authors: Neal Jason J. , Rodger Craig J. , Green Janet C. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractViolent expulsions on the Sun's surface release high energy solar protons that ultimately affect HF communication used by aircraft. The geomagnetic field screens the low altitude equatorial region, but these protons can access the atmosphere over the poles. The latitudes over which the solar protons can reach vary with geomagnetic indices such as Kp and Dst. In this study we use observations from low Earth orbit to determine the atmospheric access of solar protons and hence the flights paths most likely to be affected. Observations taken by up to six polar orbiting satellites during 15 solar proton events are analyzed. From this we determine 16,850 proton rigidity cutoff estimates across three energy channels. Empirical fits are undertaken to estimate the most likely behavior of the cutoff dependence with geomagnetic activity. The changing Kp value is found to lead the variation in the cutoffs by ~3 h. We provide simple equations by which the geomagnetic latitude at which the protons impact the atmosphere can be determined from a given Kp or Dst value. The variation found in the cutoff with Kp is similar to that used in existing operational models, although we suggest that a ~1–2° equatorward shift in latitude would provide greater accuracy. We find that a Kp predictive model can provide additional warning to the variation in proton cutoffs. Hence, a prediction of the cutoff latitudes can be made ~3 h to as much as 7 h into the future, meeting suggested minimum planning times required by the aviation industry.
Impact of parental emotional support and coercive control on adolescents' self‐esteem and psychological distress: Results of a four‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Boudreault‐Bouchard Anne‐Marie , Dion Jacinthe , Hains Jennifer , Vandermeerschen Jill , Laberge Luc , Perron Michel 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTThis study aims at investigating the impact of parental practices on youths' adjustment. In all, 605 adolescents completed questionnaires at ages 14, 16 and 18. Self‐esteem, psychological distress as well as parental emotional support and coercive control were measured. Analyses based on individual growth models revealed that self‐esteem increased with age, but psychological distress remained stable over time. Boys reported higher levels of self‐esteem and lower levels of psychological distress than girls. Maternal and paternal emotional support reinforced self‐esteem over time. Maternal coercive control undermined self‐esteem, but only at ages 16 and 18. Psychological distress decreased with parental emotional support but increased with parental coercive control at ages 14, 16 and 18. Overall, these results indicate that positive parental practices are related to youths' well‐being. These findings support the importance of establishing intervention strategies designed to promote best practices among parents of teenagers to help them develop into well‐adjusted adults.
Microbial minorities modulate methane consumption through niche partitioning
Authors: Bodelier Paul L E , Meima-Franke Marion , Hordijk Cornelis A , Steenbergh Anne K , Hefting Mariet M , Bodrossy Levente , von Bergen Martin , Seifert Jana 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Microbes catalyze all major geochemical cycles on earth. However, the role of microbial traits and community composition in biogeochemical cycles is still poorly understood mainly due to the inability to assess the community members that are actually performing biogeochemical conversions in complex environmental samples. Here we applied a polyphasic approach to assess the role of microbial community composition in modulating methane emission from a riparian floodplain. We show that the dynamics and intensity of methane consumption in riparian wetlands coincide with relative abundance and activity of specific subgroups of methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB), which can be considered as a minor component of the microbial community in this ecosystem. Microarray-based community composition analyses demonstrated linear relationships of MOB diversity parameters and in vitro methane consumption. Incubations using intact cores in combination with stable isotope labeling of lipids and proteins corroborated the correlative evidence from in vitro incubations demonstrating γ-proteobacterial MOB subgroups to be responsible for methane oxidation. The results obtained within the riparian flooding gradient collectively demonstrate that niche partitioning of MOB within a community comprised of a very limited amount of active species modulates methane consumption and emission from this wetland. The implications of the results obtained for biodiversity–ecosystem functioning are discussed with special reference to the role of spatial and temporal heterogeneity and functional redundancy.
Relation of Perceived Breathiness to Laryngeal Kinematics and Acoustic Measures Based on Computational Modeling
Authors: Samlan Robin A. , Story Brad H. , Bunton Kate 
Published: June 2013

Purpose
In this study, the authors sought to determine (a) how specific vocal fold structural and vibratory features relate to breathy voice quality and (b) the relation of perceived breathiness to 4 acoustic correlates of breathiness.

Method
A computational, kinematic model of the vocal fold medial surfaces was used to specify features of vocal fold structure and vibration in a manner consistent with breathy voice. Four model parameters were altered: vocal process separation, surface bulging, vibratory nodal point, and epilaryngeal constriction. Twelve naïve listeners rated breathiness of 364 samples relative to a reference. The degree of breathiness was then compared to (a) the underlying kinematic profile and (b) 4 acoustic measures: cepstral peak prominence (CPP), harmonics-to-noise ratio, and two measures of spectral slope.

Results
Vocal process separation alone accounted for 61.4% of the variance in perceptual rating. Adding nodal point ratio and bulging to the equation increased the explained variance to 88.7%. The acoustic measure CPP accounted for 86.7% of the variance in perceived breathiness, and explained variance increased to 92.6% with the addition of one spectral slope measure.

Conclusion
Breathiness ratings were best explained kinematically by the degree of vocal process separation and acoustically by CPP.
Influences of Riparian Vegetation on Trout Stream Temperatures in Central Wisconsin
Authors: Cross Benjamin K. , Bozek Michael A. , Mitro Matthew G. 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Summer stream temperatures limit the distribution of Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis and are affected by riparian vegetation. We used riparian and instream habitat surveys along with stream temperature loggers placed throughout streams to determine the potential for riparian vegetation shading to increase the length of stream that is thermally suitable for Brook Trout. Twelve streams located throughout central Wisconsin were evaluated in the summers of 2007 and 2008. Across all streams, nonparametric ANCOVA modeling was used to identify spatial temperature patterns within a year for individual stream segments. Riparian tree-vegetated segments had a significantly lower mean change in stream temperature per kilometer of stream compared with grass-vegetated segments during the periods of maximum daily and weekly average temperatures, when we accounted for upstream temperature. Riparian grass-vegetated segments increased on average 1.19°C/km (SE, 0.44) during the maximum daily average temperature period and 0.93°C/km (SE, 0.39) during the maximum weekly average temperature period, whereas tree-vegetated segments decreased 0.48°C/km (SE, 0.39) and 0.30°C/km (SE, 0.25) during those respective time periods. Maximum weekly average temperatures were also modeled with different shading levels using a heat budget temperature model, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Stream Segment Temperature Model. Across 11 study streams (one stream model could not be calibrated), modeled stream temperatures in equilibrium with their environmental conditions ranging from 23.2°C to 28.3°C at 0% shading could be reduced to 18.8–23.5°C with 75% shading. Modeled increases in shade up to 75% from the current average of 34% increased the length of surveyed stream thermally suitable to Brook Trout by 4.9 km on Sucker Creek. We conclude that riparian forests are important for maintaining thermal conditions suitable for Brook Trout in central Wisconsin streams and can be managed to increase the amount of stream habitat thermally suitable for Brook Trout.
Received February 10, 2012; accepted March 11, 2013
ChroMoS: an integrated web tool for SNP classification, prioritization and functional interpretation
Authors: Barenboim Maxim , Manke Thomas 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Summary: Genome-wide association studies and re-sequencing projects are revealing an increasing number of disease-associated SNPs, a large fraction of which are non-coding. Although they could have relevance for disease susceptibility and progression, the lack of information about regulatory regions impedes the assessment of their functionality. Here we present a web server, ChroMoS (Chromatin Modified SNPs), which combines genetic and epigenetic data with the goal of facilitating SNPs' classification, prioritization and prediction of their functional consequences. ChroMoS uses a large database of SNPs and chromatin states, but allows a user to provide his/her own genetic information. Based on the SNP classification and interactive prioritization, a user can compute the functional impact of multiple SNPs using two prediction tools, one for differential analysis of transcription factor binding (sTRAP) and another for SNPs with potential impact on binding of miRNAs (MicroSNiPer).
Availability: Web server, ChroMoS, is freely available at http://epicenter.immunbio.mpg.de/services/chromos.
Contact: barenboim@ie-freiburg.mpg.de or manke@ie-freiburg.mpg.de
The Alteration of Plant Morphology by Small Peptides Released from the Proteolytic Processing of the Bacterial Peptide TENGU
Authors: Sugawara Kyoko , Honma Youhei , Komatsu Ken , Himeno Misako , Oshima Kenro , Namba Shigetou 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Phytoplasmas are insect-borne plant pathogenic bacteria that alter host morphology. TENGU, a small peptide of 38 residues, is a virulence factor secreted by phytoplasmas that induces dwarfism and witches’ broom in the host plant. In this study, we demonstrate that plants process TENGU in order to generate small functional peptides. First, virus vector-mediated transient expression demonstrated that the amino-terminal 11 amino acids of TENGU are capable of causing symptom development in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The deletion of the 11th residue significantly diminished the symptom-inducing activity of TENGU, suggesting that these 11 amino acids constitute a functional domain. Second, we found that TENGU undergoes proteolytic processing in vitro, generating peptides of 19 and 21 residues including the functional domain. Third, we observed similar processing of TENGU in planta, and an alanine substitution mutant of TENGU, for which processing was compromised, showed reduced symptom induction activity. All TENGU homologs from several phytoplasma strains possessed similar symptom induction activity and went through processing, which suggests that the processing of TENGU might be related to its function.
CEO business education and firm financial performance: a case for humility rather than hubris
Authors: Lindorff Margaret , Prior Jonson Elizabeth 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between CEO business education and firm financial performance.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis of the relationship between three‐year and five‐year shareholder return as measured by dividend and change in share price and CEO educational qualification was performed.FindingsNo relationship was found between CEO MBA, business, or other qualification and firm financial performance.Research limitations/implicationsMore research, particularly in the form of multinational longitudinal studies, should be undertaken on the relationship between CEO business and other qualifications and objective outcomes. A limitation of this study is that it was undertaken in one country and measured only firm financial performance.Practical implicationsIt is possible that business education has been over‐emphasized as a prerequisite to successful management practice. It is also possible that the kind of management education that students have received is no longer appropriate to leadership at CEO level.Originality/valueAlthough many have blamed the GFC on business schools, there has been no examination of the relationship between CEO qualifications and firm financial performance in Australia, and little elsewhere. This study therefore fills a research gap.
Linking power, risk, and governance: a survey research in new product development relationships
Authors: Bazyar Afshar , Teimoury Ebrahim , Fesharaki Mehdi , Moini Alireza , Mohammadi Shahriar 
Published: June 2013

PurposeInter‐organizational arrangements are increasingly playing an important role in new product development (NPD). This article aims to investigate the links among power, risk, and governance in these kinds of relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe authors investigated the links based on the data collected from 112 respondents representing 112 different NPD relationships.FindingsThe results of structural equation modeling revealed that, in the situation where coercive power is imbalanced between partner firms, the weaker partner perceives relational risk while imbalances in non‐coercive power do not influence relational risk perception significantly. The results also showed that relational risk perception is strongly associated with governance modes in such a way that negatively influences trust and the norm of information sharing, and positively affects vertical control, respectively. Further investigations revealed that the influence of power bases on governance modes was mediated through the relational risk perception.Originality/valueThis article contributes to a better appreciation of the factors that account for important determinants of opportunistic behavior of partner firms (i.e. power asymmetries) and governance modes that are available for companies in order to impede relational risks.
Advancing Africa through management knowledge and practice: the way forward
Authors: Acquaah Moses , Zoogah David B. , Kwesiga Eileen N. 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review and summarizes the articles that were accepted for the special issue focusing on “Advancing Africa through management knowledge and practice”. The paper also provides suggestions for future research focus for researchers on management issues in and about Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a conceptual review the distinctiveness of the five articles in the special issue which focus a personal reflection about management research and education in Africa, effective leadership development in Africa and the African diaspora, performance management implementation in the public sector; internationalization process of African businesses with special reference to banks; and strategic factors that could be emphasized by African firms to improve their performance. These papers are synthesized to present a coherent management research framework for Africa.FindingsAfrican management research requires a strategic choice approach, which asks interesting questions focusing on issues relevant to the growth of African businesses and the development of African national economies. African management research needs an identity that is uniquely African such as the intersection of private and public (including governments) interests; and the blurred nature of the formal and informal sectors.Originality/valueThe paper presents some opportunities and value of conducting management research in and about Africa in the areas of leadership and also followership.