bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling obesity outcomes: reducing obesity risk in adulthood may have greater impact than reducing obesity prevalence in childhood
Authors: Lhachimi S. K. , Nusselder W. J. , Lobstein T. J. , Smit H. A. , Baili P. , Bennett K. , Kulik M. C. , Jackson‐Leach R. , Boshuizen H. C. , Mackenbach J. P. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryA common policy response to the rise in obesity prevalence is to undertake interventions in childhood, but it is an open question whether this is more effective than reducing the risk of becoming obese during adulthood. In this paper, we model the effect on health outcomes of (i) reducing the prevalence of obesity when entering adulthood; (ii) reducing the risk of becoming obese throughout adult life; and (iii) combinations of both approaches. We found that, while all approaches reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases and improve life expectancy, a given percentage reduction in obesity prevalence achieved during childhood had a smaller effect than the same percentage reduction in the risk of becoming obese applied throughout adulthood. A small increase in the probability of becoming obese during adulthood offsets a substantial reduction in prevalence of overweight/obesity achieved during childhood, with the gains from a 50% reduction in child obesity prevalence offset by a 10% increase in the probability of becoming obese in adulthood. We conclude that both policy approaches can improve the health profile throughout the life course of a cohort, but they are not equivalent, and a large reduction in child obesity prevalence may be reversed by a small increase in the risk of becoming overweight or obese in adulthood.
Prevalence of Candida spp., xerostomia, and hyposalivation in oral lichen planus – A controlled study
Authors: Artico G , Freitas RS , Santos Filho AM , Benard G , Romiti R , Migliari DA 
Published: April 2013

ObjectiveTo determine the frequency of Candida spp., xerostomia, and salivary flow rate (SFR) in three different groups: patients with OLP (OLP group), patients with oral mucosal lesions other than OLP (non‐OLP group), and subjects without oral mucosal lesions (control group).Material and methodsXerostomia as well as SFR was investigated in the three groups. Samples for isolation of Candida spp. were collected from OLP lesions (38 patients), non‐OLP lesions (28 patients), and healthy subjects (32 subjects).ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference regarding the frequency of xerostomia and hyposalivation among the three groups (P > 0.05). A higher prevalence for colonization by Candida spp. was found in the healthy subject as compared to that of patients with OLP (P = 0.03) and non‐OLP (P = 0.02) groups. Low SFR was not a factor for colonization by Candida spp.ConclusionsXerostomia and hyposalivation occur with similar frequency in subjects with and without oral lesions; also, the presence of oral lesions does not increase the susceptibility to colonization by Candida spp. It seems that any study implicating Candida spp. in the malignant transformation of oral lesions should be carried out mostly on a biochemical basis, that is, by testing the capability of Candida spp. to produce carcinogenic enzyme.
QTLs for phosphorus deficiency tolerance detected in upland NERICA varieties
Authors: Koide Yohei , Pariasca Tanaka Juan , Rose Terry , Fukuo Ayumi , Konisho Kunihiko , Yanagihara Seiji , Fukuta Yoshimichi , Wissuwa Matthias 
Published: April 2013

AbstractPhosphorous (P) deficiency is a major yield limiting factor in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. The interspecific New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties combine general stress tolerance from African cultivated rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud) with characteristics associated with high yield from O. sativa. However, little is known about their ability to tolerate P deficiency. Here, we examined the variation for tolerance to P deficiency among the 18 upland NERICAs and their parents in multi‐year field experiments. The good performance under P deficiency of the O. glaberrima parent CG 14 and some NERICAs suggested that these tolerant NERICAs contain loci associated with P deficiency tolerance inherited from CG 14. Additionally, four QTL clusters for P deficiency tolerance were detected on chromosomes 4, 6 and 11 using F3 lines derived from the cross between the P deficiency tolerant variety NERICA10 and a Japonica‐type sensitive variety ‘Hitomebore’. These QTLs represent the first step in identifying stress tolerance genes from O. glaberrima that could subsequently be used to enhance P deficiency tolerance in O. sativa.
Effectiveness of selection at CIMMYT's main maize breeding sites in Mexico for performance at sites in Africa and vice versa
Authors: Kebede Aida Z. , Mahuku George , Burgueño Juan , Vicente Felix San , Cairns Jill E. , Das Biswanath , Makumbi Dan , Magorokosho Cosmos , Windhausen Vanessa S. , Melchinger Albrecht E. , Atlin Gary N. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe exchange of elite breeding materials across regions is an important way in which multinational maize breeding programmes access new genetic variation, improve efficiency and reduce costs. Our objectives were to examine whether CIMMYT's breeding programmes for tropical and subtropical environments in Mexico and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) can effectively share materials. Sets of selected and unselected lines were evaluated for per se and testcross performance in multiple environments in Mexico and ESA for grain yield, days to anthesis and plant height. Genotypic correlations between performance in Mexico and ESA as testcross and line per se were high (≥ 0.72) for all experiments, and indirect selection efficiency ranged from 67 to over 100% for all traits. Lines selected in ESA or Latin America performed equally well in each region, indicating selection was for broad rather than regional adaptation. Thus, breeding programmes of CIMMYT in both Mexico and ESA can benefit tremendously by exchanging breeding materials and test results, and elite selections from each region should be fast‐tracked for evaluation in the other.
Papular Epidermal Nevus with “Skyline” Basal Cell Layer (PENS) Following a Blaschko Linear Pattern
Authors: Faure Elisa , Tadini Gianluca , Brena Michela , Cassulini Lucia Restano 
Published: April 2013

AbstractPapular epidermal nevus with “skyline” basal cell layer (PENS), a variant of epidermal nevi, has recently been described as a small, round or polygonal papule, visible at birth or shortly thereafter, with characteristic histopathologic features. It has been considered a separate entity from keratinocytic nevi because no lesion observed thus far has followed any of the known archetypical mosaic patterns. Here we describe for the first time a PENS lesion following a linear distribution pattern along Blaschko's lines.
Is theSECa learning regulator? Lessons from proxy access
Authors: Pichhadze Aviv 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAnalysis of theUS Securities andExchangeCommission's (SEC) treatment of the concept of ownership in the federal proxy rules, between 1934 and 2010, suggestsSECsystems and procedures may not employ optimal organizational learning. Addressing this,Idevelop theLearningRegulatorFramework, a normative model facilitating organizational learning and allowing regulatory agencies to maintain awareness of, and adaptation to, socio‐economic realities in regulated environments, thereby promoting reflective, responsive, relevant, and efficient regulatory frameworks. The relevance of the model to other institutional settings is also considered.
Technical systems and the architecture of transnational business governance interactions
Authors: Porter Tony 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis article sets out the concept of a technical system and explores its ability to explain why some transnational regulatory domains are governed by a single transnational business governance (TBG) scheme, while in others there are many such schemes. By linking the numbers of TBG schemes that govern any particular transnational regulatory domain to technical systems in this way, important insights are provided into TBG interactions. Where technical systems are present, the TBG schemes that govern them will be specialized and complementary, rather than competitive. More generally, a technical systems approach illuminates the set of extended relationships that connect TBG schemes to the industry they seek to regulate. By tracing out these relationships we can reveal indirect interactions between TBG schemes that may be mediated through firms or market infrastructures. These indirect interactions can be obscured by approaches that only focus on the direct interactions among TBG schemes. The article analyzes two cases of TBG schemes in global finance. The first, derivatives, has a single overall TBG scheme. The second case, professional financial designations, has multiple competing TBG schemes.
Prognostic value of plasma N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide levels in pneumonia patients requiring intensive care unit admission
Authors: Lin Shih‐Chang , Tsai Yi‐Ju , Huang Chun‐Ta , Kuo Yao‐Wen , Ruan Sheng‐Yuan , Chuang Yu‐Chung , Yu Chong‐Jen 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackground and objective: Correct and early risk stratification for critically ill pneumonia patients remains an unmet medical need. This study aimed to test whether N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) can serve as a prognostic marker in this setting.MethodsThis prospective study enrolled 216 pneumonia patients admitted to intensive care unit. Plasma NT‐proBNP samples were obtained upon admission and primary outcome was all‐cause mortality at 30 days. Meanwhile, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society (IDSA/ATS) 2007 minor criteria were assessed.ResultsOverall 30‐day mortality was 30%. NT‐proBNP levels were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than survivors (11 938 ± 13 121 vs 5658 ± 9240 pg/mL, P = 0.001). Area under receiver operating characteristic curves of NT‐proBNP, APACHE II and IDSA/ATS 2007 minor criteria were not significantly different regarding prediction of mortality (0.715, 0.754 vs 0.654, P = 0.085). Adding NT‐proBNP to APACHE II significantly increased the area under receiver operating characteristic curve from 0.754 to 0.794 (P = 0.048). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed optimal NT‐proBNP and APACHE II cut‐offs of 2177.5 pg/mL and 25.5, respectively. In multivariate analysis, both NT‐proBNP and APACHE II values above cut‐offs had a significantly higher probability of death than those below cut‐offs. A categorical approach combining NT‐proBNP and APACHE II cut‐offs provides additional risk stratification over a single marker approach.ConclusionsFor pneumonia patients admitted to intensive care unit, NT‐proBNP strongly and independently predicts mortality, and its prognostic accuracy is comparable with APACHE II and IDSA/ATS 2007 minor criteria.
Structural Change and Growth in a NEG Model
Authors: Cerina Fabio , Mureddu Francesco 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis paper presents a New Economic Geography model of structural change, agglomeration and growth. Assuming a non‐homothetic preference structure, our results show that a progressive reduction of trade costs allows the economy to pass from a pre‐industrialized to an industrialized stage and then, within the latter, from a dispersed to an urbanized regime. However, the introduction of capital accumulation and the dynamic setting of our model opens the door to a richer set of implications. First, an additional stage is introduced as, for some intermediate values of trade costs, a multiple equilibria regime emerges with simultaneously stable symmetric and core‐periphery equilibria. Second, the introduction of non‐homotheticity introduces a new channel through which growth is affected by trade costs and agglomeration. In particular, integration is always growth‐enhancing while agglomeration is growth‐detrimental.
On Footloose Industries and Labor Disputes with Endogenous Information Asymmetry
Authors: Chau Nancy H. , Kanbur Ravi 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIf capital becomes internationally mobile but labor does not, are outcomes of labor disputes tilted in favor of workers or employers? In this paper, we show that the answer depends critically on how the information structure of the dispute changes endogenously with capital mobility, and in addition, whether international investment incentives selectively favor the outflow of capital from the most or the least productive firms. In doing so, this paper brings together three strands of literature that are not often seen together—incentive compatible contracting, wage and unemployment outcomes of labor disputes, and international capital mobility with heterogeneous firms.
Liberalization and the Changing Inter‐industry Wage Structure of the Organized Manufacturing Sector in India, 1973/74–2003/04
Authors: Chatterji Monojit , Choudhury Homagni 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis paper examines the inter‐industry wage structure of the organized manufacturing sector in India for the period 1973/74–2003/04 by estimating the growth of average real wages for production workers by industry. Using wage data on 51 three‐digit industries, our estimation procedure obtains estimates of growth of real wages per worker that are wholly deterministic in nature by accounting for any potential structural break(s) associated with the reforms. Our paper identifies three distinct regimes—pre‐reform, first phase reforms and second phase reforms, over which real wages have grown at varying rates for each industry. Our findings suggest that the inter‐industry wage differences have become more pronounced in the post‐reform periods. The paper provides new evidence from India on the need to consider seriously the hypothesis that industry affiliation is potentially an important determinant of wages when studying any relationship between reforms and wages.
Business Cycle Synchronization between Euro Area andCentral andEasternEuropeanCountries
Authors: Jiménez‐Rodríguez Rebeca , Morales-Zumaquero Amalia , Égert Balázs 
Published: April 2013

AbstractWe analyze the degree of co‐movements in real macroeconomic aggregates across selected euro area andCentral andEasternEuropean (CEE) countries applying a multi‐factor model. Our results suggest that the evolution of the globalEuropean factor matches well the narrative of main economic events between 1995 and 2011, capturing among others the recession during the recent global financial and economic crisis. This factor plays a central role in explaining real output growth variability in euro area and is negligible inCEEcountries. Furthermore, usingMarkov switching models and concordance indices, we shed light on an increase in business cycle synchronization, with the degree of concordance between country‐specific and European business cycles being high.
Precession‐scale cyclicity in the fluvial lower Eocene Willwood Formation of the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming (USA)
Authors: Abels Hemmo A. , Kraus Mary J. , Gingerich Philip D. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractLittle is known about controls on river avulsion at geological time scales longer than 104 years, primarily because it is difficult to link observed changes in alluvial architecture to well‐defined allogenic mechanisms and to disentangle allogenic from autogenic processes. Recognition of Milankovitch‐sale orbital forcing in alluvial stratigraphy would provide unprecedented age control in terrestrial deposits, and also exploit models of allogenic forcing enabling more rigorous testing of allocyclic and autocyclic controls. The Willwood Formation of the Bighorn Basin is a lower Eocene fluvial unit distinctive for its thick sequence of laterally extensive lithological cycles on a scale of 4 to 10 m. Intervals of red palaeosols that formed on overbank mudstones are related to periods of relative channel stability when gradients between channel belts and floodplains were low. The intervening drab, heterolithic intervals with weak palaeosol development are attributed to episodes of channel avulsion that occurred when channels became super‐elevated above the floodplain. In the Deer Creek Amphitheater section in the McCullough Peaks area, these overbank and avulsion deposits alternate with a dominant cycle thickness of ca 7·1 m. Using integrated stratigraphic age constraints, this cyclicity has an estimated period of ca 21·6 kyr, which is in the range of the period of precession climate cycles in the early Eocene. Previous analyses of three older and younger sections in the Bighorn Basin showed a similar 7 to 8 m spacing of red palaeosol clusters with an estimated duration close to the precession period. Intervals of floodplain stability alternating with episodes of large‐scale reorganization of the fluvial system could be entirely autogenic; however, the remarkable regularity and the match in time scales documented here indicate that these alternations were probably paced by allogenic, astronomically forced climate change.
Noninvasive methods for haemoglobin screening in prospective blood donors
Authors: Belardinelli A. , Benni M. , Tazzari P. L. , Pagliaro P. 
Published: April 2013

Background and ObjectivesThe haemoglobin level of prospective blood donors is usually performed on blood obtained by from the finger pulp by fingerstick with a lancet and filling a capillary tube with a sample. New noninvasive methods are now available for rapid, noninvasive predonation haemoglobin screening.Materials and MethodsProspective blood donors at our blood centre were tested, in two different trials, as follows: by the NBM 200 (OrSense) test (n = 445 donors) and by the Pronto‐7 (Masimo) test (n = 463 donors). The haemoglobin values of each trial and the haemoglobin of finger pulp blood obtained by fingerstick with a lancet (HemoCue) were compared with the haemoglobin values obtained from a venous sample on a Cell Counter (Beckman Coulter).ResultsComparison of Beckman Coulter Cell Counter and OrSense and results showed a bias of 0·29 g/dl, the standard deviation of the differences (SDD) of 0·98 and 95% limits of agreement from −1·64 to 2·21, using Bland and Altman statistical methodology. Comparison of Masimo and Beckman Coulter Cell Counter results showed a bias of −0·53 g/dl, SDD of 1·04 and 95% limits of agreement from −2·57 to 1·51. Cumulative analysis of all 908 donors, as tested by the usual fingerstick test showed a bias of 0·83 g/dl, SDD of 0·70 and 95% limits of agreement from −0·54 to 2·20 compared with the Coulter Cell Counter. Compared with the Coulter Counter, the specificity of the methods was 99·5% for fingerstick, 97% for OrSense and 83% for Massimo, and the sensitivity was 99, 98 and 93%, respectively.ConclusionsAnalysis of finger pulp blood by either direct sampling by fingerstick and Hemocue, or by noninvasive haemoglobin tests does not replicate the results of cell counter analysis of venous samples. Compared with fingerstick, noninvasive haemoglobin tests eliminate pain and reduce stress, but have a lower level of specificity and sensitivity.
A source model for modulated electron radiation therapy using dynamic jaw movements
Authors: Papaconstadopoulos Pavlos , Seuntjens Jan 
Published: April 2013

Purpose:The development of fast and accurate source models (SMs) might be of crucial importance for the future clinical implementation of modulated electron radiation therapy (MERT). In this study, a SM is presented for reconstructing phase‐space information of modulated electron beams using a few‐leaf electron collimator (FLEC) and the photon jaws.Methods:During a FLEC‐based delivery, two collimation devices (jaws and FLEC) modulate the electron beam characteristics dynamically. The SM separates the beam into a primary and a scattered component. The primary component is derived by a fast Monte Carlo (MC) transport calculation in air using the EGSnrc/BEAMnrc code. The scattered beam is modeled analytically. The accelerator was decomposed into its individual leaf components and the scattered beam was characterized at various levels of the accelerator. Scattered particles are assigned an energy and position by sampling pre‐calculated probability distributions. The direction is estimated by geometrical arguments. Particles were assumed to emerge from tunable virtual sources on the side of each collimator leaf. A leaf‐hit algorithm was developed to dynamically reject particles that are incident on any collimating leaf. Electron transport in air between the two collimation levels was calculated based on a MC‐modified version of the Fermi‐Eyges scattering theory. Correlations between direction and position were observed and taken into account at the final collimation level.Results:To validate the model, reconstructed phase‐space data were compared with the full accelerator MC phase‐space data. The model accurately reproduced the beam characteristics and preserved important correlations. Depth and profile dose distributions in water were derived for square, rectangular, and off‐axis field sizes and for a range of clinical energies. Discrepancies in the dose distributions and dose output were within 3% in all cases.Conclusions:Fast and accurate SMs open the possibility for fast treatment planning in MERT, based on an inverse optimization MC treatment planning scheme.
Evaluation of over 100 scanner‐years of computed tomography daily quality control data
Authors: Nute Jessica L. , Rong John , Stevens Donna M. , Darensbourg Brandan J. , Cheng Jing , Wei Wei , Hobbs Brian P. , Cody Dianna D. 
Published: April 2013

Purpose:The results of a long‐term, comprehensive CT quality control (QC) program were analyzed to investigate differences in failure rates based on QC test, scanner utilization pattern, and number of channels, as well as explore issues regarding testing frequency.Methods:CT QC data were collected over a 4‐yr period for 26 CT scanners representing two different vendors and using three different QC programs culminating in over 100 scanner‐years of QC data. QC tests analyzed included water tests [mean CT number, standard deviation, and uniformity], linearity tests [air, water, and acrylic], and artifact analysis [water phantom and large phantom]. The data were organized based on scanner use, number of channels, scanner modality, and QC test. Logistic regression model analysis with generalized estimating equation method was used to estimate failure rates for each group.Results:A significant difference between failure rates with respect to QC test was found (p‐value = 0.02). Large phantom artifacts, standard deviation of water, and water phantom artifacts had the three highest failure rates. No significant difference was found between failure rates organized by scanner use, scanner modality, or number of channels.Conclusions:Standard deviation of water is the most important quantitative value to collect as part of a daily QC program. Uniformity and linearity tests have relatively low failure rates and, therefore, may not require daily verification. While its failure rates were moderate, daily artifact analysis is suggested due to its potentially high impact on clinical image quality. Weekly or monthly large phantom artifact analysis is encouraged for those sites possessing an appropriate phantom.