bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of recommendation systems on Internet‐based learning for different learners: A data mining analysis
Authors: Liu Chen‐Chung , Chang Chia‐Jung , Tseng Jui‐Min 
Published: November 2012

AbstractA general challenge facing Internet‐based learners is how to identify information objects which are helpful in expanding their understanding of important information in a domain. Recommendation systems may assist learners in identifying potentially helpful information objects. However, the recent literature mainly focuses on the technical performance, rather than on how recommendations support searching in educational contexts. This study thus investigates how recommendation systems may influence the searching behaviors and strategies of different learners, when they are used with a mind map. The results suggested two main different searching behavioral patterns, namely focused searchers and broad searchers. It is found that the recommendations may influence the searching behaviors of the two types of searchers in different ways. For the focused searchers, the recommendations may support these searchers to expand their keywords to explore the domain. Regarding the broad searchers, they did not rely on the computer recommendations. However, the mind map interface applied along with the recommendations may support them in monitoring their searching processes. Online Information Searching Strategies Inventory (OISSI) was applied to examine the participants' perceptions of how students applied information searching strategies. The results of OISSI support that both types of searchers perceived a higher level of searching strategies when they search with the recommendation system and mind maps.
Drinking Before Going to Licensed Premises: An Event‐Level Analysis of Predrinking, Alcohol Consumption, and Adverse Outcomes
Authors: Labhart Florian , Graham Kathryn , Wells Samantha , Kuntsche Emmanuel 
Published: November 2012

BackgroundResearch in the United States and the United Kingdom indicates that drinking before going out (commonly called “predrinking”) is common among young people and associated with increased harm. On the basis of Swiss data, this study investigates differences in alcohol consumption and adverse or risky outcomes for evenings when persons consumed alcohol before going to a licensed premise (i.e., predrinking), drank on‐premise only, or drank off‐premise only.MethodsUsing the recently developed Internet‐based cell phone‐optimized assessment technique (ICAT), alcohol consumption and drinking location were assessed at 6 time points (5 pm to the next morning) on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays over 5 consecutive weeks by means of participants' cell phones. Overall, 7,828 assessments provided by 183 young adults (53.0% women, mean age [SD] = 23.1 [3.1]) on 1,441 evenings were analyzed by means of cluster‐adjusted means and proportion tests and of multilevel structural equation models. The extent to which alcohol consumption mediated the association between predrinking and adverse outcomes was also examined.ResultsHigher alcohol consumption occurred on evenings with predrinking (7.1 drinks on average) compared with on‐premise only (4.2 drinks) and off‐premise only (4.3 drinks) evenings. Adverse outcomes occurred more often on evenings with predrinking (with 23.8% of predrinking nights involving at least 1 outcome) than on evenings with on‐premise drinking only (13.9%) and off‐premise drinking only (12.0%). Predrinking was indirectly associated with adverse outcomes, mediated by larger amounts of alcohol consumed in the evening.ConclusionsBecause of its association with heavier consumption and related adverse outcomes, predrinking, especially combined with on‐premise drinking, represents a major target for prevention. Educational interventions as well as structural measures, such as reduction in late‐night off‐sale opening hours, and staff training in responsible beverage service, are needed to prevent high total consumption and related adverse consequences among young people.
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Urban Metabolism
Authors: Broto Vanesa Castán , Allen Adriana , Rapoport Elizabeth 
Published: November 2012

SummaryThe concept of urban metabolism, referring to the exchange processes that produce the urban environment, has inspired new ways of thinking about how cities can be made sustainable and has also raised criticisms about the specific social and economic arrangements in which some forms of flow are prioritized or marginalized within the city. This article explores how the concept of urban metabolism travels across disciplines, using a comparative analysis of different approaches to urban metabolism within industrial ecology, urban ecology, ecological economics, political economy and political ecology. The analysis reveals six main themes emerging within interdisciplinary boundaries in relation to urban metabolism, and how this concept enables new understandings of (1) the city as an ecosystem, (2) material and energy flows within the city, (3) economic–material relations within the city, (4) economic drivers of rural–urban relationships, (5) the reproduction of urban inequality, and (6) attempts at resignifying the city through new visions of socioecological relationships. The article suggests potential areas for cross‐disciplinary synergies around the concept of urban metabolism and opens up avenues for industrial ecology to engage with the politics and the governance of urban development by examining the city and its metabolism.
Co‐morbidities in psoriasis: a hospital‐based case‐control study
Authors: Tseng H.W. , Lin H.S. , Lam H.C. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackground  Recent researches show that psoriasis is frequently associated with systemic co‐morbidities.Objectives  This study aimed to identify possible associated co‐morbidities in psoriatic patients stratified by age and sex.Methods  In this retrospective hospital‐based case‐control study, patients diagnosed as psoriasis at the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan between January 2008 and December 2009 were enrolled as cases and classified into severe and mild based on their use of systemic therapy. The controls were the patients without psoriasis matched the cases in 1 : 1 ratio with same birth year, sex and calendar date. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from the conditional logistic regression method were used to assess the risk of co‐morbidities between psoriatic and non‐psoriatic patients.Results  A total of 447 cases and 447 matched controls, with mean age of 51.3 ± 18.3 years and male‐to‐female ratio of 2.17 : 1 were enrolled. The ratio of mild‐to‐severe was 3.5 : 1. Compared with non‐psoriatic patients, psoriatic patients had significantly higher OR of hypertension (1.85), diabetes mellitus (2.88) and obesity (1.66). Among those aged ≥51 years old, there was significant risk in male psoriatic patients with ischaemic and hypertensive heart disease (IHHD) (OR = 2.167) after eliminating female IHHD psoriatic patients (OR = 0.125). Psoriasis was significantly negatively associated with cancers (OR = 0.267). Psoriasis patients often had the usual drinking habit (OR = 2.23) and seldom had an occasional drinking habit (OR = 0.25).Conclusions  Psoriasis is strongly associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity. The association between psoriasis and IHHD, stroke, cancers, smoking and alcohol habits warrant more investigation.
Factors related to quality of life for patients with type 2 diabetes with or without depressive symptoms – results from a community‐based study in China
Authors: Liu Yu , Maier Manfred , Hao Yufang , Chen Yan , Qin Yuelan , Huo Ran 
Published: November 2012

Aims and objectivesTo explore the factors related to quality of life for patients with type 2 diabetes with or without depressive symptoms in China.BackgroundIn patients with type 2 diabetes with or without depressive symptoms, different factors such as gender, social context or regional setting may affect their quality of life.DesignThis was a cross‐sectional study.MethodsOf 791 registered patients with type 2 diabetes from four communities in Beijing, cluster sampling was used to recruit patients for participation. Self‐rating depression scale was used to screen for depressive symptoms; demographic and clinical data were collected, and quality of life and social support were assessed using appropriate tools. The factors associated with quality of life were tested using multivariate linear regression.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms in 667 patients with diabetes was 44·2%. Quality of life of patients with depressive symptoms was worse than that of patients without depressive symptoms, and this was associated negatively with history of diabetic complications, usage of hypoglycaemic agents or insulin and self‐rating depression scale scores and positively with salary and subjective social support.ConclusionsThe factors related to quality of life for patients with or without depressive symptoms are different. For patients with depressive symptoms, better salary and subjective social support are associated positively with their quality of life, while the presence of diabetic complications, a higher score for depressive symptoms and need for hypoglycaemic agents or insulin are negatively associated with quality of life.Relevance to clinical practiceIt is suggested that the nurse should screen depression for patients with diabetes, especially for those with diabetic complications or low social support. This should be done in the community regularly in order to find diabetic patients with depression in time. In addition, the results can provide a reference to clinical nursing care for patients with diabetes in hospitals.
Early maladaptive schemas in relation to facets of psychopathy and institutional violence in offenders with personality disorders
Authors: Chakhssi Farid , Bernstein David , de Ruiter Corine 
Published: November 2012

PurposeCurrent knowledge suggests that the psychopathy construct is multifaceted in nature, and reflects different underlying pathological mechanisms, including neurobiological dysfunction and maladaptive cognitions. Although many contemporary studies focus on neurobiological aspects of psychopathy, few have addressed the maladaptive cognitions.MethodIn this study, we examined facets of Hare's psychopathy construct in terms of their associations with maladaptive cognitions, as defined by Young's cognitive theory of Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS). Personality disordered offenders (N = 124) were assessed with the PCL‐R and the Young Schema Questionnaire.ResultsThe PCL‐R Lifestyle and Antisocial Facets were significantly related to EMS Mistrust/Abuse and Insufficient Self‐Control, consistent with our hypotheses, and were significantly, but negatively, related to EMS Subjugation. Also as hypothesized, EMS showed no associations with the PCL‐R Affective and Interpersonal facets. Contrary to our expectation, EMS did not predict institutional violence.ConclusionOur findings suggest that schemas relating to mistrust, inadequate self‐control/low frustration tolerance, and autonomy/dominance, play a role in the impulsive lifestyle and antisocial behaviour features of psychopathy. Treatments that focus on ameliorating these schemas may lead to better outcomes in psychopathic offenders.
Postrelease movement of rehabilitated harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) pups compared with cohort‐matched wild seal pups
Authors: Gaydos Joseph K. , Ignacio Vilchis L. , Lance Monique M. , Jeffries Steven J. , Thomas Austen , Greenwood Vanessa , Harner Penny , Ziccardi Michael H. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractHarbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) populations in the inland waters of Washington and British Columbia are at or near carrying capacity. Stranded pups often are collected and admitted to rehabilitation centers, and then released when they reach a weight of 22 kg and meet a variety of preestablished health and release conditions. While rehabilitation is common practice, it is unclear if rehabilitated seal pups behave like wild weaned pups. Using satellite transmitters, we compared movement patterns of 10 rehabilitated pups with 10 wild weaned pups. When released, rehabilitated seals were longer and heavier than wild pups, while wild pups had a larger mean axillary girth. No clinically different blood parameters were detected. On average, rehabilitated harbor seal pups traveled nearly twice as far cumulatively, almost three times as far daily, and dispersed over three times as far from the release site compared to wild weaned seals. Additionally, wild harbor seals transmitted nearly twice as long as did rehabilitated seals. These patterns suggest that learned behavior during the brief 3–4 wk nursing period likely enables wild harbor seal pups to move less daily and remain closer to their weaning site than rehabilitated pups.
Malaria antibody persistence correlates with duration of exposure
Authors: Faddy H. M. , Seed C. R. , Faddy M. J. , Flower R. L. , Harley R. J. 
Published: November 2012

Background and Objectives  In Australia, the risk of transfusion‐transmitted malaria is managed through the identification of ‘at‐risk’ donors, antibody screening enzyme‐linked immunoassay (EIA) and, if reactive, exclusion from fresh blood component manufacture. Donor management depends on the duration of exposure in malarious regions (>6 months: ‘Resident’, <6 months: ‘Visitor’) or a history of malaria diagnosis. We analysed antibody testing and demographic data to investigate antibody persistence dynamics. To assess the yield from retesting 3 years after an initial EIA reactive result, we estimated the proportion of donors who would become non‐reactive over this period.Materials and Methods  Test results and demographic data from donors who were malaria EIA reactive were analysed. Time since possible exposure was estimated and antibody survival modelled.Results  Among seroreverters, the time since last possible exposure was significantly shorter in ‘Visitors’ than in ‘Residents’. The antibody survival modelling predicted 20% of previously EIA reactive ‘Visitors’, but only 2% of ‘Residents’ would become non‐reactive within 3 years of their first reactive EIA.Conclusion  Antibody persistence in donors correlates with exposure category, with semi‐immune ‘Residents’ maintaining detectable antibodies significantly longer than non‐immune ‘Visitors’.
Social Network Analysis for Assessment of Avian Influenza Spread and Trading Patterns of Backyard Chickens in Nakhon Pathom, Suphan Buri and Ratchaburi, Thailand
Authors: Poolkhet C. , Chairatanayuth P. , Thongratsakul S. , Yatbantoong N. , Kasemsuwan S. , Damchoey D. , Rukkwamsuk T. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryThe aim of this study is to explain the social networks of the backyard chicken in Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri and Nakhon Pathom Provinces. In this study, we designed the nodes as groups of persons or places involved in activities relating to backyard chickens. The ties are all activities related to the nodes. The study applied a partial network approach to assess the spreading pattern of avian influenza. From 557 questionnaires collected from the nodes, the researchers found that the degree (the numbers of ties that a node has) and closeness (the distance from one node to the others) centralities of Nakhon Pathom were significantly higher than those of the others (P < 0.001). The results show that compared with the remaining areas, this area is more quickly connected to many links. If the avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 was released into the network, the disease would spread throughout this province more rapidly than in Ratchaburi and Suphan Buri. The betweenness centrality in each of these provinces showed no differences (P > 0.05). In this study, the nodes that play an important role in all networks are farmers who raise consumable chicken, farmers who raise both consumable chicken and fighting cocks, farmers’ households that connect with dominant nodes, and the owners and observers of fighting cocks at arenas and training fields. In this study, we did not find cut points or blocks in the network. Moreover, we detected a random network in all provinces. Thus, connectivity between the nodes covers long or short distances, with less predictable behaviour. Finally, this study suggests that activities between the important nodes must receive special attention for disease control during future disease outbreaks.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Region of Difference (RD) 2 Antigen Rv1985c and RD11 Antigen Rv3425 Have the Promising Potential To Distinguish Patients with Active Tuberculosis from M. bovis BCG-Vaccinated Individuals
Authors: Wang Sen , Chen Jiazhen , Zhang Ying , Diao Ni , Zhang Shu , Wu Jing , Lu Chanyi , Wang Feifei , Gao Yan , Shao Lingyun , Jin Jialin , Weng Xinhua , Zhang Wenhong 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTAntigens encoded in the region of difference (RD) ofMycobacterium tuberculosisconstitute a potential source of specific immunodiagnostic antigens for distinguishing tuberculosis (TB) infection from BCG vaccination. We evaluated the diagnostic potential of specific T-cell epitopes selected from two immunodominant antigens, Rv1985c and Rv3425, from RD2 and RD11, respectively, on the basis of epitope mapping, in TB patients and BCG-vaccinated healthy individuals. Using a whole-blood gamma interferon release assay, a wide array of epitopes was recognized on both Rv1985c and Rv3425 in TB patients. Those epitopes that could specifically discriminate TB infection from BCG vaccination were carefully selected, and the most promising peptide pools from Rv1985c showed a sensitivity of 53.9% and a specificity of 95.5%. When the novel specific peptides from Rv1985c joined the diagnostic antigens in the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT) assay, the sensitivity was increased from 86.4% to 96.2%, with no drop in specificity. These results indicate that the peptide pools selected from Rv1985c and Rv3425 have the potential to diagnose TB infection by a method that may be routinely used in clinical laboratories.
Detection of Oxacillin-Susceptible
mecA
-Positive Staphylococcus aureus Isolates by Use of Chromogenic Medium MRSA ID
Authors: Kumar V. Anil , Steffy Katherin , Chatterjee Maitrayee , Sugumar Madhan , Dinesh Kavitha R. , Manoharan Anand , Karim Shamsul , Biswas Raja 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT

Reports of oxacillin-susceptible
mecA
-positive
Staphylococcus aureus
strains are on the rise. Because of their susceptibility to oxacillin and cefoxitin, it is very difficult to detect them by using routine phenotypic methods. We describe two such isolates that were detected by chromogenic medium and confirmed by characterization of the
mecA
gene element.
Assessment of Real-Time PCR Assay for Detection of Rickettsia spp. and Rickettsia rickettsii in Banked Clinical Samples
Authors: Kato Cecilia Y. , Chung Ida H. , Robinson Lauren K. , Austin Amy L. , Dasch Gregory A. , Massung Robert F. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT

Two novel real-time PCR assays were developed for the detection of
Rickettsia
spp. One assay detects all tested
Rickettsia
spp.; the other is specific for
Rickettsia rickettsii
. Evaluation using DNA from human blood and tissue samples showed both assays to be more sensitive than nested PCR assays currently in use at the CDC.
Independent Activation of Hepatitis B Virus Biosynthesis by Retinoids, Peroxisome Proliferators, and Bile Acids
Authors: Reese Vanessa C. , Oropeza Claudia E. , McLachlan Alan 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT
In the human hepatoma cell line HepG2, retinoic acid, clofibric acid, and bile acid treatment can only modestly increase hepatitis B virus (HBV) biosynthesis. Utilizing the human embryonic kidney cell line 293T, it was possible to demonstrate that the retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) plus its ligand can support viral biosynthesis independently of additional nuclear receptors. In addition, RXRα/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and RXRα/farnesoid X receptor α (FXRα) heterodimeric nuclear receptors can also mediate ligand-dependent HBV transcription and replication when activated by clofibric acid and bile acid, respectively, independently of a requirement for the ligand-dependent activation of RXRα. These observations indicate that there are at least three possible modes of ligand-mediated activation of HBV transcription and replication existing within hepatocytes, suggesting that multiple independent mechanisms control viral production in the livers of infected individuals.
Influenza Virus Induces Apoptosis via BAD-Mediated Mitochondrial Dysregulation
Authors: Tran Anh T. , Cortens John P. , Du Qiujiang , Wilkins John A. , Coombs Kevin M. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTInfluenza virus infection results in host cell death and major tissue damage. Specific components of the apoptotic pathway, a signaling cascade that ultimately leads to cell death, are implicated in promoting influenza virus replication. BAD is a cell death regulator that constitutes a critical control point in the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, which occurs through the dysregulation of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and the subsequent activation of downstream apoptogenic factors. Here we report a novel proviral role for the proapoptotic protein BAD in influenza virus replication. We show that influenza virus-induced cytopathology and cell death are considerably inhibited in BAD knockdown cells and that both virus replication and viral protein production are dramatically reduced, which suggests that virus-induced apoptosis is BAD dependent. Our data showed that influenza viruses induced phosphorylation of BAD at residues S112 and S136 in a temporal manner. Viral infection also induced BAD cleavage, late in the viral life cycle, to a truncated form that is reportedly a more potent inducer of apoptosis. We further demonstrate that knockdown of BAD resulted in reduced cytochromecrelease and suppression of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway during influenza virus replication, as seen by an inhibition of caspases-3, caspase-7, and procyclic acidic repetitive protein (PARP) cleavage. Our data indicate that influenza viruses carefully modulate the activation of the apoptotic pathway that is dependent on the regulatory function of BAD and that failure of apoptosis activation resulted in unproductive viral replication.
Lethal Canine Distemper Virus Outbreak in Cynomolgus Monkeys in Japan in 2008
Authors: Sakai Kouji , Nagata Noriyo , Ami Yasushi , Seki Fumio , Suzaki Yuriko , Iwata-Yoshikawa Naoko , Suzuki Tadaki , Fukushi Shuetsu , Mizutani Tetsuya , Yoshikawa Tomoki , Otsuki Noriyuki , Kurane Ichiro , Komase Katsuhiro , Yamaguchi Ryoji , Hasegawa Hideki , Saijo Masayuki , Takeda Makoto , Morikawa Shigeru 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT

Canine distemper virus (CDV) has recently expanded its host range to nonhuman primates. A large CDV outbreak occurred in rhesus monkeys at a breeding farm in Guangxi Province, China, in 2006, followed by another outbreak in rhesus monkeys at an animal center in Beijing in 2008. In 2008 in Japan, a CDV outbreak also occurred in cynomolgus monkeys imported from China. In that outbreak, 46 monkeys died from severe pneumonia during a quarantine period. A CDV strain (CYN07-dV) was isolated in Vero cells expressing dog signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM). Phylogenic analysis showed that CYN07-dV was closely related to the recent CDV outbreaks in China, suggesting continuing chains of CDV infection in monkeys.
In vitro
, CYN07-dV uses macaca SLAM and macaca nectin4 as receptors as efficiently as dog SLAM and dog nectin4, respectively. CYN07-dV showed high virulence in experimentally infected cynomolgus monkeys and excreted progeny viruses in oral fluid and feces. These data revealed that some of the CDV strains, like CYN07-dV, have the potential to cause acute systemic infection in monkeys.