bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparison of traditional food and health strategies among Taiwanese and Chinese immigrants in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Authors: Jiang Sandy , Quave Cassandra L 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Background
Ethnobotanical studies on the use of plants amongst migrant populations are of great relevance to public health. Traditional health strategies, which incorporate plants as medicines, foods, or both – can play an important role in individual well-being. However, at the same time, migrant populations’ traditional knowledge of such practices may be under a state of greater threat of decline due to factors such as limited access to the plant materials and physical isolation from the homeland, which serves as the primary living reservoir for this knowledge.

Methods
In this study, we conducted a medical ethnobotanical survey focusing on a comparison of local medicinal food and health strategies with members of two Asian immigrant populations in metro-Atlanta: Chinese and Taiwanese. Snowball sampling techniques were employed to recruit 83 study participants, 57 of which were included in the final analysis. Semi-structured interview techniques were used to question participants about their beliefs and usage of the yin yang system, usage of Chinese herbs and medicinal foods, preference and usage of Eastern and Western medicines, and gardening for medicinal foods.

Results and conclusion
Comparison of the two groups demonstrated a remarkable difference in health strategies concerning medicinal plant use, including statistically significant differences in beliefs concerning yin and yang, uses of Eastern versus Western medicine, and gardening for medicinal foods. Domestic health strategies in the form of medicinal foods play an important role in local health practices, especially among the Taiwanese participants. The collective desire for the use of both Eastern and Western medicine by both groups highlights the important role that cultural competency training will play in preparing allopathic health practitioners to serve increasingly diverse patient populations in the US.
Oxytocin induced oxidative stress in lactating Bubalis bubalis (Nili Ravi)
Authors: Iqbal Zafar , Rahman Zia Ur , Muhammad Faqir , Khaliq Tanweer , Anwar Haseeb , Awais Mian Muhammad , Sadaf Saima 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Oxytocin has been reported for a wide range of adverse effects in different species of lactating animals. The present study was aimed to evaluate the adverse effects of oxytocin on biomarkers of oxidative stress in buffaloes. Lactating buffaloes (n = 40) were randomly selected from a commercial dairy farm located in the peri-urban area of district Faisalabad, Pakistan and divided into two equal groups viz. treatment and control groups, each containing 20 buffaloes. Buffaloes in treatment group were injected with oxytocin before each milking (morning and evening) for milk let down; whereas, animals in control group were milked naturally without oxytocin injection. Both the groups were assessed for oxidative stress biomarkers.

Results
Results showed significantly higher levels (P ≤ 0.05) of TOS, tHcy and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in lactating buffaloes injected with oxytocin as compared to those of control group. On the other hand, serum levels of TAS, PON1 and arylesterase were significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in the buffaloes of treatment group.

Conclusions
Oxytocin injection in lactating buffaloes resulted in elevated oxidative stress by increasing the total homocysteine and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity and decreasing enzymatic activities of antioxidant enzymes including paraoxonase-1 and arylesterase; that might render the animals to poor productive and reproductive potential.
Acute thrombosis of bioprosthetic mitral valve
Authors: Kwon Jin-Tae , Jung Tae-Eun , Lee Dong-Hyup 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
We report a case of acute thrombosis of bioprosthetic mitral valve in a 59 year–old Korean female, who underwent a mitral valve replacement with a 25 mm Carpentier - Edwards PERIMOUNT Plus bioprosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences, Inc.; Irvine, CA, USA) and a mini-Maze procedure for correction of mitral stenosis (MS) and atrial fibrillation (AF). On the 10th postoperative day, the patient began to complain of increasing dyspnea and general malaise. Her symptoms worsened and developed into pulmonary edema. Echocardiography revealed a mean diastolic pressure gradient (MDPG) of 10 mmHg across the mitral valve and pressure-half time (PHT) of 166 msec. Due to progressive decompensated heart failure, the patient underwent a repeat sternotomy to replace the bioprosthetic mitral valve. Intraoperatively, we found a thrombosis around the bioprosthetic mitral valve. We excised the bioprosthetic mitral valve and replaced it with a 27 mm ATS mechanical valve (ATS medical, Inc.; Minneapolis, MN, USA). We experienced a rare case that required an early reoperation for a thrombosis of the bioprosthetic valve.
Deep cytogenetics analysis reveals meiotic recombination depletion in species of Senecio (Asteraceae)
Authors: Lopez Mariana G , Xifreda Cecilia C , Poggio Lidia , Wulff Arturo F 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background

Senecio is the largest genus in the Asteraceae family growing in all environments around the world. It displays taxonomic and systematical difficulties. Cytogenetic knowledge of this genus is ancient, scarce and mainly restricted to chromosome number records.

Results
In this study we analyzed chromosome number, meiotic configuration, bivalent morphology, meiotic behavior and pollen grain stainability on 100 accessions of 27 different polyploid Senecio L. sect Senecio entities. Median, standard deviation and mode were calculated for number and position of chiasmata and meiotic recombination was statistically evaluated. Although high frequency of multivalents and associated meiotic irregularities are expected in high polyploids, bivalents predominance and, consequently, regular meiosis were observed, with normal sporogenesis and high pollen grain stainability.

Conclusion
Depletion in the total chiasmata was significant only in some species but the terminal position was preferential in all the entities analyzed, indicating significant reduction in recombination. The regular meiosis observed suggest that intra and intergenomic reorganization process occur quickly and efficiently in this genus. Mechanisms of diploidization, common to all polyploids, are reinforced by the strong reduction in crossing-over rushing polyploids stabilization.
β-galactosidase stability at high substrate concentrations
Authors: Warmerdam Anja , Boom Remko M , Janssen Anja EM 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Enzymatic synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides is usually performed at high initial substrate concentrations since higher yields are obtained. We report here on the stability of β-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans at 25, 40, and 60°C in buffer, and in systems with initially 5.0 and 30% (w/w) lactose. In buffer, the half-life time was 220 h and 13 h at 25 and 40°C, respectively, whereas the enzyme was completely inactivated after two hours at 60°C. In systems with 5.0 and 30% (w/w) lactose, a mechanistic model was used to correct the o NPG converting activity for the presence of lactose, glucose, galactose, and oligosaccharides in the activity assay. Without correction, the stability at 5.0% (w/w) lactose was overestimated, while the stability at 30% (w/w) lactose was underestimated. The inactivation constant k

d
was strongly dependent on temperature in buffer, whereas only a slight increase in k

d
was found with temperature at high substrate concentrations. The enzyme stability was found to increase strongly with the initial substrate concentrations. The inactivation energy E

a
appeared to be lower at high initial substrate concentrations.
Chemotherapy-Induced Amenorrhea in Patients With Breast Cancer With a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation
Authors: Valentini Adriana , Finch Amy , Lubiński Jan , Byrski Tomasz , Ghadirian Parviz , Kim-Sing Charmaine , Lynch Henry T. , Ainsworth Peter J. , Neuhausen Susan L. , Greenblatt Ellen , Singer Christian , Sun Ping , Narod Steven A. 
Published: August 2013

Purpose To determine the likelihood of long-term amenorrhea after treatment with chemotherapy in women with breast cancer who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Patients and Methods We conducted a multicenter survey of 1,954 young women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who were treated for breast cancer. We included premenopausal women who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 26 and 47 years of age. We determined the age of onset of amenorrhea after breast cancer for women who were and were not treated with chemotherapy, alone or with tamoxifen. We considered chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea to have occurred when the patient experienced ≥ 2 years of amenorrhea, commencing within 2 years of initiating chemotherapy, with no resumption of menses. Results Of the 1,426 women who received chemotherapy, 35% experienced long-term amenorrhea. Of the 528 women who did not receive chemotherapy, 5.3% developed long-term amenorrhea. The probabilities of chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea were 7.2% for women diagnosed before age 30 years, 33% for women age 31 to 44 years, and 79% for women diagnosed after age 45 years (P trend < .001). The probability of induced amenorrhea was higher for women who received tamoxifen than for those who did not (52% v 29%; P < .001). Conclusion Age at treatment and use of tamoxifen are important predictors of chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea in women who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. The risk of induced long-term amenorrhea does not seem to be greater among mutation carriers than among women who do not carry a mutation.
Quality of Life in Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Hsu Tina , Ennis Marguerite , Hood Nicky , Graham Margaret , Goodwin Pamela J. 
Published: August 2013

Purpose There is considerable interest in the quality of life (QOL) of long-term breast cancer (BC) survivors. We studied changes in QOL from time of BC diagnosis to long-term survivorship and compared QOL in long-term survivors to that of age-matched women with no history of BC. Patients and Methods In all, 535 women with localized BC (T1-3N0-1M0) were recruited from 1989 to 1996 and followed prospectively, completing QOL questionnaires at diagnosis and 1 year postdiagnosis. Between 2005 and 2007, those alive without distant recurrence were recontacted to participate in a long-term follow-up (LTFU) study. A control group was recruited from women presenting for screening mammograms, and both groups completed LTFU QOL questionnaires. Longitudinal change in BC survivors and differences between BC survivors and controls were assessed in eight broad categories with clinically significant differences set at 5% and 10% of the breadth of each QOL scale. Results A total of 285 patients with BC were included in the study, on average 12.5 years postdiagnosis. Longitudinally, clinically significant improvements were observed in overall QOL by 1 year postdiagnosis with further improvements by LTFU. Some clinically significant improvements over time were seen in all categories. A total of 167 controls were recruited. Deficits were observed in self-reported cognitive functioning (5.3% difference) and financial impact (6.3% difference) in BC survivors at LTFU compared with controls. Conclusion Long-term BC survivors show improvement in many domains of QOL over time, and they appear to have similar QOL in most respects to age-matched noncancer controls, although small deficits in cognition and finances were identified.
Calcitriol-Mediated Hypercalcemia: Causes and Course in 101 Patients
Authors: Donovan Peter J. , Sundac Lana , Pretorius Carel J. , d'Emden Michael C. , McLeod Donald S. A. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractContext:Hypercalcemia mediated by 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (calcitriol) is uncommon, with evidence on etiology limited to small case series or case reports.Objective:The objective of the study was to systematically identify a large series of cases of calcitriol-mediated hypercalcemia and document the presentation, demographics, and clinical course across etiologies.Design, Setting, and Patients:The study was a hospital-based, retrospective case series, identifying subjects from 1999 through 2009 across the public hospital system in Queensland, Australia. All patients aged over 18 years were identified that had persistent hypercalcemia associated with elevated or inappropriately normal calcitriol concentration or elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme.Results:A total of 101 cases were identified. Sarcoidosis was the most common etiology (49%), followed by hematological malignancy (17%) and infections (8%). Etiologies not previously described include squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, ovarian cystadenocarcinoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Median serum angiotensin-converting enzyme was higher in sarcoid patients compared with all other causes [218 U/L (176–277) vs 155 U/L (110–208), P &lt; .001], but a level above the normal range did not discriminate well between cases of sarcoidosis and other causes (specificity at cutoff of 130 U/L was only 31%). However, a value greater than 250 U/L was highly specific (89%) for sarcoidosis but lacked sensitivity (31%). A calcitriol level greater than 300 pmol/L was not seen in sarcoidosis but was seen with other etiologies. Cases with neoplastic etiologies were older (61.4 ± 11.4 y) than all other subjects (51.7 ± 15.0 y, P = .006).Conclusions:Hypercalcemia mediated by calcitriol remains a rare presentation. In almost half the cases, sarcoidosis was the underlying cause, whereas a third of patients had cancer or systemic infections.
Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from polluted rivers
Authors: Moyo Stanley , McCrindle Rob , Mokgalaka Ntebogeng , Myburgh Jan , Mujuru Munyaradzi 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Over the past few decades, in response to growing concerns about the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on human health, a variety of environmental forensics and geochemical techniques have emerged for studying organic pollutants. These techniques include chemical fingerprinting, receptor modeling, and compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA). Chemical fingerprinting methodology involves the use of diagnostic ratios. Receptor modeling techniques include the chemical mass balance (CMB) model and multivariate statistics. Multivariate techniques include factor analysis with multiple linear regression (FA/MLR), positive matrix factorization (PMF), and UNMIX. This article reviews applications of chemical fingerprinting, receptor modeling, and CSIA; comments on their uses; and contrasts the strengths and weaknesses of each methodology.
REFLEXÕES SOBRE A TECNOLOGIA E ADOLESCENTES: MITOS E VERDADES
Authors: Dominski Daniela Krone , Brito Débora Emerim Nunes , Santos Idegar Nunes dos , Rodrigues Juliana Alves , Moura Eliane , Esteves Cristiane Silva , Lopes Regina Maria Fernandes 
Published: August 2013

O avanço tecnológico na área da informação e comunicação vem interferindo diretamente nas atividades comunicativas humanas. Este artigo aborda os mitos e verdades da relação entre a tecnologia e os adolescentes estudantes e objetiva analisar o uso excessivo da Internet por adolescentes. O método utilizado para este estudo foi indutivo e as características apresentadas apontam que o tipo de pesquisa utilizada de revisão de literatura, referente à relação do hábito de leitura e a internet, o uso adequado para acessá-la, influencia no comportamento dos adolescentes, as vantagens e desvantagens da utilização da tecnologia na educação dos estudantes adolescentes. Após a análise dos dados, buscou-se levantar os determinantes da ocorrência desse comportamento, verificar os sites mais utilizados, constatar o tempo de uso e levantar os possíveis riscos desse uso abusivo, bem como dar subsídio a novas pesquisas para se construir uma melhor forma de abordar o problema. Os resultados mostraram, qualitativamente a relevância positiva que a internet, dentre outras tecnologias, tem apresentado, abrindo um mundo de possibilidades aos estudantes da era digital. Pesquisas recentes mostraram que o cyberbullying, tem sido denominada na literatura científica, esta nova forma de assédio realizada através da tecnologia, vem trazendo prejuízos para a população, principalmente para os pares de adolescentes
Adolescentes e suas Percepções sobre a sexualidade
Authors: Aragão Maria Suely Sampaio , Carneiro Rita Edevanira De Sá , Rocha Hidemburgo Gonçalves 
Published: August 2013

O estudo do comportamento dos adolescentes frente à sexualidade tem sido de extrema importância nos estudos realizados pelos mais diversos segmentos sociais. A Psicologia, a Pedagogia além de outras áreas do conhecimento, destinaram seus olhares para este tema que é de uma imensa profundidade. Por ser o adolescente um ser em constantes conflitos com o mundo, acaba tornando-se um elemento dinâmico, sendo necessários vários estudos para que se possa compreender suas ações percepções. O termo “adolescente”, é um vocábulo já é entendido como alguém em mudança, dinâmico, evolutivo, em inúmeros estudos. O objetivo principal deste estudo é conhecer as concepções dos adolescentes relativas à sua sexualidade. Para isso, tornou-se necessário também: a) Caracterizar os sujeitos da amostra; b) Discutir aspectos ligados às concepções dos sujeitos acerca da sexualidade e, c) Analisar aspectos sócio-culturais implícitos nas concepções explicitadas pelos sujeitos. Compreender a adolescência, suas concepções e interação com o meio são fatores primordiais para que se construa um entendimento do pensamento desse grupo, acerca de tão polêmico tema que é a sexualidade.
Extended Reductive Perturbation Method and Its Relation to the Re-normalization Method
Authors: Demiray Hilmi 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
In this work, by utilizing the extended reductive perturbation method, we studied the propagation of weakly nonlinear waves in a collisionless cold plasma and formally obtained the governing evolution equations of various order terms in the perturbation expansion. The result obtained here is exactly the same with that of Kodama and Taniuti [5], who employed “so called” the re-normalization method. Seeking a progressive wave solution to these evolution equations we obtained the speed correction terms so as to remove some possible secularities. The result obtained here is consistent with the results of Malfliet and Wieers [6], who employed the dressed solitary wave method and Demiray [7], who utilized the modified reductive perturbation method.
Mechanical Characterization of Single-Crystal Silicon PV Cells
Authors: Gerosa R. , Mauri M. , Rivolta B. , Silva P. 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
This paper describes standard and innovative methods for characterizing the mechanical properties of single-crystal silicon cells [orientation (100)] for photovoltaic applications. The knowledge of their mechanical properties is not completely known in the technical literature and this knowledge could enhance the results of modern simulation softwares. The silicon cells were investigated before and after an aging at 100°C for 100 h. In the technical literature, an annealing at temperatures ranging from 70°C up to 180°C is proposed as a possible way to reverse the degradation of such components caused by long-time exposure to daylight (light-induced degradation, LID), and to obtain a recovery of the efficiency. Nevertheless, little information about the influence of such an annealing on the panel mechanical performances is available. Universal instrumented hardness tests were carried out to estimate the Young’s modulus; the fracture toughness was calculated by measuring the lengths of the cracks originated from the imprint corners. Moreover, the threshold load under which no cracks appear was estimated. Finally, bending tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical resistance. Such tests were carried out on a tensile testing machine after the design and the realization of suitable devices assembled on the machine standard fixtures.
Targeted Deletion and Inversion of Tandemly Arrayed Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana Using Zinc Finger Nucleases
Authors: Qi Yiping , Li Xiaohong , Zhang Yong , Starker Colby G , Baltes Nicholas J , Zhang Feng , Sander Jeffry D , Reyon Deepak , Joung J Keith , Voytas Daniel F 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Tandemly arrayed genes (TAGs) or gene clusters are prevalent in higher eukaryotic genomes. For example, approximately 17% of genes are organized in tandem in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The genetic redundancy created by TAGs presents a challenge for reverse genetics. As molecular scissors, engineered zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) make DNA double-strand breaks in a sequence-specific manner. ZFNs thus provide a means to delete TAGs by creating two double-strand breaks in the gene cluster. Using engineered ZFNs, we successfully targeted seven genes from three TAGs on two Arabidopsis chromosomes, including the well-known RPP4 gene cluster, which contains eight resistance (R) genes. The resulting gene cluster deletions ranged from a few kb to 55 kb with frequencies approximating 1% in somatic cells. We also obtained large chromosomal deletions of ~9 Mb at approximately one tenth the frequency, and gene cluster inversions and duplications also were achieved. This study demonstrates the ability to use sequence-specific nucleases in plants to make targeted chromosome rearrangements and create novel chimeric genes for reverse genetics and biotechnology.
Targeted Mutagenesis ofArabidopsis thalianaUsing Engineered TAL Effector Nucleases
Authors: Christian Michelle , Qi Yiping , Zhang Yong , Voytas Daniel F 
Published: August 2013

AbstractCustom TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) are increasingly used as reagents to manipulate genomes in vivo. Here, we used TALENs to modify the genome of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. We engineered seven TALENs targeting five Arabidopsis genes, namely ADH1, TT4, MAPKKK1, DSK2B, and NATA2. In pooled seedlings expressing the TALENs, we observed somatic mutagenesis frequencies ranging from 2–15% at the intended targets for all seven TALENs. Somatic mutagenesis frequencies as high as 41–73% were observed in individual transgenic plant lines expressing the TALENs. Additionally, a TALEN pair targeting a tandemly duplicated gene induced a 4.4-kb deletion in somatic cells. For the most active TALEN pairs, namely those targeting ADH1 and NATA2, we found that TALEN-induced mutations were transmitted to the next generation at frequencies of 1.5–12%. Our work demonstrates that TALENs are useful reagents for achieving targeted mutagenesis in this important plant model.