bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Crop-Diversification for Conservation of Water Resource and Agricultural Growth: A Comparative Dynamic Analysis
Authors: Sasmal Joydeb 
Published: December 2013

This article has addressed the problem of overexploitation of ground water for irrigation and built up a theoretical model to demonstrate how crop diversification in favour of water-saving crops can help conservation of water resource and agricultural growth. The comparative dynamic analysis on the optimal path of ground water stock has been done using variational differential equation. The qualitative results in Phase-Diagram show that if R&D expenditure is increased by the government or input subsidy and price support is increased for less water-intensive crops, water conservation will increase in a dynamic perspective. JEL Classification: Q32 Q38, Q25, O13
Pregnancy planning, smoking behaviour during pregnancy, and neonatal outcome: UK millennium cohort study
Authors: Flower Anika , Shawe Jill , Stephenson Judith , Doyle Pat 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

Background
Pre-pregnancy health and care are important for the health of the future generations. Smoking during pregnancy has been well-researched and there is clear evidence of harm. But there has been little research on the health impact of planning for pregnancy. This study aims to investigate the independent effects of pregnancy planning and smoking during pregnancy on neonatal outcome.

Methods
This analysis made use of data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. The study sample consisted of 18,178 singleton babies born in UK between 2000 and 2001. The neonatal outcomes of interest were low birthweight (<2.5 Kg) and pre-term birth (<37 completed weeks gestation). Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between pregnancy planning and/or smoking and neonatal outcome. Adjusted odds ratios were used to calculate population attributable risk fractions (PAFs).

Results
43% of mothers did not plan their pregnancy and 34% were smoking just before and/or during pregnancy. Planners were half as likely to be smokers just before pregnancy, and more likely to give up or reduce the amount smoked if smokers. Unplanned pregnancies had 24% increased odds of low birth weight and prematurity compared to planned pregnancies (AORLBW1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.48; AORPREM1.24, 95% CI 1.05-1.45), independent of smoking status. The odds of low birth weight for babies of mothers who were smoking just before pregnancy was 91% higher than that of mothers who were not (AORLBW1.91, 95% CI 1.56-2.34). Women who quit or reduced the amount smoked during pregnancy lowered the risk of a low birth weight baby by one third (AORLBW0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.85) compared with women whose smoking level did not change. Smaller effects were found for prematurity. If all women planned their pregnancy and did not smoke before or during pregnancy, 30% of low birthweight and 14% of prematurity could, in theory, be avoided.

Conclusions
Planning a pregnancy and avoiding smoking during pregnancy has clear, independent, health benefits for babies. Quitting or reducing the amount smoked during pregnancy can reduce the risk of low birthweight.
One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of Mn3O4 nanorods grown on Ni foam for high performance supercapacitor applications
Authors: Li Dongwei , Meng Fanhui , Yan Xiuling , Yang Lishan , Heng Hua , Zhu Ye 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Mn3O4/Ni foam composites were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method in an aqueous solution containing only Mn(NO3)2 and C6H12N4. It was found that Mn3O4 nanorods with lengths of 2 to 3 μm and diameters of 100 nm distributed on Ni foam homogeneously. Detailed reaction time-dependent morphological and component evolution was studied to understand the growth process of Mn3O4 nanorods. As cathode material for supercapacitors, Mn3O4 nanorods/composite exhibited superior supercapacitor performances with high specific capacitance (263 F · g-1 at 1A · g-1), which was more than 10 times higher than that of the Mn3O4/Ni plate. The enhanced supercapacitor performance was due to the porous architecture of the Ni foam which provides fast ion and electron transfer, large reaction surface area, and good conductivity.
Models of gene gain and gene loss for probabilistic reconstruction of gene content in the last universal common ancestor of life
Authors: Kannan Lavanya , Li Hua , Rubinstein Boris , Mushegian Arcady 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe problem of probabilistic inference of gene content in the last common ancestor of several extant species with completely sequenced genomes is: for each gene that is conserved in all or some of the genomes, assign the probability that its ancestral gene was present in the genome of their last common ancestor.ResultsWe have developed a family of models of gene gain and gene loss in evolution, and applied the maximum-likelihood approach that uses phylogenetic tree of prokaryotes and the record of orthologous relationships between their genes to infer the gene content of LUCA, the Last Universal Common Ancestor of all currently living cellular organisms. The crucial parameter, the ratio of gene losses and gene gains, was estimated from the data and was higher in models that take account of the number of in-paralogs in genomes than in models that treat gene presences and absences as a binary trait.ConclusionWhile the numbers of genes that are placed confidently into LUCA are similar in the ML methods and in previously published methods that use various parsimony-based approaches, the identities of genes themselves are different. Most of the models of either kind treat the genes found in many existing genomes in a similar way, assigning to them high probabilities of being ancestral (“high ancestrality”). The ML models are more likely than others to assign high ancestrality to the genes that are relatively rare in the present-day genomes.ReviewersThis article was reviewed by Martijn A Huynen, Toni Gabaldón and Fyodor Kondrashov.
Fungal air quality in hospital rooms: a case study in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Azimi Faramarz , Naddafi Kazem , Nabizadeh Ramin , Hassanvand Mohammad Sadegh , Alimohammadi Mahmood , Afhami Shirin , Musavi Seyed Nejat 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Fungi are usually presented in indoor environments and cause of many diseases. The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate the level of fungal contamination in hospital rooms. Sampling was conducted with an Andersen one-stage viable impactor (Quick Take-30) and counting plates containing a fungus-selective medium. A total of 120 air samples from ten hospital environments were performed. Airborne fungi concentrations were determined 72-120 hours after sampling. Total mean concentration of detected fungi in the hospital rooms was 55 ± 56 (mean ± SD) cfu/m3. The findings of the fungal concentration in the various hospital rooms revealed different levels of contamination: the lowest mean counts (37 ± 17 cfu/m3) were observed in NS 1 (Nursing Stations 1), and the highest (97 ± 217 cfu/m3) were reported in Orthopedics Operating Room (OOR). The most common fungal genus isolated were Penicillium (70%), Aspergillus (14%), Cladosporium (12%), Alternaria (2%) and others (2%). The obtained results showed that fungal concentrations in the present study were nearly high and these conditions should be considered as a risk factor for patients and other persons in the hospital.
Decolorization and COD removal from real textile wastewater by chemical and electrochemical Fenton processes: a comparative study
Authors: Eslami Akbar , Moradi Mahsa , Ghanbari Farshid , Mehdipour Fayyaz 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

Background
Due to the presence of non-biodegradable and toxic compounds, textile wastewater is difficult to treat by conventional methods. In the present study, Electrochemical Fenton (EF) and Chemical Fenton (CF) processes were studied and compared for the treatment of real textile wastewater. The effects of electrical current, ferrous ion, hydrogen peroxide concentration and reaction time on the removal efficiencies of COD and color were investigated. All the experiments were carried out at pH = 3.

Results
Both EF and CF processes were mostly efficient within hydrogen peroxide concentration of 1978 mg/L (H2O2: COD ~ 1.1). The highest COD and color removal efficiencies were 70.6% and 72.9% respectively which were obtained through the EF process in 350 mA electrical current, 1978 mg/L hydrogen peroxide and 60 minutes reaction time. Furthermore, the operational costs of EF and CF processes were 17.56 and 8.6 US$ per kilogram of the removed COD respectively.

Conclusion
It was concluded that the electrochemical Fenton process was more efficient than the chemical Fenton process in the degradation of textile wastewater. Likewise, Although EF process imposed higher operational costs than the CF; it dramatically decreased the reaction time to gain the highest degradation efficiency.
Ketoacidosis at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents: frequency and clinical characteristics
Authors: Onyiriuka Alphonsus N , Ifebi Emeka 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Background
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially life-threatening acute complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Although the frequency of DKA as first manifestation of T1DM is higher in developing compared developed countries, there is paucity of information on its characteristics in developing countries.

Methods
This retrospective study determined the frequency of ketoacidosis at diagnosis of new-onset type 1 diabetes and described the clinical characteristics of the patients seen between 1996 and 2011 by auditing the hospital records of all cases. The diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was based on the presence of hyperglycaemia (blood glucose > 11 mmol/L), acidosis (serum bicarbonate < 15 mmol/L) and ketonuria (urine ketone ≥1+).

Results
At diagnosis of new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus, three-quarter (77.1%) of the children and adolescents presented with DKA. Comparing the frequency of DKA during the initial 8 years (1996–2003) with the later 8 years (2004–2011), it was 81.8% vs 73.1%; p > 005. The frequency has not shown any significant declined over a 16-year period. The frequency of re-admission in ketoacidosis was 24.3%.

Conclusion
Three-quarter of children and adolescents present with DKA as first manifestation of T1DM with no significant decline in frequency over a 16-year period in our hospital.
Trends in publication of evidence-based Traditional Iranian medicine in endocrinology and metabolic disorders
Authors: Hasani-Ranjbar Shirin , Zahedi Hoda Sadat , Abdollahi Mohammad , Larijani Bagher 
Published: December 2013

AbstractTraditional Iranian medicine (TIM) is a main part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The popularity and use of alternative therapies are increasing due to adverse effects and ineffectiveness of pharmacologic treatments in some cases. Herbal medicine is one of the methods of traditional therapy that plays a key role in the treatment of various diseases specifically in diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and obesity that are growing rapidly in the world. In this article, trends of scientific publications of Iranian medicine in endocrinology and metabolic disorders have been investigated. Our data show that the numbers of related researches have uptrend from 2000 till now. These data are valuable to pharmaceutical companies to get the idea to invest and produce effective drugs.
Prevalence of diabetes and hypertension and association with various risk factors among different Muslim populations of Manipur, India
Authors: Shah Ahsana , Afzal Mohammad 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Background
Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) are among the most common non-communicable chronic diseases in developed and developing countries around the world. The study reports the prevalence of DM and HT and its influence from its possible risk factors.

Methods
Individuals of both sexes (Male-1099, Female-669) belonging to six different populations were randomly selected and screened for diabetes and hypertension following from different districts of Manipur, which is a small hilly state, situated in the north eastern extreme corner of India sharing an international boundary with Myanmar (Burma). “Diabetes mellitus” and “hypertension” were defined by the American Diabetes Association and the Joint National Committee’s 7th Report guidelines, respectively.

Results
The overall prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in the entire study population was found to be 16.63% and 18.16% respectively. About 13.8% individuals had shown co-prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension. The association of Diabetes Mellitus with different risk factors such as consumption of alcohol and difference in physical activities were found to be statistically significant. The association of Diabetes Mellitus with different populations and age groups are also statistically significant. The association between Hypertension with different populations and different physical activities were also found to be statistically significant.
Associations of eating a late-evening meal before bedtime with low serum amylase and unhealthy conditions
Authors: Oshida Haruki , Kutsuma Ayano , Nakajima Kei 
Published: December 2013

AbstractLittle is known about the associations of eating a late-evening meal (ELM), a putative unhealthy eating behavior, with low serum amylase, other eating behaviors, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Therefore, we investigated whether ELM before bedtime was associated with low serum amylase or other clinical factors in 2,426 asymptomatic adults aged 20–80 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ELM was significantly associated with low serum amylase (<60 IU/l), overweight, smoking, daily alcohol consumption, skipping breakfast, and rapid eating, but not with abnormal glucose metabolism. In conclusion, ELM may be independently associated with low serum amylase and common unhealthy behaviors.
Antimicrobial Activity of Ag+-Implanted Titanium Surface Modified with Covalent Graft of a Biocompatible Polymer
Authors: Peng Shuge , Zhu Yingchun 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
The antibacterial activity of a Ag+-implanted titanium surface modified with a covalent graft of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) (Ag+/PVP–Ti) against Escherichia coli (E. coli) colonies was first evaluated in vitro. The result showed that the sterilizing efficiency of Ag+/PVP–Ti was approximately 100% against E. coli while keeping a low Ag+ release amount which was far below the human cell toxicity concentration.
Selective Formation of Ethyl- and/or Propyl-branched Oligoethylene Using Double-decker-type Dinuclear Fe Complexes as the Catalyst
Authors: Takano Shigenaga , Takeuchi Yuji , Takeuchi Daisuke , Osakada Kohtaro 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Dinuclear Co and Fe complexes with a double-decker structure supported by macrocyclic ligands having two bis(imino)pyridine and xanthene groups were synthesized. The dinuclear Fe complex catalyzes ethylene oligomerization in the presence of MMAO or Me3Al to give oligoethylene with ethyl and/or propyl branches due to cooperative interaction of two Fe centers.
Synthesis and Application of New Dipyrido-annulated N-Heterocyclic Carbene with Phosphorus Substituents
Authors: Fuku-en Shin-ichi , Yamamoto Junki , Kojima Satoshi , Yamamoto Yohsuke 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
A new dipyrido-annulated N-heterocyclic carbene with phosphorus substituents at the 4 and 8 positions and the corresponding Rh(I) and Rh(III) complexes prepared from the carbene are reported. The X-ray structure of the Rh(I) complex 11 suggested the presence of strong interactions between the phosphorus atoms and Rh(I), in contrast to the previously reported sulfur-substituted system. The new carbene ligand shows promise as a useful carbene-centered pincer ligand with a fixed scaffold for other metal complexes.
Enhanced Intersystem Crossing Due to Long-range Exchange Interaction in Porphyrin Heterodimers: Dependence of Paramagnetic Species
Authors: Asano Motoko S , Okamura Kazuma , Fujii Takeshi , Otsuka Takuhiro , Kaizu Youkoh 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Dependence on paramagnetic species of long-range dynamics was studied by comparing VIVO and copper(II) ions in porphyrin heterodimers. Enhanced intersystem crossing rates induced by a remote unpaired electron are correlated with the strength of exchange coupling between the unpaired electron and the neighboring π system but not the paramagnetic species itself.
Cervical strain determined by ultrasound elastography and its association with spontaneous preterm delivery
Authors: Hernandez-Andrade Edgar , Romero Roberto , Korzeniewski Steven J. , Ahn Hyunyoung , Aurioles-Garibay Alma , Garcia Maynor , Schwartz Alyse G. , Yeo Lami , Chaiworapongsa Tinnakorn , Hassan Sonia S. 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

Objective: To determine if there is an association between cervical strain, evaluated using ultrasound elastography, and spontaneous preterm delivery (sPTD) <37 weeks of gestation.

Methods: One hundred and eighty nine (189) women at 16–24 weeks of gestation were evaluated. Ultrasound elastography was used to estimate cervical strain in three anatomical planes: one mid-sagittal in the same plane used for cervical length measurement, and two cross sectional images: one at the level of the internal cervical os, and the other at the level of the external cervical os. In each plane, two regions of interest (endocervix and entire cervix) were examined; a total of six regions of interest were evaluated.

Results: The prevalence of sPTD was 11% (21/189). Strain values from each of the six cervical regions correlated weakly with cervical length (from r=–0.24, P<0.001 to r=–0.03, P=0.69). Strain measurements obtained in a cross sectional view of the internal cervical os were significantly associated with sPTD. Women with strain values ≤25th centile in the endocervical canal (0.19) and in the entire cervix (0.14) were 80% less likely to have a sPTD than women with strain values >25th centile [endocervical: odds ratio (OR) 0.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.03–0.96; entire cervix: OR 0.17; 95% CI, 0.03–0.9]. Additional adjustment for gestational age, race, smoking status, parity, maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and previous preterm delivery did not appreciably alter the magnitude or statistical significance of these associations. Strain values obtained from the external cervical os and from the sagittal view were not associated with sPTD.

Conclusion: Low strain values in the internal cervical os were associated with a significantly lower risk of spontaneous preterm delivery <37 weeks of gestation.
Analysis of enamel surface damage after selective laser ablation of composite from tooth surfaces
Authors: Chan Kenneth H. , Hirasuna Krista , Fried Daniel 
Published: December 2013

AbstractResin-based composites are used for many applications in dentistry. They are difficult to remove without damage to the underlying enamel since they adhere strongly and are color matched to the tooth. The objective of this study was to determine if an automated laser scanning system with spectral feedback could be used for selective removal of residual orthodontic composite from tooth surfaces with minimal damage to the underlying enamel.A COThe amount of enamel lost averaged between 20 and 25 μm for irradiation intensities from 3.8 to 4.2 J/cmResidual composite can be rapidly removed from tooth surfaces using a CO
Fabrication of Group IIIA Layered Sulfide Semiconductor Nanostructures by Physical Vapor Deposition Process and Their Enhanced Optical and Electronic Properties
Authors: Datta Anuja , Mukherjee Pritish 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTWe report on the fabrication of various high quality GaS nanostructures (angular nanobelts, nanowedges and nanotubes) and In2S3 nanostructures (tapered nanorods, nanobelts and nanowires) by catalyst assisted thermal evaporation process. The morphology and structures of the products were controlled by temperature and position of the substrates with respect to the source material. The morphologies of GaS and In2S3 nanostructures were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The optical and electronic properties of the synthesized materials were investigated in order to obtain a better fundamental understanding of the structure-property relationships in these materials which can be extended to other layered sulfide materials systems.
Impact of the Oxygen Amount of an Oxide Layer and Post Annealing on Forming Voltage and Initial Resistance of NiO-based Resistive Switching Cells
Authors: Iwata Tatsuya , Nishi Yusuke , Kimoto Tsunenobu 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTForming voltage (VForm) and initial resistance of NiO-based resistive switching (RS) cells with various NiO films were investigated. Deposited NiO films were 〈111〉-oriented and the lattice constant was larger than that of bulk. It was revealed from XRD analyses that there were residual compressive stresses in NiO films. The magnitude of the residual stress was different among NiO films depending on their deposition conditions, and VForm monotonically increases with the increase in the magnitude of the residual stress. The relationship between VForm and the residual stress may be ascribed to the changes in the density of oxygen vacancies in NiO films. NiO films were also post annealed in Ar at 450°C. RS cells with annealed NiO films having small oxygen composition exhibited forming-free behavior, indicating the generation of conductive filaments by the annealing. The region whose lattice constant is smaller than that of bulk appeared after annealing only in such NiO films, suggesting that the small lattice-constant region may be linked to the generation of the filaments.
Quantized Conductance and Neuromorphic Behavior of a Gapless-Type Ag-Ta2O5 Atomic Switch
Authors: Tsuruoka Tohru , Hasegawa Tsuyoshi , Terabe Kazuya , Aono Masakazu 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTWe investigated quantization behavior in conductance of an Ag/Ta2O5/Pt gapless-type atomic switch. Stepwise increases and decreases in the conductance were observed when small positive and negative bias voltages were applied to the Ag electrode, respectively, where each step corresponds to the conductance of a single atomic point contact. The conductance level could also be controlled by applying voltage pulses with varied amplitudes. Furthermore, when the interval time of consecutive input pulses was turned, we also observed long-term potentiation behavior similar to that of biological synapses. These results indicate that the oxide-based, gapless-type atomic switch has potential for use as a building block of neural computing systems.
Low Power Phase Change Memory via Block Copolymer Self-assembly Technology
Authors: Mun Beom Ho , Park Woon Ik , Yin You , You Byoung Kuk , Yun Jae Jin , Kim Kung Ho , Jung Yeon Sik , Lee Keon Jae 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTWe report the demonstration of low power phase change memory (PCM) by forming thin self-assembled SiOx nanostructures between Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) and a TiN heater layer utilizing a block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly technology. The reset current was decreased about three-fold as fill factor, which is the occupying area fraction of self-assembled SiOx nanostructures on a TiN heater layer, increased to 75.3%. The electro-thermal simulation shows the better heat efficiency due to the nano-patterned insulating oxide.