bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Responses of plant community coverage to simulated warming and nitrogen addition in a desert steppe in Northern China
Authors: Wang Zhen , Li Yuanheng , Hao Xiying , Zhao Mengli , Han Guodong 
Published: April 2015

AbstractGrassland communities occupy about 25 % of global land area and global warming could alter grassland plant community coverage. A field study was conducted to investigate the impact of soil warming (surface soil temperature increased by 1.3 °C) and nitrogen addition (100 kg N ha−1 year−1) on a desert steppe community in Inner Mongolia, China, from 2006 to 2011. Although there were strong intra‐ and inter‐annual variations, in general, warming had little effect on coverage of the four major species (two cool season C3 species: Convolvulusammannii and Stipa breviflora, and two warm season C4 species: Cleistogenes songorica and Kochia prostrata) over six growing seasons. The C3/C4 coverage ratio consistently decreased with warming, with the decrease being statistically significant for one‐third of sampling dates. Warming caused a reduction (from 27.6 to 25.1 %) in peak season total plant community coverage. N addition did not affect the four main species, four functional groups (perennial grass, perennial forb, shrub and annual‐biennial) or the total plant community over the 6 years, except when precipitation was high (231 mm in 2008). The small reduction in plant community coverage demonstrated the resilience of desert steppe to warming. There could be a shift of C3 to C4 species because of warming, as indicated by the decrease in C3/C4 ratio, but confirmation of this trend requires further study.
Total volume of 3D small patch reefs reflected in aerial photographs can predict total species richness of coral reef damselfish assemblages on a shallow back reef
Authors: Hattori Akihisa , Shibuno Takuro 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBecause fish have a high dispersal ability, an understanding coral reef fish metacommunity structure is vital for effective conservation. Coral reefs provide patchy habitat of various sizes and scales. We examined the species–area relationship (SAR) of damselfish (Pomacentridae) assemblages over 81 environmentally homogenous patch reefs ranging 0.07–45.4 m2 with low coral cover. Patch reefs were located in the shallow back reef (<2.5 m deep) off Ishigaki Island, Japan. Reef area was measured by performing image analysis of enlarged sections of a high‐resolution (>1/2500) color aerial photograph used as a fine‐scale seascape map. To assess the effects of three‐dimensional meso‐scale rugosity on species richness, we assumed that all reefs had a cylindrical shape and examined species by volume (area × height) relationships (SVR). Patch reef volume was a better determinant of species richness than area, and the regression functions of SVR provided better estimates of patch reef species richness. Neither the observed SVRs nor SARs, however, could be explained by a random placement model alone. Our results suggest that several small reefs are likely to have higher species richness than a single large reef of equivalent area in the shallow back reef where large patch reefs are flat. Thus, total patch reef volume (area × height) better reflects meso‐scale rugosity and is a useful indicator of total species richness relative to the total amount of essential habitat in shallow back reefs.
Sedentary behavior, depressed affect, and indicators of mental well‐being in adolescence: Does the screen only matter for girls?
Authors: Suchert Vivien , Hanewinkel Reiner , Isensee Barbara ,   läuft Study Group
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTThe study investigated the effects of sedentary behavior (SB) on mental well‐being and examined differences between screen‐based (sSB) and non‐screen‐based sedentary behaviors (nSB) separately by gender. In a total sample of 1296 students (609 girls) aged 12–17 (m = 13.7, SD = 0.67), SB, depressed affect, self‐esteem, physical self‐concept, general self‐efficacy and physical activity were assessed through self‐administered questionnaires. Among girls, lower scores in self‐esteem, physical self‐concept as well as general self‐efficacy were associated with higher sSB but not nSB. Among boys higher levels of sSB related to higher self‐esteem, nSB but not sSB predicted higher scores in depressed affect, and there was a u‐shaped association between sSB and general self‐efficacy. Results replicate the inverse association between SB and mental well‐being, and suggest a distinction between nSB and sSB especially among girls. Additional studies will be necessary to replicate, and further examine mediating mechanisms.
Raising trophy kids: The role of mothers' contingent self‐esteem in maternal promotion of extrinsic goals
Authors: Soenens Bart , Wuyts Dorien , Vansteenkiste Maarten , Mageau Geneviève A. , Brenning Katrijn 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTThis study examined the role of mothers' child‐invested contingent self‐esteem, that is, their tendency to hinge their self‐worth on their child's achievements, in maternal promotion of extrinsic goals, as perceived by adolescents. It was also examined whether maternal promotion of extrinsic goals would, in turn, relate to adolescents' Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). Participants were 184 mothers and their adolescent children (66% female). Maternal child‐invested contingent self‐esteem predicted adolescent‐perceived maternal promotion of extrinsic goals, even when taking into account the variance shared between the promotion of extrinsic goals and mothers' use of a controlling parenting style. Maternal child‐invested contingent self‐esteem also moderated associations between mothers' personal pursuit of extrinsic goals and their promotion of those goals, such that the association between mothers' own extrinsic goals and their promotion of those goals was significant only among mothers high on child‐invested contingent self‐esteem. Maternal promotion of extrinsic goals was, in turn, related to adolescent SDO, suggesting that the dynamics examined in this study ultimately relate to adolescents' social and ideological development.
Health‐related quality of life among women in rural Bangladesh after surgical repair of obstetric fistula
Authors: Imoto Atsuko , Matsuyama Akiko , Ambauen‐Berger Beatrice , Honda Sumihisa 
Published: April 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo identify factors influencing health‐related quality of life (QOL) among women in Bangladesh after successful surgical repair of obstetric fistula.MethodsIn 2012, a cross‐sectional study was conducted of women who had undergone a successful surgical repair of an obstetric fistula at a hospital in northwest Bangladesh between June 2005 and May 2012. Sociodemographic, obstetric, and fistula‐related information was collected by interview. Health‐related QOL was assessed using the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36).ResultsA total of 113 women were included. Linear regression analysis showed that discrimination experiences negatively affected four of the eight scales of SF‐36, as well as both the physical and mental component summaries (P < 0.05 for all). Married status had a positive effect on four scales and the mental component summary (P < 0.05 for all). Age inversely affected two scales and the physical component summary (P < 0.01 for all). Internalized stigma negatively influenced two scales (P < 0.05 for both). Not having living children and experiencing two or more previous stillbirths negatively influenced one scale (P < 0.05 for both).ConclusionSeveral factors influence health‐related QOL after obstetric fistula repair; a comprehensive approach is needed to address these issues.
The increasing trend in preterm birth in public hospitals in northern Argentina
Authors: Weaver Emily H. , Gibbons Luz , Belizán José M. , Althabe Fernando 
Published: April 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo identify factors associated with the increasing incidence of preterm birth in northern Argentina.MethodsIn an observational study, data were reviewed from a prospective, population‐based registry of pregnancy outcomes in six cities in 2009–2012. The primary outcome was preterm birth (at 20–37 weeks). Bivariate tests and generalized estimating equations were used within a conceptual hierarchical framework to estimate the cluster‐corrected annual trend in odds of preterm birth.ResultsThe study reviewed data from 11 433 live births. There were 484 (4.2%) preterm births. The incidence of preterm births increased by 38% between 2009 and 2012, from 37.5 to 51.7 per 1000 live births. Unadjusted risk factors for preterm birth included young or advanced maternal age, normal body mass index, nulliparity, no prenatal care, no vitamins or supplements during pregnancy, multiple gestation, and maternal hypertension or prepartum hemorrhage. The prevalence of many risk factors increased over the study period, but variations in these factors explained less than 1% of the increasing trend in preterm birth.ConclusionThe incidence of preterm births in six small cities in northern Argentina increased greatly between 2009 and 2012. This trend was unexplained by the risk factors measured. Other factors should be assessed in future studies.
Uterine rupture in Mekelle, northern Ethiopia, between 2009 and 2013
Authors: Berhe Yibrah , Gidey Hagos , Wall L. Lewis 
Published: April 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo review cases of uterine rupture at a center in northern Ethiopia.MethodsIn a retrospective chart review, data were assessed for cases of symptomatic uterine rupture treated at Ayder Referral Hospital in Mekelle between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2013.ResultsIn the 5‐year study period, there were 5185 deliveries and 47 cases of uterine rupture, giving a rate of one case per 110 deliveries. All patients underwent laparotomy for suspected uterine rupture. Mean parity was 3.6 (range 0–8). The most common predisposing factors were cephalopelvic disproportion (35 [74%] patients), previous cesarean delivery (5 [11%)], and fetal malpresentation (4 [9%]). Hysterectomy was undertaken for 35 (74%) patients; the other 12 (26%) were treated conservatively by simple repair of the rupture. There were 44 (95%) stillbirths and 1 (2%) maternal death.ConclusionUterine rupture remains an important clinical problem in northern Ethiopia. Changes in the cultural preference for home delivery, better transport and referral systems, and improved obstetric training and hospital management of laboring women are needed.
Shape memory alloy (SMA)-based head and neck immobilizer for radiotherapy
Authors: Lee Hyun-Taek , Kim Sung-In , Park Jong Min , Kim Ho-Jin , Song Dae-Seob , Kim Hyung-Il , Wu Hong-Gyun , Ahn Sung-Hoon 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Head-and-neck cancer is often treated with intensive irradiation focused on the tumor, while delivering the minimum amount of irradiation to normal cells. Since a course of radiotherapy can take 5–6 weeks or more, the repeatability of the patient posture and the fastening method during treatment are important determinants of the success of radiotherapy. Many devices have been developed to minimize positional discrepancies, but all of the commercial devices used in clinical practice are operated manually and require customized fixtures for each patient. This is inefficient and the performance of the fixture device depends on the operator's skill. Therefore, this study developed an automated head-and-neck immobilizer that can be used during radiotherapy and evaluated the positioning reproducibility in a phantom experiment. To eliminate interference caused by the magnetic field from computed tomography hardware, Ni−Ti shape-memory alloy wires were used as the actuating elements of the fixtures. The resulting positional discrepancy was less than 5 mm for all positions, which is acceptable for radiotherapy.
Highlights Prototype of automated head and neck immobilizer for radiotherapy was developed. Ni−Ti shape memory alloy wires were used as the actuating elements of the fixtures. Posture reproducibility was evaluated by measuring geometrical discrepancies of CT images.
Clostridium Difficile Infection in the United States: A National Study Assessing Preventive Practices Used and Perceptions of Practice Evidence
Authors: Saint Sanjay , Fowler Karen E. , Krein Sarah L. , Ratz David , Flanders Scott A. , Dubberke Erik R. , Greene M. Todd 
Published: April 2015

We surveyed 571 US hospitals about practices used to prevent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Most hospitals reported regularly using key CDI prevention practices, and perceived their strength of evidence as high. The largest discrepancy between regular use and perceived evidence strength occurred with antimicrobial stewardship programs.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(8):969–971
Jute in the Brahmaputra Valley: The making of flood control in twentieth-century Assam
Authors: SAIKIA ARUPJYOTI 
Published: April 2015

AbstractFlood protection in the Brahmaputra's floodplains began rather late and was implemented precisely to protect the important commercial crop of jute. To begin with, in the early twentieth century, after a long wait and much speculation, action was finally taken to make the Brahmaputra's floodplains more productive to the British Empire. Soon the commercial production of jute began in the floodplains. This article explains how the Brahmaputra's floodplains were converted into the British empire's eastern-most jute frontier. The article also explains the political economy of flood management in Assam in the second half of the twentieth century. Further, explaining the shifting relations between state, capital, and floodplain, the article shows how these schemes achieved only partial success and at the cost irreversible ecological damage.
Time as Relative
Authors: Corish Denis 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPhilosophical development of Leibniz's view that time is merely earlier–later order is necessary because neither Leibniz nor modern followers sufficiently answered the Newtonian charge that order does not give quantity. Logically, order is transitive, quantity, as in distance, is not. Quantity, as well as order, is naturally assumed in Newton's absolute time, so that to declare the mere relative order sufficient is to have to show how quantity can arise for it. The modern theory of the continuum, perfectly applicable to Newton's absolute, does not show this but assumes quantity. The development given here shows how interval, instant and simultaneity can be logically developed from Leibniz's insight.
Atom-Probe Tomographic Analyses of Hydrogen Interstitial Atoms in Ultrahigh Purity Niobium
Authors: Kim Yoon-Jun , Seidman David N. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAtomic-scale characterization of hydrogen and formation of niobium hydrides, using ultraviolet (wavelength=355 nm) picosecond laser-assisted local-electrode atom-probe tomography, was performed for ultrahigh purity niobium utilizing different laser pulse energies, 10 or 50 pJ/pulse or voltage pulsing. At 50 pJ/pulse, hydrogen atoms migrate onto the 110 and 111 poles as a result of stimulated surface diffusion, whereas they are immobile for <10 pJ/pulse or for voltage pulsing. Accordingly, the highest concentrations of H and NbH were obtained at 50 pJ/pulse. This is attributed to the thermal energy of the laser pulses being transferred to pure niobium specimens. Therefore, we examined the effects of the laser pulse energy being increased systematically from 1 to 20 pJ/pulse and then decreasing it from 20 to 1 pJ/pulse. The concentrations of H, H2, and NbH and the atomic concentration ratios H2/H, NbH/Nb, and Nb3+/Nb2+ were calculated with respect to the systematically changing laser pulse energies. The atomic concentration ratios H2/H and NbH/Nb are greater when decreasing the laser pulse energy than when increasing it, because the higher residual thermal energy after decreasing the laser pulse energy increases the mobility of H atoms by supplying sufficient thermal energy to form H2 or NbH.
Relationship between Achievement Goals and Students’ Self-Reported Personal and Social Responsibility Behaviors
Authors: Agbuga Bulent , Xiang Ping , McBride Ron E. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThis study utilized the 2x2 achievement goal model (mastery-approach, mastery-avoidance, performance-approach, performance-avoidance goals) to explore the relationships between achievement goals and self-reported personal and social responsibility behaviors in high school physical education settings. Two hundred and twenty one Turkish students completed questionnaires assessing their achievement goals, personal and social responsibility behaviors. Results of the one-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences among the four achievement goals,F(3, 660) = 137.05,p< .001, η2= .39. The result also revealed that students were more likely to endorse the mastery-approach goal than three other goals. The simple correlations revealed mastery-approach and performance-approach goals were positively related to students’ self-reported personal (r= .54,p< .001;r= .37,p< .001, respectively) and social responsibility (r= .38,p< .001;r= .22,p< .001, respectively) behaviors. However, hierarchical regression analyses indicated only the mastery-approach goal emerged as the significant positive predictor,b= .52,t(216) = 7.19,p< .001 for personal responsibility behaviors, andb= .41,t(216) = 5.23,p< .001 for social responsibility behaviors. These findings seem to provide convergent evidence that mastery-approach goals are positively related to positive educational outcomes.
Skilful multi-year predictions of tropical trans-basin climate variability
Authors: Chikamoto Yoshimitsu , Timmermann Axel , Luo Jing-Jia , Mochizuki Takashi , Kimoto Masahide , Watanabe Masahiro , Ishii Masayoshi , Xie Shang-Ping , Jin Fei-Fei 
Published: April 2015

AbstractTropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies influence the atmospheric circulation, impacting climate far beyond the tropics. The predictability of the corresponding atmospheric signals is typically limited to less than 1 year lead time. Here we present observational and modelling evidence for multi-year predictability of coherent trans-basin climate variations that are characterized by a zonal seesaw in tropical sea surface temperature and sea-level pressure between the Pacific and the other two ocean basins. State-of-the-art climate model forecasts initialized from a realistic ocean state show that the low-frequency trans-basin climate variability, which explains part of the El Niño Southern Oscillation flavours, can be predicted up to 3 years ahead, thus exceeding the predictive skill of current tropical climate forecasts for natural variability. This low-frequency variability emerges from the synchronization of ocean anomalies in all basins via global reorganizations of the atmospheric Walker Circulation.
Direct observation of liquid nucleus growth in homogeneous melting of colloidal crystals
Authors: Wang Ziren , Wang Feng , Peng Yi , Han Yilong 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe growth behaviour of liquid nucleus is crucial for crystal melting, but its kinetics is difficult to predict and remains challenging in experiment. Here we directly observed the growth of individual liquid nuclei in homogeneous melting of three-dimensional superheated colloidal crystals with single-particle dynamics by video microscopy. The growth rate of nucleus at weak superheating is well fitted by generalizing the Wilson–Frenkel law of crystallization to melting and including the surface tension effects and non-spherical-shape effects. As the degree of superheating increases, the growth rate is enhanced by nucleus shape fluctuation, nuclei coalescence and multimer attachment. The results provide new guidance for the refinement of nucleation theory, especially for the poorly understood strong-superheating regime. The universal Lindemann parameter observed at the superheat limit and solid–liquid interfaces indicates a connection between homogeneous and heterogeneous melting.
Osmosensing and scaffolding functions of the oligomeric four-transmembrane domain osmosensor Sho1
Authors: Tatebayashi Kazuo , Yamamoto Katsuyoshi , Nagoya Miho , Takayama Tomomi , Nishimura Akiko , Sakurai Megumi , Momma Takashi , Saito Haruo 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe yeast high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway activates the Hog1 MAP kinase, which coordinates adaptation to high osmolarity conditions. Here we demonstrate that the four-transmembrane (TM) domain protein Sho1 is an osmosensor in the HKR1 sub-branch of the HOG pathway. Crosslinking studies indicate that Sho1 forms planar oligomers of the dimers-of-trimers architecture by dimerizing at the TM1/TM4 interface and trimerizing at the TM2/TM3 interface. High external osmolarity induces structural changes in the Sho1 TM domains and Sho1 binding to the cytoplasmic adaptor protein Ste50, which leads to Hog1 activation. Besides its osmosensing function, the Sho1 oligomer serves as a scaffold. By binding to the TM proteins Opy2 and Hkr1 at the TM1/TM4 and TM2/TM3 interface, respectively, Sho1 forms a multi-component signalling complex that is essential for Hog1 activation. Our results illuminate how the four TM domains of Sho1 dictate the oligomer structure as well as its osmosensing and scaffolding functions.
Abnormal connectivity between the default mode and the visual system underlies the manifestation of visual hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease: a task-based fMRI study
Authors: Shine James M , Muller Alana J , O’Callaghan Claire , Hornberger Michael , Halliday Glenda M , Lewis Simon JG 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Background:
The neural substrates of visual hallucinations remain an enigma, due primarily to the difficulties associated with directly interrogating the brain during hallucinatory episodes.

Aims:
To delineate the functional patterns of brain network activity and connectivity underlying visual hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease.

Methods:
In this study, we combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a behavioral task capable of eliciting visual misperceptions, a confirmed surrogate for visual hallucinations, in 35 patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. We then applied an independent component analysis to extract time series information for large-scale neuronal networks that have been previously implicated in the pathophysiology of visual hallucinations. These data were subjected to a task-based functional connectivity analysis, thus providing the first objective description of the neural activity and connectivity during visual hallucinations in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Results:
Correct performance of the task was associated with increased activity in primary visual regions; however, during visual misperceptions, this same visual network became actively coupled with the default mode network (DMN). Further, the frequency of misperception errors on the task was positively correlated with the strength of connectivity between these two systems, as well as with decreased activity in the dorsal attention network (DAN), and with impaired connectivity between the DAN and the DMNs, and ventral attention networks. Finally, each of the network abnormalities identified in our analysis were significantly correlated with two independent clinical measures of hallucination severity.

Conclusions:
Together, these results provide evidence that visual hallucinations are due to increased engagement of the DMN with the primary visual system, and emphasize the role of dysfunctional engagement of attentional networks in the pathophysiology of hallucinations.