bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ATTITUDES TOWARDS AND PRACTICE OF SEXUALITY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN LEBANON
Authors: Salameh P. , Zeenny R. , Salamé J. , Waked M. , Barbour B. , Zeidan N. , Baldi I. 
Published: June 2015

SummarySexuality is still a taboo in Middle Eastern countries, and Lebanon is no exception. This study’s objective was to evaluate attitudes towards sexuality and its practice among university students in Lebanon and assess their respective correlates. The cross-sectional study was carried out among students selected from seventeen universities across Lebanon. The participants received a self-administered standardized questionnaire that assessed their attitudes towards sexuality. It included questions on socio-demographic factors, risk-taking, risky behaviours and sexuality-related questions. Among 3384 students, 2700 (79.8%) answered the questions on sexuality. Around 15% had engaged in sexual activity, while 20% were regularly sexually active. Among males, 34.8% had never had sexual activity, 29.9% had tried it and 35.3% were regularly sexually active. Among females the results were respectively 85.1%, 5.3% and 9.6% (p<0.001). Only 36% regularly used condoms during their relationships. A liberal attitude towards sex, male sex, motives for risky behaviours, current cigarette smoking and problematic alcohol consumption were associated with sexual activity. Realizing that risky behaviours are dangerous, health concerns related to sexual relationships and a liberal attitude towards sex were associated with regular condom use. However, being bothered by condoms and female sex were inversely associated with condom use. Finally, participants who had motives for, and those who felt excited about risky behaviours, and those reporting current cigarette and waterpipe smoking and problematic alcohol consumption (β=0.600; p=0.002) embraced a more liberal attitude towards sex. Conversely, females (β=−7.58; p<0.001) and individuals who considered risky behaviours as dangerous reported an unfavourable attitude towards sexuality. A substantial proportion of Lebanese university students have regular sexual activity, but a low percentage use condoms for protection. Interventions are required among males in particular in view of these attitude and behavioural changes towards sexuality.
How Should We Approach the Economy of ‘Early Modern India’?
Authors: GHOSH SHAMI 
Published: June 2015

AbstractTirthankar Roy's recent synthesis on the economic history of early modern India claims to provide a new, overarching narrative placing this period within the broader sweep of the history of what Roy defines as ‘capitalism’ in India in the very long term. This article provides a detailed critique of Roy's monograph, suggesting that it suffers from some serious methodological deficits, arising not least from a future-oriented paradigm that imposes anachronistic concepts on this period, including the very notion of ‘India’. Furthermore, Roy's view of the economy as being fundamentally driven forward by the rise of a coastal polity, expanding inwards from Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, sits awkwardly with his repeated claim that colonialism was of little significance for Indian economic history. Finally, this article suggests that this period might be more fruitfully approached not only by abandoning thetelosof what we know of India's future, but also by adopting both regionally focused and comparative approaches, turning away from long-distance trade as the primary lens through which to view the economy, and instead examining endogenous factors in the economies of individual regions and enriching our understanding of them by reference to studies of other world regions with comparable patterns of development in the same period. More nuanced ways of approaching economic change in the very long run, including the importance of developments in modes of consumption and market- and profit-oriented economic behaviour, are suggested as a better means of understanding both the economies of the late pre-colonial centuries in the Indian subcontinent and the development of capitalism, which should also be understood in a more specific manner than Roy allows.
Neighborhood as a predictor of non-aggressive, but not aggressive, antisocial behaviors in adulthood
Authors: Burt S. A. , Klump K. L. , Kashy D. A. , Gorman-Smith D. , Neiderhiser J. M. 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundPrior meta-analytic work has highlighted important etiological distinctions between aggressive (AGG) and non-aggressive rule-breaking (RB) dimensions of antisocial behavior. Among these is the finding that RB is influenced by the environment more than is AGG. Relatively little research, however, has sought to identify the specific environmental experiences that contribute to this effect. The current study sought to do just this.MethodWe examined whether unrelated adults residing in the same neighborhood (n = 1915 participants in 501 neighborhoods) were more similar in their AGG and RB than would be expected by chance. Analyses focused on simple multi-level models, with the participant as the lower-level unit and the neighborhood as the upper-level unit.ResultsResults revealed little to no evidence of neighborhood-level variance in AGG. By contrast, 11+% of the variance in RB could be predicted from participant neighborhood, results that persisted even when considering the possibility of genetic relatedness across participants and neighborhood selection effects. Moreover, 17% of this neighborhood-level variance in RB was accounted for by neighborhood structural characteristics and social processes.ConclusionsFindings bolster prior suggestions that broader contextual experiences, like the structural and social characteristics of one's neighborhood, contribute in a meaningful way to RB in particular. Our results also tentatively imply that this association may be environmental in origin. Future work should seek to develop additional, stronger designs capable of more clearly leveraging genetic un-relatedness to improve causal inferences regarding the environment.
Two Rare Late Samian Vessels from Southern England
Authors: Bird Joanna 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis paper considers two vessels, one found at Silchester in Hampshire, the other at Flexford, near Guildford in Surrey. Both are products of the samian workshops at Rheinzabern and both owe their design to metal prototypes. Neither has any apparent known parallel for its combination of form and decoration and both are a valuable reminder that even in such a large enterprise as the samian potteries individual forms could be made, perhaps in response to a specific request or as experiments by the potters. They also form an important contribution to our knowledge of late samian ware in Britain and add to previous evidence for the use of samian in ritual contexts.
Income, cumulative risk, and longitudinal profiles of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in preschool-age children
Authors: Zalewski Maureen , Lengua Liliana J. , Thompson Stephanie F. , Kiff Cara J. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractEnvironmental risk predicts disrupted basal cortisol levels in preschool children. However, little is known about the stability or variability of diurnal cortisol morning levels or slope patterns over time in young children. This study used latent profile analysis to identify patterns of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity during the preschool period. Using a community sample (N= 306), this study measured income, cumulative risk, and children's diurnal cortisol (morning level and slope) four times across 2.5 years, starting when children were 36 months old. Latent profile analysis profiles indicated that there were predominantly stable patterns of diurnal cortisol level and slope over time and that these patterns were predicted by income and cumulative risk. In addition, there were curvilinear relations of income and cumulative risk to profiles of low morning cortisol level and flattened diurnal slope across time, suggesting that both lower and higher levels of income and cumulative risk were associated with a stress-sensitive physiological system. Overall, this study provides initial evidence for the role of environmental risk in predicting lower, flattened basal cortisol patterns that remain stable over time.
Tracing CD34+ Stromal Fibroblasts in Palatal Mucosa and Periodontal Granulation Tissue as a Possible Cell Reservoir for Periodontal Regeneration
Authors: Roman Alexandra , Páll Emőke , Mihu Carmen M. , Petruţiu Adrian S. , Barbu-Tudoran Lucian , Câmpian Radu S. , Florea Adrian , Georgiu Carmen 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe aim of the present research was to trace CD34+ stromal fibroblastic cells (CD34+ SFCs) in the palatal connective tissue harvested for muco-gingival surgical procedures and in granulation tissues from periodontal pockets using immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical analysis targeted the presence of three antigens: CD31,α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and CD34. In the palate, CD31 staining revealed a colored inner ring of the vessels representing the endothelium,α-SMA+ was located in the medial layer of the vasculature, and CD34 was intensely expressed by endothelial cells and artery adventitial cells (considered to be CD34+ SFCs). Granulation tissue showed the same pattern for CD31+ andα-SMA, but a different staining pattern for CD34. Ultrastructural examination of the palatal tissue highlighted perivascular cells with fibroblast-like characteristics and pericytes in close spatial relationship to endothelial cells. The ultrastructural evaluation of granulation tissue sections confirmed the presence of neovasculature and the inflammatory nature of this tissue. The present study traced the presence of CD34+ SFCs and of pericytes in the palatal connective tissue thus highlighting once more its intrinsic regenerative capabilities. The clinical and systemic factors triggering mobilization and influencing the fate of local CD34+SCFs and other progenitors are issues to be further investigated.
Evolutionary analysis of the female-specific avian W chromosome
Authors: Smeds Linnéa , Warmuth Vera , Bolivar Paulina , Uebbing Severin , Burri Reto , Suh Alexander , Nater Alexander , Bureš Stanislav , Garamszegi Laszlo Z. , Hogner Silje , Moreno Juan , Qvarnström Anna , Ružić Milan , Sæther Stein-Are , Sætre Glenn-Peter , Török Janos , Ellegren Hans 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe typically repetitive nature of the sex-limited chromosome means that it is often excluded from or poorly covered in genome assemblies, hindering studies of evolutionary and population genomic processes in non-recombining chromosomes. Here, we present a draft assembly of the non-recombining region of the collared flycatcher W chromosome, containing 46 genes without evidence of female-specific functional differentiation. Survival of genes during W chromosome degeneration has been highly non-random and expression data suggest that this can be attributed to selection for maintaining gene dose and ancestral expression levels of essential genes. Re-sequencing of large population samples revealed dramatically reduced levels of within-species diversity and elevated rates of between-species differentiation (lineage sorting), consistent with low effective population size. Concordance between W chromosome and mitochondrial DNA phylogenetic trees demonstrates evolutionary stable matrilineal inheritance of this nuclear–cytonuclear pair of chromosomes. Our results show both commonalities and differences between W chromosome and Y chromosome evolution.
Bicarbonate transporters in corals point towards a key step in the evolution of cnidarian calcification
Authors: Zoccola Didier , Ganot Philippe , Bertucci Anthony , Caminiti-Segonds Natacha , Techer Nathalie , Voolstra Christian R , Aranda Manuel , Tambutté Eric , Allemand Denis , Casey Joseph R , Tambutté Sylvie 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe bicarbonate ion (HCO3−) is involved in two major physiological processes in corals, biomineralization and photosynthesis, yet no molecular data on bicarbonate transporters are available. Here, we characterized plasma membrane-type HCO3− transporters in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata. Eight solute carrier (SLC) genes were found in the genome: five homologs of mammalian-type SLC4 family members and three of mammalian-type SLC26 family members. Using relative expression analysis and immunostaining, we analyzed the cellular distribution of these transporters and conducted phylogenetic analyses to determine the extent of conservation among cnidarian model organisms. Our data suggest that the SLC4γ isoform is specific to scleractinian corals and responsible for supplying HCO3− to the site of calcification. Taken together, SLC4γ appears to be one of the key genes for skeleton building in corals, which bears profound implications for our understanding of coral biomineralization and the evolution of scleractinian corals within cnidarians.
Heralded Quantum Entanglement between Distant Matter Qubits
Authors: Yang Wen-Juan , Wang Xiang-Bin 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe propose a scheme to realize heralded quantum entanglement between two distant matter qubits using two Λ atom systems. Our proposal does not need any photon interference. We also present a general theory of outcome state of non-monochromatic incident light and finite interaction time.
Internally architectured materials with directionally asymmetric friction
Authors: Bafekrpour Ehsan , Dyskin Arcady , Pasternak Elena , Molotnikov Andrey , Estrin Yuri 
Published: June 2015

AbstractInternally Architectured Materials (IAMs) that exhibit different friction forces for sliding in the opposite directions are proposed. This is achieved by translating deformation normal to the sliding plane into a tangential force in a manner that is akin to a toothbrush with inclined bristles. Friction asymmetry is attained by employing a layered material or a structure with parallel ‘ribs’ inclined to the direction of sliding. A theory of directionally asymmetric friction is presented, along with prototype IAMs designed, fabricated and tested. The friction anisotropy (the ξ-coefficient) is characterised by the ratio of the friction forces for two opposite directions of sliding. It is further demonstrated that IAM can possess very high levels of friction anisotropy, with ξ of the order of 10. Further increase in ξ is attained by modifying the shape of the ribs to provide them with directionally dependent bending stiffness. Prototype IAMs produced by 3D printing exhibit truly giant friction asymmetry, with ξ in excess of 20. A novel mechanical rectifier, which can convert oscillatory movement into unidirectional movement by virtue of directionally asymmetric friction, is proposed. Possible applications include locomotion in a constrained environment and energy harvesting from oscillatory noise and vibrations.
Mid-infrared passively switched pulsed dual wavelength Ho3+-doped fluoride fiber laser at 3 μm and 2 μm
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Luo Hongyu , Wang Lele , Liu Yong , Yan Zhijun , Zhou Kaiming , Zhang Lin , Turistsyn Sergei K. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractCascade transitions of rare earth ions involved in infrared host fiber provide the potential to generate dual or multiple wavelength lasing at mid-infrared region. In addition, the fast development of saturable absorber (SA) towards the long wavelengths motivates the realization of passively switched mid-infrared pulsed lasers. In this work, by combing the above two techniques, a new phenomenon of passively Q-switched ~3 μm and gain-switched ~2 μm pulses in a shared cavity was demonstrated with a Ho3+-doped fluoride fiber and a specifically designed semiconductor saturable absorber (SESAM) as the SA. The repetition rate of ~2 μm pulses can be tuned between half and same as that of ~3 μm pulses by changing the pump power. The proposed method here will add new capabilities and more flexibility for generating mid-infrared multiple wavelength pulses simultaneously that has important potential applications for laser surgery, material processing, laser radar and free-space communications and other areas.
Transcriptional responses of invasive and indigenous whiteflies to different host plants reveal their disparate capacity of adaptation
Authors: Xu Hong-Xing , Hong Yue , Zhang Min-Zhu , Wang Yong-Liang , Liu Shu-Sheng , Wang Xiao-Wei 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe whiteflyBemisia tabacicontains more than 35 cryptic species. The higher adaptability of Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) cryptic species has been recognized as one important factor for its invasion and displacement of other indigenous species worldwide. Here we compared the performance of the invasive MEAM1 and the indigenous Asia II 3 whitefly species following host plant transfer from a suitable host (cotton) to an unsuitable host (tobacco) and analyzed their transcriptional responses. After transfer to tobacco for 24 h, MEAM1 performed much better than Asia II 3. Transcriptional analysis showed that the patterns of gene regulation were very different with most of the genes up-regulated in MEAM1 but down-regulated in Asia II 3. Whereas carbohydrate and energy metabolisms were repressed in Asia II 3, the gene expression and protein metabolisms were activated in MEAM1. Compared to the constitutive high expression of detoxification genes in MEAM1, most of the detoxification genes were down-regulated in Asia II 3. Enzymatic activities of P450, GST and esterase further verified that the detoxification of MEAM1 was much higher than that of Asia II 3. These results reveal obvious differences in responses of MEAM1 and Asia II 3 to host transfer.
Induction chemotherapy with concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Lijuan , Jiang Nan , Shi Yuexian , Li Shipeng , Wang Peiguo , Zhao Yue 
Published: June 2015

AbstractConcurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has been considered to be the standard of care for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (LA-SCCHN). Whether induction chemotherapy (IC) with CCRT will further improve the clinical outcomes or not is still unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the two regimens for LA-SCCHN. Literature searches were carried out in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Chinese Biology Medicine from inception to November 2014. Five prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 922 patients were included in meta-analysis. Results were expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) or relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Compared with CCRT, IC with CCRT showed no statistically significant differences in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) or locoregional recurrence rate (LRR), but could increase risks of grade 3–4 febrile neutropenia (P = 0.0009) and leukopenia (P = 0.04). In contrast, distant metastasis rate (DMR) decreased (P = 0.006) and complete response rate (CR) improved (P = 0.010) for IC with CCRT. In conclusion, the current studies do not support the use of IC with CCRT over CCRT and the further positioning of IC with CCRT as standard treatment for LA-SCCHN will come from more RCTs directly comparing IC followed by CCRT with CCRT.
Inferring the connectivity of coupled oscillators from time-series statistical similarity analysis
Authors: Tirabassi Giulio , Sevilla-Escoboza Ricardo , Buldú Javier M. , Masoller Cristina 
Published: June 2015

AbstractA system composed by interacting dynamical elements can be represented by a network, where the nodes represent the elements that constitute the system and the links account for their interactions, which arise due to a variety of mechanisms and which are often unknown. A popular method for inferring the system connectivity (i.e., the set of links among pairs of nodes) is by performing a statistical similarity analysis of the time-series collected from the dynamics of the nodes. Here, by considering two systems of coupled oscillators (Kuramoto phase oscillators and Rössler chaotic electronic oscillators) with known and controllable coupling conditions, we aim at testing the performance of this inference method, by using linear and non linear statistical similarity measures. We find that, under adequate conditions, the network links can be perfectly inferred, i.e., no mistakes are made regarding the presence or absence of links. These conditions for perfect inference require: i) an appropriated choice of the observed variable to be analysed, ii) an appropriated interaction strength and iii) an adequate thresholding of the similarity matrix. For the dynamical units considered here we find that the linear statistical similarity measure performs, in general, better than the non-linear ones.
Pattern formation in multiplex networks
Authors: Kouvaris Nikos E. , Hata Shigefumi , Guilera Albert Díaz- 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe advances in understanding complex networks have generated increasing interest in dynamical processes occurring on them. Pattern formation in activator-inhibitor systems has been studied in networks, revealing differences from the classical continuous media. Here we study pattern formation in a new framework, namely multiplex networks. These are systems where activator and inhibitor species occupy separate nodes in different layers. Species react across layers but diffuse only within their own layer of distinct network topology. This multiplicity generates heterogeneous patterns with significant differences from those observed in single-layer networks. Remarkably, diffusion-induced instability can occur even if the two species have the same mobility rates; condition which can never destabilize single-layer networks. The instability condition is revealed using perturbation theory and expressed by a combination of degrees in the different layers. Our theory demonstrates that the existence of such topology-driven instabilities is generic in multiplex networks, providing a new mechanism of pattern formation.
Superior electro-optic response in multiferroic bismuth ferrite nanoparticle doped nematic liquid crystal device
Authors: Nayek Prasenjit , Li Guoqiang 
Published: June 2015

AbstractA superior electro-optic (E-O) response has been achieved when multiferroic bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3/BFO) nanoparticles (NPs) were doped in nematic liquid crystal (NLC) host E7 and the LC device was addressed in the large signal regime by an amplitude modulated square wave signal at the frequency of 100 Hz. The optimized concentration of BFO is 0.15 wt% and the corresponding total optical response time (rise time + decay time) for a 5 μm-thick cell is 2.5 ms for ~7 Vrms. This might be exploited for the construction of adaptive lenses, modulators, displays and other E-O devices. The possible reason behind the fast response time could be the visco-elastic constant and restoring force imparted by the locally ordered LCs induced by the multiferroic nanoparticles (MNPs). Polarized optical microscopic textural observation shows that the macroscopic dislocation-free excellent contrast have significant impact on improving the image quality and performance of the devices.