bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of GM3‐Enriched Sphingomyelin/Cholesterol Solid‐Supported Lipid Membranes on Au/SiO2 Plasmonic Substrates
Authors: Margheri G. , D'Agostino R. , Del Rosso M. , Trigari S. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe fabrication of solid‐supported artificial lipid bilayers enriched with biological agents is an important step for acquiring more insights into their behavior from in vitro studies. In this work we demonstrate the formation of lipid artificial membranes enriched with ganglioside GM3, whose role in the cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis is still an object of extensive investigation. The membranes are formed by fusion of small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) obtained from the sonication of multi‐lamellar vesicles (MLV) formed from a hydrated mixture of GM3, brain sphingomyelin and cholesterol. The effective formation of SUV was confirmed by Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. The recognition of the ganglioside in the biomimetic raft like biomembranes is accomplished via surface plasmon resonance (SPR) by exploiting the ganglioside affinity with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). The affinity constant of the binding between the inglobated GM3 and WGA has been measured for three different GM3 molar concentrations. Beside the effective generation of GM3‐enriched biomimetic membranes, our results indicate a decrease in the apparent WGA–GM3 dissociation constant at increasing GM3 concentrations up to 20 mol%, consistent with clustering effects of the ganglioside in the fabricated biomembranes.
Difference in mitochondrial gene expression in granulosa cells between recombinant FSH and hMG cycles under in vitro fertilization and transfer
Authors: Saito Natsuho , Yamashita Yoshiki , Ono Yoshihiro , Higuchi Yoko , Hayashi Atsushi , Yoshida Yoko , Yamamoto Hikaru , Kawabe Sachiko , Kamada Mika , Terai Yoshito , Ohmichi Masahide 
Published: April 2013

AbstractPurposeExamination of the mitochondrial mRNA expression in granulosa cells from an unspecified population of infertile patients to evaluate whether recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (recFSH) is more effective in producing higher quality embryo rates compared with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG).MethodThirty‐nine patients who underwent the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program were retrospectively examined. Patients were administered recFSH (n = 18) or hMG (n = 20) in a long protocol where GnRH agonist was used. Granulosa cells were obtained during oocyte retrieval and examined for mitochondria mRNA expression ratio against GAPDH. Expressions of mitochondria mRNA were evaluated by real‐time PCR analysis.ResultsThe high‐quality embryo rate in the hMG cycle was higher than in the recFSH cycle, and the total dose of hMG showed a positive correlation with the expression level of mitochondrial genes in granulosa cells. Moreover, mitochondria mRNA expression was higher in the hMG cycle than in the recFSH cycle.ConclusionsCompared with recFSH, hMG induces a higher mitochondrial gene expression ratio in granulosa cells at the time of oocyte retrieval and, therefore, may lead to higher quality embryo rates.
Using a mild stimulation protocol combined with clomiphene citrate and recombinant follicle‐stimulating hormone to determine the optimal number of oocytes needed to achieve pregnancy and reduce the concerns of patients
Authors: Sugiyama Rikikazu , Nakagawa Koji , Nishi Yayoi , Ojiro Yuko , Juen Hiroyasu , Sugiyama Rie , Kuribayashi Yasushi 
Published: April 2013

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate how many oocytes are needed to achieve an adequate pregnancy rate per 1 oocyte retrieval cycle in mild ovarian stimulation.MethodsThis protocol consisted of clomiphene citrate and recombinant‐follicle‐stimulating hormone injection without a gonadotropin‐releasing hormone‐antagonist. From January 2009 through December 2010, there were 1,227 women who underwent assisted reproductive technologies treatment with mild stimulation at the Sugiyama Clinic. The overall pregnancy rate per single oocyte retrieval cycle was evaluated using both fresh and cryopreserved‐and‐thawed embryos according to the retrieved oocyte number.ResultsAccording to the retrieved oocyte number, a total of 1,227 cycles were divided into 4 groups: group A (the oocyte number <4; 433 cycles), group B (the oocyte number = 4, 5; 317 cycles), group C (the oocyte number = 6, 7; 206 cycles), and group D (the oocyte number ≥8; 271 cycles). The overall pregnancy rates for groups A, B, C, and D were 22.2, 42.9, 52.4, and 56.0 %, respectively, the rates for groups C and D were significantly higher than that for group A (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe optimal number of retrieved oocytes proved to be between 6 and 7 for the patients who received our milder stimulation protocol and experienced no reduction in their overall pregnancy rate.
Maternal Reading Skills and Child Mortality in Nigeria: A Reassessment of Why Education Matters
Authors: Smith-Greenaway Emily 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Mother’s formal schooling—even at the primary level—is associated with lower risk of child mortality, although the reasons why remain unclear. This study examines whether mother’s reading skills help to explain the association in Nigeria. Using data from the Demographic and Health Survey, the analysis demonstrates that women’s reading skills increase linearly with years of primary school; however, many women with several years of formal school are unable to read at all. The results further show that mother’s reading skills help to explain the relationship between mother’s formal schooling and child mortality, and that mother’s reading skills are highly associated with child mortality. The study highlights the need for more data on literacy and for more research on whether and how mother’s reading skills lower child mortality in other contexts.
Low-Reynolds-number flow through two-dimensional shunts
Authors: Setchi A. , Mestel A. J. , Parker K. H. , Siggers J. H. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractMotivated by numerous biological and industrial applications relating to bypasses, mixing and leakage, we consider low-Reynolds-number flow through a shunt between two channels. An analytical solution for the streamfunction is found by matching biorthogonal expansions of Papkovich–Fadle eigenfunctions in rectangular subregions. The general solution can be adapted to model a variety of interesting problems of flow through two-dimensional shunts by imposing different inlet and outlet flux distributions. We present several such flow profiles but the majority of results relate to the particular problem of a side-to-side anastomosis in the small intestine. We consider different flux fractions through the shunt with particular emphasis on the pressure and recirculating regions, which are important factors in estimating health risks pertaining to this surgical procedure.
Science with the Murchison Widefield Array
Authors: Bowman Judd D. , Cairns Iver , Kaplan David L. , Murphy Tara , Oberoi Divya , Staveley-Smith Lister , Arcus Wayne , Barnes David G. , Bernardi Gianni , Briggs Frank H. , Brown Shea , Bunton John D. , Burgasser Adam J. , Cappallo Roger J. , Chatterjee Shami , Corey Brian E. , Coster Anthea , Deshpande Avinash , deSouza Ludi , Emrich David , Erickson Philip , Goeke Robert F. , Gaensler B. M. , Greenhill Lincoln J. , Harvey-Smith Lisa , Hazelton Bryna J. , Herne David , Hewitt Jacqueline N. , Johnston-Hollitt Melanie , Kasper Justin C. , Kincaid Barton B. , Koenig Ronald , Kratzenberg Eric , Lonsdale Colin J. , Lynch Mervyn J. , Matthews Lynn D. , McWhirter S. Russell , Mitchell Daniel A. , Morales Miguel F. , Morgan Edward H. , Ord Stephen M. , Pathikulangara Joseph , Prabu Thiagaraj , Remillard Ronald A. , Robishaw Timothy , Rogers Alan E. E. , Roshi Anish A. , Salah Joseph E. , Sault Robert J. , Shankar N. Udaya , Srivani K. S. , Stevens Jamie B. , Subrahmanyan Ravi , Tingay Steven J. , Wayth Randall B. , Waterson Mark , Webster Rachel L. , Whitney Alan R. , Williams Andrew J. , Williams Christopher L. , Wyithe J. Stuart B. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractSignificant new opportunities for astrophysics and cosmology have been identified at low radio frequencies. The Murchison Widefield Array is the first telescope in the southern hemisphere designed specifically to explore the low-frequency astronomical sky between 80 and 300 MHz with arcminute angular resolution and high survey efficiency. The telescope will enable new advances along four key science themes, including searching for redshifted 21-cm emission from the EoR in the early Universe; Galactic and extragalactic all-sky southern hemisphere surveys; time-domain astrophysics; and solar, heliospheric, and ionospheric science and space weather. The Murchison Widefield Array is located in Western Australia at the site of the planned Square Kilometre Array (SKA) low-band telescope and is the only low-frequency SKA precursor facility. In this paper, we review the performance properties of the Murchison Widefield Array and describe its primary scientific objectives.
The effect of intermittent energy and carbohydrate restrictionv. daily energy restriction on weight loss and metabolic disease risk markers in overweight women
Authors: Harvie Michelle , Wright Claire , Pegington Mary , McMullan Debbie , Mitchell Ellen , Martin Bronwen , Cutler Roy G. , Evans Gareth , Whiteside Sigrid , Maudsley Stuart , Camandola Simonetta , Wang Rui , Carlson Olga D. , Egan Josephine M. , Mattson Mark P. , Howell Anthony 
Published: April 2013

Intermittent energy restriction may result in greater improvements in insulin sensitivity and weight control than daily energy restriction (DER). We tested two intermittent energy and carbohydrate restriction (IECR) regimens, including one which allowedad libitumprotein and fat (IECR+PF). Overweight women (n115) aged 20 and 69 years with a family history of breast cancer were randomised to an overall 25 % energy restriction, either as an IECR (2500–2717 kJ/d, < 40 g carbohydrate/d for 2 d/week) or a 25 % DER (approximately 6000 kJ/d for 7 d/week) or an IECR+PF for a 3-month weight-loss period and 1 month of weight maintenance (IECR or IECR+PF for 1 d/week). Insulin resistance reduced with the IECR diets (mean − 0·34 (95 % CI − 0·66, − 0·02) units) and the IECR+PF diet (mean − 0·38 (95 % CI − 0·75, − 0·01) units). Reductions with the IECR diets were significantly greater compared with the DER diet (mean 0·2 (95 % CI − 0·19, 0·66) μU/unit,P= 0·02). Both IECR groups had greater reductions in body fat compared with the DER group (IECR: mean − 3·7 (95 % CI − 2·5, − 4·9) kg,P= 0·007; IECR+PF: mean − 3·7 (95 % CI − 2·8, − 4·7) kg,P= 0·019; DER: mean − 2·0 (95 % CI − 1·0, 3·0) kg). During the weight maintenance phase, 1 d of IECR or IECR+PF per week maintained the reductions in insulin resistance and weight. In the short term, IECR is superior to DER with respect to improved insulin sensitivity and body fat reduction. Longer-term studies into the safety and effectiveness of IECR diets are warranted.
Prolonged maternal vitamin C deficiency overrides preferential fetal ascorbate transport but does not influence perinatal survival in guinea pigs
Authors: Schjoldager Janne G. , Tveden-Nyborg Pernille , Lykkesfeldt Jens 
Published: April 2013

Human and guinea pig fetuses are completely dependent on an adequate maternal vitamin C (vitC) intake. Shortage of micronutrients can have negative implications for fetal health and pregnancy outcome; however, knowledge of maternal vitC deficiency's impact on fetal development is sparse and reports of pregnancy outcome have been divergent. The present study investigated whether maternal vitC deficiency affects pregnancy outcome and plasma vitC distribution between the mother and the offspring in a guinea pig model. A total of eighty pregnant Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs were randomised into two weight-stratified groups receiving either a deficient (100 mg/kg DEF) or a control (923 mg/kg CTRL) diet. VitC levels were measured in plasma during pregnancy and postpartum, and in the plasma and brain of newborns. Pregnancy outcome was recorded with respect to birth weight and perinatal survival and were similar between groups. Plasma vitC in dams declined throughout gestation in both groups (P< 0·01). Compared with maternal plasma vitC, plasma vitC of newborn pups was found to be significantly lower in the DEF group (P< 0·001) and higher in the CTRL group (P< 0·001), respectively. Brain vitC levels were significantly reduced in DEF newborn pups (P< 0·001). The present results indicate that preferential transport of vitC from the mother to the fetus is overridden during sustained maternal vitC deficiency, maintaining maternal vitC concentration at the expense of the offspring. This contradicts the notion that a fetus is protected from vitC deficiency by the placental Na-dependent vitC co-transporter, SVCT2, thus fetal development may be susceptible to the negative effects of maternal vitC deficiency.
“Retribution Must Succeed Rebellion”: The Colonial Origins of Counterinsurgency Failure
Authors: MacDonald Paul K. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractWhat can explain the decline in incumbent victory in counterinsurgency wars? Political scientists offer a variety of explanations for these trends. Some focus on the structure and doctrine of counterinsurgent forces, while others emphasize the lethality and motivation of insurgent adversaries. I challenge these explanations. Declines in incumbent victory in counterinsurgency wars are not driven by fundamental shifts in the character of these conflicts, but in the political context in which they take place. Nineteenth-century colonial incumbents enjoyed a variety of political advantages—including strong political will, a permissive international environment, access to local collaborators, and flexibility to pick their battles—which granted them the time and resources necessary to meet insurgent challenges. In contrast, twentieth-century colonial incumbents struggled in the face of apathetic publics, hostile superpowers, vanishing collaborators, and constrained options. The decline in incumbent victory in counterinsurgency warfare, therefore, stems not from problems in force structure or strategy, but in political shifts in the profitability and legitimacy of colonial forms of governance.
Common-sense Constructivism and Hegemony in World Politics
Authors: Hopf Ted 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe IR literature on hegemony rarely combines attention to material power and ideas. Cox's neo-Gramscian work is a rare exception, but it too narrowly construes Gramsci's conceptualization of common sense, reducing it to elite views on political economy. But Gramsci argued that hegemony had to reckon with mass quotidian common sense. If political elites do not take into account the taken-for-granted world of the masses, elite ideological projects would likely founder against daily practices of resistance. In this article, I show how mass common sense can be an obstacle to an elite hegemonic project aimed at moving a great power into the core of the world capitalist economy. In contemporary Russia, a ruling elite with a neoliberal project is being thwarted daily by a mass common sense that has little affinity with democratic market capitalism. Scholarly work on future Chinese, Brazilian, or Indian participation in constructing a new hegemonic order would do well to pay attention to the mass common senses prevailing in those societies
Transborder Ethnic Kin and Civil War
Authors: Cederman Lars-Erik , Gleditsch Kristian Skrede , Salehyan Idean , Wucherpfennig Julian 
Published: April 2013

AbstractA series of studies has shown that civil wars are caused not only by factors inside countries, but also by effects operating across state borders. Whereas a first wave of quantitative studies demonstrated that such effects make the “closed-polity” assumption untenable, more recently researchers have identified particular causal mechanisms driving conflict. Despite these recent advances, a central puzzle remains unresolved, namely why ethnic groups that at least in theory could count on support from large transborder ethnic kin (TEK) groups often have remained surprisingly peaceful, such as the stranded Russian populations in the “near abroad.” We propose a theoretical framework that extends the analysis from the primary dyad between the incumbent and the challenger group by adding a secondary dyad that pits the incumbent against the TEK group. We postulate a curvilinear effect of the TEK group's relative size on conflict onset. Using a new data set on transnational ethnic links, we find that that the risk of conflict increases within the middle range of the size spectrum, consistent with our main hypothesis. This means that large TEK groups have a conflict-dampening effect, provided that they control their own state. Excluded TEK groups, however, are not associated with lower conflict probabilities.
Sensitivity to Issue Framing on Trade Policy Preferences: Evidence from a Survey Experiment
Authors: Ardanaz Martin , Murillo M. Victoria , Pinto Pablo M. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractWe explore the impact of issue framing on individual attitudes toward international trade. Based on a survey experiment fielded in Argentina during 2007, which reproduces the setup of earlier studies in the United States, we show that individuals' position in the economy and their material concerns define the strength of their prior beliefs about international trade, and thereby mitigate their sensitivity to the new dimensions introduced in informational cues. Extending the analysis beyond the United States to a country with different skill endowments allows us to better explore the role of material and nonmaterial attributes on individual attitudes toward trade. We find that skill is a central predictor of support for openness. The effect is strongest for individuals in the service sector and in cities that cater to the producers of agricultural commodities. Our findings suggest that the pattern of support for economic integration reflects the predictions from recent literature in international economics that emphasizes trade's impact on the relative demand for skilled labor regardless of factor endowments. Our findings also amend recent empirical contributions that suggest socialization is the main factor explaining individual sensitivity to issue framing on trade preferences. We suggest that material conditions associated with income and price effects are crucial, both in shaping trade preferences and in affecting the malleability of attitudes to issue framing. Hence, our results provide a crucial contribution to our general understanding of the attributes shaping susceptibility to political framing in policy debates.
Land abandonment may reduce disturbance and affect the breeding sites of an Endangered amphibian in northern Italy
Authors: Canessa Stefano , Oneto Fabrizio , Ottonello Dario , Arillo Attilio , Salvidio Sebastiano 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAlthough human-related disturbance is usually detrimental for biodiversity, in some instances it can simulate natural processes and benefit certain species. Changes in the disturbance regime, both natural and human-driven, can affect species that rely on it. The Apennine yellow-bellied toad Bombina variegata pachypus, an amphibian endemic to peninsular Italy, has declined throughout its range in the last 3 decades. We sought to identify the drivers of the decline in the region of Liguria, at the north-western limit of its distribution. In 2009 and 2010 we surveyed sites where the species occurred until 2005 and related the persistence of breeding activity to the characteristics of sites. Populations had disappeared from 50% of the sites between 2005 and 2009. Current breeding sites have less aquatic and bank vegetation, fewer predators and better insolation. Frequent disturbance events (desiccation and floods) were related to reduced vegetation, which in turn may decrease predator densities and increase insolation. In this region disturbance is provided by natural factors or, in the case of artificial water bodies, by regular maintenance carried out by landowners. The widespread land abandonment in Liguria can disrupt disturbance regimes, interrupting the removal of vegetation, and thus rapidly reduce the suitability of artificial sites. This was confirmed in our study, with most abandoned breeding sites occurring in formerly cultivated areas. Possible short-term conservation actions include creating new ponds, maintaining artificial water bodies and clearing vegetation. However, long-term conservation may be more problematic as the land abandonment process is unlikely to be reversed.
Livestock depredation and mitigation methods practised by resident and nomadic pastoralists around Waza National Park, Cameroon
Authors: Tumenta Pricelia N. , de Iongh Hans H. , Funston Paul J. , Udo de Haes Helias A. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractConflict between humans and lions Panthera leo is a key factor driving population declines of lions in Africa, especially in communal lands and on the edges of small protected areas. We assessed this conflict in Waza National Park, Cameroon, in 2008 through an interview survey. A total of 207 resident and 174 nomadic pastoralists were interviewed. Results indicated high levels of livestock depredation around the Park, with attacks occurring most often at night. Lions were economically a substantial threat accounting for total losses of EUR 100,000 per annum. Per household, resident pastoralists lost one cow and nomadic pastoralists two cows per annum, equating to c. EUR 260 and 520, respectively. To mitigate these losses resident pastoralists used enclosures for nocturnal protection of their livestock more than nomadic pastoralists, who tended to herd livestock more during pasture. Improved mitigation methods pertaining to herding practice, the use of enclosures and the presence of dogs resulted in a reduction of 25% livestock depredation and 50% cattle depredation. These methods could be further improved, however, education and awareness about the ranging behaviour of lions during different seasons and periods of the day is important for all pastoralists. Additionally, park management needs to be improved through effective law enforcement.
Cycad biodiversity in the Bahamas Archipelago and conservation genetics of the threatenedZamia lucayana(Zamiaceae)
Authors: Calonje Michael , Meerow Alan W. , Knowles Lindy , Knowles David , Griffith M. Patrick , Nakamura Kyoko , Francisco-Ortega Javier 
Published: April 2013

AbstractA conservation assessment for the three cycad species native to the Bahamas Islands is presented. Results are based on field surveys on all islands where these species occur.Zamia angustifoliais native to Eleuthera,Zamia integrifoliais native to Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and New Providence, andZamia lucayanais endemic to Long Island.Z. angustifoliais of the highest conservation concern because of the small number of adult plants, its restricted distribution and the extensive development occurring within its habitat.Z. integrifoliaalso has a restricted distribution on Eleuthera and Grand Bahama and, although threatened by urban development in New Providence, it is relatively common on Abaco and Andros.Z. lucayanacomprises three populations within a narrow strip of land of c. 1 km2; we propose a reassignment of its current conservation status from Endangered to Critically Endangered. We assessed the genetic structure ofZ. lucayanabased on 15 polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci; this indicated that the three known populations should be considered a single management unit. However, the high number of private alleles suggests that genetic drift, indicative of recent fragmentation, is progressing. We propose in situ conservation strategies, and we also collected germplasm from a total of 24 populations of these three cycad species, for ex situ conservation.