bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing the impact of end‐member selection on the accuracy of satellite‐based spatial variability models for actual evapotranspiration estimation
Authors: Long Di , Singh Vijay P. 
Published: March 2013

Key Points
Endmembers largely determine the magnitudes of EF retrievals
Endmembers have minor effect on standard deviation and skewness of EF retrievals
Predictability of ET models depends mostly on the ability of Ts to capture EF
Guanidinyl‐Functionalized Aromatic Compounds (GFAs) – Charge and Spin Density Studies as Starting Points for the Development of a New Class of Redox‐active Ligands
Authors: Himmel Hans‐Jörg 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis research report is devoted to guanidinyl‐functionalized aromatic compounds (GFAs), which represent a new class of strong electron donors and redox‐active ligands. Charge and spin density studies provided the basis for the development of a rich coordination chemistry, which includes molecular complexes as well as 1D coordination polymers.
Position‐Space Bonding Indicators for Hexaborides of Alkali, Alkaline‐Earth, and Rare‐Earth Metals in Comparison to the Molecular Crystal K2[B6H6]
Authors: Börrnert Carina , Grin Yuri , Wagner Frank R. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe crystal structure of the hexaborides MB6 of alkali, alkaline‐earth, and rare‐earth metals displays a network of interconnected B6 octahedra, while isolated B6H6 units occur in the molecular crystal K2[B6H6]. For the case of a total charge transfer of two electrons from the metal atoms, the B6 units serve as classical examples of electron deficient clusters. QTAIM and ELI‐D analyses of chemical bonding based on solid state DFT/APW+lo quantum chemical calculations were performed. Consistent with Wade's rules, a number of about seven endohedral bonds for the octahedral units is recovered from the delocalization index (DI). Detailed analyses of two‐ and three‐center delocalization indices yield a clear two‐center character of the exohedral B–B bonds and a mixed two‐ and three‐center character of the endohedral B–B bonds. The picture obtained by topological analysis of ELI‐D is in agreement with the DI results. With changing effective electron transfer from the metal atoms, electronic saturation of the intra‐cluster bonding is found, which leads to the notion of generally two‐valent rare‐earth atoms in MB6 hexaborides.
Time-budgeting
: a component based development methodology for real-time embedded systems
Authors: Dixit Manoj G. , Ramesh S. , Dasgupta Pallab 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

The design of a complex embedded control system involves integration of large number of components. These components need to interact in a timely fashion to achieve the system level end-to-end requirements. In practice, the component level timing specification consists of design attributes like component task mapping, task period and schedule definition but often lack details on their real-time (functional) requirements. As we observe, there is no systematic methodology in place for decomposing the feature level timing requirements into component level timing requirements. This paper proposes an early stage
time-budgeting methodology
to bridge the above gap. A salient proposal of this methodology is to consider
parameterized
component timing-requirements. A key step in the methodology involves computing a set of constraints by relating component requirements with feature requirements. This enables the separation of timing constraints from functionality decomposition, and facilitates early optimization of the
component time-budget
for a complex component based embedded system. This paper formalizes the proposed methodology by using Parametric Temporal Logic. A case study involving two advanced features from the automotive domain, namely Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Mitigation is given to demonstrate the methodology.
Does Preoperative 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D Status Significantly Affect the Calcium Kinetics after Total Thyroidectomy?
Authors: Lang Brian Hung‐Hin , Wong Kai Pun , Cheung Chung Yeung , Fong Yuen Ki , Chan Desmond Kwan‐Kit , Hung Grace Kin‐Yee 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundAlthough previous studies have suggested that low preoperative 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OHD) is a risk factor for hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy, the impact of preoperative 25‐OHD on calcium (Ca)/parathyroid hormone (PTH) kinetics in the immediate postoperative period remains unclear. The study compared the postoperative Ca/PTH kinetics between different preoperative 25‐OHD levels.PatientsA total of 281 patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy were analyzed. Serum Ca was measured preoperatively within 1 h after surgery (Ca‐D0) and on the following morning (Ca‐D1). Preoperative 25‐OHD was also measured after overnight fasting while postoperative PTH was checked at skin closure on day 0 (PTH‐D0) and on the following morning on day 1 (PTH‐D1). The Ca/PTH kinetics were compared between three groups (group I: preoperative 25‐OHD < 10 ng/mL; group II: 25‐OHD = 10–20 ng/mL; group III: 25‐OHD > 20 ng/mL).ResultsGroup I had significantly lower preoperative Ca (p = 0.016) and Ca‐D0 (p = 0.036) but higher PTH‐D1 (p = 0.015) than groups II and III. PTH‐D0, Ca‐D1, and the rate of clinically significant hypocalcemia were similar in the three groups. Group I had a significantly smaller Ca drop (−0.02 vs. 0.01 and 0.02 mmol/L, p = 0.011) and a tendency for a significantly smaller PTH drop (0.4 vs. 0.5 and 1.0 pmol/L, p = 0.073) than groups II and III. PTH‐D1 (OR = 1.550) and 25‐OHD (OR = 0.958) were independent factors for Ca drop from day 0 to day 1.ConclusionsAlthough group I began with lower serum Ca, those patients tended to have a greater PTH response to Ca drop and so preoperative 25‐OHD did not significantly affect the overall Ca kinetics from preoperative to day 1.
Association of plasma and cortical amyloid beta is modulated by APOE ε4 status
Authors: Swaminathan Shanker , Risacher Shannon L. , Yoder Karmen K. , West John D. , Shen Li , Kim Sungeun , Inlow Mark , Foroud Tatiana , Jagust William J. , Koeppe Robert A. , Mathis Chester A. , Shaw Leslie M. , Trojanowski John Q. , Soares Holly , Aisen Paul S. , Petersen Ronald C. , Weiner Michael W. , Saykin Andrew J. ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundApolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele's role as a modulator of the relationship between soluble plasma amyloid beta (Aβ) and fibrillar brain Aβ measured by Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography ([11C]PiB PET) has not been assessed.MethodsNinety‐six Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants with [11C]PiB scans and plasma Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 measurements at the time of PET scanning were included. Regional and voxelwise analyses of [11C]PiB data were used to determine the influence of APOE ε4 allele on association of plasma Aβ1–40, Aβ1–42, and Aβ1–40/Aβ1–42 with [11C]PiB uptake.ResultsIn APOE ε4− but not ε4+ participants, positive relationships between plasma Aβ1–40/Aβ1–42 and [11C]PiB uptake were observed. Modeling the interaction of APOE and plasma Aβ1–40/Aβ1–42 improved the explained variance in [11C]PiB binding compared with using APOE and plasma Aβ1–40/Aβ1–42 as separate terms.ConclusionsThe results suggest that plasma Aβ is a potential Alzheimer's disease biomarker and highlight the importance of genetic variation in interpretation of plasma Aβ levels.
Propionic and butyric acids, formed in the caecum of rats fed highly fermentable dietary fibre, are reflected in portal and aortic serum
Authors: Jakobsdottir Greta , Jädert Cecilia , Holm Lena , Nyman Margareta E. 
Published: March 2013

SCFA are important end products formed during colonic fermentation of dietary fibre (DF). It has been suggested that propionic and butyric acids affect metabolic parameters, low-grade systemic inflammation, insulin resistance and obesity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the various SCFA profiles observed after fermentation in the caecum of rats fed pectin, guar gum and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) were also represented in hepatic portal and aortic serum. The SCFA in serum were extracted using hollow fibre-supported liquid membrane extraction before GLC analysis. The concentrations of acetic, propionic and butyric acids in caecal content correlated well with those in portal serum (P< 0·001) for all the three diets. A weaker correlation was found for propionic and butyric acids between the caecal content and aortic serum (P< 0·05). Butyric acid concentration in caecal content was also reflected in the aortic serum (P= 0·019) of rats fed FOS. FOS gave rather low amounts of the SCFA, especially butyric acid, but caecal tissue weight was higher with FOS than with the other two diets. This may be explained by rapid fermentation and quick utilisation/absorption of the SCFA. The present study also showed that propionic acid was metabolised/utilised to a higher extent than butyric acid by colonocytes before reaching the liver. We conclude that the formation of propionic and butyric acids in the caecum is reflected by increased concentrations in the aortic blood. This approach may therefore simplify the evaluation and study of SCFA from DF in human subjects.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SECTOR HEALTH FACILITY-LEVEL DATA FOR MONITORING CHANGES IN MATERNAL MORTALITY RISKS AMONG COMMUNITIES: THE CASE OF PAKISTAN
Authors: JAIN ANRUDH K. , SATHAR ZEBA , SALIM MOMINA , SHAH ZAKIR HUSSAIN 
Published: March 2013

SummaryThis paper illustrates the importance of monitoring health facility-level information to monitor changes in maternal mortality risks. The annual facility-level maternal mortality ratios (MMRs), complications to live births ratios and case fatality ratios (CFRs) were computed from data recorded during 2007 and 2009 in 31 upgraded public sector health facilities across Pakistan. The facility-level MMR declined by about 18%; both the number of Caesarean sections and the episodes of complications as a percentage of live births increased; and CFR based on Caesarean sections and episodes of complications declined by 29% and 37%, respectively. The observed increases in the proportion of women with complications among those who come to these facilities point to a reduction in the delay in reaching facilities (first and second delays; Thaddeus & Maine, 1994); the decrease in CFRs points to improvements in treating obstetric complications and a reduction in the delay in receiving treatment once at facilities (the third delay). These findings point to a decline in maternal mortality risks among communities served by these facilities. A system of woman-level data collection instituted at health facilities with comprehensive emergency obstetric care is essential to monitor changes in the effects of any reduction in the three delays and any improvement in quality of care or the effectiveness of treating pregnancy-related complications among women reaching these facilities. Such a system of information gathering at these health facilities would also help policymakers and programme mangers to measure and improve the effectiveness of safe-motherhood initiatives and to monitor progress being made toward achieving the fifth Millennium Development Goal.
Effect of tropical rainfall in structuring the macrobenthic community of Mandovi estuary, west coast of India
Authors: Gaonkar Udaykumar V. , Sivadas Sanitha K. , Ingole Baban S. 
Published: March 2013

Macrofaunal community structure is determined by a number of environmental variables. The riverine run-off during the monsoon brings about drastic changes in the physico-chemical parameters of a tropical estuary. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of rainfall in structuring the benthic macrofaunal community of a tropical estuary. The temporal dynamics of the macrobenthic community in the monsoon dominated Mandovi estuary (central west coast of India) was studied fortnightly from June 2007 to June 2009. A fixed location, downstream of the Madovi river, was sampled for benthic and water parameters. Ten replicates were collected during each sampling date using a Van Veen grab (0.04 m2). The macrofaunal abundance showed temporal fluctuation. The multivariate analysis showed the clustering of the samples linked to the environmental parameters (CCA and LINKTREE). The temporal variation observed in the macrofaunal abundance was basically due to changes in abundance of the dominant species. The variation in macrofaunal abundance was brought about by the recruitment and settling of re-suspended adults. It can be concluded that the macrofaunal structuring is influenced by temporal changes in the environment associated with the annual monsoon rainfall. Hence climate induced changes in the monsoonal pattern may affect the macrobenthic assemblages of tropical estuaries.
Truth Deserves to be Believed
Authors: Thalos Mariam 
Published: March 2013

AbstractScience seems generally to aim at truth. And governmental support of science is often premised on the instrumental value of truth in service of advancing our practical objectives, both as individuals and as communities, large and small. While there is some political expediency to this view, it is not correct. The value of truth is nowise that it helps us achieve our aims. In fact, just the contrary: truth deserves to be believed only on the condition that its claim upon us is orthogonal to any utility it might have in the service of (any and all) practical ends.
Surveillance and movements of Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) in the bovine tuberculosis region of Michigan
Authors: WALTER W. D. , FISCHER J. W. , ANDERSON C. W. , MARKS D. R. , DELIBERTO T. , ROBBE-AUSTERMAN S. , VERCAUTEREN K. C. 
Published: March 2013

SUMMARYWildlife reservoir hosts of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) include Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) and brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) in the UK and New Zealand, respectively. Similar species warrant further investigation in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan, USA due to the continued presence of bTB on cattle farms. Most research in Michigan, USA has focused on interactions between white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and cattle (Bos taurus) for the transmission of the infectious agent of bTB, Mycobacterium bovis, due to high deer densities and feeding practices. However, limited data are available on medium-sized mammals such as Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana; hereafter referred to as opossum) and their movements and home range in Michigan near cattle farms. We conducted surveillance of medium-sized mammals on previously depopulated cattle farms for presence of M. bovis infections and equipped opossum with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to assess potential differences in home range between farms inside and outside the bTB core area that has had cattle test positive for M. bovis. On farms inside the bTB core area, prevalence in opossum was comparable [6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·0–11·0] to prevalence in raccoon (Procyon lotor; 4%, 95% CI 1·0–9·0, P = 0·439) whereas only a single opossum tested positive for M. bovis on farms outside the bTB core area. The prevalence in opossum occupying farms that had cattle test positive for M. bovis was higher (6·4%) than for opossum occupying farms that never had cattle test positive for M. bovis (0·9%, P = 0·01). Mean size of home range for 50% and 95% estimates were similar by sex (P = 0·791) both inside or outside the bTB core area (P = 0·218). Although surveillance efforts and home range were not assessed on the same farms, opossum use of farms near structures was apparent as was selection for farms over surrounding forested habitats. The use of farms, stored feed, and structures by opossum, their ability to serve as vectors of M. bovis, and their propensity to ingest contaminated sources of M. bovis requires additional research in Michigan, USA.
Parental responsiveness moderates the association between early-life stress and reduced telomere length
Authors: Asok A. , Bernard K. , Roth T. L. , Rosen J. B. , Dozier M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractEarly-life stress, such as maltreatment, institutionalization, and exposure to violence, is associated with accelerated telomere shortening. Telomere shortening may thus represent a biomarker of early adversity. Previous studies have suggested that responsive parenting may protect children from the negative biological and behavioral consequences of early adversity. This study examined the role of parental responsiveness in buffering children from telomere shortening following experiences of early-life stress. We found that high-risk children had significantly shorter telomeres than low-risk children, controlling for household income, birth weight, gender, and minority status. Further, parental responsiveness moderated the association between risk and telomere length, with more responsive parenting associated with longer telomeres only among high-risk children. These findings suggest that responsive parenting may have protective benefits on telomere shortening for young children exposed to early-life stress. Therefore, this study has important implications for early parenting interventions.
Healthscaping a medieval city: Lucca'sCuria viarumand the future of public health history
Authors: GELTNER G. 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT:In early fourteenth-century Lucca, one government organ began expanding its activities beyond the maintenance of public works to promoting public hygiene and safety, and in ways that suggest both a concern for and an appreciation of population-level preventative healthcare. Evidence for this shift (which is traceable in and beyond the Italian peninsula) is mostly found in documents of practice such as court and financial records, which augment and complicate the traditional view afforded by urban statutes and medical treatises. The revised if still nebulous picture emerging from this preliminary study challenges a lingering tendency among urban and public health historians to see pre-modern European cities as ignorant andapatheticdemographic black holes.
Understanding Interpretation, Informing Composition: audience involvement in aesthetic result
Authors: Hill Andrew 
Published: March 2013

This paper documents elements of a research project undertaken between 2008 and 2012. Building upon the Intention/Reception project of Leigh Landy (2006) and Rob Weale (2005), the project sought to investigate audience interpretations for works of electroacoustic audiovisual music and to utilise an expanded understanding of the audience – as active participants in interpretation – to subsequently inform the composition of new works. This project combined three distinct research methodologies: empirical data collection, scholarly research and composition. The composed works were both informed by the results of empirical data collection and scholarly research, and adapted (re-composed) throughout the latter stages of the research in order to explore emergent research findings and research hypotheses.Interpretations were demonstrated to be contingent upon the individual lived experience of an audience member, with aspects of the work's discourse acting to narrow the interpretative potential of the work. The use of mimetic materials (sonic or visual) within works of electroacoustic audiovisual music were demonstrated to be potentially obstructing to an aesthetic interpretation of the work. And the importance of recognising the distinction between physical signal and perceived object was highlighted within the process of composition and the subsequent testing.
Associations of parental feeding styles with child snacking behaviour and weight in the context of general parenting
Authors: Rodenburg Gerda , Kremers Stef PJ , Oenema Anke , van de Mheen Dike 
Published: March 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo examine cross-sectional and longitudinal (one-year follow-up) associations of parental feeding styles with child snacking behaviour and weight in the context of general parenting, taking into account the multidimensionality of the controlling feeding style.DesignLinear regression analyses were performed. Parents completed a questionnaire to measure five feeding style dimensions (Instrumental Feeding, Emotional Feeding, Encouragement, Overt Control and Covert Control) and children's fruit, energy-dense snack and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intakes. Children's height and weight were measured to calculate their BMIZ-scores. Moderation by parenting style was tested by adding interaction terms to the regression analyses.SettingObservational study in the Netherlands.SubjectsParent–child dyads (n1275) participating in the INPACT (IVO Nutrition and Physical Activity Child cohorT) study; children were (on average) 9 years of age.ResultsInstrumental Feeding and Emotional Feeding were negatively related to child fruit intake one year later and positively to (changes in) child energy-dense snack intake. Encouragement was negatively related to child energy-dense snacking and SSB intake one year later. Overt Control was cross-sectionally and prospectively related to (changes in) child energy-dense snacking and SSB intake in a negative direction. Covert Control showed similar associations with child energy-dense snacking and SSB intake as Overt Control. Although Covert Control was also positively related to child fruit intake and (changes in) child BMIZ-score, bootstrapping analyses revealed only a differential effect of Overt Control and Covert Control on child BMIZ-score one year later, with Covert Control displaying a stronger, positive association. Moderation analyses showed that some significant associations between parental feeding styles and outcome measures were dependent on the degree of psychological control and behavioural control.ConclusionsInstrumental Feeding and Emotional Feeding may have a detrimental impact on children's snacking behaviour, while Encouragement, Overt Control and Covert Control may lead to less energy-dense snacking and less SSB intake. Overt Control and Covert Control have differential effects on child BMIZ-score one year later, which supports the idea that they should be treated as separate constructs. Prospective studies with a longer follow-up may elucidate the causal pathways between the various feeding styles and children's snacking behaviour and weight, as well as the moderating influences of psychological and behavioural control.
ON EXISTENTIAL DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE IN IF LOGIC
Authors: BARBERO FAUSTO 
Published: March 2013

AbstractWe analyze the behaviour of declarations of independence between existential quantifiers in quantifier prefixes of Independence-Friendly (IF) sentences; we give a syntactical criterion to decide whether a sentence beginning with such prefix exists, such that its truth values may be affected by removal of the declaration of independence. We extend the result also to equilibrium semantics values for undetermined IF sentences.The main theorem defines a schema of sound and recursive inference rules; we show more explicitly what happens for some simple special classes of sentences.In the last section, we extend the main result beyond the scope of prenex sentences, in order to give a proof of the fact that the fragment of IF sentences with knowledge memory has only first-order expressive power.
Incentives for Innovation: Patents, Prizes, and Research Contracts
Authors: Clancy Matthew S. , Moschini GianCarlo 
Published: March 2013

AbstractInnovation is essential for sustaining growth and economic development in a world that faces population increase, natural resource depletion, and environmental challenges. Incentives play a critical role in innovation because the required research and development activities are costly, and the resulting knowledge has the attributes of a public good. This paper discusses the economics of institutions and policies meant to provide incentives for research and innovation, and focuses on intellectual property rights, specifically patents, contracted research (for example grants), and innovation prizes. The main economic implications of these institutions are discussed, with particular attention paid to open questions and recent contributions.