bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Syntheses and Characterization of Three New Compounds Based on Terephthalate and 2‐(2‐Pyridin‐4‐yl‐vinyl)benzimidazole Ligands
Authors: Xia Chang‐Kun , Wei Chao , Wu Yun‐Long , Wu Fan , Yang Shen , Ma Jia‐Li 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThree new compounds based on H2BDC and PyBImE [H2BDC = 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylatic acid, PyBImE = 2‐(2‐pyridin‐4‐yl‐vinyl)benzimidazole], namely, [Co(PyBImE)(BDC)(H2O)2] (1), [Co(PyBImE)2(HBDC)(BDC)0.5] (2), and [(HPyBImE)+·(BDC)2–0.5·(H2BDC)0.5] (3), were synthesized by hydrothermal methods and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Compound 1 is a one‐dimensional chain bridged by terephthalate in a bis(monodentate) fashion. In the complex the nitrogen atom from NBIm and the coordination water molecule complete the coordination sphere. In complex 2, the dinuclear cobalt units are bridged by terephthalate in a bis(bidentate) fashion into a one‐dimensional chain, but different from complex 1, the nitrogen atom from NPy and the oxygen atom from hydrogenterephthalate complete the coordination sphere. Complex 3 is a co‐crystal with PyBImE and H2BDC in a 1:1 ratio and the transfer of hydrogen atoms leads the complex into a salt. Interesting supramolecular structures are shown due to the hydrogen bonding as well as π···π interactions in the three complexes. Thermal and magnetic properties of 1 and 2 were also studied.
Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among Portuguese and Spanish adolescents: The role of individual characteristics and internalisation of sociocultural ideals
Authors: Francisco Rita , Espinoza Paola , González Marcela L. , Penelo Eva , Mora Marisol , Rosés Rocío , Raich Rosa M. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to explore the differences in patterns of risk factors for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes in both female and male adolescents from Portugal and Spain. The sample included 455 adolescents aged 12–16 years (M = 13.28, SD = 0.65) from two urban areas of each country. Body mass index, self‐reported self‐esteem, perfectionism, internalisation of sociocultural ideals, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes were assessed. Path analyses provided partial support for a cross‐cultural model of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in Western countries due to the presence of certain differences in the patterns of relationships across sex and country. The findings suggest the importance not only of identifying cultural specificities, even in “neighbouring” countries, but also of developing a global and comprehensive preventive approach that focuses on the influence of the ideal of beauty transmitted by Western societies.
Serum hepatitis B surface antigen level might predict cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in older patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Lee Pei‐Lun , Chen Jyh‐Jou , Tung Hung‐Da , Cheng Chun‐Ta , Chuang Tang‐Wei , Wang Szu‐Jen , Wu Hsien‐Cheng 
Published: March 2015

SummaryBackground and aimDistinguishing inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers from hepatitis B e antigen‐negative hepatitis remains difficult but is important because patients with active hepatitis may develop severe complications. Long‐term follow‐up data with stringent criteria are required for the identification of inactive HBsAg carriers. A single serum HBsAg level may be used to solve this difficult diagnostic issue; however, very few studies on its application in older patients have been published. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical significance of a single serum HBsAg level in older patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Materials and methodsFrom January 2012 to December 2012, the clinical manifestations of 1749 HBsAg‐positive patients were analyzed including 412 patients aged ≥ 60 years (mean age at enrollment, 68.6 ± 6.9 years; range, 60–90 years; 262 males and 150 females). We investigated the possibility of using a single serum HBsAg level to predict cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in older patients with CHB.ResultsOf the 1749 HBsAg‐positive patients, those aged ≥ 60 years tended to have lower serum HBsAg levels than the younger patients. In fact, all patients aged ≥ 60 years had a serum HBsAg level ≤ 10,000 IU/mL. Of the 412 patients aged ≥ 60 years, 122 (29.6%) had cirrhosis and 59 (14.3%) developed HCC. When an HBsAg‐titer < 100 IU/mL was used to examine severe clinical outcomes (cirrhosis or HCC), the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for being free of liver cirrhosis and HCC were 49.3% and 95.2%, 19.7% and 28.8%, 85.6% and 95.2%, and 40.0% and 71.2%, respectively.ConclusionA single serum HBsAg level < 100 IU/mL might predict favorable clinical results in older patients with late‐stage CHB virus infection.
Schizophrenia patients with high intelligence: A clinically distinct sub-type of schizophrenia?
Authors: Černis E. , Vassos E. , Brébion G. , McKenna P.J. , Murray R.M. , David A.S. , MacCabe J.H. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundSchizophrenia patients are typically found to have low IQ both pre- and post-onset, in comparison to the general population. However, a subgroup of patients displays above average IQ pre-onset. The nature of these patients’ illness and its relationship to typical schizophrenia is not well understood. The current study sought to investigate the symptom profile of high-IQ schizophrenia patients.MethodsWe identified 29 schizophrenia patients of exceptionally high pre-morbid intelligence (mean estimated pre-morbid intelligence quotient (IQ) of 120), of whom around half also showed minimal decline (less than 10 IQ points) from their estimated pre-morbid IQ. We compared their symptom scores (SAPS, SANS, OPCRIT, MADRS, GAF, SAI-E) with a comparison group of schizophrenia patients of typical IQ using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsThe patients with very high pre-morbid IQ had significantly lower scores on negative and disorganised symptoms than typical patients (RRR = 0.019; 95% CI = 0.001, 0.675, P = 0.030), and showed better global functioning and insight (RRR = 1.082; 95% CI = 1.020, 1.148; P = 0.009). Those with a minimal post-onset IQ decline also showed higher levels of manic symptoms (RRR = 8.213; 95% CI = 1.042, 64.750, P = 0.046).ConclusionsThese findings provide evidence for the existence of a high-IQ variant of schizophrenia that is associated with markedly fewer negative symptoms than typical schizophrenia, and lends support to the idea of a psychosis spectrum or continuum over boundaried diagnostic categories.
Vitamin D decreases the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 in fibroblasts derived from Taiwanese patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis
Authors: Wang Ling‐Feng , Tai Chih‐Feng , Chien Chen‐Yu , Chiang Feng‐Yu , Chen Jeff Yi‐Fu 
Published: March 2015

AbstractVitamin D and its derivatives have modulatory effects in immunological and inflammatory responses. Such properties suggest that they might have an impact on chronic inflammatory airway diseases, including nasal polyposis. The aim of this study was to understand the role of vitamin D in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) by investigating its effect on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) and MMP‐9 in nasal polyp‐derived fibroblasts. Two primary fibroblast cultures were established from nasal polyp tissues obtained during surgery. The nasal polyp‐derived fibroblasts were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α; 10 ng/mL) for 24 hours, followed by replacement with media alone or with vitamin D derivatives (calcitriol or tacalcitol; 10μM) and incubated for another 24 hours. After the treatments, the levels of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 secreted were evaluated by both enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis. ELISA results revealed that TNF‐α could substantially stimulate the secretion of MMP‐2 (p < 0.01) and MMP‐9 (p < 0.001) in nasal polyp‐derived fibroblasts. More importantly, such stimulatory effect was significantly suppressed by adding calcitriol (p ≤ 0.01 for MMP‐2 and p < 0.001 for MMP‐9) or tacalcitol (p < 0.005 for both MMP‐2 and MMP‐9). The ELISA results were also confirmed by Western blot analysis. The inhibitory effect of vitamin D derivatives on MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 secretion could potentiate their application in pharmacotherapy of Taiwanese CRSwNP patients.
Effect of bovine colostrum feeding in comparison with milk replacer and natural feeding on the immune responses and colonisation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in the intestinal tissue of piglets
Authors: Sugiharto Sugiharto , Poulsen Ann-Sofie Riis , Canibe Nuria , Lauridsen Charlotte 
Published: March 2015

The present study investigated the effect of feeding bovine colostrum (BC) to piglets in comparison with feeding a milk replacer (MR) and conventional rearing by the sow on the intestinal immune system and number of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) colonising the intestinal tissue. Piglets (23-d-old) were allocated to one of the following four groups: (1) killed at the beginning of the experiment (Base); (2) separated from the sow and fed BC (BC-fed); (3) separated from the sow and fed a MR (MR-fed); (4) kept with the sow (Sow-Milk). Blood was sampled on days 1 and 8, and faecal samples were collected on days 1, 3, 5 and 8. On day 8, piglets were killed and gastrointestinal digesta and intestinal segments were collected. The frequency of diarrhoea was found to be higher (P≤ 0·019) in MR-fed piglets than in BC-fed and Sow-Milk piglets. Piglets from the MR-fed group had the lowest lactic acid bacteria:haemolytic E. coli ratio (Ptreat= 0·064) in the faeces. The number of E. coli colonising the intestinal tissue was higher (P< 0·001) in piglets from the MR-fed group than in those from the BC-fed and Sow-Milk groups. Piglets from the Sow-Milk group had a higher (P= 0·020) mucosal IgG concentration than those from the MR-fed group, but did not exhibit any difference when compared with piglets from the Base and BC-fed groups. Piglets from the BC-fed group exhibited a reduced (P≤ 0·037) expression level of Toll-like receptor-4 in the intestinal mucosa when compared with those from the MR-fed and Sow-Milk groups. The expression level of IL-2 was higher (P≤ 0·051) in piglets from the MR-fed group than in those from the other treatment groups. In conclusion, feeding BC rather than MR to the piglets reduced the colonisation of intestine by ETEC and modulated the intestinal immune system, whereas no differences were observed in piglets fed BC and conventionally reared by the sows.
The Qing Empire's Last Flowering: The expansion of China's Post Office at the turn of the twentieth century
Authors: TSAI WEIPIN 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe Great Qing Imperial Post Office was set up in 1896, soon after the First Sino-Japanese War. It provided the first national postal service for the general public in the whole of Chinese history, and was a symbol of China's increasing engagement with the rest of the globe. Much of the preparation for the launch was carried out by the high-ranking foreign staff of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service, an influential institution established after the first Opium War.With a mission to promote modernization and project Qing power, the Imperial Post Office was established with a centrally controlled set of unified methods and procedures, and its success was rooted in integration with the new railway network, a strategy at the heart of its ambitious plans for expansion. This article explores the history of this postal expansion through railways, the use of which allowed its creators to plan networks in an integrated way—from urban centres on the coasts and great rivers through to China's interior.
Real-time obstacle detection using range images: processing dynamically-sized sliding windows on a GPU
Authors: Mendes Caio César Teodoro , Osório Fernando Santos , Wolf Denis Fernando 
Published: March 2015

SUMMARYAn efficient obstacle detection technique is required so that navigating robots can avoid obstacles and potential hazards. This task is usually simplified by relying on structural patterns. However, obstacle detection constitutes a challenging problem in unstructured unknown environments, where such patterns may not exist. Talukder et al. (2002, IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium, pp. 610–618.) successfully derived a method to deal with such environments. Nevertheless, the method has a high computational cost and researchers that employ it usually rely on approximations to achieve real-time. We hypothesize that by using a graphics processing unit (GPU), the computing time of the method can be significantly reduced. Throughout the implementation process, we developed a general framework for processing dynamically-sized sliding windows on a GPU. The framework can be applied to other problems that require similar computation. Experiments were performed with a stereo camera and an RGB-D sensor, where the GPU implementations were compared to multi-core and single-core CPU implementations. The results show a significant gain in the computational performance, i.e. in a particular instance, a GPU implementation is almost 90 times faster than a single-core one.
COMPARING THE HTA CORE MODEL WITH A NATIONAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT REPORT
Authors: Pasternack Iris , de Groot Ingrid , Kleijnen Sarah , Polman Paula 
Published: March 2015

Objectives: The HTA Core Model is a framework for producing health technology assessments (HTAs) in a structured format. The Model splits the content of a HTA into assessment elements. The objective is to explore the adaptability of these assessment elements in national report production in a pilot case study comparing a national HTA report and the HTA Core Model.Methods: An on-going Dutch HTA report on endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR) was chosen as a typical representative of a national report on medical interventions. The author of the EVAR report assessed the relevance and comprehensiveness of the assessment elements of the HTA Core Model for her work. Another researcher annotated the Core Model specific content in the EVAR report. Matching and missing content, as well as the distribution of information in the EVAR report were tabulated and analysed in joint deliberations.Results: Forty percent of the assessment elements of the Core Model were considered relevant for the EVAR report. Some issues relevant for EVAR but missing from the Core Model were identified: they were about re-interventions, secondary prevention, subpopulations that benefit most, and the length of the hospital stay. The distribution of information differed substantially between the Code Model and the national report.Conclusions: The assessment elements of the HTA Core Model covered most relevant questions of the national report. In order to facilitate easy adaptation of information, the distribution of information should be more consistent in the national report and the Core model.
PILOTING INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION OF RAPID RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS ASSESSMENTS OF PHARMACEUTICALS
Authors: Kleijnen Sarah , Pasternack Iris , Rannanheimo Piia , Vuola Jenni M , Van de Casteele Marc , Bucsics Anna , Pulis Isabelle Zahra , Di Bidino Rossella , Sacchini Dario , Montilla Simona , Abrishami Payam , Sammut Sylvana Magrin , Muscolo Luisa Anna Adele , Happonen Pertti , Goettsch Wim G. 
Published: March 2015

Background: This article describes the lessons learned from an international pilot assessment using the first version of the HTA Core Model® and Guidelines for rapid Relative Effectiveness Assessment (REA) of pharmaceuticals based on input from three different perspectives: the assessors, the users (health technology assessment organisations) and the marketing authorisation holder.Methods: A pilot assessment was performed of pazopanib for the treatment of advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma for which 54 individuals from 22 EUnetHTA member organisations from 16 European countries gave their contribution. The work was divided in eight domain teams. Subsequently, results of these domain teams were synthesised in one pilot report. Feedback on the outcomes of the pilot was gathered throughout the project and through structured surveys.Results: The first version of the assessment was produced in six months and consisted of 55 question and answer pairs, 8 domain reports and a synthesis section that combined the results from the different domains. The organisation of the pilot required intense coordination. Main points of criticism on the assessment were the lengthiness of the document and overlap of information throughout the assessment.Conclusions: A reduction in the number of authoring organisations and individuals participating is necessary to avoid information overlap and increase efficiency in undertaking the assessment. Involving several organisations (e.g. five) in an in-depth review could still ensure the benefit of broad participation from various countries. The focus of a rapid REA should be on the first four domains of the Model.
DEVELOPING THE HTA CORE MODEL FOR THE ONLINE ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Lampe Kristian , Pasternack Iris , Saarekas Oskari , Raustia Leena , Cleemput Irina , Corio Mirella , Endel Gottfried , Frønsdal Katrine , Imaz Iñaki , Kleijnen Sarah , Kristensen Finn , Rüther Alric , Werkö Sophie , Cerbo Marina 
Published: March 2015

Background: A framework for collaborative production and sharing of
HTA information, the HTA Core Model, was originally developed within EUnetHTA in
2006–08. In this paper, we describe the further development of the
Model to allow implementation and utilization of the Model online. The aim was
to capture a generic HTA process that would allow effective use of the HTA Core
Model and resulting HTA information while at the same time not interfering with
HTA agencies' internal processes.Methods: The work was coordinated by a development team in Finland,
supported by an international expert group. Two pilot testing rounds were
organized among EUnetHTA agencies and two extensive core HTA projects tested the
tool in a real setting. The final work was also formally validated by a group of
HTA agencies.Results: The HTA Core Model Online—available at http://www.corehta.info—is a web site hosting a) a tool to
allow electronic utilization of the HTA Core Model and b) a database of produced
HTA information. While access to the HTA information is free to all, the
production features are currently available to EUnetHTA member agencies only. A
policy was crafted to steer the use of the Model and produced information.Conclusions: We have successfully enabled electronic use of the HTA
Core Model and agreed on a policy for its utilization. The system is already
being used in subsequent HTA projects within EUnetHTA Joint Action 2. Identified
shortcomings and further needs will be addressed in subsequent development.
The forest vegetation of Turkey
Authors: Quézel P. 
Published: March 2015

SynopsisThe Turkish forests are a complex of Mediterranean, European, Euxine and Irano-Turanian influences. The boundaries between these 4 bioclimatic-biogeographical zones have, especially in the E of the country, been little studied and their limits are difficult to establish. Phytosociological and biogeographical aspects of these forest zones are discussed. In the bioclimatic-Mediterranean region, the forest and pre-forest structures are related to QUERCETALIA ILICIS in the thermo- and meso-Mediterranean stages, and to QUERCETALIA PUBESCENTIS in the supra-Mediterranean stage, except in southern Anatolia where they belong to QUERCO-CEDRETALIA LIBANI. In the prepontic bioclimatic region where the Mediterranean influence is still perceptible, they belong to QUERCO-CARPINETALIA ORIENTALIS and in the Euxine bioclimatic region to RHODODENDRO-FAGETALIA ORIENTALI and to PINOPICEETALIA ORIENTALIS. Some forest formations in NW Anatolia, with a European mountain influence, are related to FAGETALIA SYLVATICAE and to VACCINIO PICEETALIA.
The effects of different maturation conditions on seed dormancy and germination ofCenchrus ciliaris
Authors: Sharif-Zadeh Farzad , Murdoch Alistair J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractSeeds ofCenchrus ciliarisL. were produced under different hydro–photo–thermal environments with and without fertilizer. Dormancy loss of spikelets and extracted caryopses was tested during dry after-ripening at 40°C and 43% equilibrium relative humidity. Caryopses had higher initial germination and lost their dormancy faster than spikelets. Dormancy of both caryopses and spikelets generally decreased with an increase of maturation temperature and fertility, whereas dormancy increased if water stress was imposed during maturation. The latter effect was smaller when the mother plants were exposed to water stress after caryopses were fully formed than when water stress cycles were applied throughout maturation. Daylength extension (to 14 or 18 h d-1) by artificial light increased dormancy of both caryopses and spikelets. The effect of long days declined when plants were exposed to natural daylight for more than 10 h d-1. The after-ripening curves were consistent with the hypothesis that dormancy periods of individual seeds are normally distributed within each seed lot. Rates of loss of dormancy were quantified by the slopes of these curves. In a given experiment, these rates were identical for caryopses but not always for spikelets that matured in diverse environments. Even for caryopses, however, the slopes varied between experiments. Therefore, the results do not support the hypothesis that a dormancy model can be applied universally to all seed lots ofCenchrus ciliaris. Methods of predicting the period of after-ripening required to achieve desired levels of dormancy for reseeding degraded rangelands are discussed.
On the Chromatic Thresholds of Hypergraphs
Authors: BALOGH JÓZSEF , BUTTERFIELD JANE , HU PING , LENZ JOHN , MUBAYI DHRUV 
Published: March 2015

Let $\mathcal{F}$ be a family of r-uniform hypergraphs. The chromatic threshold of $\mathcal{F}$ is the infimum of all non-negative reals c such that the subfamily of $\mathcal{F}$ comprising hypergraphs H with minimum degree at least $c \binom{| V(H) |}{r-1}$ has bounded chromatic number. This parameter has a long history for graphs (r = 2), and in this paper we begin its systematic study for hypergraphs.Łuczak and Thomassé recently proved that the chromatic threshold of the so-called near bipartite graphs is zero, and our main contribution is to generalize this result to r-uniform hypergraphs. For this class of hypergraphs, we also show that the exact Turán number is achieved uniquely by the complete (r + 1)-partite hypergraph with nearly equal part sizes. This is one of very few infinite families of non-degenerate hypergraphs whose Turán number is determined exactly. In an attempt to generalize Thomassen's result that the chromatic threshold of triangle-free graphs is 1/3, we prove bounds for the chromatic threshold of the family of 3-uniform hypergraphs not containing {abc, abd, cde}, the so-called generalized triangle.In order to prove upper bounds we introduce the concept of fibre bundles, which can be thought of as a hypergraph analogue of directed graphs. This leads to the notion of fibre bundle dimension, a structural property of fibre bundles that is based on the idea of Vapnik–Chervonenkis dimension in hypergraphs. Our lower bounds follow from explicit constructions, many of which use a hypergraph analogue of the Kneser graph. Using methods from extremal set theory, we prove that these Kneser hypergraphs have unbounded chromatic number. This generalizes a result of Szemerédi for graphs and might be of independent interest. Many open problems remain.