bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The social protection floor and global social governance: Towards policy synergy and cooperation between international organizations
Authors: Deacon Bob 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThis article addresses the influence of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on other international organizations and global agencies which resulted in their endorsement of the Social Protection Floor (SFP) concept. By 2012 the concept had been endorsed by the United Nations in the shape of the UN Chief Executives Board's SPF‐Initiative, the World Bank in its new Social Protection and Labor Strategy and by the G20 at the Cannes Summit. Furthermore the IMF had agreed to work with the ILO to explore the options for creating fiscal space within countries to fund SPFs. Special Rapporteurs for the UN Human Rights Council had also in 2012 called for the setting up of a global fund for social protection to enable poorer countries to develop their floors. By 2012 a new coordinating authority, the Social Protection Inter‐Agency Cooperation Board (SPIAC‐B), had been ushered into existence to facilitate inter‐agency cooperation. This article describes and explains how these developments came about. It asks if the reality of increased global social governance cooperation in the field of social protection is as effective as it seems or whether there are new contradictions, overlapping and competing mandates and policy disagreements at the global level.
The Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202): Completing the standards to close the coverage gap
Authors: Kulke Ursula , Guilbault Emmanuelle Saint‐Pierre 
Published: October 2013

Abstract In June 2012, the 101st session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) adopted the Recommendation concerning national floors of social protection, 2012 (No. 202). This article explores the linkages between Recommendation No. 202 and the pre‐existing International Labour Organization (ILO) social security standards and its complementarity with these. In response to the questions as to whether the existing ILO social security standards have lost their relevance and whether the new Recommendation has been adopted with a view to replacing the existing ones, the article concludes that its adoption not only complements but also broadens and strengthens the existing international social security code. Together, Recommendation No. 202 and the ILO social security Conventions are viewed as providing a complete and adequate normative framework for the establishment and maintenance of comprehensive social security systems.
Revisiting policies to achieve progress towards universal health coverage in low‐income countries: Realizing the pay‐offs of national social protection floors
Authors: Scheil‐Adlung Xenia 
Published: October 2013

AbstractDespite progress on extending social health protection coverage, most low‐income countries are still far from achieving universal health coverage and thus key objectives related to improvements in health, such as those aimed at by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), will almost certainly not be realized by 2015. Principally affected are the most vulnerable populations: the rural and urban poor and workers in the informal economy and their families. It is of particular concern that progress might not only remain limited but even be reversed if policies continue to fail to address the root causes of gaps and deficits in health coverage. This article provides evidence that these causes lie both within and beyond the health sector and are strongly related to poverty and other forms of vulnerability. It argues that sustainable progress towards universal health coverage can only be achieved in an adequate time frame when focusing simultaneously on i) extending health coverage and improving access to needed health care; ii) providing income security through income support to those in need; iii) addressing limitations, or the inability to participate, in income generation from work; and iv) implementing coherent policies within and across the social, economic and health sectors that set priorities on poverty alleviation. Such policies can best be implemented in the context of national social protection floors (SPF) that focus on access to at least essential health care and on providing at least basic income security over the life cycle to all in need. Implementing SPFs may result in breaking the mutual linkages between ill health, poverty and other vulnerabilities and achieving sustainable progress towards universal health coverage and other social protection objectives.
Shifting artificial data to detect system failures
Authors: Hwang Wook‐Yeon , Lee Jong‐Seok 
Published: October 2013

AbstractMultivariate statistical process control (MSPC) is used for simultaneously monitoring several process variables. While small changes to normal operating conditions made by this system may not seriously affect the quality of a product, a system failure will be declared if an observation significantly deviates from the in‐control region before defective units are mass‐produced. Although a number of research works integrating data‐mining algorithms with MSPC have been proposed to effectively manage a large amount of data, this combination may not function for the case of system failures due to the extreme imbalance of data. This research proposes a new approach and employs a classification technique, namely, random forest, which overcomes the class imbalance problem. The proposed method systematically shifts artificial data toward the region of failures to ensure the classifier correctly detects system failures. Numerical experiments show that our method outperforms existing methods in terms of failure detection counts.
Is the relationship between algal diversity and biomass in North American lakes consistent with biodiversity experiments?
Authors: Zimmerman Emily K. , Cardinale Bradley J. 
Published: October 2013

Over the past few decades, a large body of research has examined how biodiversity loss influences the functioning of ecosystems, as well as the cascading impacts on the goods and services ecosystems provide to humanity. The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions quantified in prior experiments suggests that initial losses of biodiversity have relatively small impacts on properties like community biomass production; however, beyond some threshold, increasing losses lead to accelerating declines in function. Some have questioned whether a saturating relationship between diversity and community biomass production is an artifact of overly simplified experiments that manipulate diversity in homogeneous conditions over short time‐scales in which niche differences may not be realized. Others have questioned whether even the modest effects of biodiversity observed in experiments would be discernible in natural systems where they could be over‐ridden by the stronger influence of abiotic factors.Here, we used a biogeographic dataset to assess how the taxonomic richness of aquatic primary producers relates to community biomass in unmanipulated lake ecosystems in the US, and then compared these findings to prior experiments. We used structural equation modeling to evaluate hypotheses about the effects of algal richness on community biomass while accounting for covariance with environmental parameters measured in the USEPA's National Lakes Assessment (NLA), which sampled 1157 freshwater lakes. These analyses converged on a single best‐fit model (χ2= 0.31, p = 0.58) wherein community algal biomass was a function of three explanatory variables – nitrogen, phosphorus, and algal richness. The quantitative magnitude of the algal diversity (x) – biomass (y) relationship in the NLA dataset is statistically greater than that documented in the average biodiversity experiment. It did, however, lie at approximately the 75th percentile of experimental relationships, indicating the diversity–biomass relationship in unmanipulated lakes is within the range that has been characterized experimentally.
Practitioner Review: Maternal mood in pregnancy and child development – implications for child psychology and psychiatry
Authors: O'Connor Thomas G. , Monk Catherine , Fitelson Elizabeth M. 
Published: October 2013

BackgroundThe empirical base suggesting a link between prenatal maternal anxiety, stress or depression and cognitive, behavioral, and biological outcomes in the infant and child has increased dramatically in the past 10 years.MethodsIn this review, we consider the relevance of prenatal maternal mood for child mental health practitioners; the empirical base for a likely causal impact of the link between prenatal anxiety, depression, or stress and child outcomes; the degree to which the available evidence is sufficient for informing or altering clinical practice; and the possible role of prenatal interventions for promoting child health and development. A selective review of PubMed, Cochrane Library and other sources was undertaken.FindingsClinically significant links between maternal prenatal distress and child behavioral and cognitive outcomes have been reported; predictions to stress physiology, immunology, and neurodevelopment have been reported but the effect sizes and clinical significance is less clear. Several candidate mechanisms have been proposed, with some supporting evidence. Many behavioral treatments for prenatal maternal distress exist, but their application to promoting child health is largely unknown.ConclusionsResearch on maternal prenatal distress is a good example of translational research and offers a strong paradigm for promoting interdisciplinary clinical research on child health and development.
Effect of Different Heat Treatments on the Degradation of Salmonella Nucleic Acid
Authors: Li Miaoyun , Zhao Gaiming , Liu Jie , Gao Xiaoping , Zhang Qiuhui 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe effect of different heat treatments commonly used in the processing and consumption of food products on the detection and extinction of Salmonella nucleic acid were explored. Genomic DNA and RNA with different heat treatments were extracted at intervals and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that there was a large number of slowly degrading genomic DNA remained in the dead bacterial suspensions which had been treated with 65C/20 min and 85C/30 min, and DNA bands were still visible after 18 days; the DNA bands were very weak and disappeared after 4 days by boiling for 3 min. The 121C/15 min treated Salmonella had no visible DNA bands. The RNA bands of Salmonella were completely degradation initially in different heat treatments. The higher heating temperature and longer heat times Salmonella caused, the faster DNA degenerated. Therefore, DNA was not suitable for the quantitative detection and RNA was suitable for the qualitative detection during the detection of Salmonella by real‐time PCR/ reverse transcription PCR after heat treatments. The study may contribute to the successful application of Salmonella detection by nucleic acid in foods, since false positive of pathogens with PCR after heat treatments of food.Practical ApplicationsThis study demonstrated that PCR can result in the false positive of pathogens after heat treatments of food based on DNA. RNA was suitable for the qualitative detection during the detection of Salmonella by PCR with different heat treatments. It is of importance to detect Salmonella in food by nucleic acid after heat treatments.
Lawsonite blueschists and lawsonite eclogites as proxies for palaeo‐subduction zone processes: a review
Authors: Tsujimori T. , Ernst W.G. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractLawsonite‐bearing metamorphic/metasomatic rocks form at high‐pressure–ultrahigh pressure (HP–UHP) and low‐temperature (LT) conditions, commonly in Pacific‐type subduction zones. TheP–Tstability fields of lawsonite blueschists and lawsonite eclogites represent subfacies of the blueschist and eclogite facies, respectively. Although the lawsonite–epidote transition boundary has a positive Clapeyron (dP/dT) slope, the blueschist‐to‐eclogite transformation within the lawsonite stability field in metabasaltic rocks is gradual and cannot be defined by a specific discontinuous reaction inP–Tspace. The oldest occurrences of lawsonite‐bearing blueschists are latest Neoproterozoic, suggesting that subduction‐zone thermal structures evolved towards the necessary LTconditions for lawsonite formation only by the late Neoproterozoic. A clear difference in frequency between Phanerozoic lawsonite and epidote blueschists does not exist, but our new compilation found a global lawsonite hiatus in the Permian that is a robust indication of relatively warm subduction‐zone thermal regimes. Lawsonite eclogites have been confirmed from at least 19 localities; they are classified as L‐ (lawsonite only), E‐ (lawsonite + epidote), and U‐type (lawsonite + coesite). Complete preservation of L‐type lawsonite eclogites attending their return to the surface is uncommon. Rare evidence of progressive eclogitization within the lawsonite stability field is preserved in some zoned garnets, as growth isolates a significant volume of precursor phases and textures during incipient eclogitization. Brittle fracturing and fluid infiltration are common during prograde eclogite facies metamorphism. Certain lawsonite‐bearing metasomatic rocks record multiple fluid‐infiltration events. Significant cooling and continuous H2O supply from the dehydrating oceanic plate to exhuming HPserpentinite mélange may cause lawsonite blueschist facies overprinting and prevent breakdown of lawsonite during decompression. The subduction records of lawsonite blueschists and eclogites agree with numerical modelling of subduction zones.
The interactive roles of zinc and calcium in mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration
Authors: Pivovarova Natalia B. , Stanika Ruslan I. , Kazanina Galina , Villanueva Idalis , Andrews S. Brian 
Published: October 2013

AbstractZinc has been implicated in neurodegeneration following ischemia. In analogy with calcium, zinc has been proposed to induce toxicity via mitochondrial dysfunction, but the relative role of each cation in mitochondrial damage remains unclear. Here, we report that under conditions mimicking ischemia in hippocampal neurons – normal (2 mM) calcium plus elevated (> 100 μM) exogenous zinc – mitochondrial dysfunction evoked by glutamate, kainate or direct depolarization is, despite significant zinc uptake, primarily governed by calcium. Thus, robust mitochondrial ion accumulation, swelling, depolarization, and reactive oxygen species generation were only observed after toxic stimulation in calcium‐containing media. This contrasts with the lack of any mitochondrial response in zinc‐containing but calcium‐free medium, even though zinc uptake and toxicity were strong under these conditions. Indeed, abnormally high, ionophore‐induced zinc uptake was necessary to elicit any mitochondrial depolarization. In calcium‐ and zinc‐containing media, depolarization‐induced zinc uptake facilitated cell death and enhanced accumulation of mitochondrial calcium, which localized to characteristic matrix precipitates. Some of these contained detectable amounts of zinc. Together these data indicate that zinc uptake is generally insufficient to trigger mitochondrial dysfunction, so that mechanism(s) of zinc toxicity must be different from that of calcium.
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Zinc and calcium are both implicated in ischemic injury. While calcium toxicity is mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction, mechanisms of zinc toxicity are unclear. Here we show that under conditions mimicking ischemia in hippocampal neurons, glutamate‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction – swelling (red mitochondrion), depolarization and increased ROS generation – is triggered only by calcium, while zinc mainly facilitates calcium‐dependent mitochondrial damage.
Regulation of the high‐affinity choline transporter activity and trafficking by its association with cholesterol‐rich lipid rafts
Authors: Cuddy Leah K. , Winick‐Ng Warren , Rylett Rebecca Jane 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe sodium‐coupled, hemicholinium‐3‐sensitive, high‐affinity choline transporter (CHT) is responsible for transport of choline into cholinergic nerve terminals from the synaptic cleft following acetylcholine release and hydrolysis. In this study, we address regulation of CHT function by plasma membrane cholesterol. We show for the first time that CHT is concentrated in cholesterol‐rich lipid rafts in both SH‐SY5Y cells and nerve terminals from mouse forebrain. Treatment of SH‐SY5Y cells expressing rat CHT with filipin, methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (MβC) or cholesterol oxidase significantly decreased choline uptake. In contrast, CHT activity was increased by addition of cholesterol to membranes using cholesterol‐saturated MβC. Kinetic analysis of binding of [3H]hemicholinium‐3 to CHT revealed that reducing membrane cholesterol with MβC decreased both the apparent binding affinity (KD) and maximum number of binding sites (Bmax); this was confirmed by decreased plasma membrane CHT protein in lipid rafts in cell surface protein biotinylation assays. Finally, the loss of cell surface CHT associated with lipid raft disruption was not because of changes in CHT internalization. In summary, we provide evidence that CHT association with cholesterol‐rich rafts is critical for transporter function and localization. Alterations in plasma membrane cholesterol cholinergic nerve terminals could diminish cholinergic transmission by reducing choline availability for acetylcholine synthesis.
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The sodium‐coupled choline transporter CHT moves choline into cholinergic nerve terminals to serve as substrate for acetylcholine synthesis. We show for the first time that CHT is concentrated in cholesterol‐rich lipid rafts, and decreasing membrane cholesterol significantly reduces both choline uptake activity and cell surface CHT protein levels. CHT association with cholesterol‐rich rafts is critical for its function, and alterations in plasma membrane cholesterol could diminish cholinergic transmission by reducing choline availability for acetylcholine synthesis.
Telomeres and human health
Authors: Bojesen S. E. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractTelomeres are the tips of chromosomes and consist of proteins and hexanucleotide tandem repeats of DNA. The DNA repeats are shortened at each mitotic division of normal cells, and the telomere length chronicles how many divisions the cell has undergone. Thus, telomere length is a marker of fundamental biological pathways. It has been possible to measure telomere length for more than 20 years, and it has been established that telomere length is associated with age, sex and lifestyle factors. Here, the current knowledge of telomere length as a biomarker of disease susceptibility and mortality will be reviewed. In addition, technical difficulties and the reasons why measurement of telomeres has still not been introduced into routine clinical practice will be discussed. Findings from recent studies conducted in many thousands of individuals indicate that telomere length is not–or at best only marginally–independently associated with risk of common disorders such as cardiovascular, pulmonary and neoplastic diseases. However, in sufficiently powered studies, short telomeres are repeatedly and independently found to be associated with increased risk of early death in the general population or in subsets of individuals. This indicates that measurement of telomeres could be a valuable prognostic biomarker in many clinical settings. However, whether short telomeres are a causal factor for or simply a marker of increased risk of early death must be determined. Finally, how Mendelian randomization studies could clarify this issue, and which clinical studies might be carried out to refine this very promising biomarker for routine clinical use will be considered.
Hedonic Responses and Individual Definitions of an Ideal Apple as Predictors of Choice
Authors: Seppä Laila , Railio Jenna , Vehkalahti Kimmo , Tahvonen Risto , Tuorila Hely 
Published: October 2013

AbstractHedonic ratings and individual definitions of an ideal apple were used to explain repeated choices during one‐week experiment. Participants (77 women, 31 men, mean age 45, range 19–65) rated the importance of six sensory attributes (red, green, sweet, sour, firm, crispy) in apples. Based on ratings, three clusters (CL) were identified: CL1 preferred sweet and soft; CL2 sour and firm; and CL3 medium sour and medium sweet apples. Liking of four cultivars with distinct sensory properties was measured three times (Monday–Wednesday–Friday) using a 7‐point scale (like not at all – like very much). Following each tasting, three fruits from one cultivar were chosen to take home. Liking and choice reflected CL to some extent. Logistic regression models showed that both the liking of the cultivar chosen and disliking the nonchosen alternatives affected the choice. Liking rated just before a choice was a better predictor than the first (initial) liking. Furthermore, CL and hedonic flexibility (the largest difference between the liking scores of the cultivars selected) significantly predicted some choices. Hence, along with liking a product, disliking other options, inclination to also accept less preferred alternatives, and individual preference for certain qualities in apples play a role in the choice.Practical ApplicationsIn this study, we show that initial liking does not alone explain later liking. When products are offered side by side, such as in a real shopping situation, the properties of less‐preferred options also affect the choice. Descriptions of an ideal product and the clusters constructed thereof moderately reflect liking. Such definition of an ideal product can be a useful tool in revealing consumer preferences as long as the rated attributes are relevant. The results emphasize the importance of variety of fruits available to satisfy individual, fluctuating consumer preferences.
Nonparametric Estimation of d′ and Its Variance for the A–Not A with Reminder
Authors: Bi Jian , O'Mahony Michael , Lee Hye‐Seong 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe A–Not A with reminder (A–Not AR) is a relatively new method in the sensory literature. This paper derives and demonstrates the function illustrating the relationship between the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and d′ for the A–Not AR with the differencing strategy. This function shows that the area under an ROC curve for the A–Not AR is equal to the maximum proportion of correct responses in an A–Not A. This theoretic function can be used to estimate d′ and its variance from the ratings of the A–Not AR. A simulation study shows that the nonparametric estimation based on this function is close to those obtained by using the maximum likelihood estimation. The estimation of the variance of d′ based on the delta method is close to that obtained by using the bootstrap method. R codes are provided for the estimations of d′ and its variance as well as simulations.Practical ApplicationsThe A–Not AR is a variation of the conventional A–Not A method, which is used in the sensory field for discrimination testing. This method is particularly useful when it is difficult to have an adequate familiarization procedure for the test samples for panelists before a test. This approach also offers the potential for applying such a method to problems like hedonic, purchase intent, and consumer concept measures in addition to other measures in the sensory and consumer science field. This paper provides a new nonparametric method and R codes for estimating d′ and its variance from the ratings of the A–Not AR.