bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Indigenous and traditional plants: South African parents’ knowledge, perceptions and uses and their children’s sensory acceptance
Authors: van der Hoeven Marinka , Osei Jennifer , Greeff Minrie , Kruger Annamarie , Faber Mieke , Smuts Cornelius M 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Background
The dietary shift from indigenous and traditional plants (ITPs) to cash crops and exotic plant food sources increases the risk of malnutrition and other nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, especially in poor rural communities. Farm communities in South Africa have been associated with poor nutritional status and extreme poverty. ITPs have been found to be affordable sources of several micronutrients. However, knowledge of and the use of these plants are declining, and little is known about the child’s acceptance of dishes prepared with ITPs. This knowledge can be used to improve the general acceptance of ITPs. This study aimed to gain insight into parents’ knowledge and perceptions and their use of ITPs in a farming community in the North West Province and to assess children’s acceptance of and preference for dishes made with African leafy vegetables (ALVs) and Swiss chard.

Methods
Parents (n = 29) responsible for food preparation for children in grade 2 to 4 in two schools were purposively selected for four focus group discussions. A sensory evaluation assessed the children’s (n = 98) acceptance of, preference for and intended consumption of dishes made with leafy vegetables. The dishes were made of Amaranthus spp., Cleome gynandra, Cucurbita maxima, Vigna unguiculata and Beta vulgaris.

Results
Parents mentioned 30 edible ITPs during the focus group discussions. Parents had knowledge of available ITPs and their use as food. Location, seasonal variation and rainfall affected the availability of and access to ITPs. Sun-dried ITPs were stored in sacks for later use. ITPs were perceived as healthy, affordable and delicious, hence acceptable to the parents. The children also evaluated the dishes made with ALVs as acceptable in terms of colour, smell and taste. Swiss chard was preferred, most likely because of the children’s exposure to this vegetable. Children indicated that they would like to eat these leafy vegetables twice a week.

Conclusion
These results look promising for the promotion of ITPs as a strategy to reduce malnutrition in rural farm communities and for potential inclusion of these micronutrient-rich ALVs in school feeding programmes to improve the nutritional status of children.
Rb1 loss modifies but does not initiate alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Kikuchi Ken , Taniguchi Eri , Chen Hung-I Harry , Svalina Matthew N , Abraham Jinu , Huang Elaine T , Nishijo Koichi , Davis Sean , Louden Christopher , Zarzabal Lee Ann , Recht Olivia , Bajwa Ayeza , Berlow Noah , Suelves Mònica , Perkins Sherrie L , Meltzer Paul S , Mansoor Atiya , Michalek Joel E , Chen Yidong , Rubin Brian P , Keller Charles 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundAlveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) is a myogenic childhood sarcoma frequently associated with a translocation-mediated fusion gene,Pax3:Foxo1a.MethodsWe investigated the complementary role ofRb1loss in aRMS tumor initiation and progression using conditional mouse models.ResultsRb1loss was not a necessary and sufficient mutational event for rhabdomyosarcomagenesis, nor a strong cooperative initiating mutation. Instead,Rb1loss was a modifier of progression and increased anaplasia and pleomorphism. WhereasPax3:Foxo1aexpression was unaltered, biomarkers of aRMS versus embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma were both increased, questioning whether these diagnostic markers are reliable in the context ofRb1loss. Genome-wide gene expression inPax3:Foxo1a,Rb1tumors more closely approximated aRMS than embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Intrinsic loss of pRb function in aRMS was evidenced by insensitivity to a Cdk4/6 inhibitor regardless of whetherRb1was intact or null. This loss of function could be attributed to low baselineRb1, pRb and phospho-pRb expression in aRMS tumors for which theRb1locus was intact.Pax3:Foxo1aRNA interference did not increase pRb or improve Cdk inhibitor sensitivity. Human aRMS shared the feature of low and/or heterogeneous tumor cell pRb expression.ConclusionsRb1loss from an already low pRb baseline is a significant disease modifier, raising the possibility that some cases of pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma may in fact be Pax3:Foxo1a-expressing aRMS withRb1or pRb loss of function.
What do school personnel know, think and feel about food allergies?
Authors: Polloni Laura , Lazzarotto Francesca , Toniolo Alice , Ducolin Giorgia , Muraro Antonella 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe incidence of food allergy is such that most schools will be attended by at least one food allergic child, obliging school personnel to cope with cases at risk of severe allergic reactions. Schools need to know about food allergy and anaphylaxis management to ensure the personal safety of an increasing number of students. The aim of this study was to investigate Italian school teachers and principals’ knowledge, perceptions and feelings concerning food allergy and anaphylaxis, to deeply understand how to effectively support schools to manage a severely allergic child. In addition a further assessment of the impact of multidisciplinary courses on participants was undertaken.Methods1184 school teachers and principals attended courses on food allergy and anaphylaxis management at school were questioned before and after their course. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the resulting data.ResultsParticipants tended to overestimate the prevalence of food allergy; 79.3% were able to identify the foods most likely involved and 90.8% knew the most frequent symptoms. 81.9% were familiar with the typical symptoms of anaphylaxis but, while the majority (65.4%) knew that “adrenaline” is the best medication for anaphylaxis, only 34.5% knew indications of using adrenaline in children. 48.5% thoroughly understood dietary exclusion. School personnel considered that food allergic students could have social difficulties (10.2%) and/or emotional consequences (37.2%) because of their condition. “Concern” was the emotion that most respondents (66.9%) associated with food allergy. At the end of the course, the number of correct answers to the test increased significantly.ConclusionsHaving adequately trained and cooperative school personnel is crucial to significantly reduce emergencies and fatal reactions. The results emphasize the need for specific educational interventions and improvements in school health policies to support schools to deal with allergic students ensuring their safety and psychological well‐being.
Comparison of molecular subtype distribution in triple-negative inflammatory and non-inflammatory breast cancers
Authors: Masuda Hiroko , Baggerly Keith A , Wang Ying , Iwamoto Takayuki , Brewer Takae , Pusztai Lajos , Kai Kazuharu , Kogawa Takahiro , Finetti Pascal , Birnbaum Daniel , Dirix Luc , Woodward Wendy A , Reuben James M , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Symmans W Fraser , Van Laere Steven J , Bertucci François , Hortobagyi Gabriel N , Ueno Naoto T 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Because of its high rate of metastasis, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) has a poor prognosis compared with non-inflammatory types of breast cancer (non-IBC). In a recent study, Lehmann and colleagues identified seven subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We hypothesized that the distribution of TNBC subtypes differs between TN-IBC and TN-non-IBC. We determined the subtypes and compared clinical outcomes by subtype in TN-IBC and TN-non-IBC patients.

Methods
We determined TNBC subtypes in a TNBC cohort from the World IBC Consortium for which IBC status was known (39 cases of TN-IBC; 49 cases of TN-non-IBC). We then determined the associations between TNBC subtypes and IBC status and compared clinical outcomes between TNBC subtypes.

Results
We found the seven subtypes exist in both TN-IBC and TN-non-IBC. We found no association between TNBC subtype and IBC status (P = 0.47). TNBC subtype did not predict recurrence-free survival. IBC status was not a significant predictor of recurrence-free or overall survival in the TNBC cohort.

Conclusions
Our data show that, like TN-non-IBC, TN-IBC is a heterogeneous disease. Although clinical characteristics differ significantly between IBC and non-IBC, no unique IBC-specific TNBC subtypes were identified by mRNA gene-expression profiles of the tumor. Studies are needed to identify the subtle molecular or microenvironmental differences that contribute to the differing clinical behaviors between TN-IBC and TN-non-IBC.
Acute and chronic consequences of polidocanol foam injection in the lung in experimental animals
Authors: Grandi L , Grandi R A , Tomasi C D , Da Rocha J L , Cardoso V , Dal-Pizzol F 
Published: November 2013

Objective To assess the presence of pulmonary embolism and inflammation after polidocanol foam injection into the peripheral veins of rabbits. Method The animals were treated with polidocanol foam (1 or 3 mg/kg) or vehicle. Early (15 minutes) and late (30 days) animals were evaluated by perfusional lung scintigraphy and histopathological examination. Results In the control group no alterations were found. After polidocanol foam injection it was observed that an important reduction of pulmonary perfusion in the early periods, was mainly in the left lung ( P < 0.001), with consequent embolism in the histological evaluation. In late periods it was observed that the presence of thrombus was with fibrin in small veins, compatible with chronic thrombus and the presence of chronic pulmonary inflammation. Conclusions The injection of polidocanol foam in experimental animals can induce venous embolism and chronic inflammatory infiltration.
A Genome-Wide Association Study of spontaneous preterm birth in a European population
Authors: Wu Wilfred , Clark Erin A S , Manuck Tracy A , Esplin M Sean , Varner Michael W , Jorde Lynn B 
Published: November 2013

Background: Preterm birth is defined as a birth prior to 37 completed weeks’ gestation. It affects more than 10% of all births worldwide, and is the leading cause of neonatal mortality in non-anomalous newborns. Even if the preterm newborn survives, there is an increased risk of lifelong morbidity. Despite the magnitude of this public health problem, the etiology of spontaneous preterm birth is not well understood. Previous studies suggest that genetics is an important contributing factor. We therefore employed a genome-wide association approach to explore possible fetal genetic variants that may be associated with spontaneous preterm birth.Methods: We obtained preterm birth phenotype and genotype data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Genotypes and Phenotypes Database (study accession phs000103.v1.p1). This dataset contains participants collected by the Danish National Birth Cohort and includes 1000 preterm births and 1000 term births as controls. Whole genomes were genotyped on the Illumina Human660W-Quad_v1_A platform, which contains more than 500,000 markers. After data quality control, we performed genome-wide association studies for the 22 autosomal chromosomes.Results: No single nucleotide polymorphism reached genome-wide significance after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing.Conclusion: We found no evidence of genetic association with spontaneous preterm birth in this European population. Approaches that facilitate detection of both common and rare genetic variants, such as evaluation of high-risk pedigrees and genome sequencing, may be more successful in identifying genes associated with spontaneous preterm birth.
Neuropsychological dynamics in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergone coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Trubnikova Olga Alexandrovna , Mamontova Anastasia Sergeevna , Syrova Irina Danilovna , Maleva Olga Valer'evna , Barbarash Olga Leonidovna 
Published: November 2013

AIM: The study was aimed at evaluation of hospital neuropsychological dynamics in ischemic heart disease patients with comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) undergone on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 14 from a total of 37 examined patients had T2DM. Diabetic patients were found to have lower attention parameters prior to the intervention in comparison to non-diabetic controls. At days 7-10 after the surgery all patients demonstrated deterioration of cognitive functions.
RESULTS: We observed deeper deterioration in diabetic patients, regarding attention, memory, sensorimotor speed and quantity of erroneous test responses, as measured against individuals with normal glucose tolerance.
CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients undergone coronary artery bypass surgery show lower cognitive characteristics when compared to controls without T2DM, suggesting this cohort to be a high-risk group for further cognitive decline.
IMPROVE observational program: safety and effectiveness of biphasic insulin aspart 30 in routine clinical practice. Overview of starting characteristics of the Russian patient cohort
Authors: Shestakova Marina Vladimirovna , Ballan Akill 
Published: November 2013

AIM: To analyse starting characteristics of the Russian patient cohort included in the IMPROVE observational program with reference to its demographiccomposition and clinical features of the disease in patients allocated to different groups depending on previous treatment, reason for prescribing DiAsp 30 (NovoMix 30) therapy, and its initial dosage regime.
METHODS:The analysis covered the cohort of Russian patients included in the IMPROVE global program, an open non-randomizedobservational multicentre study of safety and effectiveness of insulin DiAsp for patients with DM2 during 26 weeks of routine clinical practice. In thepreceding period, the patients (n=4869) received either oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) (n=2430) or insulin +/- OHAs (n=2343); the controlgroup was comprised of 95 patients given no previous antidiabetic treatment.
RESULTS: Most patients had inadequate glycemic control prior to DiAsp therapy with the mean HbA1c level of 9,2%. Those given no previous antidiabetictreatment showed the highest HbA1c level (9,9%) and higher frequency of microvascular vs macrovascular complications (91 and 51% respectively).Patients that used the largest amount of antidiabetic agents developed the highest number of complications; this situation reflects therelationship between poor glycemic control and the risk of complications.
CONCLUSIONS: The Russian patient cohort is one of the three largest ones in the IMPROVE? global program. They reside in different geographic regions,have different history of antidiabetic treatment and far-from-normal HbA1c levels as a result of altogether poor glycemic control in Russian patientswith DM2. The cohort at large exhibits a suboptimal HbA1c level even though the majority of the patient have an access to antidiabetic therapy. Mostphysicians participating in the study refer to improved glycemic control in their DM2 patients (lowered HbA1c, fasting and postprandial glucose levels)as the main reason for the initiation of therapy with DiAsp 30 (NovoMix 30).
Optical properties of unprotected and protected sputtered silver films: Surface morphology vs. UV/VIS reflectance
Authors: Jobst Paul Johannes , Stenzel Olaf , Schürmann Mark , Modsching Norbert , Yulin Sergiy , Wilbrandt Steffen , Gäbler Dieter , Kaiser Norbert , Tünnermann Andreas 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
The optical properties of opaque sputtered silver films are investigated and related to their surface morphology. As reference, an evaporated sample produced by thermal flash evaporation has been studied, too. Standard optical and electrical characterizations as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray reflectometry have been carried out with unprotected silver films directly after deposition and reveal strong correlations between the corresponding characterization results. The aging behavior of the normal incidence reflectance has been studied over a time period of 36 weeks. Protected silver mirrors have been prepared by sputtering using silica and alumina as the protective coating. It is shown by model calculations that the main spectral features occurring in the reflectance spectra of as-deposited unprotected coatings, unprotected coatings after aging, and protected coatings can be reproduced assuming a rough silver surface covered by a corresponding ultrathin absorbing interface layer or overlayer.
The length metric on the set of orthogonal projections and
new estimates in the subspace perturbation problem
Authors: Makarov Konstantin A. , Seelmann Albrecht 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

We consider the problem of variation of spectral
subspaces for bounded linear self-adjoint operators in a Hilbert space. Using metric properties of the set of orthogonal
projections as a length space, we obtain a new estimate on the norm of the operator angle associated with two spectral subspaces for
isolated parts of the spectrum of the perturbed and unperturbed operators, respectively. In particular, recent results by
Kostrykin, Makarov and Motovilov from
[Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 131, 3469–3476] and [Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 359, 77–89] are strengthened.
Ovariectomy lowers urine levels of unconjugated (+)-catechin, (–)-epicatechin, and their methylated metabolites in rats fed grape seed extract
Authors: Cutts John K. , Peavy Thomas R. , Moore Doyle R. , Prasain Jeevan , Barnes Stephen , Kim Helen 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Steroid hormones modulate expression of enzymes that metabolize xenobiotics, including dietary supplements. Half of the human population undergoes menopause, yet the effect of this age-related loss of ovarian steroid hormones on the metabolism of dietary supplements has yet to be determined. Grape seed extract (GSE) is a dietary supplement comprised of monomeric and oligomeric catechins and has health benefits in models of age-related diseases. We hypothesized that surgically-induced loss of ovarian hormones would increase methylation, glucuronidation, and/or sulfation of the grape seed polyphenols (+)-catechin and (–)-epicatechin. Fourteen-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were ovariectomized (OVX) or sham-OVX. At 17 weeks of age, SHRs were gavaged with vehicle (water) or GSE (300 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 6 days. Urinary excretion of (+)-catechin, (–)-epicatechin, and their metabolites was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Although total urinary output of (+)-catechin, (–)-epicatechin, and their methylated metabolites was unaffected by OVX, the amounts of (+)-catechin, (–)-epicatechin and their methylated metabolites that were not conjugated with glucuronic acid or sulfate were lowered by OVX. Specifically, urine from OVX SHRs administered GSE contained 30% higher proportions (91.8% vs. 62.3%) of glucuronidated (+)-catechin and (–)-epicatechin and glucuronidated methyl (+)-catechin and methyl (–)-epicatechin than urine from sham-OVX SHRs. However, there were no differences in urinary levels of total methylated or sulfated catechins in OVX SHRs. This is the first quantitative characterization of metabolites of grape seed polyphenols in a model of menopause; it indicates that ovariectomy causes either an increase in expression and/or activity of select uridine 5′-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase(s).
A New Model for Plastic-Viscoelastic Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Flow with Radiation Thermal Transfer
Authors: Zheng Liancun , Liu Yaqing , Zhang Xinxin 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
This paper presents a research for plastic-viscoelastic magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow with radiation thermal transfer. A new model is firstly proposed by modifying the classical Maxwell viscoelastic fluid model with the power-law fluid as the damping fluid to substitute the Newtonian fluid as a dashpot. The serial connection gives the nonlinear partial differential equation models. Taylor expansion is used to reduce the nonlinear equation models into linear ones and the analytical solutions are obtained for velocity and temperature fields in terms of G function and Pochhammer polynomial. Moreover, some graphs are presented for associated parameters and the corresponding flow and heat transfer characteristics are analyzed. The ideas and methods of this paper may be used to study other fluid model, such as the generalized Oldroyd-B Fluid or the generalized Burgers' fluid.
Effects of blood lead level on biochemical and hematological parameters in children with neurological diseases of Western Maharashtra, India
Authors: Pratinidhi Shilpa A. , Patil Arun J. , Behera Manaskumar , Patil Maya , Ghadage Dnyaneshwari P. , Pratinidhi Asha K. 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background: Lead is found in small but appreciable quantities in air, soil, drinking water, and food. Exposure to such amounts of lead does not lead to acute lead toxicity but produces subtle effects particularly in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of blood lead level on biochemical and hematological parameters in children with neurological diseases in Western Maharashtra, India, and to estimate the blood lead level by liver and kidney function tests and hematological parameters in children with neurological disorders admitted to the pediatric ward and compare them with healthy controls.

Methods: In this study, 30 children with various neurological disorders admitted to the pediatric ward of Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India, were compared with 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Four milliliters of venous blood was collected for estimation of blood lead level, and biochemical and hematological parameters were determined using standard methods.

Results: Blood lead level was significantly increased in the study group (p<0.01, 65.38%) compared to that in the control group. When different neurological conditions were grouped into three groups according to blood lead levels, there was a significant difference between the groups. All other biochemical and hematological parameters were not significantly altered in the study group as compared to the control group.

Conclusions: Neurologically challenged children are more vulnerable to lead intoxication. It is imperative for the parents to take extra care of their children’s food habits and limit hand-to-mouth activities to prevent lead intoxication.