bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consumption of alcoholic beverages and cognitive decline at middle age: the Doetinchem Cohort Study
Authors: Nooyens Astrid C. J. , Bueno-de-Mesquita H. Bas , van Gelder Boukje M. , van Boxtel Martin P. J. , Verschuren W. M. Monique 
Published: August 2013

Accelerated cognitive decline increases the risk of dementia. Slowing down the rate of cognitive decline leads to the preservation of cognitive functioning in the elderly, who can live independently for a longer time. Alcohol consumption may influence the rate of cognitive decline. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations between the total consumption of alcoholic beverages and different types of alcoholic beverages and cognitive decline at middle age. In 2613 men and women of the Doetinchem Cohort Study, aged 43–70 years at baseline (1995–2002), cognitive function (global cognitive function and the domains memory, speed and flexibility) was assessed twice, with a 5-year time interval. In linear regression analyses, the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages was analysed in relation to cognitive decline, adjusting for confounders. We observed that, in women, the total consumption of alcoholic beverages was inversely associated with the decline in global cognitive function over a 5-year period (P for trend = 0·02), while no association was observed in men. Regarding the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages in men and women together, red wine consumption was inversely associated with the decline in global cognitive function (P for trend < 0·01) as well as memory (P for trend < 0·01) and flexibility (P for trend = 0·03). Smallest declines were observed at a consumption of about 1·5 glasses of red wine per d. No other types of alcoholic beverages were associated with cognitive decline. In conclusion, only (moderate) red wine consumption was consistently associated with less strong cognitive decline. Therefore, it is most likely that non-alcoholic substances in red wine are responsible for any cognition-preserving effects.
Physiological and transcriptional responses of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) leaves to aluminium stress
Authors: XU H. N. , WANG K. , ZHANG Y. N. , CHEN Q. , CHEN L. M. , LI K. Z. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryAluminium (Al) toxicity is the major factor-limiting crop productivity in acid soils. In the present study, physiological and transcriptional responses of broad bean leaves to Al stress were investigated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, H2O2 content and protein carbonyls (PC) level in leaves were increased after 100 μm AlCl3 stress treatment, whereas the total protein content was decreased, compared with the plants without Al treatment. Stomatal closure in leaves of broad bean was increased after Al stress, suggesting that the photosynthesis rate might be affected by Al stress. The relative citrate secretion in leaves was decreased after Al treatment for 24 h according to the 13C-NMR analysis, indicating that citrate in leaves might be transported to the root to chelate Al3+. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of Al toxicity in leaves of broad bean, a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) library was constructed to identify up-regulated genes: cDNA from leaves subjected to 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of 50 and 100 μm AlCl3 stress were used as testers and cDNA from leaves subjected to 0 μm AlCl3 treatment for the same lengths of time as above were used as a driver. The SSH analysis identified 156 non-redundant putative Al stress-responsive expressed sequence tags (ESTs) out of 960 clones. The ESTs were categorized into ten functional groups, which were involved in metabolism (0·21), protein synthesis and protein fate (0·10), photosynthesis and chloroplast structure (0·09), transporter (0·08), cell wall related (0·06), signal transduction (0·05), defence, stress and cell death (0·05), energy (0·03), transcription factor (0·03) and unknown proteins (0·30). The effect of Al treatment on expression of 15 selected genes was investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), confirming induction by Al stress. The results indicated that genes involved in organic acid metabolism, transport, photosynthesis and chloroplast structure, defence, stress and cell death might play important roles under Al stress.
Phenotypic plasticity of yield and related traits in rainfed durum wheat
Authors: MOHAMMADI R. 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARYRainfall and temperature are unpredictable in Mediterranean environments, which results in inconsistent environmental conditions for crop growth and a critical source of uncertainty for farmers and growers. The objectives of the present study were to: (i) quantify and compare the plasticity of durum breeding lines, a modern cultivar and landraces on the basis of yield and agronomic traits and (ii) study associations between plasticity of yield and plasticity of agronomic and phenological traits. Plasticity was quantified using linear models for 11 durum breeding lines, one modern cultivar and two landraces grown in 21 diversified environments. The results showed that the effects due to environment, genotype and genotype×environment (G×E) interaction were significant, which indicates the existence of differences among genotypes for plasticity. Yield ranged from 1939 to 2419 kg/ha across environments and the range of plasticity was 0·66–1·13. The breeding lines and the modern cultivar had higher grain yields compared with the landraces at the same level of plasticity. The landraces with below-average plasticity in yield were characterized as tall in stature and late in heading and maturity, whereas the breeding lines and modern cultivar with above-average plasticity in yield were early in heading and maturity, semi-dwarf and high-yielding, which indicates the success in breeding the materials for unpredictable environmental conditions. In conclusion, yield plasticity was associated with yield improvement and high yield plasticity tends to associate with earliness, shorter plants and low grain weight.
Hedge Fund Return Predictability Under the Magnifying Glass
Authors: Avramov Doron , Barras Laurent , Kosowski Robert 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis paper develops a unified approach to comprehensively analyze individual hedge fund return predictability, both in and out of sample. In sample, we find that variation in hedge fund performance across changing market conditions is widespread and economically significant. The predictability pattern is consistent with economic rationale, and largely reflects differences in key hedge fund characteristics, such as leverage or capacity constraints. Out of sample, we show that a simple strategy that combines the funds’ return forecasts obtained from individual predictors delivers superior performance. We exploit this simplicity to highlight the drivers of this performance, and find that in- and out-of-sample predictability are closely related.
New species ofArthonialesfrom NE Brazil
Authors: MENEZES Aline Anjos , de LIMA Edvaneide Leandro , XAVIER-LEITE Amanda Barreto , MAIA Leonor Costa , APTROOT André , CÁCERES Marcela Eugenia da Silva 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe new speciesConiarthonia aurataE. L. Lima, M. Cáceres & Aptroot,Cresponea endosulphureaA. A. Menezes, M. Cáceres & Aptroot,Cryptothecia macrocephalaE. L. Lima, M. Cáceres & Aptroot, andSynarthonia sarcographoidesAptroot, A. A. Menezes, E. L. Lima & M. Cáceres are described from Caatinga vegetation in NE Brazil. They were found in the Chapada do Araripe in the state of Ceará and/or the Vale do Catimbau National Park in Pernambuco.Coniarthonia auratahas weakly organized, semiglobose apothecia with golden crystals, and on first impression looks like the anamorph of aTylophoron.Cresponea endosulphureahas a pigment of the group of xantholepinones in the thallus. It is the first time that a substance from this group is reported from theArthoniales.Cryptothecia macrocephalahas strongly macrocephalic ascospores and contains psoromic acid in the thallus.Synarthonia sarcographoidesis only the third species in this rarely found genus. It is characterized within the genus by muriform, brown ascospores, but it is assigned with hesitation to the genus. It is locally quite common.
Reading Sri Lanka's Suicide Rate
Authors: WIDGER TOM 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBy the final decade of the twentieth century, rates of suicide in Sri Lanka ranked among the highest in the world. However, in 1996 the suicide rate began to fall and was soon at its lowest level in almost 30 years. This decline poses problems for classic sociological theories of suicide and forces us to question some fundamental assumptions underlying social scientific approaches to the suicide rate. Drawing from sociological, medical epidemiological, historical, and anthropological secondary sources as well as 21 months of original ethnographic research into suicide in Sri Lanka, I argue that there are four possible readings of the country's suicide rate. While the first three readings provide windows onto parts of the story, the fourth—a composite view—provides a new way of thinking about suicide, not just in Sri Lanka but also cross-culturally. In so doing the paper poses questions for how the relationship between suicide and society might be imagined.
Comparison of two calibration methods for a small industrial robot based on an optical CMM and a laser tracker
Authors: Nubiola Albert , Slamani Mohamed , Joubair Ahmed , Bonev Ilian A. 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARYThe absolute accuracy of a small industrial robot is improved using a 30-parameter calibration model. The error model takes into account a full kinematic calibration and five compliance parameters related to the stiffness in joints 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The linearization of the Jacobian is performed to iteratively find the modeled error parameters. Two coordinate measurement systems are used independently: a laser tracker and an optical CMM. An optimized end-effector is developed specifically for each measurement system. The robot is calibrated using fewer than 50 configurations and the calibration efficiency validated in 1000 configurations using either the laser tracker or the optical CMM. A telescopic ballbar is also used for validation. The results show that the optical CMM yields slightly better results, even when used with the simple triangular plate end-effector that was developed mainly for the laser tracker.
Detecting ends of residually finite groups in profinite completions
Authors: COTTON–BARRATT OWEN 
Published: August 2013

AbstractLet $\mathcal{C}$ be a variety of finite groups. We use profinite Bass--Serre theory to show that if u : H ↪ G is a map of finitely generated residually $\mathcal{C}$ groups such that the induced map û : Ĥ → Ĝ is a surjection of the pro-$\mathcal{C}$ completions, and G has more than one end, then H has the same number of ends as G. However if G has one end the number of ends of H may be larger; we observe cases where this occurs for $\mathcal{C}$ the class of finite p-groups.We produce a monomorphism of groups u : H ↪ G such that: either G is hyperbolic but not residually finite; or û : Ĥ → Ĝ is an isomorphism of profinite completions but H has property (T) (and hence (FA)), but G has neither. Either possibility would give new examples of pathological finitely generated groups.
Absence of beneficial effects on rabbit sperm cell cryopreservation by several antioxidant agents
Authors: Maya-Soriano M.J. , Taberner E. , Sabés-Alsina M. , Piles M. , Lopez-Bejar M. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe generation of reactive oxygen species associated with cryopreservation could be responsible for mammalian sperm damage and the limitable value of stored semen in artificial insemination. The aim of this study was to assess several antioxidant agents supplemented in a commercial freezing extender (Gent B®) in order to improve post-thaw rabbit sperm quality. Ejaculates of 26 New Zealand White rabbit bucks were collected, evaluated and frozen using a conventional protocol. Antioxidant agents were tested at different concentrations: bovine serum albumin (BSA; 5, 30 or 60 mg/ml), retinol (RO; 50, 100 or 200 μM) and retinyl (RI; 0.282 or 2.82 μg/ml). Per cent viability, morphological abnormalities and intact acrosomes were determined using eosin–nigrosin staining. Motility and progressivity were analyzed by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). In general, all sperm quality parameters were negatively affected by the cryopreservation process, the largest effect seen was for total motility. The addition of antioxidant agents did not improve thaw sperm quality. Furthermore, for RI groups a significant decrease in sperm quality parameters was recorded. In conclusion, rabbit sperm quality is negatively affected by the cryopreservation process. To our knowledge this report is the first using these antioxidants to supplement rabbit freezing extender. BSA and RO at concentrations used in the study did not improve sperm quality parameters after thawing, whereas RI supplementation appeared to be toxic. More studies are required to find the appropriate antioxidants necessary and their most effective concentrations to improve rabbit post-thaw sperm quality.
The Impact of a Large-Scale Power Outage on Hemodialysis Center Operations
Authors: Abir Mahshid , Jan Sophia , Jubelt Lindsay , Merchant Raina M. , Lurie Nicole 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIntroductionOn June 29, 2012, mid-Atlantic storms resulted in a large-scale power outage affecting up to three million people across multiple (US) states. Hemodialysis centers are dependent on electricity to provide dialysis care to end-stage renal disease patients. The objective of this study was to determine how the power outage impacted operations in a sample of hemodialysis centers in the impacted regions.MethodsThe sample consisted of all hemodialysis centers located in the District of Columbia and a total of five counties with the largest power losses in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. A semi-structured interview guide was developed, and the charge nurse or supervisor in each facility was interviewed. The survey questions addressed whether their centers lost power, if so, for how long, where their patients received dialysis, whether their centers had backup generators, and if so, whether they had any problems operating them, and whether their center received patients from other centers if they had power.ResultsCalls were placed to 90 dialysis centers in the sampled areas and a 90% response rate was achieved. Overall, hemodialysis operations at approximately 30% (n = 24) of the centers queried were impacted by the power outage. Of the 36 centers that lost power, 31% (n = 11) referred their patients to other dialysis centers, 22% (n = 8) accommodated their patients during a later shift or on a different day; the rest of the centers either experienced brief power outages that did not affect operations or experienced a power outage on days that the center is usually closed. Some centers in the study cohort reported receiving patients from other centers for dialysis 33% (n = 27). Thirty-two percent (n = 26) of the centers queried had backup generators on site. Eleven percent (n = 4) of the centers experiencing power outages reported that backup generators were brought in by their parent companies.ConclusionsComprehensive emergency planning for dialysis centers should include provisions for having backup generators on site, having plans in place for the timely delivery of a generator during a power outage, or having predesignated backup dialysis centers for patients to receive dialysis during emergencies. Most dialysis centers surveyed in this study were able to sustain continuity of care by implementing such pre-existing emergency plans.AbirM, JanS, JubeltL, MerchantR, LurieN. The impact of a large-scale power outage on hemodialysis center operations. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(6):1-4.
The Transportation of Tax Textiles to the North-West as part of the Tang-Dynasty Military Shipment System
Authors: ARAKAWA MASAHIRO , HANSEN VALERIE 
Published: August 2013

Unfortunately the author's the name was misspelt throughout this article and also on the contents page of issue 23 (2). The correct name should have read ‘Masaharu Arakawa’.Cambridge University Press apologises unreservedly for any inconvenience or embarrassment caused by this error.
Use of food label information by urban consumers in India – a study among supermarket shoppers
Authors: Vemula Sudershan R , Gavaravarapu SubbaRao M , Mendu Vishnu Vardhana Rao , Mathur Pulkit , Avula Laxmaiah 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo study consumer knowledge and use of food labels.DesignA cross-sectional study employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. Intercept interviews were conducted with 1832 consumers at supermarket sites selected using a stratified random sampling procedure. This information was triangulated with twenty-one focus group discussions.SettingNew Delhi and Hyderabad, two metro-cities from north and south India.SubjectsAdolescent (10–19 years), adult (20–59 years) and elderly (≥60 years) consumers.ResultsWhile the national urban literacy rate is 84 %, about 99 % of the study participants were educated. About 45 % reported that they buy pre-packaged foods once weekly and about a fifth buy them every day. Taste, quality, convenience and ease of use are the main reasons for buying pre-packaged foods. Although 90 % of consumers across the age groups read food labels, the majority (81 %) looked only for the manufacturing date or expiry/best before date. Of those who read labels, only a third checked nutrition information and ingredients. Nutrient information on labels was not often read because most consumers either lacked nutrition knowledge or found the information too technical to understand. About 60 % read quality symbols. A positive association was found between education level and checking various aspects of food labels. Women and girls concerned about ‘fat’ and ‘sugar’ intake read the nutrition facts panel.ConclusionsThe intention of promoting healthy food choices through use of food labels is not being completely met. Since a majority of people found it difficult to comprehend nutrition information, there is a need to take up educational activities and/or introduce new forms of labelling.
Constitutionality of the European Stability Mechanism in Estonia: Applying Proportionality to Sovereignty
Authors: Ginter Carri 
Published: August 2013

The Supreme Court en banc was forced to make a rushed judgment in a situation of confusion, uncertainty and absence of legal certainty prevailing in the Estonian and the EU legal environment.Dissenting justice Jaak LuikOn 12 September 2012 the Bundesverfassungsgericht gave the green light for Germany to ratify the Treaty Establishing the European Stability Mechanism (ESM Treaty), but made ratification conditional upon international law arrangements to be made to guarantee an interpretation of the ESM Treaty which would be in line with the German Grundgesetz. Although the constitutional challenge in Germany, which is the largest ‘donor’ to the ESM, was certainly of core importance as to whether the member states would be able to launch the mechanism at all, the constitutional challenges in other member states also deserve academic attention. The reference for a preliminary ruling by the Supreme Court of Ireland raised serious questions concerning the conformity of the ESM Treaty with EU law. In its Pringle decision the Court of Justice dismissed the concerns raised in the reference as being unfounded.This article focuses on the compatibility of the ‘emergency voting’ mechanism set out in Article 4(4) ESM Treaty with the principles of democracy, the rule of law and sovereignty raised before the Supreme Court of Estonia. The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia [Eesti Vabariigipõhiseadus] (henceforth: the Constitution) and the Acts of the Republic of Estonia do not foresee a separate constitutional court or the possibility of an individual constitutional petition. Thus, the issue of the constitutionality of the emergency voting procedure contained in the ESM Treaty was raised ex officio in abstract constitutional review proceedings by the Estonian Chancellor of Justice [Õiguskantsler], which ‘in Estonia combines the function of the general body of petition and the guardian of constitutionality.’ The petition for review focused on the fact that substantial budgetary decisions could be made in the future under the emergency voting procedure without the involvement of the Estonian parliament. According to the petition, ‘[w]ith accession to the Treaty the budgetary policy choices of the Riigikogu will diminish.’
Genome sequencing of a single cell of the widely distributed marine subsurface Dehalococcoidia, phylum Chloroflexi
Authors: Wasmund Kenneth , Schreiber Lars , Lloyd Karen G , Petersen Dorthe G , Schramm Andreas , Stepanauskas Ramunas , Jørgensen Bo Barker , Adrian Lorenz 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Bacteria of the class Dehalococcoidia (DEH), phylum Chloroflexi, are widely distributed in the marine subsurface, yet metabolic properties of the many uncultivated lineages are completely unknown. This study therefore analysed genomic content from a single DEH cell designated ‘DEH-J10’ obtained from the sediments of Aarhus Bay, Denmark. Real-time PCR showed the DEH-J10 phylotype was abundant in upper sediments but was absent below 160 cm below sea floor. A 1.44 Mbp assembly was obtained and was estimated to represent up to 60.8% of the full genome. The predicted genome is much larger than genomes of cultivated DEH and appears to confer metabolic versatility. Numerous genes encoding enzymes of core and auxiliary beta-oxidation pathways were identified, suggesting that this organism is capable of oxidising various fatty acids and/or structurally related substrates. Additional substrate versatility was indicated by genes, which may enable the bacterium to oxidise aromatic compounds. Genes encoding enzymes of the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway were identified, which may also enable the fixation of CO2 or oxidation of organics completely to CO2. Genes encoding a putative dimethylsulphoxide reductase were the only evidence for a respiratory terminal reductase. No evidence for reductive dehalogenase genes was found. Genetic evidence also suggests that the organism could synthesise ATP by converting acetyl-CoA to acetate by substrate-level phosphorylation. Other encoded enzymes putatively conferring marine adaptations such as salt tolerance and organo-sulphate sulfohydrolysis were identified. Together, these analyses provide the first insights into the potential metabolic traits that may enable members of the DEH to occupy an ecological niche in marine sediments.
High charge-carrier mobility enables exploitation of carrier multiplication in quantum-dot films
Authors: Sandeep C. S. Suchand , Cate Sybren ten , Schins Juleon M. , Savenije Tom J. , Liu Yao , Law Matt , Kinge Sachin , Houtepen Arjan J. , Siebbeles Laurens D. A. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractCarrier multiplication, the generation of multiple electron–hole pairs by a single photon, is of great interest for solar cells as it may enhance their photocurrent. This process has been shown to occur efficiently in colloidal quantum dots, however, harvesting of the generated multiple charges has proved difficult. Here we show that by tuning the charge-carrier mobility in quantum-dot films, carrier multiplication can be optimized and may show an efficiency as high as in colloidal dispersion. Our results are explained quantitatively by the competition between dissociation of multiple electron–hole pairs and Auger recombination. Above a mobility of ~1 cm2 V−1 s−1, all charges escape Auger recombination and are quantitatively converted to free charges, offering the prospect of cheap quantum-dot solar cells with efficiencies in excess of the Shockley–Queisser limit. In addition, we show that the threshold energy for carrier multiplication is reduced to twice the band gap of the quantum dots.